Cell Biology in the United States: Latest Advances and Perspectives

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 34928

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Guest Editor
The Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Interests: molecular physiology of TRPC channels; cation channels; Ca2+ influx; electrophysiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Topic Collection aims to showcase the latest scientific advances in cell biology achieved in the United States. The scope of this Topic Collection is very broad, ranging from cell division regulation and subcellular organelle function through to the mechanisms of membrane transport and cell motility. Original research articles, comprehensive reviews and perspectives will be considered. Manuscripts should describe the novel molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the physiologically relevant phenomena or disease-related cellular processes in all disciplines, such as neuroscience, physiology, immunology, cancer cell biology, developmental biology and beyond. Manuscripts describing organoid research and cellular responses to viral infections, such as SARS-CoV-2 or HIV infection, will also be considered. Potential topics may include, but are not limited to, the following research areas:

  • Apoptosis
  • Autophagy
  • Cancer cell biology and cancer stem cells
  • CAR T-cell and other adoptive cell transfer therapies
  • Cell cycle
  • Cell migration
  • Cell-to-cell communication and cell adhesion
  • Cell growth, differentiation, aging, and death
  • Cell techniques: cell and tissue culture, isolation and fractionation of cells, immunocytochemistry (ICC), in situ hybridization (ISH), transfection, and optogenetics
  • Cellular metabolism
  • Cellular mechanosensory elements
  • Cellular mechanisms underlying human diseases
  • Cellular photosensory elements and underlying mechanisms
  • Cellular quality control
  • Cytoskeletal dynamics
  • DNA replication and repair; Non-coding RNAs
  • Epigenetics
  • Hematopoiesis and Stem cells
  • Ion channel function in health and disease (Transient Receptor Potential Channels, Store-operated Channels, Ligand Gated Ion Channels, Second messenger-gated Channels, Voltage-gated Ion Channels)
  • Ion channel biophysics
  • Membrane physiology and membrane transport
  • Cellular organelles (mitochondria, lysosomes, peroxisomes, and etc.)
  • OMICS: transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, glycomics, lipidomics, interactomics, fluxomics, and biomics;
  • Protein synthesis and trafficking
  • Signal transduction

Dr. Alexander G. Obukhov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 27284 KiB  
Article
Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 1 but Not 2A Activity Modulates Coupled-Clock Mechanisms to Impact on Intrinsic Automaticity of Sinoatrial Nodal Pacemaker Cells
by Syevda Tagirova Sirenko, Ihor Zahanich, Yue Li, Yevgeniya O. Lukyanenko, Alexey E. Lyashkov, Bruce D. Ziman, Kirill V. Tarasov, Antoine Younes, Daniel R. Riordon, Yelena S. Tarasova, Dongmei Yang, Tatiana M. Vinogradova, Victor A. Maltsev and Edward G. Lakatta
Cells 2021, 10(11), 3106; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10113106 - 10 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2496
Abstract
Spontaneous AP (action potential) firing of sinoatrial nodal cells (SANC) is critically dependent on protein kinase A (PKA) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-dependent protein phosphorylation, which are required for the generation of spontaneous, diastolic local Ca2+ releases (LCRs). Although [...] Read more.
Spontaneous AP (action potential) firing of sinoatrial nodal cells (SANC) is critically dependent on protein kinase A (PKA) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-dependent protein phosphorylation, which are required for the generation of spontaneous, diastolic local Ca2+ releases (LCRs). Although phosphoprotein phosphatases (PP) regulate protein phosphorylation, the expression level of PPs and phosphatase inhibitors in SANC and the impact of phosphatase inhibition on the spontaneous LCRs and other players of the oscillatory coupled-clock system is unknown. Here, we show that rabbit SANC express both PP1, PP2A, and endogenous PP inhibitors I-1 (PPI-1), dopamine and cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP)-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32), kinase C-enhanced PP1 inhibitor (KEPI). Application of Calyculin A, (CyA), a PPs inhibitor, to intact, freshly isolated single SANC: (1) significantly increased phospholamban (PLB) phosphorylation (by 2–3-fold) at both CaMKII-dependent Thr17 and PKA-dependent Ser16 sites, in a time and concentration dependent manner; (2) increased ryanodine receptor (RyR) phosphorylation at the Ser2809 site; (3) substantially increased sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ load; (4) augmented L-type Ca2+ current amplitude; (5) augmented LCR’s characteristics and decreased LCR period in intact and permeabilized SANC, and (6) increased the spontaneous basal AP firing rate. In contrast, the selective PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid (100 nmol/L) had no significant effect on spontaneous AP firing, LCR parameters, or PLB phosphorylation. Application of purified PP1 to permeabilized SANC suppressed LCR, whereas purified PP2A had no effect on LCR characteristics. Our numerical model simulations demonstrated that PP inhibition increases AP firing rate via a coupled-clock mechanism, including respective increases in the SR Ca2+ pumping rate, L-type Ca2+ current, and Na+/Ca2+-exchanger current. Thus, PP1 and its endogenous inhibitors modulate the basal spontaneous firing rate of cardiac pacemaker cells by suppressing SR Ca2+ cycling protein phosphorylation, the SR Ca2+ load and LCRs, and L-type Ca2+ current. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Biology in the United States: Latest Advances and Perspectives)
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19 pages, 4251 KiB  
Article
CRMP2 Is Involved in Regulation of Mitochondrial Morphology and Motility in Neurons
by Tatiana Brustovetsky, Rajesh Khanna and Nickolay Brustovetsky
Cells 2021, 10(10), 2781; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10102781 - 17 Oct 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3278
Abstract
Regulation of mitochondrial morphology and motility is critical for neurons, but the exact mechanisms are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that these mechanisms may involve collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2). CRMP2 is attached to neuronal mitochondria and binds to dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), [...] Read more.
Regulation of mitochondrial morphology and motility is critical for neurons, but the exact mechanisms are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that these mechanisms may involve collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2). CRMP2 is attached to neuronal mitochondria and binds to dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), Miro 2, and Kinesin 1 light chain (KLC1). Treating neurons with okadaic acid (OA), an inhibitor of phosphatases PP1 and PP2A, resulted in increased CRMP2 phosphorylation at Thr509/514, Ser522, and Thr555, and augmented Drp1 phosphorylation at Ser616. The CRMP2-binding small molecule (S)-lacosamide ((S)-LCM) prevented an OA-induced increase in CRMP2 phosphorylation at Thr509/514 and Ser522 but not at Thr555, and also failed to alleviate Drp1 phosphorylation. The increased CRMP2 phosphorylation correlated with decreased CRMP2 binding to Drp1, Miro 2, and KLC1. (S)-LCM rescued CRMP2 binding to Drp1 and Miro 2 but not to KLC1. In parallel with CRMP2 hyperphosphorylation, OA increased mitochondrial fission and suppressed mitochondrial traffic. (S)-LCM prevented OA-induced alterations in mitochondrial morphology and motility. Deletion of CRMP2 with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) resulted in increased mitochondrial fission and diminished mitochondrial traffic. Overall, our data suggest that the CRMP2 expression level and phosphorylation state are involved in regulating mitochondrial morphology and motility in neurons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Biology in the United States: Latest Advances and Perspectives)
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18 pages, 1658 KiB  
Article
β-Adrenergic Stimulation Synchronizes a Broad Spectrum of Action Potential Firing Rates of Cardiac Pacemaker Cells toward a Higher Population Average
by Mary S. Kim, Oliver Monfredi, Larissa A. Maltseva, Edward G. Lakatta and Victor A. Maltsev
Cells 2021, 10(8), 2124; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10082124 - 18 Aug 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2166
Abstract
The heartbeat is initiated by pacemaker cells residing in the sinoatrial node (SAN). SAN cells generate spontaneous action potentials (APs), i.e., normal automaticity. The sympathetic nervous system increases the heart rate commensurate with the cardiac output demand via stimulation of SAN β-adrenergic receptors [...] Read more.
The heartbeat is initiated by pacemaker cells residing in the sinoatrial node (SAN). SAN cells generate spontaneous action potentials (APs), i.e., normal automaticity. The sympathetic nervous system increases the heart rate commensurate with the cardiac output demand via stimulation of SAN β-adrenergic receptors (βAR). While SAN cells reportedly represent a highly heterogeneous cell population, the current dogma is that, in response to βAR stimulation, all cells increase their spontaneous AP firing rate in a similar fashion. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cell-to-cell variability in the responses of a large population of SAN cells. We measured the βAR responses among 166 single SAN cells isolated from 33 guinea pig hearts. In contrast to the current dogma, the SAN cell responses to βAR stimulation substantially varied. In each cell, changes in the AP cycle length were highly correlated (R2 = 0.97) with the AP cycle length before βAR stimulation. While, as expected, on average, the cells increased their pacemaker rate, greater responses were observed in cells with slower basal rates, and vice versa: cells with higher basal rates showed smaller responses, no responses, or even decreased their rate. Thus, βAR stimulation synchronized the operation of the SAN cell population toward a higher average rate, rather than uniformly shifting the rate in each cell, creating a new paradigm of βAR-driven fight-or-flight responses among individual pacemaker cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Biology in the United States: Latest Advances and Perspectives)
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13 pages, 3027 KiB  
Article
Distinct Gene Expression Profiles in Colonic Organoids from Normotensive and the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
by Jing Li, Elaine M. Richards, Eileen M. Handberg, Carl J. Pepine and Mohan K. Raizada
Cells 2021, 10(6), 1523; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10061523 - 17 Jun 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2434
Abstract
Hypertension is associated with gut bacterial dysbiosis and gut pathology in animal models and people. Butyrate-producing gut bacteria are decreased in hypertension. RNA-seq analysis of gut colonic organoids prepared from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats was used to [...] Read more.
Hypertension is associated with gut bacterial dysbiosis and gut pathology in animal models and people. Butyrate-producing gut bacteria are decreased in hypertension. RNA-seq analysis of gut colonic organoids prepared from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats was used to test the hypothesis that impaired interactions between the gut microbiome and gut epithelium are involved and that these would be remediated with butyrate supplementation. Gene expressions in immune responses including antigen presentation and antiviral pathways were decreased in the gut epithelium of the SHR in organoids and confirmed in vivo; these deficits were corrected by butyrate supplementation. Deficits in gene expression driving epithelial proliferation and differentiation were also observed in SHR. These findings highlight the importance of aligned interactions of the gut microbiome and gut immune responses to blood pressure homeostasis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Biology in the United States: Latest Advances and Perspectives)
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Review

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15 pages, 1833 KiB  
Review
The H+ Transporter SLC4A11: Roles in Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Uncoupling
by Joseph A. Bonanno, Raji Shyam, Moonjung Choi and Diego G. Ogando
Cells 2022, 11(2), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11020197 - 07 Jan 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3063
Abstract
Solute-linked cotransporter, SLC4A11, a member of the bicarbonate transporter family, is an electrogenic H+ transporter activated by NH3 and alkaline pH. Although SLC4A11 does not transport bicarbonate, it shares many properties with other members of the SLC4 family. SLC4A11 mutations can [...] Read more.
Solute-linked cotransporter, SLC4A11, a member of the bicarbonate transporter family, is an electrogenic H+ transporter activated by NH3 and alkaline pH. Although SLC4A11 does not transport bicarbonate, it shares many properties with other members of the SLC4 family. SLC4A11 mutations can lead to corneal endothelial dystrophy and hearing deficits that are recapitulated in SLC4A11 knock-out mice. SLC4A11, at the inner mitochondrial membrane, facilitates glutamine catabolism and suppresses the production of mitochondrial superoxide by providing ammonia-sensitive H+ uncoupling that reduces glutamine-driven mitochondrial membrane potential hyperpolarization. Mitochondrial oxidative stress in SLC4A11 KO also triggers dysfunctional autophagy and lysosomes, as well as ER stress. SLC4A11 expression is induced by oxidative stress through the transcription factor NRF2, the master regulator of antioxidant genes. Outside of the corneal endothelium, SLC4A11’s function has been demonstrated in cochlear fibrocytes, salivary glands, and kidneys, but is largely unexplored overall. Increased SLC4A11 expression is a component of some “glutamine-addicted” cancers, and is possibly linked to cells and tissues that rely on glutamine catabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Biology in the United States: Latest Advances and Perspectives)
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21 pages, 2733 KiB  
Review
Capsaicin and TRPV1 Channels in the Cardiovascular System: The Role of Inflammation
by Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri, Dru A. Wilkerson, Gagandeep Sooch, Xingjuan Chen, Fletcher A. White and Alexander G. Obukhov
Cells 2022, 11(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11010018 - 22 Dec 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8758
Abstract
Capsaicin is a potent agonist of the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channel and is a common component found in the fruits of the genus Capsicum plants, which have been known to humanity and consumed in food for approximately 7000–9000 years. [...] Read more.
Capsaicin is a potent agonist of the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channel and is a common component found in the fruits of the genus Capsicum plants, which have been known to humanity and consumed in food for approximately 7000–9000 years. The fruits of Capsicum plants, such as chili pepper, have been long recognized for their high nutritional value. Additionally, capsaicin itself has been proposed to exhibit vasodilatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, and antinociceptive properties. However, a growing body of evidence reveals a vasoconstrictory potential of capsaicin acting via the vascular TRPV1 channel and suggests that unnecessary high consumption of capsaicin may cause severe consequences, including vasospasm and myocardial infarction in people with underlying inflammatory conditions. This review focuses on vascular TRPV1 channels that are endogenously expressed in both vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells and emphasizes the role of inflammation in sensitizing the TRPV1 channel to capsaicin activation. Tilting the balance between the beneficial vasodilatory action of capsaicin and its unwanted vasoconstrictive effects may precipitate adverse outcomes such as vasospasm and myocardial infarction, especially in the presence of proinflammatory mediators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Biology in the United States: Latest Advances and Perspectives)
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15 pages, 969 KiB  
Review
Insights into the Regulation of Ciliary Disassembly
by Maulin M. Patel and Leonidas Tsiokas
Cells 2021, 10(11), 2977; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10112977 - 01 Nov 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4411
Abstract
The primary cilium, an antenna-like structure that protrudes out from the cell surface, is present in most cell types. It is a microtubule-based organelle that serves as a mega-signaling center and is important for sensing biochemical and mechanical signals to carry out various [...] Read more.
The primary cilium, an antenna-like structure that protrudes out from the cell surface, is present in most cell types. It is a microtubule-based organelle that serves as a mega-signaling center and is important for sensing biochemical and mechanical signals to carry out various cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, differentiation, and many others. At any given time, cilia length is determined by a dynamic balance of cilia assembly and disassembly processes. Abnormally short or long cilia can cause a plethora of human diseases commonly referred to as ciliopathies, including, but not limited to, skeletal malformations, obesity, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, retinal degeneration, and bardet-biedl syndrome. While the process of cilia assembly is studied extensively, the process of cilia disassembly and its biological role(s) are less well understood. This review discusses current knowledge on ciliary disassembly and how different cellular processes and molecular signals converge to carry out this process. This information will help us understand how the process of ciliary disassembly is regulated, identify the key steps that need further investigation, and possibly design therapeutic targets for a subset of ciliopathies that are causally linked to defective ciliary disassembly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Biology in the United States: Latest Advances and Perspectives)
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23 pages, 1814 KiB  
Review
Distinctive Properties and Powerful Neuromodulation of Nav1.6 Sodium Channels Regulates Neuronal Excitability
by Agnes Zybura, Andy Hudmon and Theodore R. Cummins
Cells 2021, 10(7), 1595; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10071595 - 25 Jun 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7037
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) are critical determinants of cellular excitability. These ion channels exist as large heteromultimeric structures and their activity is tightly controlled. In neurons, the isoform Nav1.6 is highly enriched at the axon initial segment and nodes, making it [...] Read more.
Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) are critical determinants of cellular excitability. These ion channels exist as large heteromultimeric structures and their activity is tightly controlled. In neurons, the isoform Nav1.6 is highly enriched at the axon initial segment and nodes, making it critical for the initiation and propagation of neuronal impulses. Changes in Nav1.6 expression and function profoundly impact the input-output properties of neurons in normal and pathological conditions. While mutations in Nav1.6 may cause channel dysfunction, aberrant changes may also be the result of complex modes of regulation, including various protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications, which can alter membrane excitability and neuronal firing properties. Despite decades of research, the complexities of Nav1.6 modulation in health and disease are still being determined. While some modulatory mechanisms have similar effects on other Nav isoforms, others are isoform-specific. Additionally, considerable progress has been made toward understanding how individual protein interactions and/or modifications affect Nav1.6 function. However, there is still more to be learned about how these different modes of modulation interact. Here, we examine the role of Nav1.6 in neuronal function and provide a thorough review of this channel’s complex regulatory mechanisms and how they may contribute to neuromodulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Biology in the United States: Latest Advances and Perspectives)
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