message from the head
faculty
students & research staff
administrative staff
graduate program
links
links
 
 

 

 Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Faculty.

  QUICK LINKS
  dept main page
  uic home
  request info
  contact us
 

Contact Information

University Of Illinois at Chicago

Dept. Of Biochemistry and

Molecular Genetics

 

900 S. Ashland (M/C 669)
Chicago, IL 60607
tel: 312-996-7670
fax: 312-413-0353

 

Dr. Sojin Shikano

sshikano@uic.edu

Research Interests:

Molecular interactions directing the membrane protein localization My laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the membrane protein trafficking. As the human genome sequences have become available, the mutations of genes that cause many human diseases are correlated with abnormal intracellular trafficking. The mechanisms for controlling the protein targeting are therefore of great interest both conceptually and clinically. Currently we focus on identifying and mechanistically characterizing the transport signals on cargo proteins that ‘zipcode’ the surface membrane localization. Our long term goal is to provide a basis for future therapeutic intervention of disorders arising from the protein trafficking defect.Protein sorting is often mediated by short peptidic epitopes,

Dr. Sojin Shikano, Assistant Professor

PhD, DVM, University ofTokyo

Post Doctoral Fellow
UT Southwestern Medical Center
John Hopkins University
       

such as the C-terminal KKXX for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) residential transmembrane proteins and the internal ‘RXR’ signals found in multimeric transmembrane proteins. These signals serve as the recognition signatures for transport machinery proteins that are responsible for retrieval of cargo vesicles back to ER. For cell surface expression of membrane proteins, the export from ER is the first critical step. Earlier it was believed that the cell surface proteins can automatically exit ER by ‘bulk-flow’ mechanism unless they are trapped by ER retention/retrieval machineries as a result of misfolding or misassembly. However, recent works have revealed the presence of specific ‘forward trafficking’ signals that actively mediate ER export in some proteins.
One of the important emerging themes is that a given surface membrane protein may contain multiple different sorting signals, such as ER retention/retrieval and ER export. Such signal organization in a protein permits a molecular mechanism of multiple check points for posttranslational events that include folding, assembly, and modifications. Obviously, the interesting question here will be: “what is the mechanism that organizes multiple different motifs in an individual molecule and eventually confers the proper localization at cell surface?” In order to understand this, the comprehensive approach to the identity of ER export signals is essential. So far, however, most of such signals have been found as results of studies on individual proteins.
We have embarked on a systematic search for the forward trafficking signals in membrane proteins. We developed a gain-of-function screening using the power of yeast genetics, and identified a number of novel peptide signals that direct surface expression of membrane proteins in mammalian cell. These include a group of sequences that conferred surface expression by overriding the ER retention signal through specific interaction with 14-3-3 proteins in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. This would represent a new protein targeting pathway by which the cells respond to the external signals involving phosphorylation. We are currently studying the molecular mechanisms underlying this 14-3-3-mediated surface expression of membrane proteins by genetic and biochemical approach.

Our research interests include:

▪ Screening and functional characterization of novel protein transport signals
▪ Molecular mechanisms for 14-3-3-mediated surface expression
▪ Regulatory mechanisms of ‘RXR’ ER retention/retrieval signal
▪ Signal-induced transport of potassium channels
▪ Utilization of host transport machineries by infectious pathogens

Selected Publications:

Kono, M., Fujii, Y., Shikano, S., Ono, K. & Suzuki, N. (1992) Influence of a newly synthesized peptide, obiopeptide-1, as a biological response modifier (BRM), upon the lysosomal enzyme activities and chemotactic responses of mouse macrophages. J Vet Med Sci. 54, 793-5.

Shimada, T., Shikano, S., Ono, K., Saito, A. & Suzuki, N. (1992) Changes of splenic lymphocyte subpopulation in mice inoculated with Babesia microti and Babesia rodhaini. J Vet Med Sci. 54, 1071-5.

Shikano, S., Iwai, Y., Shimada, T., Ono, K. & Suzuki, N. (1995) Isoenzyme patterns of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase in Babesia rodhaini and Babesia microti. J Vet Med Sci. 57, 129-31.

Shikano, S., Shimada, T., Nakada, K., Hashiguchi, R. & Ono, K. (1995) Enzyme activities related to glucose metabolism in Babesia microti and Babesia rodhaini. J Vet Med Sci. 57, 93-7.
 
Shikano, S., Nakada, K., Hashiguchi, R., Shimada, T. & Ono, K. (1995) A short term in vitro cultivation of Babesia rodhaini and Babesia microti. J Vet Med Sci. 57, 955-7.

Shimada, T., Shikano, S., Hashiguchi, R., Matsuk, N. & Ono, K. (1996) Effects of depletion of T cell subpopulations on the course of infection and anti-parasite delayed type hypersensitivity response in mice infected with Babesia microti and Babesia rodhaini. J Vet Med Sci. 58, 343-7.

Shikano, S., Katoh, R., Adachi, K., Bonkobara, M., Inaba, M. & Ono, K. (1998) Mitochondrial function in Babesia microti and Babesia rodhaini. Int J Parasitol. 28, 567-70.

Kato-H, R., Shikano, S., Shimada, T. & Ono, K. (1999) The number of MHC class II positive splenic antigen presenting cell in Babesia microti- and Babesia rodhaini-infected mice. J Protozool Res. 9, 23-25.

Ariizumi, K., Shen, G. L., Shikano, S., Xu, S., Ritter, R. 3rd., Kumamoto, T., Edelbaum, D., Morita, A., Bergstresser, P. R. & Takashima, A. (2000) Identification of a novel, dendritic cell-associated molecule, dectin-1, by subtractive cDNA cloning. J Biol Chem. 275, 20157-67.

Ariizumi, K., Shen, G. L., Shikano, S., Ritter, R., 3rd, Zukas, P., Edelbaum, D., Morita, A. & Takashima, A. (2000) Cloning of a second dendritic cell-associated C-type lectin (dectin-2) and its alternatively spliced isoforms. J Biol Chem. 275, 11957-63.

Bonkobara, M., Zukas, P. K., Shikano, S., Nakamura, S., Cruz, P. D., Jr. & Ariizumi, K. (2001) Epidermal Langerhans cell-targeted gene expression by a dectin-2 promoter. J Immunol. 167, 6893-900.

Shikano, S., Bonkobara, M., Zukas, P. K. & Ariizumi, K. (2001) Molecular cloning of a dendritic cell-associated transmembrane protein, DC-HIL, that promotes RGD-dependent adhesion of endothelial cells through recognition of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. J Biol Chem. 276, 8125-34.

Chung, J. J., Shikano, S., Hanyu, Y. & Li, M. (2002) Functional diversity of protein C-termini: more than zipcoding? Trends Cell Biol. 12, 146-50.

Shikano, S. & Li, M. (2003) Membrane receptor trafficking: Evidence of proximal and distal zones conferred by two independent endoplasmic reticulum localization signals. Proc Natl Acad Sci  USA. 100, 5783-5788

Takao, J., Yudate, T., Das, A., Shikano, S., Bonkobara, M., Ariizumi, K. & Cruz, P.D. (2003) Expression of NF-kappaB in epidermis and the relationship between NF-kappaB activation and inhibition. Br J Dermatol. 148, 680-8.

Sun, H., Shikano, S., Xiong, Q. & Li, M. (2004) Function recovery after chemobleaching (FRAC): evidence for activity silent membrane receptors on cell surface. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 101, 16964-9.

Coblitz, B., Shikano, S., Wu, M., Gabelli, S.B., Cockrell, L.M., Spieker, M., Hanyu, Y., Fu, H., Amzel, L.M. & Li, M. (2005) C-terminal recognition by 14-3-3 proteins for surface expression of membrane receptors. J Biol Chem. 280, 36263-72.

Shikano, S., Coblitz, B., Sun, H. & Li, M. (2005) Genetic isolation of transport signals directing cell surface expression. Nat Cell Biol. 10, 985-92.

Sato, K., Shikano, S., Xia, G., Takao, J., Chung, J.S., Cruz, P.D., Jr., Xie, X.S. & Ariizumi, K. (2006) Selective expression of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase subunit d2 by particular subsets of dendritic cells among leukocytes. Mol Immunol. 43, 1443-53.

Wu, M., Coblitz, B., Shikano, S., Long, S., Cockrell, L.M., Fu, H., & Li, M. (2006) SWTY--A general peptide probe for homogeneous solution binding assay of 14-3-3 proteins. Anal Biochem. 349, 186-96.

Coblitz, B., Shikano, S., Wu, M. & Li, M. (2006) C-terminal binding: an expanded repertoire and function of 14-3-3 proteins. FEBS Lett. 580.1531-5.

Sun, H., Liu, X., Xiong, Q., Shikano, S. & Li, M. (2006) Chronic inhibition of cardiac kir2.1 and HERG potassium channels by celastrol with dual effects on both ion conductivity and protein trafficking. J Biol Chem. 281, 5877-84.

Shikano, S., Coblitz, B., Wu, M. & Li, M. (2006) 14-3-3 proteins: regulation of ER localization and surface expression of membrane. Trends Cell Biol. 16.370-5.

Wu, M., Coblitz, B., Shikano, S., Long, S., Spieker, M., Frutos, A.G., Mukhopadhyay, S. & Li, M.
(2006) Phospho-specific recognition by 14-3-3 proteins and antibodies monitored by a high throughput label-free optical biosensor. FEBS Lett. 580. 5681-9.

Ma, D., Nakata, T., Zhang, G., Hoshi, T., Li, M. & Shikano, S. (2007) Differential trafficking of
carboxyl isoforms of Ca2+-gated (Slo1) potassium channels. FEBS Lett. 581. 1000-8.


© 2007 University of Illinois at Chicago