Methods to Study Mrp4-containing Macromolecular Complexes in the Regulation of Fibroblast Migration

Chandrima Sinha; Kavisha Arora; Anjaparavanda P. Naren

doi:10.3791/53973

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Method Article

Methods to Study Mrp4-containing Macromolecular Complexes in the Regulation of Fibroblast Migration

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DOI:

10.3791/53973

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May 19th, 2016

Chandrima Sinha^*¹^,² , Kavisha Arora^*¹ , Anjaparavanda P. Naren¹^,²

¹Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, ²Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

^* These authors contributed equally

Summary

MRP4 regulates various cyclic nucleotide-dependent signaling events including a recently elucidated role in cell migration. We describe a direct, but multifaceted approach to unravel the downstream molecular targets of MRP4 resulting in identification of a unique MRP4 interactome that plays key roles in the fine-tuned regulation of fibroblast migration.

Abstract

Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette family of membrane transporters and is an endogenous efflux transporter of cyclic nucleotides. By modulating intracellular cyclic nucleotide concentration, MRP4 can regulate multiple cyclic nucleotide-dependent cellular events including cell migration. Previously, we demonstrated that in the absence of MRP4, fibroblast cells contain higher levels of intracellular cyclic nucleotides and can migrate faster. To understand the underlying mechanisms of this finding, we adopted a direct yet multifaceted approach. First, we isolated potential interacting protein complexes of MRP4 from a MRP4 over-expression cell system using immunoprecipitation followed by mass-spectrometry. After identifying unique proteins in the MRP4 interactome, we utilized Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to explore the role of these protein-protein interactions in the context of signal transduction. We elucidated the potential role of the MRP4 protein complex in cell migration and identified F-actin as a major mediator of the effect of MRP4 on cell migration. This study also emphasized the role of cAMP and cGMP as key players in the migratory phenomena. Using high-content microscopy, we performed cell-migration assays and observed that the effect of MRP4 on fibroblast migration is completely abolished by disruption of the actin cytoskeleton or inhibition of cAMP-dependent kinase A (PKA). To visualize signaling modulations in a migrating cell in real time, we utilized a FRET-based sensor for measuring PKA activity and found, the presence of more polarized PKA activity near the leading edge of migrating Mrp4^-/- fibroblast, compared to Mrp4^+/+fibroblasts. This in turn increased cortical actin formation and augmented the process of migration. Our approach enables identification of the proteins acting downstream to MRP4 and provides us with an overview of the mechanism involved in MRP4-dependent regulation of fibroblast migration.

Introduction

Cell migration is a complicated multi-step process. Studies have shown that during migration cells are polarized into leading and trailing edges. By adhering to the extracellular matrix, the leading edge provides the traction necessary for the cell body to move forward. Finally, the trailing edge releases rear attachments and completes the migration cycle^1,2.

Cell polarization for efficient cell migration is regulated by spatial segregation of intracellular signaling. Cellular second messengers, such as cAMP, mediate the compartmentalization of the signaling events required for fine-tuned directional cell migration^3,4.....