Nuclear substrates of protein kinase C

Nuclear Phosphoinositides: Their Regulation and Roles in Nuclear Functions

Polyphosphoinositides (PPIns) are a family of seven lipid messengers that regulate a vast array of signalling pathways to control cell proliferation, migration, survival and differentiation. PPIns are differentially present in various sub-cellular compartments and, through the recruitment and regulation of specific proteins, are key regulators of compartment identity and function. Phosphoinositides and the enzymes that synthesise and degrade them are also present in the nuclear membrane and in nuclear membraneless compartments such as nuclear speckles. Here we discuss how PPIns in the nucleus are modulated in response to external cues and how they function to control downstream signalling. Finally we suggest a role for nuclear PPIns in liquid phase separations that are involved in the formation of membraneless compartments within the nucleus.

Nucleophosmin mutations in acute myeloid leukemia: a tale of protein unfolding and mislocalization

Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is an abundant, ubiquitously expressed protein mainly localized at nucleoli but continuously shuttling between nucleus and cytoplasm. NPM1 plays a role in several cellular functions, including ribosome biogenesis and export, centrosome duplication, chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and response to stress stimuli. Much of the interest in this protein arises from its relevance in human malignancies. NPM1 is frequently overexpressed in solid tumors and is the target of several chromosomal translocations in hematologic neoplasms. Notably, NPM1 has been characterized as the most frequently mutated gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Mutations alter the C-terminal DNA-binding domain of the protein and result in its aberrant nuclear export and stable cytosolic localization. In this review, we focus on the leukemia-associated NPM1 C-terminal domain and describe its structure, function, and the effect exerted by leukemic mutations. Finally, we discuss the possibility to target NPM1 for the treatment of cancer and, in particular, of AML patients with mutated NPM1 gene.

In silico studies of potential phosphoresidues in the human nucleophosmin/B23: its kinases and related biological processes

Human nucleophosmin/B23 is a phosphoprotein involved in ribosome biogenesis, centrosome duplication, cancer, and apoptosis. Its function, localization, and mobility within cells, are highly regulated by phosphorylation events. Up to 21 phosphosites of B23 have been experimentally verified even though the corresponding kinase is known only for seven of them. In this work, we predict the phosphorylation sites in human B23 using six kinase-specific servers (KinasePhos 2.0, PredPhospho, NetPhosK 1.0, PKC Scan, pkaPS, and MetaPredPS) plus DISPHOS 1.3, which is not kinase specific. The results were integrated with information regarding 3D structure and residue conservation of B23, as well as cellular localizations, cellular processes, signaling pathways and protein-protein interaction networks involving both B23 and each predicted kinase. Thus, all 40 potential phosphosites of B23 were predicted with significant score (>0.50) as substrates of at least one of 38 kinases. Thirteen of these residues are newly proposed showing high susceptibility of phosphorylation considering their solvent accessibility. Our results also suggest that the enzymes CDKs, PKC, CK2, PLK1, and PKA could phosphorylate B23 at higher number of sites than those previously reported. Furthermore, PDK, GSK3, ATM, MAPK, PKB, and CHK1 could mediate multisite phosphorylation of B23, although they have not been verified as kinases for this protein. Finally, we suggest that B23 phosphorylation is related to cellular processes such as apoptosis, cell survival, cell proliferation, and response to DNA damage stimulus, in which these kinases are involved. These predictions could contribute to a better understanding, as well as addressing further experimental studies, of B23 phosphorylation.

Structure of nucleophosmin DNA-binding domain and analysis of its complex with a G-quadruplex sequence from the c-MYC promoter

Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein, mainly localized at nucleoli, that plays a key role in several cellular functions, including ribosome maturation and export, centrosome duplication, and response to stress stimuli. More than 50 mutations at the terminal exon of the NPM1 gene have been identified so far in acute myeloid leukemia; the mutated proteins are aberrantly and stably localized in the cytoplasm due to high destabilization of the NPM1 C-terminal domain and the appearance of a new nuclear export signal. We have shown previously that the 70-residue NPM1 C-terminal domain (NPM1-C70) is able to bind with high affinity a specific region at the c-MYC gene promoter characterized by parallel G-quadruplex structure. Here we present the solution structure of the NPM1-C70 domain and NMR analysis of its interaction with a c-MYC-derived G-quadruplex. These data were used to calculate an experimentally restrained molecular docking model for the complex. The NPM1-C70 terminal three-helix bundle binds the G-quadruplex DNA at the interface between helices H1 and H2 through electrostatic interactions with the G-quadruplex phosphate backbone. Furthermore, we show that the 17-residue lysine-rich sequence at the N terminus of the three-helix bundle is disordered and, although necessary, does not participate directly in the contact surface in the complex.

An extensive tumor array analysis supports tumor suppressive role for nucleophosmin in breast cancer

Nucleophosmin (NPM) is a multifunctional protein involved in a complex network of interactions. The role of NPM in oncogenesis is controversial. The NPM gene (NPM1) is mutated or rearranged in a number of hematological disorders, but such changes have not been detected in solid cancers. However, experiments with cultured NPM-null cells and with mice carrying a single inactivated NPM allele indicate a tumor suppressor function for NPM. To resolve the role of NPM in solid cancers, we examined its expression and localization in histologically normal breast tissue and a large array of human breast carcinoma samples (n = 1160), and also evaluated its association with clinicopathological variables and patient survival. The intensity and localization (nucleolar, nuclear, cytoplasmic) of NPM varied across clinical samples. No mutations explaining the differences were found, but the present findings indicate that expression levels of NPM affected its localization. Our study also revealed a novel granular staining pattern for NPM, which was an independent prognostic factor of poor prognosis. In addition, reduced levels of NPM protein were associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, luminal epithelial cells of histologically normal breast displayed high levels of NPM and overexpression of NPM in the invasive MDA-MB-231 cells abrogated their growth in soft agar. These results support a tumor suppressive role for NPM in breast cancer.

Phosphoproteomics profiling suggests a role for nuclear βΙPKC in transcription processes of undifferentiated murine embryonic stem cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) plays a key role in embryonic stem cell (ESC) proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation. However, the function of specific PKC isoenzymes have yet to be determined. Of the PKCs expressed in undifferentiated ESCs, βIPKC was the only isoenzyme abundantly expressed in the nuclei. To investigate the role of βΙPKC in these cells, we employed a phosphoproteomics strategy and used two classical (cPKC) peptide modulators and one βIPKC-specific inhibitor peptide. We identified 13 nuclear proteins that are direct or indirect βΙPKC substrates in undifferentiated ESCs. These proteins are known to be involved in regulating transcription, splicing, and chromatin remodeling during proliferation and differentiation. Inhibiting βΙPKC had no effect on DNA synthesis in undifferentiated ESCs. However, upon differentiation, many cells seized to express βΙPKC and βΙPKC was frequently found in the cytoplasm. Taken together, our results suggest that βIPKC takes part in the processes that maintain ESCs in their undifferentiated state.

A proteomic approach to identify candidate substrates of human adenovirus E4orf6-E1B55K and other viral cullin-based E3 ubiquitin ligases

It has been known for some time that the human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) E4orf6 and E1B55K proteins work in concert to degrade p53 and to regulate selective export of late viral mRNAs during productive infection. Both of these functions rely on the formation by the Ad5 E4orf6 protein of a cullin 5-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complex containing elongins B and C. E1B55K is believed to function as the substrate recognition module for the complex and, in addition to p53, Mre11 and DNA ligase IV have also been identified as substrates. To discover additional substrates we have taken a proteomic approach by using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis to detect cellular proteins that decrease significantly in amount in p53-null H1299 human lung carcinoma cells after expression of E1B55K and E4orf6 using adenovirus vectors. Several species were detected and identified by mass spectroscopy, and for one of these, integrin alpha3, we went on in a parallel study to confirm it as a bone fide substrate of the complex (F. Dallaire et al., J. Virol. 83:5329-5338, 2009). Although the system has some limitations, it may still be of some general use in identifying candidate substrates of any viral cullin-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, and we suggest a series of criteria for substrate validation.

Modulation of phosphoinositide-protein kinase C signal transduction by omega-3 fatty acids: implications for the pathophysiology and treatment of recurrent neuropsychiatric illness

The phosphoinositide (PI)-protein kinase C (PKC) signal transduction pathway is initiated by pre- and postsynaptic Galphaq-coupled receptors, and regulates several clinically relevant neurochemical events, including neurotransmitter release efficacy, monoamine receptor function and trafficking, monoamine transporter function and trafficking, axonal myelination, and gene expression. Mounting evidence for PI-PKC signaling hyperactivity in the peripheral (platelets) and central (premortem and postmortem brain) tissues of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, coupled with evidence that PI-PKC signal transduction is down-regulated in rat brain following chronic, but not acute, treatment with antipsychotic, mood-stabilizer, and antidepressant medications, suggest that PI-PKC hyperactivity is central to an underlying pathophysiology. Evidence that membrane omega-3 fatty acids act as endogenous antagonists of the PI-PKC signal transduction pathway, coupled with evidence that omega-3 fatty acid deficiency is observed in peripheral and central tissues of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, support the hypothesis that omega-3 fatty acid deficiency may contribute to elevated PI-PKC activity in these illnesses. The data reviewed in this paper outline a potential molecular mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids could contribute to the pathophysiology and treatment of recurrent neuropsychiatric illness.

Post-translational modification of delta antigen of hepatitis D virus

The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) genome has only one open reading frame, which encodes the viral small delta antigen. After RNA editing, the same open reading frame is extended 19 amino acids at the carboxyl terminus and encodes the large delta antigen. These two viral proteins escort the HDV genome through different cellular compartments for the complicated phases of replication, transcription and, eventually, the formation of progeny virions. To orchestrate these events, the delta antigens have to take distinct cues to traffic to the right compartments and make correct molecular contacts. In eukaryotes, post-translational modification (PTM) is a major mechanism of dictating the multiple functions of a single protein. Multiple PTMs, including phosphorylation, isoprenylation, acetylation, and methylation, have been identified on hepatitis delta antigens. In this chapter we review these PTMs and discuss their functions in regulating and coordinating the life cycle of HDV.

Nuclear protein kinase C

Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes constitute a family of ubiquitous phosphotransferases which act as key transducers in many agonist-induced signaling cascades. To date, at least 11 different PKC isotypes have been identified and are believed to play distinct regulatory roles. PKC isoforms are physiologically activated by a number of lipid cofactors. PKC is thought to reside in the cytoplasm in an inactive conformation and to translocate to the plasma membrane or cytoplasmic organelles upon cell activation by different stimuli. However, a sizable body of evidence collected over the last 20 years has shown PKC to be capable of translocating to the nucleus. Furthermore, PKC isoforms are resident within the nucleus. Studies from independent laboratories have to led to the identification of quite a few nuclear proteins which are PKC substrates and to the characterization of nuclear PKC-binding proteins which may be critical for finely tuning PKC function in this cell microenvironment. Several lines of evidence suggest that nuclear PKC isozymes are involved in the regulation of biological processes as important as cell proliferation and differentiation, gene expression, neoplastic transformation, and apoptosis. In this review, we shall highlight the most intriguing and updated findings about the functions of nuclear PKC isozymes.

Nucleophosmin/B23, a Nuclear PI(3,4,5)P3 Receptor, Mediates the Antiapoptotic Actions of NGF by Inhibiting CAD

Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P(3)] is an essential second messenger implicated in various cellular processes. Cytoplasmic PI(3,4,5)P(3) has been well characterized, but little is known about the physiological role of nuclear PI(3,4,5)P(3). Here, we describe a nuclear PI(3,4,5)P(3) receptor, nucleophosmin (NPM)/B23, that mediates the antiapoptotic effects of NGF by inhibiting DNA fragmentation activity of caspase-activated DNase (CAD). Employing PI(3,4,5)P(3) column and NGF-treated PC12 nuclear extracts, we identified B23 as a nuclear PI(3,4,5)P(3) binding protein. Purification from nuclear extract demonstrates that B23 contributes to DNA fragmentation inhibitory activity. Depletion of B23 from nuclear extracts or knockdown B23 in PC12 cells abolishes NGF-provoked protective effect, whereas overexpression of B23 in PC12 cells prevents apoptosis. Further, hydrolyzing PI(3,4,5)P(3) with PTEN or SHIP abrogates its antiapoptotic activity. Moreover, B23 mutants that can not associate with PI(3,4,5)P(3) fail to prevent DNA fragmentation. Thus, the nuclear B23-PI(3,4,5)P(3) complex regulates the antiapoptotic activity of NGF in the nucleus.

Identification of the linker histone H1 as a protein kinase Cepsilon-binding protein in vascular smooth muscle

A variety of anchoring proteins target specific protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes to particular subcellular locations or multimeric signaling complexes, thereby achieving a high degree of substrate specificity by localizing the kinase in proximity to specific substrates. PKCepsilon is widely expressed in smooth muscle tissues, but little is known about its targeting and substrate specificity. We have used a Far-Western (overlay) approach to identify PKCepsilon-binding proteins in vascular smooth muscle of the rat aorta. Proteins of approximately 32 and 34 kDa in the Triton-insoluble fraction were found to bind PKCepsilon in a phospholipid/diacylglycerol-dependent manner. Although of similar molecular weight to RACK-1, a known PKCepsilon-binding protein, these proteins were separated from RACK-1 by SDS-PAGE and differential NaCl extraction and were not recognized by an antibody to RACK-1. The PKCepsilon-binding proteins were further purified from the Triton-insoluble fraction and identified by de novo sequencing of selected tryptic peptides by tandem mass spectrometry as variants of the linker histone H1. Their identity was confirmed by Western blotting with anti-histone H1 and the demonstration that purified histone H1 binds PKCepsilon in the presence of phospholipid and diacylglycerol but absence of Ca(2+). The interaction of PKCepsilon with histone H1 was specific since no interaction was observed with histones H2A, H2S or H3S. Bound PKCepsilon phosphorylated histone H1 in a phospholipid/diacylglycerol-dependent but Ca(2+)-independent manner. Ca(2+)-dependent PKC was also shown to interact with histone H1 but not other histones. These results suggest that histone H1 is both an anchoring protein and a substrate for activated PKCepsilon and other PKC isoenzymes and likely serves to localize activated PKCs that translocate to the nucleus in the vicinity of specific nuclear substrates including histone H1 itself. Since PKC isoenzymes have been implicated in regulation of gene expression, stable interaction with histone H1 may be an important step in this process.

c-Myc-mediated expression of nucleophosmin/B23 decreases during retinoic acid-induced differentiation of human leukemia HL-60 cells

The retinoic acid-induced differentiation of human leukemia HL-60 cells towards mature granulocytic cells was accompanied by the decline in the protein levels of c-myc, nucleophosmin/B23 and its promoter activity. These RA-induced effects were further enhanced by the concurrent treatment of HL-60 cells with p38 map kinase inhibitor SB203580 (SB). It seems that there is a strong correlation of nucleophosmin/B23 and c-Myc expressions in cells under RA treatment. Furthermore, nucleophosmin/B23 promoter activity decreased upon c-Myc antisense-mediated reduction of intracellular amount of c-Myc. CHIP assays showed that binding of c-Myc to the nucleophosmin/B23 promoter decreased in RA-treated cells. Thus, nucleophosmin/B23 expression is targeted by c-Myc during RA-induced differentiation. These results provide evidence for a novel mechanism of transcriptional downregulation of nucleophosmin/B23 and the functional role of c-Myc in RA-induced differentiation.

Antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer and the role of estrogen receptor signaling

Antiestrogens include agents such as tamoxifen, toremifene, raloxifene, and fulvestrant. Currently, tamoxifen is the only drug approved for use in breast cancer chemoprevention, and it remains the treatment of choice for most women with hormone receptor positive, invasive breast carcinoma. While antiestrogens have been available since the early 1970s, we still do not fully understand their mechanisms of action and resistance. Essentially, two forms of antiestrogen resistance occur: de novo resistance and acquired resistance. Absence of estrogen receptor (ER) expression is the most common de novo resistance mechanism, whereas a complete loss of ER expression is not common in acquired resistance. Antiestrogen unresponsiveness appears to be the major acquired resistance phenotype, with a switch to an antiestrogen-stimulated growth being a minor phenotype. Since antiestrogens compete with estrogens for binding to ER, clinical response to antiestrogens may be affected by exogenous estrogenic exposures. Such exposures include estrogenic hormone replacement therapies and dietary and environmental exposures that directly or indirectly increase a tumor's estrogenic environment. Whether antiestrogen resistance can be conferred by a switch from predominantly ERalpha to ERbeta expression remains unanswered, but predicting response to antiestrogen therapy requires only measurement of ERalpha expression. The role of altered receptor coactivator or corepressor expression in antiestrogen resistance also is unclear, and understanding their roles may be confounded by their ubiquitous expression and functional redundancy. We have proposed a gene network approach to exploring the mechanistic aspects of antiestrogen resistance. Using transcriptome and proteome analyses, we have begun to identify candidate genes that comprise one component of a larger, putative gene network. These candidate genes include NFkappaB, interferon regulatory factor-1, nucleophosmin, and the X-box binding protein-1. The network also may involve signaling through ras and MAPK, implicating crosstalk with growth factors and cytokines. Ultimately, signaling affects the expression/function of the proliferation and/or apoptotic machineries.

Conventional and nonconventional roles of the nucleolus

As the most prominent of subnuclear structures, the nucleolus has a well-established role in ribosomal subunit assembly. Additional nucleolar functions, not related to ribosome biogenesis, have been discovered within the last decade. Built around multiple copies of the genes for preribosomal RNA (rDNA), nucleolar structure is largely dependent on the process of ribosome assembly. The nucleolus is disassembled during mitosis at which time preribosomal RNA transcription and processing are suppressed; it is reassembled at the end of mitosis in part from components preserved from the previous cell cycle. Expression of preribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) is regulated by the silencing of individual rDNA genes via alterations in chromatin structure or by controlling RNA polymerase I initiation complex formation. Preribosomal RNA processing and posttranscriptional modifications are guided by a multitude of small nucleolar RNAs. Nearly completed ribosomal subunits are exported to the cytoplasm by an established nuclear export system with the aid of specialized adapter molecules. Some preribosomal and nucleolar components are transiently localized in Cajal bodies, presumably for modification or assembly. The nonconventional functions of nucleolus include roles in viral infections, nuclear export, sequestration of regulatory molecules, modification of small RNAs, RNP assembly, and control of aging, although some of these functions are not well established. Additional progress in defining the mechanisms of each step in ribosome biogenesis as well as clarification of the precise role of the nucleolus in nonconventional activities is expected in the next decade.

Alteration of protein kinase C isoforms in the liver of septic rat

The present study investigated the alteration of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in rat liver during the progression of sepsis. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of polymicrobial sepsis was used, with early and late sepsis referring to those animals sacrificed at 9 and 18 h, respectively, after CLP. The protein contents of various PKC isoforms were quantified by Western blot and densitometric analysis. PKCalpha activity was performed after immunoprecipitation and assayed based on the incorporation rate of 32p from [gamma-32p] adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into histone. The distribution of PKCalpha was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. The steady state expression of PKCalpha mRNA was estimated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results indicated that 1) five isoforms (alpha, beta, delta, epsilon, zeta) could be detected in normal rat liver. PKCalpha and beta were predominantly present in the cytosolic fraction, while membrane-associated PKCdelta was more prominent than that of cytosolic fraction; 2) the protein content of membrane-associated PKCalpha was significantly decreased at early (P < 0.05) and late (P < 0.01) sepsis; 3) there was no significant difference of protein contents of PKC-delta, -epsilon and -zeta between sham-operated and septic rat liver; 4) the activity of membrane-associated PKCalpha was significantly declined under detection level during sepsis; 5) at both early and late sepsis, the immunohistochemical staining of PKCalpha was significantly diminished, especially in the nucleus; 6) the RT-PCR product of PKCalpha mRNA of septic liver was significantly less than the sham-operated liver. These results suggest that inactivation and the suppression of PKC-alpha gene transcription might be involved in modulating hepatic failure during sepsis.

Molecular and pharmacological aspects of antiestrogen resistance

Endocrine therapy is effective in approximately one-third of all breast cancers and up to 80% of tumors that express both estrogen and progesterone receptors. Despite the low toxicity, good overall response rates, and additional benefits associated with its partial agonist activity, most Tamoxifen-responsive breast cancers acquire resistance. The development of new antiestrogens, both steroidal and non-steroidal, provides the opportunity for the development of non-cross-resistant therapies and the identification of additional mechanisms of action and resistance. Drug-specific pharmacologic mechanisms may confer a resistance phenotype, reflecting the complexities of both tumor biology/pharmacology and the molecular endocrinology of steroid hormone action. However, since all antiestrogens will be effective only in cells that express estrogen receptors (ER), many mechanisms will likely be directly related to ER expression and signaling. For example, loss of ER expression/function is likely to confer a cross-resistance phenotype across all structural classes of antiestrogens. Altered expression of ERalpha and ERbeta, and/or signaling from transcription complexes driven by these receptors, may produce drug-specific resistance phenotypes. We have begun to study the possible changes in gene expression that may occur as cells acquire resistance to steroidal and non-steroidal antiestrogens. Our preliminary studies implicate the altered expression of several estrogen-regulated genes. However, resistance to antiestrogens is likely to be a multigene phenomenon, involving a network of interrelated signaling pathways. The way in which this network is adapted by cells may vary among tumors, consistent with the existence of a highly plastic and adaptable genotype within breast cancer cells.

In vivo interaction of nucleophosmin/B23 and protein C23 during cell cycle progression in HeLa cells

By using the cross-linking reagent, DSP, efforts were made to identify the protein(s) that interact with nucleophosmin/B23. A cross-linked protein complex at molecular weight of about 140 kDa was recognized by both nucleophosmin/B23 and protein C23 MAbs. Both C23 and nucleophosmin/B23 could be detected from the cross-linked complex immunoprecipitated by C23 MAb. The association between nucleophosmin/B23 and protein C23 while being observed at interphase and cytokinesis, was not detected in prometaphase and metaphase cells. Interactions of nucleophosmin/B23 with C23 not only could be found in cells in which nucleophosmin/B23 and C23 were both mainly localized to the nucleolus, but also in cells in which nucleophosmin/B23 and C23 had translocated from the nucleolus to the nucleoplasm during actinomycin D-induced cell growth inhibition. The purified recombinant GST-B23 being phosphorylated by prometaphase cell extracts (nocodazole-arrested cells) or cdc2 kinase could still be co-immunoprecipitated with C23. Consequently, the fact that nucleophosmin/B23 did not interact with C23 during mitosis could not be explained simply by mitotic phosphorylation of nucleophosmin/B23. Our findings suggest some possibilities for further elucidation of the actions of nucleophosmin/B23 and protein C23 in cell cycle progression and cell growth.

Antisense inhibition of protein kinase Calpha reverses the transformed phenotype in human lung carcinoma cells

The protein kinase C (PKC) family, which functions through serine/threonine kinase activity, is involved in signal transduction pathways necessary for cell proliferation and differentiation. Its critical role in processes relevant to neoplastic transformation and tumor invasion renders PKC a potentially suitable target for anticancer therapy. To explore whether antisense blocking of PKCalpha would inhibit the neoplastic properties in tumor cells, human lung carcinoma LTEPa-2 cells were transfected with a recombinant plasmid, pXJ41-CKPalpha, with PKCalpha cDNA inserted in the antisense orientation. In LT.AS4 cell clones stably expressing antisense PKCalpha mRNA, the amounts of PKCalpha protein and total PKC activity were decreased when compared to control cells. The expression of antisense PKCalpha markedly inhibited the cell proliferation rate, colony forming efficiency in soft agar, and tumorigenecity in nude mice. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of oncogenes (Ha-ras, c-jun, and c-fos) were seen to decrease to varying degrees. Reduced DNA binding activity of transcription factor AP-1 was also observed using gel shift analysis, suggesting that one major molecular mechanism by which PKCalpha can exert its effects on cell growth and transformation is through regulation of AP-1 transcription factor activity. Taken together, these data provide evidence for the ability of antisense PKCalpha expression to reverse the transformed phenotype of human lung carcinoma cells and support the development of PKCalpha inhibitors for the clinical treatment of cancers.

Changes in nuclear protein kinase C-delta holoenzyme, its catalytic fragments, and its activity in polyomavirus-transformed pyF111 rat fibroblasts while proliferating and following exposure to apoptogenic topoisomerase-II inhibitors

Protein kinase C-delta (PKC-delta) appears to be variously involved in proliferation and apoptosis. To compare the changes of this enzyme in these two processes, we have determined the levels and activities of the 79-kDa PKC-delta holoenzyme and its catalytically active 47- and 40-kDa C-terminal fragments in the nuclei of proliferating untreated polyomavirus-transformed pyF111 rat fibroblasts and pyF111 cells treated with the apoptogenic topoisomerase-II inhibitors VP-16 (etoposide), VM-26 (teniposide), and doxorubicin. PyF111 cells were chosen because they hyperexpress PKC-delta and they are hypersusceptible to apoptosis because they do not express the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL. The highest PKC-delta activity in cells before they started proliferating or were exposed to one of the inhibitors was in the NM (nuclear envelope-containing) fraction, which contained the holoenzyme and both C-terminal fragments, while only the two fragments were in the nucleoplasmic (NP) fraction where they were tightly associated with chromatin. When the cells began proliferating the amounts of the PKC-delta holoenzyme and the two fragments increased in the NM and the NP fractions and the already high PKC-delta activity either increased or stayed the same in these fractions until the end of the 72-h incubation. And there was no leakage of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm. VP-16 exposure caused a prompt release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol and at the same time triggered a sharp drop (35% by 3 h and 60% by 6 h) in the PKC-delta activity in the NM fraction without changing the actual amounts of the holoenzyme or its fragments. This prompt inactivation of PKC-delta and its fragments during the first 6 h of exposure to the drug was not due to their dephosphorylation and could not be reversed by phosphatidylserine and/or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Between 6 and 24 h the PKC-delta activity in the NM fraction dropped a further 20%, the kinase's activity transiently surged in the NP fraction, and cytoplasmic CPP-32-like (DEVD-specific caspase) activity increased without an increase in the proteolysis of nuclear PKC-delta or PARP. Between 24 and 72 h nuclear CPP-32-like activity increased along with a massive proteolysis of PKC-delta, an accumulation of various PKC-delta fragments, and the cleavage of PARP. But despite this proteolysis, the cells were still able to maintain or even increase the amounts of holoenzyme and 40- and 47-kDa fragments in the NM and NP fractions before dying. VM-26 and doxorubicin caused the same prompt release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and dramatic drop of NM PKC-delta activity as did VP-16. Thus, high levels of activity of nuclear PKC-delta, particularly PKC-delta in the nuclear membrane, might have a role driving the cell cycle of pyF111 cells. On the other hand, the prompt and sustained large drop in the activity of PKC-delta at this site that precedes the onset of the caspase-mediated proteolysis of the isoform may be involved in starting and driving apoptogenesis in pyF111 fibroblasts exposed to topoisomerase-II inhibitors.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analyses identify nucleophosmin as an estrogen regulated protein associated with acquired estrogen-independence in human breast cancer cells

We have used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to identify proteins associated with estrogen-induced proliferation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their progression to estrogen-independent proliferation. We compared the total cellular proteins from MCF-7 cells and an estrogen independent derivative of the MCF-7 cells MCF-7/LCC1 (Brünner et al. Cancer Research 1993, 53, 283-290), each grown with and without estradiol. These comparisons reveal seven estrogen-regulated proteins. Three of these proteins (HI-1: 36 kDa/pI 4.5, HI-10: 40 kDa/pI 5.5 and HI-19: 62 kDa/pI 5.0) exhibit a 'progression-like' pattern, being induced by estradiol in MCF-7 cells and constitutively present/upregulated in the MCF-7/LCC1 growing without estradiol. HI-11 (65 kDa/pI 5.5) is strongly induced by estradiol in MCF-7 cells but constitutively downregulated and unresponsive to estradiol in the MCF-7/LCC1 cells. Two proteins exhibit a suppressor pattern and are downregulated by estradiol in the estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells (HI-3: 44 kDa/pI 4.4 and HI-4: 56 kDa/ pI 5.2) and present in MCF-7/LCC1 cells growing without estradiol at levels comparable to that seen in estrogen-treated MCF-7 cells. One protein (HI-9: 68 kDa/pI 5.5) exhibits a marked estrogen regulated pI shift, rather than changes in abundance. We purified and sequenced the HI-10 protein, which we identified as the nucleolar protein, nucleophosmin (NPM). One- and two-dimensional Western blot analyses of MCF-7/LCC1 cell lysates confirmed that HI-10 is immunoreactive with an antinucleophosmin antibody. Western blotting also confirmed the estrogenic regulation of NPM seen in the initial two-dimensional gel electrophoresis studies. Thus, NPM is induced by estradiol in the MCF-7 cells and upregulated in the MCF-7/LCC1 cells growing without estrogen, clearly associating its expression with an acquired estrogen-independent phenotype. NPM has several potentially important roles in regulating cell function and signaling. It is a substrate for phosphorylation by p34cdc2 kinase, protein kinase C and nuclear kinase II, and a repressor of the transcriptional regulating activities of both the IRF-1 tumor suppressor protein and the YY1 transcription factor. Studies are currently underway to determine which of these NPM functions may be involved in the hormonal progression of breast cancer.

Inhibition of membrane lipid-independent protein kinase Calpha activity by phorbol esters, diacylglycerols, and bryostatin-1

The activity of membrane-associated protein kinase C (PKC) has previously been shown to be regulated by two discrete high and low affinity binding regions for diacylglycerols and phorbol esters (Slater, S. J., Ho, C., Kelly, M. B., Larkin, J. D., Taddeo, F. J., Yeager, M. D., and Stubbs, C. D. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 4627-4631). PKC is also known to interact with both cytoskeletal and nuclear proteins; however, less is known concerning the mode of activation of this non-membrane form of PKC. By using the fluorescent phorbol ester, sapintoxin D (SAPD), PKCalpha, alone, was found to possess both low and high affinity phorbol ester-binding sites, showing that interaction with these sites does not require association with the membrane. Importantly, a fusion protein containing the isolated C1A/C1B (C1) domain of PKCalpha also bound SAPD with low and high affinity, indicating that the sites may be confined to this domain rather than residing elsewhere on the enzyme molecule. Both high and low affinity interactions with native PKCalpha were enhanced by protamine sulfate, which activates the enzyme without requiring Ca2+ or membrane lipids. However, this "non-membrane" PKC activity was inhibited by the phorbol ester 4beta-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and also by the fluorescent analog, SAPD, opposite to its effect on membrane-associated PKCalpha. Bryostatin-1 and the soluble diacylglycerol, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol, both potent activators of membrane-associated PKC, also competed for both low and high affinity SAPD binding and inhibited protamine sulfate-induced activity. Furthermore, the inactive phorbol ester analog 4alpha-TPA (4alpha-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) also inhibited non-membrane-associated PKC. In keeping with these observations, although TPA could displace high affinity SAPD binding from both forms of the enzyme, 4alpha-TPA was only effective at displacing high affinity SAPD binding from non-membrane-associated PKC. 4alpha-TPA also displaced SAPD from the isolated C1 domain. These results show that although high and low affinity phorbol ester-binding sites are found on non-membrane-associated PKC, the phorbol ester binding properties change significantly upon association with membranes.

Application of two-dimensional protein gels in biotechnology

The optimal use of biological systems for technologically developed products will not be achieved until biological systems are completely defined in biochemical terms. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 2-D gels, are contributing to this goal. These gels separate complex mixtures of proteins into individual polypeptide species. The ultimate use of 2-D gels is the construction of cellular 2-D gel databases which identify the proteins on the gels and catalog their responses to different environmental conditions. In addition to these global analyses, many applications for 2-D gels in basic, applied and clinical research have been shown.

Evidence for the ability of nucleophosmin/B23 to bind ATP

By taking advantage of its ability to be retained by ATP-agarose, we have demonstrated that nucleophosmin/B23 is capable of binding ATP. The specificity of the binding was confirmed by the absence of significant binding to AMP-agarose and by its loss when nucleophosmin/B23 in nuclear extracts was preincubated with ATP. Preincubation of the nuclear extracts with other ribonucleotide triphosphates (GTP, CTP, UTP) did not compete for the binding of nucleophosmin/B23 to ATP-agarose. The purified recombinant nucleophosmin/B23 was also able to be retained by ATP-agarose. The Kd for binding of ATP to the purified recombinant nucleophosmin/B23, on the basis of retention on a nitrocellulose membrane, was 86.5+/-8.3 microM; the number of binding sites was 0.68 per nucleophosmin/B23 protein molecule. To determine the possible ATP-binding site of nucleophosmin/B23, various deletion clones including the two mutants in which the putative ATP-binding sequence had been deleted were constructed. Deletion of the portions of the molecule (residues 83-152 and 185-240) had little effect on the ATP binding. The C-terminal deleted mutant (residue 242 to the C-terminus deleted) lost most of its ability to be retained by ATP-agarose and to bind [alpha-32P]ATP on a nitrocellulose membrane. The results indicate that the C-terminal portion (residues 242-294) contains the essential ATP-binding site of nucleophosmin/B23.

Upregulation of nuclear PKC and MAP-kinase during hyperproliferation of guinea pig epidermis: modulation by 13-(S)-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE)

13-(S)-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), the lipoxygenase metabolite of linoleic acid, has been shown to reverse the epidermal hyperproliferation induced by topical application of docosahexaenoic acid (DNA, 22:6 n-3) on guinea pig skin. Our initial studies demonstrated that 13-HODE exerts a selective inhibition of the membrane-bound PKC-beta activity in the hyperproliferative skin. To delineate the antiproliferative effects of 13-HODE, we investigated the nuclear events associated with this process. Our data demonstrated that the major PKC isozymes in the epidermal nuclear fraction are alpha and zeta. Epidermal hyperproliferation induced by DHA caused an increase in nuclear total PKC and atypical PKC activities, and this was accompanied by an increase in the two nuclear isozymes, alpha and zeta (P < 0.05). This increase was reversed after topical application of 13-HODE. Similarly, 13-HODE suppressed elevated nuclear MAP-kinase. Taken together, these data suggest that nuclear signalling events in the epidermis involve PKC-MAP-kinase pathway.

Subnuclear localization of protein kinase C delta in beta cells

Our laboratory has previously shown that beta cells express multiple isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) and that some isoforms are located to multiple pools within the cell, including the cytoskeletal elements. In this study we analyzed the localization of the delta, epsilon, zeta, beta, and alpha isoforms of PKC to the nucleus. Nuclei were isolated from insulinoma beta cells and fractionated by centrifugation to give the nuclear soluble fraction, nuclear membrane fraction, and the insoluble matrix. The nuclear pellet was enriched in DNA and contained less than 5% of the total cellular nucleotidase activity. The nuclear membrane contained less than 2% of the total cellular nucleotidase activity, suggesting negligible plasma membrane contamination. Analysis of cellular fractions by immunoblotting with isoform-specific anti-PKC antibodies showed that PKC alpha, beta, zeta, and epsilon could be detected in the soluble fraction of the cell but could not be detected in the nucleus. Only PKC delta could be detected in the nucleus and was mostly present in the nuclear membrane fraction. There was light staining in the nucleocytosol and the nuclear matrix but the enzyme in the nuclear membrane represented approximately 76% of the total nuclear enzyme. Nuclear PKC delta constituted approximately 9% of the total cellular enzyme. Phorbol ester (1 microM, 15 min) increased the levels associated with the nuclear membrane approximately threefold but not to the nuclear matrix or nucleocytosol. Inhibition of PKC with MDL 29152 increased levels of preproinsulin mRNA relative to beta-actin mRNA levels, while chronic phorbol ester treatment led to a slight decrease. Taken together, these data suggest that PKC is constitutively active in the nucleus and may be important in modulating preproinsulin mRNA levels.

NO38 expression and nucleolar counts are correlated with cellular DNA content but not with proliferation parameters in colorectal carcinomas

AIMS

To investigate the expression of nucleolar protein NO38, to determine the numbers of nucleoli per cell, and to examine the relations of these nucleolar parameters to tumour DNA index, total cellular DNA content, S phase fraction, and Ki67 labelling index.

METHODS

36 colorectal tumours and 14 normal mucosas were studied. An anti-NO38 monoclonal antibody, 31A12, and flow cytometric analysis were used to detect expression of NO38 by means of a biotin-streptavidin-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) staining method. Nucleolar counts were determined using fluorescence microscopy. Flow cytometry was used to determine tumour DNA indices and the sizes of the S phase fractions. Ki67 labelling indices were determined from tissue sections stained immunohistochemically with the MIB-1 antibody against the Ki67 nuclear protein.

RESULTS

Generally, tumour cell nucleoli were larger and more irregular in shape compared with nucleoli in normal mucosal cells. DNA aneuploid and diploid tumours expressed 2.8 and 2.1 times more NO38 than normal mucosa. The mean (SD) values for nucleolar counts were higher for the DNA aneuploid tumours (3.81 (0.93)) than the diploid tumours (2.62 (0.38)) and normal mucosa (2.34 (0.37)). NO38 expression and numbers of nucleoli correlated significantly (r = 0.52, p = 0.01). There were, however, no significant correlations between these nucleolar parameters and either the sizes of tumour S phase fractions or Ki67 labelling indices. Cell cycle resolved expression of NO38 in tumours and normal mucosa demonstrated that expression increased approximately in proportion to the DNA content throughout the cell cycle. In aneuploid tumours, NO38 expression was 43% and 98% higher in S and G2 phases, respectively, compared with the G1 phase. Sorting of these populations revealed that the nucleolar count also increased as the DNA content increased but by only 29% and 47% in S and G2, respectively. Apoptotic cells lacked NO38.

CONCLUSIONS

NO38 expression is higher in tumours than in normal mucosa owing to the increased DNA content and larger nucleoli in tumours; expression increases proportionally with DNA content as cells progress through the cell cycle from G1 through S and G2. However, NO38 expression does not correlate with the tumour S phase fraction or Ki67 labelling index and is lost during apoptosis. Also the results suggest that nucleoli grow in size during the cell cycle, which would account for the doubling of NO38 expression from G1 to G2, as the nucleolar count increased by only 47%.

Nuclear accumulation of multiple protein kinases during prolactin-induced proliferation of Nb2 rat lymphoma cells

Intracellular kinases play important roles in signal transduction and are involved in the surface receptor-mediated regulation of cellular functions, including mitogenesis. In the present study, we examined the possible involvement of various protein kinases in the passage of a mitogenic signal from the cell surface to the nucleus of Nb2 cells, a rat nodal lymphoma cell line in which prolactin is a mitogen. Following a prolactin challenge, various kinase activities were monitored at short intervals in different cellular fractions over a 60 min period. Protein kinase C (PKC) activity in the cytosolic fraction rapidly declined to 50% of its original activity within the first 30 min, while PKC activity in the nuclear fractions increased sharply, reaching its highest level by 30 min following a prolactin challenge. There were also increases in both casein kinase and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activities in the nuclear fractions during the first 30 min following a prolactin challenge that paralleled PKC activity. The activities of all three kinases declined thereafter, reaching levels close to their respective basal values by 60 min following initiation of prolactin treatment. These observations suggest the possibility that multiple protein kinases may be involved in mitogenic signal transduction for prolactin in Nb2 cells.

Membrane and cytosolic protein phosphorylation patterns in the early stages of DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats fed a high or low protein diet

The membrane and cytosolic protein phosphorylation patterns in the early stages of diethylnitrosamine-induced rat liver carcinogenesis, promoted by 2-acetylaminofluorene in the diet plus partial hepatectomy (DEN-AAF-PH), were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in animals fed a low protein (5% casein) diet, or the original high protein (24% casein) diet, in order to modulate the development of GST-P-positive preneoplastic lesions. Compared with untreated controls, membrane and cytosolic protein phosphorylation patterns changed only slightly in low protein-fed rats 7 days post-hepatectomy, with no appearance of enzyme-altered hyperplastic foci in the liver sections. By contrast, high protein-fed animals demonstrated GST-P-positive preneoplastic lesions 7 days post-hepatectomy and several acidic and more basic high M(r) phosphorylated membrane (between 97 and 116 kDa) as well as cytosolic (between 97 and 200 kDa) proteins could be detected. In the presence of enzyme-altered hepatocytes in the liver sections, low protein-fed rats demonstrated at 60 days post-hepatectomy cytosolic protein phosphorylation patterns remarkably similar to those shown by 24% casein-fed animals at 7 days post-hepatectomy, suggesting close correlation between protein phosphorylation patterns and development of preneoplastic lesions during the early stages of DEN-AAF-PH liver carcinogenesis. This may arise by a constitutive activation of one or more signal transduction pathways, possibly involving protein kinase C, during liver tumour promotion.

The nuclear pore complex protein p62 is one of several sialic acid-containing proteins of the nuclear envelope

While investigating the glycosylation of nuclear envelope proteins of neuroblastoma cells, we found several proteins that bound the sialic acid-specific Sambucus nigra agglutinin. The strongest signals were obtained for proteins with apparent molecular masses of 66 and 180 kDa. The specificity of the lectin binding was checked by acylneuraminyl hydrolase treatment of nuclear envelope proteins, which prohibited S. nigra agglutinin binding. Digestion of nuclear envelope proteins with the N-glycosidase F revealed that sialic acid was N-glycosidically linked to the 180-kDa protein and very probably O-glycosidically linked to the 66-kDa protein. Upon extraction, the latter behaved like the nucleoporin p62 in that it was partly extracted by high ionic strength buffers, could not be solubilized by nonionic detergent, and was completely removed from the nuclear envelope with urea. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic comparison showed that the S. nigra agglutinin-binding protein and p62 have an identical isoelectric point of about 5.0 and an identical apparent molecular mass of 66 kDa. This, together with the binding of the anti-nucleoporin antibody, demonstrated the identity of the 66-kDa sialoprotein and p62. S. nigra agglutinin inhibits nuclear protein transport in neuroblastoma cells, strongly suggesting a functional significance of sialylation of p62.

Long-lasting increase in protein kinase C activity in the hippocampus of amygdala-kindled rat

Previous studies have demonstrated that membrane-associated protein kinase C (PKC) activities in the right and left hippocampus of rats kindled from the left hippocampus increased significantly at 4 weeks [9] and 4 months [22] after the last seizure compared with those in matched control rats. In this study, we investigated the effect of kindling from the left amygdala on PKC activities in the amygdala/pyriform cortex and hippocampus at long seizure-free intervals (4 and 16 weeks) from the last amygdala-kindled seizure. Membrane-associated PKC activity of the kindled group increased significantly only in the left hippocampus compared with the left side control (the left hippocampus of rats subjected to a sham operation) at 4 weeks (by 34%, P < 0.03) and 16 weeks (by 24%, P < 0.05) after the last seizure. There was no significant alteration in the membrane-associated PKC activity of the kindled group in the right hippocampus or amygdala/pyriform cortex in any seizure-free interval after the last amygdala seizure. Cytosolic PKC activity did not differ between the kindled and control groups in any brain region examined in any seizure-free interval. At 16 weeks after the last seizure, the PKC activity in the P1 fraction of the kindled group increased significantly only in the left hippocampus (by 49%, P < 0.005), but not in the right hippocampus. Neither PKC activity in the P2 fraction nor that in the cytosolic fraction was altered in the kindled group after this seizure-free interval.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Reduced numatrin/B23/nucleophosmin labeling in apoptotic Jurkat T-lymphoblasts

Jurkat T-lymphoblasts were induced to undergo apoptosis by treatment with either EGTA (5 mM/24 h) or a high concentration of lovastatin (100 microM/48 h) to identify proteins that exhibited coordinate regulation between the two treatments and thus provide candidate proteins in the common apoptotic induction pathway. A pure population of apoptotic cells, as determined by morphology, "DNA laddering," and flow cytometry, was obtained by Percoll density gradient centrifugation. Cells of increased buoyant density were clearly apoptotic by all criteria. Following this gradient centrifugation, the cells were labeled with [35S]methionine/cysteine, and lysates were separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Surprisingly, the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns generated from the apoptotic cells did not differ dramatically from that of control cells. Thus, apoptotic Jurkat cells are able to synthesize new proteins and do not exhibit extensive proteolysis. Subsequent quantitative analysis revealed that only five proteins exhibited decreases in turnover that were common to the two treatments. No increases in protein turnover were able to be confirmed across the replicate experiments. One of the proteins that showed decreased labeling by both apoptotic inductions was an abundant nuclear protein with a pI of 5.1 and M(r) 40,000. This protein was identified as numatrin/B23/nucleophosmin (NPM) based on internal amino acid sequence, and this identity was confirmed by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. NPM is implicated in a range of diverse cellular functions, but its role in apoptosis is unclear.

Bradykinin induces rise of free calcium in nuclei of neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG 108-15 cells

Confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to study the bradykinin-induced calcium signals in the neuroblastoma x glioma cell line NG 108-15. We found that bradykinin induced a rise in free calcium, not only in the cytoplasm but also in the nucleus. The nuclear and cytosolic calcium concentrations were not significantly different and rose to about 1.2 microM. The signal was mediated by the B2-receptor subtype as confirmed using the specific antagonist Hoe 140. Both the onset and the intensity of the calcium signals were concentration-dependent. The rise of nuclear calcium level was independent of extracellular calcium and suppressed by thapsigargin which is known to deplete inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive calcium stores. Bradykinin-induced calcium increase desensitizes rapidly. This desensitization was shown not to involve activation of protein kinase C.

PKC activity and protein phosphorylation in regulation of sIg mediated B cell activation

The inhibitory and stimulatory elements of cellular signalling associated with activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in murine B lymphocytes were investigated by employing two PKC activators with opposing effects on cell proliferation. Being an inhibitor of anti-Ig mediated proliferation, the phorbol ester PDBU induced a more substantial translocation of cytosolic PKC activity than the alkaloid PKC activator indolactam, which enhances anti-Ig mediated B cell proliferation. PDBU and indolactam were equally effective kinase activators, as determined by 32P incorporation of the substrate proteins. Concentrations of indolactam which induced an inhibition of anti-Ig mediated B cell proliferation also induced a precipitous decline in detergent soluble cellular PKC activity, which was comparable with 1 microM PDBU. The induced phosphoprotein patterns were similar, with an exception of the nuclear envelope protein lamin B, which was prominently phosphorylated by PDBU but not by stimulatory concentrations of indolactam. The enhanced phosphorylation of lamin B was associated with cellular growth arrest: inhibitory concentrations of indolactam induced the phosphorylation of lamin B equal to PDBU, whereas an increased phosphorylation of lamin B was never observed upon stimulation with anti-Ig. Together, inhibition of anti-Ig mediated B cell proliferation was related to down-regulation of cytoplasmic PKC and induction of nuclear PKC-dependent phosphorylation.

Localization of non-conventional protein kinase C isoforms in bovine brain cell nuclei

Using Western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy we detected the protein kinase C isoforms delta, epsilon and zeta in isolated cell nuclei from bovine cerebral cortex. Both protein kinase C (PKC) delta and PKC epsilon are present in higher concentrations in neuronal than in glial nuclei and are located inside the nucleus and at the nuclear envelope. There they give a punctate staining in immunofluorescence microscopy. PKC zeta is also present both in the nucleoplasm and at the nuclear envelope. PKC eta could not be detected in the cell nuclei and, even in the homogenate of cerebral cortex, this isoform is present only in very low concentrations. The antibody against PKC eta bound strongly to a nucleoplasmic protein with an apparent molecular mass of 99 kDa. The localization of non-conventional PKC isoforms at the cell nucleus strongly indicates that these isoforms are directly involved in the regulation of nuclear processes.

Developmental expression of protein kinase C isozymes in oligodendrocytes and their differential modulation by 4 beta-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate

Myelin gene expression in normal oligodendrocytes (OLG) depends on developmentally regulated protein kinase C (PKC) enzyme activity (Asotra and Macklin: J Neurosci Res 34:571-588, 1993). We studied the developmental expression of the Ca(++)-dependent PKC-alpha, -beta 1, -beta II and -gamma isozymes, and the Ca(++)-independent PKC-delta, -epsilon, -zeta and -eta isozymes in enriched rat brain OLG cultures. In A2B5+ O-2A progenitors, only PKC-delta, PKC-epsilon and PKC-zeta were detected immunocytochemically. In 04+ proligondendrocytes, PKC-beta I, -delta and -zeta were expressed moderately and low levels of PKC-alpha and -epsilon were detected. GD3+ OLG, GC+ OLG and MBP+ OLG showed increased levels of PKC-alpha, -beta I, -delta and -zeta isozymes. PKC-beta II, -gamma and -eta were poorly expressed in OLG. On immunoblots, PKC-alpha was present early and increased continually up to 18 days but PKC-beta I increased until 12 days in cultured OLG. High levels of PKC-delta, PKC-epsilon and PKC-zeta, the most abundant PKC isozymes in OLG, were maintained up to 12 days and were then slightly reduced. Interestingly, relatively high levels of PKC-alpha, PKC-beta I, PKC-beta II, PKC-gamma and PKC-epsilon isozymes were detected in purified myelin membrane although greater levels of PKC-delta were found in OLG than in purified myelin. Thus, most of the PKC isozymes found in cultured OLG were also present in myelin, although at different levels. Treatment with 50 nM 4 beta-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) caused a delayed downregulation of PKC-delta levels after 8 hr without modulating the expression of other PKC isozymes in 1-day OLG; in the 3-day-old and 6-day-old OLG, PDB downmodulated PKC-beta I, -delta and epsilon isozymes with only a minor effect on PKC-alpha and no reduction in PKC-zeta. Induction or downmodulation of individual PKC isozymes by phorbol esters appears to depend on the differentiation state of OLG. These data suggest that PKC-beta I, -delta and -epsilon isozymes have an important function in different cellular events of OLG differentiation. We conclude that the PKC-dependent modulation of myelin gene expression in OLG results predominantly from the Ca(++)-dependent PKC-beta I isozyme activity and the CA(++)-independent PKC-delta and PKC-epsilon activitives in a cell differentiation state-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Signal transduction in vascular smooth muscle: diacylglycerol second messengers and PKC action

Agonist-stimulated phospholipid turnover can generate diacylglycerol (DAG), an intracellular second messenger that activates protein kinase C (PKC). DAG can be produced from the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) by a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and by the degradation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) by a phospholipase C or the concerted actions of phospholipase D and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. In vascular smooth muscle, agonist-stimulated DAG accumulation is biphasic; PIP2 hydrolysis produces a transient increase in DAG, which is followed by a sustained phase of DAG accumulation from PC degradation. Metabolism of DAG attenuates PKC activation and thus results in signal termination. The metabolic fates for DAG include 1) ATP-dependent phosphorylation to form phosphatidic acid (DAG kinase), 2) hydrolysis to release fatty acids and glycerol (DAG and monoacylglycerol lipases), 3) synthesis of triacylglycerol (DAG acyltransferase), and 4) synthesis of PC (choline phosphotransferase). Hydrolysis through the lipase pathway is the predominant metabolic fate of DAG in vascular smooth muscle. Activation of PKC in vascular smooth muscle modulates agonist-stimulated phospholipid turnover, produces an increase in contractile force, and regulates cell growth and proliferation. Further research is required to investigate cross talk between signal transduction mechanisms involving lipid second messengers. In addition, spatial considerations such as nuclear PKC activation and the influence of diradylglycerol generation on the duration of PKC activation are important issues.

TPA causes divergent responses of Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent isoforms of PKC in the nuclei of Caco-2 cells

The present studies were undertaken to examine the expression of PKC isoforms within the nucleus of Caco-2 cells, a cell line widely used to investigate intestinal cell growth and differentiation, in order to begin to explore their roles in modulating gene expression. Purified nuclei were, therefore, prepared from Caco-2 cells and found to contain PKC-zeta, but not -alpha. The phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) caused an acute redistribution of PKC-alpha to the nucleus, but did not change the distribution of PKC-zeta. Chronic treatment with TPA down-regulated total PKC-alpha, but not -zeta. Moreover, in contrast to acute TPA treatment, after chronic treatment, nuclear PKC-alpha was no longer detectable, whereas nuclear PKC-zeta was unchanged. These studies demonstrate for the first time the constitutive expression and divergent responses to TPA of the Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent isoforms of PKC in the nuclei of Caco-2 cells and suggest that these specific isoforms may be involved in modulating gene expression.

Differential nuclear localization of protein kinase C isoforms in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells

The protein kinase C (PKC) alpha, beta and epsilon isoforms have distinct nuclear localizations in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells NG 108-15. We found by immunoblotting that PKC alpha, beta II, delta and epsilon are the predominant isoforms in these cells. In contrast to other neuronal cell lines, none of these isoforms is down-regulated during differentiation. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that in undifferentiated cells PKC alpha is located in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus excluding nucleoli. In differentiated cells PKC alpha was almost exclusively located in the cytoplasm. Stimulation of the cells with phorbol ester resulted in translocation to the plasma membrane. PKC beta II was not detectable in the nuclei. PKC delta was found in the nucleoli and in the cytoplasm, in differentiated cells particularly in the neurites. Phorbol ester failed to induce a translocation to other compartments. PKC epsilon was localized with the nuclear-pore complexes at the nuclear envelope. In differentiated cells after stimulation with phorbol ester, partial translocation to the plasma membrane was observed.

Analysis of cellular phosphoproteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis: applications for cell signaling in normal and cancer cells

Two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis has been used to map proteins from various cell types in an effort to eventually link such maps to the sequencing of the entire human genome. While this analysis indicates the cellular disposition and expression of proteins, another application of 2-D gels, the analysis of phosphoproteins, can provide much information as to the assembly and "wiring" of the signal transduction circuits within cells which appear to be enervated by phosphate exchange. The preparation and separation of 32P-labeled proteins is described, as well as various analytical methods, including: the variety of gel systems available for specialist types of analyses, comparing 33P- and 32P-labeling of proteins, imaging techniques, phosphoamino analysis, phosphopeptide separation, identifying the amino acid groups that are phosphorylated, and the identification of phosphoproteins on 2-D gels by immunoprecipitation, corunning of purified proteins, comparative mapping and microsequencing, and by Western blotting. Examples (in brackets) are given of applications in which 2-D phosphogels can be applied, which offer advantages over other techniques. These include: (i) identifying in vivo substrates for kinases (protein kinase C activated by phorbol myristate acetate), (ii) investigating cytokine signaling pathways (tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1), (iii) investigating the effects of drugs on signaling pathways (okadaic acid, menadione and cyclooxygenase inhibitors), (iv) characterization of specific phosphoproteins (heat-shock protein Hsp27 and stathmin), (v) comparing normal and transformed cells (MRC-5 human lung fibroblasts and their SV-40-transformed counterparts, MRC-5 SV1 cells), (vi) purifying phosphoproteins, (vii) investigating the relationship of protein phosphorylation to stages in the cell cycle (stathmin), (viii) investigating protein/protein interactions, (ix) mapping in vitro kinase substrates (protein kinase C, protein kinase A, and mitogen activated protein kinase activated protein kinase 2), and (x) locating and identifying cellular phosphatases (Hsp27 phosphatase). It is possible that the mapping of phosphoproteins can be linked to other 2-D gel databases and that information derived from these can be used in the future to better understand the signaling mechanisms of normal and cancerous cells.

H7-resistant protein kinase C substrates in two-dimensional gels of proestrous rat anterior pituitary gland

The presence of Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent protein kinase C (PKC) activities which were stimulated by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) and sensitive to the kinase inhibitor staurosporine (IC50 values approx. 100 nM) was demonstrated in proestrous rat anterior pituitary gland. These PDBu-induced activities were completely abolished by the PKC-specific inhibitors Ro31-8220 and GF109203X (3 microM). The Ca(2+)-independent activity was more resistant (IC50 = 61 microM) to the kinase inhibitor H7 than the Ca(2+)-dependent activity (IC50 approx. 20 microM), however, this (unusual) resistance to H7 was not observed in the brain regions, hypothalamus and hippocampus. Possible substrates for the Ca(2+)-independent PKC in anterior pituitary were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and autoradiography following incubation in vitro with [32P]phosphate and 300 nM PDBu +/- 300 nM staurosporine or 30 microM H7. The phosphorylation of six proteins (16, 16, 25, 36, 65 and 69 kDa) was found to be stimulated by PDBu and inhibited by staurosporine, but not H7, in whole tissue, and another two such phosphorylated proteins (each 76 kDa) were observed in microsomal subcellular fractions. These phosphoproteins may be substrates for an H7-resistant PKC isoform previously shown to mediate a number of cellular responses in rat anterior pituitary gland.