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Purification and properties of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase from bovine heart and kidney.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase was purified to apparent homogeneity from bovine heart and kidney mitochondria. The phosphatase has a sedimentation coefficient (S20,w) of about 7.4 S and a molecular weight (Mr) of about 150 000 as determined by sedimentation equilibrium and by gel-permeation chromatography. The phosphatase consists of two subunits with molecular weights of about 97 000 and 50 000 as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Phosphatase activity resides in the Mr 50 000 subunit, which is sensitive to proteolysis. The phosphatase contains approximately 1 mol of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) per mol of protein of Mr 150 000. FAD is apparently associated with the Mr 97 000 subunit. The function of this subunit remains to be established. The phosphatase binds 1 mol of Ca2+ per mol of enzyme of Mr 150 000 at pH 7.0, with a dissociation constant (Kd) of about 35 microM as determined by flow dialysis. Use of ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (EGTA) at pH 7.6 in conjunction with flow dialysis gave a Kd value for Ca2+ of about 8 microM. In the presence of both the phosphatase and the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) core of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, two equivalent and apparently non-interacting CA2+-binding sites were detected per unit of Mr 150 000, with a Kd value of about 24 microM in the absence and about 5 microM in the presence of EGTA. In the presence of 0.2 M KCl, which inhibits phosphatase activity about 95%, the phosphatase exhibited only one Ca2+-binding site, even in the presence of E2. The phosphatase apparently possesses an "intrinsic" Ca2+-binding site, and a second Ca2+-binding site is produced in the presence of E2. The second site is apparently altered by increasing the ionic strength. It is proposed that the second site may be at the interface between the phosphatase and E2, with Ca2+ acting as a bridging ligand for specific attachment of the phosphatase to E2.

Animals↗

Membrane protein phosphotyrosine phosphatase in rabbit kidney. Proteolysis activates the enzyme and generates soluble catalytic fragments.

Most protein phosphotyrosine phosphatases (PPT-phosphatases) have been recovered from the cytosol of various cell types and tissues. The present study explores the properties of PPT-phosphatases in rabbit kidney membranes prepared by centrifugation at 100,000 g. More of the total activity was recovered in membranes from fresh (45%) compared with frozen-and-thawed (36%) tissue. However, extracts of fresh tissue had only 15-30% as much total PPT-phosphatase activity. Up to 3-fold activation of cytosolic and membrane PPT-phosphatases occurred during preparation, an effect most evident when fresh tissue was homogenized in buffers containing multiple proteinase inhibitors. These inhibitors apparently block some, but not all, digestion of proteins that mask PPT-phosphatase activity. Incubation of membranes prepared from fresh tissue with added trypsin, papain or thermolysin in each case caused activation of PPT-phosphatase as well as generation of a soluble catalytic fragment. The fragment also was generated by the action of endogenous proteinases during repeated centrifugation and was isolated from these supernatants by DEAE-Sepharose, Zn2+-affinity and gel-filtration chromatography. The fragment had Mr approx. 33,000, had a neutral pH optimum, was inhibited by 50% by 100 microM-vanadate, and was insensitive to the alkaline-phosphatase inhibitors EDTA and levamisole. Although the chromatographic behaviour and lability of the fragment were distinct from those of the predominant cytosolic PPT-phosphatase, some cytosolic PPT-phosphatases exhibited properties consistent with the suggestion that they are fragments derived by proteolysis of PPT-phosphatases in membranes. Localization of PPT-phosphatases in plasma membranes would facilitate reaction with receptor/kinases in vivo.

Animals↗

Particulate-associated protein phosphatases of rat hepatomas as compared with the enzymes of rat liver.

In the course of investigating the neoplastic alterations of protein phosphatases, the particulate fractions of rat liver and AH-13, a strain of rat ascites hepatoma, were chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose and assayed for protein phosphatase using glycogen synthase D and phosphorylase a as substrates. The synthase phosphatase activity of rapidly growing AH-13 was due almost entirely to a divalent cation-inhibited protein phosphatase, tentatively designated phosphatase N, the level of which was elevated remarkably in the hepatoma as compared with liver. Other hepatomas including primary hepatoma induced with 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene also exhibited high levels of this phosphatase. Phosphatase N exhibited Mr = 49,000 (gel filtration) and has been partially purified with little alteration in properties. Partially purified phosphatase N was inhibited by divalent cations, rabbit skeletal muscle polypeptide inhibitor-2 and heparin, and released the catalytic subunit of type-1 protein phosphatase upon tryptic digestion. It is therefore apparent that phosphatase N is a type-1 protein phosphatase. There is some evidence to suggest that the high levels of phosphatase N in neoplastic cells are due primarily to enhanced synthesis of its non-catalytic (regulatory) subunit.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Cell surface nucleolin on developing muscle is a potential ligand for the axonal receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma.

Reversible tyrosine phosphorylation, catalyzed by receptor tyrosine kinases and receptor tyrosine phosphatases, plays an essential part in cell signaling during axonal development. Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma has been implicated in the growth, guidance and repair of retinal axons. This phosphatase has also been implicated in motor axon growth and innervation. Insect orthologs of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma are also implicated in the recognition of muscle target cells. A potential extracellular ligand for vertebrate receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma has been previously localized in developing skeletal muscle. The identity of this muscle ligand is currently unknown, but it appears to be unrelated to the heparan sulfate ligands of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma. In this study, we have used affinity chromatography and tandem MS to identify nucleolin as a binding partner for receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma in skeletal muscle tissue. Nucleolin, both from tissue lysates and in purified form, binds to receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma ectodomains. Its expression pattern also overlaps with that of the receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma-binding partner previously localized in muscle, and nucleolin can also be found in retinal basement membranes. We demonstrate that a significant amount of muscle-associated nucleolin is present on the cell surface of developing myotubes, and that two nucleolin-binding components, lactoferrin and the HB-19 peptide, can block the interaction of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma ectodomains with muscle and retinal basement membranes in tissue sections. These data suggest that muscle cell surface-associated nucleolin represents at least part of the muscle binding site for axonal receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma and that nucleolin may also be a necessary component of basement membrane binding sites of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Dephosphorylation of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor and rhodopsin by latent phosphatase 2.

Recent evidence suggests that the function of receptors coupled to guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins may be controlled by highly specific protein kinases, e.g. rhodopsin kinase and the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase. In order to investigate the nature of the phosphatases which might be involved in controlling the state of receptor phosphorylation we studied the ability of four highly purified well characterized protein phosphatases to dephosphorylate preparations of rhodopsin or beta 2-adrenergic receptor which had been highly phosphorylated by beta-adrenergic receptor kinase. These included: type 1 phosphatase, calcineurin phosphatase, type 2A phosphatase, and the high molecular weight latent phosphatase 2. Under conditions in which all the phosphatases could dephosphorylate such common substrates as [32P]phosphorylase a and [32P]myelin basic protein at similar rates only the latent phosphatase 2 was active on the phosphorylated receptors. Moreover, a latent phosphatase activity was found predominantly in a sequestered membrane fraction of frog erythrocytes. This parallels the distribution of a beta-adrenergic receptor phosphatase activity recently described in these cells (Sibley, D. R., Strasser, R. H., Benovic, J. L., Daniel, K., and Lefkowitz, R. J. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 83, 9408-9412). These data suggest a potential role for the latent phosphatase 2 as a specific receptor phosphatase.

Animals↗

Purification and properties of polycation-stimulated phosphorylase phosphatases from rabbit skeletal muscle.

Four types of polycation-stimulated (PCS) phosphorylase phosphatases have been isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle. They are called PCSH (390 kDa), PCSM (250 kDa), and PCSL (200 kDa) phosphatase according to the apparent molecular weight of the native enzymes in gel filtration. Two forms of PCSH phosphatase could be separated by Mono Q fast protein liquid chromatography: PCSH1 and PCSH2. In the absence of polycations, the specific activities of the PCSH1, PCSH2, PCSM, and PCSL phosphatase were 400, 680, 600, and 3000 units/mg, respectively, using phosphorylase a as a substrate. They all contain a 62-65- and a 35-kDa subunit, the latter being the catalytic subunit. In addition PCSH1 phosphatase contains a 55-kDa subunit and the PCSM phosphatase a 72-75-kDa subunit in a substoichiometric ratio. All the PCS phosphatases are insensitive to Ca2+ calmodulin, inhibitor-1, and modulator protein. They display a high specificity for the alpha-subunit of phosphorylase kinase and a broad substrate specificity. The PCSH1 and PCSH2 phosphatases, but not the catalytic subunit (PCSC phosphatase), show a high degree of specificity for the deinhibitor protein. During the purification the phosphorylase to inhibitor-1 phosphatase activity ratio (10:1) remained constant for the PCSH and PCSL enzymes but decreased for the PCSM phosphatase. The stimulation observed with low concentrations of polycations is enzyme directed. The different enzyme forms show a characteristic concentration optimum and degree of stimulation. At higher concentrations, polycations become inhibitory and a time-dependent deactivation of the phosphatases is observed.

Animals↗

Protein phosphatase-1 and -2A activities in heart, liver, and skeletal muscle extracts from control and diabetic rats.

Protein phosphatase activities have recently been classified into two major groups of enzymes termed type 1 and type 2. In the present study, this classification scheme has been used to explore the types of protein phosphatase activities found in rat heart, liver, and skeletal muscle, and to determine the type of protein phosphatase activity affected by diabetes. Protein phosphatase activities have been measured under conditions designed to minimize the influence of effectors of these enzymes, and a thermostable protein phosphatase inhibitor, termed inhibitor-2, has been used as a probe to specifically inhibit type 1 protein phosphatase. The specific activity of protein phosphatase-1 in extracts of heart, liver, and skeletal muscle from control rats ranged between 0.34 and 0.44 U/mg protein. The specific activity of a type 2 enzyme, termed protein phosphatase-2A, was approximately the same as protein phosphatase-1 in the case of skeletal muscle extracts, but was about 50% higher than type 1 in extracts from liver and heart. The only significant effect of diabetes was on hepatic protein phosphatase-1 in which a 50% decrease in specific activity was noted. Therefore, the effect of diabetes appeared to be confined to protein phosphatase-1 and this effect was only seen in liver.

Animals↗

Ascaris suum: protein phosphotyrosine phosphatases in oocytes and developing stages.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases were analyzed in oocytes of Ascaris suum. Phosphatases dephosphorylating modified acidic lysozyme were present in high-molecular-weight form (M(r) > 600,000) and as a 50- to 55-kDa protein in the soluble fraction. The low-molecular-weight form of the phosphatase cross-reacted with an antiserum raised against human T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase and was not distinguishable from the 50- to 55-kDa protein tyrosine phosphatase previously described in the muscular layer of the adult worms (B. Schmid et al. 1996, Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 77, 183-192). The low-molecular-weight form was also present on immunoblots of high-molecular-weight protein tyrosine phosphatase preparations after denaturing electrophoresis. The same or a similar form of the tyrosine phosphatase was also found in detergent extracts from the pelletal fraction. In addition, another tyrosine phosphatase of 180 kDa molecular mass that dephosphorylated myelin basic protein was also found in extracts from the soluble compartment as well as in detergent extracts from the pelletal fraction. It showed no cross-reactivity with antisera raised against soluble mammalian phosphatases and was resistant to inhibition by vanadate. While the activities of the myelin basic protein-dephosphorylating protein phosphatase remained fairly constant during early development of the oocytes, the activity of the enzyme dephosphorylating modified lysozyme in the pelletal fraction decreased to less than 10% of the initial activity between days 3 and 28 of incubation. Immunocytochemical studies of unfertilized and developing Ascaris eggs revealed association of protein tyrosine kinase and protein tyrosine phosphatase with the egg shell, in addition to their presence in the neighborhood of mitochondria. The amount of enzyme changed with the stage of development. In the larval stage (21 days) protein tyrosine kinase had increased in the chitin layer of the shell and in the nuclei while the relative amount of tyrosine phosphatase decreased in accordance with the biochemical data.

Animals↗

Discrimination of multiple forms of phosphoprotein phosphatase in bovine thyroid.

Phosphoprotein phosphatases (phosphoprotein phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.16) were partially purified from bovine thyroid with phosphorylated mixed histones, H1 histone and casein as substrates. Utilizing DEAE-cellulose chromatography, (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, gel filtration before and after freeze-thawing in 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol and histone-Sepharose chromatography, four fractions of enzyme activity were obtained and were designated as phosphatases I, IIA, IIB, and III. Phosphatases I had an apparent molecular weight of 155,000 and was dependent on Mn2+ for maximal activity. The enzyme had the greatest activity with histone H1 and was greatly stimulated by NaCl with phosphohistones as substrate. Phosphatases IIA and IIB had a molecular weight of about 70,000, were stimulated over 5-fold by Mn2+ and had much higher activities with phosphohistones than with casein in the presence of the cation. Phosphatase III, a possible catalytic subunit of larger molecular weight forms, had an apparent molecular weight of 30,000, was generally independent of Mn2+ and had high activities using all three substrates. Phosphatases I, IIA, and III were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by sodium pyrophosphate (PPi), ATP, potassium phosphate (Pi) and sodium fluoride (NaF) when they were added directly to the reaction mixture with phosphorylated mixed histones as substrate. PPi was the most potent inhibitor and phosphatase III was the most sensitive to inhibition. PPi, ATP and NaF probably inactivated phosphatase III activity by removing an essential metal ion. After extensive dialysis to remove these inhibitors, the inactivated enzyme could be fully activated by Mn2+, but not by Mg2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Ca2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+. Whereas the enzyme pretreated with Pi retained about 80% activity after dialysis, its activity was not further stimulated by Mn2+. The inactivated (demetallized) enzyme was less reactivated by Mn2+ in the presence of mM concentration of Pi. Moreover, the Mn2+-reactivated enzyme was again inactivated by Pi, NaF and ATP. Among them Pi was the most potent inactivator. These results suggest that Pi may have another inhibitory effect on metal ion binding besides on substrate binding and also that phosphatase III might be a metalloenzyme. In bovine thyroid, there are at least two major phosphoprotein phosphatases which may have different properties. Metal ion stimulation of phosphatase I and IIA activities may be through an interaction with the substrate or with a metal ion binding site on the regulatory subunit. The lowest molecular weight enzyme (phosphatase III) probably does not exist naturally in the cell.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Radioimmunochemical measurement of bone marrow prostatic acid phosphatase.

Human acid phosphatases are ubiquitous phosphohydrolases that are present in most respiring tissues and cells. Specifically, human prostatic acid phosphatase is a unique enzyme within a vast family of acid phosphatases concerned with catabolic processes in cellular metabolism. The majority of serum and bone marrow acid phosphatases are of non-prostatic origin and are present chiefly in erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets and other maturing cells in the bone marrow. The specific concentration of prostatic acid phosphatase in serum and bone marrow is normally relatively low compared to non-prostatic acid phosphatases. Many falsely positive assays for total serum acid phosphatases and bone marrow acid phosphatases have been reported, particularly after traumatic marrow biopsy procedures and mishandling of blood samples in the clinical laboratory and in hematologic disease states. The disruption and lysis of whole blood and marrow cells can liberate non-specific acid phosphatases into the serum. Since standard enzymatic assays do not discriminate accurately prostatic acid phosphatase from non-prostatic acid phosphatase present in the serum spurious results can be realized. A preliminary experience with a promising radioimmunoassay for the specific measurement of prostatic acid phosphatase in bone marrow and serum is presented.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Dephosphorylation of calponin by type 2B protein phosphatase.

Calponin is a smooth muscle-specific, thin filament-associated protein which has been implicated in the regulation of contraction via its interaction with actin and inhibition of the cross-bridge cycling rate. Calponin is phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II), primarily at S175, with loss of actin binding and inhibition of the actin-activated myosin MgATPase. We previously isolated calponin phosphatase from chicken gizzard smooth muscle and identified it as a type 2A protein phosphatase [Winder et al. (1992) Biochem. J. 286, 197-203]. The methods used to detect phosphatase activity in that study would additionally have detected type 1 and 2C phosphatases, but not type 2B phosphatase (Ca2+/CaM-dependent phosphatase or calcineurin). We have, therefore, examined the expression of type 2B phosphatase in smooth muscle and its ability to dephosphorylate calponin. Western blotting with polyclonal antibodies to the brain enzyme revealed the expression of type 2B phosphatase in chicken gizzard, and immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of the phosphatase in isolated smooth muscle cells (rabbit and toad stomach). The purified brain phosphatase dephosphorylated calponin (phosphorylated by PKC or CaM kinase II) in a Ca2+/CaM-dependent manner. Dephosphorylation by calcineurin restored actin-binding and actin-activated myosin MgATPase inhibition which had been reduced by PKC-catalyzed phosphorylation. We conclude that calponin dephosphorylation may be catalyzed not only by type 2A phosphatase but also by type 2B phosphatase, raising the possibility that both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of calponin could be regulated by Ca2+/CaM.

Actins↗

Stage-specific expression patterns of alkaline phosphatase during development of the first arch skeleton in inbred C57BL/6 mouse embryos.

Timing and pattern of expression of alkaline phosphatase was examined during early differentiation of the 1st arch skeleton in inbred C57BL/6 mice. Embryos were recovered between 10 and 18 d of gestation and staged using a detailed staging table of craniofacial development prior to histochemical examination. Expression of alkaline phosphatase is initiated at stage 20.2 in the plasma membrane of mesenchymal cells in the distal region of the first arch. Expression is strongest in osteoid (unmineralised bone matrix) and presumptive periosteum at stage 21.32. Mineralisation begins at stage E23. Expression is present in the mineralised bone matrix. Secondary cartilages form in the condylar and angular processes by stage M24. The cartilaginous cells and surrounding cells in the processes are all alkaline phosphatase-positive and surrounded by the common periosteum, suggesting that progenitor cells of the processes, dentary ramus and secondary cartilages all originate from a common pool. Nonhypertrophied chondrocytes of Meckel's cartilage express alkaline phosphatase at stage M23. Expression in these chondrocytes is preceded by the expression in their adjacent perichondrium. This is true of chondrocytes in all other cranial cartilages examined. 3-D reconstruction of expression in Meckel's cartilage also revealed that the chondrocytes of Meckel's cartilage which express alkaline phosphatase and the matrix of which undergoes mineralisation are those surrounded by the alkaline phosphatase-positive dentary ramus. By stage 25, coincident with mineralisation in the distal section of Meckel's cartilage, most chondrocytes are strongly positive. The perichondria of malleus and incus cartilages express alkaline phosphatase at stage M24. Nonhypertrophied chondrocytes along these perichondria also express alkaline phosphatase. Superficial and deep cells in the dental laminae of incisor and 1st molar teeth become alkaline phosphatase-positive at the bud stage, stages 21.16 and 21.32, respectively. Dental papillae are negative until stage M24 when alkaline phosphatase expression begins in the dental papillae and follicles of the incisor teeth and the dental follicles of the 1st molar teeth. The dental papillae of the 1st molar teeth express alkaline phosphatase at stage 25. Expression in the dental papillae and follicles appears to coincide with cellular differentiation of follicle from papilla. The presumptive squamosal, ectotympanic and gonial membrane bones, lingual oral epithelial cells connected to the dental laminae of the incisor teeth, hair follicle papillae and sheath and surrounding dermis all express alkaline phosphatase in a stage-specific manner.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Effects of skeletal muscle protein phosphatase inhibitor-2 on protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation in rabbit reticulocyte lysates.

Reticulocyte lysates contain two major classes of protein phosphatase activities, designated type 1 and type 2. These designations are based on criteria derived from the analyses of protein phosphatase species in other tissues. The criteria include (i) chromatographic elution profiles on DEAE-cellulose; (ii) specificity of lysate phosphatases toward [(32)P]phosphorylase a and [(32)P]phosphorylase kinase; (iii) sensitivity of lysate phosphatases to Mg(2+) ATP; and (iv) sensitivity to the heat-stable protein phosphatase inhibitor-2. The lysate phosphatase species are similar to those described in rabbit skeletal muscle and rabbit liver. Reticulocyte protein phosphatase type 1, but not type 2, is inhibited by heat-stable protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 and -2 which have been characterized from rabbit skeletal muscle. We have initiated a study on the function and specificity of lysate protein phosphatase activities involved in the regulation of protein synthesis by examining the effects of protein phosphatase inhibitor-2 on reticulocyte protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation. Our findings are as follows. (a) Protein phosphatase inhibitor-2 inhibits protein chain initiation in hemin-supplemented lysates. (b) Inhibition is characterized by biphasic kinetics and is reversed by the delayed addition of purified reticulocyte eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). (c) Inhibition of protein synthesis by inhibitor-2 is accompanied by the phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit (38,000 daltons) of eIF-2 (eIF-2alpha) and of two heat-stable polypeptides of 29,000 and 44,000 daltons. (d) The 29,000-dalton component is phosphorylated in lysates under conditions of protein synthesis and appears to be inhibitor-2, but the physiological significance of this modification of inhibitor-2 is not clear. (e) Inhibitor-2 has no effect on the activation in vitro of isolated heme-regulated or double-stranded RNA-dependent eIF-2alpha kinases. We propose that the inhibition of protein synthesis in hemin-supplemented lysates by added inhibitor-2 is due at least in part to the inhibition of a type 1 eIF-2alpha phosphatase activity, which permits a basal eIF-2alpha kinase activity to be expressed leading to the accumulation of phosphorylated eIF-2alpha and an inhibition of protein synthesis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Phosphatase activity of histidine kinase EnvZ without kinase catalytic domain.

Most histidine kinases are bifunctional enzymes having both kinase and phosphatase activities. The cytoplasmic kinase domain of EnvZ, a transmembrane histidine kinase functioning as an osmosensor in Escherichia coli, consists of two distinct functional subdomains: domain A [EnvZc(223-289)] and domain B [EnvZc(290-450)]. NMR studies demonstrated that domain A consists of a four-helix bundle serving as a dimerization and phosphotransfer domain, and domain B functions as the ATP-binding and catalytic domain. Here we demonstrate that domain A by itself has the phosphatase activity both in vitro and in vivo. This phosphatase activity is Mg(2+) dependent but is not activated by ADP, ATP, or adenosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate (AMPPNP), each of which may serve as a cofactor for the EnvZ phosphatase activity. Domain B showed a small but distinct effect on the domain A phosphatase activity only in the presence of ADP or AMPPNP. However, when domain B was covalently linked to domain A, dramatic cofactor-dependent enhancement of the phosphatase activity was observed. Extending domain A for another 75 residues at the C terminus or 44 residues at the N terminus did not enhance its phosphatase activity. Substitution mutations at His-243, the autophosphorylation site, demonstrate that the His residue plays an essential role in the phosphatase activity. The so-called X-region mutant L288P that is known to specifically abolish the phosphatase activity in EnvZ had no effect on the domain A phosphatase function. We propose that the EnvZ phosphatase activity is regulated by relative positioning of domains A and B, which is controlled by external signals. We also propose that the His-243 residue participates in both kinase and phosphatase reactions.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

The specificity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 dephosphorylation by protein phosphatases.

The extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 2 (ERK2) is the founding member of a family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that are central components of signal transduction pathways for cell proliferation, stress responses, and differentiation. The MAPKs are unique among the Ser/Thr protein kinases in that they require both Thr and Tyr phosphorylation for full activation. The dual phosphorylation of Thr-183 and Tyr-185 in ERK2 is catalyzed by MAPK/ERK kinase 1 (MEK1). However, the identity and relative activity of protein phosphatases that inactivate ERK2 are less well established. In this study, we performed a kinetic analysis of ERK2 dephosphorylation by protein phosphatases using a continuous spectrophotometric enzyme-coupled assay that measures the inorganic phosphate produced in the reaction. Eleven different protein phosphatases, many previously suggested to be involved in ERK2 regulation, were compared, including tyrosine-specific phosphatases (PTP1B, CD45, and HePTP), dual specificity MAPK phosphatases (VHR, MKP3, and MKP5), and Ser/Thr protein phosphatases (PP1, PP2A, PP2B, PP2C alpha, and lambda PP). The results provide biochemical evidence that protein phosphatases display exquisite specificity in their substrate recognition and implicate HePTP, MKP3, and PP2A as ERK2 phosphatases. The fact that ERK2 inactivation could be carried out by multiple specific phosphatases shows that signals can be integrated into the pathway at the phosphatase level to determine the cellular response to external stimuli. Important insights into the roles of various protein phosphatases in ERK2 kinase signaling are obtained, and further analysis of the mechanism by which different protein phosphatases recognize and inactivate MAPKs will increase our understanding of how this kinase family is regulated.

Glutathione Transferase↗

Nucleotide sequence of the gene for alkaline phosphatase of Thermus caldophilus GK24 and characteristics of the deduced primary structure of the enzyme.

The gene encoding Thermus caldophilus GK24 (Tca) alkaline phosphatase was cloned into Escherichia coli. The primary structure of Tca alkaline phosphatase was deduced from its nucleotide sequence. The Tca alkaline phosphatase precursor, including the signal peptide sequence, was comprised of 501 amino acid residues. Its molecular mass was determined to be 54¿ omitted¿760 Da. On the alignment of the amino acid sequence, Tca alkaline phosphatase showed sequence homology with the microbial alkaline phosphatases, 20% identity with E. coli alkaline phosphatase and 22% Bacillus subtilis (Bsu) alkaline phosphatases. High sequence identity was observed in the regions containing the Ser-102 residue of the active site, the zinc and magnesium binding sites of E. coli alkaline phosphatase. Comparison of Tca alkaline phosphatase and E. coli alkaline phosphatase structures suggests that the reduced activity of the Tca alkaline phosphatase, in the presence of zinc, is directly involved in some of the different metal binding sites. Heat-stable Tca alkaline phosphatase activity was detected in E. coli YK537, harboring pJRAP.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Alkaline phosphatase: a marker of alveolar type II cell differentiation.

In an effort to identify type II cells by a method independent of staining phospholipid inclusions, we evaluated a histochemical technique for alkaline phosphatase activity in normal rat lung, in freshly isolated type II cells, and in primary culture of type II cells. In the adult rat alveolus, alkaline phosphatase staining selectively identified type II cells, although nonciliated bronchiolar (Clara) cells and loose perivascular connective tissue also stained for alkaline phosphatase activity. In cell suspensions of type II cells and other dissociated lung cells, alkaline phosphatase staining correlated closely with the modified Papanicolaou technique and was particularly useful in distinguishing type II cells from alveolar macrophages. To determine if alkaline phosphatase was related to the differentiated phenotype of type II cells, we studied conditions known to affect other type II cell functions. When type II cells were cultured on plastic substrata, the intensity of alkaline phosphatase staining decreased with increasing time in culture. To quantitate the apparent decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity, we used a biochemical assay to study the expression of alkaline phosphatase by type II cells. The specific activity of alkaline phosphatase in type II cells declined with increasing time in tissue culture on plastic substrata. Alkaline phosphatase activity was maintained, however, by culturing cells on Englebreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor matrix. Cells that had reduced levels of alkaline phosphatase activity following 48 h of culture on plastic substrata could be "rescued" by removing them from the plastic substratum and reculturing them for 48 h on EHS matrix. Alkaline phosphatase activity was also increased by culturing type II cells in the presence of cAMP or sodium butyrate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Clinical utility of a wheat-germ precipitation assay for determination of bone alkaline phosphatase concentrations in patients with different metabolic bone diseases.

Bone alkaline phosphatase was evaluated by wheat-germ lectin precipitation in several clinical conditions. The study included 33 premenopausal healthy women, 46 postmenopausal apparently healthy women, 19 growing children, 24 patients with Paget's disease, 31 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and 66 patients with hepatobiliary diseases. In postmenopausal women the mean T score (i.e.: the number of SD below or above the mean for premenopausal women) was 2.6 +/- 1.3 (SD) for bone alkaline phosphatase and 1.61 +/- 1.21 for total alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.001). The T score for bone alkaline phosphatase provided a better discrimination from normals for both Paget's disease (22.1 +/- 27.8 versus 12.8 +/- 16 p < 0.001) and primary hyperparathyroidism (8.2 +/- 4.3 versus 4.6 +/- 3.7 p < 0.005 for bone alkaline phosphatase and total alkaline phosphatase respectively). After treatment with intravenous bisphosphonate the percent decrease of bone alkaline phosphatase was larger than that of total alkaline phosphatase both in patients with Paget's disease (-46% versus -72% p < 0.01) and in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (-21% versus -47% p < 0.02) and an estimate of the precision (delta mean/SD of the delta mean) for bone alkaline phosphatase was 1.9-3.7 times higher than that of total alkaline phosphatase. In twelve osteoporotic patients treated for six months with oral alendronate the decrease in bone turnover was detected with significantly higher precision with bone alkaline phosphatase than with total alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗