Lowe syndrome protein Ocrl1 is translocated to membrane ruffles upon Rac GTPase activation: a new perspective on Lowe syndrome pathophysiology.
Oculocerebrorenal Lowe syndrome is a rare X-linked disorder characterized by bilateral cataract, mental retardation and renal Fanconi syndrome. The Lowe syndrome protein Ocrl1 is a PIP2 5-phosphatase, primarily localized to the trans-Golgi network (TGN), which 'loss of function' mutations result in PIP2 accumulation in patient's cells. Although PIP2 is involved in many cell functions including signalling, vesicle trafficking and actin polymerization, it has been difficult so far to decipher molecular/cellular mechanisms responsible for Lowe syndrome phenotype. We have recently shown that, through its C-terminal RhoGAP domain, Ocrl1 forms a stable complex with Rac GTPase within the cell. In line with this finding, we report here that upon epidermal growth factor induced Rac activation in COS-7 cells, a fraction of Ocrl1 translocates from TGN to plasma membrane and concentrates in membrane ruffles. In order to investigate the functionality of Ocrl1 in plasma membrane, we have analysed PIP2 distribution in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) from Lowe patients versus control HDFs. As revealed by both immunodetection and green fluorescent protein-PH binding, PIP2 was found strikingly to accumulate in PDGF induced ruffles in Lowe HDFs when compared with control. This suggests that Ocrl1 is active as a PIP2 5-phosphatase in Rac induced membrane ruffles. Cellular properties such as cell migration and establishment of cell-cell contacts, which depend on ruffling and lamellipodia formation, should be further investigated to understand the pathophysiology of Lowe syndrome.
Faucherre
Adèle
A
Institut Cochin, Département de Génétique, Développement et Pathologie Moléculaire, INSERM U567/CNRS UMR 8104/Université Paris V, 24 rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014 Paris, France.
Desbois
Pierrette
P
Nagano
Fumiko
F
Satre
Véronique
V
Lunardi
Joël
J
Gacon
Gérard
G
Dorseuil
Olivier
O
D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; C075695:OCRL protein, human; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins