Poriferan survivin exhibits a conserved regulatory role in the interconnected pathways of cell cycle and apoptosis

Abstract

Survivin orchestrates intracellular pathways during cell division and apoptosis. Its central function as mitotic regulator and inhibitor of cell death has major implications for tumor cell proliferation. Analyses in early-branching Metazoa so far propose an exclusive role of survivin as a chromosomal passenger protein, whereas only later during evolution a complementary antiapoptotic function might have arisen, concurrent with increased organismal complexity. To lift the veil on the ancestral function(s) of this key regulator, a survivin-like protein (SURVL) of one of the earliest-branching metazoan taxa was identified and functionally characterized. SURVL of the sponge Suberites domuncula shares considerable similarities with its metazoan homologs, ranging from conserved exon/intron structure to presence of protein-interaction domains. Whereas sponge tissue shows a low steady-state level, SURVL expression was significantly upregulated in rapidly proliferating primmorph cells. In addition, challenge of tissue and primmorphs with heavy metal or lipopeptide stimulated SURVL expression, concurrent with the expression of a newly discovered caspase. Complementary functional analyses in transfected HEK-293 cells revealed that heterologous expression of a SURVL–EFGP fusion not only promotes proliferation but also enhances resistance to cadmium-induced cell death. Taken together, these results suggest both a deep evolutionary conserved dual role of survivin and an equally conserved central position in the interconnected pathways of cell cycle and apoptosis.

Apoptosis has a crucial role not only in countless physiological processes (e.g., elimination of redundant cells during vertebrate embryonic development) but also during pathogenesis. As apoptosis relies on the clear-cut function of numerous pro- and antiapoptotic factors, any malfunction on their part or disruption of their respective interplay inevitably leads to dysfunctional cellular metabolism. The ensuing delayed or premature cell death often manifests in severe pathologies, including carcinogenesis and neurodegenerative diseases.

The groundbreaking discovery of the Caenorhabditis elegans proteins cell death abnormality (Ced)-9, homolog of human antiapoptotic Bcl-2, and Ced-3, homolog of human caspase-1, has shown the molecular conservation of the apoptotic cell death program along a broad range of Metazoa, from nematodes to vertebrates.¹ Since then, the fundamental role of apoptosis has been increasingly recognized in various physiological processes. In addition, several invertebrate model organisms revealed a significant potential for analyses of apoptotic mechanisms, not only under an evolutionary point of view. Thus, the identification of the human crumbs homolog 1 and its causative role in the manifestation of retinitis pigmentosa was based on the discovery of mutational variants of the Drosophila melanogaster protein crumbs.² In addition, loss-of-function mutations of the C. elegans dystrophin-1 gene confirmed the role of human dystrophin in the manifestation of the neuromuscular disease of Duchenne.³ During the last years a novel invertebrate model system has emerged: sponges (phylum Porifera), which are among the earliest-branching nonbilaterian animals.⁴ Recent biomarker analyses date the occurrence of probable stem-group poriferans back before the end of the Marinoan glaciation (∼635 Myr ago)⁵ and molecular clock analyses estimated that the main poriferan lineages diverged in the Cryogenian/Ediacaran,⁶ well before the rapid appearance of major metazoan groups (Cambrian Explosion).

Till today, the model system ‘Porifera' has revealed several characteristics that have proven valuable for evolutionary studies within a comparative context. The major avail is the phylogenetically basal position of Porifera allowing a unique vantage point on the hypothetical common ancestral taxon, the Urmetazoa. Moreover, comparative transcriptomics and proteomics divulged several examples of poriferan molecules, genetic features, protein domains, among others, that remained conserved throughout evolution, but otherwise have been lost in invertebrate model systems traditionally used, C. elegans and D. melanogaster.⁷ Furthermore, the majority of poriferan genes show a closer sequence similarity to their human homologs than to the respective molecules of worm and fly (similar to some anthozoans), probably caused by an accelerated evolution of the latter animal lineages.^{8, 9}

The fine-tuned balance between apoptosis and proliferation is upheld by numerous regulatory molecules that maintain tissue integrity and, ultimately, ensure survival of the organism. The inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP) family comprises structurally related proteins (the presence of at least one baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) domain is mandatory) that were originally discovered in baculovirus. In addition to their cell death regulating activities, several IAP have a complementary role in cell division, in particular attributed to survivin. Accordingly, the dual role of human survivin is based on its function as (i) a chromosomal passenger protein that controls segregation of chromatin/regulation of cytokinesis and (ii) a caspase inhibitor that prevents processing/activation of caspases.¹⁰ As transcription from its single gene locus is upregulated in most of the tumor cell types, survivin is a well-established analytical marker of neoplasms.^{11, 12} The function of survivin homologs in nonbilaterian Metazoa is much less well-defined. Accordingly, similar to vertebrate survivin, the D. melanogaster homolog deterin deters cells from caspase-induced apoptosis and some studies propose an additional pro-proliferative effect.¹³ On the other hand, the C. elegans survivin homolog BIR-1 seems to be exclusively involved in cytokinesis, in particular during the embryogenesis.¹⁴

In this study, we report the discovery and functional characterization of a survivin-like protein (SDSURVL) from a member of the ancestral-like clade Porifera, Suberites domuncula. SDSURVL shows both significant sequence homologies to human survivin (in particular concerning the BIR domain) and a conserved genetic structure. Complementary studies in vivo and in transfected cells suggest a conserved dual role of survivin and, concurrently, indicate a loss of function in certain rapidly evolving and highly adapted metazoan taxa.

Results

Characterization of the poriferan survivin-like protein SDSURVL

The complete SDSURVL cDNA was isolated from a S. domuncula cDNA library by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and degenerate primers that were directed against a conserved region within the BIR domain. SDSURVL consists of 620 nt (excluding the poly(A) tail) that encompass an open reading frame (ORF) of 447 nt (excluding the first stop codon), beginning at nt_43–45 (Met_start). During northern blot analyses, a digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled probe detected a transcript whose size was consistent with that of the cDNA (≈650 nt; Figure 4a). The deduced protein, SDSURVL, comprises 149 amino acid (aa) with an expected size of 17 003 Da. Analyses of SDSURVL revealed significant sequence similarity to vertebrate survivin homologs, such as Gallus gallus survivin isoform 1 (with an expect value (E-value)¹⁵ of 2 e−20; 32% identical and 52% similar aa) and human survivin (8 e−18; 30/49%) (Figure 1a). Considerably lower was the similarity to survivin homologs of more basal Metazoa and fungi, for example, D. melanogaster deterin (7 e−11; 45/24%), placozoan (Trichoplax adhaerens) survivin-like protein (2 e−11; 19/35%), and Schizosaccharomyces pombe survivin homolog (5 e−11; 34/48% with respect to the BIR domain (aa_117−194)). Viral genomes often encode antiapoptotic or cell-cycle promoting proteins in order to bypass the host defense system. Viral survivin-like proteins generally show lower sequence homology to their metazoan counterparts and in particular to S. domuncula survivin, for example, Epiphyas postvittana nucleopolyhedrovirus IAP-3 (4 e−07; 17% aa similarities) and Cydia pomonella granulosis virus ORF17 IAP-3 (3 e−06; 16%).

Figure 1.

Suberites domuncula survivin-like protein SDSURVL. (a) The deduced amino acid sequence (SUBDO) was aligned with survivin homologs of D. melanogaster (DROME, NCBI accession number NP_650608), Anopheles gambiae (ANOGA, XP_317026), Nematostella vectensis (NEMVE, XP_001624746), human (HUMAN, CAG46540), G. gallus (CHICK, NP_001012318), Danio rerio (DANRE, NP_919378), and S. pombe (SCHPO, NP_587866). Conserved residues (identical or similar with respect to physicochemical properties) in all sequences are shown in white letters on black; those in 80% (60%) are in white on gray (black on light gray). The following features are marked, BIR domain, NES, coiled-coil region, APCC-D box (underlined) as well as the putative phosphorylation site (star). (b) Composite consensus tree of the phylogenetic analyses, depicting the evolutionary relationship of S. domuncula SDSURVL to survivin homologs of Metazoa, fungi, and viruses. The tree was generated after alignment of the aforementioned sequences, further integrating sequences from: T. adhaerens (TRIAD, EDV24865), Schistosoma japonicum (SCHJA, AAW27178), Felix catus (FELCA, NP_001009280), mouse (MOUSE, NP_033819), Xenopus laevis (XENLA, BAD98266), Pan troglodytes (PANTR, XP_512010), Sus scrofa (PIG, NP999306), Canis lupus (CANFA, NP_001003348) as well as BIR-containing viral sequences of Helicoverpa armigera nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPVHA, NP_075172), Buzura suppressaria NPV (NPVBS, AAC34373), Epiphyas postvittana NPV (NPVEP, NP_203195), Choristoneura fumiferana NPV (NPVCF, NP_848342), Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus (AMEPV, NP_064803), and Cydia pomonella granulosis virus (GVCP, NP_148801). Close to each node are the bootstrap values in the order, NJ, ML, and the posterior probability estimates of the Bayesian inference

As SDSURVL features a single BIR domain, a putative nuclear export signal (NES), and a coiled-coil region, but is missing a RING domain (characteristic of non-survivin IAP), the molecule represents a novel member of the survivin subfamily of IAP. The poriferan BIR domain (aa₂₀₋₉₃) has an E-value of 4.85 e−22 and is consistent with the Prosite consensus sequence PS01282 with two exceptions (marked in bold): (HKEPILVY)-x(2)-R-x(3,8)-(FYW)-x(11,14)-(STAN)-G-(LMF)-x-(FYHDA)-(x(4)¦x(7))-(DESL)-x(2,3)-C-x(2)-C-x(6)-(WA)-x(9)-H-x(4)-(PRSD)-x-C-x(2)-(LIVMA). The putative NES (aa₉₅₋₁₀₃) loosely fits a consensus sequence proposed by, Heger et al.¹⁶ L-x(2,3)-(FILVMP)-x(2)-(LI)-x-(LIV). Furthermore, COILS algorithms indicate the typical COOH-terminal coiled-coil conformation (aa_127−147), usually present in survivin but missing in other IAP family members. Moreover, the conserved threonine residue, whose phosphorylation by p34cdc2 mediates human survivin activation,¹⁷ is present in SDSURVL (aa₂₆). In addition, a ubiquitin ligase complex-binding destruction motif (APCC-D box; aa_136−141) was predicted.

To determine the phylogenetic relationship of survivin-like proteins, molecular phylogenetic analyses were carried out by neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum likelihood (ML), and Bayesian methods, including the so far known sequences of metazoan taxa as well as related BIR-containing sequences of viruses and yeast. Accordingly, the resulting composite consensus tree shows the poriferan SDSURVL protein at the base of a monophyletic metazoan clade, whereas viral sequences form a separate monophyletic group (Figure 1b).

Characterization of the poriferan survivin-like gene (SDSURVL)

The S. domuncula gene comprises four exons and three introns (Figure 2a). Each exon/intron border shows typical splicing signals (GT-intron-AG). The phases of introns vary: the first and third introns are in phase 0, whereas the second intron is in phase 2. The human survivin gene shares the same features (Figure 2b) except for the borders of the third intron (AT-intron-GG). Parts of the first and third exons and the complete second exon are encoding the BIR domain (Figure 2c). Analyses of the 5′-flanking region (Figure 2d) of human (1) and murine (2) survivin genes reveal the presence of a TATA-less promoter, containing a canonical CpG island and several transcription factor-binding sites.¹⁸ However, in silico analyses of the putative poriferan promoter region (3) predicted the presence of a TATA box (nt_{−64 to −73}) in addition to other cis-regulatory elements, CAAT box (nt_{−109 to −113}), and ribosomal-binding site (nt_{−5 to −8}). Moreover, similar to the human and murine promoter two putative Sp1 sites (nt₋₅₁,₋₂₉₂) have been predicted, although in contrast to the former ones no cell-cycle dependent elements (CDE) or cell-cycle homology regions (CHR) have been found in the poriferan non-coding region.

Figure 2.

Suberites domuncula survivin-like gene. (a) Exon/intron architecture. Each exon/intron border is marked (boxed) as well as introns, start and stop codon (underlined). (b) Alignment of SDSURVL and human survivin exons with correlating intron phases. Sizes of introns are indicated. (c) Schematic representation of SDSURVL mRNA and its translational product, drawn to scale. The BIR domain and its contributing exons are marked, as well as untranslated regions. (d) Schematic representation of survivin promoter regions from representative species: murine (1), human (2), and poriferan (3). The different elements: Sp1 (sequence-specific DNA-binding protein-1), CDE (cell cycle dependent element), CHR (cell cycle homology region), CAAT and TATA boxes, and RBS (ribosomal-binding site) are drawn to scale (first base of Met_start, +1 nt). Regions of high CpG island density are also indicated. The promoter region is depicted up to −400 nt

Characterization of the poriferan caspase-like protease 2 (SDCASL2)

Caspases (cysteine-dependent aspartyl-specific proteases) are synthesized as zymogens that become activated by scaffold-mediated transactivation or by cleavage using upstream proteases.¹⁹ Since the antiapoptotic properties of vertebrate survivin have been functionally linked to inhibition of caspase-7 and -3, a S. domuncula cDNA library was screened for homologous molecules. The correct size of the resulting clone, SDCASL2, then was verified on northern blots (Figure 4a). SDCASL2 (1,827 nt, excluding poly(A)) comprises an ORF between nt_175–177 (Met_start) and nt_1738–1740 (stop), coding for a putative protein of 521 aa that was termed caspase-like protease 2 (SDCASL2; calculated Mr 58,427). SDCASL2 revealed sequence homology not only to SDCASL (E-value 7 e-31; 33% aa identical and 52% similar aa) but also to members of the caspase-7 subfamily, for example, Xenopus laevis and human representatives (E-value 3 e-16 (21/33%) and 3 e-14 (19/35%), respectively) (Figure 3).

Figure 3.

Suberites domuncula caspase-like protease 2 SDCASL2. The CASc domain of the deduced poriferan protein (CASL2_SUBDO; aa₂₂₋₂₆₇) was aligned with the corresponding domain of S. domuncula caspase-like protein (CASL_SUBDO; CAL36107; aa₁₇₋₂₇₄); D. melanogaster DCP-1 (DCP1_DROME; AAB58237; aa₇₇₋₃₁₅), Culex quiquefasciatus (CASP_CULQU; XP_001842236; aa₆₀₋₃₀₄), and human caspase-7 (CAS7_HUMAN; BAG62964; aa₇₄₋₃₁₁). The putative subunits contained within (p20 and p10) are marked as well as the Cys and His active sites

All caspases contain a CASc domain, which is cleaved into two subunits (p10, p20) during activation. SDCASL2 represents a putative procaspase, comprising subunits p10 (aa_191−267) and p20 (aa₂₂₋₁₅₄), the latter containing the characteristic Cys and His active sites (Figure 3). The Cys active site consensus pattern is conserved (Prosite pattern PS01122) with two exceptions, marked in bold ((KL)-P-K-(LIVMF)-(LIVMFY)-(LIVMF)(2)-(QPD)-(AF)-C-(RQG)-(GE)), whereas the histidine active site (PS01121) features three alterations, (HL)-x(2,4)-(SC)-x(1,2)-(A)-x-(LIVMFY)(2)-(ST)-G-H-G.

The absence of a large NH₂-terminal prodomain, characteristic of initiator caspases, suggests a classification to the group of effector caspases. However, similar to SDCASL, SDCASL2 carries an unusual long COOH-terminal stretch of 254 aa, containing a putative double-stranded RNA-binding motif (aa_441−514; PF0035 (Pfam)).

Evolutionary conserved function(s) of poriferan survivin

To elucidate the controversially discussed ancestral function of survivin (or if indeed its dual role is conserved through metazoan evolution), functional analyses were carried out in sponge tissue and primmorphs (aggregates of proliferating sponge cells). Moreover, functional conservation was assessed in a heterologous vertebrate cell model (SDSURVL-expressing transfected HEK-293 cells) that has been previously used to explore expression and functional mechanisms of survivin.^{20, 21}

Regulation of proliferation

Comparative northern blot analyses were carried out, showing an increasing level of SDSURVL transcripts during the first 2 weeks of primmorph growth, whereas the control (taken immediately after primmorph formation) revealed a considerably lower expression level (Figure 4a). After 14 days, survivin transcription reached the steady state. On the other hand, in adult sponge tissue survivin transcripts were barely detected. In addition, SDCASL2 expression was very low throughout the experiments, in both primmorphs and sponge tissue (Figure 4a). Subsequently, SDSURVL and SDCASL2 expression was investigated in aging primmorphs (2 weeks of age) by complementary in situ hybridization studies (Figure 4b). For this purpose, primmorph cryosections were incubated with labeled, single-stranded sense (control) or antisense probes. Both sense probes did not produce specific signals. In contrast, the antisense SDSURVL probe detected survivin transcripts abundantly and homogenously throughout the sections, whereas only few SDCASL2 copies were identified, mainly in the surface cell layer and in cells lining the aquiferous canal system within the mesohyl (internal part of the sponge) (Figure 4b).

Figure 4.

Expression of SDSURVL and SDCASL2 in Suberites domuncula primmorphs and adult tissue. (a) Northern blotting analyses. SDSURVL and SDCASL2 transcription was monitored in aging primmorphs and in adult sponge tissue (control, 7, 14, and 21 d). Tubulin transcription was used as an internal control. (b) In situ hybridization analyses. Cryosections of primmorphs (2 weeks old) were subjected to in situ hybridization analyses, using labeled SDSURVL (1, 2) or SDCASL2 (3, 4) probes (1/3, sense (negative control) or 2/4, antisense probe). Hybridized probes were detected through anti-DIG Fab fragments, conjugated to alkaline phosphatase, and subsequent NBT/BCIP treatment. The sense probes (1, 3) did not produce any signal, whereas the SDSURVL antisense probe (2) abundantly and homogenously detected transcripts. The SDCASL2 antisense probe (4) identified few transcripts in the surface cell layer (S) and in cells lining the aquiferous canal system (Ca) within the mesohyl, the internal part of the sponge. Sponge spicules (Sp) are marked. Bar=1 mm

In parallel, a construct encoding a fusion of SDSURVL and COOH-terminal EGFP (SDSURVL-EGFP) was introduced into HEK-293 cells. Expression was confirmed microscopically (Figure 5b) and by immunodetection, using anti-EGFP antibodies (Figure 8; expected size of 45 kD corresponding to the SDSURVL–EGFP fusion). The transfection efficiency was determined by the percentage of EGFP-positive HEK-293 cells by fluorescence microscopy. An average transfection efficiency of 94.6% was calculated.

Figure 5.

SDSURVL expression in HEK-293 cells. (a) Effect of SDSURVL expression on cell proliferation. Cells were transfected either with empty vector (Mock) or with a SDSURVL construct (HEK293-SDSURVL) or remained untransfected (HEK293). Cell concentrations were measured 48 h after transfection. Proliferation rates of Mock and HEK293 were comparable, showing that the vector itself had no effect. However, HEK293-SDSURVL revealed a significantly higher proliferation rate (the asterisk denotes the statistical significance, P⩽0.05). Bars represent mean±S.D. of three independent experiments, each with n=5. (b) Histological detection of the SDSURVL–EGFP fusion protein in transfected HEK-293 cells. Mock-transfected HEK-293 cells (1, 2) and HEK293-SDSURVL (3, 4) under visible (1/3) or UV light (2/4). Bar=100 μm

Subsequently, the putative regulatory function of SDSURVL in cytokinesis was explored by monitoring the concentrations of SDSURVL-EGFP-transfected (HEK293-SDSURVL) and mock-transfected HEK-293 cells, 48 h after transfection (Figure 5a). Whereas mock-transfection provoked no differences in cell concentration compared with the nontransfected control, SDSURVL-EGFP expression caused a 2.3-fold increase in the number of HEK293-SDSURVL cells (significance level P⩽0.05). In addition, trypan blue staining did not show altered cell viability between control and SDSURVL-EGFP-expressing populations.

Finally, subcellular localization and nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of SDSURVL-EGFP in transfected cells was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM). For this purpose, HEK293-SDSURVL cells were incubated with the nuclear export inhibitor leptomycin B (LMB) for 30 min or remained untreated (control). After counterstaining of dsDNA with the far-red fluorescent dye DRAQ5, LSM showed that in the controls SDSURVL-EGFP predominantly localizes in the cytoplasm and, to a lesser degree in the nucleus (Figure 6a). Consequently, the fluorescence pattern of the merge revealed a barely detectable colocalization of fusion (green) and nuclei (red). On LMB treatment, SDSURVL-EGFP accumulated in the nucleus. The merged channel clearly depicted a significant colocalization of nuclei and SDSURVL-EGFP (Figure 6b; yellow), whereas the staining intensity of cytoplasmic SDSURVL-EGFP is decreased, compared with the untreated control.

Figure 6.

Subcellular localization of SDSURVL-EGFP in transfected HEK-293 cells. SDSURVL-EGFP expressing cells either remained untreated (a, control) or were incubated with the nuclear export inhibitor LMB (6 n, 30 min; b). The localization of the fusion protein (green) was analyzed by laser scanning microscopy. Nuclei were DRAQ5-stained (red). The merge pictures revealed a predominantly cytoplasmic localization of SDSURVL-EGFP in the control, whereas on LMB treatment the EGFP-tagged protein accumulated in the nucleus (yellow). The panels show representative examples of SDSURVL-EGFP expressing cells. Bars, 10 μm

Regulation of apoptosis

To explore the putative implementation of SDSURVL as a prosurvival factor, SDSURVL and SDCASL2 expression was analyzed in sponge tissue and primmorphs challenged with pro-apoptotic stimulants. Moreover, the viability of mock-transfected and HEK293-SDSURVL cell lines was assessed after the exposure to the same stimuli. Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ and cadmium were used for their selective ability to trigger extrinsic (the former compound) or intrinsic (latter) cell death pathways.^{22, 23} Both lipopeptide and heavy metal stimulated the expression of SDSURVL and SDCASL2 in sponge tissue and primmorphs alike, already after 6 h (Figure 7). With prolonged incubation time, the expression level of both transcripts further increased; however, this effect was more pronounced in primmorphs than in tissue samples.

Figure 7.

Gene expression analyses of challenged sponge tissue and primmorphs. Following exposure of sponge tissue and primmorphs to Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ (a) or cadmium (b) for the indicated time, RNA was isolated, size separated (equal amounts of RNA were loaded), and blotted. The blots were probed for transcripts of poriferan survivin-like protein (SDSURVL), caspase-like protease 2 (SDCASL2), and tubulin (SDTUB). The latter one was used as an internal control

To assess putative effects of SDSURVL expression, mock-transfected HEK-293 and HEK293-SDSURVL cell lines (95.5% transfection efficiency) were exposed to Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ and cadmium. Then, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, cell death detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and western blot analyses were carried out. MTT assays revealed that the lipopeptide did not alter cell viabilities, neither in mock-transfected nor in HEK293-SDSURVL cells, compared with untreated control cells (Figure 8a). In addition, Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ treatment did not change the amount of survivin (endogenous as well as poriferan). In contrast, both cell lines were sensitive to cadmium. Thus, MTT assays showed that 46.7% of mock-transfected cells underwent cell death after 12 h of exposure. Nevertheless, SDSURVL expression rescued HEK293-SDSURVL, as only 25.6% cells were nonviable (Figure 8b; significance level P⩽0.05). Furthermore, western blot analyses showed an additional effect of cadmium, as increased immunodetection was observed of both, human survivin and its poriferan homolog after 6–12 h of challenge.

Figure 8.

SDSURVL-EGFP-mediated effects on Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄- and cadmium challenged HEK-293 cells. Viability (MTT assays, left; bars represent mean±S.D. of three independent experiments, each with n=5) and protein detection (western blot analyses, right) of HEK293-SDSURVL and mock-transfected (Mock) cells, following exposure to Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ (PAM; a) or cadmium (b). SDSURVL-EGFP expression was detected with anti-EGFP antibodies, whereas expression of endogenous survivin was detected with anti-survivin antibodies. Co, untreated cells. Whereas PAM altered neither cell viability nor survivin/SDSURVL-EGFP concentrations, cadmium provoked significantly decreased cell viability. However, HEK293-SDSURVL cells were less sensitive to cadmium than mock-transfected controls (the asterisk denotes the statistical significance, P⩽0.05) and showed an increased accumulation of both endogenous survivin and SDSURVL-EGFP

Concurrently, cell death detection ELISA could not reveal altered formation of mono- and oligonucleosomes, neither in mock-transfected nor HEK293-SDSURVL cells after Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ treatment, compared with untreated control cells (Figure 9a). In contrast, exposure to cadmium significantly induced apoptotic DNA fragmentation in both cell lines. However, SDSURVL expression caused a reduced DNA fragmentation by 51% (Figure 9b; significance level P⩽0.05).

Figure 9.

Susceptibility of HEK-293 cells to Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄- and cadmium. Following exposure to Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ (PAM; a) or cadmium (b), apoptotic fragmentation of genomic DNA was assessed immunologically in HEK293-SDSURVL and mock-transfected HEK-293 (Mock) cells. In this cell death detection ELISA, immobilized cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragments were detected through consecutive addition of peroxidase-conjugated anti-DNA antibodies and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid and, then, quantified photometrically. Co, untreated cells. Data represent mean±S.D. of four independent experiments in triplicate. Whereas PAM did not cause internucleosomal fragmentation of genomic DNA (neither in HEK293-SDSURVL nor in mock-transfected HEK-293), cadmium induced apoptotic degradation of DNA. However, expression of SDSURVL-EGFP significantly reduced this effect compared with mock-transfected controls (the asterisk denotes the statistical significance, P⩽0.05) 

Discussion

Survivin represents a unique protein within the IAP family, containing a single BIR domain and a COOH-terminal coiled-coil structure. Thus, it differs from all other family members that comprise 2–3 BIR domains and a canonical COOH-terminal RING finger.¹¹ In vertebrates, survivin not only controls cell cycle checkpoints and correct completion of cytokinesis but also regulates activation of caspases.²⁴ However, the evolutionary conservation of this dual role remains inconclusive, as in Nematoda the survivin homolog seems to be implicated exclusively in cytokinesis.²⁵ In addition, even though a fungal (S. pombe) survivin-like protein was proposed to be required for efficient cell division and exhibits antiapoptotic activity,²⁶ it is considerably larger in size than other survivin proteins.

Key regulators of apoptosis and cell cycle progression have already been discovered in the phylum Porifera,²⁷ which seems to be the earliest-branching metazoan taxon.⁴ However, identification of poriferan survivin provides an important tool not only to investigate the primordial function(s) of this versatile regulator protein, but also to elucidate the putative ancient and intimate link between apoptosis, proliferation, and morphogenesis.

The newly discovered poriferan survivin homolog showed a significant degree of sequence conservation. A consensus tree resulting of NJ, ML, and Bayesian analyses places SDSURVL at the base of a metazoan clade, confirming the common ancestry of metazoan survivin-like proteins, whereas viral sequences form a well-supported separate group.

SDSURVL features all characteristics of survivins that facilitate protein interaction and mediate both antiapoptotic activity and proper kinetochore attachment.²⁸ However, it shows several additional putative domains that are known to be involved in cell cycle regulatory functions: (i) APCC-D box, required for ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation by the anaphase-promoting ubiquitin ligase complex (APC/C); (ii) LIG_FHA1/2 motifs (aa₉₈₋₁₀₄; aa_100−106) that bind regulators of the G₂/M checkpoint; (iii) USP7-binding motif (aa₃₃₋₃₇) that is a target of the UPS7 deubiquitinating enzyme, whose substrates are regulators of cell survival pathways. So far, no such feature has been described for other survivin molecules.

The gene structure (intron/exon positions, intron phases) is conserved between poriferan and vertebrate (human, murine) survivin,¹⁸ but not within the D. melanogaster deterin,¹³ which possesses only two introns. However, some differences to the vertebrate promoter region are noticeable: the TATA-less vertebrate promoter includes CpG islands and several Sp1, CDE, and CHR sites. By analogy with other cell cycle-regulated genes it was postulated that Sp1 regulates basal transcriptional expression of the survivin gene, further modulated by CDE/CHR elements, thus imparting cell cycle periodicity of survivin expression.¹⁸ In contrast, the poriferan promoter features a canonical TATA box, two Sp1 sites, and is missing CDE/CHR elements. Therefore, considering the aforementioned protein interaction motifs, regulation of the poriferan survivin pool might also occur on a posttranscriptional/proteasomal level, for example, by (de)ubiquitination or complex formation with other regulatory proteins.

Survivin is expressed in many human tumors and in rapidly dividing cells of fetal tissue during the G₂/M phase, but is not detectable in terminally differentiated cells. It was proposed that survivin exerts its antiapoptotic function by inhibiting caspases, particularly caspase-7 and -3,²⁹ though other studies argue against a direct mechanism of caspase inhibition by survivin, see for example, Banks et al.³⁰

To approach the enigmatic role of survivin in nonbilaterian Metazoa, comparative functional studies of poriferan survivin were conducted. Accordingly, the implementation of SDSURVL in cell proliferation and cell death was studied in sponges as well as in a human cell model (HEK-293; as SDSURVL–EGFP fusion). This strategy had already been successfully adopted to assess the antiapoptotic potential of deterin and poriferan B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2.^{31, 32} Moreover, survivin–EGFP fusions have been widely used to study both the bifunctional role of survivin and its dynamic intracellular localization and seem fully functional.^{33, 34, 35} In contrast to sponge tissue that show a very low steady-state expression level, proliferating cells of primmorphs contained a considerable amount of SDSURVL, indicative of its involvement in cell division. This assumption was supported by a significantly increased proliferation rate of HEK-293 cells expressing SDSURVL-EGFP. In addition, application of two inducers of cell death (cadmium, Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄) indicated an antiapoptotic function of SDSURVL, as both compounds triggered the expression of SDSURVL in sponge tissue and primmorphs, possibly a countermeasure to the induced expression of the caspase-7 homolog SDCASL2. Concurrently, cadmium induced apoptosis in HEK-293 cells, although concomitant expression of SDSURVL-EGFP drastically reduced the occurrence of cell death (≈50%). However, Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ incubation did not alter HEK-293 cell viability, probably because of the different repertoire of Toll-like receptors (mediating lipopeptide-induced innate immunity and apoptosis) found within HEK-293 and sponge cells. Future studies will investigate the effect of further inducers of cell death on sponge and HEK293-SDSURVL cells.

Cytotoxicity mediated by cadmium is associated with the release of mitochondrial proapoptotic factors into the cytosol.²³ These factors cause activation of caspase-3/7,³⁶ which is considered as a biochemical hallmark of the apoptotic cascade. However, survivin was proposed to interact with various caspases and, consequently, to inhibit further progression of the apoptotic cascade. The aforementioned observations in combination with significant similarities of sequence and structure between SDSURVL and its vertebrate counterparts propose a common regulatory function in the interconnected pathways of cell cycle and apoptosis. In HEK-293 cells, poriferan survivin possibly complements the endogenous molecule by sequestrating proapoptotic binding partners, consequently delaying cell death. In addition, the presence of putative target sites for ubiquitination might explain the elevated levels of human and poriferan survivin detected in challenged transfected cells. Accordingly, this effect is not the result of an induced expression but is indicative of a decreased proteasomal degradation of either protein. Therefore, the poriferan molecule replenishes the pool of endogenous survivin, concomitantly preventing degradation of its human counterpart by engaging/silencing elements of the proteasome.

Furthermore, concurrent with previous observations during which elevated levels of survivin occur in most human tumor cell types and overexpression of survivin in transfected HEK-293 increases cell proliferation,^{20, 21} SDSURVL-EGFP expression stimulates cell division. In addition, LMB treatment of SDSURVL-EGFP expressing HEK-293 cells causes significant nuclear accumulation of the fusion protein. This is consistent with previous studies in which chromosome region maintenance 1-mediated, NES-dependent nuclear export of human survivin was blocked by LMB.^{10, 16} Survivin is a subunit of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), consisting of Aurora-B, Borealin and INCENP, and is essential for proper chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. As Crm1 is involved in tethering the CPC to the centromere by interacting with survivin's NES,¹⁰ SDSURVL might affect various stages of cell proliferation, from proper kinetochore attachment to spindle formation.

In conclusion, the identification of a bona fide poriferan survivin homolog represents a compelling opportunity to investigate the deep evolutionary original function(s) of survivin, whereas concurrently avoiding limitations of classical invertebrate model organisms. The data presented propose an evolutionary ancient dual regulatory role of survivin, implemented in cell cycle control and programmed cell death.

Materials and Methods

Preparation of S. domuncula tissue and primmorphs

Specimens of the marine sponge Suberites domuncula (Porifera, Demospongiae, Hadromerida) were collected near Rovinj (Croatia) in the northern Adriatic Sea and then kept in aquaria in Mainz (Germany) at 17°C.

Primmorphs were obtained after tissue dissociation into single cells as described earlier.³⁷ They were cultured in natural sterile-filtered seawater (Sigma-Aldrich, Taufkirchen, Germany), supplemented with 0.2% (v/v) RPMI-1640 medium (Biochrom AG, Berlin, Germany) and 60 μM silicate. Cultures were shaken for 5 days to assist the formation of aggregates, consisting of proliferating cells. Then, two sets of experiments were performed. For the first set, primmorphs were exposed to cadmium (CdCl₂, Sigma-Aldrich; 50 μM) or the synthetic lipopeptide (S)-(2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2-RS)-propyl)-N-palmitoyl-(R)-Cys-(S)-Ser-(S)-Lys₄-OH·3HCl (Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄; Axxora; Grünberg, Germany; 40 μg/ml) for 6 and 9 h, or they remained untreated as a control. For the second set of experiments, samples were taken 0 (control), 7, 14, and 21 days after primmorph formation. All experiments were performed under mild shaking.

In a similar way, S. domuncula tissue was exposed to cadmium (50 μM) or Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ (40 μg/ml) for up to 12 h.

RNA extraction and northern blotting analyses

Total RNA was isolated through lysis of homogenized tissue/primmorphs using TRIzol Reagent (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) as described earlier.³⁸ Subsequently, 5 μg of total RNA was size separated and blotted on Hybond N1 membranes (Amersham, Freiburg, Germany). Labeled probes were generated with DIG-11-deoxyuridine triphosphate through the PCR-DIG-Probe Synthesis Kit (according to the manufacturer's instructions (Roche Applied Science, Mannheim, Germany)). Hybridization was carried out with a S. domuncula survivin-like probe (SDSURVL, nt₁₋₃₅₇) or a caspase-like protease 2 probe (SdCASL2, nt_810−1480). Furthermore, a probe was designed to detect the expression of the housekeeping gene β-tubulin (SDTUB, nt₈₃₋₄₈₃; NCBI accession number AJ550806) as internal reference. Hybridized probes were detected with anti-DIG Fab fragments (conjugated to alkaline phosphatase) and ultimately visualized by chemiluminescence, using the 1,2-dioxetane compound CDP Star (Roche) as substrate.

Cloning of S. domuncula survivin-like protein and caspase-like protease 2

cDNA coding for the survivin-like protein SDSURVL was isolated from a S. domuncula cDNA library³⁹ by PCR with degenerate primers that were designed against the conserved BIR domain (forward primer, 5′-GAT GGC IGA GGC T/CGG CTT-3′ reverse primmer, 5′-CT/CA TGT CCA GTT TT/CA AG/AA-3′ where I=inosine). PCR was carried out at an initial denaturation at 95°C for 5 min, followed by 35 amplification cycles at 95°C for 30 s, 54°C for 45 s, and 72°C for 1 min, and terminated with a final extension at 72°C for 10 min. Thus, a fragment of ≈209 bp was isolated and subsequently sequenced using an automatic DNA sequencer (Li-Cor 4300, Li-Cor, Bad Homburg, Germany). Ultimately, the SDSURVL sequence was completed through primer walking. Subsequently, genomic sequences were extracted from a S. domuncula genomic DNA library.⁴⁰

Similarly, SDCASL2 was isolated from the S. domuncula cDNA library: application of the degenerate forward primer 5′-T/CTI ATT/C/A CAA/G GCI TGT/C A/T/CG/TI GG-3′ (directed against the caspase Cys active site L/F-I-D-A-C-R/L-G) combined with a library-specific primer resulted in a fragment of ≈1200 bp. PCR was carried out at an initial denaturation at 95°C for 5 min, followed by 35 amplification cycles at 95°C for 30 s, 54°C for 45 s, and 72°C for 2 min, and terminated with a final extension at 72°C for 10 min. The complete cDNA was isolated by using a combination of sequence- and library-specific primers.

Sequence analyses

Putative promoter regions were analyzed with TESS (http://www.cbil.upenn.edu/cgi-bin/tess/tess?), TFSEARCH (http://www.cbrc.jp/research/db/TFSEARCH), TATA Signal Prediction in Eukaryotic Genes (http://zeus2.itb.cnr.it/~webgene/wwwHC_tata.html), and CpGProD (http://pbil.univ-lyon1.fr/software/cpgprod_query.html). Coiled-coil conformations were studied using COILS (http://www.ch.embnet.org/software/COILS_form.html). Homology searches were performed via the servers at the European Bioinformatics Institute (Hinxton, UK (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/inc/head.html)) and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI, Bethesda, MD, USA (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/)). Phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary analyses were conducted using MEGA version 4 for NJ analyses or were obtained through the phylogeny.fr server (http://www.phylogeny.fr/version2_cgi/programs.cgi) for ML analyses and Bayesian inference analyses (MRBAYES).^{41, 42} For NJ and ML analyses the degree of support of internal branches was assessed by bootstrapping. For Bayesian analyses posterior probability values were estimated. Potential subunits, domains, patterns, and transmembrane regions were predicted after searching databases of Pfam (http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Software/Pfam/), SMART (http://smart.embl-heidelberg.de/), and ELM (http://www.elm.eu.org/).

Vector constructs, transfections, and LMB treatment

The forward primer 5′-GAA TTC ATG GCT AAT ACG TAT GAG A-3′ (EcoRI site is underlined) and the reverse primer 5′-GGA TCC CGA TGT TCG TGT CTT TTC A-3′ (BamHI) were used to amplify the ORF of SDSURVL (nt_1–447), including M_start and excluding the first stop codon. The cDNA was ligated in frame into the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N2 (Clontech, Heidelberg, Germany). The recombinant protein, thus, contained a COOH-terminal EGFP-tag.

Human embryonic kidney (HEK-293; ATCC CRL-1573) cells were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (LGC Promochem, Wesel, Germany) and grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (high glucose and -glutamine; Gibco, Karlsruhe, Germany) with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum. Cell counting was performed using a Neubauer chamber and trypan blue staining, three times for each sample.

On the eve of transfection, cells were seeded to allow for ≈60% confluency on the next day. The transfection technology was provided by IBA (Göttingen, Germany) and based on the combination of cationic liposomes and magnetic DNA-binding nanoparticles. Transfections were carried out in 12-wells plates with 1.2 μg DNA per well. For constitutive expression, the cells were split 48 h after transfection into a selective medium, containing G418 at the appropriate concentration (Carl Roth, Karlsruhe, Germany; 200 μg/ml). SDSURVL expression was confirmed microscopically and immunologically, using anti-EGFP antibodies (Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany), and an AHBT3 light microscope with AH3-RFC reflected light fluorescence attachment (Olympus, Hamburg, Germany).

The nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of the SDSURVL fusion protein was analyzed through treatment of transfected cells with the nuclear export inhibitor LMB, according to.¹⁶ In short, 48 h after transfection cells were treated with LMB (6 nM, 30 min), washed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and fixed in 4% (w/v) paraformaldehyde (PFA; 5 min, RT). After additional washing of cells with PBS and subsequent counterstaining of nuclei with DRAQ5 (5 μM; Biostatus Ltd., Shepshed, UK), images were acquired on a Zeiss 710 confocal LSM (Zeiss, Göttingen, Germany). The argon laser line of 488 nm was used to excite EGFP and a 633 nm HeNe laser was used to excite DRAQ5. For illustration purposes, green and red channels were extracted from the merged pictures with the ZEN software (Zeiss).

In situ localization studies

The in situ hybridization method applied was based on a procedure described by Wiens et al.³⁹ In short, frozen sections (8 μm) of primmorph samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, then incubated with proteinase K (1 μg/ml), and fixed again in paraformaldehyde. Hybridization was carried out with single-stranded SDSURVL DNA probes, overnight at 45°C in 2 × SSC (sodium chloride/sodium citrate, supplemented with 50% formamide). The probes (236 nt each) were generate during two separate PCR reactions, either with forward primer 5′-TAT GAG AGT TGT GAC AGA GTA AA-3′ (sense/control probe) or with reverse primer 5′-TGT TCA TCA CGG GGA TTG TCT GA-3′ (antisense probe), using SDSURVL cDNA as template. During the linear amplification the probes were labeled with the DIG-Probe Synthesis Kit (Roche Applied Science, Mannheim, Germany). In a similar way SDCASL2 probes (292 nt) were obtained, using forward primer 5′-GGT GTG TGG CTT ACA AAA CTT TC-3′ or reverse primer 5′-GAA CAG ACT CAG TTG GAG ATG CT-3′. Following hybridization the sections were washed at 50°C at decreasing salt concentrations (1 × –0.2 × SSC), blocked, and then incubated with anti-DIG Fab fragments, conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. Through addition of NBT and BCIP hybridized probes were visualized.

Western blot analyses

Mock-transfected (Mock) and SDSURVL-expressing (HEK293-SDSURVL) cells were exposed to Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ (40 μg/ml, 6 and 12 h), or cadmium (CdCl₂, 50 μM, 6, and 12 h). Cells were then lysed with an adequate volume of NP40 lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl, 1% (v/v) NP-40, pH 8.0; 20 min on ice). After centrifugation, the total protein concentration was determined in the supernatant with BCA Protein Assay Reagent (Pierce, Rockford, IL, USA), according to the manufacturer's protocol. A volume of 20 μg of total proteins were subjected to electrophoresis through 14% (v/v) polyacrylamide gels, containing 0.1% (w/v) SDS. Following electroblotting, PVDF membranes (Invitrogen) were incubated with rabbit anti-EGFP (1:1000), conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. Immune complexes were visualized with Supersignal West Pico Chemiluminescent substrate (Pierce) on X-ray films. Other antibodies were acquired from Serotec (Raleigh, NC, USA), including anti-survivin (1:500; directed against aa₁₋₁₂ of human survivin, a region without homology to SDSURVL) and anti-tubulin (1:1000; human).

MTT assays and cell death detection ELISA

In MTT assays the activity of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase is measured as indicator of cellular metabolic rate and viability. To determine the effect of SDSURVL expression, transfected and mock-transfected HEK-293 cells were seeded into 96-well plates (0.5 × 10⁴ cells/ml) and exposed to Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ (40 μg/ml, 12 h) or cadmium (50 μM, 12 h). Afterwards, 10 μl of an MTT solution (Sigma-Aldrich, 5 mg/ml in PBS) were added to each well for 4 h (37°C). The resulting formazan crystals were dissolved in a stop solution (40% (v/v) dimethylformamide, 10% (w/v) SDS). Absorbances were determined at 570 nm with a Bio-Rad 3550 ELISA plate reader (München, Germany).

In addition, the apoptotic response was measured in HEK293-SDSURVL and mock-transfected HEK-293 cells. As fragmentation of genomic DNA represents a hallmark of apoptosis, a cell death detection ELISA was applied, based on the immunochemical detection of mono- and oligonucleosomes in the cytoplasmic fractions of cell lysates. For this purpose, lysates of cells that had been exposed to Pam₃Cys-Ser-(Lys)₄ (40 μg/ml, 12 h) or cadmium (50 μM, 12 h) were transferred to streptavidin-coated 96-well plates and incubated with biotin-labeled anti-histone and peroxidase-conjugated anti-DNA antibodies, according to the manufacturer's instructions (Roche). Following extensive washing, immobilized antibody-histone complexes were visualized colorimetrically through incubation with peroxidase substrate 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid. Finally, absorbances were determined at 405 and 490 nm (reference).

Statistical analyses

Statistical analyses were performed with a Mann–Whitney U-test, a nonparametric statistical test for assessing whether the difference in medians between two samples is statistically significant. The level of significance was set at P⩽0.05.

Glossary

aa

amino acid

Bcl-2

B-cell lymphoma-2

BIR

baculoviral IAP repeat

CDE

cell-cycle dependent elements

Ced-9/-3

cell death abnormality -9/-3

CHR

cell-cycle homology regions

CPC

chromosomal passenger complex 1

DIG

digoxigenin

ELISA

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

IAP

inhibitors of apoptosis protein

LMB

leptomycin B

LSM

laser scanning microscopy

ML

maximum likelihood

MTT

3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide

NES

nuclear export signal

NJ

neighbor-joining

ORF

open reading frame

PBS

phosphate-buffered saline

The authors declare no conflict of interest.