Autophagy Increases Occludin Levels to Enhance Intestinal Paracellular Tight Junction Barrier.

Saha, K.; Ganapathy, A. S.; Wang, A.; Morris, N. M.; Suchanec, E.; Yochum, G. S.; Koltun, W.; Ding, W.; Nighot, M.; Ma, T.; Nighot, P.

doi:10.1101/2022.04.11.487876

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.04.11.487876

Autophagy Increases Occludin Levels to Enhance Intestinal Paracellular Tight Junction Barrier.

Saha, K.·Ganapathy, A. S.·Wang, A.·Morris, N. M.·Suchanec, E.·Yochum, G. S.·Koltun, W.·Ding, W.·Nighot, M.·Ma, T.·Nighot, P.

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Background and AimFunctional loss of paracellular tight junction (TJ) barrier of the gut epithelium and mutations in autophagy genes are factors potentiating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previously we showed the role of autophagy in enhancing the TJ barrier via claudin-2 degradation, however, its role in the regulation of the barrier-forming protein occludin remains unknown. Here, we investigate the role of autophagy in the regulation of occludin and its role in inflammation-mediated TJ barrier loss. MethodsPharmacological and genetic tools were used to study the effect of autophagy on occludin levels and localization, and the role of the MAPK pathway. ResultsAutophagy induction using pharmacological activators and nutrient starvation increased total occludin levels in different epithelial cells. Starvation enriched membrane occludin levels and reduced paracellular inulin flux in Caco-2 cells. Starvation-induced TJ barrier enhancement was contingent on the presence of occludin as OCLN-/- nullified its TJ barrier enhancing effect. Autophagy inhibited the constitutive degradation of occludin and protected against inflammation-induced TJ barrier loss. Starvation-induced TJ barrier enhancement was prevented by inhibition of autophagy. Autophagy enhanced the phosphorylation of ERK-1/2. Inhibition of these kinases in Caco-2 cells and human intestinal mucosa inhibited the protective effects of autophagy. In-vivo, autophagy induction by rapamycin increased occludin levels in mouse intestines and protected against LPS and TNF--induced TJ barrier loss. Additionally, acute Atg7 knockout in adult mice decreased intestinal occludin levels, increasing baseline colonic TJ-permeability and exacerbating the effect of DSS-induced colitis. ConclusionOur data suggest a novel role of autophagy in promoting the intestinal TJ barrier by increasing occludin levels in an ERK1/2 MAPK-dependent mechanism. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=151 SRC="FIGDIR/small/487876v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (26K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1e08d0dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14c65f5org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@b9e393org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@bcd65_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

Explore related subjects

cell biology Preprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Saha, K., Ganapathy, A. S., Wang, A., Morris, N. M., Suchanec, E., Yochum, G. S., Koltun, W., Ding, W., Nighot, M., Ma, T., Nighot, P.. 2022-04-11. Autophagy Increases Occludin Levels to Enhance Intestinal Paracellular Tight Junction Barrier.. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.11.487876

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Functional characterization of Rho GTPase activating proteins SYDE1 and SYDE2

The human genome encodes more than 60 proteins containing Rho GTPase activating protein (RhoGAP) domains, many of which remain understudied with respect to their target specificity and biological roles. SYDE1 and SYDE2 are two such orphan RhoGAPs, for which there are few studies characterizing their biochemical and cellular functions and conflicting reports identifying their cognate GTPases. We previously identified SYDE1 and SYDE2 in a screen for substrates of the c-Jun N-terminal kinases. Here, we show that SYDE1 and SYDE2 are preferentially phosphorylated by JNK1 relative to other mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) at sites proximal to a kinase docking region. Purified SYDE1 and SYDE2 are shown to have significant catalytic GAP activity toward RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42. However, neither up- nor down-regulation of SYDE1/2 expression leads to detectable changes in bulk GTP loading of any of these GTPases. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that SYDE1 and SYDE2, in a partially GAP-dependent manner, increase cell spreading and number of focal adhesions, and promote more directionally persistent migration in HEK293 cells. Together, these findings establish SYDE1 and SYDE2 as robust JNK substrates with catalytic activity toward a set of Rho GTPases and reveal basic functions of SYDE1 and SYDE2 in regulating cell morphology, adhesion, and migration.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2026

The filopodial scaffold polyphosphate dictates cell adhesion-versus-invasion decisions

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is an ancient polymer conserved across all life, serving cell type and location specific functions in every major compartment. Yet its role at the plasma membrane, where it accumulates to peak levels in many primary cells, is largely unknown. Here we identify polyP as a stabilizing component of filopodia, actin based membrane protrusions that govern cell adhesion, contact inhibition, and chemotaxis. Elevating cellular polyP increases filopodial stability and enhances cell adhesion, whereas reducing polyP accelerates filopodial disassembly and promotes cell migration. Mechanistically, we find that polyP acts as a structural filopodial scaffold, recruiting and organizing IRSp53, a membrane curvature inducing protein. We show that metastatic fibroblasts and breast cancer organoids carry markedly reduced and intracellularly reorganized polyP levels relative to their non transformed counterparts. Restoring endogenous polyP via lipid nanoparticle delivery suppresses their invasive phenotypes and reverses prometastatic gene expression signatures, implicating polyP as a primordial tumor suppressor.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Mitochondrial transfer mediates metabolic communication between beta cells and islet macrophages

Pancreatic islet macrophages support islet homeostasis and adapt their metabolic program in response to environmental cues, including beta cell released factors. Intercellular mitochondrial transfer is a biological process that modulates cellular responses. To test whether beta cells, which are strongly secretory, transfer mitochondria to islet macrophages, we generated mice with beta cell-specific expression of mitochondrial GFP (PhAMfloxIns1Cre). We demonstrate that beta cells transfer mitochondria to islet macrophages in vivo and in vitro. Diabetogenic stressors did not alter the frequency of mitochondrial transfer and macrophages containing beta cell-derived GFP exhibit increased protein synthesis rates. RNA-seq identified upregulation of activity-regulated cytoskeleton associated protein (Arc) in macrophages receiving beta cell-derived mitochondria, while disruption of actin cytoskeleton dynamics prevented mitochondrial transfer. Together, these findings identify mitochondrial transfer as a previously unrecognized mechanism of beta cell-macrophage communication that may contribute to islet homeostasis and immune regulation.

cell biology↗