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.     

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.     

Bmf: a proapoptotic BH3-only protein regulated by interaction with the myosin V actin motor complex, activated by anoikis

Bcl-2 family members bearing only the BH3 domain are essential inducers of apoptosis. We identified a BH3-only protein, Bmf, and show that its BH3 domain is required both for binding to prosurvival Bcl-2 proteins and for triggering apoptosis. In healthy cells, Bmf is sequestered to myosin V motors by association with dynein light chain 2. Certain damage signals, such as loss of cell attachment (anoikis), unleash Bmf, allowing it to translocate and bind prosurvival Bcl-2 proteins. Thus, at least two mammalian BH3-only proteins, Bmf and Bim, function to sense intracellular damage by their localization to distinct cytoskeletal structures.     

Inhibition of myosin light chain kinase by p21-activated kinase

p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are implicated in the cytoskeletal changes induced by the Rho family of guanosine triphosphatases. Cytoskeletal dynamics are primarily modulated by interactions of actin and myosin II that are regulated by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)-mediated phosphorylation of the regulatory myosin light chain (MLC). p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) phosphorylates MLCK, resulting in decreased MLCK activity. MLCK activity and MLC phosphorylation were decreased, and cell spreading was inhibited in baby hamster kidney-21 and HeLa cells expressing constitutively active PAK1. These data indicate that MLCK is a target for PAKs and that PAKs may regulate cytoskeletal dynamics by decreasing MLCK activity and MLC phosphorylation.     

Inhibition of sperm-egg interaction by specific antibody

Treatment of hamster ova, in vitro, with ovary specific antibody interferes with sperm-egg interaction by inhibiting sperm attachment to the zona pellucida and subsequent zona penetration. This inhibition results from precipitation of the zona by the specific antibody.     

Regulation of brassinosteroid signaling by a GSK3/SHAGGY-like kinase

GSK3/SHAGGY is a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase implicated in many signaling pathways in eukaryotes. Although many GSK3/SHAGGY-like kinases have been identified in plants, little is known about their functions in plant growth and development. Here we show that the Arabidopsis BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2) gene encodes a GSK3/SHAGGY-like kinase. Gain-of-function mutations within its coding sequence or its overexpression inhibit brassinosteroid (BR) signaling, resulting in plants that resemble BR-deficient and BR-response mutants. In contrast, reduced BIN2 expression via cosuppression partially rescues a weak BR-signaling mutation. Thus, BIN2 acts as a negative regulator to control steroid signaling in plants.     

Phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein by viral protein with cyclin-dependent kinase function

As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses expertly modify cellular processes to facilitate their replication and spread, often by encoding genes that mimic the functions of cellular proteins while lacking regulatory features that modify their activity. We show that the human cytomegalovirus UL97 protein has activities similar to cellular cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes. UL97 phosphorylated and inactivated the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor, stimulated cell cycle progression in mammalian cells, and rescued proliferation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking CDK activity. UL97 is not inhibited by the CDK inhibitor p21 and lacks amino acid residues conserved in the CDKs that permit the attenuation of kinase activity. Thus, UL97 represents a functional ortholog of cellular CDKs that is immune from normal CDK control mechanisms.     

The substrate of Greatwall kinase, Arpp19, controls mitosis by inhibiting protein phosphatase 2A

Initiation and maintenance of mitosis require the activation of protein kinase cyclin B-Cdc2 and the inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), which, respectively, phosphorylate and dephosphorylate mitotic substrates. The protein kinase Greatwall (Gwl) is required to maintain mitosis through PP2A inhibition. We describe how Gwl activation results in PP2A inhibition. We identified cyclic adenosine monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein 19 (Arpp19) and α-Endosulfine as two substrates of Gwl that, when phosphorylated by this kinase, associate with and inhibit PP2A, thus promoting mitotic entry. Conversely, in the absence of Gwl activity, Arpp19 and α-Endosulfine are dephosphorylated and lose their capacity to bind and inhibit PP2A. Although both proteins can inhibit PP2A, endogenous Arpp19, but not α-Endosulfine, is responsible for PP2A inhibition at mitotic entry in Xenopus egg extracts.     

Inhibition of netrin-mediated axon attraction by a receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase

During axon guidance, the ventral guidance of the Caenorhabditis elegans anterior ventral microtubule axon is controlled by two cues, the UNC-6/netrin attractant recognized by the UNC-40/DCC receptor and the SLT-1/slit repellent recognized by the SAX-3/robo receptor. We show here that loss-of-function mutations in clr-1 enhance netrin-dependent attraction, suppressing ventral guidance defects in slt-1 mutants. clr-1 encodes a transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP) that functions in AVM to inhibit signaling through the DCC family receptor UNC-40 and its effector, UNC-34/enabled. The known effects of other RPTPs in axon guidance could result from modulation of guidance receptors like UNC-40/DCC.     

Autoregulation of enzymes by pseudosubstrate prototopes: myosin light chain kinase

The myosin light chain kinase requires calmodulin for activation. Tryptic cleavage of the enzyme generates an inactive 64-kilodalton (kD) fragment that can be further cleaved to form a constitutively active, calmodulin-independent, 61-kD fragment. Microsequencing and amino acid analysis of purified peptides after proteolysis of the 61- and 64-kD fragments were used to determine the amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal sequences of the 64-kD fragment. Cleavage within the calmodulin-binding region at Arg505 generates the catalytically inactive 64-kD fragment, which is incapable of binding calmodulin. Further digestion removes a carboxyl-terminal fragment, including the pseudosubstrate sequence Ser484-Lys-Asp-Arg-Met-Lys-Lys-Tyr-Met- Ala-Arg-Arg-Lys-Trp-Gln-Lys-Thr-Gly-His-Ala-Val-Arg505 and results in a calmodulin-independent 61-kD fragment. Both the 61- and 64-kD fragments have the same primary amino-terminal sequences. These results provide direct support for the concept that the pseudosubstrate structure binds the active site and that the role of calmodulin is to modulate this interaction. Pseudosubstrates may be utilized in analogous ways by other allosterically regulated enzymes.     

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.     

Actin-myosin interaction: inhibition of the myosin adenosine triphosphatase by actin

In the absence of magnesium ion, the addition of actin to myosin in a 1 :4 ratio has a strong inhibitory effect on the adenosine triphosphatase activity, in contrast to the well-known activating effect of actin in the presence of magnesium ion. This finding suggests that both effects result from a conformational change in the active site of the myosin adenosine triphosphatase.     

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.     

Structure of a tyrosine phosphatase adhesive interaction reveals a spacer-clamp mechanism

Cell-cell contacts are fundamental to multicellular organisms and are subject to exquisite levels of control. Human RPTPmu is a type IIB receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase that both forms an adhesive contact itself and is involved in regulating adhesion by dephosphorylating components of cadherin-catenin complexes. Here we describe a 3.1 angstrom crystal structure of the RPTPmu ectodomain that forms a homophilic trans (antiparallel) dimer with an extended and rigid architecture, matching the dimensions of adherens junctions. Cell surface expression of deletion constructs induces intercellular spacings that correlate with the ectodomain length. These data suggest that the RPTPmu ectodomain acts as a distance gauge and plays a key regulatory function, locking the phosphatase to its appropriate functional location.     

Regulation of phosphodiesterase synthesis: requirement for cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase

Endogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and its dibutyryl derivative increase cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in cultured lymphoma cells. This effect is prevented by cycloheximide. A variant population of cells deficient in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase contains lower basal phosphodiesterase activity, which cannot be induced by cyclic AMP.     

Regulation of MAPK function by direct interaction with the mating-specific Galpha in yeast

The mating response of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is mediated by a prototypical heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G protein) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. Although signal transmission by such pathways has been modeled in detail, postreceptor down-regulation is less well understood. The pheromone-responsive G protein alpha subunit (Galpha) of yeast down-regulates the mating signal, but its targets are unknown. We have found that Galpha binds directly to the mating-specific MAPK in yeast cells responding to pheromone. This interaction contributes both to modulation of the mating signal and to the chemotropic response, and it demonstrates direct communication between the top and bottom of a Galpha-MAPK pathway.     

Potentiation by adrenaline of a proteolytic activity associated with purified myosin

Proteolytic activity accompanies myosin through three reprecipitations. The fact that this activity can be potentiated by very small doses of 1-adrenaline supports the view that adrenaline receptors are protein in nature and that adrenaline-like compounds exert their action through modification of the activity of enzymes.     

Cl- channels in CF: lack of activation by protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Secretory chloride channels can be activated by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase in normal airway epithelial cells but not in cells from individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). In excised, inside-out patches of apical membrane of normal human airway cells and airway cells from three patients with CF, the chloride channels exhibited a characteristic outwardly rectifying current-voltage relation and depolarization-induced activation. Channels from normal tissues were activated by both cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C. However, chloride channels from CF patients could not be activated by either kinase. Thus, gating of normal epithelial chloride channels is regulated by both cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C, and regulation by both kinases is defective in CF.