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Biomedical subjects

M Andjelkovic

Publications and source records attributed to M Andjelkovic.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Protein kinase B localization and activation differentially affect S6 kinase 1 activity and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 phosphorylation.

Recent studies indicate that phosphatidylinositide-3OH kinase (PI3K)-induced S6 kinase (S6K1) activation is mediated by protein kinase B (PKB). Support for this hypothesis has largely relied on results obtained with highly active, constitutively membrane-localized alleles of wild-type PKB, whose activity is independent of PI3K. Here we set out to examine the importance of PKB signaling in S6K1 activation. In parallel, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) inactivation and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) phosphorylation were monitored as markers of the rapamycin-insensitive and -sensitive branches of the PI3K signaling pathway, respectively. The results demonstrate that two activated PKBalpha mutants, whose basal activity is equivalent to that of insulin-induced wild-type PKB, inhibit GSK-3beta to the same extent as a highly active, constitutively membrane-targeted wild-type PKB allele. However, of these two mutants, only the constitutively membrane-targeted allele of PKB induces S6K1 activation. Furthermore, an interfering mutant of PKB, which blocks insulin-induced PKB activation and GSK-3beta inactivation, has no effect on S6K1 activation. Surprisingly, all the activated PKB mutants, regardless of constitutive membrane localization, induce 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and the interfering PKB mutant blocks insulin-induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. The results demonstrate that PKB mediates S6K1 activation only as a function of constitutive membrane localization, whereas the activation of PKB appears both necessary and sufficient to induce 4E-BP1 phosphorylation independently of its intracellular location.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1998

Phosphorylation and activation of p70s6k by PDK1.

Activation of the protein p70s6k by mitogens leads to increased translation of a family of messenger RNAs that encode essential components of the protein synthetic apparatus. Activation of the kinase requires hierarchical phosphorylation at multiple sites, culminating in the phosphorylation of the threonine in position 229 (Thr229), in the catalytic domain. The homologous site in protein kinase B (PKB), Thr308, has been shown to be phosphorylated by the phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase PDK1. A regulatory link between p70s6k and PKB was demonstrated, as PDK1 was found to selectively phosphorylate p70s6k at Thr229. More importantly, PDK1 activated p70s6k in vitro and in vivo, whereas the catalytically inactive PDK1 blocked insulin-induced activation of p70s6k.

3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases↗
PubMed1997

G-Protein-coupled receptors and Fcgamma-receptors mediate activation of Akt/protein kinase B in human phagocytes.

Activation of the serine/threonine kinase Akt, also called protein kinase B (PKB), was investigated in human neutrophils. Stimulation of the cells with the chemoattractant fMet-Leu-Phe or the chemokines IL-8 and GROalpha leads to the rapid and transient activation of PKB. Maximum PKB activation correlates with the well documented kinetics of respiratory burst and exocytosis. Wortmannin, a selective inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI 3-kinases) in neutrophils, abrogates PKB activation. Similarly homo and heterotypic cross-linking of FcgammaIIA and FcgammaIIIB causes a transient activation of PKB that is sensitive to wortmannin treatment. Kinase activity measurements in immunoprecipitates from lysates of the myelocytic GM-1 cells or GM-1/CXCR1 cells, which are transfected with the IL-8 receptor 1, confirmed the transient activation of PKB observed in neutrophils. Stimulation of human monocytes with the CC chemokine RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) also results in the activation of PKB. Preincubation of monocytes and neutrophils with Bordetella pertussis toxin inhibits fMet-Leu-Phe and RANTES-stimulated PKB activation, demonstrating that coupling of the receptors to heterotrimeric Gi-protein is required. The data show, that activation of PKB by Gi-protein-coupled receptors is mediated by PI 3-kinase and suggest that PKB is a constituent of neutrophil activating pathways.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1997

High affinity binding of inositol phosphates and phosphoinositides to the pleckstrin homology domain of RAC/protein kinase B and their influence on kinase activity.

The influence of inositol phosphates and phosphoinositides on the alpha isoform of the RAC-protein kinase B (RAC/PKB) was studied using purified wild type and mutant kinase preparations and a recombinant pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. Binding of inositol phosphates and phosphoinositides to the PH domain was measured as the quenching of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. Inositol phosphates and D3-phosphorylated phosphoinositides bound with affinities of 1-10 microM and 0.5 microM, respectively. Similar values were obtained using RAC/PKB expressed and purified from baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells in the fluorescence assay. The influence of synthetic dioctanoyl derivatives of phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate on the activity of RAC/PKB purified from transfected COS-1 cells was studied. Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate was found to inhibit the RAC/PKB kinase activity with half-maximal inhibition at 2.5 microM. In contrast, phosphatidylinositol 3, 4-bisphosphate stimulated kinase activity (half-maximal stimulation at 2.5 microM). A mutant RAC/PKB protein lacking the PH domain was not affected by D3-phosphorylated phosphoinositides. These results demonstrate that the PH domain of RAC/PKB binds inositol phosphates and phosphoinositides with high affinity, and suggest that the products of the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase can act as both a membrane anchor and modulator of RAC/PKB activity. The data also provide further evidence for a link between phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase and RAC/PKB regulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Molecular basis for the substrate specificity of protein kinase B; comparison with MAPKAP kinase-1 and p70 S6 kinase.

The substrate specificity of protein kinase-B alpha (PKBalpha, also known as RAC kinase or Akt) was investigated using synthetic peptide substrates related to the sequence surrounding the phosphorylation site on glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3). The minimum sequence motif required for efficient phosphorylation was Arg-Xaa-Arg-Yaa-Zaa-Ser/Thr-Hyd, where Xaa is any amino acid, Yaa and Zaa are small residues other than glycine and Hyd is a bulky hydrophobic residue (Phe, Leu). The most effective substrate, Arg-Pro-Arg-Thr-Ser-Ser-Phe, was phosphorylated with a Km of 5 microM and Vmax of 260 U/mg. PKBalpha phosphorylated histone H2B (Km 5 microM, Vmax 68 U/mg) specifically at Ser-36 which also lies in an Arg-Xaa-Arg-Xaa-Xaa-Ser-Hyd motif. The peptide Arg-Pro-Arg-Ala-Ala-Thr-Phe may be a relatively specific substrate for PKBalpha because, unlike other substrates, it is not phosphorylated by p70 S6 kinase or MAP kinase activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Mechanism of activation of protein kinase B by insulin and IGF-1.

Insulin activated endogenous protein kinase B alpha (also known as RAC/Akt kinase) activity 12-fold in L6 myotubes, while after transfection into 293 cells PKBalpha was activated 20- and 50-fold in response to insulin and IGF-1 respectively. In both cells, the activation of PKBalpha was accompanied by its phosphorylation at Thr308 and Ser473 and, like activation, phosphorylation of both of these residues was prevented by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. Thr308 and/or Ser473 were mutated to Ala or Asp and activities of mutant PKBalpha molecules were analysed after transfection into 293 cells. The activity of wild-type and mutant PKBalpha was also measured in vitro after stoichiometric phosphorylation of Ser473 by MAPKAP kinase-2. These experiments demonstrated that activation of PKBalpha by insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) results from phosphorylation of both Thr308 and Ser473, that phosphorylation of both residues is critical to generate a high level of PKBalpha activity and that the phosphorylation of Thr308 in vivo is not dependent on phosphorylation of Ser473 or vice versa. We propose a model whereby PKBalpha becomes phosphorylated and activated in insulin/IGF-1-stimulated cells by an upstream kinase(s).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mechanism of protein kinase B activation by insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 revealed by specific inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase--significance for diabetes and cancer.

Protein kinase B (PKB) is a member of the second messenger subfamily of protein kinases. The three isoforms of PKB identified have an amino-terminal pleckstrin homology domain, a central kinase domain, and a carboxy-terminal regulatory domain. PKB is the major downstream target of receptor tyrosine kinases that signal via the phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase. The crucial role of lipid second messengers in PKB activation has been dissected through the use of the PI 3-kinase-specific inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002. Receptor-activated PI 3-kinase synthesises the lipid second messenger PI-3,4,5-trisphosphate, leading to the recruitment of PKB to the membrane. Membrane attachment of PKB is mediated by its pleckstrin homology domain binding to PI-3,4,5-trisphosphate or PI-3,4-bisphosphate with high affinity. Activation of PKB alpha and beta is then achieved at the plasma membrane by phosphorylation of Thr308/309 in the A-loop of the kinase domain and Ser473/474 in the carboxy-terminal regulatory region, respectively. The upstream kinase that phosphorylates PKB on Thr308, termed PI-dependent protein kinase-1, has been identified and extensively characterised. A candidate for the Ser473/474 kinase, termed the integrin-linked kinase, has been identified recently. Activated PKB is implicated in glucose metabolism, transcriptional control, and in the regulation of apoptosis in many different cell types. Stimulation of PKB activity protects cells from apoptosis by phosphorylation and inactivation of the pro-apoptotic protein BAD. These results could explain why PKB is overexpressed in some ovarian, breast, and pancreatic carcinomas.

Animals↗