The Calcium Pump ATP2B1/PMCA1 Regulates CNS Vascular Development by Facilitating Norrin- and WNT7A/B-induced Frizzled4 signaling

Jo, H.-N.; Kiffmeyer, E.; Zhang, C.; Zhang, L.; Odame, E.; Dinh, Q. C.; Levey, J.; Howe, M.; Roux, K. J.; Fischer, K.-D.; Chen, Z.; Junge, H. J.

doi:10.1101/2025.07.17.664964

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.07.17.664964

The Calcium Pump ATP2B1/PMCA1 Regulates CNS Vascular Development by Facilitating Norrin- and WNT7A/B-induced Frizzled4 signaling

Jo, H.-N.·Kiffmeyer, E.·Zhang, C.·Zhang, L.·Odame, E.·Dinh, Q. C.·Levey, J.·Howe, M.·Roux, K. J.·Fischer, K.-D.·Chen, Z.·Junge, H. J.

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Frizzled4 (FZD4) is a receptor for Norrin and WNT7A/B ligands, is expressed in endothelial cells (ECs), is required for endothelial blood-central nervous system (CNS) barrier function as well as CNS angiogenesis, and transduces {beta}-catenin-dependent signaling. Despite its fundamental importance in neurovascular biology, including as a drug target, the molecular mechanisms governing FZD4 regulation remain poorly understood. Here, we employed proximity biotinylation to identify proteins that regulate FZD4. We identified ATPase Plasma Membrane Ca{superscript 2} Transporting 1 (ATP2B1, also known as PMCA1) as a FZD4 proximity interactor. Functional analyses revealed that ATP2B1 depletion increased EC Ca2+, activated NFAT, and significantly attenuated Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling. Endothelial-specific Atp2b1 deletion caused CNS vascular phenotypes consistent with compromised Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling. This study identifies ATP2B1 as a novel regulator of Norrin- and WNT7A/B-induced FZD4 signaling and suggests that in pathological contexts with elevated EC Ca2+-levels, EC function may be modulated by suppression of {beta}-catenin-dependent signaling.

Source connections

Published article ↗

Explore related subjects

developmental biology Preprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Jo, H.-N., Kiffmeyer, E., Zhang, C., Zhang, L., Odame, E., Dinh, Q. C., Levey, J., Howe, M., Roux, K. J., Fischer, K.-D., Chen, Z., Junge, H. J.. 2025-07-22. The Calcium Pump ATP2B1/PMCA1 Regulates CNS Vascular Development by Facilitating Norrin- and WNT7A/B-induced Frizzled4 signaling. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.17.664964

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

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Neural regulation of hatching in amphibians

Many animal embryos hatch in response to threats or opportunities, yet how cue sensing activates hatching is unknown. We screened red-eyed treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas) eggs in the field with small molecules to discover that the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is a key mediator of hatching enzyme release. Using behavioral pharmacology, microscopy, and transcriptional profiling we identify direct cholinergic input on hatching gland cells that triggers enzyme release for egg rupture, and serotonergic transduction of embryonic hypoxia sensing. Independent hypoxia-sensing and mechanosensory predation-detection pathways converge on a hatching decision that elicits acetylcholine-dependent enzyme release and coordinated hatching-specific behavior. Cholinergic regulation of hatching enzyme release is conserved in a distantly related frog and salamander, suggesting a shared ancestral hatching mechanism. These results provide a neural basis for hatching plasticity which may have contributed to the evolution of diverse hatching modes in amphibians.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Towards Understanding the Microenvironmental Control of Reindeer Antler Regeneration

Deer antlers are the only mammalian appendages capable of complete periodic regeneration and therefore provide a natural model for investigating mechanisms of skeletal regeneration. However, current knowledge of the structural and molecular characteristics of the regenerative antler microenvironment remains incomplete. Here, we compared antler tip and antler base tissues from Rangifer tarandus (reindeer) with mature metacarpal cortical bone using structural, compositional, histological, and proteomic analyses. Antler tissues exhibited smaller and less crystalline apatite structures, elevated carbonate substitution, and higher organic matrix content compared with metacarpal bone, indicating an immature mineral phase. Antlers also exhibited lower bone mineral density, greater porosity, reduced bone volume fraction, and greater trabecular separation, particularly in central regions, consistent with a dynamic remodeling microenvironment. Histological examination revealed abundant active osteons and extensive osteoid seams in antler tissues, whereas metacarpal bone predominantly comprised mature lamellar bone with limited remodeling activity. Proteomic profiling identified distinct extracellular matrix signatures between antler and metacarpal tissues. Metacarpal bone was enriched in proteins associated with skeletal homeostasis, mechanotransduction, and bone remodeling, whereas antler tissues were enriched in proteins involved in extracellular matrix reorganization, metabolic adaptation, and regeneration. Collectively, these findings indicate that reindeer antlers possess a specialized regenerative skeletal microenvironment characterized by immature mineral organization, active remodeling, and distinct molecular signatures associated with rapid tissue growth. These results provide new insights into the biological basis of mammalian appendage regeneration and may facilitate the development of regenerative strategies for bone repair and skeletal tissue engineering.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Endogenous expression of mutant RagC in mice results in early-onset dilated cardiomyopathy with features of the Long-Olsen-Distelmaier syndrome

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a severe heart condition often linked to arrhythmias, clots, and heart failure, for which treatments are not yet curative. Recently, de novo mutations in genes encoding components of the Rag GTPase nutrient signaling pathway, particularly in RRAGC, have been found in unrelated patients with a severe, early-onset DCM syndrome called Long-Olsen-Distelmaier. Cancer cell lines, hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and zebrafish have been used to study this Ragopathy, but a mammalian model to investigate this syndrome has not been generated. Here, we show that mice engineered to endogenously express mutations in Serine 74 (orthologous to the Serine 75 mutated in patients), exhibit early-onset features of DCM with decreased heart size, fibrosis, diastolic dysfunction and aortic insufficiency, characteristics reminiscent of the human syndrome. Moreover, Rragc-mutant hearts display decreased left ventricular mass and interventricular septum. Endogenous heterozygous expression of Rragc mutant variants result in a milder, sublethal defective physiological cardiac growth with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Mechanistically, active RagC does not cause abnormal increase in cardiomyocyte size, but leads to suppressed transcriptional activity of Tfeb and alterations in cardiomyocyte metabolism. Transcriptional profiling of neonatal mutant hearts reveals multiple signatures of impaired mitochondrial activity. Ex vivo and in vitro analyses of murine cardiomyocyte mitochondria from Rragc-mutant mice show suppressed mitochondrial respiration, disturbed complex IV multimerization and super-complex organization. These data point to abnormal early postnatal heart metabolism by deregulated nutrient - Rag GTPase signaling with a potential molecular explanation to the early onset of DCM in patients with de novo missense mutations in RRAGC, and suggests the relevance of early metabolic interventions in conditions with altered nutrient signaling

developmental biology↗