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J M McDonald

Publications and source records attributed to J M McDonald.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Casein kinase II-catalysed phosphorylation of calmodulin is altered by amino acid deletions in the central helix of calmodulin.

Calmodulin is phosphorylated by casein kinase II on Thr-79, Ser-81, Ser-101 and Thr-117. To determine the consensus sequences for casein kinase II in intact calmodulin, we examined casein kinase II-mediated phosphorylation of engineered calmodulins with 1-4 deletions in the central helical region (positions 81-84). Total casein kinase II-catalyzed phosphate incorporation into all deleted calmodulins was similar to control calmodulin. Neither CaM delta 84 (Glu-84 deleted) nor CaM delta 81-84 (Ser-81 to Glu-84 deleted) has phosphate incorporated into Thr-79 or Ser-81, but both exhibit increased phosphorylation of residues Ser-101 and Thr-117. These data suggest that phosphoserine in the +2 position may be a specificity determinant for casein kinase II in intact proteins and/or secondary structures are important in substrate recognition by casein kinase II.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of calmodulin.

Calmodulin is phosphorylated in vitro by the insulin-receptor tyrosine kinase and a variety of serine/threonine kinases. Here we report that insulin stimulates the phosphorylation of calmodulin on average 3-fold in intact rat hepatocytes. Although calmodulin is constitutively phosphorylated, insulin increases phosphate incorporation into serine, threonine and tyrosine residues. We demonstrate that casein kinase II, an insulin-sensitive kinase, phosphorylates calmodulin in vitro on serine/thyronine residues (Thr-79, Ser-81, Ser-101 and Thr-117). The ability of the insulin receptor to phosphorylate calmodulin that has been pre-phosphorylated by casein kinase II is enhanced up to 35-fold, and the sites of phosphorylation on calmodulin are shifted from tyrosine to threonine and serine. These observations, obtained with a new specific monoclonal antibody to calmodulin, confirm that insulin stimulates calmodulin phosphorylation in intact cells. The observation that calmodulin is phosphorylated in vivo, coupled with the recent demonstration that phosphocalmodulin exhibits altered biological activity, strongly suggests that phosphorylation of calmodulin is a critical component of intracellular signalling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Phosphorylation by casein kinase II alters the biological activity of calmodulin.

Calmodulin is the major intracellular Ca(2+)-binding protein, providing Ca(2+)-dependent regulation of numerous intracellular enzymes. The phosphorylation of calmodulin may provide an additional mechanism for modulating its function as a signal transducer. Phosphocalmodulin has been identified in tissues and cells, and calmodulin is phosphorylated both in vitro and in intact cells by various enzymes. Phosphorylation of calmodulin on serine/threonine residues by casein kinase II decreases its ability to activate both myosin-light-chain kinase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. For myosin-light-chain kinase the primary effect is an inhibition of the Vmax. of the reaction, with no apparent change in the concentration at which half-maximal velocity is attained (K0.5) for either Ca2+ or calmodulin. In contrast, for phosphodiesterase, phosphorylation of calmodulin significantly increases the K0.5 for calmodulin without noticeably altering the Vmax. or the K0.5 for Ca2+. The higher the stoichiometry of phosphorylation of calmodulin, the greater the inhibition of calmodulin-stimulated activity for both enzymes. Therefore the phosphorylation of calmodulin by casein kinase II appears to provide a Ca(2+)-independent mechanism whereby calmodulin regulates at least two important target enzymes, myosin-light-chain kinase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1992

Effects of cationic polypeptides on the activity, substrate interaction, and autophosphorylation of casein kinase II: a study with calmodulin.

The effects of basic polypeptides on the ability of casein kinase II to phosphorylate an exogenous substrate (calmodulin) are correlated with steady-state autophosphorylation of the alpha- and beta-subunits of casein kinase II. Polylysine and polyarginine increase autophosphorylation of the alpha-subunit with a concomitant decrease in beta-subunit phosphorylation, while enhancing casein kinase II-stimulated phosphorylation of calmodulin over 100-fold. The highly basic carboxyl terminal segment of the endogenous p21c-Ki-ras has similar effects on the phosphorylation of calmodulin and the alpha- and beta-subunits of casein kinase II. Altering the concentration of cationic polypeptides produces a biphasic effect on the phosphorylation of both calmodulin and the alpha-subunit, which correlate positively with each other but do not correlate with beta-subunit phosphorylation. When the KCl concentration is changed, casein kinase II activity correlates positively only with alpha-subunit phosphorylation. In contrast, the biphasic response of calmodulin phosphorylation by casein kinase II at different Ca2+ concentrations correlates positively with both alpha- and beta-subunit phosphorylation. Therefore, in the presence of basic protein activators, the rate of phosphorylation of a substrate, calmodulin, correlates with steady-state phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit, but not with the beta-subunit under all conditions tested. Endogenous cationic factors may modulate the in vivo activity of casein kinase II and alter the interaction of the enzyme with specific intracellular substrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The effects of extracellular calcium and epinephrine on cytosolic-free calcium in single rat adipocytes.

Changes in cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to extracellular calcium and epinephrine were monitored in individual rat adipocytes by both photon counting and digital imaging techniques utilizing the intracellular fluorescent calcium probes Fura-2 and Indo-1. Adipocytes containing Fura-2 were attached to coverslips and shown to be as hormonally responsive to insulin as adipocytes in suspension [3.5 +/- 0.8 (n = 5) vs. 4.2 +/- 0.6 (n = 8)-fold increase in glucose oxidation over basal in response to 0.7 nM insulin]. Basal [Ca2+]i in single rat adipocytes was found to be 128 +/- 6 nM (n = 100). The addition of either extracellular calcium or epinephrine elicited transient, concentration-dependent increases in [Ca2+]i. Although the characteristics of calcium- and epinephrine-induced calcium transients are generally similar, the peak [Ca2+]i increase over basal is higher in response to calcium vs. epinephrine [37 and 64% (1 and 27 microM epinephrine), vs. 132 and 236% (2 and 4 mM calcium)]. All the cells tested responded to calcium but only 67% responded to epinephrine. Both alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists were able to increase [Ca2+]i. The epinephrine-induced [Ca2+]i transients appear to be dependent upon extra-cellular calcium. Neither cholera nor pertussis toxin treatments altered basal [Ca2+]i. However, after treatment of adipocytes with either pertussis or cholera toxin, epinephrine stimulated oscillations in [Ca2+]i. Digital imaging revealed that adipocytes demonstrate a high degree of intracellular spatial heterogeneity and intercellular variability in the magnitude of response to both calcium and epinephrine. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of using single rat adipocytes to monitor intracellular free calcium, using both photon counting and digital imaging.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Identification, partial purification, and characterization of two guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins associated with insulin receptors.

We have previously suggested that at least two different G-proteins are involved in mediating insulin receptor functions. Here we identify and partially purify two G-proteins with apparent molecular masses of 41 and 67 kilodaltons (kDa) that interact with insulin receptors in rat adipocytes and human placenta. Treatment of isolated rat adipocytes with insulin inhibited pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of a 41-kDa G-protein in subsequently isolated plasma membranes by 30.2 +/- 3.0% and in partially purified insulin receptor preparations by 35.6 +/- 5.7%. There was no associated decrease in the concentration of the 41-kDa G-protein in the plasma membranes, as determined by immunoblot with a common G alpha antibody. The common G alpha antibody also recognized a 67-kDa protein in the plasma membranes, the concentration of which was not affected by insulin. However, the 67-kDa protein was enriched in partially purified solubilized insulin receptor preparations. Two similar, 41- and 67-kDa G-proteins were identified in the wheat germ-purified insulin receptor preparations obtained from human placenta. Removal of these two G-proteins from insulin receptor preparations results in loss of the ability of insulin to stimulate receptor kinase activity. Addition of a fraction enriched with 41- and 67-kDa G-proteins to the G-protein-depleted insulin receptor restores the insulin sensitivity of the insulin receptor kinase activity. Furthermore, addition of G-protein-depleted insulin receptors to the fraction containing partially purified 41- and 67-kDa G-proteins enhances pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of the 41-kDa G-protein. These results indicate that either the 41- or 67-kDa G-protein, or both, interact with the insulin receptor mediating insulin receptor kinase activity. Such mutual interaction and regulation between the insulin receptor and G-proteins could be an important component of the signal transduction mechanism for insulin.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed1991

Association of calmodulin with isolated nuclei from rat hepatocytes.

Calmodulin plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and intranuclear processes (J. Biol. Chem. 265: 18595, 1990). Therefore we studied the association of 125I-calmodulin with highly purified rat hepatocyte nuclear preparations which were characterized by marker enzymes and electron microscopy. Steady-state association of 125I-calmodulin was reached within 5 minutes. Half-maximal binding was achieved at approximately 7.1 microM. This association was partially Ca(2+)-dependent, but was not influenced by ATP, GTP or wheat germ agglutinin. Ultrastructural autoradiography showed specific association of 125I-calmodulin with peripheral and non-peripheral heterochromatin, nuclear membranes, and nucleoli. Specific binding (ratio of the grain density of 125I-calmodulin to Na125I) was greatest in the regions of the nucleoli and non-peripheral heterochromatin. The data indicate that exogenous calmodulin can associate with specific nuclear components in an energy-independent and Ca(2+)-dependent manner.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Palmitate stimulates glucose transport in rat adipocytes by a mechanism involving translocation of the insulin sensitive glucose transporter (GLUT4).

In rat adipocytes, palmitate: a) increases basal 2-deoxyglucose transport 129 +/- 27% (p less than 0.02), b) decreases the insulin sensitive glucose transporter (GLUT4) in low density microsomes and increases GLUT4 in plasma membranes and c) increases the activity of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase. Palmitate-stimulated glucose transport is not additive with the effect of insulin and is not inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine and sphingosine. In rat muscle, palmitate: a) does not affect basal glucose transport in either the soleus or epitrochlearis and b) inhibits insulin-stimulated glucose transport by 28% (p less than 0.005) in soleus but not in epitrochlearis muscle. These studies demonstrate a potentially important differential role for fatty acids in the regulation of glucose transport in different insulin target tissues.

3-O-Methylglucose↗
PubMed1991

Monoclonal antibody to calmodulin: development, characterization, and comparison with polyclonal anti-calmodulin antibodies.

Specific anti-calmodulin rabbit polyclonal and murine monoclonal antibodies have been produced with a thyroglobulin-linked peptide corresponding to amino acids 128-148 of bovine brain calmodulin. The monoclonal antibody is IgG-1 with kappa light chains. Both sets of antibodies recognize native vertebrate calmodulin, with the polyclonal antibody exhibiting an approximately fourfold higher sensitivity than the monoclonal antibody in a radioimmunoassay. The affinity of both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies is approximately 2.5-fold higher for Ca(2+)-free calmodulin than for Ca(2+)-calmodulin. Other selected members of the calmodulin family (S100, troponin, and parvalbumin) do not exhibit significant cross-reactivity with the monoclonal antibody. Troponin and S100 beta displace some 125I-calmodulin from the polyclonal antibody, but require at least 900-fold excess concentration. The monoclonal antibody recognizes intact vertebrate calmodulin in solution and also on solid-phase. In addition, plant calmodulin and some forms of post-translationally modified calmodulin (phosphorylated or glycated) bind the monoclonal antibody. The affinity of the monoclonal antibody is approximately 5 x 10(8) liters/mol determined by displacement of 125I-calmodulin. On dot blotting the sensitivity for vertebrate calmodulin is 50 pg. The epitope for the monoclonal antibody is in the carboxyl terminal region (residues 107-148) of calmodulin. This highly specific anti-calmodulin monoclonal antibody should be a useful reagent in elucidating the mechanism by which calmodulin regulates intracellular metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Insulin receptor function is inhibited by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]).

The regulatory role of GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) in insulin receptor function was investigated using isolated insulin receptors and plasma membranes from rat adipocytes. Treatment of isolated insulin receptors with 1 mM-guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) inhibited insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the beta-subunit, histone Hf2b and poly(GluNa4,Tyr1) by 22%, 65% and 65% respectively. Phosphorylation of calmodulin by the insulin receptor kinase was also inhibited by 1 mM-GTP[S] both in the absence (by 88%) and in the presence (by 81%) of insulin. In the absence of insulin, 1 mM-GTP had the same effect on calmodulin phosphorylation as 1 mM-GTP[S]. However, when insulin was present, GTP was less effective than GTP[S] (41% versus 81% inhibition). Concentrations of GTP[S] greater than 250 microM are necessary to inhibit phosphorylation. Although these concentrations are relatively high, the effect of GTP[S] is not due to competition with [32P]ATP for the insulin receptor kinase since (1) other nucleotide triphosphates did not inhibit phosphorylation as much as did GTP[S] (or GTP) and (2) the Vmax of the ATP-dependent kinase reaction was decreased in the presence of GTP[S]. GTP[S] (1 mM) also inhibited insulin binding to isolated receptors and plasma membranes, by 80% and 50% respectively. Finally, an antibody raised to a peptide sequence common to the alpha-subunits of G-proteins Gs, Gi, Go and transducin detected G-proteins in plasma membranes but failed to detect them in the insulin receptor preparation. These results indicate that GTP inhibits insulin receptor function, but does so through a mechanism that does not require a conventional GTP-binding protein.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

Modulation of guanine nucleotide effects on the insulin receptor by MgCl2.

Insulin binding to partially purified rat adipocyte insulin receptors is inhibited approximately 40-60 percent by 1 mM GTP-gamma-S in the presence of 2 mM MgCl2. However, in the presence of 10 mM MgCl2, GTP-gamma-S does not inhibit binding. Increasing MgCl2 from 0.5 to 10 mM enhances the phosphorylation of calmodulin catalyzed by the insulin receptor but also reduces the inhibition seen with 500 microM GTP-gamma-S. The reversal of the GTP-gamma-S-induced inhibition of calmodulin phosphorylation by high concentrations of MgCl2 appears to be due to an effect on the calmodulin molecule since MgCl2 has little effect on the inhibition of phosphorylation of histone Hf2b or poly (Glu4, Tyr1) induced by GTP-gamma-S. Our data suggest that there are at least two GTP-binding proteins associated with the insulin receptor, one that regulates insulin binding and is modulated by MgCl2 and one that regulates substrate phosphorylation and/or receptor-substrate coupling and is not altered by MgCl2.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1990

A laboratory medicine residency training program that includes clinical consultation and research.

We describe a laboratory medicine residency training program that includes ongoing interaction with both clinical laboratories and clinical services as well as significant research experience. Laboratory medicine residents serve as on-call consultants in the interpretation of test results, design of testing strategies, and assurance of test quality. The consultative on-call beeper system was evaluated and is presented as an effective method of clinical pathology training that is well accepted by the clinical staff. The research component of the residency program is also described. Together, these components provide training in real-time clinical problem solving and prepare residents for the changing technological environment of the clinical laboratory. At the completion of the residency, the majority of the residents are qualified laboratory subspecialists and are also capable of running an independent research program.

Chemistry, Clinical↗
PubMed1989

Tyrosine-specific phosphorylation of calmodulin by the insulin receptor kinase purified from human placenta.

It has previously been demonstrated that calmodulin can be phosphorylated in vitro and in vivo by both tyrosine-specific and serine/threonine protein kinase. We demonstrate here that the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase purified from human placenta phosphorylates calmodulin. The highly purified receptors (prepared by insulin-Sepharose chromatography) were 5-10 times more effective in catalysing the phosphorylation of calmodulin than an equal number of partially purified receptors (prepared by wheat-germ agglutinin-Sepharose chromatography). Phosphorylation occurred exclusively on tyrosine residues, up to a maximum of 1 mol [0.90 +/- 0.14 (n = 5)] of phosphate incorporated/mol of calmodulin. Phosphorylation of calmodulin was dependent on the presence of certain basic proteins and divalent cations. Some of these basic proteins, i.e. polylysine, polyarginine, polyornithine, protamine sulphate and histones H1 and H2B, were also able to stimulate the phosphorylation of calmodulin via an insulin-independent activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase. Addition of insulin further increased incorporation of 32P into calmodulin. The magnitude of the effect of insulin was dependent on the concentration and type of basic protein used, ranging from 0.5- to 9.0-fold stimulation. Maximal phosphorylation of calmodulin was obtained at an insulin concentration of 10(-10) M, with half-maximal effect at 10(-11) M. Either Mg2+ or Mn2+ was necessary to obtain phosphorylation, but Mg2+ was far more effective than Mn2+. In contrast, maximal phosphorylation of calmodulin was observed in the absence of Ca2+. Inhibition of phosphorylation was observed as free Ca2+ concentration exceeded 0.1 microM, with almost complete inhibition at 30 microM free Ca2+. The Km for calmodulin was approx. 0.1 microM. To gain further insight into the effects of basic proteins in this system, we examined the binding of calmodulin to the insulin receptor and the polylysine. Calmodulin binds to the insulin receptor in a Ca2+-dependent manner, whereas it binds to polylysine seemingly by electrostatic interactions. These studies identify calmodulin as a substrate for the highly purified insulin receptor tyrosine kinase of human placenta. They also demonstrate that the basic proteins, which are required for insulin to stimulate the phosphorylation of calmodulin, do so by a direct interaction with calmodulin.

Calmodulin↗
PubMed1989

Effect of basic polycations and proteins on purified insulin receptor. Insulin-independent activation of the receptor tyrosine-specific protein kinase by poly(L-lysine).

Since the studies on tyrosine phosphorylation of calmodulin by the insulin receptor kinase in vitro suggested that protamine and poly(L-lysine) may activate phosphorylation of the receptor beta subunit [Sacks & McDonald (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 2377-2383], we examined the effects of a variety of basic polycations/proteins and polyamines on insulin receptor kinase activity. The insulin receptor purified from human placental membranes was incubated with each basic polycation/protein or polyamine and assayed for tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity by measuring 32P incorporation into the src-related peptide. At a concentration of 1 microM, poly(L-lysine) and poly(L-ornithine) markedly stimulated kinase activity, whereas poly(L-arginine) and histones H1 and H2B inhibited insulin receptor kinase. In contrast, at a concentration of 1 mM, three polyamines (spermine, spermidine and putrescine) did not alter kinase activity. Poly(L-lysine) and poly(L-ornithine) stimulated the insulin receptor kinase by 5-10-fold at concentrations of 0.1-1 microM. Protamine sulphate also showed a significant stimulatory effect at a concentration of 100 microM. Preincubation of the receptor with poly(L-lysine) or poly(L-ornithine) for 20-60 min resulted in maximal kinase activation. Poly(L-lysine), the most effective activator of the receptor kinase, was used to characterize further the mechanisms of the kinase activation. Poly(L-lysine) activates the insulin receptor kinase by increasing the Vmax. without changing the Km. Poly(L-lysine) markedly stimulates the kinase activity of insulin receptor preparations that have lost both basal kinase activity and the ability to be stimulated by insulin. Insulin and poly(L-lysine) also differed in their ability to stimulate the kinase activity of prephosphorylated receptors. Prephosphorylation of the receptors did not affect the stimulation of the kinase by insulin. In contrast, prephosphorylation of receptors resulted in a markedly enhanced ability of poly(L-lysine) to stimulate kinase activity. These studies suggest that the mechanisms by which poly(L-lysine) and insulin activate the kinase are different. In conjunction with other additional evidence, it is suggested that poly(L-lysine) interacts directly with the beta-subunit of the receptor, thereby activating the receptor kinase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

The carboxyl terminal segment of the c-Ki-ras 2 gene product mediates insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of calmodulin and stimulates insulin-independent autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor.

Cationic cofactors (e.g., polylysine or histone H2B) are necessary to observe phosphorylation of calmodulin in cell-free systems containing partially purified insulin receptors from a variety of tissues. The highly basic carboxyl terminus of the human c-Ki-ras 2 gene product stimulated both the in vitro phosphorylation of calmodulin and autophosphorylation of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor, independently of insulin. Addition of insulin increased phosphate incorporation into calmodulin 2.5 fold. The K0.5 for insulin was approximately 5 x 10(-8) M. Maximal phosphorylation occurred at 120 microM c-Ki-ras 2 in the absence of Ca2+ and was inhibited by free Ca2+ concentrations above 0.1 microM. These data suggest the c-Ki-ras 2 gene product, an endogenous membrane protein, may play an important role in the cellular mechanism of insulin action.

Animals↗