Protein kinase C phosphorylated at a conserved threonine is retained in the cytoplasm

A role for Numb in Protein kinase M (PKM)-mediated increase in surface AMPA receptors during facilitation in Aplysia

There is considerable evidence from both vertebrates and invertebrates that persistently active protein kinases maintain changes in synaptic strength that underlie memory. In the hermaphrodite marine mollusk, Aplysia californica, truncated forms of protein kinase C (PKC) termed protein kinase Ms have been implicated in both intermediate- and long-term facilitation, an increase in synaptic strength between sensory neurons and motor neurons thought to underlie behavioural sensitization in the animal. However, few substrates have been identified as candidates that could mediate this increase in synaptic strength. PKMs have been proposed to maintain synaptic strength through preventing endocytosis of AMPA receptors. Numb is a conserved regulator of endocytosis that is modulated by phosphorylation. We have identified and cloned Aplysia Numb (ApNumb). ApNumb contains three conserved PKC phosphorylation sites and PKMs generated from classical and atypical Aplysia PKCs can phosphorylate ApNumb in vitro and in cells. Over-expression of ApNumb that lacks the conserved PKC phosphorylation sites blocks increases in surface levels of a pHluorin-tagged Aplysia glutamate receptor measured using live imaging after intermediate- or long-term facilitation. Over-expression of this form of ApNumb did not block increases in synaptic strength seen during intermediate-term facilitation, but did block increases in synaptic strength seen during long-term facilitation. There was no effect of over-expression of this form of ApNumb on other putative Numb targets as measured using increases in calcium downstream of neurotrophins or agonists of metabotropic glutamate receptors. These results suggest that in Aplysia neurons, Numb specifically regulates AMPA receptor trafficking and is an attractive candidate for a target of PKMs in long-term maintenance of synaptic strength. OPEN SCIENCE BADGES: This article has received a badge for *Open Materials* because it provided all relevant information to reproduce the study in the manuscript. The complete Open Science Disclosure form for this article can be found at the end of the article. More information about the Open Practices badges can be found at https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/. Open Science: This manuscript was awarded with the Open Materials Badge For more information see: https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/.

Bidirectional regulation of eEF2 phosphorylation controls synaptic plasticity by decoding neuronal activity patterns

At the sensory-motor neuron synapse of Aplysia, either spaced or continuous (massed) exposure to serotonin (5-HT) induces a form of intermediate-term facilitation (ITF) that requires new protein synthesis but not gene transcription. However, spaced and massed ITF use distinct molecular mechanisms to maintain increased synaptic strength. Synapses activated by spaced applications of 5-HT generate an ITF that depends on persistent protein kinase A (PKA) activity, whereas an ITF produced by massed 5-HT depends on persistent protein kinase C (PKC) activity. In this study, we demonstrate that eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), which catalyzes the GTP-dependent translocation of the ribosome during protein synthesis, acts as a biochemical sensor that is tuned to the pattern of neuronal stimulation. Specifically, we find that massed training leads to a PKC-dependent increase in phosphorylation of eEF2, whereas spaced training results in a PKA-dependent decrease in phosphorylation of eEF2. Importantly, by using either pharmacological or dominant-negative strategies to inhibit eEF2 kinase (eEF2K), we were able to block massed 5-HT-dependent increases in eEF2 phosphorylation and subsequent PKC-dependent ITF. In contrast, pharmacological inhibition of eEF2K during the longer period of time required for spaced training was sufficient to reduce eEF2 phosphorylation and induce ITF. Finally, we find that the massed 5-HT-dependent increase in synaptic strength requires translation elongation, but not translation initiation, whereas the spaced 5-HT-dependent increase in synaptic strength is partially dependent on translation initiation. Thus, bidirectional regulation of eEF2 is critical for decoding distinct activity patterns at synapses by activating distinct modes of translation regulation.

Protein phosphatase-dependent circadian regulation of intermediate-term associative memory

The endogenous circadian clock is a principal factor modulating memory across species. Determining the processes through which the circadian clock modulates memory formation is a key issue in understanding and identifying mechanisms to improve memory. We used the marine mollusk Aplysia californica to investigate circadian modulation of intermediate-term memory (ITM) and the mechanisms through which the circadian clock phase specifically suppresses memory using the operant learning paradigm, learning that food is inedible. We found that ITM, a temporally and mechanistically distinct form of memory, is rhythmically expressed under light-dark and constant conditions when induced by either massed or spaced training. Strong circadian regulation of ITM occurs with memory exhibited only by animals trained during the early subjective day; no apparent memory is expressed when training occurs during the late subjective day or night. Given the necessity of multiple persistent kinase cascades for ITM, we investigated whether protein phosphatase activity affected circadian modulation. Inhibition of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A blocked ITM when animals were trained during the early (subjective) day while resulting in phase-specific memory rescue when animals were trained late in the subjective day and early night. In contrast, inhibition of calcineurin did not block ITM when animals were trained during the early day and permitted ITM when animals were trained during the late subjective day, early evening, and throughout the night. These results demonstrate that levels of protein phosphatase activity are critical regulators of ITM and one mechanism through which the circadian clock regulates memory formation.

Autophosphorylation of the C2 domain inhibits translocation of the novel protein kinase C (nPKC) Apl II

Protein kinase Cs (PKCs) are critical signaling molecules controlled by complex regulatory pathways. Herein, we describe an important regulatory role for C2 domain phosphorylation. Novel PKCs (nPKCs) contain an N-terminal C2 domain that cannot bind to calcium. Previously, we described an autophosphorylation site in the Aplysia novel PKC Apl II that increased the binding of the C2 domain to lipids. In this study, we show that the function of this phosphorylation is to inhibit PKC translocation. Indeed, a phosphomimetic serine-glutamic acid mutation reduced translocation of PKC Apl II while blocking phosphorylation with a serine-alanine mutation enhanced translocation and led to the persistence of the kinase at the membrane longer after the end of the stimulation. Consistent with a role for autophosphorylation in regulating kinase translocation, inhibiting PKC activity using bisindolymaleimide 1 increased physiological translocation of PKC Apl II, whereas inhibiting phosphatase activity using calyculin A inhibited physiological translocation of PKC Apl II in neurons. Our results suggest a major role for autophosphorylation-dependent regulation of translocation.

Compartment-specific, differential regulation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 and its kinase within Aplysia sensory neurons

Long-term facilitation (LTF) in Aplysia is a leading model for elucidating the biochemical mechanisms of synaptic plasticity underlying learning. LTF requires translational control downstream of target of rapamycin complex 1. Our lab has previously shown that treatment with the facilitating neurotransmitter, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), causes a target of rapamycin complex 1-mediated decrease in phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) within the neurites of sensory neurons involved in LTF. Here, we characterize the Aplysia orthologue of eEF2 kinase (eEF2K). We show that the Aplysia eEF2K orthologue contains an S6 kinase phosphorylation site and that a serine-to-alanine mutation at this site blocks the ability of 5-HT to decrease eEF2 phosphorylation in neurites. We also show that within the soma, 5-HT has the opposite effect, decreasing eEF2K phosphorylation at the S6 kinase site and, concomitantly, increasing eEF2 phosphorylation. Surprisingly, while eEF2K over-expression inhibits translation of a marker for internal ribosome entry site-dependent translation, it stimulates the translation of a marker for cap-dependent translation. This study demonstrates that eEF2 is differentially regulated in separate compartments and contributes to a growing body of evidence that inhibition of elongation can stimulate the translation of certain transcripts.

Serotonin increases phosphorylation of synaptic 4EBP through TOR, but eukaryotic initiation factor 4E levels do not limit somatic cap-dependent translation in aplysia neurons

The target of rapamycin (TOR) plays an important role in memory formation in Aplysia californica. Here, we characterize one of the downstream targets of TOR, the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binding protein (4EBP) from Aplysia. Aplysia 4EBP contains the four critical phosphorylation sites regulated by TOR as well as an N-terminal RAIP motif and a C-terminal TOS site. Aplysia 4EBP was hypophosphorylated in synaptosomes, and serotonin addition caused a rapamycin-sensitive increase in 4EBP phosphorylation both in synaptosomes and in isolated neurites. Aplysia 4EBP was regulated in a fashion similar to that of mammalian 4EBPs, binding to eIF4E when dephosphorylated and releasing eIF4E after phosphorylation. Overexpression of 4EBP in the soma of Aplysia neurons caused a specific decrease in cap-dependent translation that was rescued by concomitant overexpression of eIF4E. However, eIF4E overexpression by itself did not increase cap-dependent translation, suggesting that increasing levels of free eIF4E by phosphorylating 4EBP is not important in regulating cap-dependent translation in the cell soma. Total levels of eIF4E were also regulated by 4EBP, suggesting that 4EBP can also act as an eIF4E chaperone. These studies demonstrate the conserved nature of 4EBP regulation and its role in cap-dependent translation and suggest differential roles of 4EBP phosphorylation in the soma and synapse.

Bile acids stimulate PKCalpha autophosphorylation and activation: role in the attenuation of prostaglandin E1-induced cAMP production in human dermal fibroblasts

The aim was to identify the specific PKC isoform(s) and their mechanism of activation responsible for the modulation of cAMP production by bile acids in human dermal fibroblasts. Stimulation of fibroblasts with 25-100 microM of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) led to YFP-PKCalpha and YFP-PKCdelta translocation in 30-60 min followed by a transient 24- to 48-h downregulation of the total PKCalpha, PKCdelta, and PKCepsilon protein expression by 30-50%, without affecting that of PKCzeta. Increased plasma membrane translocation of PKCalpha was associated with an increased PKCalpha phosphorylation, whereas increased PKCdelta translocation to the perinuclear domain was associated with an increased accumulation of phospho-PKCdelta Thr505 and Tyr311 in the nucleus. The PKCalpha specificity on the attenuation of cAMP production by CDCA was demonstrated with PKC downregulation or inhibition, as well as PKC isoform dominant-negative mutants. Under these same conditions, neither phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, p38 MAP kinase, p42/44 MAP kinase, nor PKA inhibitors had any significant effect on the CDCA-induced cAMP production attenuation. CDCA concentrations as low as 10 microM stimulated PKCalpha autophosphorylation in vitro. This bile acid effect required phosphatidylserine and was completely abolished by the presence of Gö6976. CDCA at concentrations less than 50 microM enhanced the PKCalpha activation induced by PMA, whereas greater CDCA concentrations reduced the PMA-induced PKCalpha activation. CDCA alone did not affect PKCalpha activity in vitro. In conclusion, although CDCA and UDCA activate different PKC isoforms, PKCalpha plays a major role in the bile acid-induced inhibition of cAMP synthesis in fibroblasts. This study emphasizes potential consequences of increased systemic bile acid concentrations and cellular bile acid accumulation in extrahepatic tissues during cholestatic liver diseases.

Phosphorylation at the hydrophobic site of protein kinase C Apl II is increased during intermediate term facilitation

In Aplysia, persistent increases in synaptic strength are paralleled by the persistent activation of the novel protein kinase C Apl II. We raised a phosphospecific antibody against serine 725, the hydrophobic motif in protein kinase C Apl II. Phosphorylation of serine 725 increased in parallel to the persistent activation of the kinase. We expressed protein kinase C where this site was mutated to an alanine to prevent phosphorylation. The mutated protein kinase C showed decreased specific activity consistent with a model where the kinase is less stable in the absence of phosphorylation of this site. Endogenous phosphorylation of protein kinase C Apl II at serine 725 was unaffected by either activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters, or inhibition of protein kinase C using two distinct inhibitors, suggesting the site is not autophosphorylated. Consistent with this, overexpressed kinase-dead protein kinase C Apl II still was phosphorylated at serine 725, although to a lesser extent than wild-type protein kinase C Apl II. While PDK appears to interact with the serine 725 site, it is not responsible for its phosphorylation. Finally inhibition of phosphoinositide-3 kinase or the target of rapamycin by pharmacological agents did not block basal phosphorylation of serine 725 in Aplysia ganglia. Our results suggest trans-phosphorylation of protein kinase C Apl II as Ser 725 occurs during persistent activation of the kinase, but this does not appear to be downstream of phosphoinositide-3 kinase.

ApTrkl, a Trk-like Receptor, Mediates Serotonin- Dependent ERK Activation and Long-Term Facilitation in Aplysia Sensory Neurons

The Trk family of receptor tyrosine kinases plays a role in synaptic plasticity and in behavioral memory in mammals. Here, we report the discovery of a Trk-like receptor, ApTrkl, in Aplysia. We show that it is expressed in the sensory neurons, the locus for synaptic facilitation, which is a cellular model for memory formation. Serotonin, the facilitatory neurotransmitter, activates ApTrkl, which, in turn, leads to activation of ERK. Finally, inhibiting the activation of ApTrkl with the Trk inhibitor K252a or using dsRNA to inhibit ApTrkl blocks the serotonin-mediated activation of ERK in the cell body, as well as the cell-wide long-term facilitation induced by 5-HT application to the cell body. Thus, transactivation of the receptor tyrosine kinase ApTrkl by serotonin is an essential step in the biochemical events leading to long-term facilitation in Aplysia.

Identification and characterization of a novel C2B splice variant of synaptotagmin I

We have identified an alternatively spliced form of synaptotagmin I in Aplysia neurons. This isoform, synaptotagmin I C2B-beta, is generated by alternative exon usage in the C2B domain leading to nine amino acid changes in the C2B sequence from the previously characterized synaptotagmin I, now designated as synaptotagmin I C2B-alpha. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that approximately 25% of mRNA encoding synaptotagmin I contained the C2B-beta exon in the nervous system. Synaptotagmin I C2B-beta showed greater resistance to digestion by chymotrypsin in the absence of calcium than did synaptotagmin I C2B-alpha, although both isoforms required the same amount of calcium to resist chymotrypsin digestion. The source of these changes in C2B properties was mapped to a single amino acid (threonine 358). We have also cloned SNAP 25 in Aplysia and show that it binds synaptotagmin I C2B-beta with a higher affinity than synaptotagmin I C2B-alpha. These results suggest that this splicing alters biochemical properties of the C2B domain, affecting a number of its important known interactions.

Differential regulation of transmitter release by alternatively spliced forms of synaptotagmin I

We discovered a novel alternatively spliced form of synaptotagmin I (Syt I). This splicing event is conserved over evolution and, in Aplysia, results in a two amino acid insert in the juxtamembrane domain of Syt I (Syt IVQ). Both Syt I and Syt IVQ are localized to synaptic vesicles; however, we also observed punctae that contained one or the other spliced products. Both Syt I and Syt IVQ are phosphorylated at the adjacent PKC site. Overexpression of Syt IVQ, but not of Syt I, in Aplysia neurons blocked the ability of serotonin to reverse synaptic depression. This effect is upstream of PKC activation, because neither Syt IVQ nor Syt I blocked the effects of phorbol esters on reversing synaptic depression or the effects of serotonin on facilitating nondepressed synapses. Our results demonstrate a physiological role for splicing in the juxtamembrane domain of Syt I.

Molecular cloning and identification of a putative PKC epsilon cDNA from Limulus polyphemus brain

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of enzymes is broadly distributed and has been implicated in a diverse array of cellular functions. Recent evidence supporting PKC involvement in the regulation of the Limulus choline cotransporter prompted us to clone PKC from a Limulus central nervous system (CNS) cDNA library. An Aplysia californica calcium independent PKC (Apl II) cDNA probe was used to screen the library and 5' RACE SMART PCR was used to obtain the full-length sequence. The resulting cDNA, which included 5' and 3' nontranslation regions, was 4675 bp. Analysis of the encoded peptide sequence using the Swiss-prot database revealed at least 58% identity to PKC epsilon. A commercial polyclonal antibody against PKC epsilon was used in Western blots to positively label a 30 kDa protein from Limulus CNS and the expressed fusion protein of the encoded sequence. These data support the presence of a newly identified PKC-like homolog in Limulus which likely represents a PKC epsilon equivalent.

Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase phosphorylation of protein kinase C Apl II increases during intermediate facilitation in aplysia

Phosphorylation of protein kinase Cs (PKCs) by phosphoinositide-dependent kinase I (PDK) is critical for PKC activity. In the nervous system of the marine mollusk Aplysia, there are only two major PKC isoforms, the calcium-activated PKC Apl I and the calcium-independent PKC Apl II, and both PKCs are persistently activated during intermediate memory. We monitored the PDK-dependent phosphorylation of PKC Apl I and PKC Apl II using phosphopeptide antibodies. During persistent activation of PKCs in Aplysia neurons, there is a significant increase in the amount of PDK-phosphorylated PKC Apl II in the particulate fraction but no increase in the amount of PKC Apl I phosphorylated by PDK. PDK phosphorylation of PKCs was not sensitive to inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, PKC, or expression of a kinase-inactive PDK. Localization of PDK-phosphorylated PKC Apl II using immunocytochemistry revealed an enrichment of phosphorylated PKC Apl II at the plasma membrane. These data suggest that increased PDK phosphorylation of PKC Apl II is important for persistent kinase activation.

Interplay between calcium, diacylglycerol, and phosphorylation in the spatial and temporal regulation of PKCalpha-GFP

The function of protein kinase C (PKC) is closely regulated by its subcellular localization. We expressed PKCalpha fused to green fluorescent protein (PKCalpha-GFP) and examined its translocation in living and permeabilized cells of the human parotid cell line, HSY-EB. ATP induced an oscillatory translocation of PKCalpha-GFP to and from the plasma membrane that paralleled the appearance of repetitive Ca2+ spikes. Staurosporine attenuated the relocation of PKCalpha-GFP to the cytosol and caused a stepwise accumulation of PKCalpha-GFP at the plasma membrane during ATP stimulation. Diacylglycerol enhanced the amplitude and duration of the ATP-induced oscillatory translocation of PKCalpha-GFP. Ionomycin induced a transient translocation of PKCalpha-GFP to the plasma membrane despite the continuous elevation of cytosolic Ca2+. The ionomycin-induced transient translocation of PKCalpha-GFP was prolonged by staurosporine, diacylglycerol, and phorbol myristate acetate. Experiments using permeabilized cells showed that staurosporine or the elimination of ATP and Mg2+ decreases the rate of dissociation of PKCalpha-GFP from the membrane. Diacylglycerol slowed the dissociation of PKCalpha-GFP from the membrane regardless of the Ca2+ concentration. The effect of diacylglycerol was attenuated by ATP plus Mg2+ at low concentrations of Ca2+ (<500 nm) but not at high concentrations of Ca2+ (>1000 nm). These data suggest a complex interplay between Ca2+, diacylglycerol, and phosphorylation in the regulation of the membrane binding of PKCalpha.

Phosphorylation of the protein kinase C-theta activation loop and hydrophobic motif regulates its kinase activity, but only activation loop phosphorylation is critical to in vivo nuclear-factor-kappaB induction

Protein kinase C (PKC)-theta, a member of the 'novel' subfamily of PKC isoforms, is of singular importance in transducing signals in T-lymphocytes. Since understanding of regulatory phosphorylation of novel PKCs is fragmentary and inconsistent with findings for 'classical' PKC isoforms, we investigated three potential phosphorylation sites on PKC-theta; in the activation loop (Thr(538)), turn motif (Ser(676)) and hydrophobic motif (Ser(695)). Combined evidence from phospho-specific antisera and MS demonstrates phosphorylation at all three sites. Unlike its closest paralogue, PKC-delta, lack of negative charge in the activation loop of PKC-theta results in a profound catalytic defect (>100-fold reduction in the T538A mutant); the high sequence similarity between PKC-theta and -delta assists in the formulation of structural hypotheses to account for this major difference. In contrast with mechanisms proposed for other PKC isoforms, phosphorylation at the other two sites does not reconstitute catalytic activity. Activation loop phosphorylation is critical in vivo, since the T538A mutant completely lost its capacity to mediate T-cell receptor-stimulation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation in Jurkat T-cells. Hydrophobic motif phosphorylation also substantially influences PKC-theta catalytic activity (5-fold reduction in the S695A mutant), but does not impair NF-kappaB activation in Jurkat T-cells. Its mechanism is independent of secondary effects on activation loop phosphorylation and cannot be explained by thermal instability. Turn motif phosphorylation has a limited effect on kinase activity, but negatively regulates other aspects of PKC-theta function, since the S676A mutant is more efficient than wild-type in inducing NF-kappaB activation in Jurkat T-cells. These findings expand our understanding of the roles of phosphorylation in novel PKCs, and indicate that PKC-theta is a constitutively competent kinase as a consequence of constitutive phosphorylation of its activation loop.

Rapid protein kinase D translocation in response to G protein-coupled receptor activation. Dependence on protein kinase C

Protein kinase D (PKD)/protein kinase C (PKC) mu is a serine/threonine protein kinase that can be activated by physiological stimuli like growth factors, antigen-receptor engagement and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists via a phosphorylation-dependent mechanism that requires PKC activity. In order to investigate the dynamic mechanisms associated with GPCR signaling, the intracellular translocation of a green fluorescent protein-tagged PKD was analyzed by real-time visualization in fibroblasts and epithelial cells stimulated with bombesin, a GPCR agonist. We found that bombesin induced a rapidly reversible plasma membrane translocation of green fluorescent protein-tagged PKD, an event that can be divided into two distinct mechanistic steps. The first step, which is exclusively mediated by the cysteine-rich domain in the N terminus of PKD, involved its translocation from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. The second step, i.e. the rapid reverse translocation of PKD from the plasma membrane to the cytosol, required its catalytic domain and surprisingly PKC activity. These findings provide evidence for a novel mechanism by which PKC coordinates the translocation and activation of PKD in response to bombesin-induced GPCR activation.

Preparation and application of antibodies to phosphoamino acid sequences

In this review, we describe methods to generate and characterize sequence-specific phosphoamino acid antibodies. Several of the early contributions regarding the utility of such antibodies are summarized. Three antiphosphopeptide antibodies derived from sequences of the Bcr protein are described. They are anti-Bcr pSer-354, anti-Bcr pTyr-328, and anti-Bcr pTyr-360. These anti-Bcr phosphopeptide antibodies are directed toward phosphorylated sequences encoded by the first exon of the BCR gene, which is the critical portion of the Bcr sequence present in the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein. Using these antibodies, we established/confirmed the in vivo phosphorylation of Ser-354, Tyr-328, and Tyr-360 in Bcr and Bcr-Abl proteins. The cross-reactivity of these antibodies, which is a common problem with antipeptide antibodies, was also investigated and discussed.

Ca2+-independent protein kinase C Apl II mediates the serotonin-induced facilitation at depressed aplysia sensorimotor synapses

At nondepressed Aplysia sensory to motor synapses, serotonin (5-HT) facilitates transmitter release primarily through a protein kinase A pathway. In contrast, at depressed Aplysia sensory to motor synapses, 5-HT facilitates transmitter release primarily through a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathway. It is known that only two phorbol ester-activated PKC isoforms, the Ca(2+)-dependent PKC Apl I and the Ca(2+)-independent PKC Apl II, exist in the Aplysia nervous system. For the first time, we have now been able to functionally determine which isoform of PKC is involved in a particular form of plasticity. We microinjected cultured sensorimotor pairs of neurons with various PKC constructs tagged with the enhanced green fluorescent protein as a reporter for successful plasmid expression. Our results demonstrate that short-term facilitation of depressed synapses is mediated by PKC Apl II. Dominant-negative PKC Apl II, but not dominant-negative PKC Apl I, disrupted the normal kinetics of 5-HT-induced facilitation by completely blocking its rapid onset. This effect was specific to depressed synapses, because dominant-negative PKC Apl II did not inhibit 5-HT-mediated facilitation of nondepressed synapses. Our results suggest that not only different signal transduction pathways but also different isoforms of a specific cascade may mediate physiological responses according to the state of a synapse.

Serotonin activates S6 kinase in a rapamycin-sensitive manner in Aplysia synaptosomes

The identification of tags that can specifically mark activated synapses is important for understanding how long-term synaptic changes can be restricted to specific synapses. The maintenance of synapse-specific facilitation in Aplysia sensory to motor neuron cultures can be blocked by inhibitors of translation and by the drug rapamycin, which specifically blocks a signaling pathway that regulates phosphorylation of translational regulators. One important target of rapamycin is the phosphorylation and subsequent activation of S6 kinase. To test whether S6 kinase is the target for the ability of rapamycin to block synapse-specific facilitation in Aplysia, we cloned Aplysia S6 kinase, its substrate S6, and the S6 kinase kinase phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK-1). Serotonin, which induces synapse-specific facilitation, increased phosphorylation of Aplysia S6 kinase at threonine 399 in a rapamycin-sensitive manner in Aplysia synaptosomes. The phosphorylation of threonine 399 by 5-HT was independent of phosphoinositide-3 kinase, dependent on PKA and PKC, and occluded by the phosphatase inhibitor calyculin-A. 5-HT also increased S6 kinase activity and led to increased phosphorylation of S6 in synaptosomes. 5-HT increased levels of S6 in synaptosomes because of a rapamycin-sensitive increase in translation-stabilization of S6. Aplysia PDK-1 bound to and phosphorylated Aplysia S6 kinase but only modulated phosphorylation of threonine 399 indirectly. These results suggest a mechanism by which the levels of translation factors can be increased specifically at activated synapses generating a long-lasting synaptic tag.

Membrane translocation of novel protein kinase Cs is regulated by phosphorylation of the C2 domain

Ca(2+)-independent or novel protein kinase Cs (nPKCs) contain an N-terminal C2 domain of unknown function. Removal of the C2 domain of the Aplysia nPKC Apl II allows activation of the enzyme at lower concentrations of phosphatidylserine, suggesting an inhibitory role for the C2 domain in enzyme activation. However, the mechanism for C2 domain-mediated inhibition is not known. Mapping of the autophosphorylation sites for protein kinase C (PKC) Apl II reveals four phosphopeptides in the regulatory domain of PKC Apl II, two of which are in the C2 domain at serine 2 and serine 36. Unlike most PKC autophosphorylation sites, these serines could be phosphorylated in trans. Interestingly, phosphorylation of serine 36 increased binding of the C2 domain to phosphatidylserine membranes in vitro. In cells, PKC Apl II phosphorylation at serine 36 was increased by PKC activators, and PKC phosphorylated at this position translocated more efficiently to membranes. Moreover, mutation of serine 36 to alanine significantly reduced membrane translocation of PKC Apl II. We suggest that translocation of nPKCs is regulated by phosphorylation of the C2 domain.

Regulation of receptor-mediated protein kinase C membrane trafficking by autophosphorylation

Signal transduction via protein kinase C (PKC) is closely regulated by its subcellular localization. In response to activation of cell-surface receptors, PKC is directed to the plasma membrane by two membrane-targeting domains, namely the C1 and C2 regions. This is followed by the return of the enzyme to the cytoplasm, a process shown recently to require PKC autophosphorylation (Feng, X., and Hannun, Y. A. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 26870-26874). In the present study, we examined mechanisms of translocation and reverse translocation and the role of autophosphorylation in these processes. By visualizing the trafficking of wild-type as well as mutant PKCbetaII in live cells, we demonstrated that in response to cell-surface receptor activation, the function of the C1 region is required but not sufficient for recruitment of the enzyme to the plasma membrane. The C2 region is also critical in anchoring the enzyme to the plasma membrane. Furthermore, the inability of a kinase-deficient PKC to undergo reverse translocation was restored by the addition of intracellular calcium chelators, suggesting a role for the C2 region in the persistent phase of translocation. On the other hand, the inability of a C2 deletion mutant (C1 region intact) to translocate in response to agonist was reversed in mutants lacking kinase activity or by mutation of the Ser(660) autophosphorylation site to alanine, suggesting that autophosphorylation of this site is required for opposing the action of the C2 region. Therefore, the membrane-targeting function of the C1 region is facilitated by the C2 region and appears to be opposed by autophosphorylation. Taken together, these findings provide novel evidence of the functional regulation of reversible PKC membrane localization by autophosphorylation, and they show that the dynamic translocation of PKC in response to agonists is tightly regulated in a collaborative fashion by the C1 and C2 regions in balance with the effects of autophosphorylation.