Calcium influx promotes PLEKHG4B localization to cell-cell junctions and regulates the integrity of junctional actin filaments

Mol Biol Cell. 2024 Feb 1;35(2):ar24. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E23-05-0154. Epub 2023 Dec 13.

Abstract

PLEKHG4B is a Cdc42-targeting guanine-nucleotide exchange factor implicated in forming epithelial cell-cell junctions. Here we explored the mechanism regulating PLEKHG4B localization. PLEKHG4B localized to the basal membrane in normal Ca2+ medium but accumulated at cell-cell junctions upon ionomycin treatment. Ionomycin-induced junctional localization of PLEKHG4B was suppressed upon disrupting its annexin-A2 (ANXA2)-binding ability. Thus, Ca2+ influx and ANXA2 binding are crucial for PLEKHG4B localization to cell-cell junctions. Treatments with low Ca2+ or BAPTA-AM (an intracellular Ca2+ chelator) suppressed PLEKHG4B localization to the basal membrane. Mutations of the phosphoinositide-binding motif in the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of PLEKHG4B or masking of membrane phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] suppressed PLEKHG4B localization to the basal membrane, indicating that basal membrane localization of PLEKHG4B requires suitable intracellular Ca2+ levels and PI(4,5)P2 binding of the PH domain. Activation of mechanosensitive ion channels (MSCs) promoted PLEKHG4B localization to cell-cell junctions, and their inhibition suppressed it. Moreover, similar to the PLEKHG4B knockdown phenotypes, inhibition of MSCs or treatment with BAPTA-AM disturbed the integrity of actin filaments at cell-cell junctions. Taken together, our results suggest that Ca2+ influx plays crucial roles in PLEKHG4B localization to cell-cell junctions and the integrity of junctional actin organization, with MSCs contributing to this process.

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Calcium* / metabolism
  • Egtazic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Intercellular Junctions* / metabolism
  • Ionomycin

Substances

  • Calcium
  • 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester
  • Ionomycin
  • Egtazic Acid