Live-cell imaging of enzyme-substrate interaction reveals spatial regulation of PTP1B

Endoplasmic reticulum-localized protein-tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B terminates growth factor signal transduction by dephosphorylation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). But how PTP1B allows for RTK signaling in the cytoplasm is unclear. In order to test whether PTP1B activity is spatially regulated, we developed a method based on F?rster resonant energy transfer for imaging enzyme-substrate (ES) intermediates in live cells. We observed the establishment of a steady-state ES gradient across the cell. This gradient exhibited robustness to cell-to-cell variability, growth factor activation, and RTK localization, which demonstrated spatial regulation of PTP1B activity. Such regulation may be important for generating distinct cellular environments that permit RTK signal transduction and that mediate its eventual termination.     

Coactivation of receptor tyrosine kinases affects the response of tumor cells to targeted therapies

Targeted therapies that inhibit receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and the downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway have shown promising anticancer activity, but their efficacy in the brain tumor glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other solid tumors has been modest. We hypothesized that multiple RTKs are coactivated in these tumors and that redundant inputs drive and maintain downstream signaling, thereby limiting the efficacy of therapies targeting single RTKs. Tumor cell lines, xenotransplants, and primary tumors indeed show multiple concomitantly activated RTKs. Combinations of RTK inhibitors and/or RNA interference, but not single agents, decreased signaling, cell survival, and anchorage-independent growth even in glioma cells deficient in PTEN, a frequently inactivated inhibitor of PI3K. Thus, effective GBM therapy may require combined regimens targeting multiple RTKs.     

Coupling of stress in the ER to activation of JNK protein kinases by transmembrane protein kinase IRE1

Malfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) induce cellular stress and activate c-Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNKs or SAPKs). Mammalian homologs of yeast IRE1, which activate chaperone genes in response to ER stress, also activated JNK, and IRE1alpha-/- fibroblasts were impaired in JNK activation by ER stress. The cytoplasmic part of IRE1 bound TRAF2, an adaptor protein that couples plasma membrane receptors to JNK activation. Dominant-negative TRAF2 inhibited activation of JNK by IRE1. Activation of JNK by endogenous signals initiated in the ER proceeds by a pathway similar to that initiated by cell surface receptors in response to extracellular signals.     

PTP1B抑制剂1-（2,4-二羟基苯）-3-（萘-2-基）丙-2-烯-1-酮的合成及生物活性研究

以2,4-二羟基苯乙酮为起始原料,经过氯甲基甲醚保护、克莱森-施密特缩合和脱保护3步反应,合成了化合物1-（2,4-二羟基苯）-3-（萘-2-基）丙-2-烯-1-酮（3）。采用IR、^1H—NM R、^13C-NMR、MS等进行了结构表征。通过比色法对化合物1-（2,4-二羟基苯）-3-（萘-2-基）丙-2-烯-1-酮（3）进行蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶PTP1B（protein tyrosine phosphatase1B,PTP1B）抑制活性测定,结果显示化合物3质量浓度为20μg／mL时,化合物3的PTP1B酶抑制率分别为93．45％,表明化合物3具有较好的PTP1B酶抑制活性。     

Natural killer cell signaling pathways

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that are involved in the early defenses against foreign cells, as well as autologous cells undergoing various forms of stress, such as microbial infection or tumor transformation. NK cell activation is controlled by a dynamic balance between complementary and antagonistic pathways that are initiated upon interaction with potential target cells. NK cells express an array of activating cell surface receptors that can trigger cytolytic programs, as well as cytokine or chemokine secretion. Some of these activating cell surface receptors initiate protein tyrosine kinase (PTK)-dependent pathways through noncovalent associations with transmembrane signaling adaptors that harbor intracytoplasmic ITAMs (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs). Additional cell surface receptors that are not directly coupled to ITAMs also participate in NK cell activation. These include NKG2D, which is noncovalently associated to the DAP10 transmembrane signaling adaptor, as well as integrins and cytokine receptors. NK cells also express cell surface inhibitory receptors that antagonize activating pathways through protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). These inhibitory cell surface receptors are characterized by intracytoplasmic ITIMs (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motifs). The tyrosine-phosphorylation status of several signaling components that are substrates for both PTKs and PTPs is thus key to the propagation of the NK cell effector pathways. Understanding the integration of these multiple signals is central to the understanding and manipulation of NK cell effector signaling pathways.     

PTP1B基因敲除小鼠的繁育及基因鉴定

[目的]探讨PTP1B基因敲除小鼠的繁殖和鉴定方法,为进一步研究蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶的功能奠定基础。[方法]将所引进的杂合子小鼠进行饲养并繁殖,繁殖成功后其子代中将会出现野生型、杂合子以及纯合子3种基因型。提取子鼠鼠尾基因组DNA,利用PCR方法扩增野生型和敲除基因片段,并根据基因片段长度来判断小鼠的基因型。[结果]PTP1B基因杂合子小鼠互交繁殖结果基本符合孟德尔遗传规律,PTP1B基因缺失纯合子小鼠无繁殖能力。[结论]利用PCR方法能够准确鉴定PTP1B基因突变小鼠基因型。     

Mutational analysis of the tyrosine phosphatome in colorectal cancers

Tyrosine phosphorylation, regulated by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) and kinases (PTKs), is important in signaling pathways underlying tumorigenesis. A mutational analysis of the tyrosine phosphatase gene superfamily in human cancers identified 83 somatic mutations in six PTPs (PTPRF, PTPRG, PTPRT, PTPN3, PTPN13, PTPN14), affecting 26% of colorectal cancers and a smaller fraction of lung, breast, and gastric cancers. Fifteen mutations were nonsense, frameshift, or splice-site alterations predicted to result in truncated proteins lacking phosphatase activity. Five missense mutations in the most commonly altered PTP (PTPRT) were biochemically examined and found to reduce phosphatase activity. Expression of wild-type but not a mutant PTPRT in human cancer cells inhibited cell growth. These observations suggest that the mutated tyrosine phosphatases are tumor suppressor genes, regulating cellular pathways that may be amenable to therapeutic intervention.     

A selective inhibitor of eIF2alpha dephosphorylation protects cells from ER stress

Most protein phosphatases have little intrinsic substrate specificity, making selective pharmacological inhibition of specific dephosphorylation reactions a challenging problem. In a screen for small molecules that protect cells from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, we identified salubrinal, a selective inhibitor of cellular complexes that dephosphorylate eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit alpha (eIF2alpha). Salubrinal also blocks eIF2alpha dephosphorylation mediated by a herpes simplex virus protein and inhibits viral replication. These results suggest that selective chemical inhibitors of eIF2alpha dephosphorylation may be useful in diseases involving ER stress or viral infection. More broadly, salubrinal demonstrates the feasibility of selective pharmacological targeting of cellular dephosphorylation events.     

棉株果枝部位、温光复合因子及施氮量对纤维比强度形成的影响

 【目的】明确果枝部位、温光复合因子和施氮量对棉纤维比强度形成过程的定量关系及两者的补偿效应,探明棉纤维比强度形成的生态基础。【方法】以杂交棉（科棉1号）和常规棉（美棉33B）为材料,于2005年在江苏南京（118°50′E, 32°02′N,长江流域下游棉区）和江苏徐州（117°11′E, 34°15′N,黄河流域黄淮棉区）设置分期播种（4月25日、5月25日）和施氮量（0、240、480 kg N•hm-2）试验,研究棉株果枝部位、温光复合因子（用纤维加厚发育期的累积辐热积PTP表示）和施氮量对纤维比强度形成的影响。【结果】（1）棉株果枝部位显著影响纤维比强度的形成,并与温光复合因子存在协同效应。棉株中部果枝铃发育期温光条件适宜,其纤维比强度显著大于其它果枝部位铃;随温光条件变差,纤维比强度在果枝部位间的差异不明显。（2）棉纤维比强度随花后天数的增加可分为快速增加和稳定增加两个时期,PTP与纤维比强度快速增加期的日均增长速率（VRG）线性正相关、与快速增加持续期（TRG）线性负相关,与稳定增加期的日均增长速率（VSG）、持续期（TSG）及最终棉纤维比强度（Strobs）呈开口向下的抛物线关系。当PTP达到291 MJ•m-2左右时,纤维比强度Strobs最大（科棉1号、美棉33B分别为34.8、31.9 cN•tex-1）,品种间差异主要源于纤维比强度稳定增加期（中科棉1号和美棉33B的VSG、TSG分别为0.32 cN•tex-1•d-1、21 d和0.18 cN•tex-1•d-1、24 d）。（3）纤维比强度达到最大值所需的PTP随施氮量增加而减小,施氮量可通过棉铃对位叶叶氮浓度（NA）影响纤维比强度的形成,棉花氮素营养对温光复合因子存在补偿效应,当PTP高于104 MJ•m-2时,240 kg N•hm-2下的NA更适宜于比强度的形成;PTP低于此值时,增加施氮量可对温光复合因子进行补偿,以利于高强纤维形成。【结论】棉株果枝部位显著影响纤维比强度的形成,且与温光复合因子存在互作效应;温光复合因子、施氮量均显著影响棉纤维比强度的形成,且后者对前者存在补偿效应;棉纤维比强度形成过程可分为快速增加和稳定增加两个阶段,后者是品种间纤维比强度形成差异的主要阶段。     

A pit stop at the ER

Although ligand activation of receptor signaling is well understood, less is known about how a cell switches off signaling by the activated receptor. In his Perspective, Gill discusses new work (Haj et al.) that visualizes one step in the process of deactivating a ligand-activated receptor tyrosine kinase--the dephosphorylation of the internalized receptor by a phosphatase in the endoplasmic reticulum.     

A critical role for IL-21 in regulating immunoglobulin production

The cytokine interleukin-21 (IL-21) is closely related to IL-2 and IL-15, and their receptors all share the common cytokine receptor gamma chain, gammac, which is mutated in humans with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency disease (XSCID). We demonstrate that, although mice deficient in the receptor for IL-21 (IL-21R) have normal lymphoid development, after immunization, these animals have higher production of the immunoglobulin IgE, but lower IgG1, than wild-type animals. Mice lacking both IL-4 and IL-21R exhibited a significantly more pronounced phenotype, with dysgammaglobulinemia, characterized primarily by a severely impaired IgG response. Thus, IL-21 has a significant influence on the regulation of B cell function in vivo and cooperates with IL-4. This suggests that these gammac-dependent cytokines may be those whose inactivation is primarily responsible for the B cell defect in humans with XSCID.     

The unfolded protein response: from stress pathway to homeostatic regulation

The vast majority of proteins that a cell secretes or displays on its surface first enter the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where they fold and assemble. Only properly assembled proteins advance from the ER to the cell surface. To ascertain fidelity in protein folding, cells regulate the protein-folding capacity in the ER according to need. The ER responds to the burden of unfolded proteins in its lumen (ER stress) by activating intracellular signal transduction pathways, collectively termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). Together, at least three mechanistically distinct branches of the UPR regulate the expression of numerous genes that maintain homeostasis in the ER or induce apoptosis if ER stress remains unmitigated. Recent advances shed light on mechanistic complexities and on the role of the UPR in numerous diseases.     

Methylation of an immediate-early inducible gene as a mechanism for B cell tolerance induction

Stage-specific gene regulation is important in determining cell function during development. Immature B cells expressing membrane-bound immunoglobulin M (mIgM) are sensitive to antigen-induced tolerance, whereas mature B cells are activated by antigen. Previous studies have established an association between Egr-1 gene induction and antigen receptor (mIgM)-mediated activation of mature B cells. Here it is shown that the immature B cell line WEHI-231 and tolerance-sensitive bone marrow-derived B cells do not express Egr-1. It is further shown that lack of inducible expression in these cells is due to specific methylation of the Egr-1 gene. Thus, covalent inactivation of an activation-associated gene may explain tolerance sensitivity at specific stages of B cell development.     

An essential role for BAFF in the normal development of B cells through a BCMA-independent pathway

The B cell activating factor BAFF (BlyS/TALL-1/zTNF4) is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related ligand that promotes B cell survival and binds to three receptors (BCMA, TACI, and the recently described BAFF-R). Here we report an absolute requirement for BAFF in normal B cell development. Examination of secondary lymphoid organs from BAFF-deficient mice revealed an almost complete loss of follicular and marginal zone B lymphocytes. In contrast, mice lacking BCMA had normal-appearing B lymphocyte compartments. BAFF therefore plays a crucial role in B cell development and can function through receptors other than BCMA.     

Immortalization of human T lymphocytes after transfection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous human herpesvirus, has the ability to transform human B lymphocytes. No other cell type has been experimentally transformed by EBV, either by intact virions or naked viral DNA and subgenomic fragments. Two immortalized human T-lymphoblastoid cell lines have now been established by transfecting cord blood lymphocytes with purified B95-8 viral DNA enclosed in fusogenic Sendai virus envelopes (RSVE) and then exposing the cells to EBV from a P3HR-1 cell subclone. One of these lines, which has been fully characterized, is termed HBD-1. This line is positive for EBV DNA and expresses surface OKT11, OKT4, and Tac receptors, but not M-1, mu immunoglobulin chains, EBV receptors, or B-1 surface markers. The cells contain fully rearranged T-cell receptor genes and germline immunoglobulin genes. The karyotype of the cells is normal, they do not require interleukin-2 for growth, and do not contain human T-lymphotropic virus type I. However, the HBD-1 cells contain incomplete EBV genomes and express several EBV-determined antigens, including the early antigen type D, membrane antigens, but not EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA). This association of the EBV genome with permanently growing hematopoietic cells of non B-cell lineage should prove useful in studies on the mechanism of EBV-mediated cell transformation.     

Role of ER export signals in controlling surface potassium channel numbers

Little is known about the identity of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) export signals and how they are used to regulate the number of proteins on the cell surface. Here, we describe two ER export signals that profoundly altered the steady-state distribution of potassium channels and were required for channel localization to the plasma membrane. When transferred to other potassium channels or a G protein-coupled receptor, these ER export signals increased the number of functional proteins on the cell surface. Thus, ER export of membrane proteins is not necessarily limited by folding or assembly, but may be under the control of specific export signals.     

Structural mutations of the T cell receptor zeta chain and its role in T cell activation

T cell hybridomas that express zeta zeta, but not zeta eta, dimers in their T cell receptors (TCRs) produce interleukin-2 (IL-2) and undergo an inhibition of spontaneous growth when activated by antigen, antibodies to the receptor, or antibodies to Thy-1. Hybridomas without zeta and eta were reconstituted with mutated zeta chains. Cytoplasmic truncations of up to 40% of the zeta molecule reconstituted normal surface assembly of TCRs, but antigen-induced IL-2 secretion and growth inhibition were lost. In contrast, cross-linking antibodies to the TCR activated these cells. A point mutation conferred the same signaling phenotype as did the truncations and caused defective antigen-induced tyrosine kinase activation. Thus zeta allows the binding of antigen/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) to alpha beta to effect TCR signaling.     

Alterations in 5-HT1B receptor function by p11 in depression-like states

The pathophysiology of depression remains enigmatic, although abnormalities in serotonin signaling have been implicated. We have found that the serotonin 1B receptor [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT1B) receptor] interacts with p11. p11 increases localization of 5-HT1B receptors at the cell surface. p11 is increased in rodent brains by antidepressants or electroconvulsive therapy, but decreased in an animal model of depression and in brain tissue from depressed patients. Overexpression of p11 increases 5-HT1B receptor function in cells and recapitulates certain behaviors seen after antidepressant treatment in mice. p11 knockout mice exhibit a depression-like phenotype and have reduced responsiveness to 5-HT1B receptor agonists and reduced behavioral reactions to an antidepressant.     

Bergmann glial AMPA receptors are required for fine motor coordination

The impact of glial neurotransmitter receptors in vivo is still elusive. In the cerebellum, Bergmann glial (BG) cells express α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) composed exclusively of GluA1 and/or GluA4 subunits. With the use of conditional gene inactivation, we found that the majority of cerebellar GluA1/A4-type AMPARs are expressed in BG cells. In young mice, deletion of BG AMPARs resulted in retraction of glial appendages from Purkinje cell (PC) synapses, increased amplitude and duration of evoked PC currents, and a delayed formation of glutamatergic synapses. In adult mice, AMPAR inactivation also caused retraction of glial processes. The physiological and structural changes were accompanied by behavioral impairments in fine motor coordination. Thus, BG AMPARs are essential to optimize synaptic integration and cerebellar output function throughout life.