Molecular mechanism of activation and superactivation of Ret tyrosine kinases by ultraviolet light irradiation

A Cysteine Residue within the Kinase Domain of Zap70 Regulates Lck Activity and Proximal TCR Signaling

Alterations in both the expression and function of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Zap70 are associated with numerous human diseases including immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and leukemia. Zap70 propagates the TCR signal by phosphorylating two important adaptor molecules, LAT and SLP76, which orchestrate the assembly of the signaling complex, leading to the activation of PLCγ1 and further downstream pathways. These events are crucial to drive T-cell development and T-cell activation. Recently, it has been proposed that C564, located in the kinase domain of Zap70, is palmitoylated. A non-palmitoylable C564R Zap70 mutant, which has been reported in a patient suffering from immunodeficiency, is incapable of propagating TCR signaling and activating T cells. The lack of palmitoylation was suggested as the cause of this human disease. Here, we confirm that Zap70^C564R is signaling defective, but surprisingly, the defective Zap70 function does not appear to be due to a loss in palmitoylation. We engineered a C564A mutant of Zap70 which, similarly to Zap70^C564R, is non-palmitoylatable. However, this mutant was capable of propagating TCR signaling. Moreover, Zap70^C564A enhanced the activity of Lck and increased its proximity to the TCR. Accordingly, Zap70-deficient P116 T cells expressing Zap70^C564A displayed the hyperphosphorylation of TCR-ζ and Zap70 (Y319), two well-known Lck substrates. Collectively, these data indicate that C564 is important for the regulation of Lck activity and proximal TCR signaling, but not for the palmitoylation of Zap70.

Multidisciplinary approach to assess the toxicities of arsenic and barium in drinking water

Well water could be a stable source of drinking water. Recently, the use of well water as drinking water has been encouraged in developing countries. However, many kinds of disorders caused by toxic elements in well drinking water have been reported. It is our urgent task to resolve the global issue of element-originating diseases. In this review article, our multidisciplinary approaches focusing on oncogenic toxicities and disturbances of sensory organs (skin and ear) induced by arsenic and barium are introduced. First, our environmental monitoring in developing countries in Asia showed elevated concentrations of arsenic and barium in well drinking water. Then our experimental studies in mice and our epidemiological studies in humans showed arsenic-mediated increased risks of hyperpigmented skin and hearing loss with partial elucidation of their mechanisms. Our experimental studies using cultured cells with focus on the expression and activity levels of intracellular signal transduction molecules such as c-SRC, c-RET, and oncogenic RET showed risks for malignant transformation and/or progression arose from arsenic and barium. Finally, our original hydrotalcite-like compound was proposed as a novel remediation system to effectively remove arsenic and barium from well drinking water. Hopefully, comprehensive studies consisting of (1) environmental monitoring, (2) health risk assessments, and (3) remediation will be expanded in the field of environmental health to prevent various disorders caused by environmental factors including toxic elements in drinking water.

A highly conserved redox-active Mx(2)CWx(6)R motif regulates Zap70 stability and activity

ζ-associated protein of 70 kDa (Zap70) is crucial for T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling. Loss of Zap70 in both humans and mice results in severe immunodeficiency. On the other hand, the expression of Zap70 in B-cell malignancies correlates with the severity of the disease. Because of its role in immune-related disorders, Zap70 has become a therapeutic target for the treatment of human diseases. It is well-established that the activity/expression of Zap70 is regulated by post-translational modifications of crucial amino acids including the phosphorylation of tyrosines and the ubiquitination of lysines. Here, we have investigated whether also oxidation of cysteine residues regulates Zap70 functions. We have identified C575 as a major sulfenylation site of Zap70. A C575A substitution results in protein instability, reduced activity, and increased dependency on the Hsp90/Cdc37 chaperone system. Indeed, Cdc37 overexpression reconstituted partially the expression but fully the function of Zap70C575A. C575 lies within a Mx₍₂₎CWx₍₆₎R motif which is highly conserved among almost all human tyrosine kinases. Mutation of any of the conserved amino acids, but not of a non-conserved residue preceding the cysteine, also results in Zap70 instability. Collectively, we have identified a new redox-active motif which is crucial for the regulation of Zap70 stability/activity. We believe that this motif has the potential to become a novel target for the development of therapeutic tools to modulate the expression/activity of kinases.

Zebrafish GDNF and its co-receptor GFRα1 activate the human RET receptor and promote the survival of dopaminergic neurons in vitro

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a ligand that activates, through co-receptor GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (GFRα1) and receptor tyrosine kinase “RET”, several signaling pathways crucial in the development and sustainment of multiple neuronal populations. We decided to study whether non-mammalian orthologs of these three proteins have conserved their function: can they activate the human counterparts? Using the baculovirus expression system, we expressed and purified Danio rerio RET, and its binding partners GFRα1 and GDNF, and Drosophila melanogaster RET and two isoforms of co-receptor GDNF receptor-like. Our results report high-level insect cell expression of post-translationally modified and dimerized zebrafish RET and its binding partners. We also found that zebrafish GFRα1 and GDNF are comparably active as mammalian cell-produced ones. We also report the first measurements of the affinity of the complex to RET in solution: at least for zebrafish, the K_d for GFRα1-GDNF binding RET is 5.9 μM. Surprisingly, we also found that zebrafish GDNF as well as zebrafish GFRα1 robustly activated human RET signaling and promoted the survival of cultured mouse dopaminergic neurons with comparable efficiency to mammalian GDNF, unlike E. coli-produced human proteins. These results contradict previous studies suggesting that mammalian GFRα1 and GDNF cannot bind and activate non-mammalian RET and vice versa.

A comprehensive overview of the role of the RET proto-oncogene in thyroid carcinoma

The rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene was identified in 1985 and, very soon thereafter, a rearrangement named RET/PTC was discovered in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). After this discovery, other RET rearrangements were found in PTCs, particularly in those induced by radiation. For many years, it was thought that these genetic alterations only occurred in PTC, but, in the past couple of years, some RET/PTC rearrangements have been found in other human tumours. 5 years after the discovery of RET/PTC rearrangements in PTC, activating point mutations in the RET proto-oncogene were discovered in both hereditary and sporadic forms of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). In contrast to the alterations found in PTC, the activation of RET in MTC is mainly due to activating point mutations. Interestingly, in the past year, RET rearrangements that were different to those described in PTC were observed in sporadic MTC. The identification of RET mutations is relevant to the early diagnosis of hereditary MTC and the prognosis of sporadic MTC. The diagnostic and prognostic role of the RET/PTC rearrangements in PTC is less relevant but still important in patient management, particularly for deciding if a targeted therapy should be initiated. In this Review, we discuss the pathogenic, diagnostic and prognostic roles of the RET proto-oncogene in both PTC and MTC.

Commentary to Gorelenkova Miller and Mieyal (2015): sulfhydryl-mediated redox signaling in inflammation: role in neurodegenerative diseases

Gorelenkova Miller and Mieyal (Arch Toxicol 89(9): 1439-1467, 2015) recently published a review paper suggesting that reversible cysteine plays a key role in redox-linked signal transduction via alteration of protein function, resulting in an association with many diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. Following their suggestions, we considered the correlation between sulfhydryl-mediated redox signaling and neurodegenerative diseases by focusing on RET proteins, a protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) potentially sited upstream of the signal transduction cascade. c-RET is the receptor for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family ligands. c-RET has been reported to be involved in not only Hirschsprung disease via development of the enteric nervous system but also neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We also showed that c-RET might be associated with hearing loss via neurodegeneration of spiral ganglion neurons in the inner ear after birth in mice and humans. Moreover, we have reported that three kinds of oxidative stress, ultraviolet light-induced stress, osmotic stress and arsenic-induced stress, modulate kinase activity of RET-PTC1 without an extracellular domain as well as c-RET by conformational change of RET protein (dimerization) via disulfide bond formation. The oxidative stresses also modulate kinase activity of RET-PTC1 with cysteine 365 (C365) replaced by alanine with promotion of dimer formation, but not with cysteine 376 (C376) replaced by alanine. Since C376 of Ret-PTC-1 or its equivalent is most highly conserved and crucial for activity in PTKs, the cysteine could be one of major targets for oxidative stresses.

A novel hairless mouse model for malignant melanoma

BACKGROUND

An appropriate animal model for malignant melanoma could be a strong tool to develop biomarkers through analysis of melanomagenesis.

OBJECTIVE

Development of a novel animal model that spontaneously develops malignant melanoma with a high percentage.

METHODS

We crossed oncogenic RET (RFP-RET)-carrying transgenic mice of line 304/B6 (RET-mice) with hairless mice (hr/hr) and newly established hairless RFP-RET-transgenic mice of line 304-hr/hr (HL-RET-mice).

RESULTS

The HL-RET-mice developed hyperpigmented skin and benign melanocytic tumors without exception. More importantly, 63.8% (46/72) of the benign tumors were transformed to malignant melanoma in the HL-RET-mice. Mean time until the development of benign melanocytic tumors (2.4 months; n = 102) in the HL-RET-mice was about half of that in the original RET-mice (4.6 months; n = 20). Mean life span in the HL-RET-mice (9.7 months; n = 38) was also significantly (p < 0.01) shorter than that in the original RET-mice (10.8 months; n = 20). Since early development of tumors could contribute to shortening of the research period, HL-RET-mice could be a useful model for analysis of melanomagenesis. We then found that the expression level of Mps one binder kinase activator-like-2B (Mobkl2b) in benign tumors was higher than that in malignant melanoma in HL-RET-mice. Expression level of MOBKL2B in malignant melanoma cell lines was also lower than that in non-malignant melanocytic cells in mice and humans, suggesting that MOBKL2B could be a novel marker for malignant melanoma.

CONCLUSION

We established a novel hairless RET-transgenic mouse line spontaneously developing cutaneous malignant melanomas from benign melanocytic tumors. This mouse model may be useful to find new candidates of melanoma-related molecule.

Molecular Network Associated with MITF in Skin Melanoma Development and Progression

Various environmental and genetic factors affect the development and progression of skin cancers including melanoma. Melanoma development is initially triggered by environmental factors including ultraviolet (UV) light, and then genetic/epigenetic alterations occur in skin melanocytes. These first triggers alter the conditions of numerous genes and proteins, and they induce and/or reduce gene expression and activate and/or repress protein stability and activity, resulting in melanoma progression. Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a master regulator gene of melanocyte development and differentiation and is also associated with melanoma development and progression. To find better approaches to molecular-based therapies for patients, understanding MITF function in skin melanoma development and progression is important. Here, we review the molecular networks associated with MITF in skin melanoma development and progression.

RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/AKT Signaling in Malignant Melanoma Progression and Therapy

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is one of the most serious skin cancers and is highly invasive and markedly resistant to conventional therapy. Melanomagenesis is initially triggered by environmental agents including ultraviolet (UV), which induces genetic/epigenetic alterations in the chromosomes of melanocytes. In human melanomas, the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) and the PI3K/PTEN/AKT (AKT) signaling pathways are two major signaling pathways and are constitutively activated through genetic alterations. Mutations of RAF, RAS, and PTEN contribute to antiapoptosis, abnormal proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion for melanoma development and progression. To find better approaches to therapies for patients, understanding these MAPK and AKT signaling mechanisms of melanoma development and progression is important. Here, we review MAPK and AKT signaling networks associated with melanoma development and progression.

TRIM proteins and cancer

Emerging clinical evidence shows that the deregulation of ubiquitin-mediated degradation of oncogene products or tumour suppressors is likely to be involved in the aetiology of carcinomas and leukaemias. Recent studies have indicated that some members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins (one of the subfamilies of the RING type E3 ubiquitin ligases) function as important regulators for carcinogenesis. This Review focuses on TRIM proteins that are involved in tumour development and progression.

Control of genetically prescribed protein tyrosine kinase activities by environment-linked redox reactions

Recent observations on environment-linked control of genetically prescribed signaling systems for either cell activation or cell death have been reviewed with a focus on the regulation of activities of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). The environment-linked redox reactions seem to primarily affect cell surface receptors and cell membrane lipid rafts, and they induce generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. ROS thus generated might upregulate the catalytic activities of PTKs through inactivating protein tyrosine phosphatases that dephosphorylate and inactivate autophosphorylated PTKs. Recent evidence has, however, demonstrated that ROS could also directly oxidize SH groups of genetically conserved specific cysteines on PTKs, sometimes producing disulfide-bonded dimers of PTK proteins, either for upregulation or downregulation of their catalytic activities. The basic role of the redox reaction/covalent bond-mediated modification of protein tertiary structure-linked noncovalent bond-oriented signaling systems in living organisms is discussed.

c-RET molecule in malignant melanoma from oncogenic RET-carrying transgenic mice and human cell lines

Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers and its incidence worldwide has been increasing at a greater rate than that of any other cancer. We previously reported that constitutively activated RFP-RET-carrying transgenic mice (RET-mice) spontaneously develop malignant melanoma. In this study, we showed that expression levels of intrinsic c-Ret, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf) and Gdnf receptor alpha 1 (Gfra1) transcripts in malignant melanomas from RET-transgenic mice were significantly upregulated compared with those in benign melanocytic tumors. These results suggest that not only introduced oncogenic RET but also intrinsic c-Ret/Gdnf are involved in murine melanomagenesis in RET-mice. We then showed that c-RET and GDNF transcript expression levels in human malignant melanoma cell lines (HM3KO and MNT-1) were higher than those in primary cultured normal human epithelial melanocytes (NHEM), while GFRa1 transcript expression levels were comparable among NHEM, HM3KO and MNT-1. We next showed c-RET and GFRa1 protein expression in HM3KO cells and GDNF-mediated increased levels of their phosphorylated c-RET tyrosine kinase and signal transduction molecules (ERK and AKT) sited potentially downstream of c-RET. Taken together with the finding of augmented proliferation of HM3KO cells after GDNF stimulation, our results suggest that GDNF-mediated c-RET kinase activation is associated with the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma.

Downstream targets and intracellular compartmentalization in Nox signaling

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have become recognized for their role as second messengers in a multitude of physiologic responses. Emerging evidence points to the importance of the NADPH oxidase family of ROS-producing enzymes in mediating redox-sensitive signal transduction. However, a clear paradox exists between the specificity required for signaling and the nature of ROS as both diffusible and highly reactive molecules. We seek to understand the targets and compartmentalization of the NADPH oxidase signaling to determine how NADPH oxidase-derived ROS fit into established signaling paradigms. Herein we review recent data that link cellular NADPH oxidase enzymes to ROS signaling, with a particular focus on the mechanism(s) involved in achieving signaling specificity.

[Ultraviolet irradiation-mediated malignant melanoma induction with RET tyrosine kinase activation]

We previously established a RET-transgenic mouse line (304/B6), in which skin melanosis, benign melanocytic tumors and malignant melanoma spontaneously develop. We found that the activities of RET tyrosine kinase, Erk and c-Jun are definitely upregulated in malignant melanoma in the RET-transgenic mice of line 304/B6. We also established another RET-transgenic mouse line (192), in which skin melanosis and benign melanocytic tumors, but not malignant melanoma, spontaneously develop. Ultraviolet irradiation induced malignant melanoma from benign tumors in the RET-transgenic mice of line 192, and promoted RET tyrosine kinase, Erk and c-Jun activities. These results suggest that the ultraviolet irradiation-mediated enhancement of RET and the activity of its downstream molecules play important roles in malignant melanoma development.

Protective effect of hyperpigmented skin on UV-mediated cutaneous cancer development

Recently, we crossed an original haired RET-transgenic mouse of line 242 with a hairless mouse and established a hairless RET-(HL/RET)-transgenic mouse line (242-hr/hr) with hyperpigmented skin but no tumors. In this study, we examined the effect of hyperpigmented skin in HL/RET-transgenic mice on UV irradiation-mediated cutaneous cancer development. UV irradiation to this mouse line never induced melanoma despite the presence of melanoma-inducible transgenic RET oncogenes. On the contrary, the hyperpigmented skin efficiently protected UV-mediated squamous carcinoma development in the skin. Probably underlying this result, hyperpigmentation protected the skin from damage and blocked the accompanying signal transduction for tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple cellular proteins and activation/phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated, c-Jun N-terminal, and p38 kinases. Thus, we demonstrated hyperpigmentation-mediated in vivo protection against UV irradiation-induced skin cancer.

A Novel Activating Mutation in the RET Tyrosine Kinase Domain Mediates Neoplastic Transformation

We report the finding of a novel missense mutation at codon 833 in the tyrosine kinase of the RET proto-oncogene in a patient with a carcinoma of the thyroid. In vitro experiments demonstrate that the R833C mutation induces transformed foci only when present in the long 3′ splice isoform and, in keeping with a model in which the receptor has to dimerize to be completely activated, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor stimulation leads the RETR833C receptor to a higher level of activation. Tyrosine kinase assays show that the RETR833C long isoform has weak intrinsic kinase activity and phosphorylation of an exogenous substrate is not elevated even in the presence of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. Furthermore, the R833C mutation is capable of sustaining the transformed phenotype in vivo but does not confer upon the transformed cells the ability to degrade the basement membrane in a manner analogous to metastasis. Our functional characterization of the R833C substitution suggests that, like the V804M and S891A mutations, this tyrosine kinase mutation confers a weak activating potential upon RET. This is the first report demonstrating that the introduction of an intracellular cysteine can activate RET. However, this does not occur via dimerization in a manner analogous to the extracellular cysteine mutants.

Redox control of catalytic activities of membrane-associated protein tyrosine kinases

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) play key roles in starting the signal transduction network for cellular development and functions. A number of both receptor-type and non-receptor-type PTKs, which are normally at a resting state, are initially activated in association with functions of the cell membrane and membrane rafts. Results of recent studies have suggested that these membrane-associated mechanisms for activation of PTKs consist of the two steps that are under redox control. The first step is activation of cell surface receptors through chemical crosslinkage or aggregation of receptors and membrane rafts, which leads to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as second messengers of intracellular signal transduction. The second step involves chemical modification of PTKs at the highly conserved cysteine in the MXXCW motif as a global switch for starting the tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent local switch for activation of the catalytic activity of the enzyme.

Identification of RET Autophosphorylation Sites by Mass Spectrometry

The catalytic and signaling activities of RET, a receptor-type tyrosine kinase, are regulated by the autophosphorylation of several tyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic region of RET. Some studies have revealed a few possible autophosphorylation sites of RET by [(32)P]phosphopeptide mapping or by using specific anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. To ultimately identify these and other autophosphorylation sites of RET, we performed mass spectrometry analysis of an originally prepared RET recombinant protein. Both the autophosphorylation and kinase activity of myelin basic protein as an external substrate of the recombinant RET protein were substantially elevated in the presence of ATP without stimulation by a glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, a natural ligand for RET. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that RET Tyr(806), Tyr(809), Tyr(900), Tyr(905), Tyr(981), Tyr(1062), Tyr(1090), and Tyr(1096) were autophosphorylation sites. Levels of autophosphorylation and kinase activity of RET-MEN2A (multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A), a constitutively active form of RET with substitution of Tyr(900) by phenylalanine (Y900F), were comparable with those of original RET-MEN2A, whereas those of the mutant Y905F were greatly decreased. Interestingly, those of a double mutant, Y900F/Y905F, were completely abolished. Both the kinase activity and transforming activity were impaired in the mutants Y806F and Y809F. These results provide convincing evidence for both previously suggested and new tyrosine autophosphorylation sites of RET as well as for novel functions of Tyr(806), Tyr(809), and Tyr(900) phosphorylation in both catalytic kinase activities and cell growth. The significance of the identified autophosphorylation sites in various protein-tyrosine kinases registered in a data base is discussed in this paper.

Redox-linked signal transduction pathways for protein tyrosine kinase activation

The signaling for activation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) is usually started by binding of ligands to cell-surface receptors. However, recent evidence suggests the presence of ligand binding-independent signaling pathways that are mediated by oxidative stress. Oxidation and reduction of protein cysteine sulfhydryl (SH) groups may work as a molecular switch to start or to stop the signaling. It is known that oxidation of cysteine SH groups on protein tyrosine phosphatases switches off the action of protein tyrosine phosphatases. This event may not, however, signal for initial autophosphorylation of previously unphosphorylated PTKs, whereas it certainly prevents dephosphorylation of once-phosphorylated PTKs. We have suggested new mechanisms for oxidative stress-mediated PTK activation. First, cell-surface glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchoring proteins and a phosphoglycolipid/cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomain termed a "raft" can be the direct targets of oxidative stress for inducing their clustering through an S-S-bonded or S-X-S-bonded crosslinking of cell-surface proteins and subsequent activation of raft-associating Src family PTKs. Second, intracellular specific cysteine SH groups on PTK proteins can be another target of oxidative stress for inducing a conformational change necessary for initial activation of PTKs. A possible relationship between cell-surface and intracellular events is that the former frequently induces superoxide production as the second messenger for the latter.