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Regulation and inactivation of brain phosphocholine-phosphatase activity.

Regulation of phosphocholine-hydrolyzing phosphatase (phosphocholine-phosphatase) activity, purified from bovine brain, was examined under physiological conditions. Various endogenous phosphomonoesters, which were utilized as substrate, inhibited the phosphocholine-phosphatase activity competitively (Ki, 5.5-82.0 microM); among phosphomonoesters tested, there was a similar order of capability between the binding affinity of substrate and the inhibitory potency. In addition, phosphate ions also inhibited the phosphatase activity competitively with a Ki value of approximately 167 microM. Although leucine or theophylline inhibited the phosphatase activity at pH 9.0, their inhibitory action decreased greatly at pH 7.4. The pH-Km and pH-Vm profiles indicate that ionizable amino acids are involved in substrate binding as well as catalysis, alluding that the phosphatase activity may be highly dependent on the intracellular pH. Amino acid modification study supports the existence of tyrosine, arginine or lysine residue in the active site, and the participation of tyrosine residue in the catalytic action may be suggested positively from the susceptibiliy to the action of tetranitromethane or HOI-generator. Separately, the oxidative inactivation of phosphocholine-phosphatase activity was investigated. Of oxidants tested, HOONO, HOCl, HOI and ascorbate/Cu2+ system were effective to inactivate the phosphatase activity. Noteworthy, a remarkable inactivation was accomplished by 30 microM HOCl in combination with 1 mM KI. In addition, Cu2+ (3 microM) in combination with ascorbate at concentrations as low as 0.1-0.3 mM reduced the phosphatase activity to a great extent. From these results, it is proposed that the phosphocholine-phosphatase activity may be regulated endogenously and susceptible to the various oxidant systems in vivo.

Amino Acids↗

Assay of phosphatase activity and ATP biomass in tideland sediments and classification of the intertidal area using chemical values.

Detailed studies of the phosphatase activity in the tidelands were examined including the localization of the phosphatase activities and the spatial distributions of the activity in the tidelands around Hiroshima Bay, the Aki-Bingo Open Sea and Isahaya Bay of Kyushu on the western side of Japan. The results indicate that the phosphatase activity of the sediment fraction accounts for 98% of the tideland activity. Furthermore, we classified 19 tidelands into four groups by a cluster analysis using two parameters: phosphatase activities and ATP (adenosine 5(')-triphosphate) biomass. The first group is a member of the tidelands located in areas remote from the cities. They have a low phosphatase activity and low ATP biomass and the seawater in the tideland is very clean. The second is a group with a low phosphatase activity and high ATP biomass. In the tidelands belonging to this group, large numbers of benthos and shellfish can be observed. The third group has a high phosphatase activity and a relatively low ATP biomass. The estuary tidelands located near Hiroshima City belong to the third group. The last one is tidelands with a high phosphatase activity and high ATP biomass. In this group, the ratio of the phosphatase activity to ATP biomass is relatively low. In the summer, we observed deterioration in the water quality and accumulation of sludge on the sea bottom in the tideland of the last group.Moreover, we employed a multiple regression analysis and proposed an equation to obtain the group number of the cluster analysis using the assayed values of the phosphatase activity and the ATP biomass.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Evaluation of different methods for the detection of Clostridium perfringens phosphatases.

In order to detect phosphatase activity a total of 137 isolates from 12 Clostridium (C.) species were examined via fluorescence on SCA-agar with methylumbelliferyl phosphate (SCA-MUP), via APIZYM and RAPID ID 32 A as well as using a phosphatase reagent containing 1-naphthyl phosphate. Fluorescence on SCA-MUP showed the presence of acid or alkaline phosphatase in almost all isolates examined. Likewise, acid or alkaline phosphatase could be detected via APIZYM and RAPID ID 32 A in most strains and species. Opposed to this, the majority of the Clostridium bifermentans isolates showed a positive reaction exclusively on SCA-MUP. On the other hand, the phosphatase reagent for the detection of acid phosphatase lead to unambiguously positive results only when examining Clostridium perfringens isolates. Therefore, the SCA-MUP-agar, in contrast to the phosphatase reagent, was proven to be unsuitable for the identification of C. perfringens via detection of acid phosphatase. Using the phosphatase reagent the activity of this enzyme was detected in 95.1% of the C. perfringens isolates included in the study. In addition, the phosphatase reagent showed identical reactions after a 24 h incubation at 37 degrees C and when used on cultures incubated for 6 h at 44 degrees C in the case of 98.5% of the C. perfringens isolates.

Clostridium perfringens↗

CD3 and CD2 antigen-mediated CD3 gamma-chain phosphorylation in permeabilized human T cells. Regulation by cytosolic phosphatases.

The role of cytosolic and membrane-associated phosphatases in regulating dephosphorylation of the CD3 antigen gamma-chain has been investigated using streptolysin-O-permeabilized T lymphoblasts and Jurkat T leukaemia cells. Permeabilization of T cells caused a rapid extrusion of cytosolic type 2A phosphatases, but a membrane-associated phosphorylase phosphatase activity remained inside the cells. This activity had the properties characteristic of type 2A phosphatases, being resistant to inhibition by type 1 phosphatase inhibitors, though it was inhibited in a time-dependent manner by ATP or by non-hydrolysable ATP analogues, but not by GTP, CTP, ITP or PPi. The membrane-associated type 2A phosphatase in permeabilized cells did not dephosphorylate the CD3 antigen gamma-chain, suggesting that cytosolic phosphatases dephosphorylate the gamma-chain in situ. Cross-linking the CD2 and CD3 antigens with a bivalent monoclonal antibody in the absence of cytosolic phosphatases induced marked phosphorylation of the CD3 gamma-chain, immunoprecipitated using a novel gamma-chain peptide analogue directed antiserum (TG1). Phosphorylation was inhibited by a protein kinase C (PKC) pseudosubstrate inhibitor, indicating that CD2/CD3-induced gamma-chain phosphorylation is a PKC-mediated event. Activation of T cells either with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate or by CD2-CD3 cross-linking caused [32P]Pi incorporation into the same gamma-chain Ser residues. The site-mapping data suggested that PKC in situ may incorporate phosphate at the CD3 gamma-chain Ser-123 and Ser-126 residues, but that phosphate is rapidly lost from Ser-123 by cytosolic phosphatase action. Our findings underline the importance of the dual actions of kinases and phosphatases as potential regulators of T cell antigen-receptor complex function.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Identification and subcellular localization of sphinganine-phosphatases in rat liver.

One of the primary products of [4,5-3H]sphinganine phosphate, added to fibroblast cultures, is sphinganine [Van Veldhoven and Mannaerts (1994) Biochem. J. 299, 597-601], implicating the physiological action of (a) hitherto unknown phosphatase(s). We have now further characterized this activity in rat liver. In homogenates, the dephosphorylation appeared to be catalysed by multiple enzymes. A low-affinity system was active at acidic pH, whereas at physiological pH values hydrolysis was carried out by a high-affinity enzyme. The latter was sensitive to Zn2+ and detergents and possessed a pH optimum of 7.5. Upon cell fractionation the major portion of the high-affinity activity was recovered in the nuclear and microsomal fractions. Further separation of the microsomal fraction showed an association predominantly with vesicles derived from the plasma membrane. Likewise, when plasma membranes were prepared from the nuclear fraction, the high-affinity phosphatase co-purified with the plasma membrane markers. From the differential effects of bivalent cations, chelators, water-soluble and amphiphilic phosphate esters, detergents and other compounds, it could be concluded that the plasma membrane-associated sphinganine-phosphatase activity is not due to alkaline phosphatase, dolichol-phosphatase, the N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive phosphatidate phosphatase or ceramide-phosphatase. The dephosphorylation observed at acidic pH in homogenates appeared also to be enriched in purified plasma membranes and might represent a side-activity of ceramide-phosphatase. We speculate that the high-affinity phosphatase, which is especially active in neuronal tissues, plays a role in the attenuation of bioactive phosphorylated sphingoid bases such as sphingenine phosphate, and propose to name it sphingosine-phosphatase.

Animals↗

The CWH8 gene encodes a dolichyl pyrophosphate phosphatase with a luminally oriented active site in the endoplasmic reticulum of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Mutations in the CWH8 gene, which encodes an ER transmembrane protein with a phosphate binding pocket in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, result in a deficiency in dolichyl pyrophosphate (Dol-P-P)-linked oligosaccharide intermediate synthesis and protein N-glycosylation (van Berkel, M. A., Rieger, M., te Heesen, S., Ram, A. F., van den Ende, H., Aebi, M., and Klis, F. M. (1999) Glycobiology 9, 243-253). Genetic, enzymological, and topological approaches were taken to investigate the potential role of Cwh8p in Dol-P-P/Dol-P metabolism. Overexpression of Cwh8p in the yeast double mutant strain, lacking LPP1/DPP1, resulted in an impressive increase in Dol-P-P phosphatase activity, a relatively small increase in Dol-P phosphatase activity, but no change in phosphatidate (PA) phosphatase activity in microsomal fractions. The Dol-P-P phosphatase encoded by CWH8 is optimally active in the presence of 0.5% octyl glucoside and relatively unstable in Triton X-100, distinguishing this activity from the lipid phosphatases encoded by LPP1 and DPP1. Stoichiometric amounts of P(i) and Dol-P are formed during the enzymatic reaction indicating that Cwh8p cleaves the anhydride linkage in Dol-P-P. Membrane fractions from Sf-9 cells expressing Cwh8p contained a 30-fold higher level of Dol-P-P phosphatase activity, a slight increase in Dol-P phosphatase activity, but no increase in PA phosphatase relative to controls. This is the first report of a lipid phosphatase that hydrolyzes Dol-P-P/Dol-P but not PA. In accord with this enzymatic function, Dol-P-P accumulated in cells lacking the Dol-P-P phosphatase. Topological studies using different approaches indicate that Cwh8p is a transmembrane protein with a luminally oriented active site. The specificity, subcellular location, and topological orientation of this novel enzyme are consistent with a role in the re-utilization of the glycosyl carrier lipid for additional rounds of lipid intermediate biosynthesis after its release during protein N-glycosylation reactions.

Animals↗

Separation of two phosphorylase kinase phosphatases from rabbit skeletal muscle.

Cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase catalyses the activation of phosphorylase kinase and the phosphorylation of two serine residues on the alpha subunit and beta subunit of phosphorylase kinase [Cohen, P., Watson, D.C. and Dixon, G.H. (1975)]. The dephosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase has been shown to be catalysed by two distinct enzymes, termed alpha-phosphorylase kinase phosphatase and beta-phosphorylase kinase phosphatase. These two enzymes show essentially absolute specificity towards the alpha and beta subunits respectively. The two phosphatases copurified through ethanol fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and ammonium sulphate precipitation, but were separated from each other by a gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. alpha-Phosphorylase kinase phosphatase was purified 500-fold from the ethanol precipitation step, and beta-phosphorylase kinase phosphatase 320-fold. The molecular weights estimated by gel filtration were 170--180 000 for alpha-phosphorylase kinase phosphatase and 75--80 000 for beta-phosphorylase kinase phosphatase. Since the activity of phosphorylase kinase correlates with the state of phosphorylation of the beta subunit (Cohen, P. (1974)), beta-phosphorylase kinase phosphatase is the enzyme which reverses the activation of phosphorylase kinase. alpha-Phosphorylase kinase phosphatase is an enzyme activity that has not been recognised previously. Since the role of the alpha-subunit phosphorylation is to stimulate the rate of dephosphorylation of the beta subunit (Cohen, P. (1974)), alpha-phosphorylase kinase phosphatase can be regarded as the enzyme which inhibits the reversal of the activation of phosphorylase kinase. The implications of these findings for the hormonal control of phosphorylase kinase activity by multisite phosphorylation are discussed.

Animals↗

Phosphatase activation by epidermal growth factor family ligands regulates extracellular regulated kinase signaling in undifferentiated hen granulosa cells.

Previous work has demonstrated that epidermal growth factor family ligands, signaling through the MAPK/ERK pathway, prevent hen granulosa cell differentiation, in vitro, even in the presence of factors that promote differentiation (e.g. TGFbeta and FSH). The working hypothesis is that a release from tonic inhibitory ERK signaling is prerequisite for the initiation of hen granulosa cell differentiation. Initial results demonstrate that the ERK signaling pathway is desensitized after treatment with TGFalpha or betacellulin. Thus, studies were conducted to evaluate a role for MAPK phosphatases in the termination of ERK signaling in undifferentiated granulosa cells. Subsequent to ligand-induced translocation of ERK to the nucleus, de novo transcription and translation of one or more protein tyrosine or dual-specificity phosphatases results in dephosphorylation and localization of inactivated ERK within the nucleus. RT-PCR amplification reveals expression of the MAPK-selective phosphatases (MKP), MKP-1, -3, and dual-specificity phosphatase 5, in granulosa cells. TGFalpha induces expression (within 3 h) of mRNA encoding the ERK-selective nuclear phosphatase, dual-specificity phosphatase 5, and subsequently (by 20 h) induces mRNA encoding the cytoplasmic phosphatase, MKP-3. Increased expression of phosphatases is associated with the intracellular localization and dephosphorylation of ERK and is inhibited by the selective ERK inhibitor, U0126. In turn, regulation of phosphatase activity occurs via the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway because treatment of cells with the proteasome inhibitor, Z-LLF-CHO, markedly promotes ERK dephosphorylation. These data provide direct evidence for ERK-mediated negative feedback due to regulation of phosphatase activity in undifferentiated granulosa cells.

Animals↗

Isolation and partial characterization of a protein with HMG-CoA reductase phosphatase activity associated with rat liver microsomal membranes.

Several rat liver HMG-CoA-reductase (HMG-CoA-Rd) phosphatase activities have been shown to be associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. These activities were not due to glycogen contamination, as judged not only from different patterns of solubilization of the microsomal membranes and the glycogen pellet but also by differential centrifugation behavior under standard conditions and in a sucrose gradient. We present evidence that at least three forms of protein phosphatase are associated with microsomal membranes: a polycation-stimulated type 2A phosphatase, a type 2C phosphatase, and a non-2A, non-2B, non-2C phosphatase. This last HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase activity corresponding to an 85 kDa protein was partially purified by several chromatographic procedures. The IC50 value for the inhibition of the HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase by I-2 was 10-fold higher than for the inhibition of the purified type 1 catalytic subunit from rabbit skeletal muscle. The microsomal HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase activity was slightly affected by the protein inhibitor that inhibits type 2A activity when HMG-CoA reductase is the substrate. The HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase activity is spontaneously active and it is not reactivated in the presence of Mg2+ or polycations. The holoenzyme does not contain the inhibitor-2 and it is not reactivated by incubation with ATP and glycogen synthase kinase-3. Proteolytic treatment of the enzyme yielded a polypeptide fragment of low Mr (37 kDa) with reduced activity. A model of holoenzymatic HMG-CoA-Rd phosphatase and its relation to the microsomal membranes is presented.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

Effect of 1-p-bromotetramisole on phosphatases in neonatal hamster bone and tooth germs at different pH.

This study was designed to compare the various phosphatases and pyrophosphatases in bone with those in developing teeth. Moreover the alkaline phosphatase inhibitor 1-p-bromotetramisole (1-pBTM) was assessed for its ability to discriminate between the several phosphatase activities. Enzyme activities were determined over the pH range 3.50 to 11.25 in homogenates of calcifying hamster tibiae, and whole tooth germs using p-nitrophenyl-phosphate (pNPP) and pyrophosphate (PPi) as substrates. Characterization of alkaline phosphatase inhibition with 1-pBTM showed that in tooth germs the pI50 values of 1-pBTM for whole tooth germs, ectodermal and mesenchymal phosphatases were identical (pI50 = 5.36), which was slightly but significantly lower than that for bone alkaline phosphatase (pI50 = 5.64). In bone, two pNPP-ase activities were found with optima at pH 5.5 and pH 10.3 respectively. The alkaline phosphatase activity was completely inhibited by 10(-4) M 1-pBTM. Inhibition of the acid phosphatase was incomplete. With PPi as substrate, three activities were found with optima at pH 4.8, 7 and 8.7 respectively. All these PPi-ase activities were strongly inhibited by 1-pBTM in developing teeth, only one phosphatase activity was found, which exhibited an alkaline pH (10.3) optimum with both substrates. This activity was inhibited by 1-pBTM with both substrates although the effect on pNPP-ase activity was more marked. From these results we conclude that in bone there are insufficient differences in the extent of inhibition by 1-pBTM to distinguish between the various phosphatase activities when more physiological substrates such as pyrophosphate (PPi) are used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

4-Nitrophenylphosphatase↗

Effect of mutations in Escherichia coli glnL (ntrB), encoding nitrogen regulator II (NRII or NtrB), on the phosphatase activity involved in bacterial nitrogen regulation.

We examined the effects of mutations in glnL, encoding the signal-transducing kinase/phosphatase nitrogen regulator II (NRII), on the regulated phosphatase activity involved in nitrogen regulation. With wild-type NRII, this phosphatase activity was only observed in the presence of the signal transduction protein II (PII). Three different glnL mutations result in altered NRII proteins that had phosphatase activity in the absence of PII. The most active of these contained an alteration of the site of NRII autophosphorylation, histidine 139, to asparagine (H139N). The phosphatase activity of the NRII-H139N protein was further stimulated by the PII protein and by ATP. This suggests that the PII protein is not directly involved in a catalytic step of the regulated phosphatase activity but rather plays a regulatory role. We also measured the effect on the regulated phosphatase activity of alterations at conserved residues in the kinase/phosphatase domain of NRII and the effect of deleting the non-conserved N-terminal domain of NRII. For this we used fusion proteins containing the Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein (MBP) linked to the protein of interest. A protein consisting of MBP linked to wild-type NRII was a less active kinase than was wild-type NRII but in the presence of PII had wild-type phosphatase activity. A protein consisting of MBP linked to just the C-terminal domain of wild-type NRII had kinase activity but lacked phosphatase activity. Alterations at the highly conserved residues Asp-287, Gly-289, and Gly-291 in NRII affected both activities. A fusion of MBP to the NRII-H139N protein lacked kinase activity but had phosphatase activity in the absence of PII. Thus, while the kinase and phosphatase activities of NRII could be genetically separated, some of the highly conserved residues in the C-terminal domain of NRII (Asp-287, Gly-289, Gly-291) are apparently important for both activities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protein phosphatase-1 alpha, gamma 1, and delta: changes in phosphorylation and activity in mitotic HeLa cells and in cells released from the mitotic block.

Protein phosphatase-1 is phosphorylated "in vitro" by cdc2-cyclin B (E. Villa-Moruzzi, FEBS Lett. 304, 211-215, 1992). In the present study the phosphatase-1 isoforms alpha, gamma 1, and delta were analyzed in mitotic (nocodazole-blocked) HeLa cells. Phosphorylation on threonine increased in gamma 1 and delta at mitosis. alpha was phosphorylated only in mitotic cells and mainly on serine. Exposure of permeabilized mitotic cells to a peptide that inhibits cdc2 decreased the phosphorylation of the isoforms. Cell fractionation indicated that phosphatase-1 was over 90% inactivated and phosphorylated in the soluble, but not in the chromosomal fraction of mitotic cells. Immunoprecipitation from the mitotic soluble fraction indicated that only gamma 1 and delta, but not alpha, were inactivated. Altogether the data pointed to a correlation between phosphatase-1 inactivation and phosphorylation in mitotic cells. cdc2-cyclin B might be the kinase (or one of the kinases) that phosphorylates phosphatase-1. In cells released from the mitotic block, the phosphatase-1 activity in the soluble, but not in the nuclear fraction, increased progressively, reaching control values by 16 h. Immunoprecipitation indicated that the increase in activity was due to alpha and delta only. On the other hand, the activity of gamma 1 remained low, and this was also the only isoform that remained phosphorylated, though less than in mitotic cells. Also in the case of the cells released from mitosis, a correlation may exist between phosphorylation and inactivation of phosphatase-1. However, the regulation of phosphatase-1 is complex and may involve also regulatory subunits that are still unknown. Altogether, the results indicated the differential regulation of the phosphatase-1 isoforms both at mitosis and in G1 cells.

Cell Cycle↗

Regulation of sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump by endogenous protein phosphatases.

The function of several key sarcolemmal proteins is modulated through phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of serine/threonine residues. While the involvement of sarcolemma-associated protein kinases in the phosphorylation of these proteins has been established, the nature of the protein phosphatases controlling these proteins has not been investigated. Rat heart sarcolemma contains two protein phosphatase isozymes, protein phosphatase 1 and 2A, which are distinguished on the basis of their susceptibility of inhibitor 2. Both isozymes elute from a Bio Gel A-0.5 column in association with the highest molecular weight protein fraction. However, some protein phosphatase 1 activity elutes with a smaller molecular weight fraction of about 37,000, suggesting that the native enzyme exists as a catalytic subunit in complex with an anchor protein. Inhibition of the protein phosphatases using standard inhibitors leads to a stimulation in both the rate and extent of 32P incorporation into isolated sarcolemma. Also affected by inhibition of protein phosphatase activity is the rate of ATP-dependent calcium uptake, which is stimulated following exposure to either inhibitor 2, a classical protein phosphatase 1 inhibitor, and microcystin, a protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor. The data suggest that the protein phosphatases regulate the dephosphorylation of sarcolemmal proteins. Through this mechanism they serve as important modulators of the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump.

Animals↗

Histone H1-stimulated phosphorylase phosphatase from rabbit skeletal muscle.

A major rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase phosphatase activity which is markedly stimulated by histone H1 has been resolved from inhibitor-sensitive phosphorylase phosphatase (type-1 phosphatase), glycogen synthase kinase 3-activated phosphatase, phosphatase heat-stable inhibitor proteins, and alkaline phosphatase activity by various purification techniques. Evidence is presented that this phosphatase is a high-molecular weight form of a type-2 phosphatase. Our data suggest that this phosphatase may be regulated by histone H1, protamine or analogous polycationic compounds.

Animals↗

Calyculin A and okadaic acid: inhibitors of protein phosphatase activity.

Calyculin A and okadaic acid induce contraction in smooth muscle fibers. Okadaic acid is an inhibitor of phosphatase activity and the aims of this study were to determine if calyculin A also inhibits phosphatase and to screen effects of both compounds on various phosphatases. Neither compound inhibited acid or alkaline phosphatases, nor the phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase. Both compounds were potent inhibitors of the catalytic subunit of type-2A phosphatase, with IC50 values of 0.5 to 1 nM. With the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase type-1, calyculin A was a more effective inhibitor than okadaic acid, IC50 values for calyculin A were about 2 nM and for okadaic acid between 60 and 500 nM. The endogenous phosphatase of smooth muscle myosin B was inhibited by both compounds with IC50 values of 0.3 to 0.7 nM and 15 to 70 nM, for calyculin A and okadaic acid, respectively. The partially purified catalytic subunit from myosin B had IC50 values of 0.7 and 200 nM for calyculin A and okadaic acid, respectively. The pattern of inhibition for the phosphatase in myosin B therefore is similar to that of the type-1 enzyme.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Purification and characterization of a phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase from wheat seedlings.

A neutral phosphatase which catalyzes the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylphosphate has been purified to homogeneity from wheat seedlings. The enzyme is a monomeric glycoprotein exhibiting a molecular weight of 35,000, frictional ratio of 1.22, Stokes' radius of 260 nm, and sedimentation coefficient of 3.2 S. That the enzyme is a glycoprotein is surmised from its chromatographic property on Concanavalin A-Sepharose column. An examination of the substrate specificity indicates that the enzyme exhibits a preference for phosphotyrosine over a number of phosphocompounds, including p-nitrophenylphosphate and several glycolytic intermediates. Both phosphoserine and phosphothreonine are not hydrolyzed by the enzyme. The phosphatase activity is not affected by high concentrations of chelating agents and does not require metal ions. Molybdate, orthovanadate, Zn2+, and Hg2+ are all potent inhibitors of the phosphatase activity. The ability of the phosphatase to dephosphorylate protein phosphotyrosine has been investigated. [32P-Tyr]poly(Glu,Tyr)n, [32P-Tyr]alkylated bovine serum albumin, [32P-Tyr]angiotensin-I, and [32P-Tyr]band 3 (from human erythrocyte) are all substrates of the phosphatase. On the other hand, the enzyme has no activity toward protein phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. Our result further indicates that the neutral phosphatase is distinct from the wheat germ acid phosphatase. The latter enzyme is found to dephosphorylate phosphotyrosyl as well as phosphoseryl and phosphothreonyl groups in proteins. In light of the many similarities in properties to phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatases isolated from several sources, it is suggested that the wheat seedling phosphatase may participate in cellular regulation involving protein tyrosine phosphorylation.

Caseins↗

Direct activation of protein phosphatase-2A0 by HIV-1 encoded protein complex NCp7:vpr.

The effects of HIV-1 encoded proteins NCp7, vpr and NCp7:vpr complex on the activity of protein phosphatase-2A0 have been tested. We report that NCp7 is an activator of protein phosphatase-2A0 and that vpr activated protein phosphatase-2A0 only slightly. We also report that NCp7 and vpr form a tight complex which becomes a more potent activator of protein phosphatase-2A0 than NCp7 alone. The ability of NCp7 to activate protein phosphatase-2A0 is regulated by vpr. The C-terminal portion of vpr prevents NCp7 from activating protein phosphatase-2A0 while the N-terminal portion of vpr potentiates the effect of NCp7 on the activity of protein phosphatase-2A0. Our findings indicate that vpr may be acting as a targeting subunit which directs NCp7 to activate protein phosphatase-2A0. In view of the fact that protein phosphatase-2A functions as an inhibitor of G0 to M transition of the cell cycle and is involved in other key cellular processes such as the control of RNA transcription, the results presented in this report may explain how HIV-1 causes cell cycle arrest which may lead to CD4+ T cell depletion and also how it disturbs normal cellular processes of its host cell.

Animals↗

Initiation and maintenance of CNTF-Jak/STAT signaling in neurons is blocked by protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors.

Cytokines, including interferon-gamma and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), act in common through tyrosine kinase-based Jak/STAT signaling pathways. We found that activation of the Jak/STAT pathway by both interferon-gamma and CNTF in nerve cells was rapidly terminated by tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors. Exposure of human neuroblastoma cells, BE(2)-C, first to tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors (either phenylarsine oxide or PTP inhibitor-2) prevented Jak1, STAT1 and STAT3 activation elicited subsequently by either CNTF or interferon-gamma. In contrast, exposure of these cells to phosphatase inhibitors after initial stimulation by CNTF or interferon-gamma prevented the normal time-dependent decrease of total cellular phosphotyrosine-STAT levels as expected, while excluding already formed phosphotyrosine-STAT from the nucleus. Thus, treatment of nerve cells with a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor blocked nuclear signal transduction. A similar inhibition of CNTF-Jak/STAT signaling was observed following tyrosine phosphatase inhibition in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, HMN-1 mouse motor neuron-neuroblastoma hybrid cells, HepG2 human hepatoma cells and embryonic chick ciliary ganglion and retinal neurons. Expression of dominant-negative forms of the tyrosine phosphatases, SHP-1 and/or SHP-2, in BE(2)-C cells had no effect on CNTF activation of STAT or on the ability of phosphatase inhibitors to block signaling. Further, results from H-35 cells expressing gp130 receptor subunits lacking functional SHP-2 binding sites revealed normal cytokine activation of Jak and STAT that was inhibited by phosphatase inhibitors. These findings suggest a critical control for regulating the initiation of Jak/STAT signaling requiring tyrosine phosphatase activity.

Animals↗