Browsing by Author "Calhoun, Patrick J."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Altered translation initiation of Gja1 limits gap junction formation during epithelial–mesenchymal transition
    James, Carissa C.; Zeitz, Michael J.; Calhoun, Patrick J.; Lamouille, Samy Y.; Smyth, James W. (The American Society for Cell Biology, 2018-02-13)
    Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is activated during development, wound healing, and pathologies including fibrosis and cancer metastasis. Hallmarks of EMT are remodeling of intercellular junctions and adhesion proteins, including gap junctions. The GJA1 mRNA transcript encoding the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) has been demonstrated to undergo internal translation initiation, yielding truncated isoforms that modulate gap junctions. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is central to translation regulation and is activated during EMT, leading us to hypothesize that altered translation initiation would contribute to gap junction loss. Using TGF-β–induced EMT as a model, we find reductions in Cx43 gap junctions despite increased transcription and stabilization of Cx43 protein. Biochemical experiments reveal suppression of the internally translated Cx43 isoform, GJA1-20k in a Smad3 and ERK-dependent manner. Ectopic expression of GJA1-20k does not halt EMT, but is sufficient to rescue gap junction formation. GJA1-20k localizes to the Golgi apparatus, and using superresolution localization microscopy we find retention of GJA1-43k at the Golgi in mesenchymal cells lacking GJA1-20k. NativePAGE demonstrates that levels of GJA1-20k regulate GJA1-43k hexamer oligomerization, a limiting step in Cx43 trafficking. These findings reveal alterations in translation initiation as an unexplored mechanism by which the cell regulates Cx43 gap junction formation during EMT.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Dynamic UTR Usage Regulates Alternative Translation to Modulate Gap Junction Formation during Stress and Aging
    Zeitz, Michael J.; Calhoun, Patrick J.; James, Carissa C.; Taetzsch, Thomas; George, Kijana K.; Robel, Stefanie; Valdez, Gregorio; Smyth, James W. (Elsevier, 2019-05-28)
    Connexin43 (Cx43; gene name GJA1) is the most ubiquitously expressed gap junction protein, and understanding of its regulation largely falls under transcription and post-translational modification. In addition to Cx43, Gja1 mRNA encodes internally translated isoforms regulating gap junction formation, whose expression is modulated by TGF-b. Here, using RLM-RACE, we identify distinct Gja1 transcripts differing only in 50 UTR length, of which two are upregulated during TGF-b exposure and hypoxia. Introduction of these transcripts into Gja1/ cells phenocopies the response of Gja1 to TGF-b with reduced internal translation initiation. Inhibiting pathways downstream of TGF-b selectively regulates levels of Gja1 transcript isoforms and translation products. Reporter assays reveal enhanced translation of fulllength Cx43 from shorter Gja1 50 UTR isoforms. We also observe a correlation among UTR selection, translation, and reduced gap junction formation in aged heart tissue. These data elucidate a relationship between transcript isoform expression and translation initiation regulating intercellular communication.
  • Thumbnail Image
    TNF alpha Modulates Cardiac Conduction by Altering Electrical Coupling between Myocytes
    George, Sharon A.; Calhoun, Patrick J.; Gourdie, Robert G.; Smyth, James W.; Poelzing, Steven (Frontiers, 2017-05-23)
    Background: Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha) upregulation during acute inflammatory response has been associated with numerous cardiac effects including modulating Connexin43 and vascular permeability. This may in turn alter cardiac gap junctional (GJ) coupling and extracellular volume (ephaptic coupling) respectively. We hypothesized that acute exposure to pathophysiological TNF alpha levels can modulate conduction velocity (CV) in the heart by altering electrical coupling: GJ and ephaptic. Methods and Results: Hearts were optically mapped to determine CV from control, TNF alpha and TNF alpha + high calcium(2.5 vs. 1.25 mM) treated guinea pig hearts over 90 mins. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to measure changes in intercellular separation in the gap junction-adjacent extracellular nanodomain-perinexus (W-P). Cx43 expression and phosphorylation were determined by Western blotting and Cx43 distribution by confocal immunofluorescence. At 90 mins, longitudinal and transverse CV (CVL and CVT, respectively) increased with control Tyrode perfusion but TNF alpha slowed CVT alone relative to control and anisotropy of conduction increased, but not significantly. TNF alpha increased W-P relative to control at 90 mins, without significantly changing GJ coupling. Increasing extracellular calcium after 30 mins of just TNF alpha exposure increased CVT within 15 mins. TNF alpha + high calcium also restored CVT at 90 mins and reduced W-P to control values. Interestingly, TNF alpha + high calcium also improved GJ coupling at 90 mins, which along with reduced W-P may have contributed to increasing CV. Conclusions: Elevating extracellular calcium during acute TNF alpha exposure reduces perinexal expansion, increases ephaptic, and GJ coupling, improves CV and may be a novel method for preventing inflammation induced CV slowing.