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Hakanen, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Hakanen, S..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Scinderin-driven Golgi Actin Remodeling coordinates GLP-1 and insulin secretion to regulate glucose homeostasis

Maintenance of glucose homeostasis requires coordinated hormone secretion from intestinal enteroendocrine cells and pancreatic {beta}-cells, yet the intracellular mechanisms that couple nutrient sensing to endocrine output remain poorly defined. Here, we identify the actin remodeler Scinderin (SCIN) as a shared regulator of hormone secretion across these systems. SCIN is selectively expressed in enteroendocrine L-cells and pancreatic {beta}-cells, where it localizes to phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI(4)P)-enriched Golgi membranes and controls Golgi-associated actin dynamics. Loss of SCIN disrupts Golgi organization, impairs prohormone trafficking, and reduces secretory granule formation, resulting in defective nutrient-stimulated GLP-1 and insulin secretion while preserving cAMP-dependent amplification pathways. In vivo, tissue-specific deletion of Scin compromises incretin responses, {beta}-cell insulin secretion, and systemic glucose homeostasis. Consistent with these findings, SCIN expression is reduced in human diabetic {beta}-cells and associates with stress-related loss of {beta}-cell maturity. Transcriptomic analyses reveal a conserved Golgi stress program upon SCIN loss, linking intracellular trafficking defects to endocrine dysfunction. Together, our results identify SCIN-dependent Golgi actin remodeling as a rate-limiting intracellular mechanism coordinating enteroendocrine and pancreatic hormone secretion. This work uncovers a shared, targetable node controlling endocrine output, providing a mechanistic link between secretory pathway dysfunction and diabetes.

cell biology↗

CDK5 activity in retinal pigment epithelium contributes to gap junction dynamics during phagocytosis

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) at the back of the eye is a monolayer of cells with an extensive network of gap junctions that contributes to retinal health in a multitude of ways. One of those roles is the phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments. This renewal is under circadian regulation and peaks after light onset. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most predominantly expressed gap junction protein in RPE. In this study, we examine how gap junctions and specifically, Cx43 phosphorylation, contribute to phagocytosis in both human embryonic stem cell derived RPE and mouse RPE monolayers. We show that both Rac1 and CDK5 have differences in protein localization at different points in phagocytosis, and that by using their effectors, the capability of RPE for phagocytosis changes. CDK5 has not yet been reported in RPE tissue, and here we show that it likely regulates Cx43 localization and resulting electrical coupling. We find that gap junctions in RPE are temporally highly dynamic during phagocytosis and that regulation of gap junctions via phosphorylation is likely critical for maintaining eye health.

cell biology↗

Parvovirus infection alters the nucleolar structure

The nucleolus is a biomolecular condensate essential for ribosome biogenesis and cellular stress response, and it is a key target for many DNA viruses. However, little is known about how autonomous parvovirus infection impacts nucleolar structure and function. Here, we used advanced imaging techniques, including ten-fold robust expansion microscopy (TREx), cryo soft X-ray tomography (Cryo-SXT), and interactomics and biochemical approaches, to study nucleolar remodeling during canine parvovirus infection. Infection led to redistribution of nucleolar upstream binding transcription factor 1 (inner core), fibrillarin (middle layer), and Ki-67 (outer rim). In contrast, peripheral nucleolar proteins (nucleolin and nucleophosmin) and precursor ribosomal RNAs (pre-rRNAs) remain in circularized structures. TREx and Cryo-SXT microscopy revealed profound nucleolar structural changes, including thickened perinucleolar chromatin and enlarged nucleolar low-protein density channels. BioID identified interactions between viral NS2 and nucleolar proteins in ribosome biogenesis. Northern blotting demonstrated a slowdown in ribosome biogenesis during infection. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into how parvoviruses remodel nucleolar structure and function.

cell biology↗