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Biomedical subjects

A S Kraft

Publications and source records attributed to A S Kraft.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Inhibition of leukemic cell growth by the protein kinase C activator bryostatin 1 correlates with the dephosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2.

Bryostatin 1 is a natural antineoplastic agent that activates protein kinase C. Treatment of U937 human leukemic cells with bryostatin 1 caused a 60% reduction in cell growth, whereas another protein kinase C activator, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), completely inhibited U937 cell growth. Both bryostatin 1 and PMA induced inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) activity. The first phase of cdk2 inhibition correlated with the transient induction of p21, a known inhibitor of cdk2. In contrast, the second phase of cdk2 inhibition correlated with the dephosphorylation of cdk2 on threonine-160, which must be phosphorylated for cdk2 activity. The level of growth inhibition induced by these two compounds correlated with the degree of cdk2 dephosphorylation as follows: bryostatin 1, 60%; PMA, 100%.

Antineoplastic Agents

Signal transduction by a CD16/CD7/Jak2 fusion protein.

The addition of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to hormone-dependent cells induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Janus protein kinase 2 (Jak2) and activates its in vitro kinase activity. To explore the role of Jak2 in IL-3/GM-CSF-mediated signal transduction, we constructed a CD16/CD7/Jak2 (CD16/Jak2) fusion gene containing the external domain of CD16 and the entire Jak2 molecule and expressed this fusion protein using a recombinant vaccinia virus. The clustering of CD16/Jak2 fusion protein by cross-linking with an anti-CD16 antibody induced autophosphorylation of the fusion protein but did not induce the phosphorylation of either the endogenous Jak2 or the beta chain. Cross-linking of CD16/Jak2 stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of a large group of proteins that are also phosphorylated after the addition of IL-3 or GM-CSF and include proteins of 145, 97, 67, 52, and 42 kDa. Closer analysis demonstrated that the CD16/Jak2 phosphorylates Shc, a 52-kDa protein, and the 145-kDa protein associated tightly with Shc, as well as mitogen-associated protein kinase (pp42). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrate that CD16/Jak2 activates the ability of signal transduction and activation of transcription (STAT) proteins to bind to an interferon-gamma-activated sequence oligonucleotide in a manner similar to that seen after IL-3 treatment. Cross-linking of the CD16/Jak2 protein stimulated increases in c-fos and junB similar to IL-3 but did not cause major changes in the levels of the c-myc message, which normally increases after IL-3 treatment. Thus, a transmembrane CD16/Jak2 fusion is capable of activating protein phosphorylation and mRNA transcription in a manner similar but not identical to hematopoietic growth factors.

Animals

Regions of the JAK2 tyrosine kinase required for coupling to the growth hormone receptor.

Growth hormone (GH) treatment of cells promotes activation of JAK2, a GH receptor (GHR)-associated tyrosine kinase. We now explore JAK2 regions required for GHR-induced signaling. Wild-type (WT) JAK2 and JAK2 molecules with deletions of the amino terminus (JAK2ATD), carboxyl terminus (JAK2CTD), or kinase-like domain (JAK2PKD) were each transiently coexpressed in COS-7 cells with the rabbit GHR. The following responses were assayed: GH-induced transactivation of a luciferase reporter governed by a c-fos enhancer element; GH-induced shift in the molecular mass of a cotransfected epitope-tagged extracellular signal-regulated kinase molecule; and GH-induced antiphosphotyrosine immunoprecipitability of the transfected JAK2 form. In each assay, WTJAK2 and JAK2PKD allowed GH-induced signaling, whereas JAK2ATD and JAK2CTD did not. Anti-GHR serum coimmunoprecipitated WTJAK2, JAK2PKD, and JAK2CTD, but not JAK2ATD. Finally, a chimera in which the JAK2 kinase domain replaced the GHR cytoplasmic domain signaled GH-induced transactivation. We conclude: 1) kinase-like domain deletion eliminates neither physical nor functional interaction between JAK2 and the GHR; 2) kinase domain deletion eliminates functional but not physical coupling of JAK2 to the GHR; 3) interaction with the GHR appears dependent on the NH2-terminal one-fifth of JAK2; and 4) a GH-responsive signaling unit can include as little as the GHR external and transmembrane domains and the JAK2 kinase domain.

Amino Acid Sequence

The amino-terminal portion of the JAK2 protein kinase is necessary for binding and phosphorylation of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor beta c chain.

The binding of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to its receptor stimulates JAK2 protein kinase activation, protein phosphorylation, and JAK2 association with the beta c chain of the GM-CSF receptor. To better understand how different domains of the JAK2 function to regulate association and phosphorylation of the beta c receptor, the minimal portion of the beta c receptor necessary for JAK2 binding has been determined. Using glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins expressing different portions of the membrane-proximal domain of the beta c chain, we demonstrate that JAK2 binds to amino acids 458-495, but showed little binding to fusion proteins containing amino acids 483-559, 483-530, or 458-484. The GST-beta c 458-495 bound equally well to the wild type (WT) JAK2, a carboxyl-terminal deletion of JAK2 removing the protein kinase domain (amino acids 1000-1129), and a deletion of the kinase-like domain (amino acids 523-746). However, an amino-terminal JAK2 deletion (amino acids 2-239) markedly reduced binding to this GST-beta c. Far Western blotting demonstrated that a GST fusion protein containing amino acids 1-294 of JAK2, but not fusion proteins containing amino acids 295-522, 523-746, or 747-1127, bound GST-beta c 458-559. When the JAK2 WT and deletions were transiently expressed along with the alpha and beta c subunits of the GM-CSF receptor and the cells were treated with GM-CSF, the following results were obtained: 1) WT JAK2 phosphorylated the beta c subunit in a GM-CSF-dependent manner, 2) the kinase-like domain deletion phosphorylated the beta c subunit, and 3) both the kinase domain deletion and the amino-terminal deletion failed to stimulate phosphorylation of the beta c subunit. Therefore, phosphorylation of the beta c subunit requires the binding of JAK2 through its amino terminus.

Binding Sites

In vitro association between the Jun protein family and the general transcription factors, TBP and TFIIB.

Transcriptional activator proteins interact with the general transcription factors TATA-binding protein (TBP), TFIIB and/or other TBP-associated factors (TAFs). Using affinity chromatography we demonstrate that members of the Jun family of transcriptional activators interact with both TBP and TFIIB in vitro. TBP binds to both the N-terminal activation domain and C-terminal bZIP regions of c-Jun, whereas TFIIB binds to only the c-Jun bZIP domain. This interaction requires the dimerization of the Jun protein. The ability of the N-terminal activation domains of c-Jun, JunB, JunD and v-Jun to interact with TBP in vitro correlates with their transcriptional activity in vivo. Domain mapping experiments indicate that c-Jun interacts with the conserved C-terminus of TBP. Studies using a set of TFIIB inframe deletion mutants demonstrate that C-terminal amino acids 178-201 and 238-316 play an important role in modulating the interaction between TFIIB and c-Jun. Although phosphorylation of the c-Jun N-terminal activation domain stimulates c-Jun transcriptional activity in vivo, it has no effect on the ability of c-Jun to interact with either TBP or TFIIB in vitro. These data suggest that the Jun family of activator proteins may activate transcription by interacting with the general transcription factors TBP and TFIIB.

Animals

Regulation of AP-3 enhancer activity during hematopoietic differentiation.

Phorbol ester treatment of the human leukemic cell line U937 induces macrophage differentiation over 24-48 hr. This differentiation is mediated by the activation and/or repression of specific gene transcription by proteins, enhancer binding factors, that bind to the DNA upstream of the start site of transcription. We find that differentiation of U937 cells induced by phorbol esters and bryostain 1, activators of protein kinase C, and the phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, stimulates transcription from an enhancer sequence which contains multimerized AP-3 binding sequences but not from one that contains multimerized AP-2 binding motifs. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrate that AP-3 DNA binding activity peaks at 24 hr, remains elevated for 24 hr, and then decreases thereafter. Southwestern blotting demonstrates that the AP-3 enhancer sequence binds to a 48 kDa protein present in these leukemic cells. Because the AP-3-oligomer also contains an overlapping NF-kappa B-like site, the role of NK-kappa B proteins in regulating transcription from this multimerized oligonucleotide was investigated. Transfection of U937 cells with NF-kappa B family members demonstrated activation of AP-3-mediated transcription by rel A but little effect induced by NFKB1 and c-rel. It is unlikely, however, that phorbol ester-induced transcription from this AP-3 sequence is solely mediated by this NF-kappa B family member since treatment of U937 cells with antisense rel A oligodeoxynucleotides did not block phorbol ester-mediated transcription from the AP-3 site. These data demonstrate that AP-3, but not AP-2 sequences, functions to activate mRNA transcription during phorbol ester-induced hematopoietic differentiation and suggests a complex interaction between NF-kappa B and AP-3 proteins in the regulation of this enhancer element.

Base Sequence

Mapping the intracytoplasmic regions of the alpha granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor necessary for cell growth regulation.

The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor is composed of an alpha subunit which binds GM-CSF and a beta subunit, which together form the high affinity receptor. By transfecting the human alpha subunit into murine Ba/F3 cells, we have been able to investigate the role of the short 54-amino acid intracytoplasmic portion (amino acid 346-400) of this subunit in mediating cell growth. We have shown that the intracytoplasmic amino acids 346-382 are necessary for GM-CSF-mediated cell growth. In contrast, amino acids 382-400 can be removed without effect. The stable transfection of the human beta subunit into the cell lines containing the mutant alpha subunits did not affect the growth characteristics of these cells. The ability of GM-CSF to stimulate cell growth of the Ba/F3 cells alpha subunit transfectants was correlated with the ability of this hormone to translocate protein kinase C to the particulate fraction. In contrast, the ability of GM-CSF addition to increase phosphorylation of the human beta subunit did not correlate with cell growth and required the entire intracytoplasmic domain of the alpha subunit. These results demonstrate an important role for the intracytoplasmic portion of the alpha subunit in mediating both signal transduction and cell cycle commitment stimulated by GM-CSF.

Animals

A peptide encoding the c-Jun delta domain inhibits the activity of a c-jun amino-terminal protein kinase.

Evidence suggests that the c-Jun protooncogene delta (delta) domain (amino acids 31-60) helps regulate the transcriptional activating capacity of c-Jun by modulating the amino-terminal phosphorylation of this protein. By using a peptide encoding the delta domain and purified amino-terminal c-Jun protein kinase, we demonstrate that the delta domain peptide inhibits phosphorylation of the amino terminus of both c-Jun and the related protein JunD. The delta domain peptide inhibited the activation of the c-Jun amino-terminal protein kinase by phorbol esters in permeabilized U937 leukemic cells. Mutation of c-Jun followed by transfection into U937 leukemic cells demonstrated that partial deletions of the delta domain are sufficient to block phosphorylation of the amino terminus of c-Jun. In vitro deletion of the amino-terminal (amino acids 31-44) half of the delta domain inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun. However, deletion of the carboxyl-terminal (amino acids 45-60) half only partially inhibited c-Jun phosphorylation. Therefore, these results indicate that the delta domain sequence is an important regulator of c-Jun amino-terminal phosphorylation.

Amino Acid Sequence

Interaction of the growth hormone receptor cytoplasmic domain with the JAK2 tyrosine kinase.

An early step in GH action involves tyrosine phosphorylation of various cellular proteins. Recently, it has been shown in murine preadipocytes that GH promotes the association of its receptor (the GHR) with and the activation of the JAK2 tyrosine kinase. In this study, we confirmed the human (h) GH-induced association of JAK2 with hGHR in IM-9 cells by coimmunoprecipitation experiments using anti-hGHR serum. We further examined the interaction of JAK2 with the GHR cytoplasmic domain by two lines of investigation. For in vitro studies, we assayed by immunoblotting the ability of cell-derived JAK2 to interact with glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins containing elements of the hGHR cytoplasmic domain. A fusion protein containing the entire hGHR cytoplasmic domain (residues 271-620) specifically associated with JAK2 independent of prior stimulation of cells with hGH. This interaction was not dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation of either partner. Mutational analysis of the hGHR cytoplasmic domain component of the fusions indicated that a membrane-proximal 20-residue region that includes the proline-rich box 1 was necessary for the interaction. This region appeared to cooperate with another region(s), largely in the N-terminal one third of the cytoplasmic domain, to promote full interaction with JAK2. For in vivo reconstitution experiments, wild-type (WT) and mutant rabbit GHRs (rGHRs) along with murine JAK2 were expressed by transient transfection in COS-7 cells. rGHR mutations were confined to the cytoplasmic domain and included C-terminal truncations as well as internal deletions of residues 297-406 and 278-292 (the latter contains box 1). All mutant rGHRs were expressed at the cell surface and bound hGH to a degree similar to the WT rGHR. Receptors were tested for their ability to mediate the hGH-induced immunoprecipitability of JAK2 with phosphotyrosine (APT) antibodies. A rGHR truncated to residue 275 [rGHR-(1-275)], which contains only five cytoplasmic residues, failed to mediate JAK2 APT precipitability in response to hGH. In contrast, WT rGHR; the C-terminal truncations rGHR-(1-542), rGHR-(1-390), and rGHR-(1-317); and the rGHR-(d297-406) deletion mutant maintained this ability. Deletion of the 278-292 box 1-containing region in the context of either rGHR-(d297-406) or WT rGHR eliminated detectable hGH-induced JAK2 APT precipitability. Interestingly, rGHR-(1-292), which includes box 1, was not able to mediate significant hGH-induced JAK2 APT precipitability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Affinity-purified c-Jun amino-terminal protein kinase requires serine/threonine phosphorylation for activity.

The addition of phorbol esters to U937 leukemic cells stimulates the phosphorylation of c-Jun on serines 63 and 73. To isolate the protein kinase which stimulates this phosphorylation, we have used heparin-Sepharose chromatography followed by affinity chromatography over glutathione-Sepharose beads bound with a fusion protein of glutathione S-transferase and amino acids 5-89 of c-Jun (GST-c-Jun). Using this procedure we purify a 67-kDa protein which is capable of phosphorylating GST-c-Jun as well as the complete c-Jun protein. By making mutations in serines 63 and 73 and then creating a fusion protein with GST (GST-c-Jun mut), we demonstrate that this protein kinase specifically phosphorylates these sites in the c-Jun amino terminus. Treatment of purified c-Jun amino-terminal protein kinase (cJAT-PK) with phosphatase 2A inhibits its ability to phosphorylate GST-c-Jun. This inactivated enzyme can be reactivated by phosphorylation with protein kinase C (PKC), although PKC is not capable of phosphorylating the GST-c-Jun substrate. Because v-Jun cannot be phosphorylated in vivo, we compared the ability of cJAT-PK to bind to GST-v-Jun or GST-c-Jun mut. The cJAT-PK bound 50-fold better to GST-c-Jun mut than GST-v-Jun suggesting that the delta domain which is missing in v-Jun plays a role in binding the cJAT-PK. These results suggest that there is a protein kinase cascade mediated by protein phosphatases and PKC which regulates c-Jun phosphorylation.

Cell Line

Phorbol ester-induced amino-terminal phosphorylation of human JUN but not JUNB regulates transcriptional activation.

Phorbol ester tumor promoters activate gene transcription by regulating both the synthesis and posttranslational modification of the activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor, c-Jun and JunB are components of the mammalian AP-1 complex. Here we demonstrate that in U-937 human leukemic cells, phorbol esters stimulate the phosphorylation of the amino terminus of human c-Jun (JUN) but not human JunB (JUNB). Mutational analysis indicates that serine-63 and -73, which reside within the putative regulatory domain of JUN, are required for both constitutive and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-inducible N-terminal JUN phosphorylation. To determine the functional role of this N-terminal phosphorylation, we prepared several chimeric proteins containing the N-terminal 84 amino acids (positions 5-89) of human JUN or murine JUNB fused to the yeast GAL4 DNA-binding domain. This region was found to be sufficient for the phorbol ester-inducible transcriptional activity of JUN, but not JUNB. This induction was abolished by the mutation of serine-63 and -73 to leucine residues. Thus, we propose that phorbol esters enhance the trans-activation potential of JUN, but not JUNB, by the phosphorylation of the N-terminal regulatory domain of JUN.

Amino Acid Sequence

Phorbol esters stimulate the phosphorylation of c-Jun but not v-Jun: regulation by the N-terminal delta domain.

c-Jun and its oncogenic counterpart v-Jun are completely conserved within the region from Ser-63 to Ser-73; these serines are sites for phorbol ester-inducible c-Jun phosphorylation. Using a U937 human leukemic cell line stably expressing v-Jun, we have demonstrated that phorbol esters stimulate the in vivo phosphorylation of c-Jun but not v-Jun. We developed an in vitro protein kinase assay to characterize the c-Jun protein kinase and to examine the determinants underlying this differential phosphorylation. Fusion proteins between glutathione S-transferase and the N terminus of c-Jun, v-Jun, or several c-Jun mutants were used as substrates. A c-Jun kinase activity was affinity-purified 5000-fold by using glutathione S-transferase-c-Jun-glutathione-Sepharose beads and was found to phosphorylate the N terminus of c-Jun but not v-Jun or c-Jun containing a 27-amino acid N-terminal deletion found in v-Jun. These effects were also observed in vivo as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate did not induce the phosphorylation of v-Jun or the c-Jun deletion mutant in U937 cell lines stably expressing these proteins. These findings indicate that the delta domain of c-Jun (amino acids 34-60), which is deleted in v-Jun, plays a critical role in regulating N-terminal c-Jun phosphorylation.

Amino Acid Sequence

In vivo administration of bryostatin 1, a protein kinase C activator, decreases murine resistance to Salmonella typhimurium.

Bryostatin 1, a potent activator of protein kinase C, has antitumor activity against murine lymphoma, leukemia, and melanoma. In vitro, this compound stimulates the release of gamma-interferon, interleukins, and hematopoietic growth factors from accessory cells and activates both T- and B-cells. Bryostatin 1 is also able to stimulate neutrophils to undergo oxidative burst and degranulation. Because of the ability of this compound to stimulate the immune system, cause release of immune mediators, and activate neutrophils, we have examined its effect on bacterial infection by using the gram-negative bacterium Salmonella typhimurium in mice. We find that animals given injections i.v. of S. typhimurium have a shortened life span if they are also given injections i.p. of nonlethal doses of bryostatin 1. There is a dose-response relationship with 100 micrograms/kg bryostatin 1 having a greater effect on survival than 40 micrograms/kg. Below 40 micrograms/kg there are no effects on survival. Analysis of the first 4 h of Salmonella infection demonstrates that bryostatin 1 does not affect the blood clearance of the bacterium. However, by day 2 of infection greater numbers of bacteria are found in the livers and spleens of mice given injections of bryostatin 1. By day 5, 10-fold more S. typhimurium bacteria are found in the livers and spleens of mice receiving 40 micrograms/kg of bryostatin 1. To determine whether bryostatin 1 was affecting growth or causing the death of bacteria, we used a Salmonella carrying a plasmid which has a temperature-sensitive origin of replication and is unable to replicate when the bacteria are in mice. This experiment demonstrates that bryostatin 1 represses bacterial killing but does not affect bacterial growth. Bryostatin 1 given i.p. stimulates a transient syndrome of weight loss and diarrhea from which the mice recover and regain weight, suggesting that bryostatin 1 may release a number of important humoral mediators in vivo. The weight loss is exacerbated by Salmonella infection with mice receiving bryostatin 1 and S. typhimurium, in that they lose approximately 33% of body weight prior to death. Thus, at doses used to treat murine tumors, bryostatin 1 treatment does not affect the clearance of S. typhimurium from the blood but does decrease the killing of bacteria in the liver and spleen, leading to early animal death. Such potential effects of bryostatin 1 on the outcome of bacterial infections should be evaluated in ongoing human trials of this agent.

Animals

Protein kinase C-independent activation of c-jun and c-fos transcription by epidermal growth factor.

Phorbol esters, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and serum induce the transient expression of the c-jun and c-fos proto-oncogenes in quiescent fibroblasts. While phorbol esters such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) are thought to induce the transcription of these genes by activating protein kinase C (PKC), the signal transduction pathway(s) mediating the effects of EGF and serum are still unclear. We have investigated whether PKC and/or calcium play a role in mediating EGF-stimulated c-jun and c-fos RNA and protein expression in quiescent NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. PMA, EGF or serum stimulated a rapid, transient increase in c-jun and c-fos expression and cJun protein synthesis in quiescent NIH 3T3 cells. Depletion of whole cell PKC activity by pretreatment with PMA abolished any subsequent response to PMA, but had no effect on the ability of EGF or serum to induce c-jun and c-fos RNA and cJun protein expression. Nuclear run-on analysis indicated that EGF-induced gene expression was due to an increase in the rate of transcription of c-jun and c-fos in both naive and PKC-depleted cells. The role of calcium in the EGF-induced expression of c-jun and c-fos was also investigated using an NIH 3T3 cell line (HER-14) overexpressing the wild type human EGF receptor. Removal of extracellular calcium by chelation with excess EGTA or use of the non-specific calcium channel blocker lanthanide, both of which abolish the EGF-induced calcium transient in HER-14 cells, had no effect on the PMA or EGF induced c-jun or c-fos response. These findings suggest that EGF induces c-jun and c-fos transcription and cJun protein synthesis in a manner independent of an increase in intracellular calcium or activation of PKC in quiescent NIH 3T3 cells.

3T3 Cells

Upstream regions of the c-jun promoter regulate phorbol ester-induced transcription in U937 leukemic cells.

To understand the mechanism by which phorbol esters (PMA) stimulate c-jun transcription in human leukemic cell line U937, we have mutated specific enhancer sequences within the c-jun promoter. We find in the region of DNA from -132 to +170 containing Sp1, C-TF and AP-1 sequences that mutation of the AP-1 sequence alone is not sufficient to abrogate transcription, and mutation of the Sp1 sequence increases transcription 4-fold. Although mutation of the CTF site had no effect, CTF and AP-1 mutations together totally abrogate PMA-induced transcription. In comparison mutations of either of these sites alone or together in a construct containing -1639/+740 of the c-jun promoter had no effect on transcription. Because this data suggested the possibility of other upstream control regions, we sequenced the promoter from -142 to -1639. This sequence demonstrates a greater than 70% homology between human, and mouse c-jun promoters for the region from -142 to -441, and a second AP-1-like site in the -183 to -192 region. Mutation of this site did not influence transcription by PMA. By making constructs containing varying portions of the promoter, we have identified the region between -142 and -711 to be responsible for mediating PMA-induced c-jun transcription.

Base Sequence

Induction of differentiation and c-jun expression in human leukemic cells by okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases.

Okadaic acid, a protein phosphatase inhibitor, is a strong tumor promoter which activates protein phosphorylation. Because another activator of protein phosphorylation, phorbol esters, stimulates hematopoietic differentiation, we sought to determine whether okadaic acid could also induce the differentiation of the human leukemic cell line U937. Differentiation was assessed by measuring changes in the following: mRNA levels, cell growth, morphology, cell surface markers, and the ability to induce superoxide. We found that okadaic acid treatment of U937 cells induces immediate increases in total cellular levels of both c-jun and c-fos mRNAs. Nuclear run-on experiments demonstrate that initial increases are secondary to increases in transcription, whereas latter changes may be secondary to mRNA stabilization. Like phorbol esters, okadaic acid treatment also activates AP-1 enhancer activity and induces the phosphorylation of c-Jun protein. Approximately 6-12 hours after treatment with okadaic acid, mRNA levels of c-myc, p34cdc2, and p58GTA, two cell cycle regulated protein kinases, decrease. Okadaic acid inhibits the growth of U937 cells, induces changes in nuclear morphology, stimulates increases in Mac-1 and Leu 11 surface antigens, and induces these cells to produce superoxide. These changes, taken together, suggest that U937 cells have been induced by okadaic acid to differentiate towards a more mature cell type.

Base Sequence

Regulation of the p58GTA cell division control-related protein kinase during phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced terminal differentiation of U937 cells.

We describe the regulation of expression, activity and subcellular localization of a cell cycle control-related kinase, p58GTA, during the withdrawal from the cell cycle of U937 human leukemic cells induced by phorbol esters. Our studies indicate that steady-state mRNA, protein levels, transcription and subcellular localization of this kinase are affected in distinctly different manners by phorbol esters (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, PMA). Steady-state mRNA levels increase dramatically within 1 h of PMA treatment, while steady-state protein levels increase only slightly. However, within 24 h of PMA treatment both steady-state p58GTA mRNA and protein levels decrease markedly. Assays of p58GTA protein kinase activity show that, even though steady-state protein levels are relatively constant, protein kinase activity increases within 30 min of PMA treatment, and then peaks at 2 h and 12 h after PMA treatment. Once again, p58GTA protein kinase activity decreases by 48 h to levels similar to unstimulated cells. These results suggest that the expression of the p58GTA protein kinase gene and, quite possibly, its post-translational modification are affected by phorbol esters in a complex manner.

Amino Acid Sequence