Intracellular membrane trafficking is a dynamic and complex cellular process. To study membrane trafficking with a high spatiotemporal resolution, we present an optogenetic method based on a blue-light inducible oligomerization of Rab GTPases, termed light-activated reversible inhibition by assembly trap of intracellular membranes (IM-LARIAT). In this chapter, we focus on the optical disruption of the dynamics and functions of previously studied intracellular membrane trafficking events, including transferrin recycling and growth cone regulation in relation to specific Rab GTPases. To aid general application, we provide a detailed description of transfection, imaging with a confocal microscope, and analysis of data.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2209-4_20 | DOI Listing |
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
February 2025
Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616.
The L-type Ca channel (Ca1.2) is essential for cardiac excitation-contraction coupling. To contribute to the inward Ca flux that drives Ca-induced-Ca-release, Ca1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeptides play critical roles in cellular functions such as signaling and immune regulation, and peptide-based biotherapeutics show great promise for treating various diseases. Among these, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are particularly valuable for drug delivery due to their ability to cross cell membranes. However, the mechanisms underlying CPP-mediated transport, especially across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPotassium channels regulate membrane potential, calcium flux, cellular activation and effector functions of adaptive and innate immune cells. The voltage-activated Kv1.3 channel is an important regulator of T cell-mediated autoimmunity and microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: Polycystins (PKD2, PKD2L1) are voltage-gated and Ca -modulated members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels. Loss of PKD2L1 expression results in seizure-susceptibility and autism-like features in mice, whereas variants in PKD2 cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Despite decades of evidence clearly linking their dysfunction to human disease and demonstrating their physiological importance in the brain and kidneys, the polycystin pharmacophore remains undefined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOncol Res
January 2025
Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
Background: Rho GTPases are essential regulators for cellular movement and intracellular membrane trafficking. Their enzymatic activities fluctuate between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound states regulated by GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Arhgap39/Vilse/Porf-2 is a newly identified GAP.
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