Septin 7 forms a complex with CD2AP and nephrin and regulates glucose transporter trafficking

Mol Biol Cell. 2012 Sep;23(17):3370-9. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E11-12-1010. Epub 2012 Jul 18.

Abstract

Podocytes are insulin-sensitive and take up glucose in response to insulin. This requires nephrin, which interacts with vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) on GLUT4 storage vesicles (GSVs) and facilitates their fusion with the plasma membrane. In this paper, we show that the filament-forming GTPase septin 7 is expressed in podocytes and associates with CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) and nephrin, both essential for glomerular ultrafiltration. In addition, septin 7 coimmunoprecipitates with VAMP2. Subcellular fractionation of cultured podocytes revealed that septin 7 is found in both cytoplasmic and membrane fractions, and immunofluorescence microscopy showed that septin 7 is expressed in a filamentous pattern and is also found on vesicles and the plasma membrane. The filamentous localization of septin 7 depends on CD2AP and intact actin organization. A 2-deoxy-d-glucose uptake assay indicates that depletion of septin 7 by small interfering RNA or alteration of septin assembly by forchlorfenuron facilitates glucose uptake into cells and further, knockdown of septin 7 increased the interaction of VAMP2 with nephrin and syntaxin 4. The data indicate that septin 7 hinders GSV trafficking and further, the interaction of septin 7 with nephrin in glomeruli suggests that septin 7 may participate in the regulation of glucose transport in podocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Phenylurea Compounds / pharmacology
  • Podocytes / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Septins / genetics
  • Septins / metabolism*
  • Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CD2-associated protein
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Glucose Transporter Type 4
  • Insulin
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Pyridines
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Vamp2 protein, rat
  • Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 2
  • nephrin
  • Septin7 protein, rat
  • Septins
  • N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea