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Contact inhibition of cell growth is essential for embryonic development and maintenance of tissue architecture in adult organisms, and the growth of tumors is characterized by a loss of contact inhibition of proliferation. The recently identified Hippo signaling pathway has been implicated in contact inhibition of proliferation as well as organ size control. The modulation of the phosphorylation and nuclear localization of Yes-associated protein (YAP) by the highly conserved kinase cascade of the Hippo signaling pathway has been intensively studied. However, cell-surface receptors regulating the Hippo signaling pathway in mammals are not well understood. In this study, we show that Hippo signaling pathway components are required for E-cadherin–dependent contact inhibition of proliferation. Knockdown of the Hippo signaling components or overexpression of YAP inhibits the decrease in cell proliferation caused by E-cadherin homophilic binding at the cell surface, independent of other cell–cell interactions. We also demonstrate that the E-cadherin/catenin complex functions as an upstream regulator of the Hippo signaling pathway in mammalian cells. Expression of E-cadherin in MDA-MB-231 cells restores the density-dependent regulation of YAP nuclear exclusion. Knockdown of β-catenin in densely cultured MCF10A cells, which mainly depletes E-cadherin–bound β-catenin, induces a decrease in the phosphorylation of S127 residue of YAP and its nuclear accumulation. Moreover, E-cadherin homophilic binding independent of other cell interactions is sufficient to control the subcellular localization of YAP. Therefore, Our results indicate that, in addition to its role in cell–cell adhesion, E-cadherin-mediated cell–cell contact directly regulates the Hippo signaling pathway to control cell proliferation.

The activation mechanism of the classical transient receptor potential channels TRPC4 and -5 via the Gq/11 protein-phospholipase C (PLC) signaling pathway has remained elusive so far. In contrast to all other TRPC channels, the PLC product diacylglycerol (DAG) is not sufficient for channel activation, whereas TRPC4/5 channel activity is potentiated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP₂) depletion. As a characteristic structural feature, TRPC4/5 channels contain a C-terminal PDZ-binding motif allowing for binding of the scaffolding proteins Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF) 1 and 2. PKC inhibition or the exchange of threonine for alanine in the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif conferred DAG sensitivity to the channel. Altogether, we present a DAG-mediated activation mechanism for TRPC4/5 channels tightly regulated by NHERF1/2 interaction. PIP₂ depletion evokes a C-terminal conformational change of TRPC5 proteins leading to dynamic dissociation of NHERF1/2 from the C terminus of TRPC5 as a prerequisite for DAG sensitivity. We show that NHERF proteins are direct regulators of ion channel activity and that DAG sensitivity is a distinctive hallmark of TRPC channels.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a new type of oral hypoglycaemic agent with good cardiovascular protective effects. There are several lines of clinical evidence suggest that SGLT2i can significantly reduce the risks of heart failure, cardiovascular death, and delay the progression of chronic kidney disease. In addition, recent basic and clinical studies have also reported that SGLT2i also has good anti-arrhythmic effects. However, the exact mechanism is poorly understood. The aim of this review is to summarize recent clinical findings, studies of laboratory animals, and related study about this aspect of the antiarrhythmic effects of SGLT2i, to further explore its underlying mechanisms, safety, and prospects for clinical applications of it.

Transient receptor potential classical or canonical 4 (TRPC4) and TRPC5 channels are members of the classical or canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channel family of non-selective cation channels. TRPC4 and TRPC5 channels are widely accepted as receptor-operated cation channels that are activated in a phospholipase C-dependent manner, following the Gq/11 protein-coupled receptor activation. However, their precise activation mechanism has remained largely elusive for a long time, as the TRPC4 and TRPC5 channels were considered as being insensitive to the second messenger diacylglycerol (DAG) in contrast to the other TRPC channels. Recent findings indicate that the C-terminal interactions with the scaffolding proteins Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 1 and 2 (NHERF1 and NHERF2) dynamically regulate the DAG sensitivity of the TRPC4 and TRPC5 channels. Interestingly, the C-terminal NHERF binding suppresses, while the dissociation of NHERF enables, the DAG sensitivity of the TRPC4 and TRPC5 channels. This leads to the assumption that all of the TRPC channels are DAG sensitive. The identification of the regulatory function of the NHERF proteins in the TRPC4/5-NHERF protein complex offers a new starting point to get deeper insights into the molecular basis of TRPC channel activation. Future studies will have to unravel the physiological and pathophysiological functions of this multi-protein channel complex.

Background: One of the most common symptoms among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is diarrhea, which is thought to be contributed by changes in electrolyte transport associated with intestinal inflammation. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that intestinal Na+‐related transporters/channels and their regulatory proteins may be downregulated as a potential contributor to IBD‐associated diarrhea. Methods: SDS‐PAGE and Western blotting and/or confocal immunomicroscopy were used to examine the expression of Na+/H+‐exchangers 1–3 (NHE1–3), epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC), Na+/K+‐ATPase, the intracellular Cl− channel 5 (ClC‐5), and NHE3 regulatory factors (NHERF1,2) in ileal and colonic pinch biopsies from IBD patients and noninflammatory controls, as well as from colonic mucosa of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)‐ and TNBS‐induced acute murine IBD models. Results: NHE1,3 (but not NHE2), β‐ENaC, Na+/K+‐ATPase‐α, ClC‐5, and NHERF1 were all downregulated in sigmoid mucosal biopsies from most cases of active UC and/or CD compared to controls. NHE3 was also decreased in ileal mucosal biopsies of active CD, as well as in ≈50% of sigmoid biopsies from inactive UC or CD. Importantly, similar downregulation of NHE1,3, β‐ENaC, and NHERF1,2 was also observed in the mouse colon (but not ileum) of DSS‐ and TNBS‐induced colitis. Conclusions: IBD‐associated diarrhea may be due to a coordinated downregulation of multiple Na+ transporter and related regulatory proteins, including NHE1,3, Na+/K+‐ATPase, and ENaC, as well as NHERF1,2, and ClC‐5, all of which are involved directly or indirectly in intestinal Na+ absorption. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2008)

PTEN, a tumor suppressor frequently inactivated in many human cancers, directly antagonizes the activity of phosphatidylinositol‐3‐OH kinase (PI3K) by dephosphorylating phosphoinositides. We show here that PTEN interacts directly with the NHERF1 and NHERF2 (Na + /H + exchanger regulatory factor) homologous adaptor proteins through the PDZ motif of PTEN and the PDZ1 domain of NHERF1 or both PDZ domains of NHERF2. NHERFs were shown to interact directly with platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and we demonstrate the assembly of a ternary complex between PTEN, NHERFs and PDGFR. The activation of the PI3K pathway after PDGFR stimulation was prolonged in NHERF1(−/−) mouse embryonic fibroblasts as compared to wild‐type cells, consistent with defective PTEN recruitment to PDGFR in the absence of NHERF1. Depletion of NHERF2 by small interfering RNA similarly increased PI3K signaling. Phenotypically, the loss of NHERF1 enhanced the PDGF‐induced cytoskeletal rearrangements and chemotactic migration of the cells. These data indicate that, in normal cells, NHERF proteins recruit PTEN to PDGFR to restrict the activation of the PI3K.

Reorganization of the plasma membrane and underlying actin cytoskeleton into specialized domains is essential for the functioning of most polarized cells in animals. Proteins of the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) and Na + /H + exchanger 3 regulating factor (NHERF) family are conserved regulators of cortical specialization. ERM proteins function as membrane-actin linkers and as molecular scaffolds that organize the distribution of proteins at the membrane. NHERF proteins are PDZ-domain containing adapters that can bind to ERM proteins and extend their scaffolding capability. Here, we investigate how ERM and NHERF proteins function in regulating intestinal lumen formation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . C. elegans has single ERM and NHERF family proteins, termed ERM-1 and NRFL-1, and ERM-1 was previously shown to be critical for intestinal lumen formation. Using CRISPR/Cas9-generated nrfl-1 alleles we demonstrate that NRFL-1 localizes at the intestinal microvilli, and that this localization is depended on an interaction with ERM-1. However, nrfl-1 loss of function mutants are viable and do not show defects in intestinal development. Interestingly, combining nrfl-1 loss with erm-1 mutants that either block or mimic phosphorylation of a regulatory C-terminal threonine causes severe defects in intestinal lumen formation. These defects are not observed in the phosphorylation mutants alone, and resemble the effects of strong erm-1 loss of function. The loss of NRFL-1 did not affect the localization or activity of ERM-1. Together, these data indicate that ERM-1 and NRFL-1 function together in intestinal lumen formation in C. elegans . We postulate that the functioning of ERM-1 in this tissue involves actin-binding activities that are regulated by the C-terminal threonine residue and the organization of apical domain composition through NRFL-1.

NHERF (Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor or NHERF-1) and E3KARP (NHE3 kinase A regulatory protein or NHERF-2) are structurally related protein adapters that are highly expressed in epithelial tissues. NHERF proteins contain two tandem PDZ domains and a C-terminal sequence that binds several members of the ERM (ezrin-radixin-moesin) family of membrane-cytoskeletal adapters. Although identified as a regulator of NHE3, recent evidence points to a broadening role for NHERF in the function, localization and/or turnover of G-protein coupled receptors, platelet-derived growth factor receptor and ion transporters such as CFTR, Na/Pi cotransporter, Na/HCO3 cotransporter and Trp (calcium) channels. NHERF also recruits non-membrane proteins such as the c-Yes/YAP-65 complex, members of the phospholipase Cbeta family and the GRK6A protein kinase to apical surface of polarized epithelial cells where they regulate or respond to membrane signals. While two distinct models have been proposed for NHERF's role in signal transduction, the common theme is NHERF's ability to bring together membrane and non-membrane proteins to regulate cell metabolism and growth. NHERF overexpression in human breast cancers and mutations in NHERF targets, such as CFTR and merlin, the product of Neurofibromatosis NF2 tumor suppressor gene, that impair NHERF binding suggest that aberrant NHERF function contributes to human disease.

Yeast two-hybrid screening was used to explore novel proteins that interact with a breast tumor or metastasis suppressor, SYK (spleen tyrosine kinase). The screening yielded NHERF (Na + /H + exchanger regulatory factor, also known as NHERF1 or EBP-50) that binds to the interdomain B of SYK. NHERF is an estrogen-responsive gene that encodes an inhibitory factor for epithelial Na + /H + exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3). We found intragenic mutation of the NHERF gene accompanied by loss of heterzygosity (LOH) in ∼3% (3/85) of breast cancer cell lines and primary breast tumors. Mutations occurred at the conserved PDZ domains at NHERF NH 2 -terminus that bound to SYK, or at its COOH-terminus motif that binds to MERLIN, the product of Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene. NHERF tumorigenic mutations decreased or abolished its interaction with SYK or MERLIN, suggesting a pathway link among these three molecules that may play a critical role in mammary neoplastic progression. Primary breast tumors with LOH at the NHERF locus had clinical presentations of higher aggressiveness, indicating that deregulated NHERF signaling may be associated with disease progression. Moreover, the LOH was inversely correlated with SYK promoter methylation, suggesting that NHERF and SYK may transduce a common suppressive signal. Taken together, the results indicated NHERF to be a candidate tumor suppressor gene in human breast carcinoma that may be interconnected to the SYK and MERLIN suppressors.

Inorganic phosphate (P(i)) is reabsorbed in the renal proximal tubule mainly via the type-IIa sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-IIa). This protein is regulated tightly by different factors, among them dietary P(i) intake and parathyroid hormone (PTH). A number of PDZ-domain-containing proteins have been shown to interact with NaPi-IIa in vitro, such as Na(+)/H(+) exchanger-3 regulatory factor-1 (NHERF1) and PDZK1. PDZK1 is highly abundant in kidney and co-localizes with NaPi-IIa in the brush border membrane of proximal tubules. Recently, a knock-out mouse model for PDZK1 (Pdzk1(-/-)) has been generated, allowing the role of PDZK1 in the expression and regulation of the NaPi-IIa cotransporter to be examined in in vivo and in ex vivo preparations. The localization of NaPi-IIa and other proteins interacting with PDZK1 in vitro [Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE3), chloride-formate exchanger (CFEX)/putative anion transporter-1 (PAT1), NHERF1] was not altered in Pdzk1(-/-) mice. The abundance of NaPi-IIa adapted to acute and chronic changes in dietary P(i) intake, but steady-state levels of NaPi-IIa were reduced in Pdzk1(-/-) under a P(i) rich diet. This was paralleled by a higher urinary fractional P(i) excretion. The abundance of the anion exchanger CFEX/PAT1 (SLC26A6) was also reduced. In contrast, NHERF1 abundance increased in the brush border membrane of Pdzk1(-/-) mice fed a high-P(i) diet. Acute regulation of NaPi-IIa by PTH in vivo and by PTH and activators of protein kinases A, C and G (PKA, PKC and PKG) in vitro (kidney slice preparation) was not altered in Pdzk1(-/-) mice. In conclusion, loss of PDZK1 did not result in major changes in proximal tubule function or NaPi-IIa regulation. However, under a P(i)-rich diet, loss of PDZK1 reduced NaPi-IIa abundance indicating that PDZK1 may play a role in the trafficking or stability of NaPi-IIa under these conditions.