Biology subjects

Frieden, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Frieden, M..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

CONSTITUTIVE STIM1L DELETION ALTERS STORE-OPERATED CALCIUM ENTRY KINETICS BUT DOES NOT PERTURB THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION OF MOUSE SKELETAL MUSCLE

Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) is a ubiquitous calcium (Ca2+) signalling mechanism that replenishes endoplasmic and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores. We previously identified STIM1L, a skeletal muscle-enriched STIM1 splice variant that enables rapid SOCE activation in human myotubes. To determine its physiological role in vivo, we generated a constitutive knockout mouse model that selectively abolishes STIM1L expression while preserving the canonical STIM1 isoform. Stim1l-KO mice developed normally and exhibited no overt abnormalities, but both sexes showed reduced voluntary wheel-running activity, suggesting neuromuscular perturbation. Skeletal muscle deprived of STIM1L did not show any histological alterations or changes in fibre- type and size. Likewise, force-frequency relationships and fatigue resistance measured ex vivo in isolated extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles were indistinguishable from control muscles. This lack of difference may be explained by the increased expression of STIM1 in several skeletal muscles and suggests that changes in the voluntary running activity of Stim1l-KO mice may arise from STIM1L loss in non-muscular tissues, including the central nervous system. Notwithstanding, primary myotubes derived from Stim1l-KO mice displayed a marked delay in SOCE activation kinetics, whereas SOCE amplitude remained comparable to controls. This was consistent with a compensatory STIM1 upregulation maintaining overall Ca2+ entry capacity. Interestingly, electrically evoked Ca2+ transients in intact Stim1l-KO flexor digitorum brevis fibres exhibited significantly faster decay kinetics than controls. This revealed another role of STIM1L in Ca2+ handling in skeletal muscle that appears independent of its contribution to SOCE activation. Together, these findings establish STIM1L as a regulator of SOCE activation kinetics and indicate an additional role in myofibre Ca2+ clearance, while suggesting that compensatory upregulation of canonical STIM1 may preserve muscle structure and contractile function in its absence in mice.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2026

The Orai3 channel and AHNAK2 scaffold protein promote the activation of primary human muscle stem cells in vitro

Skeletal muscle is a dynamic tissue able to regenerate in response to injury. This regeneration relies primarily on the activation of precursor cells, known as muscle stem cells (MuSC). Upon activation, skeletal MuSC re-enter the cell cycle and proliferate as myoblasts, which subsequently either differentiate and fuse to form new fibers or return to quiescence to maintain long-term regenerative capacity. From primary human myoblasts, we generated reserve cells (RCs), quiescent cells similar to MuSC, and investigated their activation after stimulation with a growth medium containing serum. Here, we show that Orai3 calcium channel is primarily expressed in RC, where it promotes RC activation in a calcium-independent manner. We demonstrate that Orai3 does not contribute to store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) or calcium response induced by serum stimulation in RC cells, supporting the hypothesis that Orai3 plays a unique role in RC, distinct from its calcium channel activity. Using a protein proximity assay (BioID), we identified the large scaffold protein AHNAK2 as a potential partner of Orai3. AHNAK2 is expressed at high level in myotubes, and has a similar effect on RC activation than Orai3. Both Orai3 and AHNAK2 are necessary for proper myoblast differentiation and RC activation, while acting through different signaling pathways. Specifically, we show that Orai3 directly influences the RC fate, whereas AHNAK2 facilitates RC activation via signals derived from myotubes. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation and quiescence of human MuSC.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

mTORC1-dependent SOCE activity regulates synaptic gene expression and muscle response to denervation

Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) instability is central in muscle dysfunction occurring in neuromuscular disorders and aging. NMJ maintenance requires regionalized regulation of synaptic genes, previously associated with Ca2+-dependent pathways. However, what sustains Ca2+ micro-domains in myofibers and allows a rapid response to denervation is not known. Here, we identify that Store-Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE) plays a critical role in synaptic gene regulation. SOCE components show differential enrichment in sub- and non-synaptic muscle regions. Especially, STIM1 accumulation at rough endoplasmic reticulum associates with functional SOCE at the endplate. Denervation increases SOCE in non- and sub-synaptic regions, together with reticulum remodeling. Stim1 knockdown hampers denervation-induced synaptic gene up-regulation, while STIM1 overexpression increases synaptic gene expression in innervated muscle. Finally, mTORC1 activation mimics the effect of denervation on SOCE capacity, STIM1 localization and reticulum remodeling. Together, our results reveal a decisive role of SOCE in sensing innervation and regulating muscle response to denervation. They further suggest that SOCE perturbation may contribute to neuromuscular integrity loss in pathological conditions associated with mTORC1 dysregulation.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Quantitative proteomic analysis of skeletal muscles from wild type and transgenic mice carrying recessive Ryr1 mutations linked to congenital myopathies

Skeletal muscle is a highly structured and differentiated tissue responsible for voluntary movement and metabolic regulation. Muscles however, are heterogeneous and depending on their location, speed of contraction, fatiguability and function, can be broadly subdivided into fast and slow twitch as well as subspecialized muscles, with each group expressing common as well as specific proteins. Congenital myopathies are a group of non-inflammatory non-dystrophic muscle diseases caused by mutations in a number of genes, leading to a weak muscle phenotype. In most cases specific muscles types are affected, with preferential involvement of fast twitch muscles as well as extraocular and facial muscles. Here we performed relative and absolute quantitative proteomic analysis of EDL, soleus and extraocular muscles from wild type and transgenic mice carrying compound heterozygous mutations in Ryr1 identified in a patient with a severe congenital myopathy. Our quantitative proteomic study shows that recessive Ryr1 mutations not only decrease the content of RyR1 protein in muscle, but also impact the content of many other proteins; in addition, we provide important insight into the pathological mechanism of congenital myopathies linked to mutations in other genes encoding components of the excitation contraction coupling molecular complex.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2021

S-acylation targets ORAI1 channels to lipid rafts for efficient Ca2+ signaling by T cell receptors at the immune synapse

Efficient immune responses require Ca2+ fluxes across ORAI1 channels during engagement of T cell receptors (TCR) at the immune synapse (IS) between T cells and antigen presenting cells. Here, we show that ZDHHC20-mediated S-acylation of the ORAI1 channel at residue Cys143 is required for TCR assembly and signaling at the IS. Cys143 mutations reduced ORAI1 currents and store-operated Ca2+ entry in HEK-293 cells and nearly abrogated long-lasting Ca2+ elevations, NFATC1 translocation, and IL-2 secretion evoked by TCR engagement in Jurkat T cells. The acylation-deficient channel had reduced mobility in lipids, accumulated in cholesterol-poor domains, formed tiny clusters, failed to reach the IS and unexpectedly also prevented TCR recruitment to the IS. Our results establish S-acylation as a critical regulator of ORAI1 channel assembly and function at the IS and reveal that local Ca2+ fluxes are required for TCR recruitment to the synapse.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2020

p.E152K-STIM1 mutation deregulates Ca2+ signaling contributing to chronic pancreatitis.

Since deregulation of intracellular Ca2+ can lead to intracellular trypsin activation and STIM1 (stromal interaction molecule-1) protein is the main regulator of Ca2+ homeostasis in pancreatic acinar cells, we explored the Ca2+ signaling in 37 STIM1 variants found in three pancreatitis patient cohorts. Extensive functional analysis of one particular variant, p.E152K, identified in three patients, provided a plausible link between dysregulated Ca2+ signaling within pancreatic acinar cells and chronic pancreatitis susceptibility. Specifically, p.E152K, located within the STIM1 EF-hand and sterile -motif domain, increased the release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum in patient-derived fibroblasts and transfected HEK293T cells. This event was mediated by altered STIM1-sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase (SERCA) interactions and enhanced SERCA pump activity leading to increased Store Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE). In the pancreatic AR42J cells expressing the p.E152K variant, Ca2+-signaling perturbations correlated with defects in trypsin activation and secretion, and increased cytotoxicity after cholecystokinin stimulation. Summary statementp.E152K-STIM1 variant found in pancreatitis patients leads to intracellular changes in calcium homeostasis through SERCA interaction, enabling intracellular trypsin activation and pancreatic acinar cell death.

cell biology↗