J Biol Chem, Vol. 274, Issue 51, 36288-36292, December 17, 1999

MIR Is a Novel ERM-like Protein That Interacts with Myosin Regulatory Light Chain and Inhibits Neurite Outgrowth^*

Per-Anders Olsson, Laura Korhonen, Eric A. Mercer, and Dan Lindholm

From the Department of Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Uppsala University, Box 587 Biomedical Center, S-75123 Uppsala, Sweden

	ABSTRACT

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

The ERM protein family members ezrin, radixin, and moesin are cytoskeletal effector proteins linking actin to membrane-bound proteins at the cell surface. Here we report on the cloning of myosin regulatory light chain interacting protein (MIR), a protein with an ERM-homology domain and a carboxyl-terminal RING finger, that is expressed, among other tissues, in brain. MIR is distributed in cultured COS cells, in a punctated manner as shown using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged MIR and by staining with a specific antibody for MIR. In the yeast two-hybrid system and in transfected COS cells, MIR interacts with myosin regulatory light chain B, which in turn regulates the activity of the actomyosin complex. Overexpression of MIR cDNA in PC12 cells abrogated neurite outgrowth induced by nerve growth factor (NGF) without affecting TrkA signaling. The results show that MIR, a novel ERM-like protein, affects cytoskeleton interactions regulating cell motility, such as neurite outgrowth.

	INTRODUCTION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Dynamic changes in cell shape and movements involve interactions between proteins in the cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane. Ezrin, radixin, moesin, and the related tumor suppressor merlin link the actin cytoskeleton to membrane-bound proteins located at membrane extension sites, such as microvilli, membrane rufflings, and at cell-cell contacts (1-3). ERM¹ proteins are also involved in cell adhesion, influencing the redistribution of various cell adhesion molecules, such as ICAM-1 (4, 5). The amino-terminal domain of ERM proteins, comprising about 300 amino acids, is conserved among the different proteins and merlin and exhibits a high degree of sequence similarity (1-3). This amino terminus is related to proteins in the large band 4.1 protein superfamily (6), including some protein tyrosine phosphatases (7) and talin (8), and it is thought to bind to membrane proteins. In contrast, the interaction of ERM proteins with F-actin seems to involve both the amino- and carboxyl-terminal region (5). Merlin, however, lacks the F-actin binding site in the carboxyl terminus, but binds it in a different manner (9).

ERM proteins are present in a wide variety of tissues, notably in epithelial cells in culture (10). In contrast to other tissues, less is known about the function of ERM proteins in the nervous system. During development and regeneration, neurons grow over large distances in a process controlled by extrinsic factors and cytoskeleton interactions. Some ERM proteins have been found in the growth cones of neuronal cells (11, 12), suggesting an effect on neurite outgrowth. Indeed, recently it was shown by an antisense approach, that radixin and moesin are important for growth cone morphology and motility (13). Although important for dynamic interactions between cytoskeleton and membranes, the mechanism by which ERM proteins mediate their effects on cell motility is not fully understood (5). In this study, we have identified a novel ERM-like protein, called myosin regulatory light chain interacting protein (MIR), that binds to the myosin regulatory light chain B (MRLC) (14) and may directly influence cell movements. To study the effect of MIR on cell motility, we have measured neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells which was dramatically inhibited by overexpression of MIR.

	EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

Cloning of MIR-- A search in GenBank^TM for expression sequence tag cDNAs (EST) of novel members of the inhibitory of apoptosis protein (IAP) gene family (15) resulted in an EST sequence from human lung (accession number T63512) with a RING finger similar to those found in IAP proteins. A 375-base pair probe, corresponding to the EST sequence, was amplified by PCR and used for screening a gt10 human fetal brain library (CLONTECH). Hybridization was carried out overnight at 42 °C in 50% formamide, 6× SSC, 5× Denhardt's, and 0.5% SDS, followed by washing for 10 min in 2× SSC, 0.5% SDS, for 15 min in 0.2× SSC, 0.5% SDS, and finally for 15 min in 0.2× SSC, 0.5% SDS at 50 °C. A positive phage of 1650 base pairs was cloned into the Bluescript pKS vector and sequenced using an automated DNA Sequencer (Applied Biosystems). The nucleotide sequence encodes a putative protein with an open reading frame of 445 amino acids and was named MIR. The MIR sequence has been submitted to the GenBank^TM (accession number, AF187016).

Northern Blot Analysis-- Multiple tissue Northern blots (CLONTECH) were hybridized for 2 h at 37 °C using the Express hybridization solution (CLONTECH) and the MIR cDNA probe labeled with [³²P]dCTP (Rediprime, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). Filters were washed in 2× SSC, 0.05% SDS for 30 min and in 0.1× SSC, 0.1% SDS for 40 min at room temperature. The levels of MIR mRNA were analyzed using a PhosphoImager (Molecular Dynamics), and compared with those of -actin mRNA.

Yeast Two-hybrid System-- The full-length coding sequence of MIR was fused to the GAL4 DNA-binding domain (GALDB) in the pYTH6 bait vector and integrated into the genome of the yeast strain, Y190. The resulting Y190:pYTH6-MIR strain was transformed with an expression cDNA library from HeLa cells (CLONTECH), fused to the GAL4 activation domain (GAL4AD) in the pGAD-GH vector (16). 4 × 10⁶ transformants were screened for activation of the His-3 reporter gene on a medium deficient in the amino acids His, Trp, and Leu and supplemented with 25 mM 3-aminotriazole. Colonies appearing within 3-5 days were subjected to a -galactosidase filter lift assay (16), and the positive clones obtained were rescued into Escherichia coli and retransformed into the Y190:pYTH6-MIR strain to confirm the interaction. The clones were sequenced, and two were identified as the myosin regulatory light chain B (MRLC). Deletions of MIR cDNA were subcloned into the pYTH6 vector using a polymerase chain reaction-based strategy. These constructs were sequenced and studied for the interaction with MRLC.

Cell Culture and Assay for Neurite Outgrowth-- Rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 5% horse serum and 5% fetal bovine serum. Cells were transfected with 10 µg of pcDNA3.1 (Invitrogen) expressing MIR cDNA by the calcium phosphate method (17), and stable clones were selected using G418 (600 µg/ml, Life Technologies). PC12 cells were transiently transfected with a control vector, encoding the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP, CLONTECH), or with the fusion vector, EGFP-MIR expressing full-length MIR in frame with EGFP, using the Fugene reagent (Roche Molecular Biochemicals). The cellular localization of GFP in living cells was analyzed with a Zeiss Axiovert microscope and an attached Hamamatsu camera. To study neurite outgrowth, PC12 cells were plated onto collagen-coated (Sigma) culture plates, and 50 ng/ml NGF added for two days. Neurite outgrowth was estimated by counting the number of positive PC12 cells exhibiting neurites 2-fold longer than the cell diameter (17). Statistical analysis was done by Student's t test.

Immunocytochemistry and MIR Antibody-- A specific antipeptide antibody to MIR (amino acid sequence, QQTRVLQEKLRKLKEAMLC) was raised in rabbits using standard procedures. The purified antibody recognized recombinant MIR in Western blots (data not shown). Cells were fixed for 10 min using 4% paraformaldehyde, washed with phosphate-buffered saline, and blocked overnight with skim milk (18). The MIR antibody, diluted 1:100, was added and incubated overnight at 4 °C. After washing, a secondary biotinylated anti-rabbit antibody (diluted 1:200, Dako) was added and incubated for 2 h at room temperature, followed by addition of the avidin-biotin complex (Vector Laboratories). The signals were visualized using diaminobenzidine (Sigma) as a chromogen.

Immunoprecipitation and Western Blotting-- Monkey kidney COS-7 cells were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were co-transfected with histidine₆ (His)-tagged MRLC expression vector (Invitrogen) and with the hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged MIR, pJ3H vector. After 24 h, cells were lysed in ice-cold RIPA lysis buffer (phosphate-buffered saline, 0.1% SDS, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 1% Nonidet P-40) supplemented with a protein inhibitor mixture (Boehringer-Mannheim) and 100 µM sodium orthovanadate (Sigma). The lysate was precleared by centrifugation, and immunoprecipitation was carried out using an anti-HA antibody (Boehringer-Mannheim). The antibody-protein complex formed was bound to protein A-Sepharose (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala) and washed three times with RIPA buffer. The beads were suspended and boiled in SDS-loading buffer, and the eluate loaded onto a 12% SDS acrylamide gel (18). The gel was blotted onto a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) and incubated with anti-His (CLONTECH) and anti-HA antibodies (Boehringer-Mannheim). The signals were visualized using the enhanced chemiluminescence method.

TrkA Phosphorylation-- Control and MIR overexpressing PC12 cells were stimulated with NGF for 5 min. Cells were lysed in buffer A, containing 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 125 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 10 mM EDTA, 2 mM EGTA, 2 mM sodium orthovanadate, 50 mM NaF, 20 mM ZnCl₂, 10 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and 5 µg/ml leupeptin (19). The lysates were incubated with anti-Trk antibody (a kind gift from Dr. D. Kaplan, Montreal Neurological Institute) followed by incubation with protein A-Sepharose. The Sepharose beads were washed three times with buffer A, once with 0.5 M LiCl, 0.1 M Tris, pH 7.5, and once with 0.1 M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 2 mM Tris, pH 7.5. SDS-loading buffer was added, and proteins were resolved on a 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The gel was blotted as described above, and TrkA phosphorylation was analyzed using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody (Transduction Laboratories).

	RESULTS

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

MIR Is a Novel ERM-homology Protein-- Using a human fetal brain library to screen for novel genes, we cloned a cDNA encoding a novel protein with an open reading frame of 445 amino acids, and two distinct protein homology regions: an amino-terminal ERM-homology domain, and a RING finger at the carboxyl-terminal end (20). The complete amino acid sequence of human MIR is depicted in Fig. 1, together with an alignment of the ERM-homology region of the ERM proteins and merlin. The amino-terminal region of MIR exhibits the highest degree of similarity to ezrin and merlin, 25 and 28% identity, respectively (Fig. 1b). The RING finger in MIR resembles that of other proteins (Fig. 1) involved in regulation of cell growth and apoptosis, including proteins of the IAP family such as XIAP and c-IAP2 (15).

View larger version (75K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1.   Structure of human MIR and sequence comparison. a, the deduced amino acid sequence of human MIR. Numbers on the right indicate the amino acid residue position. b, sequence alignment of amino acids 1-282 of MIR with ERM proteins and merlin using the GCG Pile-Up program. Black boxes, identical residues; gray boxes, similar residues to MIR. c, alignment of MIR with some known RING finger proteins. Black boxes show the conserved cysteine and histidine in the RING finger motif (C3-H-C4). Gray boxes denote conserved amino acids at other positions. c-IAP2, human inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2; XIAP, X-chromosome linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein; c-CBL, cbl proto-oncoprotein; CGR19, human cell growth regulator p19; PML, promyelocytic leukemia protein; and RFP, ret finger protein.

MIR mRNA Is Expressed in Various Human Fetal and Adult Tissues-- Previous studies have shown that the ERM proteins are expressed in many different tissues. Fig. 2 shows that MIR mRNA, with a size of about 3 kilobases, is present in various human tissues, including fetal and adult brain. The most prominent expression was seen in placenta and fetal lung, with approximately equal levels of MIR mRNA in other tissues.

View larger version (78K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2.   Tissue distribution of human MIR mRNA. Northern blot analysis was done using Multiple Tissue Northern blots (CLONTECH) as described under "Experimental Procedures." Expression of -actin was used as a standard. a, fetal; b, adult tissues.

Distribution of MIR in Cultured COS Cells-- COS-7 cells were transiently transfected with MIR cDNA expressing EGFP at the amino-terminal end for visualization. The EGFP-MIR fusion protein showed a punctated pattern of GFP fluorescence in transfected COS-7 cells, whereas the control EGFP vector showed a homogenous distribution of green fluorescence throughout the cytoplasm (Fig. 3). The distribution of fluorescence of EGFP-MIR in COS cells is similar to that observed previously for ERM proteins fused to GFP (5). To study the localization of endogenous MIR, we stained COS cells with an antibody specific for MIR, which gave rise to a pattern similar to that obtained with EGFP-MIR (Fig. 3c). These results demonstrate that MIR distributes in a distinct punctate pattern within COS-7 cells, indicative of an association with the cytoskeleton.

View larger version (33K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 3.   Distribution of MIR in COS cells. a-b, COS-7 cells were transiently transfected with the EGFP control vector (a) or with the fusion construct, EGFP-MIR (b). After 24 h, living cells were observed using a Zeiss Axiovert microscope linked to a Hamamatsu camera. Scale bar, 30 µm. c, COS-7 cells stained with an anti-MIR antibody. Cells were fixed and immunocytochemistry was performed using an antibody specific for MIR as described under "Experimental Procedures." The resulting immunocomplex was visualized using diaminobenzidine as a chromogen. Scale bar, 30 µm.

MIR Interacts with MRLC-- To reveal the function of MIR, we screened a HeLa cell cDNA library using the yeast two-hybrid system and identified MRLC (14) as an interactor for MIR. A qualitative assay for -galactosidase showed that MRLC exhibited a strong binding to MIR, whereas other proteins such as merlin or XIAP did not interact (Table I). To characterize the binding site of MIR, deletions were made and analyzed further within the yeast system. None of the deletion constructs interacted with MIR, indicating that the whole molecule is required for binding (Table I). To confirm the interaction of MIR with MRLC, we co-transfected COS-7 cells with expression vectors carrying the cDNAs with a recognition sequence tag. Using an anti-HA antibody, we were able to show co-immunoprecipitation of MRLC with MIR (Fig. 4a). This data confirms that an interaction between these proteins occurs also in mammalian cells.

View larger version (50K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 4.   MIR interacts with MRLC and inhibits neurite outgrowth. a, COS-7 cells were transiently transfected with expression vectors encoding HA-tagged MIR and His-tagged MRLC. Cells were lysed after 24 h, and anti-HA immunoprecipitates were analyzed for the presence of MIR and MRLC by Western blotting. b, control (left panel) and PC12 cells stably overexpressing MIR (right panel) were treated for 2 days with 50 ng/ml NGF and observed for neurite outgrowth using a Zeiss microscope. The picture shows a typical experiment that was repeated four times on three different cell clones. Scale bar, 50 µm. c, control and MIR overexpressing PC12 cells were treated for 5 min with 50 ng/ml NGF. Cell lysates were prepared and analyzed for TrkA phosphorylation as described under "Experimental Procedures." d, PC12 cells were transiently transfected with the control EGFP vector (left panel) or with the fusion construct, EGFP-MIR (middle panel). Right panel is a phase contrast picture of the same area with an arrow pointing to the transfected cell. Cells were stimulated for 2 days with 50 ng/ml NGF, and were observed for neurite outgrowth using a Zeiss Axiovert microscope linked to a Hamamatsu camera. Scale bar, 30 µm. e, quantification of neurite outgrowth after NGF. The number of transfected PC12 cells having neurites 2-fold longer than the cell diameter were counted. Values represent mean ± S.E. of three independent experiments with a total number of 100 fluorescent cells analyzed. p  0.001 for Control versus MIR. MIR, cells transfected with EGFP-MIR.

MIR Inhibits Neurite Outgrowth of PC12 Cells but Does Not Affect TrkA Phosphorylation-- MRLC is part of the protein complex controlling the driving force for myosin molecules which control the actomyosin complex (21). We were therefore interested in studying whether MIR affects cell motility. PC12 cells were treated with NGF (17), and whereas control PC12 cells exhibited a profuse outgrowth of neurites after 50 ng/ml NGF, MIR stably transfected cells did not (Fig. 4b). The inhibition of neurite outgrowth by MIR overexpression could not be overcome by higher NGF concentrations (data not shown).

To study whether the PC12 cells overexpressing MIR are defective in their response to NGF, we investigated the potential involvement of the NGF receptor, TrkA using a phosphorylation assay (19). Fig. 4c shows that TrkA is tyrosine phosphorylated by NGF in both control and MIR overexpressing cells, excluding an alteration in receptor activation in these cells. Likewise, the immediate early gene, cFos was equally stimulated by NGF in both types of cells (data not shown). These results lend credence to the view that NGF acts normally in MIR overexpressing cells and that the absence of an appreciable degree of neurite outgrowth by NGF in MIR transfected cells occurs downstream of TrkA. To substantiate the results obtained using stable cell lines, PC12 cells were transiently transfected with the EGFP-MIR expression vector. The results showed that overexpression of MIR significantly inhibited neurite outgrowth stimulated by NGF (Fig. 4d). Quantification of the data showed that MIR transfected cells had significantly less neurites compared with control PC12 cells (Fig. 4e).

	DISCUSSION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES

In this study we have cloned MIR, a novel member of the ERM protein family which is expressed in a variety of different human tissues. In addition to the amino-terminal ERM homology domain, MIR has a carboxyl-terminal RING finger similar to other proteins involved in regulating growth and survival of cells (20). The ERM and the RING finger domains constitute structural motifs which probably mediate important protein-protein interactions. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we identified MRLC as a protein interacting with MIR, suggesting a possible role of MIR in the actomyosin complex.

ERM proteins associate with proteins both in the plasma membrane and in the cytoskeleton, taking part in the co-ordination of cell motility. According to the present results, an essential function for MIR in transfected PC12 is to influence neurite outgrowth, probably by influencing cytoskeletal components involved in cell motility. MIR interacts with MRLC, which regulates the activity of the actomyosin complex in muscle as well as in nonmuscle cells (21). Two isoforms of MRLC are present in brain tissue and in cultured neuroblasts (22). Evidence has recently been provided for the involvement of myosin in neurite outgrowth (23). Neuronal cells express different forms of myosin including conventional myosin II, present at the leading edge of the growth cones (24). Mouse neuroblastoma cells express both myosin IIA and myosin IIB isoforms, but only the latter seems to be involved in neurite extension (24). In view of the present finding, it is reasonable to assume that MIR, via its interaction with MRLC, can inhibit the driving force of myosin, which controls the actomyosin complex. Previous studies have shown an effect of radixin and moesin on growth cone motility and process formation in neurons (11, 12). Radixin was shown to redistribute to the growth cones following NGF stimulation (11). These results suggest an important function for different ERM-like proteins in the control of neurite outgrowth, which may involve an interaction with MIR.

The activity of actomyosin complex is known to be regulated by the phosphorylation state of MRLC, which is influenced by the myosin light chain kinase and by the corresponding phosphatase (25). Increased MRLC phosphorylation leads to enhanced cell contractility and to increased calcium sensitivity in smooth muscle cells (26). A similar regulation of myosin activity probably occurs in neurons. Recent evidence suggests a critical role for Rho, belonging to the small GTPase Rho family of proteins (27) and for its associated Rho p160 kinase (ROCK) in mediating MRLC phosphorylation (26). It was recently shown that agonist-induced or enhanced Rho/ROCK activity is sufficient for mediating neurite retraction and cell rounding of neuroblastoma cells in culture (28). It was suggested that Rho/ROCK activity tonically inhibits cell process extensions via activation of actinomyosin contractility and suppression of the assembly of intermediate filaments and microtubules (28). Previous studies have suggested a role for ERM proteins in the activation cascade induced by Rho (5) via a conserved threonine in the carboxyl-terminal region of ERM proteins, which is phosphorylated by ROCK (29). On the other hand, ERM proteins are thought to contribute to the activation of Rho by sequestering the Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor, which in turn binds the inactive form of Rho (30).

In view of these mutual interactions between the Rho family members and ERM proteins, it is possible that the function of MIR is linked to alterations in Rho activity. Indeed, microinjection of active ROCK kinase in PC12 cells leads to neurite retraction (31). This is analogous to the effect observed for MIR in transfected PC12 cells, and suggests that MIR functions in parallel to Rho/ROCK in inhibiting neurite extension. The mechanism by which MIR acts may indirectly involve changes in MRLC phosphorylation thereby hindering cytoskeleton interactions promoting neurite outgrowth.

MIR may have additional functions in cells, acting as a stabilizing factor for the cytoskeleton by cross-linking various protein components important for the attachment/detachment reactions required for cell motility. In keeping with such a notion, we have recently obtained evidence for the interaction of MIR with other regulatory proteins affecting the cytoskeleton. The nature of these proteins and the role of MIR in regulating cell motility in other cell types than neurons are currently under investigation.

	ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We thank Pontus Aspenström for helpful discussions.

	FOOTNOTES

^* This study was supported by the Swedish Cancer Foundation (Cancerfonden) and by a EU-BIOTECH grant.The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

The nucleotide sequence(s) reported in this paper has been submitted to the GenBank^TM/EMBL Data Bank with accession number(s) AF187016.

To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel.: ++46 18 4714435; Fax: ++46 18 559017; E-mail: dan.lindholm@neuro.uu.se.

	ABBREVIATIONS

The abbreviations used are: ERM proteins, ezrin, radixin, moesin protein family; EGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; HA, hemagglutinin; IAP, inhibitory of apoptosis protein; MIR, myosin regulatory light chain interacting protein; MRLC, myosin regulatory light chain B; NGF, nerve growth factor; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; ROCK, Rho p160 kinase.

	REFERENCES

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES RESULTS DISCUSSION REFERENCES