New role for EMD (emerin), a key inner nuclear membrane protein, as an enhancer of autophagosome formation in the C16-ceramide autophagy pathway

Autophagy. 2014 Jul;10(7):1229-40. doi: 10.4161/auto.28777. Epub 2014 May 7.

Abstract

To date, precise roles of EMD (emerin) remain poorly described. In this paper, we investigated the role of EMD in the C16-ceramide autophagy pathway. Ceramides are bioactive signaling molecules acting notably in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, or cell death. However, the mechanisms by which they mediate these pathways are not fully understood. We found that C16-ceramide induces EMD phosphorylation on its LEM domain through PRKACA. Upon ceramide treatment, phosphorylated EMD binds MAP1LC3B leading to an increase of autophagosome formation. These data suggest a new role of EMD as an enhancer of autophagosome formation in the C16-ceramide autophagy pathway in colon cancer cells.

Keywords: EMD; LEM-domain; PRKACA; autophagy; ceramide; colon cancer cells; phosphorylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Autophagy / drug effects*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Ceramides / pharmacology*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Isoquinolines / pharmacology
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Envelope / drug effects
  • Nuclear Envelope / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phagosomes / drug effects
  • Phagosomes / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Staurosporine / pharmacology
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology

Substances

  • Ceramides
  • Isoquinolines
  • MAP1LC3B protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Sulfonamides
  • emerin
  • N-palmitoylsphingosine
  • Staurosporine
  • N-(2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide