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The relative relevance of phosphorylation of the Thr(17) residue of phospholamban is different at different levels of beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Contractility and relaxation measurements were combined with the determination of total phospholamban (PLB) phosphorylation and the immunodetection of PLB-phosphorylation sites in the intact, beating rat heart to identify the contributions of PLB phosphorylation at the Thr(17) and Ser(16) residues at different levels of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. Whereas with 30-300 nM isoproterenol, phosphorylation of Thr(17), the Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMKII) site and Ser(16), the protein kinase A (PKA) site, contributed approximately 50% each to PLB phosphorylation, and both participated in the relaxant action of isoproterenol, at lower a level of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation (isoproterenol 0.3-3 nM), both effects were exclusively due to Ser(16) phosphorylation. Increasing [Ca](o) at 3 nM isoproterenol, to obtain an increase in contractility comparable to that produced by 30 nM isoproterenol, significantly increased Thr(17) phosphorylation and the relaxant effect produced by 3 nM isoproterenol. An increase in Thr(17) phosphorylation and in the relaxant effect of 3 nM isoproterenol was also obtained by phosphatase inhibition (okadaic acid). In this case, Ser(16) phosphorylation was also increased. Moreover, perfusion with 30 nM isoproterenol in the presence of the PKA inhibitor H-89 decreased phosphorylation at both PLB residues and diminished the inotropic and relaxant responses to the beta-agonist. The relative contribution of Thr(17) phosphorylation to the isoproterenol-induced phosphorylation of PLB and relaxation thus increased with the level of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation and the consequent increase in PKA activity. The lack of Thr(17) phosphorylation at low isoproterenol concentrations might therefore be attributed to a level of PKA activity insufficient to increase [Ca](i) to activate the CaMKII system and/or to inhibit the phosphatase that dephosphorylates PLB

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Phosphorylation sites and inactivation of branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase isolated from rat heart, bovine kidney, and rabbit liver, kidney, heart, brain, and skeletal muscle.

Branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex was isolated from rat heart, bovine kidney, and rabbit liver, heart, kidney, brain, and skeletal muscle. Phosphorylation to approximately 1 mol Pi/mol alpha-subunit of the alpha-ketoacid decarboxylase component was linearly associated with 90-95% inactivation. The complex from some tissues (i.e., from rabbit kidney and heart, and rat heart) showed 30-40% more phosphate incorporation for an additional 5-10% inactivation. Reverse-phase HPLC analysis of tryptic digests of 32P-labeled complexes from all of the above tissues revealed two major (peaks 1 and 2) and one minor (peak 3) phosphopeptide which represent phosphorylation sites 1, 2, and a combination of 1 and 2, respectively. These phosphopeptides, numbered according to the order of elution from reverse-phase HPLC, had the same elution time regardless of the tissue or animal source of the complex. The amino acid sequence of site 1 from rabbit heart branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase was Ile-Gly-His-His-Ser(P)-Thr-Ser-Asp-Asp-Ser-Ser-Ala-Tyr-Arg. Regardless of the source of the complex, both sites were almost equally phosphorylated until total phosphorylation was approximately 1 mol Pi/mol of alpha-subunit and the rate of inactivation was correlated with the rate of total, site 1, or site 2 phosphorylation. Phosphorylation beyond this amount was associated with greater site 2 than site 1 phosphorylation. alpha-Chloroisocaproate, a potent inhibitor of branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase activity, greatly reduced total phosphorylation and inactivation; however, phosphorylation of site 2 was almost abolished and inactivation was directly correlated with phosphorylation of site 1. Thus, the complex isolated from different tissues and mammals had an apparent conservation of amino acid sequence adjacent to the phosphorylation sites. Both sites were phosphorylated to a similar extent temporally although site 1 phosphorylation was directly responsible for inactivation.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Association of tissue-specific changes in translation elongation after cyclosporin with changes in elongation factor 2 phosphorylation.

In studies of cyclosporin (CsA) toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats, CsA administered in vivo produced tissue-specific, dose-dependent changes in microsomal translation throughout the bodies of the animals. The most pronounced translation inhibition was in microsomes from the kidney, the organ in which dose-limiting CsA toxicity occurs. In contrast, translation was stimulated in microsomes from the liver. CsA produced changes at the level of translation elongation, which is regulated by the reversible phosphorylation of elongation factor 2 (EF2). Changes in translation elongation after CsA were found to be associated with, and most likely caused by, changes in EF2 phosphorylation. Reduced renal translation elongation was associated with increased EF2 phosphorylation, and increased hepatic elongation with decreased EF2 phosphorylation. EF2 is phosphorylated by Ca2+ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase III (PKIII). Phosphorylated EF2 is a substrate for protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), but not calcineurin (protein phosphatase 2B or PP2B), the enzyme inhibited by CsA-cyclophilin complexes in T-cells. When CsA or inhibitors of PKIII (EGTA, trifluoperazine) were added in vitro to assays of EF2 phosphorylation in renal or hepatic cytoplasm, or to assays of renal or hepatic microsomal translation elongation, they were without significant effects. Addition in vitro of the PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid increased EF2 phosphorylation in renal and hepatic cytoplasms, but inconsistently produced an inhibition of microsomal translation. However, in less complex rabbit reticulocyte lysates, addition of okadaic acid inhibited PP2A, increased EF2 phosphorylation, and inhibited translation elongation. Furthermore, addition of EGTA and trifluoperazine to rabbit reticulocyte lysates inhibited Ca2+ calmodulin-dependent PKIII activity, decreased EF2 phosphorylation, and stimulated translation elongation. CsA acting alone or as a complex with cyclophilin could alter EF2 phosphorylation by affecting transcriptional regulation or the enzymatic activity of PKIII, PP2A or EF2. Changes in EF2 phosphorylation and translation in body tissues suggest that CsA causes widespread disturbances in phosphorylation and dephosphorylation pathways regulating cellular processes including transcription and translation factor activity. These disturbances may underlie the broad spectrum of toxicities observed during CsA therapy.

Animals↗

Endogenous phosphorylation in vitro: differential effects of brain state (anesthesia, post-mortem) on electrophoretically separated brain proteins.

In vitro phosphorylation of rat cerebral cortex synaptosomes was measured in animals that had been acutely treated with sodium pentobarbital. [32P]Labelled phosphoproteins were separated by SDS-slab gel electrophoresis, and the autoradiographs were analyzed by densitometry. We report here that Band F of our previous reports can be separated into two components, F1 and F2, using an improved gel system. This separation is particularly relevant in this report since these components appear to be differentially sensitive to the manipulations used. Specifically, we found that while F1 phosphorylation was markedly diminished by deep barbiturate anesthesia, F2 was relatively stable. While phosphorylation of F2 was also stable 24 h post-mortem, Band F1 phosphorylation was no longer detectable. Finally, while osmotic shock treatment of synaptosomes reduced phosphorylation of F2 somewhat, it eliminated the in vitro phosphorylation of Band F1. We found that under light barbiturate anesthesia, just at the time when the animals lost the righting reflex, the in vitro phosphorylation of Bands D (MR 78,000--80,000 daltons), F1 (MR 47,000--49,000) and F2 (MR 40,000--45,000) increased relative to unanesthetized controls. The in vitro labelling of Bands D and F1 was depressed in tissue prepared from animals that were deeply comatose. These effects of pentobarbital were more pronounced when animals were sacrificed by liquid nitrogen immersion, rather than by decapitation. Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of Band D exhibited remarkable stability 24 h post-morten (7 days in one case), even when brain tissue was left at room temperature (21--23 degrees C). Phosphorylation of Band F1, however, was not detectable in post-mortem tissue. The results of these studies indicate that phosphorylation of Band F1 is: (1) sensitive to pentobarbital, and (2) unstable post-mortem. Previous findings from our laboratory suggest that Band F1 is: (3) increased in phosphorylation in liquid nitrogen P2 preparations, and may be (4) cAMP-independent, (5) rapidly turning over its phosphate in vivo, and (6) altered by a training experience. Other evidence suggests that: (7) Band F1 phosphorylation may be Ca2+-dependent and that: (8) its phosphorylation is sensitive to osmotic lysis of synaptosomes. The results suggest an important and perhaps unique role for Band F1 in neuronal function.

Animals↗

In vivo and in vitro phosphorylation studies of numatrin, a cell cycle regulated nuclear protein, in insulin-stimulated NIH 3T3 HIR cells.

Numatrin, a nuclear matrix protein has been implicated to be involved in mitogenesis of normal and malignant cells (Feuerstein and Mond, J. Biol. Chem. 262, 11389, 1987) and was later found to be identical to the nuclear phosphoprotein, B23. To study whether phosphorylation of numatrin is regulated by mitogenic stimulation, we examined the effect of phosphorylation of numatrin in the insulin-responsive cells, NIH 3T3 HIR. We found that an increase in phosphorylation of numatrin was associated with stimulation of the cells with insulin for 4 h and that the level of phosphorylation remained elevated after 8 h. By this time there was no increase in numatrin abundance as shown by Coom-massie blue stain and Western blot analysis. The induction in phosphorylation of numatrin could not be detected after 30 min stimulation with insulin, thus, indicating that the increase in phosphorylation of numatrin is not a rapid event. Analysis of the phosphopeptides by thin layer chromatography indicated four peptides that were phosphorylated in numatrin (one major and three minor). Stimulation with insulin was associated primarily with an increase in phosphorylation of the minor phosphopeptides. The phosphopeptide map of numatrin was identical after 4, 8, 17, 24, and 32 h stimulation with insulin, indicating that identical sites are phosphorylated at different phases of the cell cycle. In a search for the protein kinase which is involved in phosphorylation of numatrin we found that numatrin is a most prominent substrate for the cell cycle regulated cdc2 (p 34) kinase. However, the major phosphopeptides which were phosphorylated by this kinase did not comigrate with either of the phosphopeptides phosphorylated in insulin-stimulated intact cells. This may indicate that it is unlikely that cdc2 kinase may account for the mechanism(s) associated with phosphorylation of numatrin by insulin under physiological conditions.

Animals↗

Protein phosphorylation substrates in normal and neoplastic squamous epithelia of the human upper aero-digestive tract.

Protein phosphorylation was studied in crude and in protein kinase C (Pk-C)-enriched preparations from squamous cell carcinomas and normal mucosa of the human upper aero-digestive tract. In crude soluble preparations from neoplastic mucosa we found a 5-fold higher basal endogenous phosphorylation when compared to normal mucosa. In particulate fractions the increase was 3-fold. SDS-PAGE and autoradiography of phosphorylated proteins in crude soluble tumor extracts showed bands corresponding to proteins with apparent molecular weights of 18, 37, 40-42, 52, 60, 62 and 90 kDa. In normal mucosa the phosphorylation of these proteins was very low or absent, except for the proteins with molecular weights of 40-42 and 52-55 kDa. Addition of Ca2+ or Ca2+/phospholipids to the reaction mixture caused phosphorylation of additional proteins with apparent molecular weight of 45-50 kDa in soluble preparations of tumors. Cyclic AMP or cGMP had no significant effect on the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins. In the partially purified, Pk-C-enriched fractions the phosphorylation in the presence of Ca2+/phospholipids was distinctly higher in tumors when compared to the phosphorylation observed in normal mucosa, and some phosphorylation substrates were detected only in tumor tissue. In order to find out whether the elevated basal phosphorylation was due to an endogenous activation of protein kinases, different inhibitors of serine/threonine protein kinases were tested. These inhibitors included: heat-stable cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (Pk-A) inhibitor, Pk-A inhibitor peptide (Wiptide), heparin and the Pk-C inhibitors peptide 19-36 and H-7. None of these inhibitors had any significant effect on the basal phosphorylation. In conclusion, our results show the existence of endogenous phosphorylation substrates in human squamous cell carcinomas from the upper aerodigestive tract, and indicates that there is a significantly higher basal and Pk-C specific phosphorylation of endogenous substrates in tumors compared to normal mucosa. This may be of importance for the transformation and altered growth regulation in epithelial tumors.

Aged↗

Multiple mechanisms involving protein phosphorylation are linked to desensitization of muscarinic receptors.

Agonists induce phosphorylation of m2 muscarinic receptors (mAChR) in several cell types. This phosphorylation correlates with desensitization. The mechanisms underlying mAChR phosphorylation have been investigated using several in vitro approaches. Protein kinase C phosphorylated the purified and reconstituted m2 mAChR to a stoichiometry of approximately 5 mols P/mol receptor; this phosphorylation resulted in the decreased ability of receptors to activate G-proteins. Although the phosphorylation by PKC was not modulated by agonist binding to the mAChR, heterotrimeric G-proteins were able to completely block the PKC-mediated effects. If significant receptor/G-protein coupling occurs in vivo, agonists would be required to promote dissociation of the G-proteins from the receptors and reveal the phosphorylation sites for PKC. Members of the G-protein coupled receptor kinase (GRK) family also phosphorylated the purified and reconstituted m2 mAChR. In contrast to PKC, the GRKs phosphorylated the m2 mAChR strictly in an agonist-dependent manner. GRK mediated phosphorylation perturbed receptor/G-protein coupling. In addition, phosphorylation allowed for arrestin binding to the m2 mAChR which should further contribute to desensitization. Using a new strategy that does not require purification and reconstitution of receptors for GRK studies, the m3 mAChR were revealed as substrates for the GRKs. For both the m2 and m3 receptor subtypes, the most effective kinases were GRK 2 and 3. Phosphorylation of the receptors by these enzymes was stimulated by low concentrations of G-proteins and by membrane phospholipids. Thus, multiple mechanisms involving protein phosphorylation appear to contribute to the overall process of mAChR desensitization.

Animals↗

pp60src-dependent protein phosphorylation in membranes from Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts.

The Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transforming protein, pp60src, is a plasma membrane-associated tyrosine-specific protein kinase. A 36,000-Da cellular polypeptide (p36) which is phosphorylated at tyrosine in RSV-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts (RSV-CEF) is also plasma membrane associated. To determine if p36 is directly phosphorylation and kinase activity in situ in the plasma membrane, src-dependent protein phosphorylation in membranes isolated from RSV-CEF has been characterized. These membrane preparations contained high ATPase and phosphoprotein phosphatase activities; but when sufficient concentrations of [gamma-32P]ATP were used, the phosphorylation of pp60src and the phosphorylation of p36 were linear for 1 min or more, and the initial rates of phosphorylation could therefore be determined. In membranes from RSV-CEF pp60src and p36 became phosphorylated predominantly at tyrosine, while in membranes from uninfected cells p36 was phosphorylated at low levels at serine. When membranes from RSV-CEF were preincubated with tumor-bearing rabbit (TBR) serum, the IgG became phosphorylated while the phosphorylation of p36 was inhibited, suggesting that p36 is directly phosphorylated by pp60src. Phosphorylation of pp60src, p36, and TBR-IgG was dependent on growth temperature in membranes from cells infected by a temperature-sensitive mutant, tsNY68, although some dependence on growth temperature was observed even with membranes from wild-type RSV-infected cells. However, at the nonpermissive temperature, tsNY68 pp60src retained 20-40% of its kinase activity, providing supporting for the proposal (B. M. Sefton, T. Hunter, and K. Beemon (1980, J. Virol, 33, 220-229) that transformation may result from a small quantitative change in pp60src activity. The phosphorylation of pp60src and its kinase activity were not coordinately affected by growth temperature or mutations within src, indicating that different factors affect the phosphoacceptor capacity and kinase activity of the protein.

Animals↗

Preparation of a novel monoclonal antibody specific for myelin basic protein phosphorylated on Thr98.

Phosphorylation is one of a number of post-translational modifications resulting in charge microheterogeneity of myelin basic protein (MBP). This phosphorylation is claimed to destabilise the compact myelin sheath by decreasing the interaction of membrane bilayers, thereby creating or maintaining pockets of cytoplasm. To further investigate and localise MBP phosphorylation to discrete regions of the myelin sheath we raised a monoclonal antibody with specificity for a known phosphorylation site in MBP. A synthetic peptide was made by Fmoc peptide chemistry and phosphorylation of Thr98 was achieved on the resin by the global phosphorylation methodology, utilising dibenzyl-N,N-diethylphosphoramidite phosphitylation and t-butylhydroperoxide oxidation. The peptide coupled to tuberculin was used to immunise mice for monoclonal antibody production. The selected hybridoma (Clone P12) secreted an IgG2a antibody which reacted strongly with the phosphorylated immunogen and with phosphorylated fractions of bovine MBP obtained by ion exchange chromatography. The antibody had minimal reactivity with the unphosphorylated peptide; the same peptide phosphorylated at another site Ser102; a preparation of unphosphorylated MBP obtained by ion exchange chromatography; and with an irrelevant phosphorylated protein (histone). Similar phosphorylation state-specific monoclonal antibodies could be made to recognise other specific phosphorylation sites in MBP or other proteins. It is planned to use these antibodies to quantify and locate the extent of MBP phosphorylation in normal and multiple sclerosis myelin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent phosphorylation of a 6000 and a 22,000 dalton protein from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

In canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase specifically phosphorylates two proteins, as seen by sodium dodecyl sulfate-slab gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. One protein has a molecular weight ranging between 22,000 and 24,000 daltons and has previously been identified and named phospholamban (Tada, M., Kirchberger, M.A. and Katz, A.M. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 2640-2647). The other protein that the 32P label incorporates into has a molecular weight of approximately 6000. Like the 22,000 dalton protein, the 6000 dalton protein has characteristics of phosphoester bonding. The time-dependent course of phosphorylation shows that initially the 32P label is incorporated more rapidly into the 22,000 dalton protein than the 6000 dalton protein, with both proteins reaching a steady-state level of phosphorylation after 10 min of incubation. When both protein kinase and cyclic AMP are eliminated from the incubation medium, both the 22,000 and the 6000 dalton protein are still phosphorylated, but only to about a quarter of the activity found when cyclic AMP and protein kinases are included in the incubation mixture. The addition of phosphodiesterase completely eliminates the phosphorylation of both proteins. Treating the microsomes with trypsin prevents subsequent phosphorylation of either protein. Phosphorylating the microsomes first, then treating with trypsin, renders both the 22,000 and the 6000 dalton proteins resistant to even prolonged trypsin attack. Unphosphorylated, both proteins are solubilized by a very low concentration of deoxycholate. After phosphorylation the proteins cannot be solubilized by deoxycholate. Phosphorylation appears to alter greatly the physical properties of these proteins. Control experiments exclude the possibility that a lipid is being phosphorylated. After phosphorylation the phosphorylated 22,000 dalton protein is separated from the 6000 dalton protein by proteolipid extraction. After first treating the microsomes with methanol, the 22,000 dalton protein is then soluble in acidified chloroform/methanol, while the 6000 dalton protein remains insoluble. The finding that both proteins have much different biochemical properties when phosphorylated than when not, may be relevant in how they regulate calcium transport in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Animals↗

Regulation of p90RSK phosphorylation by SARS-CoV infection in Vero E6 cells.

The 90 kDa ribosomal S6 kinases (p90RSKs) are a family of broadly expressed serine/threonine kinases with two kinase domains activated by extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase in response to many growth factors. Our recent study demonstrated that severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV) infection of monkey kidney Vero E6 cells induces phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of signaling pathways, resulting in apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated the phosphorylation status of p90RSK, which is a well-known substrate of these signaling pathways, in SARS-CoV-infected cells. Vero E6 mainly expressed p90RSK1 and showed weak expression of p90RSK2. In the absence of viral infection, Ser221 in the N-terminal kinase domain was phosphorylated constitutively, whereas both Thr573 in the C-terminal kinase domain and Ser380 between the two kinase domains were not phosphorylated in confluent cells. Ser380, which has been reported to be involved in autophosphorylation by activation of the C-terminal kinase domain, was phosphorylated in confluent SARS-CoV-infected cells, and this phosphorylation was inhibited by , which is an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Phosphorylation of Thr573 was not upregulated in SARS-CoV-infected cells. Thus, in virus-infected cells, phosphorylation of Thr573 was not necessary to induce phosphorylation of Ser380. On the other hand, Both Thr573 and Ser380 were phosphorylated by treatment with epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the absence of p38 MAPK activation. Ser220 was constitutively phosphorylated despite infection. These results indicated that phosphorylation status of p90RSK by SARS-CoV infection is different from that by stimulation of EGF. This is the first detailed report regarding regulation of p90RSK phosphorylation by virus infection.

Animals↗

In vivo and in vitro phosphorylation of Candida albicans 20S proteasome.

In this paper we demonstrate that the Candida albicans 20S proteasome is in vivo phosphorylated and is a good in vitro substrate (S(0.5) 14nM) of homologous protein kinase CK2 (CK2). We identify alpha6/C2, alpha3/C9, and alpha5/Pup2 proteasome subunits as the main in vivo phosphorylated and in vitro CK2-phosphorylatable proteasome components. In vitro phosphorylation by homologous CK2 holoenzyme occurs only in the presence of polylysine, a characteristic that distinguishes the yeast proteasomes from mammalian proteasomes which are phosphorylated by CK2 in the absence of polycations. The major in vivo phosphate acceptor is the alpha3/C9 subunit, being phosphorylated in serine, both in vivo and in vitro. The phosphopeptides generated by endoproteinase Glu-C digestion from in vivo labeled alpha3/C9 subunit, from in vitro phosphorylation by homologous CK2 holoenzyme, and from the recombinant alpha3/C9 subunit phosphorylated by recombinant human CK2-alpha subunit are identical, suggesting that CK2 is likely responsible for in vivo phosphorylation of this subunit. Direct mutational analysis shows that serine 248 is the residue of the alpha3/C9 subunit phosphorylated by CK2. The in vitro stoichiometry of phosphorylation of the alpha6/C2 and alpha3/C9 proteasome subunits by CK2 can be estimated as 0.7-0.8 and 0.4-0.5 mol of phosphate per mole of subunit, respectively. These results are consistent with the relative abundance of the unphosphorylated and phosphorylated isoforms of these subunits present in the purified 20S proteasome preparation. Our demonstration of phosphorylation of C. albicans proteasome suggests that phosphorylation might be a general mechanism of regulation of proteasome activity.

Binding Sites↗

Casein kinase II is responsible for phosphorylation of NF-L at Ser-473.

Ser-473 is solely phosphorylated in vivo in the tail region of neurofilament L (NF-L). With peptides including the native phosphorylation site, it was not possible to locate responsible kinases. We therefore adopted full-length dephosphorylated NF-L as the substrate, and employed MALDI/TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization/time of flight) mass spectrometry and a site-specific phosphorylation-dependent antibody recognizing Ser-473 phosphorylation. The antibody showed that casein kinase I (CK I) as well as casein kinase II (CK II) phosphorylated Ser-473 in vitro, while neither GSK-3beta nor calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II did so. However, the mass spectra of the tail fragments of the phosphorylated NF-L indicated that CK II was the kinase mediating Ser-473 phosphorylation in vitro as opposed to CK I, because CK I phosphorylated another site as well as Ser-473 in vitro. The antibody also demonstrated that NF-L phosphorylated at Ser-473 was abundant in the neuronal perikarya of the rat cortex, indicating that phosphorylation of Ser-473 may take place there. This result may support the suggestion that CK II is the kinase responsible for Ser-473 phosphorylation. Despite many reports showing that CK I mediates phosphorylation of neurofilaments, CK II may phosphorylate NF-L in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nitric oxide and cGMP activate the Ras-MAP kinase pathway-stimulating protein tyrosine phosphorylation in rabbit aortic endothelial cells.

The free radical nitric oxide is a very effective signal transducer, stimulating the enzyme guanylyl cyclase, the oncoprotein p21Ras, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. In the present study using rabbit aortic endothelial cells (RAEC), it is demonstrated that the nitric-oxide-generating substances sodium nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, and a stable analog of cyclic GMP, 8BrcGMP stimulate p21Ras activity. Tyrosine phosphorylation of cytosolic proteins was stimulated and intracellular production of cGMP was increased, indicating that the NO/cGMP-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signaling pathway is most likely associated with the activation of p21Ras. NO and cGMP-dependent activation of p21Ras result in binding of the oncoprotein to the Ras-binding domain of Raf-1 kinase. Incubation of RAEC with FPT II, a potent and selective inhibitor of p21Ras, prevented NO-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation. ODQ, a potent inhibitor of the soluble form of guanylyl cyclase, inhibited the signal as well. Conversely, the use of KT5823, a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) blocker, showed no effect on protein tyrosine phosphorylation. To further establish a role for p21Ras on the NO-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation-signaling pathway, RAEC were constitutively transfected with a dominant negative mutant of p21Ras, N17Ras. NO and cGMP-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation were prevented in N17Ras-expressing RAEC exposed to NO donors and 8BrcGMP. The above findings indicate that NO and cGMP stimulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation requires the participation of fully functional p21Ras. ERK1/2 MAP kinases and their subsequent targets, the transcription factors, lie downstream to Ras, Raf-1 kinase, and MEK. Treatment of both RAEC and mock-transfected RAEC with NO resulted in phosphorylation and activation of ERK1/2. On the other hand, NO did not stimulate phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in N17Ras-expressing RAEC. In addition, PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, prevented overall tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Upstream to Ras ERK1/2 MAP kinases target the EGF receptor. Incubation of RAEC or mock-transfected RAEC with NO donors resulted in activation of the EGF receptor autophosphorylation. PD98059 effectively blocked this activation. EGF receptor autophosphorylation was insensitive to NO stimulation in N17Ras-expressing RAEC. It is concluded that NO and cGMP stimulate a signaling pathway involving p21Ras-Raf-1 kinase-MEK-ERK1/2. Activation of this signaling pathway is connected to NO-stimulated overall tyrosine phosphorylation that also involves the transactivation of the EGF receptor mediated by ERK1/2.

Animals↗

Caldesmon and heat shock protein 20 phosphorylation in nitroglycerin- and magnesium-induced relaxation of swine carotid artery.

Nitrovasodilators, high extracellular Mg(2+), and some other relaxing agents can cause smooth muscle relaxation without reductions in myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) phosphorylation. Relaxations without MRLC dephosphorylation suggest that other regulatory systems, beyond MRLC phosphorylation, are present in smooth muscle. We tested whether changes in caldesmon phosphorylation, heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) phosphorylation, or intracellular pH (pH(i)) could be responsible for relaxation without MRLC dephosphorylation. In unstimulated tissues, caldesmon was phosphorylated 1.02+/-0.10 mol P(i)/mol caldesmon (mean+/-1 S.E.M.), HSP20 was phosphorylated 0.005+/-0.003 mol P(i)/mol HSP20, and estimated pH(i) was 7.21+/-0.07. Histamine stimulation induced a contraction, an intracellular acidosis, but did not significantly change caldesmon or HSP20 phosphorylation. Addition of nitroglycerin induced a relaxation, significantly increased HSP20 phosphorylation to 0.18+/-0.02 mol P(i)/mol HSP20, did not significantly change caldesmon phosphorylation, and pH(i) returned to near unstimulated values. Increase in extracellular Mg(2+) to 10 mM induced a relaxation, but did not significantly change HSP20 or caldesmon phosphorylation. These data suggest that changes in caldesmon phosphorylation, HSP20 phosphorylation, or pH(i) cannot be the sole explanation for relaxation without MRLC dephosphorylation. However, it is possible that HSP20 phosphorylation may be involved in nitroglycerin-induced relaxation without MRLC dephosphorylation.

Animals↗

3-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) phosphorylates and activates the p70 S6 kinase in vivo and in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The p70 S6 kinase, an enzyme critical for cell-cycle progression through the G1 phase, is activated in vivo by insulin and mitogens through coordinate phosphorylation at multiple sites, regulated by signaling pathways, some of which depend on and some of which are independent of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (Pl 3-kinase). It is not known which protein kinases phosphorylate and activate p70. RESULTS: Co-expression of p70 with 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1), a protein kinase that has previously been shown to phosphorylate and activate protein kinase B (PKB, also known as c-Akt), resulted in strong activation of the S6 kinase in vivo. In vitro, PDK1 directly phosphorylated Thr252 in the activation loop of the p70 catalytic domain, the phosphorylation of which is stimulated by PI 3-kinase in vivo and is indispensable for p70 activity. Whereas PDK1-catalyzed phosphorylation and activation of PKB in vitro was highly dependent on the presence of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (Ptdlns (3,4,5)P3), PDK1 catalyzed rapid phosphorylation and activation of p70 in vitro, independent of the presence of Ptdlns(3,4,5)P3. The ability of PDK1 to phosphorylate p70 Thr252 was strongly dependent on the phosphorylation of the p70 noncatalytic carboxy-terminal tail (amino acids 422-525) and of amino acid Thr412. Moreover, once Thr252 was phosphorylated, its ability to cause activation of the p70 S6 kinase was also controlled by the p70 carboxy-terminal tail and by phosphorylation of p70 Ser394, and most importantly, Thr412. The overriding determinant of the absolute p70 activity was the strong positive cooperativity between Thr252 and Thr412 phosphorylation; both sites must be phosphorylated to achieve substantial p70 activation. CONCLUSIONS: PDK1 is one of the components of the signaling pathway recruited by Pl 3-kinase for the activation of p70 S6 kinase as well as of PKB, and serves as a multifunctional effector downstream of the Pl 3-kinase.

3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

In vivo phosphorylation of human erythrocyte spectrin occurs in a sequential manner.

Spectrin is the major component of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton and exists as a 526 kDa alphabeta heterodimer. The 246 kDa beta-chain of human spectrin is phosphorylated near the C-terminus, but the exact phosphorylation sites are unknown and the role of this phosphorylation is not fully characterized. In this study, we produced a monoclonal antibody, Sp316, capable of recognizing the C-terminal region of beta-spectrin regardless of its phosphorylation state and used it to purify the phosphorylated region after 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid cleavage of spectrin. Two-dimensional gels, mass spectrometry, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography were used to characterize these phosphorylation states. Only about 1.5% of spectrin isolated from fresh blood is unphosphorylated, about 9% has more than four phosphates per molecule, and the majority of the protein has one to four phosphates per molecule. A total of six phosphorylation sites were identified by tandem mass spectrometry. Quantitative analysis of the phosphorylation states by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that phosphorylation of beta-spectrin occurs in a sequential manner where each specific site is completely phosphorylated before the next site is modified. The first phosphorylation event occurs on Ser-2114, followed by Ser-2125, Ser-2123, Ser-2128, Ser-2117, and Thr-2110. The identification of the specific phosphorylated beta-spectrin residues and the ordered sequence of phosphorylation events in vivo should provide an invaluable basis for further studies of the role of these posttranslational modifications in spectrin function in situ.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

SH2 domains mediate the sequential phosphorylation of HS1 protein by p72syk and Src-related protein tyrosine kinases.

The protein tyrosine kinase p72syk readily phosphorylates hematopoietic linkage cell-specific protein p50/HS1 with high stoichiometry (up to 4 mol of Pi/mol of protein) and favorable kinetic constants (Km 77 nM, kcat 0.37 s-1), at sites that display the motif that is specifically recognized by the HS2 domains of Src tyrosine kinases. Such a phosphorylation converts p50/HS1 into a good substrate for c-Fgr, which in contrast is nearly inactive on nonphosphorylated p50/HS1. A phosphopeptide reproducing one of the main p50/HS1 site affected by p72syk, but neither its dephosphorylated derivative nor other phosphopeptides with different structure, blocks the secondary phosphorylation of phospho(p50/HS1) by c-Fgr but not its primary phosphorylation by p72syk. It also prevents the coimmunoprecipitation of phospho(HS1) with c-Fgr by anti-(c-Fgr) antibodies. In contrast the HS1[393-402] phosphopeptide is ineffective on the kinase activity of c-Fgr when tested with peptide substrates, showing that inhibition of p50/HS1 phosphorylation is not exerted at the catalytic site of c-Fgr. The sequential phosphorylation of p50/HS1 as well as its specific blockage by the HS1 phosphopeptide is also observable if c-Fgr is replaced by two other Src-related kinases, namely, Lyn and Fyn, as secondary phosphorylating agents. None of these Src-related kinases, however, can carry out the phosphorylation of p50/HS1 at the sites affected by p72syk, even after prolonged incubation. Our data suggest that sequential phosphorylation might represent a general mechanism by which p72syk and other Syk-related kinases generate substrates for Src-related protein tyrosine kinases. They also show that sequential phosphorylation (requiring the concerted action of a primary and a secondary kinases) cannot be surrogated by "processive" phosphorylation where a single kinase catalyzes both the primary and secondary phosphorylation, although both these modes of multiple phosphorylation are based on interactions between SH2 domains of the kinases and phosphotyrosyl sites of the substrate.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗