Pleckstrin homology domains of phospholipase C-gamma1 directly interact with beta-tubulin for activation of phospholipase C-gamma1 and reciprocal modulation of beta-tubulin function in microtubule assembly

J Biol Chem. 2005 Feb 25;280(8):6897-905. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M406350200. Epub 2004 Dec 5.

Abstract

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) has two pleckstrin homology (PH) domains, an N-terminal domain and a split PH domain. Here we show that pull down of NIH3T3 cell extracts with PLC-gamma1 PH domain-glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins, followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry, identified beta-tubulin as a binding protein of both PLC-gamma1 PH domains. Tubulin is a main component of microtubules and mitotic spindle fibers, which are composed of alpha- and beta-tubulin heterodimers in all eukaryotic cells. PLC-gamma1 and beta-tubulin colocalized in the perinuclear region in COS-7 cells and cotranslocated to the plasma membrane upon agonist stimulation. Membrane-targeted translocation of depolymerized tubulin by agonist stimulation was also supported by immunoprecipitation analyses. The phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) hydrolyzing activity of PLC-gamma1 was substantially increased in the presence of purified tubulin in vitro, whereas the activity was not promoted by bovine serum albumin, suggesting that beta-tubulin activates PLC-gamma1. Furthermore, indirect immunofluorescent microscopy showed that PLC-gamma1 was highly concentrated in mitotic spindle fibers, suggesting that PLC-gamma1 is involved in spindle fiber formation. The effect of PLC-gamma1 in microtubule formation was assessed by overexpression and silencing PLC-gamma1 in COS-7 cells, which resulted in altered microtubule dynamics in vivo. Cells overexpressing PLC-gamma1 showed higher microtubule densities than controls, whereas PLC-gamma1 silencing with small interfering RNAs led to decreased microtubule network densities as compared with control cells. Taken together, our results suggest that PLC-gamma1 and beta-tubulin transmodulate each other, i.e. that PLC-gamma1 modulates microtubule assembly by beta-tubulin, and beta-tubulin promotes PLC-gamma1 activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Proteins
  • Cell Line
  • Mice
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate / metabolism
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rats
  • Spindle Apparatus / chemistry
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Tubulin / physiology*
  • Type C Phospholipases / chemistry
  • Type C Phospholipases / metabolism*
  • Type C Phospholipases / physiology

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Tubulin
  • platelet protein P47
  • Type C Phospholipases
  • Phospholipase C gamma