GSK3-TIP60-ULK1 signaling pathway links growth factor deprivation to autophagy

In metazoans, cells depend on extracellular growth factors for energy homeostasis. We found that glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), when deinhibited by default in cells deprived of growth factors, activates acetyltransferase TIP60 through phosphorylating TIP60-Ser(86), which directly acetylates and stimulates the protein kinase ULK1, which is required for autophagy. Cells engineered to express TIP60(S86A) that cannot be phosphorylated by GSK3 could not undergo serum deprivation-induced autophagy. An acetylation-defective mutant of ULK1 failed to rescue autophagy in ULK1(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Cells used signaling from GSK3 to TIP60 and ULK1 to regulate autophagy when deprived of serum but not glucose. These findings uncover an activating pathway that integrates protein phosphorylation and acetylation to connect growth factor deprivation to autophagy.     

Regulation of a heart potassium channel by protein kinase A and C

The enzymes adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A) and protein kinase C regulate the activity of a diverse group of cellular proteins including membrane ion channel proteins. When protein kinase A was stimulated in cardiac ventricular myocytes with the membrane-soluble cAMP analog 8-chlorphenylthio cAMP (8-CPT cAMP), the amplitude of the delayed-rectifier potassium current (IK) doubled when recorded at 32 degrees C but was not affected at 22 degrees C. In contrast, modulation of the calcium current (ICa) by 8-CPT cAMP was independent of temperature with similar increases in ICa occurring at both temperatures. Stimulation of protein kinase C by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate also enhanced IK in a temperature-dependent manner but failed to increase ICa at either temperature. Thus, cardiac delayed-rectifier potassium but not calcium channels are regulated by two distinct protein kinases in a similar temperature-dependent fashion.     

Long-distance signaling in nodulation directed by a CLAVATA1-like receptor kinase

Proliferation of legume nodule primordia is controlled by shoot-root signaling known as autoregulation of nodulation (AON). Mutants defective in AON show supernodulation and increased numbers of lateral roots. Here, we demonstrate that AON in soybean is controlled by the receptor-like protein kinase GmNARK (Glycine max nodule autoregulation receptor kinase), similar to Arabidopsis CLAVATA1 (CLV1). Whereas CLV1 functions in a protein complex controlling stem cell proliferation by short-distance signaling in shoot apices, GmNARK expression in the leaf has a major role in long-distance communication with nodule and lateral root primordia.     

MAP kinase phosphatase as a locus of flexibility in a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling network

Intracellular signaling networks receive and process information to control cellular machines. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 1,2/protein kinase C (PKC) system is one such network that regulates many cellular machines, including the cell cycle machinery and autocrine/paracrine factor synthesizing machinery. We used a combination of computational analysis and experiments in mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts to understand the design principles of this controller network. We find that the growth factor-stimulated signaling network containing MAPK 1, 2/PKC can operate with one (monostable) or two (bistable) stable states. At low concentrations of MAPK phosphatase, the system exhibits bistable behavior, such that brief stimulus results in sustained MAPK activation. The MAPK-induced increase in the amounts of MAPK phosphatase eliminates the prolonged response capability and moves the network to a monostable state, in which it behaves as a proportional response system responding acutely to stimulus. Thus, the MAPK 1, 2/PKC controller network is flexibly designed, and MAPK phosphatase may be critical for this flexible response.     

Regulation of myosin phosphatase by a specific interaction with cGMP- dependent protein kinase Ialpha

Contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle are regulated by myosin light-chain kinase and myosin phosphatase through phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of myosin light chains. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase Ialpha (cGKIalpha) mediates physiologic relaxation of vascular smooth muscle in response to nitric oxide and cGMP. It is shown here that cGKIalpha is targeted to the smooth muscle cell contractile apparatus by a leucine zipper interaction with the myosin-binding subunit (MBS) of myosin phosphatase. Uncoupling of the cGKIalpha-MBS interaction prevents cGMP-dependent dephosphorylation of myosin light chain, demonstrating that this interaction is essential to the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell tone.     

外源油菜素内酯对镉胁迫下菊芋幼苗光合作用及镉富集的调控效应

以两种菊芋(Helianthus tuberosus L.)品系南芋2号(NY2)和南芋5号(NY5)为材料,研究了外源24-表油菜素内酯(24-EBL)对镉胁迫下菊芋幼苗干重、根冠比(R/S)、光合色素含量、叶片气体交换参数和水分利用效率(WUE)的调节效应,还测定了其不同器官的镉(Cd)含量.结果表明:在镉胁迫下,2种菊芋幼苗的干重、R/S、光合色素含量、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、WUE均呈下降趋势,而胞间二氧化碳浓度(Ci)升高.(2)与镉胁迫相比,胁迫下外源喷施10-10、10-9、10-8、10-7mol/L 24-EBL作用下,两品系植株干重和R/S值均不同程度的上升,NY2、NY5的植株干重分别在10-9 mol/L 24-EBL(EBL2)和10-8mol/L 24-EBL(EBL3)处理下达到最大值,分别增加50％和64％.镉胁迫下,外源24-EBL处理均提高菊芋的叶绿素(Chl)和类胡萝卜素(Car)含量,Pn、Gs、Tr也由此得到不同程度的上升,而Ci均下降,NY5的Ci下降更显著.镉胁迫下,外源EBL2和EBL3作用下均不同程度地提高其WUE,NY5的WUE增幅远大于NY2.镉胁迫下NY5的新完全展开叶Cd含量的积累明显高于NY2;而EBL2处理下可降低NY2的新完全展开叶Cd含量,但EBL3却显著增加NY5的叶片Cd含量.镉胁迫下,喷施EBL2的NY2的不同器官、NY5根的Cd含量均显著下降,而NY5其他器官的Cd含量变化不显著.NY5不同器官的Cd含量均明显高于NY2.上述表明,24-EBL可明显提高菊芋的耐镉水平,主要是因为外源喷施24-EBL能显著促进其光合和提高水分利用效率,从而改善Cd胁迫下菊芋幼苗的生长;而24-EBL对菊芋NY5非气孔限制的更显著改善是其促进其光合、水分利用的重要原因,也是其对NY5的生长调控效果优于NY2的重要原因之一.结果还显示,菊芋NY5植株生物量大,从环境中提取Cd的能力较好,因此可作为重金属污染土壤的植物修复的材料来利用.     

Regulation of Wnt signaling and embryo patterning by an extracellular sulfatase

The developmental signaling functions of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are dependent on their sulfation states. Here, we report the identification of QSulf1, the avian ortholog of an evolutionarily conserved protein family related to heparan-specific N-acetyl glucosamine sulfatases. QSulf1 expression is induced by Sonic hedgehog in myogenic somite progenitors in quail embryos and is required for the activation of MyoD, a Wnt-induced regulator of muscle specification. QSulf1 is localized on the cell surface and regulates heparan-dependent Wnt signaling in C2C12 myogenic progenitor cells through a mechanism that requires its catalytic activity, providing evidence that QSulf1 regulates Wnt signaling through desulfation of cell surface HSPGs.     

Phosphorylation by p38 MAPK as an alternative pathway for GSK3beta inactivation

Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) is involved in metabolism, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Inhibition of GSK3beta activity is the primary mechanism that regulates this widely expressed active kinase. Although the protein kinase Akt inhibits GSK3beta by phosphorylation at the N terminus, preventing Akt-mediated phosphorylation does not affect the cell-survival pathway activated through the GSK3beta substrate beta-catenin. Here, we show that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) also inactivates GSK3beta by direct phosphorylation at its C terminus, and this inactivation can lead to an accumulation of beta-catenin. p38 MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of GSK3beta occurs primarily in the brain and thymocytes. Activation of beta-catenin-mediated signaling through GSK3beta inhibition provides a potential mechanism for p38 MAPK-mediated survival in specific tissues.     

GA3对三色堇观赏性状的调控

三色堇在长沙地区栽培 ,春节前夕不能进入盛花期。为了解决此问题 ,用 4万单位 GA3辅施 P、K肥进行调控。试验表明 ,三色堇盛花期提前 ,可在春节前夕进入观赏期 ,且花蕾数增多 ,花朵数增加 ,花径大小不变。由于观赏终止期基本一致 ,客观上处理比对照的观赏期延长近 1倍。经处理后三色堇株高虽有所增加 ,但由于辅施 P、K肥增强了植株茎杆的机械支撑能力 ,克服了因植株增高而引起倒伏的缺陷     

Prevention of organ allograft rejection by a specific Janus kinase 3 inhibitor

Because of its requirement for signaling by multiple cytokines, Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) is an excellent target for clinical immunosuppression. We report the development of a specific, orally active inhibitor of JAK3, CP-690,550, that significantly prolonged survival in a murine model of heart transplantation and in cynomolgus monkeys receiving kidney transplants. CP-690,550 treatment was not associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or lymphoproliferative disease. On the basis of these preclinical results, we believe JAK3 blockade by CP-690,550 has potential for therapeutically desirable immunosuppression in human organ transplantation and in other clinical settings.     

Regulation of C. elegans life-span by insulinlike signaling in the nervous system

An insulinlike signaling pathway controls Caenorhabditis elegans aging, metabolism, and development. Mutations in the daf-2 insulin receptor-like gene or the downstream age-1 phosphoinositide 3-kinase gene extend adult life-span by two- to threefold. To identify tissues where this pathway regulates aging and metabolism, we restored daf-2 pathway signaling to only neurons, muscle, or intestine. Insulinlike signaling in neurons alone was sufficient to specify wild-type life-span, but muscle or intestinal signaling was not. However, restoring daf-2 pathway signaling to muscle rescued metabolic defects, thus decoupling regulation of life-span and metabolism. These findings point to the nervous system as a central regulator of animal longevity.     

Regulation of blood and lymphatic vascular separation by signaling proteins SLP-76 and Syk

Lymphatic vessels develop from specialized endothelial cells in preexisting blood vessels, but the molecular signals that regulate this separation are unknown. Here we identify a failure to separate emerging lymphatic vessels from blood vessels in mice lacking the hematopoietic signaling protein SLP-76 or Syk. Blood-lymphatic connections lead to embryonic hemorrhage and arteriovenous shunting. Expression of slp-76 could not be detected in endothelial cells, and blood-filled lymphatics also arose in wild-type mice reconstituted with SLP-76-deficient bone marrow. These studies reveal a hematopoietic signaling pathway required for separation of the two major vascular networks in mammals.     

Regulation of abscisic acid-induced stomatal closure and anion channels by guard cell AAPK kinase

Abscisic acid (ABA) stimulates stomatal closure and thus supports water conservation by plants during drought. Mass spectrometry-generated peptide sequence information was used to clone a Vicia faba complementary DNA, AAPK, encoding a guard cell-specific ABA-activated serine-threonine protein kinase (AAPK). Expression in transformed guard cells of AAPK altered by one amino acid (lysine 43 to alanine 43) renders stomata insensitive to ABA-induced closure by eliminating ABA activation of plasma membrane anion channels. This information should allow cell-specific, targeted biotechnological manipulation of crop water status.     

拟南芥类受体蛋白激酶的激酶域信号传导强度研究

为了解不同类受体蛋白激酶RLKs激酶域响应病原相关分子PAMPs信号强度的差异,本研究将拟南芥FLS2的胞外域(NT)与6种不同RLKs的激酶域(KD)组合为重组RLKs(rRLKs),构建融合基因表达载体,并通过拟南芥原生质体瞬时表达的方法,将rRLKs/FLS2、35S::GUS(内参)和FRK1::Luciferase(响应报告载体)共转化到拟南芥fls2突变体叶肉原生质体细胞中;后经flg22处理后,通过对萤光素酶(Luciferase)和葡糖苷酸酶(GUS)活性的定量分析和比较,鉴定不同RLKs激酶区域信号传导的强度。结果表明:1)FLS2、EFR、PEPR1和RLK7的激酶域可明显激活抗病响应报告基因FRK1的表达,对植物抗病反应起正调控作用;FLS2和EFR的激酶域信号传导能力最强,两者无显著差异(P0.05);PEPR1和RLK7激酶域的信号传导能力稍弱,其信号传导强度分别是FLS2的57.13%和32.92%,与FLS2差异显著(P0.05);2)CERK1和NIK1的激酶域对FRK1的上调作用不明显,其信号传导强度分别仅有FLS2的9.76%和7.88%,和FLS2NT(对照)之间无显著差异(P0.05);3)PSKR1激酶域引起FRK1表达下调,对PTI起负调控作用。本研究结果有助于了解RLK家族的抗病响应作用机理,并为人工构建更高效的rRLK蛋白提供参考。     

Regulation of chloride channels by protein kinase C in normal and cystic fibrosis airway epithelia

Apical membrane chloride channels control chloride secretion by airway epithelial cells. Defective regulation of these channels is a prominent characteristic of cystic fibrosis. In normal intact cells, activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol ester either stimulated or inhibited chloride secretion, depending on the physiological status of the cell. In cell-free membrane patches, PKC also had a dual effect: at a high calcium concentration, PKC inactivated chloride channels; at a low calcium concentration, PKC activated chloride channels. In cystic fibrosis cells, PKC-dependent channel inactivation was normal, but activation was defective. Thus it appears that PKC phosphorylates and regulates two different sites on the channel or on an associated membrane protein, one of which is defective in cystic fibrosis.     

稻瘟菌糖原合成酶激酶MoGSK3功能探究

【目的】观测稻瘟菌（Magnaporthe oryzae）糖原合成酶激酶基因MoGSK3敲除突变体表型,明确MoGSK3在稻瘟菌中的潜在生物学功能,为挖掘防治稻瘟菌新型药剂的潜在靶标提供参考。【方法】基于同源重组原理,用split-PCR方法获得稻瘟菌MoGSK3敲除突变体菌株,将MoGSK3基因克隆到pFL2载体上得到MoGSK3-C融合载体,并将其通过PEG介导的原生质体转化法导入MoGSK3突变体中得到回补菌株。培养观察野生型菌株Guy11、突变体菌株G3-9及回补菌株GC-1的菌落形态和生长状况,采用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测稻瘟菌产孢相关基因的表达量;观察稻瘟菌不同菌株的分生孢子形态,通过附着胞洋葱表皮穿透试验及接种水稻叶片,研究其致病力;通过KI-I-2染色对野生型菌株Guy11及突变体菌株G3-9分生孢子和附着胞中的糖原运输能力进行观测。【结果】稻瘟菌MoGSK3突变体存在多个表型缺陷,与野生型菌株Guy11相比,MoGSK3突变体菌株G3-9菌落直径显著变小,生长缓慢,产孢相关基因表达量下降且分生孢子出现末端伸长畸形的状态。MoGSK3基因缺失还会导致稻瘟菌菌丝末端无法形成正常的分生孢子梗,附着胞无法穿透洋葱表皮形成侵染菌丝,接种划伤水稻叶片也无法形成褐色病斑。对MoGSK3突变体菌株G3-9分生孢子及附着胞进行糖原染色后发现,突变体菌株G3-9在糖原转运能力方面存在明显缺陷。【结论】MoGSK3基因参与稻瘟菌的生长、分生孢子形成及形态建成、侵染、糖原转运等过程,是稻瘟菌重要的毒力因子。     

HIV-1-infected T cells show a selective signaling defect after perturbation of CD3/antigen receptor

The binding of antigen or monoclonal antibody to the T cell receptor for antigen or the closely associated CD3 complex causes increases in the concentration of intracellular ionized calcium and subsequent cell proliferation. By measuring second messenger production in primary cultures of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)--infected T cells stimulated with monoclonal antibodies specific for either CD3 or CD2, a specific impairment of membrane signaling was revealed. The HIV-1--infected T cells were unable to mobilize Ca2+ after stimulation with anti-CD3, whereas CD2-induced calcium mobilization remained intact. Furthermore, the HIV-1--infected cells proliferated poorly after CD3 stimulation, although the cells retained normal DNA synthesis in response to interleukin-2 stimulation. These results show that the signals initiated by CD2 and CD3 can be regulated independently within the same T cell; uncoupling of signal transduction after antigen-specific stimulation provides a biochemical mechanism to explain, in part, the profound immunodeficiency of patients with HIV-1 infection.     

Reversal of creatine kinase translational repression by 3' untranslated sequences

A subline of U937 cells (U937D) was obtained in which creatine kinase B (CK-B) messenger RNA was present and bound to ribosomes, but CK activity was undetectable. Transformation of U937D cells with retrovirus vectors that contain the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of CK-B messenger RNA exhibited CK activity with no change in abundance of CK-B mRNA. The 3' UTR formed a complex in vitro with a component of S100 extracts from wild-type cells. This binding activity was not detectable in S100 extracts from cells that expressed CK activity after transformation with the 3' UTR-containing vector. These results suggest that translation of CK-B is repressed by binding of a soluble factor or factors to the 3' UTR.