Activation-independent nuclear translocation of mitogen activated protein kinase ERK1 mediated by thiol-modifying chemicals

Effects of select PM-associated metals on alveolar macrophage phosphorylated ERK1 and -2 and iNOS expression during ongoing alteration in iron homeostasis

It was hypothesized that relative mass relationships among select constituent metals and iron (Fe3+) govern the pulmonary immunotoxic potential of any PM(2.5) sample, as these determine the extent to which Fe3+ binding by transferrin is affected (resulting in altered alveolar macrophage [AM] Fe status and subsequent antibacterial function). Iron response protein (IRP) binding activity is a useful indirect measurement of changes in Fe status, as reductions in cell Fe levels lead to increases in IRP binding. However, AM IRP activity can be affected by an increased presence of nitric oxide generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). This study sought to determine if any changes in AM IRP activity induced by PM(2.5) constituents V, Mn, or Al were independent from effects of the metals on cell NO formation. NR8383 rat AM were exposed to Fe3+ alone or combined with V, Mn, or Al at metal:Fe ratios representative of those in PM(2.5) collected in New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle during fall 2001. Cells were then assessed for changes in IRP activity and iNOS expression. Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 levels were also measured since activated ERKs are involved in signaling pathways that lead to increased iNOS expression. The results indicate that V and Al, and to a lesser extent Mn, altered IRP activity, though the effects were not consistently concentration dependent. Furthermore, while V and Mn treatments did not induce iNOS expression, Al did. These results confirmed our hypothesis that certain metals associated with PM(2.5) might alter the pulmonary immunocompetence of exposed hosts by affecting the Fe status of AM, a major class of deep lung defense cells.

Identification of a C-terminal region that is required for the nuclear translocation of ERK2 by passive diffusion

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) is located in the cytoplasm of resting cells and translocates into the nucleus upon extracellular stimuli by active transport of a dimer. Passive transport of an ERK2 monomer through the nuclear pore is also reported to coexist. We attempted to characterize the cytoplasmic retention and nuclear translocation of fusion proteins between deletion and site-directed mutants of ERK2 and green fluorescent protein (GFP). The overexpressed ERK2-GFP fusion protein is usually localized to both the cytoplasm and the nucleus unless a cytoplasmic anchoring protein is coexpressed. Deletion of 45 residues, but not 43 residues, from the C terminus of ERK2 prevented the nuclear distribution of the ERK2-GFP fusion protein. Substitution of a part of residues 299-313 to alanine residues also prevented the nuclear distribution of the ERK2-GFP fusion protein without abrogation of its nuclear active transport. These observations may indicate that the passive diffusion of ERK2 into the nucleus is not simple diffusion but includes a specific interaction process between residues 299-313 and the nuclear pore complex and that this interaction is not required for the active transport. We also showed that substitution of Tyr(314) to alanine residue abrogated the cytoplasmic retention of the ERK2-GFP fusion protein by PTP-SL but not by MEK1.

Nuclear import of factors involved in signaling is inhibited in C3H/10T1/2 cells treated with tetradecylthioacetic acid

The non-beta-oxidisable tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA) is incorporated into cellular membranes when C3H/10T1/2 cells are cultured in TTA-containing medium. We here demonstrate that this alteration in cellular membranes affect the nuclear translocation of proteins involved in signal transduction. Analysis of cellular fatty acid composition shows that TTA and TTA:1n-8 constitute approximately 40 mol% of total fatty acids in cellular/nuclear membranes. Activation of c-fos expression is significantly inhibited in TTA-treated cells but the enzymatic activation of mitogen activated protein kinase (ERK) is not affected. Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy studies demonstrate that in mitogene-stimulated TTA-treated cells, the translocation of phosphorylated ERK1/2, protein kinase C alpha (PKC alpha), and PKC beta(1) from the cytoplasm into the nucleus is considerably decreased and delayed. Concomitant with a decreased nuclear import, ERK1/2 dephosphorylation is decreased in TTA-treated cells. There is no TTA-induced inhibition of nuclear import of proteins with a classical nuclear localization signal (NLS), as seen by in vitro nuclear import experiments of BSA fused to the NLS from SV40 large T, or in vivo studies of hnRNP A1 nuclear import. The expression levels of Importin alpha, Importin beta, Importin 7, and NTF2 are not altered in the TTA-treated cells. Taken together, our data indicate that TTA treatment causes changes in cellular fatty acid composition that negatively affect NLS-independent mechanisms of protein translocation through the nuclear pore complex.

Interaction of mitogen-activated protein kinases with the kinase interaction motif of the tyrosine phosphatase PTP-SL provides substrate specificity and retains ERK2 in the cytoplasm

ERK1 and ERK2 associate with the tyrosine phosphatase PTP-SL through a kinase interaction motif (KIM) located in the juxtamembrane region of PTP-SL. A glutathione S-transferase (GST)-PTP-SL fusion protein containing the KIM associated with ERK1 and ERK2 as well as with p38/HOG, but not with the related JNK1 kinase or with protein kinase A or C. Accordingly, ERK2 showed in vitro substrate specificity to phosphorylate GST-PTP-SL in comparison with GST-c-Jun. Furthermore, tyrosine dephosphorylation of ERK2 by the PTP-SLDeltaKIM mutant was impaired. The in vitro association of ERK1/2 with GST-PTP-SL was highly stable; however, low concentrations of nucleotides partially dissociated the ERK1/2.PTP-SL complex. Partial deletions of the KIM abrogated the association of PTP-SL with ERK1/2, indicating that KIM integrity is required for interaction. Amino acid substitution analysis revealed that Arg and Leu residues within the KIM are essential for the interaction and suggested a regulatory role for Ser(231). Finally, coexpression of PTP-SL and ERK2 in COS-7 cells resulted in the retention of ERK2 in the cytoplasm in a KIM-dependent manner. Our results demonstrate that the noncatalytic region of PTP-SL associates with mitogen-activated protein kinases with high affinity and specificity, providing a mechanism for substrate specificity, and suggest a role for PTP-SL in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase translocation to the nucleus upon activation.

Growth factor-induced p42/p44 MAPK nuclear translocation and retention requires both MAPK activation and neosynthesis of nuclear anchoring proteins

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (p42/p44 MAPK, also called Erk2 and Erk1) are key mediators of signal transduction from the cell surface to the nucleus. We have previously shown that the activation of p42/p44 MAPK required for transduction of mitogenic signaling is associated with a rapid nuclear translocation of these kinases. However, the means by which p42 and p44 MAPK translocate into the nucleus after cytoplasmic activation is still not understood and cannot simply be deduced from their protein sequences. In this study, we have demonstrated that activation of the p42/ p44 MAPK pathway was necessary and sufficient for triggering nuclear translocation of p42 and p44 MAPK. First, addition of the MEK inhibitor PD 98059, which blocks activation of the p42/p44 MAPK pathway, impedes the nuclear accumulation, whereas direct activation of the p42/p44 MAPK pathway by the chimera DeltaRaf-1:ER is sufficient to promote nuclear accumulation of p42/p44 MAPK. In addition, we have shown that this nuclear accumulation of p42/p44 MAPK required the neosynthesis of short-lived proteins. Indeed, inhibitors of protein synthesis abrogate nuclear accumulation in response to serum and accelerate p42/p44 MAPK nuclear efflux under conditions of persistent p42/p44 MAPK activation. In contrast, inhibition of targeted proteolysis by the proteasome synergistically potentiated p42/p44 MAPK nuclear localization by nonmitogenic agonists and markedly prolonged nuclear localization of p42/p44 MAPK after mitogenic stimulation. We therefore conclude that the MAPK nuclear translocation requires both activation of the p42/p44 MAPK module and neosynthesis of short-lived proteins that we postulate to be nuclear anchors.

Redox signaling and the emerging therapeutic potential of thiol antioxidants

Oxidation-reduction (redox) based regulation of signal transduction and gene expression is emerging as a fundamental regulatory mechanism in cell biology. Electron flow through side chain functional CH2-SH groups of conserved cysteinyl residues in proteins account for their redox-sensing properties. Because in most intracellular proteins thiol groups are strongly "buffered" against oxidation by the highly reduced environment inside the cell, only accessible protein thiol groups with high thiol-disulfide oxidation potentials are likely to be redox sensitive. The list of redox-sensitive signal transduction pathways is steadily growing, and current information suggests that manipulation of the cell redox state may prove to be an important strategy for the management of AIDS and some forms of cancer. The endogenous thioredoxin and glutathione systems are of central importance in redox signaling. Among the thiol agents tested for their efficacy to modulate cellular redox status, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and alpha-lipoic acid hold promise for clinical use. A unique advantage of lipoate is that it is able to utilize cellular reducing equivalents, and thus it harnesses the metabolic power of the cell to continuously regenerate its reductive vicinal dithiol form. Because lipoate can be readily recycled in the cell, it has an advantage over N-acetyl-L-cysteine on a concentration:effect basis. Our current knowledge of redox regulated signal transduction has led to the unfolding of the remarkable therapeutic potential of cellular thiol modulating agents.