It has been hypothesized that Rab3A, a small GTPase, may be closely involved in the process of dense core vesicle exocytosis in various cell types. This possibility was investigated by disrupting the expression levels...It has been hypothesized that Rab3A, a small GTPase, may be closely involved in the process of dense core vesicle exocytosis in various cell types. This possibility was investigated by disrupting the expression levels of Rab3A-mRNA using a small interfering RNA of the Rab3A GTPase (Rab3A-siRNA) and examining the effect of this on transcytosis of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). Rab3A-siRNA and WGA-HRP were injected into the right vagus nerves of adult rats which were killed 12, 24 or 48 hours later. In some animals, portions of the brain stem containing the nucleus of solitary tract (NST) were prepared for electron microscopy. In other animals, the nodose ganglion of the vagus nerve was used to determine the levels of expression of Rab3A-mRNA using RT-PCR techniques. It was found that the expression of Rab3A-mRNA was markedly depressed in animals at 12 h after the Rab3A-siRNA injection. In the NST, there was an accumulation of HRP-reaction product (RP), recognized as electron dense lysosomal-like structures, in both axons and terminals in the NST 12 h after injection. Some HRP-RP was found in membrane bound vesicles in close proximity to cell membranes and appeared to be in the process of transcytosis. This neuronal transcytosis of HRP-RP appeared to occur at random locations over the axodendritic membranes. These findings indicate that inhibiting the expression of Rab3A-mRNA using Rab3A-siRNA can modulate the level of transcytosis of proteins across neuronal membranes confirming the potentially important role of this GTPase in the process of transcytosis.展开更多
Exocytosis of mam maUan sperm dense-core secretory granule relies on the same fusion molecules as all other secretory cells; one such molecule is the small GTPase Rab3A. Here, we report an in-depth biochemical charact...Exocytosis of mam maUan sperm dense-core secretory granule relies on the same fusion molecules as all other secretory cells; one such molecule is the small GTPase Rab3A. Here, we report an in-depth biochemical characterization of the role of Rab3A in secretion by scrutinizingthe exocytotic response of streptolysin O-permeabiUzed human sperm to the acute application of a number of Rab3A-containing constructs and correlating the findings with those gathered with the endogenous protein. Full length, geranyigeranyiated, and active Rab3A elicited human sperm exocytosis perse. With Rab3A/Rab22A chimeric proteins, we demonstrated that the carboxy-terminal domain of the Rab3A molecule was necessary and sufficient to promote exocytosis, whereas its amino.terminus prevented calcium-triggered secretion. Interestingly, full length Rab3A halted secretion when added after the docking of the acrosome to the plasma membrane. This effect depended on the inability of Rab3A to hydrolyze GTP. We combined modified immunofluorescence and acrosomal staining protocols to detect membrane fusion and the activation status of endogenous Rab3 simultaneously in individual cells, and found that GTP hydrolysis on endogenous Rab3 was mandatory for fusion pores to open. Our findings contribute to establishing that Rab3 modulates regulated exocytosis differently depending on the nucleotide bound and the exocytosis stage under study.展开更多
文摘It has been hypothesized that Rab3A, a small GTPase, may be closely involved in the process of dense core vesicle exocytosis in various cell types. This possibility was investigated by disrupting the expression levels of Rab3A-mRNA using a small interfering RNA of the Rab3A GTPase (Rab3A-siRNA) and examining the effect of this on transcytosis of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). Rab3A-siRNA and WGA-HRP were injected into the right vagus nerves of adult rats which were killed 12, 24 or 48 hours later. In some animals, portions of the brain stem containing the nucleus of solitary tract (NST) were prepared for electron microscopy. In other animals, the nodose ganglion of the vagus nerve was used to determine the levels of expression of Rab3A-mRNA using RT-PCR techniques. It was found that the expression of Rab3A-mRNA was markedly depressed in animals at 12 h after the Rab3A-siRNA injection. In the NST, there was an accumulation of HRP-reaction product (RP), recognized as electron dense lysosomal-like structures, in both axons and terminals in the NST 12 h after injection. Some HRP-RP was found in membrane bound vesicles in close proximity to cell membranes and appeared to be in the process of transcytosis. This neuronal transcytosis of HRP-RP appeared to occur at random locations over the axodendritic membranes. These findings indicate that inhibiting the expression of Rab3A-mRNA using Rab3A-siRNA can modulate the level of transcytosis of proteins across neuronal membranes confirming the potentially important role of this GTPase in the process of transcytosis.
文摘Exocytosis of mam maUan sperm dense-core secretory granule relies on the same fusion molecules as all other secretory cells; one such molecule is the small GTPase Rab3A. Here, we report an in-depth biochemical characterization of the role of Rab3A in secretion by scrutinizingthe exocytotic response of streptolysin O-permeabiUzed human sperm to the acute application of a number of Rab3A-containing constructs and correlating the findings with those gathered with the endogenous protein. Full length, geranyigeranyiated, and active Rab3A elicited human sperm exocytosis perse. With Rab3A/Rab22A chimeric proteins, we demonstrated that the carboxy-terminal domain of the Rab3A molecule was necessary and sufficient to promote exocytosis, whereas its amino.terminus prevented calcium-triggered secretion. Interestingly, full length Rab3A halted secretion when added after the docking of the acrosome to the plasma membrane. This effect depended on the inability of Rab3A to hydrolyze GTP. We combined modified immunofluorescence and acrosomal staining protocols to detect membrane fusion and the activation status of endogenous Rab3 simultaneously in individual cells, and found that GTP hydrolysis on endogenous Rab3 was mandatory for fusion pores to open. Our findings contribute to establishing that Rab3 modulates regulated exocytosis differently depending on the nucleotide bound and the exocytosis stage under study.
