Fast, volumetric live-cell imaging using high-resolution light-field microscopy.

Visualizing diverse anatomical and functional traits that span many spatial scales with high spatio-temporal resolution provides insights into the fundamentals of living organisms. Light-field microscopy (LFM) has recently emerged as a scanning-free, scalable method that allows for high-speed, volumetric functional brain imaging. Given those promising applications at the tissue level, at its other extreme, this highly-scalable approach holds great potential for observing structures and dynamics in single-cell specimens.

A C-Terminal Transmembrane Anchor Targets the Nuage-Localized Spermatogenic Protein Gasz to the Mitochondrial Surface.

Mitochondria, normally tubular and distributed throughout the cell, are instead found in spermatocytes in perinuclear clusters in close association with nuage, an amorphous organelle composed of RNA and RNA-processing proteins that generate piRNAs. piRNAs are a form of RNAi required for transposon suppression and ultimately fertility. MitoPLD, another protein required for piRNA production, is anchored to the mitochondrial surface, suggesting that the nuage, also known as intermitochondrial cement, needs to be juxtaposed there to bring MitoPLD into proximity with the remainder of the piRNA-generating machinery.

A role for Phospholipase D in Drosophila embryonic cellularization.

Background: Cellularization of the Drosophila embryo is an unusually synchronous form of cytokinesis in which polarized membrane extension proceeds in part through incorporation of new membrane via fusion of apically-translocated Golgi-derived vesicles.

Results: We describe here involvement of the signaling enzyme Phospholipase D (Pld) in regulation of this developmental step. Functional analysis using gene targeting revealed that cellularization is hindered by the loss of Pld, resulting frequently in early embryonic developmental arrest.

Insulin-stimulated plasma membrane fusion of Glut4 glucose transporter-containing vesicles is regulated by phospholipase D1.

Insulin stimulates glucose uptake in fat and muscle by mobilizing Glut4 glucose transporters from intracellular membrane storage sites to the plasma membrane. This process requires the trafficking of Glut4-containing vesicles toward the cell periphery, docking at exocytic sites, and plasma membrane fusion. We show here that phospholipase D (PLD) production of the lipid phosphatidic acid (PA) is a key event in the fusion process.

Regulation of phospholipase D1 subcellular cycling through coordination of multiple membrane association motifs.

The signaling enzyme phospholipase D1 (PLD1) facilitates membrane vesicle trafficking. Here, we explore how PLD1 subcellular localization is regulated via Phox homology (PX) and pleckstrin homology (PH) domains and a PI4,5P2-binding site critical for its activation. PLD1 localized to perinuclear endosomes and Golgi in COS-7 cells, but on cellular stimulation, translocated to the plasma membrane in an activity-facilitated manner and then returned to the endosomes.

Dual requirement for rho and protein kinase C in direct activation of phospholipase D1 through G protein-coupled receptor signaling.

G protein-coupled and tyrosine kinase receptor activation of phospholipase D1 (PLD1) play key roles in agonist-stimulated cellular responses such as regulated exocytosis, actin stress fiber formation, and alterations in cell morphology and motility. Protein Kinase C, ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), and Rho family members activate PLD1 in vitro; however, the actions of the stimulators on PLD1 in vivo have been proposed to take place through indirect pathways. We have used the yeast split-hybrid system to generate PLD1 alleles that fail to bind to or to be activated by RhoA but that retain wild-type responses to ARF and PKC.

Insulin-induced phospholipase D1 and phospholipase D2 activity in human embryonic kidney-293 cells mediated by the phospholipase C gamma and protein kinase C alpha signalling cascade.

Phospholipase D (PLD)1 is quiescent in vitro and in vivo until stimulated by classical protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, ADP-ribosylation factor or Rho family members. By contrast, PLD2 has high basal activity, and the mechanisms involved in agonist-induced activation of PLD2 are poorly understood. Using transiently transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells as a model system, we report in the present study that PLD2 overexpressed in HEK-293 cells exhibits regulatory properties similar to PLD1 when stimulated in response to insulin and phorbol ester.

Regulation of expression of phospholipase D1 and D2 by PEA-15, a novel protein that interacts with them.

Phospholipase D (PLD), a signal-transducing membrane-associated enzyme, is implicated in diverse processes including apoptosis, ERK activation, and glucose transport. Prior studies have identified specific PLD activators and repressors that directly regulate its enzymatic activity. Using two-hybrid screens, we have identified PEA-15 as a PLD interactor that unexpectedly functions to alter its level of expression.

Loss of receptor regulation by a phospholipase D1 mutant unresponsive to protein kinase C.

Activation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase D (PLD) constitutes an important part of the cellular response to agonist signaling. PLD1 is stimulated in vitro in a direct and synergistic manner by protein kinase C (PKC), ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) and Rho family members. However, the direct and specific role of each of these effectors in agonist-stimulated PLD activation is poorly understood.

Molecular analysis of mammalian phospholipase D2.

The mammalian phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase D (PLD) enzymes PLD1 and PLD2 have been proposed to play roles in signal transduction and membrane vesicular trafficking in distinct subcellular compartments. PLD1 is activated in a synergistic manner in vitro by protein kinase C-alpha, ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1), and Rho family members. In contrast, PLD2 is constitutively active in vitro.

Cloning and expression analysis of murine phospholipase D1.

Activation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase D(PLD) occurs as part of the complex signal-transduction cascade initiated by agonist stimulation of tyrosine kinase and G-protein-coupled receptors. A variety of mammalian PLD activities have been described, and cDNAs for two PLDs recently reported (human PLD1 and murine PLD2). We describe here the cloning and chromosomal localization of murine PLD1.

Phospholipase D2, a distinct phospholipase D isoform with novel regulatory properties that provokes cytoskeletal reorganization.

Background: Activation of phospholipase D (PLD) is an important but poorly understood component of receptor-mediated signal transduction responses and regulated secretion. We recently reported the cloning of the human gene encoding PLD1; this enzyme has low basal activity and is activated by protein kinase C and the small GTP-binding proteins, ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), Rho, Rac and Cdc42. Biochemical and cell biological studies suggest, however, that additional and distinct PLD activities exist in cells, so a search was carried out for novel mammalian genes related to PLD1.

Gcm1, a mammalian homolog of Drosophila glial cells missing.

Differentiation of glia (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) in Drosophila requires the gene glial cells missing (gcm), which controls lineage determination. In the absence of gcm, neuroglia progenitors exclusively differentiate into neurons, instead of into both neurons and glia. In contrast, ectopic overexpression of gcm causes uniform differentiation of the neuroglia progenitors into glia.

Human ADP-ribosylation factor-activated phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase D defines a new and highly conserved gene family.

Activation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated as a critical step in numerous cellular pathways, including signal transduction, membrane trafficking, and the regulation of mitosis. We report here the identification of the first human PLD cDNA, which defines a new and highly conserved gene family. Characterization of recombinant human PLD1 reveals that it is membrane-associated, selective for phosphatidylcholine, stimulated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, activated by the monomeric G-protein ADP-ribosylation factor-1, and inhibited by oleate.

REST: a mammalian silencer protein that restricts sodium channel gene expression to neurons.

Expression of the type II voltage-dependent sodium channel gene is restricted to neurons by a silencer element active in nonneuronal cells. We have cloned cDNA coding for a transcription factor (REST) that binds to this silencer element. Expression of a recombinant REST protein confers the ability to silence type II reporter genes in neuronal cell types lacking the native REST protein, whereas expression of a dominant negative form of REST in nonneuronal cells relieves silencing mediated by the native protein.