Browsing by Author "Aypek, Hande"

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Alteration of Protein Localization and Intracellular Calcium Content Due To Connexin26 D50a and A88v Mutations
(Türk Biyokimya Derneği, 2017-04) Aypek, Hande; Meşe, Gülistan; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology
Introduction: Connexins (Cx) play essential roles in cellular homeostasis by forming gap junctions and non-junctional hemichannels. In vitro characterization of Cx26 mutations causing keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome, were shown to form leaky hemichannels. The molecular/ cellular mechanisms affected by aberrant hemichannels have recently been elucidated. Here, we further wanted to characterize Cx26 KID syndrome mutations, D50A and A88V, which were shown to form aberrant hemichannels and remained unaddressed in the literature. Methods: Neurobiotin uptake assay in HeLa and N2A cells transfected with Cx26-WT, D50A or A88V verified the presence of aberrant hemichannels and immunofluorescent staining with fluorescent microscopy determined cellular localization of Cx26. Finally, intracellular calcium content was examined by using calcium indicator, Fluo-3AM, and flow cytometer. Results: Cx26-D50A and A88V mutations prevented the formation of gap junction plaques at cell-cell appositions and mutant proteins were observed to localize to the Golgi apparatus. Further, comparison of intracellular calcium content showed an increase in calcium amount in cells containing Cx26-D50A and A88V relative to Cx26-WT. Conclusion: Retention of Cx26 in the Golgi apparatus and alteration in the intracellular calcium content due to KID syndrome mutations may influence various cellular processes that might contribute to development of epidermal phenotypes.
Citation - WoS: 14
Citation - Scopus: 16
Altered Cellular Localization and Hemichannel Activities of Kid Syndrome Associated Connexin26 I30n and D50y Mutations
(BioMed Central Ltd., 2016) Aypek, Hande; Meşe Özçivici, Gülistan; Bay, Veysel; Meşe Özçivici, Gülistan; Meşe, Gülistan; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology
Background: Gap junctions facilitate exchange of small molecules between adjacent cells, serving a crucial function for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Mutations in connexins, the basic unit of gap junctions, are associated with several human hereditary disorders. For example, mutations in connexin26 (Cx26) cause both non-syndromic deafness and syndromic deafness associated with skin abnormalities such as keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome. These mutations can alter the formation and function of gap junction channels through different mechanisms, and in turn interfere with various cellular processes leading to distinct disorders. The KID associated Cx26 mutations were mostly shown to result in elevated hemichannel activities. However, the effects of these aberrant hemichannels on cellular processes are recently being deciphered. Here, we assessed the effect of two Cx26 mutations associated with KID syndrome, Cx26I30N and D50Y, on protein biosynthesis and channel function in N2A and HeLa cells. Results: Immunostaining experiments showed that Cx26I30N and D50Y failed to form gap junction plaques at cell-cell contact sites. Further, these mutations resulted in the retention of Cx26 protein in the Golgi apparatus. Examination of hemichannel function by fluorescent dye uptake assays revealed that cells with Cx26I30N and D50Y mutations had increased dye uptake compared to Cx26WT (wild-type) containing cells, indicating abnormal hemichannel activities. Cells with mutant proteins had elevated intracellular calcium levels compared to Cx26WT transfected cells, which were abolished by a hemichannel blocker, carbenoxolone (CBX), as measured by Fluo-3 AM loading and flow cytometry. Conclusions: Here, we demonstrated that Cx26I30N and D50Y mutations resulted in the formation of aberrant hemichannels that might result in elevated intracellular calcium levels, a process which may contribute to the hyperproliferative epidermal phenotypes of KID syndrome.
Citation - WoS: 17
Citation - Scopus: 16
Cnt Incorporated Polyacrilonitrile/Polypyrrole Nanofibers as Keratinocytes Scaffold
(Trans Tech Publications, 2019) İnce Yardımcı, Atike; Aypek, Hande; Öztürk, Özgür; Yılmaz, Selahattin; Özçivici, Engin; Meşe, Gülistan; Selamet, Yusuf; 03.01. Department of Bioengineering; 03.02. Department of Chemical Engineering; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04.05. Department of Pyhsics; 03. Faculty of Engineering; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology
Polypyrrole (PPy) is an attractive scaffold material for tissue engineering with its non-toxic and electrically conductive properties. There has not been enough information about PPy usage in skin tissue engineering. The aim of this study is to investigate biocompatibility of polyacrilonitrile (PAN)/PPy nanofibrous scaffold for human keratinocytes. PAN/PPy bicomponent nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning, in various PPy concentrations and with carbon nanotube (CNT) incorporation. The average diameter of electrospun nanofibers decreased with increasing PPy concentration. Further, agglomerated CNTs caused beads and disordered parts on the surface of nanofibers. Biocompatibility of these PAN/PPy and PAN/PPy/CNT scaffolds were analyzed in vitro. Both scaffolds provided adhesion and proliferation of keratinocytes. Nanofiber diameter did not significantly influence the morphology of cells. However, with increasing number of cells, cells stayed among nanofibers and this affected their shape and size. In this study, we demonstrated that PAN/PPy and PAN/PPy/CNT scaffolds enabled the growth of keratinocytes, showing their biocompatibility.
Deciphering Functions of Aberrant Hemichannels Formed by Connexin 26- I30n and D50y Mutations
(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2015-07) Aypek, Hande; Meşe Özçivici, Gülistan; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology
Cells need to communicate with each other for maintenance cellular and tissue homeostasis. Gap junctions are channel-forming structures that are formed by docking of two hemichannels on the plasma membrane of adjacent cells. Connexins are subunits of gap junctions. Connexin 26 (Cx26) is one of the connexin isoform and mutations on the Cx26 gene (GJB2) cause non-syndromic and syndromic deafness. Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome is one of the syndromic deafness disorders caused by Cx26 mutations. Among these mutations, Cx26-I30N and D50Y missense mutations were shown to form aberrant hemichannels but their effect on protein biosynthesis and functions have not studied. In this study, we aimed to decipher in vitro functions of aberrant hemichannels formed by Cx26-I30N and D50Y mutations. First of all, the effect of Cx26-I30N and D50Y mutations on localization, mRNA expression and protein synthesis properties were investigated in HeLa, N2A and HaCaT cells. Results suggested that Cx26-I30N and D50Y mutants were not able to form gap junction plaques on the plasma membrane and were localized in the Golgi apparatus. In addition, mutations resulted in a reduction in mRNA expression and protein synthesis. After, functional analysis was performed in Cx26-I30N and D50Y transfected N2A and HaCaT cells. Internal Ca2+ content measurement, measurement of released ATP, measurement of cell size and apoptosis assays were performed. Ca2+ measurement results showed that both Cx26-I30N and D50Y mutations deregulate Ca2+ balance in both N2A and HaCaT cells. Result of ATP release assay indicated that ATP amount in the extracellular environment decreased in N2A cells having Cx26-I30N and D50Y clones. Finally, apoptosis assay showed that number of necrotic cells increased when N2A cells were transfected with Cx26-I30N and D50Y constructs. Therefore, it was shown that aberrant hemichannels formed by Cx26-I30N and D50Y mutations may induce necrotic cell death by disrupting Ca2+ balance and ATP amount in cells.
Keratitis-Ichthyosis Syndrome Associated Mutations Impair the Localization and Functions of Connexin 26
(Nature Publishing Group, 2015) Aypek, Hande; Meşe, Gülistan; 04.03. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; 04. Faculty of Science; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology
Connexins (Cx) form gap junctions and non-junctional hemichannels that play roles in several cellular mechanisms, including proliferation and differentiation. The importance of connexins for human physiology was shown by the association of mutations in several isoforms with various human hereditary disorders. Mutations in Cx26 cause both non-syndromic and syndromic deafness associated with skin disorders including keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome. In vitro characterization of Cx26 mutations suggested that mutations causing non-syndromic deafness and syndromic deafness show different properties, where the former ones result in loss-of-function and the latter ones cause gain-of-function mutations.