Immunohistochemical localization of protein phosphatase isoforms in the rat cerebellum

Interaction of protein phosphatase 1δ with nucleophosmin in human osteoblastic cells

Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation has been recognized as an essential mechanism in the regulation of cellular metabolism and function in various tissues. Serine and threonine protein phosphatases (PP) are divided into four categories: PP1, PP2A, PP2B, and PP2C. At least four isoforms of PP1 catalytic subunit in rat, PP1α, PP1γ1, PP1γ2, and PP1δ, were isolated. In the present study, we examined the localization and expression of PP1δ in human osteoblastic Saos-2 cells. Anti-PP1δ antibody recognized a protein present in the nucleolar regions in Saos-2 cells. Cellular fractionation revealed that PP1δ is a 37 kDa protein localized in the nucleolus. Nucleophosmin is a nucleolar phosphoprotein and located mainly in the nucleolus. Staining pattern of nucleophosmin in Saos-2 cells was similar to that of PP1δ. PP1δ and nucleophosmin were specifically stained as dots in the nucleus. Dual fluorescence images revealed that PP1δ and nucleophosmin were localized in the same regions in the nucleolus. Similar distribution patterns of PP1δ and nucleophosmin were observed in osteoblastic MG63 cells. The interaction of PP1δ and nucleophosmin was also shown by immunoprecipitation and Western analysis. These results indicated that PP1δ associate with nucleophosmin directly in the nucleolus and suggested that nucleophosmin is one of the candidate substrate for PP1δ.

14-3-3 Binding to ataxin-1(ATXN1) regulates its dephosphorylation at Ser-776 and transport to the nucleus

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a lethal neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of a polyglutamine tract in ATXN1. A prominent site of pathology in SCA1 is cerebellar Purkinje neurons where mutant ATXN1 must enter the nucleus to cause disease. In SCA1, phosphorylation of ATXN1 at Ser-776 modulates disease. Interestingly, Ser-776 is located within a region of ATXN1 that harbors several functional motifs including binding sites for 14-3-3, and splicing factors RBM17 and U2AF65. The interaction of ATXN1 with these proteins is thought to be regulated by the phosphorylation status of Ser-776. In addition, Ser-776 is adjacent to the NLS in ATXN1. Although pS776-ATXN1 is enriched in nuclear extracts of cerebellar cells, the vast majority of 14-3-3 is in the cytoplasmic fraction. We found that dephosphorylation of cytoplasmic pS776-ATXN1 is blocked by virtue of it being in a complex with 14-3-3. In addition, data suggest that binding of 14-3-3 to cytoplasmic ATXN1 impeded its transport to the nucleus, suggesting that 14-3-3 must disassociate from ATXN1 for transport of ATXN1 to the nucleus. Consistent with this hypothesis is the observation that once in the nucleus pS776 is able to be dephosphorylated. Evidence is presented that PP2A is the pS776-ATXN1 phosphatase in the mammalian cerebellum. In the nucleus, we propose that dephosphorylation of pS776-ATXN1 by PP2A regulates the interaction of ATXN1 with the splicing factors RBM17 and U2AF65.

Age-related changes in cerebellar phosphatase-1 reduce Na,K-ATPase activity

We evaluated whether changes in protein content and activity of PP-1 and PP-2A were the mechanism underneath the basal age-related reduction in alpha(2/3)-Na,K-ATPase activity in rats cerebella and whether this occurred through the cyclic GMP-PKG pathway. PP1 activity, but not its expression, increased with age, whereas PP-2 was not changed. The activity of alpha(2/3)-Na,K-ATPase varied with age, and there was a negative association between the PP-1 and alpha(2/3)-Na,K-ATPase activities. In young rats, the inhibition of PP-1 and PP-2A by okadaic acid (OA) increased in a dose-dependent manner alpha(1)- and alpha(2/3)-Na,K-ATPase, but had no effect on Mg-ATPase activity. A direct stimulation of PKG with 8-Br-cyclic GMP did not surmount the effect of OA. This analogue of cyclic GMP inhibited PP-1 activity only, indicating that at least part of the increase in alpha(1)- and alpha(2/3)-Na,K-ATPase activity induced by OA was mediated by the cyclic GMP-PKG-PP-1 cascade. Taking into account that PP1 inhibition increased alpha(2/3)-Na,K-ATPase activity, we propose that an age-related increase in PP-1 activity due to a decrease in cyclic GMP-PKG modulation plays a role for the age-related reduction of alpha(2/3)-Na,K-ATPase activity in rat cerebellum.

Okadaic acid-sensitive protein phosphatases constrain phrenic long-term facilitation after sustained hypoxia

Phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF) is a serotonin-dependent form of pattern-sensitive respiratory plasticity induced by intermittent hypoxia (IH), but not sustained hypoxia (SH). The mechanism(s) underlying pLTF pattern sensitivity are unknown. SH and IH may differentially regulate serine/threonine protein phosphatase activity, thereby inhibiting relevant protein phosphatases uniquely during IH and conferring pattern sensitivity to pLTF. We hypothesized that spinal protein phosphatase inhibition would relieve this braking action of protein phosphatases, thereby revealing pLTF after SH. Anesthetized rats received intrathecal (C4) okadaic acid (25 nm) before SH (25 min, 11% O(2)). Unlike (vehicle) control rats, SH induced a significant pLTF in okadaic acid-treated rats that was indistinguishable from rats exposed to IH (three 5 min episodes, 11% O(2)). IH and SH with okadaic acid may elicit pLTF by similar, serotonin-dependent mechanisms, because intravenous methysergide blocks pLTF in rats receiving IH or okadaic acid plus SH. Okadaic acid did not alter IH-induced pLTF. In summary, pattern sensitivity in pLTF may reflect differential regulation of okadaic acid-sensitive serine/threonine phosphatases; presumably, these phosphatases are less active during/after IH versus SH. The specific okadaic acid-sensitive phosphatase(s) constraining pLTF and their spatiotemporal dynamics during and/or after IH and SH remain to be determined.

Differential expression of protein phosphatase type 1 isotypes and nucleolin during cell cycle arrest

In the present study, we examined the expression and cytolocalization of protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) isoforms and nucleolin in human osteoblastic cell line MG63 cells at two boundaries in the cell cycle. We treated MG63 cells with hydroxyurea and nocodazole to arrest the cells at the G(1)/S and G(2)/M boundaries, respectively. As judged from the results of Western blot analysis, PP1 isoforms were expressed differently at each boundary of the cell cycle. Nucleolin was also shown to have a different expression pattern at each boundary. In the hydroxyurea-treated cells, nucleolus-like bodies were bigger in size and decreased in number compared with those in asynchronized cells. However, the subcellular localization of PP1s and nucleolin was not changed. Anti-nucleolin antibody interacted with 110-kDa and 95-kDa proteins present in asynchronized cells and in the cells treated with hydroxyurea. Treatment of the cells with nocodazole decreased the level of the 95-kDa form of nucleolin. In the nocodazole-treated cells, it was impossible to distinguish the distribution of each protein. The phosphorylation status of nucleolin in the cell cycle arrested samples was examined by 2D-IEF-PAGE followed by Western blot analysis. In the case of asynchronized cells or hydroxyurea-treated ones, nucleolin was located at a basic isoelectric point (dephosphorylated status); whereas in the G(2)/M arrest cells, the isoelectric point of nucleolin shifted to an acidic status, indicating that nucleolin was phosphorylated. The present results indicate that PP1 and nucleolin were differently expressed at G(1)/S and G(2)/M boundaries of the cell cycle and acted in a different fashion during cell-cycle progression.

Regulation of K-Cl cotransport by protein phosphatase 1alpha in mouse erythrocytes

The K-Cl cotransport (KCC) is an electroneutral-gradient-driven-membrane transport system, which is involved in regulation of red cell volume. Although the regulatory cascade of KCC is largely unknown, a signaling pathway involving phosphatases and kinases has been proposed. Here, we investigated the expression and the activity of protein phosphatase 1(PP-1) isoforms in mouse red cells, focusing on two models of abnormally activated KCC: mice genetically lacking the two Src-family tyrosine kinases, Hck and Fgr, (hck-/-fgr-/-) and the SAD transgenic sickle-cell-mice. The PP-1alpha, PP-1gamma, PP-1delta isoforms were expressed at similar levels in wild-type, hck-/-fgr-/- and SAD mouse erythrocytes and in each case were predominantly localized to cytoplasm. The PP-1alpha activity was significantly higher in both membrane and cytosol fractions of hck-/-fgr-/- and of SAD erythrocytes than in those of wild-type red cells, suggesting PP-1alpha as a target of the Hck and Fgr kinases. The PP2, a specific inhibitor of Src-family kinase, significantly increased KCC activity in wild-type mouse red cells, but failed to modify the already increased KCC activity in SAD erythrocytes. The lag-time for activation of KCC was considerably reduced in both hck-/-fgr-/- and SAD erythrocytes, suggesting that the rate limiting activation steps in both strains are freed from their tonic inhibition. Sulfhydryl reduction by dithiothreitol (DTT) lowered KCC activity only in SAD red cells, but did not affect the PP2-treated erythrocytes. These data suggest up-regulation of KCC in SAD red cells is mainly secondary to oxidative damage, which most likely reduces or removes the tonic KCC inhibition resulting from PP-1alpha activity controlled in turn by Src-family kinases.

Conditional protein phosphorylation regulates BK channel activity in rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons

Large conductance calcium- and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channels are widely expressed in the mammalian central nervous system. Although the activity of BK channels in endocrine and vascular cells is regulated by protein kinases and phosphatases associated with the channel complex, direct evidence for such modulation in neurons is largely lacking. Single-channel analysis from inside-out patches isolated from the soma of dissociated rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons demonstrated that the activity of BK channels is regulated by multiple endogenous protein kinases and protein phosphatases in the membrane patch. The majority of BK channels were non-inactivating and displayed a 'low' activity phenotype determined at +40 mV and 1 muM intracellular free calcium. These channels were activated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) associated with the patch and the extent of PKA activation was limited by an opposing endogenous type 2A-like protein phosphatase (PP2A). Importantly, PKA activation was dependent upon the prior phosphorylation status of the BK channel complex dynamically controlled by protein kinase C (PKC) and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). In contrast, Purkinje cells also displayed a low proportion of non-inactivating BK channels with a 'high' activity under the same recording conditions and these channels were inhibited by endogenous PKA. Our data suggest that: (1) multiple endogenous protein kinases and phosphatases functionally couple to the BK channel complex to allow conditional modulation of BK channel activity in neurons, and (2) native, phenotypically distinct, neuronal BK channels are differentially sensitive to PKA-dependent phosphorylation.

Protein phosphatase 2A inhibition induces cerebellar long-term depression and declustering of synaptic AMPA receptor

Phosphorylation of synaptic (RS)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) (AMPA) receptors (AMPARs) is an essential component of cerebellar long-term depression (LTD), a form of synaptic plasticity involved in motor learning. Here, we report that protein phosphatase 2A (PP-2A) plays a specific role in controlling synaptic strength and clustering of AMPARs at synapses between granule cells and Purkinje cells. In 22- to 35-day cerebellar cultures, specific inhibition of postsynaptic PP-2A by fostriecin (100 nM) or cytostatin (10-60 microM) induced a gradual and use-dependent decrease of synaptic current evoked by the stimulation of a single granule cell, without altering receptor kinetics nor passive electrical properties. By contrast, PP-2A inhibition had no effect on immature Purkinje cells (12-15 days). Concurrent PP-2A inhibition and AMPAR stimulation induced a reduction of miniature synaptic currents and a reduction of AMPAR density at synapses. Either PP-2A inhibitor alone or AMPA stimulation alone had no significant effect. Inhibition of PP-1 by inhibitor 1 (10-27 units/microl) had no effect on synaptic current. Synaptic depression induced by PP-2A inhibition occluded subsequent induction of LTD by conjunctive stimulation and was abolished by a calcium chelator or a protein kinase inhibitor, suggesting a shared molecular pathway and involvement of PP-2A in LTD induction.

Cerebellar long-term synaptic depression requires PKC-mediated activation of CPI-17, a myosin/moesin phosphatase inhibitor

Cerebellar LTD requires brief activation of PKC and is expressed as a functional downregulation of AMPA receptors. Modulation of vascular smooth-muscle contraction by G protein-coupled receptors (called Ca(2+) sensitization) also involves PKC phosphorylation and activation of a specific inhibitor of myosin/moesin phosphatase (MMP). This inhibitor, called CPI-17, is also expressed in brain. Here, we tested the hypothesis that LTD, like Ca(2+) sensitization, employs a PKC/CPI-17 cascade. Introduction of activated recombinant CPI-17 into cells produced a use-dependent attenuation of glutamate-evoked responses and occluded subsequent LTD. Moreover, the requirement for endogenous CPI-17 in LTD was demonstrated with neutralizing antibodies plus gene silencing by siRNA. These interventions had no effect on basal synaptic strength but blocked LTD induction. Thus, a biochemical circuit that involves PKC-mediated activation of CPI-17 modulates the distinct physiological processes of vascular contractility and cerebellar LTD.

Interaction of protein phosphatase 1 delta with nucleolin in human osteoblastic cells

We examined the expression and cytolocalization of the protein phosphatase type 1 delta (PP1delta) isoform and nucleolin in human osteoblastic MG63 and Saos-2 cells. Cellular fractionation of MG63 cells was done and protein was prepared from each fraction. Anti-nucleolin antibody interacted with the 100- and 95-kD proteins present in the whole-cell lysate. The 100-kD protein was detected in nuclear and nucleolar fractions. The 95-kD protein was detected in cytosolic and nucleoplasmic fractions. PP1delta and nucleolin were co-localized in the nucleolus in MG63 and Saos-2 cells revealed by an immunofluorescence method. PP1delta and nucleolin were also co-immunoprecipitated with anti-nucleolin and anti-PP1delta antibodies. In the actinomycin D-treated cells, the subcellular localization of PP1delta and nucleolin was changed. Expression of PP1delta was upregulated with actinomycin D treatment. The level of 100-kD protein did not change in the actinomycin D-treated cells. However, the level of the 95-kD band increased with actinomycin D treatment. These results indicate that PP1delta was associated with nucleolin in the nucleolus of MG63 and Saos-2 cells and that nucleolin is a possible candidate substrate for PP1delta.

Transient forebrain ischemia induces expression of serine/threonine protein phosphatase 1 mRNA in the vulnerable regions of gerbil brain

Apoptosis is thought to be implicated in delayed neuronal cell death following transient forebrain ischemia. Recently, apoptosis in neurons induced by an inhibitor of serine/threonine (ser/thr) protein phosphatases (PPs) has been reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of transient forebrain ischemia on the expression of ser/thr PPs in the brain of Mongolian gerbils. At 24 h after 5-min bilateral carotid artery occlusion, Northern blotting analysis revealed the increase of PP1 mRNA expression in the vulnerable CA1 region of the hippocampus and striatum, but not in the cortex and CA3 region. In contrast, the protein level of PP1 detected by Western blotting analysis decreased in all regions. We conclude that the inhibition in PPs expression in the vulnerable regions may affect cell death after transient forebrain ischemia.

Cell-cycle-dependent association of protein phosphatase 1 and focal adhesion kinase

Immunofluorescence studies with protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) isoforms-specific antibodies detected PP1delta, but not alpha or gamma1, at focal adhesions. PP1delta also co-immunoprecipitated with the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and the alphav-integrin. In the present study glutathione S-transferase (GST)-PP1delta pulled-down FAK from fibroblasts extract and the interaction domain localized between residues 159 and 295 of delta. The association was confirmed by the ability to GST-FAK-related non-kinase (FRNK) to pull-down PP1delta from fibroblasts extract. GST-FRNK also pulled-down purified muscle PP1 catalytic subunit, thus indicating direct interaction between FAK and PP1. FAK displays consensus sequences for phosphorylation by cell division cycle kinase-2-cyclin B, and might be a PP1 substrate. In fact, FAK immunoprecipitated from metabolically-labelled mitotic HeLa cells without tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors was phosphorylated on Ser only and was dephosphorylated in vitro by purified muscle PP1, with loss of phospho-Ser. No PP1 was associated with FAK immunoprecipitated from mitotic HeLa cells. However, progressively more PP1 activity was assayed in FAK-immunoprecipitates obtained from cells released from mitosis. The associated activity was maximal at 2 h from the mitotic release (when 85-90% of the cells remained round) and decreased to basal level by 8 h (when cells were all polygonal). At the same time FAK underwent dephosphorylation, which was completed by 4 h. FAK obtained from cells at 1.5 h was Ser-phosphorylated, and underwent dephosphorylation during in vitro incubation, with loss of phospho-Ser, indicating the presence of active FAK-bound phosphatase. The only FAK-associated PP1 isoform between 1 and 8 h was PP1delta. The results suggest that FAK dephosphorylation by PP1delta occurs in cells released from mitosis, and confirmed the specific association of PP1delta, as detected previously in adherent cells.

Cerebellar long-term depression: characterization, signal transduction, and functional roles

Cerebellar Purkinje cells exhibit a unique type of synaptic plasticity, namely, long-term depression (LTD). When two inputs to a Purkinje cell, one from a climbing fiber and the other from a set of granule cell axons, are repeatedly associated, the input efficacy of the granule cell axons in exciting the Purkinje cell is persistently depressed. Section I of this review briefly describes the history of research around LTD, and section II specifies physiological characteristics of LTD. Sections III and IV then review the massive data accumulated during the past two decades, which have revealed complex networks of signal transduction underlying LTD. Section III deals with a variety of first messengers, receptors, ion channels, transporters, G proteins, and phospholipases. Section IV covers second messengers, protein kinases, phosphatases and other elements, eventually leading to inactivation of DL-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolone-propionate-selective glutamate receptors that mediate granule cell-to-Purkinje cell transmission. Section V defines roles of LTD in the light of the microcomplex concept of the cerebellum as functionally eliminating those synaptic connections associated with errors during repeated exercises, while preserving other connections leading to the successful execution of movements. Section VI examines the validity of this microcomplex concept based on the data collected from recent numerous studies of various forms of motor learning in ocular reflexes, eye-blink conditioning, posture, locomotion, and hand/arm movements. Section VII emphasizes the importance of integrating studies on LTD and learning and raises future possibilities of extending cerebellar research to reveal memory mechanisms of implicit learning in general.

Regulation of a site-specific phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein 2 during the development of cultured neurons

The phosphorylation state of cytoskeletal proteins, including certain microtubule-associated proteins, may influence the development and plasticity of axons and dendrites in mammalian neuron in response to appropriate extracellular stimuli. In particular, high molecular weight microtubule-associated protein 2, has been implicated in dendrite growth and synaptic plasticity and is thought to be modulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. We have previously determined that threonines 1620/1623 on the microtubule-associated protein 2 molecule become phosphorylated in vivo and are targets for proline-directed protein kinases in vitro. Using the phosphorylated site-specific antibody 305, we now report the decreased phosphorylation state of high molecular weight microtubule-associated protein 2 during the development of cultured cerebellar granule neurons. Phosphorylation of high molecular weight microtubule-associated protein 2 at this site is significantly inhibited by lithium in short-term cultured neurons, which suggests the implication of glycogen synthase kinase-3. In long-term cultured neurons, it is also partially inhibited by PD098059, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase activation, which indicates an additional contribution of this kinase to high molecular weight microtubule-associated protein 2 phosphorylation at this stage. Both in short-term and long-term cultured neurons, okadaic acid augments high molecular weight microtubule-associated protein 2 phosphorylation at this site through the inhibition of protein phosphatases 1 and/or 2A. Finally, glutamate receptor activation leads to a dephosphorylation of high molecular weight microtubule-associated protein 2 at this site which can also be effectively prevented by okadaic acid. These results are consistent with the participation of glycogen synthase kinase-3, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases and protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, in the regulation of microtubule-associated protein 2 phosphorylation within living neurons, which may be modulated by extracellular signals like the neurotransmitter glutamate.

Subcellular localization of protein phosphatase type 1 isotypes in mouse osteoblastic cells

The cytolocalization of protein phosphatase type 1 catalytic subunits in exponentially growing mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was determined. Formaldehyde-fixed and alcohol-permeabilized cultured cells were reacted with the PP1 alpha, PP1 delta, PP1 gamma 1, and PP1 gamma 2 antibodies using immunohistochemical methods. With PP1 alpha antibody intense staining occurred in the nuclei, while with PP1 delta antibody nucleolus-like bodies were intensely stained. PP1 gamma 1 localized in the perinuclear region and in the nucleus of the cultured cells, with the staining reaction of the former being much stronger than that in the latter. An immunoreaction did not occur in the cells interacted with PP1 gamma 2 antibody or with the normal rabbit serum. Proteins were prepared from the exponentially growing cells and subconfluent cells. Cellular fractionation was also done with the exponentially growing cells and proteins were prepared from each fraction. Each protein preparation was subjected to SDS-PAGE followed by Western blot analysis with the antibodies. PP1 alpha recognized the 38 kDa proteins mainly present in the nucleus, whereas PP1 delta interacted with the proteins in the nucleolar fraction whose molecular weight was estimated as 37 kDa. PP1 gamma 1 antibody recognized a band corresponding to an estimated molecular weight of 36 kDa mainly in the cytosolic fraction. PP1 gamma 2 antibody and the normal rabbit serum did not interact with any proteins prepared from the cultured cells. Our observations show that four different isozymes of protein phosphatases occupy distinct compartments in MC3T3-E1 cells. This differential distribution suggests that these isozymes may play different roles in cellular functions.

Protein phosphatase 1 delta is associated with focal adhesions

In all mammalian cells protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) exists in three isoforms, defined as alpha, gamma 1 and delta. Immunofluorescence studies with isoform-specific antibodies indicated that delta, but not alpha or gamma 1, is enriched at focal adhesions in HeLa cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and keratinocytes. This was confirmed also by interference reflection microscopy, which indicated that PP1 delta was in areas of tight adhesion of the membrane to the extracellular matrix at sites where the microfilament cytoskeleton is organized. In all the cell types so far considered the PP1 delta in focal adhesions represented only a small aliquot of the total PP1 delta, which was predominantly localized to the nucleus. The association of PP1 delta to focal adhesions was confirmed by the co-immunoprecipitation of PP1 delta with the focal adhesion kinase pp125FAK and with the alpha v integrin. Comparison between the amount of PP1 delta associated with focal adhesion proteins and that of PP1 delta recovered in an anti-PP1 delta immunoprecipitate confirmed that only a minor amount of the enzyme was associated with the focal adhesions. Since some focal adhesion proteins are phosphorylated on Ser/Thr, it is likely that PP1 delta may be involved in the regulation of focal adhesion functions and particularly in the signaling pathway generated by cell-substratum adhesion.

NMDA-glutamate receptors regulate phosphorylation of dendritic cytoskeletal proteins in the hippocampus

Most forms of synaptic potentiation need the activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors which generate changes in dendritic morphology of postsynaptic neurons. Since microtubule proteins have an essential role in dendritic morphology, they may be involved and regulated during the modifications of dendritic morphology associated with synaptic potentiation. The phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) has been analyzed in situ after activation or blockade of NMDA-glutamate receptors in hippocampal slices. The phosphorylation of MAP1B and MAP2 has been studied by using several antibodies raised against phosphorylation-sensitive epitopes. Whereas antibodies 125 and 305 recognize phosphorylated epitopes on MAP1B and MAP2, respectively, Ab 842 recognizes a phosphorylatable sequence on MAP1B only when it is dephosphorylated. NMDA treatment decreased the phosphorylation state of the epitope recognized by the antibody 305 on MAP2 and caused a slight dephosphorylation of MAP1B sequences recognized by Ab 125 and 842. Moreover, exposure to APV (an antagonist of NMDA-glutamate receptors) counteracted the effect of NMDA and induced an increase in the phosphorylation state of these sequences in MAP2. Since phosphorylation regulates the interaction of MAPs with cytoskeleton, the results suggest that the modulation of the phosphorylated state of MAP2 by NMDA-glutamate receptors may be implicated in dendritic plasticity.

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.

Persistent phosphorylation parallels long-term desensitization of cerebellar purkinje cell AMPA-type glutamate receptors

This study is aimed at testing the hypothesis that sustained phosphorylation underlies long-term desensitization of AMPA receptors, which is thought to be the mechanism of long-term synaptic depression in cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs). We induced long-term desensitization of AMPA receptors in rat cerebellar slices by (1) a 4-min bath application of quisqualate (0.1 mM) or (2) a 15-min bath application of a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol-12,13-diacetate (0.5 microM) or -dibutyrate (0.6 microM), followed by a 4-min AMPA (0.1 mM) application. In slices so treated, labeling with an antibody (12P3) against a peptide corresponding to part of AMPA receptor subunit GluR2 including serine 696 and phosphorylated at this serine site revealed phosphorylation of the AMPA receptors in PC dendrites that was sustained for at least 1 hr. At an early phase, within 20 min after the chemical stimulation, the phosphorylation was resistant to an Ca2+ chelator (BAPTA-AM), a metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist (MCPG), and a PKC inhibitor (calphostin C), whereas at a late phase, 30 min or more after the chemical stimulation, it was blocked by these reagents similarly to long-term desensitization of AMPA receptors. Taken together with data obtained previously using different protocols of chemical stimulation, the present results strongly support the above-mentioned hypothesis.

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the proline-rich C-terminal domain of microtubule-associated protein 2

The C-terminal domain of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) contains a proline-rich region and the tubulin-binding domain. We have generated antibodies to follow the phosphorylation state of the proline-rich domain. One of these antibodies (no. 305) has been raised against a synthetic peptide P (sequence RTPGTPGTPSY) phosphorylated at the threonine residues. This sequence is present in the proline-rich region of MAP2 and is phosphorylated in vitro by at least three different proline-directed protein kinases: p42mpk, p34cdc2, and GSK3 (glycogen-synthase kinase 3) alpha/beta. The MAP2 sites phosphorylated by these kinases are different, although all of them phosphorylate the C-terminal domain of MAP2 as determined by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease mapping. Nonphosphorylated peptide P can be phosphorylated in vitro by all three kinases studied with similar efficiency. In high-molecular-mass MAP2, this sequence is highly phosphorylated in vivo at the late stages of rat development. This motif can be rapidly dephosphorylated in vitro by protein-phosphatase 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A) catalytic subunits but not by PP2B.

Immunohistochemical and immunoblotting identification of protein phosphatase 1 gamma 1 in rat salivary glands

We have analyzed the distribution of the gamma 1 isotype of rat protein phosphatase type 1 catalytic subunit in rat salivary glands. Formaldehyde-fixed paraffin sections were reacted with the PP1 gamma 1 antibody using an immunohistochemical method. Positive staining occurred in striated ducts of parotid gland. However, the staining reaction was less intense in submandibular gland. Proteins were also prepared from rat salivary glands and subjected to SDS-PAGE, followed by Western blotting analysis with the PP1 gamma 1 antibody. The antibody interacted with protein corresponding to an estimated molecular mass of 36 kDa present in the parotid gland. The staining reaction was considerably weaker with the proteins from submandibular gland.

Antibody specific for phosphorylated AMPA-type glutamate receptors at GluR2 Ser-696

Possible phosphorylation sites on the Purkinje cell alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA)-type glutamate receptor subunits were identified using in vitro kinase assays of 17 synthetic peptides derived from the transmembrane-3 (TM3) domain to the end of C-terminal of a rat glutamate receptor 2 (GluR2). Only two peptides containing Ser-662 and Ser-696 were found to be efficiently phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC). The peptide including Ser-696 was also phosphorylated by protein kinase G (PKG). Another peptide containing Thr-692 of a rat GluRA, clone almost identical to GluR1, was phosphorylated by PKC but not by PKG. Antisera recognizing phosphorylated AMPA receptor subunits at GluR2 Ser-696 or the homologous sites of GluR1/3/4 were produced, and the specificity of one of them, named 12P3, was established by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblot and immunoprecipitation analyses. 12P3-immunocytochemistry on cerebellar slices demonstrated an AMPA-induced transient AMPA receptor phosphorylation, which appeared in Purkinje cell dendrites as well as somata immediately after AMPA treatment and disappeared after 20 min. This antibody may be a useful tool to study the role of AMPA receptor phosphorylation in producing synaptic plasticity.

Transient and persistent phosphorylation of AMPA-type glutamate receptor subunits in cerebellar Purkinje cells

We generated a polyclonal antibody, 12P3, specifically recognizing rat AMPA-type glutamate receptor (GluR) subunits phosphorylated at Ser-696 of GluR2 or at the homologous sites in GluR1, GluR3, and GluR4. Using 12P3, we demonstrate that a brief exposure of a rat cerebellar slice to AMPA leads to transient phosphorylation of the GluR subunits in Purkinje cell dendrites. Persistent phosphorylation over 30 min was obtained when exposure to AMPA was preceded by a 15 min perfusion of the slice with 8-bromo-cGMP, dibutyryl-cGMP, or calyculin A but not phorbol 12,13-diacetate. These results indicate that Ser-696 of GluR2, or the corresponding sites in other AMPA receptor subunits, is a specific site at which phosphorylation takes place when AMPA-type GluRs are activated by agonists, especially under the influence of certain second messenger activities.