Human homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 (HIPK2) is a member of the DYRK family of protein kinases and maps to chromosome 7q32-q34

Functions of SRPK, CLK and DYRK kinases in stem cells, development, and human developmental disorders

Human developmental disorders encompass a wide range of debilitating physical conditions and intellectual disabilities. Perturbation of protein kinase signalling underlies the development of some of these disorders. For example, disrupted SRPK signalling is associated with intellectual disabilities, and the gene dosage of DYRKs can dictate the pathology of disorders including Down's syndrome. Here, we review the emerging roles of the CMGC kinase families SRPK, CLK, DYRK, and sub-family HIPK during embryonic development and in developmental disorders. In particular, SRPK, CLK, and DYRK kinase families have key roles in developmental signalling and stem cell regulation, and can co-ordinate neuronal development and function. Genetic studies in model organisms reveal critical phenotypes including embryonic lethality, sterility, musculoskeletal errors, and most notably, altered neurological behaviours arising from defects of the neuroectoderm and altered neuronal signalling. Further unpicking the mechanisms of specific kinases using human stem cell models of neuronal differentiation and function will improve our understanding of human developmental disorders and may provide avenues for therapeutic strategies.

The Sweet Side of HIPK2

HIPK2 is an evolutionary conserved protein kinase which modulates many molecular pathways involved in cellular functions such as apoptosis, DNA damage response, protein stability, and protein transcription. HIPK2 plays a key role in the cancer cell response to cytotoxic drugs as its deregulation impairs drug-induced cancer cell death. HIPK2 has also been involved in regulating fibrosis, angiogenesis, and neurological diseases. Recently, hyperglycemia was found to positively and/or negatively regulate HIPK2 activity, affecting not only cancer cell response to chemotherapy but also the progression of some diabetes complications. The present review will discuss how HIPK2 may be influenced by the high glucose (HG) metabolic condition and the consequences of such regulation in medical conditions.

Knockdown of HIPK2 attenuates angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibrosis in cardiac fibroblasts

ABSTRACT

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 (HIPK2), a member of an evolutionary conserved family of serine/threonine kinases, has been observed to be involved in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. However, its role in cardiac fibrosis remains unclear. In the current study, we assessed the effect of HIPK2 on cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in response to angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulation. The results indicated that HIPK2 expression was significantly increased in Ang II-induced CFs in a dose-dependent manner. Then, HIPK2 was knocked down in CFs to evaluate the roles of HIPK2. Knockdown of HIPK2 suppressed cell proliferation and migration in Ang II-induced CFs. The Ang II-caused increase in expression of α-SMA, a hallmark of myofibroblast differentiation, was decreased by knockdown of HIPK2. HIPK2 knockdown also reduced ECM production including type I collagen (Col I) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Furthermore, knockdown of HIPK2 blocked the activation of TGF-β1/Smad pathway in Ang II-induced CFs. These data suggested that HIPK2 knockdown prevented the Ang II-induced activation of CFs via inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad pathway, indicating HIPK2 might be an anti-fibrosis target for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.

Exosomal miR-1260b derived from non-small cell lung cancer promotes tumor metastasis through the inhibition of HIPK2

Tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) contain enriched miRNAs, and exosomal miRNAs can affect tumor growth, including cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance through cell-to-cell communication. We investigated the role of exosomal miR-1260b derived from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in tumor progression. Exosomal miR-1260b induced angiogenesis by targeting homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 (HIPK2) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, exosomal miR-1260b or suppression of HIPK2 led to enhanced cellular mobility and cisplatin resistance in NSCLC cells. In patients with NSCLC, the level of HIPK2 was significantly lower in tumor tissues than in normal lung tissues, while that of miR-1260b was higher in tumor tissues. HIPK2 and miR-1260b expression showed an inverse correlation, and this correlation was strong in distant metastasis. Finally, the expression level of exosomal miR-1260b in plasma was higher in patients with NSCLC than in healthy individuals, and higher levels of exosomal miR-1260b were associated with high-grade disease, metastasis, and poor survival. In conclusion, exosomal miR-1260b can promote angiogenesis in HUVECs and metastasis of NSCLC by regulating HIPK2 and may serve as a prognostic marker for lung cancers.

A novel isoform of Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 promotes YAP/TEAD transcriptional activity in NSCLC cells

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 (HIPK2) can either promote or inhibit transcription depending on cellular context. In this study, we show that a new HIPK2 isoform increases TEAD reporter activity in NSCLC cells. We detected HIPK2 copy number gain in 5/6 (83.3%) NSCLC cell lines. In NSCLC patients with high HIPK2 mRNA expression in the Human Protein Atlas, the five-year survival rate is significantly lower than in patients with low expression (38% vs 47%; p = 0.047). We also found that 70/78 (89.7%) of NSCLC tissues have moderate to strong expression of the N-terminal HIPK2 protein. We detected and cloned a novel HIPK2 isoform 3 and found that its forced overexpression promotes TEAD reporter activity in NSCLC cells. Expressing HIPK2 isoform 3_K228A kinase-dead plasmid failed to increase TEAD reporter activity in NSCLC cells. Next, we showed that two siRNAs targeting HIPK2 decreased HIPK2 isoform 3 and YAP protein levels in NSCLC cells. Degradation of the YAP protein was accelerated after HIPK2 knockdown in NSCLC cells. Inhibition of HIPK2 isoform 3 decreased the mRNA expression of YAP downstream gene CTGF. The specific HIPK2 kinase inhibitor TBID decreased TEAD reporter activity, reduced cancer side populations, and inhibited tumorsphere formation of NSCLC cells. In summary, this study indicates that HIPK2 isoform 3, the main HIPK2 isoform expressed in NSCLC, promotes YAP/TEAD transcriptional activity in NSCLC cells. Our results suggest that HIPK2 isoform 3 may be a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

HIPK2 suppresses tumor growth and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through promoting the degradation of HIF-1α

Aberrant angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leads to tumor growth and local or distant metastasis. Uncovering the underlying mechanisms for the neoangiogenesis of HCC can provide novel potential therapeutic targets in the clinic. Here, we reported that serine/threonine homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) was frequently downregulated in HCC tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues, and patients with lower HIPK2 protein expression were associated with worse overall survival. Both in vitro and in vivo, HIPK2 inhibited the migration of HCC cells, as well as tumor growth and metastasis in xenograft and orthotopic syngeneic HCC mouse models. Furthermore, HIPK2 inhibited the angiogenesis in HCC tumors. Under the hypoxic condition, HIPK2 knockdown enhanced the angiogenesis and the key regulator, HIF-1α signaling pathway; however, HIPK2 overexpression downregulated the tumoral angiogenesis and HIF-1α signaling. In HCC cells, HIPK2 could directly bind to HIF-1α and stimulate the ubiquitination of HIF-1α for proteasomal degradation. HIF-1α knockout partially rescued the promoting effect of HIPK2 depletion on angiogenesis and tumor growth. In conclusion, the downregulation of HIPK2 could enhance the angiogenesis in HCC through inducing the HIF-1α pathway, and further contribute to tumor growth and metastasis, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC.

IRF6 and TAK1 coordinately promote the activation of HIPK2 to stimulate apoptosis during palate fusion

Cleft palate is a common craniofacial defect caused by a failure in palate fusion. The palatal shelves migrate toward one another and meet at the embryonic midline, creating a seam. Transforming growth factor–β3 (TGF-β3)–induced apoptosis of the medial edge epithelium (MEE), the cells located along the seam, is required for completion of palate fusion. The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6) promotes TGF-β3–induced MEE cell apoptosis by stimulating the degradation of the transcription factor ΔNp63 and promoting the expression of the gene encoding the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. Because homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) functions downstream of IRF6 in human cancer cells and is required for ΔNp63 protein degradation in keratinocytes, we investigated whether HIPK2 played a role in IRF6-induced ΔNp63 degradation in palate fusion. HIPK2 was present in the MEE cells of mouse palatal shelves during seam formation in vivo, and ectopic expression of IRF6 in palatal shelves cultured ex vivo stimulated the expression of Hipk2 and the accumulation of phosphorylated HIPK2. Knockdown and ectopic expression experiments in organ culture demonstrated that p21 was required for HIPK2- and IRF6-dependent activation of caspase 3, MEE apoptosis, and palate fusion. Contact between palatal shelves enhanced the phosphorylation of TGF-β–activated kinase 1 (TAK1), which promoted the phosphorylation of HIPK2 and palate fusion. Our findings demonstrate that HIPK2 promotes seam cell apoptosis and palate fusion downstream of IRF6 and that IRF6 and TAK1 appear to coordinately enhance the abundance and activation of HIPK2 during palate fusion.

Homeodomain-Interacting Protein Kinases: Diverse and Complex Roles in Development and Disease

The Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase (Hipk) family of proteins plays diverse, and at times conflicting, biological roles in normal development and disease. In this review we will highlight developmental and cellular roles for Hipk proteins, with an emphasis on the pleiotropic and essential physiological roles revealed through genetic studies. We discuss the myriad ways of regulating Hipk protein function, and how these may contribute to the diverse cellular roles. Furthermore we will describe the context-specific activities of Hipk family members in diseases such as cancer and fibrosis, including seemingly contradictory tumor-suppressive and oncogenic activities. Given the diverse signaling pathways regulated by Hipk proteins, it is likely that Hipks act to fine-tune signaling and may mediate cross talk in certain contexts. Such regulation is emerging as vital for development and in disease.

Arsenic-Induced Activation of the Homeodomain-Interacting Protein Kinase 2 (HIPK2) to cAMP-Response Element Binding Protein (CREB) Axis

Cyclic AMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) plays key transcriptional roles in cell metabolism, proliferation, and survival. Ser133 phosphorylation by protein kinase A (PKA) is a well-characterized CREB activation mechanism. Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase (HIPK) 2, a nuclear serine/threonine kinase, activates CREB through Ser271 phosphorylation; however, the regulatory mechanism remains uncharacterized. Transfection of CREB in HEK293 cells together with the kinase demonstrated that HIPK2 phosphorylated CREB at Ser271 but not Ser133; likewise, PKA phosphorylated CREB at Ser133 but not Ser271, suggesting two distinct CREB regulatory mechanisms by HIPK2 and PKA. In vitro kinase assay revealed that HIPK2, and HIPK1 and HIPK3, directly phosphorylated CREB. Cells exposed to 10μM sodium arsenite increased the stability of HIPK1 and HIPK2 proteins, leading to CREB activation via Ser271 phosphorylation. Phospho-Ser271 CREB showed facilitated interaction with the TFIID subunit coactivator TAF4 assessed by immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, a focused gene array between cells transfected with CREB alone and CREB plus HIPK2 over empty vector-transfected control displayed 14- and 32-fold upregulation of cyclin A1, respectively, while no upregulation was displayed by HIPK2 alone. These results suggest that the HIPK2-phospho-Ser271 CREB axis is a new arsenic-responsive CREB activation mechanism in parallel with the PKA-phospho-Ser133 CREB axis.

Homeodomain-Interacting Protein Kinase (HPK-1) regulates stress responses and ageing in C. elegans

Proteins of the Homeodomain-Interacting Protein Kinase (HIPK) family regulate an array of processes in mammalian systems, such as the DNA damage response, cellular proliferation and apoptosis. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has a single HIPK homologue called HPK-1. Previous studies have implicated HPK-1 in longevity control and suggested that this protein may be regulated in a stress-dependent manner. Here we set out to expand these observations by investigating the role of HPK-1 in longevity and in the response to heat and oxidative stress. We find that levels of HPK-1 are regulated by heat stress, and that HPK-1 contributes to survival following heat or oxidative stress. Additionally, we show that HPK-1 is required for normal longevity, with loss of HPK-1 function leading to a faster decline of physiological processes that reflect premature ageing. Through microarray analysis, we have found that HPK-1-regulated genes include those encoding proteins that serve important functions in stress responses such as Phase I and Phase II detoxification enzymes. Consistent with a role in longevity assurance, HPK-1 also regulates the expression of age-regulated genes. Lastly, we show that HPK-1 functions in the same pathway as DAF-16 to regulate longevity and reveal a new role for HPK-1 in development.

Complex regulation of CREB-binding protein by homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2

CREB-binding protein (CBP) and p300 are transcriptional coactivators involved in numerous biological processes that affect cell growth, transformation, differentiation, and development. In this study, we provide evidence of the involvement of homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) in the regulation of CBP activity. We show that HIPK2 interacts with and phosphorylates several regions of CBP. We demonstrate that serines 2361, 2363, 2371, 2376, and 2381 are responsible for the HIPK2-induced mobility shift of CBP C-terminal activation domain. Moreover, we show that HIPK2 strongly potentiates the transcriptional activity of CBP. However, our data suggest that HIPK2 activates CBP mainly by counteracting the repressive action of cell cycle regulatory domain 1 (CRD1), located between amino acids 977 and 1076, independently of CBP phosphorylation. Our findings thus highlight a complex regulation of CBP activity by HIPK2, which might be relevant for the control of specific sets of target genes involved in cellular proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis.

The SxxSS motif of T-cell factor-4 isoforms modulates Wnt/β-catenin signal activation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

T-cell factor (TCF) proteins represent key transcription factors in Wnt signaling. We show that the SxxSS motif in TCF-4 regulates transcriptional activity in HCC cells. TCF-4K mutants increased transcriptional activity compared to TCF-4K (bearing the SxxSS); the binding pattern of co-factors in TCF-4K mutants was similar to that in TCF-4J (lacking the SxxSS). TCF activity in TCF-4K cells was suppressed by homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2), but not in TCF-4J cells. Together, our data indicates that the SxxSS motif in TCF-4K regulates transcriptional activity by modifying co-factors in the β-catenin/TCF-4 transcriptional complex and these events may be mediated through HIPK2.

HIPK2 catalytic activity and subcellular localization are regulated by activation-loop Y354 autophosphorylation

HIPK2 (homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2) binds to and phosphorylates, at Ser and Thr residues, a large number of targets involved in cell division and cell fate decision in response to different physiological or stress stimuli. Inactivation of HIPK2 has been observed in human and mouse cancers supporting its role as a tumor suppressor. Despite the biological relevance of this kinase, very little is known on how HIPK2 becomes catalytically active. Based on sequence homologies, HIPK2 has been taxonomically classified as a subfamily member of the dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinases (DYRKs) and the activation-loop Y354 of HIPK2 has been found phosphorylated in different cells; however, the relevance of this Y phosphorylation is presently unknown. Here, we show that HIPK2, which is extensively phosphorylated at S/T sites throughout its functional domains, becomes catalytically active by autophosphorylation at the activation-loop Y354. In particular, we found that, in analogy to DYRKs, HIPK2-Y354 phosphorylation is an autocatalytic event and its prevention, through Y354 substitution with non-phosphorylatable amino acids or by using the kinase inhibitor purvalanol A, induces a strong reduction of the HIPK2 S/T-kinase activity on different substrates. Interestingly, at variance from DYRKs, inhibition of HIPK2-Y354 phosphorylation induces a strong out-of-target Y-kinase activity in cis and a strong cytoplasmic relocalization of the kinase. Together, these results demonstrate that the catalytic activity, substrate specificity, and subcellular localization of HIPK2 are regulated by autophosphorylation of its activation-loop Y354.

The WD40-repeat protein Han11 functions as a scaffold protein to control HIPK2 and MEKK1 kinase functions

Protein kinases are organized in hierarchical networks that are assembled and regulated by scaffold proteins. Here, we identify the evolutionary conserved WD40-repeat protein Han11 as an interactor of the kinase homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2). In vitro experiments showed the direct binding of Han11 to HIPK2, but also to the kinases DYRK1a, DYRK1b and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1). Han11 was required to allow coupling of MEKK1 to DYRK1 and HIPK2. Knockdown experiments in Caenorhabditis elegans showed the relevance of the Han11 orthologs Swan-1 and Swan-2 for the osmotic stress response. Downregulation of Han11 in human cells lowered the threshold and amplitude of HIPK2- and MEKK1-triggered signalling events and changed the kinetics of kinase induction. Han11 knockdown changed the amplitude and time dependence of HIPK2-driven transcription in response to DNA damage and also interfered with MEKK1-triggered gene expression and stress signalling. Impaired signal transmission also occurred upon interference with stoichiometrically assembled signalling complexes by Han11 overexpression. Collectively, these experiments identify Han11 as a novel scaffold protein regulating kinase signalling by HIPK2 and MEKK1.

Transcriptional regulation of ferritin and antioxidant genes by HIPK2 under genotoxic stress

ATF1 (activating transcription factor 1), a stimulus-induced CREB family transcription factor, plays important roles in cell survival and proliferation. Phosphorylation of ATF1 at Ser63 by PKA (cAMP-dependent protein kinase) and related kinases was the only known post-translational regulatory mechanism of ATF1. Here, we found that HIPK2 (homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2), a DNA-damage-responsive nuclear kinase, is a new ATF1 kinase that phosphorylates Ser198 but not Ser63. ATF1 phosphorylation by HIPK2 activated ATF1 transcription function in the GAL4-reporter system. ATF1 is a transcriptional repressor of ferritin H, the major intracellular iron storage gene, through an ARE (antioxidant-responsive element). HIPK2 overrode the ATF1-mediated ARE repression in a kinase-activity-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, DNA-damage-inducing agents doxorubicin, etoposide and sodium arsenite induced ferritin H mRNA expression in HIPK2(+/+) MEF cells, whereas it was significantly impaired in HIPK2(-/-) MEF cells. Induction of other ARE-regulated detoxification genes such as NQO1 (NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1), GST (glutathione S-transferase) and HO1 (heme oxygenase 1) by genotoxic stress was also decreased in HIPK2-deficient cells. Taken together, these results suggest that HIPK2 is a new ATF1 kinase involved in the regulation of ferritin H and other antioxidant detoxification genes in genotoxic stress conditions.

Dyrk1A phosphorylates p53 and inhibits proliferation of embryonic neuronal cells

Down syndrome (DS) is associated with many neural defects, including reduced brain size and impaired neuronal proliferation, highly contributing to the mental retardation. Those typical characteristics of DS are closely associated with a specific gene group "Down syndrome critical region" (DSCR) on human chromosome 21. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying impaired neuronal proliferation in DS and, more specifically, a regulatory role for dual-specificity tyrosine-(Y) phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (Dyrk1A), a DSCR gene product, in embryonic neuronal cell proliferation. We found that Dyrk1A phosphorylates p53 at Ser-15 in vitro and in immortalized rat embryonic hippocampal progenitor H19-7 cells. In addition, Dyrk1A-induced p53 phosphorylation at Ser-15 led to a robust induction of p53 target genes (e.g. p21(CIP1)) and impaired G(1)/G(0)-S phase transition, resulting in attenuated proliferation of H19-7 cells and human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursor cells. Moreover, the point mutation of p53-Ser-15 to alanine rescued the inhibitory effect of Dyrk1A on neuronal proliferation. Accordingly, brains from embryonic DYRK1A transgenic mice exhibited elevated levels of Dyrk1A, Ser-15 (mouse Ser-18)-phosphorylated p53, and p21(CIP1) as well as impaired neuronal proliferation. These findings suggest that up-regulation of Dyrk1A contributes to altered neuronal proliferation in DS through specific phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15 and subsequent p21(CIP1) induction.

Regulation of genotoxic stress response by homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 through phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein at serine 271

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is a new CREB kinase for phosphorylation at Ser-271 but not Ser-133 in genotoxic stress and activates CREB transactivation function including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression.

CREB (cyclic AMP response element-binding protein) is a stimulus-induced transcription factor that plays pivotal roles in cell survival and proliferation. The transactivation function of CREB is primarily regulated through Ser-133 phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) and related kinases. Here we found that homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2), a DNA-damage responsive nuclear kinase, is a new CREB kinase for phosphorylation at Ser-271 but not Ser-133, and activates CREB transactivation function including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression. Ser-271 to Glu-271 substitution potentiated the CREB transactivation function. ChIP assays in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells demonstrated that CREB Ser-271 phosphorylation by HIPK2 increased recruitment of a transcriptional coactivator CBP (CREB binding protein) without modulation of CREB binding to the BDNF CRE sequence. HIPK2−/− MEF cells were more susceptible to apoptosis induced by etoposide, a DNA-damaging agent, than HIPK2+/+ cells. Etoposide activated CRE-dependent transcription in HIPK2+/+ MEF cells but not in HIPK2−/− cells. HIPK2 knockdown in SH-SY5Y cells decreased etoposide-induced BDNF mRNA expression. These results demonstrate that HIPK2 is a new CREB kinase that regulates CREB-dependent transcription in genotoxic stress.

Targeted disruption of the murine homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 causes growth deficiency in vivo and cell cycle arrest in vitro

The homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) protein is a member of a recently identified family of nuclear protein kinases that are well conserved in various organisms. HIPK2 can bind to several homeotic factors and to a series of proteins involved in the regulation of cell survival and proliferation in response to morphogenetic and genotoxic signals. Here we report Hipk2-targeted disruption in mouse; Hipk2(-/-) mice are viable and fertile but significantly smaller than their wild-type littermates. This feature is present at birth and retained throughout the mouse adulthood. Mouse embryo fibroblasts from Hipk2(-/-) mice show a reduced proliferation rate, compared to the wild-type counterparts, with accumulation in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and altered levels of the cell cycle regulators cyclin D and CDK6. Restoration of wild-type HIPK2 expression in Hipk2(-/-) cells rescues the normal phenotype supporting a role for HIPK2 in the regulation of cell proliferation.

The homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 regulates insulin promoter factor-1/pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 transcriptional activity

The homeodomain transcription factor insulin promoter factor (IPF)-1/pancreatic duodenal homeobox (PDX)-1 plays a crucial role in both pancreas development and maintenance of beta-cell function. Targeted disruption of the Ipf1/Pdx1 gene in beta-cells of mice leads to overt diabetes and reduced Ipf1/Pdx1 gene expression results in decreased insulin expression and secretion. In humans, mutations in the IPF1 gene have been linked to diabetes. Hence, the identification of molecular mechanisms regulating the transcriptional activity of this key transcription factor is of great interest. Herein we analyzed homeodomain-interacting protein kinase (Hipk) 2 expression in the embryonic and adult pancreas by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR. Moreover, we functionally characterized the role of HIPK2 in regulating IPF1/PDX1 transcriptional activity by performing transient transfection experiments and RNA interference. We show that Hipk2 is expressed in the developing pancreatic epithelium from embryonic d 12-15 but that the expression becomes preferentially confined to pancreatic endocrine cells at later developmental stages. Moreover, we show that HIPK2 positively influences IPF1/PDX1 transcriptional activity and that the kinase activity of HIPK2 is required for this effect. We also demonstrate that HIPK2 directly phosphorylates the C-terminal portion of IPF1/PDX1. Taken together, our data provide evidence for a new mechanism by which IPF1/PDX1 transcriptional activity, and thus possibly pancreas development and/or beta-cell function, is regulated.

PEBP2-beta/CBF-beta-dependent phosphorylation of RUNX1 and p300 by HIPK2: implications for leukemogenesis

The heterodimeric transcription factor RUNX1/PEBP2-beta (also known as AML1/CBF-beta) is essential for definitive hematopoiesis. Here, we show that interaction with PEBP2-beta leads to the phosphorylation of RUNX1, which in turn induces p300 phosphorylation. This is mediated by homeodomain interacting kinase 2 (HIPK2), targeting Ser(249), Ser(273), and Thr(276) in RUNX1, in a manner that is also dependent on the RUNX1 PY motif. Importantly, we observed the in vitro disruption of this phosphorylation cascade by multiple leukemogenic genetic defects targeting RUNX1/CBFB. In particular, the oncogenic protein PEBP2-beta-SMMHC prevents RUNX1/p300 phosphorylation by sequestering HIPK2 to mislocalized RUNX1/beta-SMMHC complexes. Therefore, phosphorylation of RUNX1 appears a critical step in its association with and phosphorylation of p300, and its disruption may be a common theme in RUNX1-associated leukemogenesis.

HIPK2: a multitalented partner for transcription factors in DNA damage response and development

Protein phosphorylation is a widely diffuse and versatile post-translational modification that controls many cellular processes, from signal transduction to gene transcription. The homeodomain-interacting protein kinases (HIPKs) belong to a new family of serine-threonine kinases first identified as corepressors for homeodomain transcription factors. Different screenings for the identification of new partners of transcription factors have indicated that HIPK2, the best characterized member of the HIPK family, is a multitalented coregulator of an increasing number of transcription factors and cofactors. The aim of this review is to describe the different mechanisms through which HIPK2 regulates gene transcription.

Novel interaction between HPV E6 and BARD1 (BRCA1-associated ring domain 1) and its biologic roles

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which are associated with the majority of cervical cancers, encode a transforming protein, E6, which interacts with the p53 tumor suppressor protein. There is a wide effort focused on searching for the target of the involvement of p53-independent HPV 16 E6-interacting proteins. We identified Breast Cancer 1 Gene (BRCA1)-associated ring domain protein 1 (BARD1) as a binding partner of E6 and investigated its biological function in cervical cancer cells. In vivo co-immunoprecipitation assay was performed to determine whether E6-BARD1 interaction occurred. We then used a degradation assay to determine whether E6-mediated inactivation of BARD1 transactivation function was associated with BARD1 degradation. A mutation assay revealed the site of interaction of E6 with BARD1. The effect of BARD1 on p53 transcriptional activity was tested using BARD1 knockdown and overexpression systems. BARD1 was not degraded by E6, and, instead, formed a physical complex with E6. Moreover, the mutations of the metal motif zinc-finger region decreased the ability of E6 to interact with BARD1. Transient transfection of BARD1 increased the p53-mediated activation of p21(WAF1) promoter despite the presence of E6. Additionally, the existence of BARD1 inactivated the expression of E6 in cervical cancer cells. These findings suggest that BARD1 may regulate the transcriptional activities of p53 as tumor suppressors.

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 (HIPK2) phosphorylates HMGA1a at Ser-35, Thr-52, and Thr-77 and modulates its DNA binding affinity

The chromosomal high-mobility group A (HMGA) proteins, composed of HMGA1a, HMGA1b and HMGA2, play important roles in the regulation of numerous processes in eukaryotic cells, such as transcriptional regulation, DNA repair, RNA processing, and chromatin remodeling. The biological activities of HMGA1 proteins are highly regulated by their post-translational modifications (PTMs), including acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation. Recently, it was found that the homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 (HIPK2), a newly identified serine/threonine kinase, co-immunoprecipitated with, and phosphorylated, HMGA1 proteins. However, the sites and the biological significance of the phosphorylation have not been elucidated. Here, we found that HIPK2 phosphorylates HMGA1a at Ser-35, Thr-52, and Thr-77, and HMGA1b at Thr-41 and Thr-66. In addition, we demonstrated that cdc2, which is known to phosphorylate HMGA1 proteins, could induce the phosphorylation of HMGA1 proteins at the same Ser/Thr sites. The two kinases, however, exhibited different site preferences for the phosphorylation: The preference for HIPK2 phosphorylation followed the order of Thr-77 > Thr-52 > Ser-35, whereas the order for cdc2 phosphorylation was Thr-52 > Thr-77 > Ser-35. Moreover, we found that the HIPK2-phosphorylated HMGA1a reduced the binding affinity of HMGA1a to human germ line promoter, and the drop in binding affinity induced by HIPK2 phosphorylation was lower than that introduced by cdc2 phosphorylation, which is consistent with the notion that the second AT-hook in HMGA1a is more important for DNA binding than the third AT-hook.

Mutations of the HIPK2 gene in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome impair AML1- and p53-mediated transcription

The AML1 transcription factor complex is the most frequent target of leukemia-associated chromosomal translocations. Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is a part of the AML1 complex and activates AML1-mediated transcription. However, chromosomal translocations and mutations of HIPK2 have not been reported. In the current study, we screened mutations of the HIPK2 gene in 50 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in 80 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Results indicated there were two missense mutations (R868W and N958I) in the speckle-retention signal (SRS) domain of HIPK2. Subcellular localization analyses indicated that the two mutants were largely localized to nuclear regions with conical or ring shapes, and were somewhat diffused in the nucleus, in contrast to the wild type, which were mainly localized in nuclear speckles. The mutations impaired the overlapping localization of AML1 and HIPK2. The mutants showed decreased activities and a dominant-negative function over wild-type protein in AML1- and p53-dependent transcription. These findings suggest that dysfunction of HIPK2 may play a role in the pathogenesis of leukemia.

Phosphorylation-dependent control of Pc2 SUMO E3 ligase activity by its substrate protein HIPK2

Sumoylation serves to control key cellular functions, but the regulation of SUMO E3 ligase activity is largely unknown. Here we show that the polycomb group protein Pc2 binds to and colocalizes with homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) and serves as a SUMO E3 ligase for this kinase. DNA damage-induced HIPK2 directly phosphorylates Pc2 at multiple sites, which in turn controls Pc2 sumoylation and intranuclear localization. Inducible phosphorylation of Pc2 at threonine 495 is required for its ability to increase HIPK2 sumoylation in response to DNA damage, thereby establishing an autoregulatory feedback loop between a SUMO substrate and its cognate E3 ligase. Sumoylation enhances the ability of HIPK2 to mediate transcriptional repression, thus providing a mechanistic link for DNA damage-induced transcriptional silencing.

Autoregulatory control of the p53 response by caspase-mediated processing of HIPK2

The serine/threonine kinase HIPK2 phosphorylates the p53 protein at Ser 46, thus promoting p53-dependent gene expression and subsequent apoptosis. Here, we show that DNA damaging chemotherapeutic drugs cause degradation of endogenous HIPK2 dependent on the presence of a functional p53 protein. Early induced p53 allows caspase-mediated cleavage of HIPK2 following aspartic acids 916 and 977. The resulting C-terminally truncated HIPK2 forms show an enhanced induction of the p53 response and cell death, thus allowing the rapid amplification of the p53-dependent apoptotic program during the initiation phase of apoptosis by a regulatory feed-forward loop. The active HIPK2 fragments are further degraded during the execution and termination phase of apoptosis, thus ensuring the occurrence of HIPK2 signaling only during the early phases of apoptosis induction.

The protein kinase DYRK1A phosphorylates the splicing factor SF3b1/SAP155 at Thr434, a novel in vivo phosphorylation site

BACKGROUND

The U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) component SF3b1/SAP155 is the only spliceosomal protein known to be phosphorylated concomitant with splicing catalysis. DYRK1A is a nuclear protein kinase that has been localized to the splicing factor compartment. Here we describe the identification of DYRK1A as a protein kinase that phosphorylates SF3b1 in vitro and in cultivated cells.

RESULTS

Overexpression of DYRK1A caused a markedly increased phosphorylation of SF3b1 in COS-7 cells as assessed by Western blotting with an antibody specific for phosphorylated Thr-Pro dipeptide motifs. Phosphopeptide mapping of metabolically labelled SF3b1 showed that the majority of the in vivo-phosphopeptides corresponded to sites also phosphorylated by DYRK1A in vitro. Phosphorylation with cyclin E/CDK2, a kinase previously reported to phosphorylate SF3b1, generated a completely different pattern of phosphopeptides. By mass spectrometry and mutational analysis of SF3b1, Thr434 was identified as the major phosphorylation site for DYRK1A. Overexpression of DYRK1A or the related kinase, DYRK1B, resulted in an enhanced phosphorylation of Thr434 in endogenous SF3b1 in COS-7 cells. Downregulation of DYRK1A in HEK293 cells or in HepG2 cells by RNA interference reduced the phosphorylation of Thr434 in SF3b1.

CONCLUSION

The present data show that the splicing factor SF3b1 is a substrate of the protein kinase DYRK1A and suggest that DYRK1A may be involved in the regulation of pre mRNA-splicing.

US11 of herpes simplex virus type 1 interacts with HIPK2 and antagonizes HIPK2-induced cell growth arrest

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is a nuclear serine/threonine kinase of the subfamily of dual-specificity Yak1-related kinase proteins. HIPK2 was first described as a homeodomain-interacting protein kinase acting as a corepressor for homeodomain transcription factors. More recently, it was reported that HIPK2 plays a role in p53-mediated cellular apoptosis and could also participate in the regulation of the cell cycle. US11 protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 is a multifunctional protein involved in the regulation of several processes related to the survival of cells submitted to environmental stresses by mechanisms that are not fully elucidated. In an attempt to better understand the multiple functions of US11, we identified cellular binding partners of this protein by using the yeast two-hybrid system. We report that US11 interacts with HIPK2 through the PEST domain of HIPK2 and that this interaction occurs also in human cells. This interaction modifies the subcellular distribution of HIPK2 and protects the cell against the HIPK2-induced cell growth arrest.

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 activity and p53 phosphorylation are critical events for cisplatin-mediated apoptosis

HIPK2 is a member of a novel family of nuclear serine-threonine kinases identified through their ability to interact with the Nkx-1.2 homeoprotein. The physiological role of these kinases is largely unknown, but we have recently reported on the involvement of HIPK2 in the induction of apoptosis of tumor cells after UV stress through p53 phosphorylation and transcriptional activation. Here, we demonstrate that the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin increases HIPK2 protein expression and its kinase activity, and that HIPK2 is involved in cisplatin-dependent apoptosis. Indeed, induction of HIPK2 and of cell death by cisplatin are efficiently inhibited by the serine-threonine kinase inhibitor SB203580 or the transduction of HIPK2-specific RNA-interfering molecules. HIPK2 gene silencing efficiently reduces the p53-mediated transcriptional activation of apoptotic gene promoters as well as apoptotic cell death after treatment with cisplatin. These findings, along with the involvement of p53 phosphorylation at serine 46 (Ser46) in the transcriptional activation of apoptotic gene promoters, suggest a critical role for HIPK2 in triggering p53-dependent apoptosis in response to the antineoplastic drug cisplatin.

Body language: the function of PML nuclear bodies in apoptosis regulation

Promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) nuclear bodies (NBs) are macromolecular nuclear domains present in virtually every mammalian cell. PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) were functionally linked to various fundamental cellular processes, including transcriptional control, tumour suppression and apoptosis regulation. Supporting the important function of PML and its associated NBs in apoptosis regulation, several apoptotic regulators localise to PML-NBs, and cells from PML-deficient mice show severe apoptotic defects, including induction of genotoxic stress and death receptor CD95 (Fas/APO-1) activation. Based on the current literature, we hypothesise that PML-NBs regulate apoptosis through different molecular mechanisms, on the one hand by acting as macromolecular scaffolds for recruitment and post-translational modification of the apoptotic key regulator p53, and on the other by regulating the subcellular bioavailability and quality of some apoptotic signal transducers.

Identification and characterization of HIPK2 interacting with p73 and modulating functions of the p53 family in vivo

To study the biological role of p73 alpha, a member of the p53 tumor suppressor family, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen of a human cDNA library. Using a p73 alpha fragment consisting of amino acids 49-636 as bait, we found that p73 alpha is functionally associated with the human homologue of mouse and hamster homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2). The hamster homologue, also known as haHIPK2 or PKM, was used for further characterization of interactions between HIPK2 and members of the p53 protein family. Systematic yeast two-hybrid assays indicated a physical interaction between the oligomerization domains of p73 alpha and p53 (amino acid regions 345-380 and 319-360, respectively) and amino acid region 812-907 of haHIPK2. This region of haHIPK2 includes a PEST sequence, an Ubc9-binding domain, and a partial speckle retention sequence and is identical to amino acid residues 846-941 of human HIPK2 (hHIPK2). The interaction was confirmed by glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays in vitro and immunoprecipitation assays in vivo. HIPK2 colocalized with p73 and p53 in nuclear bodies, as shown by confocal microscopy. Overexpression of HIPK2 stabilized the p53 protein and greatly increased the p73- and p53-induced transcriptional repression of multidrug-resistant and collagenase promoters in Saos2 cells but had little effect on the p73- or p53-mediated transcriptional activation of synthetic p53-responsive and p21WAF1 promoters. Stable expression of HIPK2 in U2OS cells enhanced the cisplatin response of sub-G(1) and G(2)/M populations, and it also increased the apoptotic response to cisplatin and adriamycin as demonstrated by fluorescence-activated cell sorter and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-staining analyses. HIPK2 potentiated the inhibition of colony formation by p73 and p53. These results suggest that physical interactions between HIPK2 and members of the p53 family may determine the roles of these proteins in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis.

Dynamin is a minibrain kinase/dual specificity Yak1-related kinase 1A substrate

The minibrain kinase (Mnbk)/dual specificity Yak 1-related kinase 1A (Dyrk1A) gene is implicated in the mental retardation associated with Down's syndrome. It encodes a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase whose function has yet to be defined. We have used a solid-phase Mnbk/Dyrk1A kinase assay to aid in the search for the cellular Mnbk/Dyrk1A substrates. The assay revealed that rat brain contains two cytosolic proteins, one with a molecular mass of 100 kDa and one with a molecular mass of 140 kDa, that were prominently phosphorylated by Mnbk/Dyrk1A. The 100-kDa protein was purified and identified as dynamin 1. The conclusion was further supported by evidence that a recombinant glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing dynamin isoform 1aa was phosphorylated by Mnbk/Dyrk1A. In addition to isoform 1aa, Mnbk/Dyrk1A also phosphorylated isoforms 1ab and 2aa but not human MxA protein when analyzed by the solid-phase kinase assay. Upon Mnbk/Dyrk1A phosphorylation, the interaction of dynamin 1 with the Src homology 3 domain of amphiphysin 1 was reduced. However, when Mnbk/Dyrk1A phosphorylation was allowed to proceed more extensively, the phosphorylation enhanced rather than reduced the binding of dynamin 1 to amphiphysin 1. The result suggests that Mnbk/Dyrk1A can play a dual role in regulating the interaction of dynamin 1 with amphiphysin 1. Mnbk/Dyrk1A phosphorylation also reduced the interaction of dynamin with endophilin 1, whereas the same phosphorylation enhanced the binding of dynamin 1 to Grb2. Nevertheless, the dual function of Mnbk/Dyrk1A phosphorylation was not observed for the interaction of dynamin 1 with endophilin 1 or Grb2. The interactions of dynamin with amphiphysin and endophilin are essential for the formation of endocytic complexes; our results suggest that Mnbk/Dyrk1A may function as a regulator controlling the assembly of endocytic apparatus.

The homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 gene is expressed late in embryogenesis and preferentially in retina, muscle, and neural tissues

The HIPK2 protein is a member of a recently identified family of nuclear protein kinases that interact with homeodomain transcription factors and that are well conserved in various organisms. HIPK2 acts as a transcriptional co-repressor of homeoproteins and it is a component of a co-repressor complex containing Groucho and a histone deacetylase. We have recently demonstrated that the HIPK2 protein interacts with HMGA1 proteins in vitro and in vivo and that HIPK2 exerts a potent inhibitory effect on the cell growth of different normal cell lines. Here we demonstrate that the HIPK2 gene is expressed during the latest phases of embryogenesis, and preferentially in retina, in muscle and in neural tissues. Conversely, HIPK2 is ubiquitously expressed in murine and human adult tissues. We have also found that HIPK2 expression is reduced in breast and thyroid carcinomas, suggesting a role of this gene in the process of carcinogenesis.

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 phosphorylates p53 at Ser 46 and mediates apoptosis

Phosphorylation of p53 at Ser 46 was shown to regulate p53 apoptotic activity. Here we demonstrate that homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 (HIPK2), a member of a novel family of nuclear serine/threonine kinases, binds to and activates p53 by directly phosphorylating it at Ser 46. HIPK2 localizes with p53 and PML-3 into the nuclear bodies and is activated after irradiation with ultraviolet. Antisense inhibition of HIPK2 expression reduces the ultraviolet-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, HIPK2 and p53 cooperate in the activation of p53-dependent transcription and apoptotic pathways. These data define a new functional interaction between p53 and HIPK2 that results in the targeted subcellular localization of p53 and initiation of apoptosis.

Regulation of p53 activity by its interaction with homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2

Transcriptional activity of p53, a central regulatory switch in a network controlling cell proliferation and apoptosis, is modulated by protein stability and post-translational modifications including phosphorylation and acetylation. Here we demonstrate that the human serine/threonine kinase homeodomain-interacting protein kinase-2 (HIPK2) colocalizes and interacts with p53 and CREB-binding protein (CBP) within promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) nuclear bodies. HIPK2 is activated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and selectively phosphorylates p53 at Ser 46, thus facilitating the CBP-mediated acetylation of p53 at Lys 382, and promoting p53-dependent gene expression. Accordingly, the kinase function of HIPK2 mediates the increased expression of p53 target genes, which results in growth arrest and the enhancement of UV-induced apoptosis. Interference with HIPK2 expression by antisense oligonucleotides impairs UV-induced apoptosis. Our results imply that HIPK2 is a novel regulator of p53 effector functions involved in cell growth, proliferation and apoptosis.