PLCE1 contains distinct catalytic regions:
Phospholipase C (PLC) domain: Hydrolyzes PIP2 into IP3 and DAG, critical for intracellular signaling .
RasGEF domain: Activates Ras GTPases, influencing cell growth and survival .
The recombinant form often excludes non-essential regions to enhance stability or solubility, though specific truncation sites vary by manufacturer .
Recombinant PLCE1 is produced in diverse hosts, each offering distinct advantages:
Commercial suppliers like Cusabio and Abbexa provide partial PLCE1 variants with sequence IDs such as CSB-YP868386HU (human) or CSB-EP858169RA (rat) .
PLCE1 activity is tightly regulated by phosphorylation:
TAK1-mediated phosphorylation: TAK1 kinase phosphorylates PLCE1 at Serine 1060 (S1060), reducing its PLC activity and downstream IP3/DAG production. This mechanism suppresses PKC/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling, inhibiting cell migration in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) .
Isolated diffuse mesangial sclerosis (IDMS): Truncating mutations in PLCE1 are the most common genetic cause (28.6% of cases) .
Therapeutic response: Patients with PLCE1 mutations may benefit from cyclosporine therapy, though larger studies are needed .
For quantifying PLCE1 levels, Abbexa offers an ELISA kit with the following specifications:
Parameter | Value |
---|---|
Test range | 0.156–10 ng/mL |
UniProt ID | Q9P212 (PLCE1_HUMAN) |
Sample types | Tissue lysates, cell cultures, biological fluids |
Limitations | Not optimized for recombinant proteins |
Structural limitations: Partial PLCE1 lacks full-length functionality, complicating studies of RasGEF activity .
Phosphorylation-specific tools: Limited availability of antibodies for phosphorylated PLCE1 (e.g., p-S1060) hinders mechanistic studies .
Therapeutic targeting: Inhibiting PLCE1’s PLC activity or enhancing TAK1-mediated repression may offer novel approaches for cancers or fibrotic diseases .
PLCE1 contains four critical domains for its bifunctional roles:
RasGEF domain: Facilitates guanine nucleotide exchange for Ras-like GTPases via CDC25 homology .
PH domain: Mediates membrane localization through phosphoinositide binding .
Catalytic X/Y domains: Hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) into IP3 and DAG .
Methodological Insight: To confirm domain-specific functions, researchers use truncation mutants in co-immunoprecipitation assays. For example, deleting the PH domain in PLCE1 abolishes RhoA/Rac1 binding, impairing podocyte migration in wound-healing assays .
Two primary approaches are employed:
Radiolabeled PIP2 hydrolysis: Measures IP3 production via scintillation counting after separating products by thin-layer chromatography .
Fluorescence-based assays: Uses PIP2 analogs (e.g., BODIPY-TMR-PIP2) to track real-time hydrolysis kinetics .
Assay Type | Sensitivity | Throughput | Relevance to Disease Models |
---|---|---|---|
Radiolabel | High (pmol) | Low | Validated in nephrotic syndrome |
Fluorescence | Moderate | High | Used in cancer signaling studies |
PLCE1 integrates Ras/Rap GTPase signaling with phosphoinositide metabolism:
Ras-PLCE1 axis: GTP-bound Ras recruits PLCE1 to membranes, amplifying MAPK/ERK signaling .
Cross-talk with TRPC6: DAG produced by PLCE1 activates TRPC6 channels in podocytes, though redundancy exists with other PLC isoforms .
Experimental Design: Dominant-negative Ras (S17N) transfection reduces PLCE1 membrane localization by 72% in HEK293 cells, as shown by confocal microscopy .
The rs2274223 A>G SNP (His1927Arg) is linked to elevated cancer risk through two mechanisms:
Reduced mRNA Stability: AG/GG genotypes show 40% lower PLCE1 expression in colorectal tumors versus AA genotypes (P < 0.001) .
Impaired GTPase Regulation: The His1927Arg variant disrupts RasGEF activity, lowering ERK phosphorylation by 55% in esophageal carcinoma cells .
Genotype | CRC Risk (OR) | 95% CI | P-value |
---|---|---|---|
AA | 1.00 (Ref) | — | — |
AG | 1.48 | 1.11–1.99 | 0.008 |
GG | 1.74 | 0.95–3.20 | 0.07 |
AG+GG | 1.52 | 1.15–2.00 | 0.003 |
While PLCE1 knockout mice show no TRPC6 dysfunction , human podocyte studies reveal:
Migration Defects: PLCE1−/− podocytes exhibit 43% slower wound closure vs. wild-type (P = 0.002) .
Differentiation Failure: Differentiated PLCE1−/− cells have 60% lower SYNPO and WT1 expression (P < 0.001) .
Use patient-derived iPSCs to model PLCE1 mutations in glomerulogenesis.
Combine CRISPR-Cas9 editing with single-cell RNA-seq to map compensatory pathways (e.g., PLCβ1 upregulation) .
PLCE1 binds NCK2 (not NCK1) via SH3 domains, forming a scaffold for Rho GTPase activation:
Rac1/Cdc42 Activation: PLCE1 knockdown reduces GTP-bound Rac1 by 43% (P = 0.01) and Cdc42 by 40% (P = 0.02) .
Therapeutic Implications: Small-molecule disruptors of PLCE1-NCK2 interaction reduce esophageal cancer cell invasion by 68% .
Co-IP/mass spectrometry to identify binding partners.
In silico docking of compound libraries to PH-RA domains.
Problem: Isoform 2 (placenta-specific) lacks 134 residues in the C2 domain, altering calcium sensitivity .
Solutions:
Use isoform-specific antibodies (e.g., anti-PLCE1-C2 for isoform 1).
Design minigene splicing reporters to quantify isoform ratios in disease tissues .
Off-Target Validation: Include two independent siRNAs and rescue with siRNA-resistant PLCE1 cDNA .
Activity Controls: Monitor DAG levels via fluorescent probes (e.g., Diacylglycerol Sensor C1-GFP) .
Pathway Redundancy: Co-knockdown PLCβ/γ isoforms to unmask PLCE1-specific roles .
The rs2274223 SNP shows population-specific effects:
Population | Cancer Type | OR | Functional Impact |
---|---|---|---|
East Asian | ESCC | 1.30 | mRNA splicing defect |
European | CRC | 1.15 | Impaired Ras binding |
Perform allele-specific PLCE1 pulldowns in patient-derived organoids.
Use molecular dynamics simulations to model SNP-induced conformational changes .