A dominant-negative mutant of mSOS1 inhibits insulin-induced Ras activation and reveals Ras-dependent and -independent insulin signaling pathways

Sos1 disruption impairs cellular proliferation and viability through an increase in mitochondrial oxidative stress in primary MEFs

Using a 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT)-inducible, conditional Sos1-null mutation, we analyzed wild-type (WT), single Sos1-KO, Sos2-KO and double Sos1/2 KO primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) with an aim at evaluating the functional specificity or redundancy of the Sos1 and Sos2 alleles at the cellular level. The 4OHT-induced Sos1-KO and Sos1/2-DKO MEFs exhibited distinct flat morphology, enlarged cell perimeter and altered cytoskeletal organization that were not observed in the WT and Sos2-KO counterparts. The Sos1-KO and Sos1/2-DKO MEFs also displayed significant accumulation, in comparison with WT and Sos2-KO MEFs, of cytoplasmic vesicular bodies identified as autophagosomes containing degraded mitochondria by means of electron microscopy and specific markers. Cellular proliferation and migration were impaired in Sos1-KO and Sos1/2-DKO MEFs in comparison with WT and Sos2-KO MEFs, whereas cell adhesion was only impaired upon depletion of both Sos isoforms. RasGTP formation was practically absent in Sos1/2-DKO MEFs as compared with the other genotypes and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation showed only significant reduction after combined Sos1/2 depletion. Consistent with a mitophagic phenotype, in vivo labeling with specific fluorophores uncovered increased levels of oxidative stress (elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxide and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential) in the Sos1-KO and the Sos1/2-DKO cells as compared with Sos2-KO and WT MEFs. Interestingly, treatment of the MEF cultures with antioxidants corrected the altered phenotypes of Sos1-KO and Sos1/2-DKO MEFs by restoring their altered perimeter size and proliferative rate to levels similar to those of WT and Sos2-KO MEFs. Our data uncover a direct mechanistic link between Sos1 and control of intracellular oxidative stress, and demonstrate functional prevalence of Sos1 over Sos2 with regards to cellular proliferation and viability.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of R3 subtype receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatases and their complex formations with Grb2 or Fyn

Post-translational modification of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) is implicated in functional modulation of these enzymes. Stomach cancer-associated protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SAP-1), as well as protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type O (PTPRO) and vascular endothelial-protein tyrosine phosphatase (VE-PTP) are receptor-type PTPs (RPTPs), which belong to the R3 subtype RPTP family. Here, we have shown that the carboxyl (COOH)-terminal region of SAP-1 undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation by the treatment with a PTP inhibitor. Src family kinases are important for the tyrosine phosphorylation of SAP-1. Either Grb2 or Fyn, through their Src homology-2 domains, bound to the tyrosine-phosphorylated SAP-1. Moreover, both PTPRO and VE-PTP underwent tyrosine phosphorylation in their COOH-terminal regions. Tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-PTP or PTPRO also promoted their complex formations with Grb2 or Fyn. Forced expression of SAP-1, PTPRO or VE-PTP promoted cell spreading and lamellipodium formation of fibroblasts that expressed an activated form of Ras. In contrast, such effects of non-tyrosine-phosphorylated forms of these RPTPs were markedly smaller than those of wild-type RPTPs. Our results thus suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of R3 subtype RPTPs promotes their complex formations with Grb2 or Fyn and thus participates in the regulation of cell morphology.

Molecular mechanisms of metabolic regulation by insulin in Drosophila

The insulin signalling pathway is highly conserved from mammals to Drosophila. Insulin signalling in the fly, as in mammals, regulates a number of physiological functions, including carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, tissue growth and longevity. In the present review, I discuss the molecular mechanisms by which insulin signalling regulates metabolism in Drosophila, comparing and contrasting with the mammalian system. I discuss both the intracellular signalling network, as well as the communication between organs in the fly.

Metabolically favorable remodeling of human adipose tissue by human adenovirus type 36

OBJECTIVE

Experimental infection of rats with human adenovirus type 36 (Ad-36) promotes adipogenesis and improves insulin sensitivity in a manner reminiscent of the pharmacologic effect of thiozolinediones. To exploit the potential of the viral proteins as a therapeutic target for treating insulin resistance, this study investigated the ability of Ad-36 to induce metabolically favorable changes in human adipose tissue.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We determined whether Ad-36 increases glucose uptake in human adipose tissue explants. Cell-signaling pathways targeted by Ad-36 to increase glucose uptake were determined in the explants and human adipose-derived stem cells. Ad-2, a nonadipogenic human adenovirus, was used as a negative control. As a proof of concept, nondiabetic and diabetic subjects were screened for the presence of Ad-36 antibodies to ascertain if natural Ad-36 infection predicted improved glycemic control.

RESULTS

Ad-36 increased glucose uptake by adipose tissue explants obtained from nondiabetic and diabetic subjects. Without insulin stimulation, Ad-36 upregulated expressions of several proadipogenic genes, adiponectin, and fatty acid synthase and reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokine macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 in a phosphotidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent manner. In turn, the activation of PI3K by Ad-36 was independent of insulin receptor signaling but dependent on Ras signaling recruited by Ad-36. Ad-2 was nonadipogenic and did not increase glucose uptake. Natural Ad-36 infection in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects was associated with significantly lower fasting glucose levels and A1C, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Ad-36 proteins may provide novel therapeutic targets that remodel human adipose tissue to a more metabolically favorable profile.

Human adenovirus type 36 enhances glucose uptake in diabetic and nondiabetic human skeletal muscle cells independent of insulin signaling

OBJECTIVE

Human adenovirus type 36 (Ad-36) increases adiposity but improves insulin sensitivity in experimentally infected animals. We determined the ability of Ad-36 to increase glucose uptake by human primary skeletal muscle (HSKM) cells.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The effect of Ad-36 on glucose uptake and cell signaling was determined in HSKM cells obtained from type 2 diabetic and healthy lean subjects. Ad-2, another human adenovirus, was used as a negative control. Gene expression and proteins of GLUT1 and GLUT4 were measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Role of insulin and Ras signaling pathways was determined in Ad-36-infected HSKM cells.

RESULTS

Ad-36 and Ad-2 infections were confirmed by the presence of respective viral mRNA and protein expressions. In a dose-dependent manner, Ad-36 significantly increased glucose uptake in diabetic and nondiabetic HSKM cells. Ad-36 increased gene expression and protein abundance of GLUT1 and GLUT4, GLUT4 translocation to plasma membrane, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activity in an insulin-independent manner. In fact, Ad-36 decreased insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) tyrosine phosphorylation and IRS-1-and IRS-2-associated PI 3-kinase activities. On the other hand, Ad-36 increased Ras gene expression and protein abundance, and Ras siRNA abrogated Ad-36-induced PI 3-kinase activation, GLUT4 protein abundance, and glucose uptake. These effects were not observed with Ad-2 infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Ad-36 infection increases glucose uptake in HSKM cells via Ras-activated PI 3-kinase pathway in an insulin-independent manner. These findings may provide impetus to exploit the role of Ad-36 proteins as novel therapeutic targets for improving glucose handling.

Insulin Receptor Substrate-1/SHP-2 Interaction, a Phenotype-dependent Switching Machinery of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Signaling in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) plays a role in mutually exclusive processes such as proliferation and differentiation in a variety of cell types. IGF-I is a potent mitogen and motogen for dedifferentiated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vivo and in vitro. However, in differentiated VSMCs, IGF-I is only required for maintaining the differentiated phenotype. Here we investigated the VSMC phenotype-dependent signaling and biological processes triggered by IGF-I. In differentiated VSMCs, IGF-I activated a protein-tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, recruited by insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). The activated SHP-2 then dephosphorylated IRS-1 Tyr(P)-895, resulting in blockade of the pathways from IRS-1/Grb2/Sos to the ERK and p38 MAPK. Conversely, such negative regulation was silent in dedifferentiated VSMCs, where IGF-I activated both MAPKs via IRS-1/Grb2/Sos interaction-linked Ras activation, leading to proliferation and migration. Thus, our present results demonstrate that the IRS-1/SHP-2 interaction acts as a switch controlling VSMC phenotype-dependent IGF-I-induced signaling pathways and biological processes, and this mechanism is likely to be applicable to other cells.

v-Crk activates the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT pathway by utilizing focal adhesion kinase and H-Ras

v-Crk, an oncogene product of avian sarcoma virus CT10, efficiently transforms chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). We have recently reported that constitutive activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway plays a critical role in the v-Crk-induced transformation of CEF. In the present study we investigated the molecular mechanism by which v-Crk activates the PI3K/AKT pathway. First, we found that v-Crk promotes the association of the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) by inducing the phosphorylation of the Y397 residue in FAK. This FAK phosphorylation needs activation of the Src family tyrosine kinase(s) for which the v-Crk SH2 domain is responsible. v-Crk was unable to activate the PI3K/AKT pathway in FAK-null cells, indicating the functional importance of FAK. In addition, we found that H-Ras is also required for the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The v-Crk-induced activation of AKT was greatly enhanced by the overexpression of H-Ras or its guanine nucleotide exchange factor mSOS, which binds to the v-Crk SH3 domain, whereas a dominant-negative mutant of H-Ras almost completely suppressed this activation. Furthermore, we showed that v-Crk stimulates the interaction of H-Ras with the Ras binding domain in the PI3K p110 catalytic subunit. Our data indicated that the v-Crk-induced activation of PI3K/AKT pathway was cooperatively achieved by two distinct interactions. One is the interaction of p85 with tyrosine-phosphorylated FAK promoted by the v-Crk SH2 domain, and another is the interaction of p110 with H-Ras dictated by the v-Crk SH3 domain.

The beta-subunit of the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) receptor phosphorylates and associates with CrkII: expression of CrkII enhances HGF/SF-induced mitogenesis

CrkII, a 40 kDa adaptor possessing a Src homology (SH)2 domain followed by two SH3 domains, although not endowed with catalytic activity, participates in intracellular signalling, presumably by activating the Ras pathway. CrkII was found to be phosphorylated in response to hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and to associate with the beta-subunit of the HGF receptor (MET). CrkII associated with p(145betaMET) via its SH2 domain. Growth-factor-receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) co-immunoprecipitated with CrkII species. By transient transfection of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells with wild-type and dominant-negative Grb2 expression constructs lacking either the SH2 or SH3 domains, we have concluded that Grb2 does not contribute to the 'presentation' of CrkII to p(145betaMET). Overexpression of wild-type CrkII in A431 cells enhanced HGF/SF-induced proliferation, while a CrkII dominant-negative mutant lacking the SH2 domain prevented a similar proliferating response to HGF/SF. The effect of CrkII on HGF/SF-induced proliferation was also abolished in cells co-expressing CrkII and Son-of-sevenless lacking the guanine exchange domain, suggesting that CrkII is likely to induce cell proliferation partly via the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase route.

Ras mediates the cAMP-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) in melanocytes

In melanocytes and melanoma cells, cAMP activates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and MEK-1 by an unknown mechanism. We demonstrate that B-Raf is activated by cAMP in melanocytes. A dominant-negative mutant of B-Raf, but not of Raf-1, blocked the cAMP-induced activation of ERK, indicating that B-Raf is the MEK-1 upstream regulator mediating this cAMP effect. Studies using Clostridium sordelii lethal toxin and Clostridium difficile toxin B have suggested that Rap-1 or Ras might transduce cAMP action. We show that Ras, but not Rap-1, is activated cell-specifically and mediates the cAMP-dependent activation of ERKs, while Rap-1 is not involved in this process in melanocytes. Our results suggest a novel, cell-specific mechanism involving Ras small GTPase and B-Raf kinase as mediators of ERK activation by cAMP. Also, in melanocytes, Ras or ERK activation by cAMP is not mediated through protein kinase A activation. Neither the Ras exchange factor, Son of sevenless (SOS), nor the cAMP-responsive Rap-1 exchange factor, Epac, participate in the cAMP-dependent activation of Ras. These findings suggest the existence of a melanocyte-specific Ras exchange factor directly regulated by cAMP.

Intracellular signaling of angiotensin II-induced p70 S6 kinase phosphorylation at Ser(411) in vascular smooth muscle cells. Possible requirement of epidermal growth factor receptor, Ras, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and Akt

Activation of p70 S6 kinase (p70(S6K)) by growth factors requires multiple signal inputs involving phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), its effector Akt, and an unidentified kinase that phosphorylates Ser/Thr residues (Ser(411), Ser(418), Ser(424), and Thr(421)) clustered at its autoinhibitory domain. However, the mechanism by which G protein-coupled receptors activate p70(S6K) remains largely uncertain. By using vascular smooth muscle cells in which we have demonstrated Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation through Ca(2+)-dependent, epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor transactivation by G(q)-coupled angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor, we present a unique cross-talk required for Ser(411) phosphorylation of p70(S6K) by Ang II. Both p70(S6K) Ser(411) and Akt Ser(473) phosphorylation by Ang II appear to involve EGF receptor transactivation and were inhibited by dominant-negative Ras, whereas the phosphorylation of p70(S6K) and ERK but not Akt was sensitive to the MEK inhibitor. By contrast, the phosphorylation of p70(S6K) and Akt but not ERK was sensitive to PI3K inhibitors. Similar inhibitory pattern on these phosphorylation sites by EGF but not insulin was observed. Taken together with the inhibition of Ang II-induced p70(S6K) activation by dominant-negative Ras and the MEK inhibitor, we conclude that Ang II-initiated activation of p70(S6K) requires both ERK cascade and PI3K/Akt cascade that bifurcate at the point of EGF receptor-dependent Ras activation.

Characterization and properties of dominant-negative mutants of the ras-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor CDC25(Mm)

Ras proteins are small GTPases playing a pivotal role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Their activation depends on the competing action of GTPase activating proteins and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEF). The properties of two dominant-negative mutants within the catalytic domains of the ras-specific GEF, CDC25(Mm), are described. In vitro, the mutant GEF(W1056E) and GEF(T1184E) proteins are catalytically inactive, are able to efficiently displace wild-type GEF from p21(ras), and strongly reduce affinity of the nucleotide-free ras x GEF complex for the incoming nucleotide, thus resulting in the formation of a stable ras.GEF binary complex. Consistent with their in vitro properties, the two mutant GEFs bring about a dramatic reduction in ras-dependent fos-luciferase activity in mouse fibroblasts. The stable ectopic expression of the GEF(W1056E) mutant in smooth muscle cells effectively reduced growth rate and DNA synthesis with no detectable morphological changes.

Activation mechanisms of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator promoter by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a pleiotropic effector inducing invasion and metastasis of tumor cells that express the Met tyrosine kinase receptor. One of the effectors of HGF/SF is the urokinase-type plasminogen activator, a serine protease that facilitates tumor progression and metastasis by controlling the synthesis of the extracellular matrix degrading plasmin. Stimulation of NIH 3T3 cells that were stably transfected with the human Met receptor (NIH 3T3-Methum) with HGF/SF induced a trans-activation of the urokinase promoter and urokinase secretion. Induction of the urokinase promoter by HGF/SF via the Met receptor was blocked by co-expression of a dominant-negative Grb2 and Sos1 expression construct. Further, the expression of the catalytically inactive mutants of Ha-Ras, RhoA, c-Raf, and Erk2 or addition of the Mek1-specific inhibitor PD 098059 abrogated the stimulation of the urokinase promoter by HGF/SF. A sequence residing between -2109 and -1870 base pairs (bp) was critical for stimulation of the urokinase gene by HGF/SF. Mobility shift assays with oligonucleotides spanning an AP-1 site at -1880 bp or a combined PEA3/AP-1 site at -1967 bp showed binding of nuclear factors from NIH 3T3-Methum cells. Expression of an expression plasmid that inhibits DNA binding of AP-1 proteins (A-Fos) abrogated inducible and basal activation of the urokinase promoter. Nuclear extract from unstimulated NIH 3T3-Methum cells contained more JunD and showed a stronger JunD supershift with the AP-1 oligonucleotides, compared with HGF/SF-stimulated cells. Consistent with the levels of JunD expression being functionally important for basal expression of the urokinase promoter, we found that overexpression of wild type JunD inhibited the induction of the urokinase promoter by HGF/SF. These data suggest that the induction of urokinase by HGF/SF is regulated by a Grb2/Sos1/Ha-Ras/c-Raf/RhoA/Mek1/Erk2/c-++ +Jun-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Carbachol activates ERK2 in isolated gastric parietal cells via multiple signaling pathways

We previously reported that both carbachol and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are potent inducers of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERKs) in isolated gastric canine parietal cells and that induction of these kinases leads to acute inhibitory and chronic stimulatory effects on gastric acid secretion. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects. Both carbachol (100 microM) and EGF (10 nM) induced Ras activation. The role of Ras in ERK2 induction was examined by transfecting parietal cells with a vector expressing hemoagglutinin (HA)-tagged ERK2 (HA-ERK2) together with a dominantly expressed mutant (inactive) ras gene. HA-ERK2 activity was quantitated by in-gel kinase assays. Dominant negative Ras reduced carbachol induction of HA-ERK2 activity by 60% and completely inhibited the stimulatory effect of EGF. Since Ras activation requires the assembly of a multiprotein complex, we examined the effect of carbachol and EGF on tyrosyl phosphorylation of Shc and its association with Grb2 and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Sos. Western blot analysis of anti-Shc immunoprecipitates with an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody demonstrated that both carbachol and EGF induced tyrosyl phosphorylation of a major 52-kDa shc isoform. Grb2 association with Shc was demonstrated by blotting Grb2 immunoprecipitates with an anti-Shc antibody. Probing of anti-Sos immunoprecipitates with an anti-Grb2 antibody revealed that Sos was constitutively bound to Grb2. To examine the functional role of Sos in ERK2 activation, we transfected parietal cells with the HA-ERK2 vector together with a dominantly expressed mutant (inactive) sos gene. Dominant negative Sos did not affect carbachol stimulation of HA-ERK2 but inhibited the stimulatory effect of EGF by 60%. We then investigated the role of betagamma-subunits in carbachol induction of HA-ERK2. Parietal cells were transfected with the HA-ERK2 vector together with a vector expressing the carboxy terminus of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1, known to block signaling mediated by betagamma-subunits. In the presence of this vector, carbachol induction of HA-ERK2 was inhibited by 40%. Together these data suggest that, in the gastric parietal cells, carbachol activates the ERKs through Ras- and betagamma-dependent mechanisms that require guanine nucleotide exchange factors other than Sos.

Membrane-targeted phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase mimics insulin actions and induces a state of cellular insulin resistance

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase plays an important role in various insulin-stimulated biological responses including glucose transport, glycogen synthesis, and protein synthesis. However, the molecular link between PI 3-kinase and these biological responses is still unclear. We have investigated whether targeting of the catalytic p110 subunit of PI 3-kinase to cellular membranes is sufficient and necessary to induce PI 3-kinase dependent signaling responses, characteristic of insulin action. We overexpressed Myc-tagged, membrane-targeted p110 (p110(CAAX)), and wild-type p110 (p110(WT)) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. Overexpressed p110(CAAX) exhibited approximately 2-fold increase in basal kinase activity in p110 immunoprecipitates, that further increased to approximately 4-fold with insulin. Even at this submaximal PI 3-kinase activity, p110(CAAX) fully stimulated p70 S6 kinase, Akt, 2-deoxyglucose uptake, and Ras, whereas, p110(WT) had little or no effect on these downstream effects. Interestingly p110(CAAX) did not activate MAP kinase, despite its stimulation of p21(ras). Surprisingly, p110(CAAX) did not increase basal glycogen synthase activity, and inhibited insulin stimulated activity, indicative of cellular resistance to this action of insulin. p110(CAAX) also inhibited insulin stimulated, but not platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, demonstrating that the p110(CAAX) induced inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase and insulin signaling is specific, and not due to some toxic or nonspecific effect on the cells. Moreover, p110(CAAX) stimulated IRS-1 Ser/Thr phosphorylation, and inhibited IRS-1 associated PI 3-kinase activity, without affecting insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting that it may play an important role as a negative regulator for insulin signaling. In conclusion, our studies show that membrane-targeted PI 3-kinase can mimic a number of biologic effects normally induced by insulin. In addition, the persistent activation of PI 3-kinase induced by p110(CAAX) expression leads to desensitization of specific signaling pathways. Interestingly, the state of cellular insulin resistance is not global, in that some of insulin's actions are inhibited, whereas others are intact.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade is involved in endothelin-1-induced rat puerperal uterine contraction

The regulation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase by endothelin-1 (ET-1) in cultured rat puerperal uterine myometrial cells was investigated. ET-1 caused the rapid stimulation of MAP kinase activity. ET-1-induced MAP kinase activation is neither extracellular Ca2+- nor intracellular Ca2+-dependent. ET-1 stimulation also led to an increase in phosphorylation of son-of-sevenless (SOS), and transfection of dominant negative SOS attenuated the ET-1-induced MAP kinase activity. Phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) also induced the MAP kinase activity, but pretreatment of the cultured cells with PMA, to down-regulate protein kinase C (PKC), did not abolish the activation of MAP kinase by ET-1. In addition, down-regulation of PKC had no effect on ET-1-induced SOS phosphorylation. Pertussis toxin, which inactivates Gi/Go proteins, blocked the ET-1-induced MAP kinase activation but not the PMA-induced MAP kinase activation. The results suggested that MAP kinase is acutely activated by ET-1 through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and SOS, not through the PMA-sensitive PKC. In addition, although reverse-transcriptase PCR assays detected messenger RNA for both ET- 1 receptor subtypes in cultured rat puerperal uterine myometrial cells, ET-1-induced MAP kinase activity and uterine contraction were blocked by treatment with BQ485, an antagonist selective for an ET type A receptor (but not by BQ788, an ET type B receptor antagonist). Ritodrine, which is known to relax uterine muscle contraction, attenuated ET-1-induced MAP kinase activity. We further examined the role of MAP kinase pathway in uterine contraction using an inhibitor of MEK activity, PD098059. This inhibitor completely inhibited the ET-1-induced MAP kinase activation and partially, but significantly, inhibited the ET-1-induced uterine contraction. These results indicate that ET-1-induced MAP kinase signaling cascade may play an important role in the ET-1-induced uterine contraction.

PI 3-kinase gamma and protein kinase C-zeta mediate RAS-independent activation of MAP kinase by a Gi protein-coupled receptor

Receptors coupled to the inhibitory G protein Gi, such as that for lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), have been shown to activate MAP kinase through a RAS-dependent pathway. However, LPA (but not insulin) has now been shown to activate MAP kinase in a RAS-independent manner in CHO cells that overexpress a dominant-negative mutant of the guanine nucleotide exchange protein SOS (CHO-DeltaSOS cells). LPA also induced the activation of MAP kinase kinase (MEK), but not that of RAF1, in CHO-DeltaSOS cells. The RAS-independent activation of MAP kinase by LPA was blocked by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) or by overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of the gamma isoform of PI3K. Furthermore, LPA induced the activation of the atypical zeta isoform of protein kinase C (PKC-zeta) in CHO-DeltaSOS cells in a manner that was sensitive to wortmannin or to the dominant-negative mutant of PI3Kgamma, and overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of PKC-zeta inhibited LPA-induced activation of MAP kinase. These observations indicate that Gi protein-coupled receptors induce activation of MEK and MAP kinase through a RAS-independent pathway that involves PI3Kgamma-dependent activation of atypical PKC-zeta.

Requirement for activation of the serine-threonine kinase Akt (protein kinase B) in insulin stimulation of protein synthesis but not of glucose transport

A wide variety of biological activities including the major metabolic actions of insulin is regulated by phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. However, the downstream effectors of the various signaling pathways that emanate from PI 3-kinase remain unclear. Akt (protein kinase B), a serine-threonine kinase with a pleckstrin homology domain, is thought to be one such downstream effector. A mutant Akt (Akt-AA) in which the phosphorylation sites (Thr308 and Ser473) targeted by growth factors are replaced by alanine has now been shown to lack protein kinase activity and, when overexpressed in CHO cells or 3T3-L1 adipocytes with the use of an adenovirus vector, to inhibit insulin-induced activation of endogenous Akt. Akt-AA thus acts in a dominant negative manner in intact cells. Insulin-stimulated protein synthesis, which is sensitive to wortmannin, a pharmacological inhibitor of PI 3-kinase, was abolished by overexpression of Akt-AA without an effect on amino acid transport into the cells, suggesting that Akt is required for insulin-stimulated protein synthesis. Insulin activation of p70 S6 kinase was inhibited by approximately 75% in CHO cells and approximately 30% in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, whereas insulin-induced activation of endogenous Akt was inhibited by 80 to 95%, by expression of Akt-AA. Thus, Akt activity appears to be required, at least in part, for insulin stimulation of p70 S6 kinase. However, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in both CHO cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes was not affected by overexpression of Akt-AA, suggesting that Akt is not required for this effect of insulin. These data indicate that Akt acts as a downstream effector in some, but not all, of the signaling pathways downstream of PI 3-kinase.

Insulin regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase gene expression is rapamycin-sensitive and requires phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) controls the flow of carbon through the pentose phosphate pathway and also produces NADPH needed for maintenance of reduced glutathione and reductive biosynthesis. Hepatic expression of G6PDH is known to respond to several dietary and hormonal factors, but the mechanism behind regulation of this expression has not been characterized. We show that insulin similarly induces expression of endogenous hepatic G6PDH and a reporter construct containing 935 base pairs of the G6PDH promoter linked to luciferase in transient transfection assays. Using well tested and structurally distinct inhibitors of Ras farnesylation, lovastatin and B581, and a specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase activation, PD 98059, we show that the Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is not utilized for the insulin-induced stimulation of G6PDH gene expression in primary rat hepatocytes. Similarly, using well characterized inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, wortmannin and LY 294002, we show that PI 3-kinase activity is necessary for the induction of G6PDH expression by insulin. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of FRAP protein, which is involved in the activation of pp70 S6 kinase, blocks the insulin induction of G6PDH, suggesting that S6 kinase is also necessary for the insulin induction of G6PDH expression.

Insulin regulation of the Ras activation/inactivation cycle

In addition to mediating a number of metabolic functions, insulin also uses mitogenic pathways to maintain cellular homeostasis. Many of these mitogenic responses are mediated by signals through the small molecular weight guanine nucleotide binding protein, Ras. In the last decade, great progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms which regulate the insulin mediated conversion of Ras from its inactive, GDP-bound state, to the activated GTP-bound form. More recently, it has been appreciated that insulin also regulates the inactivation of this pathway, namely by uncoupling the protein complexes whose formation is required for Ras activation. This review addresses molecular mechanism which both positively and negatively regulate this mitogenic signalling pathway.

Role of binding proteins to IRS-1 in insulin signalling

Insulin elicits its divergent metabolic and mitogenic effects by binding to its specific receptor, which belongs to the family of receptor tyrosine kinases. The activated insulin receptor phosphorylates the intracellular substrate IRS-1, which then binds various signalling molecules that contain SRC homology 2 domains, thereby propagating the insulin signal. Among these IRS-1-binding proteins, the Grb2-Sos complex and the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 transmit mitogenic signals through the activation of Ras, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase is implicated in the major metabolic actions of insulin. Although substantial evidence indicates the importance of IRS-1 in insulin signal transduction, the generation of IRS-1-deficient mice has revealed the existence of redundant signalling pathways.

Rapid activation of sodium-proton exchange and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase in fibroblasts by G protein-coupled 5-HT1A receptor involves distinct signalling cascades

These experiments tested the hypothesis that signalling elements involved in the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) mediate rapid activation of sodium-proton exchange (NHE) in fibroblasts when both signals are initiated by a single G protein-coupled receptor, the 5-HT1A receptor. Similarities between the two processes were comparable concentration-response curves and time-courses, and overlapping sensitivity to some pharmacological inhibitors of tyrosine kinases (staurosporine and genistein), and phosphoinositide 3'-kinase (wortmannin and LY204002). Activation of NHE was much more sensitive to the phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase inhibitor (D609) than was ERK. Neither pathway was sensitive to manoeuvres designed to block PKC. In contrast, Src or related kinases appear to be required to activate ERK, but not NHE. Transfection of cDNA constructs encoding inactive mutant phosphoinositide 3'-kinase, Grb2, Sos, Ras, and Raf molecules were successful in attenuating ERK, but had essentially no effect upon NHE activation. Finally, PD98059, an inhibitor of mitogen activated/extracellular signal regulated kinase kinase, blocked ERK but not NHE activation. Thus, in CHO fibroblast cells, activation by the 5-HT1A receptor of ERK and NHE share a number of overlapping features. However, our studies do not support a major role for ERK, when activated by the 5-HT1A receptor, as a short-term upstream regulator of NHE activity.

Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor and insulin receptor association with a Src homology-2 domain-containing putative adapter

Insulin receptor (IR) and the related insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor (IGF-IR) mediate a variety of metabolic and mitogenic cellular responses, some of which may involve unidentified receptor targets. A Src homology-2 (SH2) domain-coding region of a mouse protein was cloned based on its interaction with IR. It was designated mSH2-B based on its high similarity to an earlier reported rat sequence SH2-B. A role of mSH2-B in IGF-I and insulin action was suggested by the interaction of the SH2 domain with activated IGF-IR and IR catalytic fragments but not with an inactive IR catalytic fragment in the yeast two-hybrid system in vivo and by the hormone-dependent association of a glutathione S-transferase (GST) SH2 domain fusion protein of mSH2-B with both receptors in cell extracts. A comparison of IGF-IR and IR mutants lacking individual Tyr autophosphorylation sites for association with GST mSH2-B showed that homologous juxtamembrane (IR960/IGF-IR950) and C-terminal (IR1322/IGF-IR1316) receptor motifs were required. Synthetic phosphopeptides representing IR960 and IR1322 competed for GST mSH2-B binding to the receptor, suggesting that both motifs participate in the association with mSH2-B. Antibodies raised against GST mSH2-B identified a cellular protein of 92 kDa that was not found to be phosphorylated on Tyr. It co-immunoprecipitated with IGF-IR or IR, which was strictly dependent on receptor activation. IR and IGF-IR Tyr phosphorylation motifs were not identified in the complete SH2-B primary structure, suggesting that it may participate as an adapter rather than a substrate in the IGF-I and insulin signaling pathways.

Fluid shear stress activation of focal adhesion kinase. Linking to mitogen-activated protein kinases

Shear stress, the tangential component of hemodynamic forces, activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction pathways in cultured vascular endothelial cells to induce the transcriptional activation of many immediate early genes. It appears that integrins, protein-tyrosine kinases, and the structural integrity of actin are important factors involved in these shear stress-induced responses. The underlying molecular events were investigated by the application of a shear stress of 12 dyn/cm2 on bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). We found that such a shear stress increased the tyrosine phosphorylation and the kinase activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its association with growth factor receptor binding protein 2 (Grb2) in a rapid and transient manner, suggesting that FAK may be linked to these mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways through a Grb2. Son of sevenless (Sos) complex. FAK(F397Y), which encodes a dominant negative mutant of FAK, attenuated the shear stress-induced kinase activity of Myc epitope-tagged ERK2 and hemagglutinin epitope-tagged JNK1. DeltamSos1, encoding a dominant negative mutant of Sos in which the guanine nucleotide exchange domain has been deleted, also attenuated shear stress activation of Myc-ERK2 and hemagglutinin-JNK1. Pretreating the confluent BAEC monolayers with a blocking type anti-vitronectin receptor monoclonal antibody had similar inhibitory effects in these shear stress-activated ERKs and JNKs. Confocal microscopic observation further demonstrated that FAK tended to cluster with vitronectin receptor near the abluminal side of the sheared BAEC. These results demonstrate that FAK signaling is critical in the shear stress-induced dual activation of ERK and JNK.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase is required for insulin-induced but not for growth hormone- or hyperosmolarity-induced glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The(1) regulatory mechanism of glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was investigated with the use of recombinant adenovirus vectors encoding various dominant negative proteins. Infection with a virus encoding a mutant regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase that does not bind the 110-kDa catalytic subunit (delta p85) inhibited the insulin-induced increase in PI 3-kinase activity co-precipitated by antibodies to phosphotyrosine and glucose uptake in a virus dose-dependent manner. Overexpression of a dominant negative RAS mutant in which Asp57 is replaced with tyrosine (RAS57Y) or of a dominant negative SOS mutant that lacks guanine nucleotide exchange activity (delta SOS) abolished the insulin-induced increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase activity, but had no effect on PI 3-kinase activity or glucose uptake. Although GH and hyperosmolarity attributable to 300 mM sorbitol each promoted glucose uptake and translocation of glucose transporter (GLUT)4 to an extent comparable to that of insulin, these stimuli triggered little or no association of PI 3-kinase activity with tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. Overexpression of delta p85 or treatment of cells with wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI 3-kinase activity, had no effect on glucose uptake or translocation of GLUT4 stimulated by GH or hyperosmolarity. Moreover, overexpression of delta SOS or RAC17N also did not affect the increase in glucose uptake induced by these stimuli. A serine/threonine kinase Akt, a constitutively active mutant of which was previously shown to stimulate glucose uptake, is activated by insulin, GH, and hyperosmolarity to approximately 4-fold, approximately 2.1-fold, and approximately 2.3-fold over basal level, respectively. These results suggest that insulin-induced but neither GH- or hyperosmolarity-induced glucose uptake is PI 3-kinase-dependent, and neither RAS nor RAC is required for glucose uptake induced by these stimuli in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Activation of translation initiation factor eIF2B by insulin requires phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase

Eukaryotic initiation factor eIF2B mediates a key regulatory step in peptide-chain initiation and is acutely activated by insulin, although, it is not clear how. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase blocked activation of eIF2B, although rapamycin, which inhibits the p70 S6 kinase pathway, did not. Furthermore, a dominant negative mutant of PI 3-kinase also prevented activation of eIF2B, while a Sos-mutant, which blocks MAP kinase activation, did not. The data demonstrate that a pathway distinct from MAP and p70 S6 kinases regulates eIF2B. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) phosphorylates and inactivates eIF2B. In all cases, eIF2B and GSK-3 were regulated reciprocally. Dominant negative PI 3-kinase abolished the insulin-induced inhibition of GSK-3. These data strongly support the hypothesis that insulin activates eIF2B through a signalling pathway involving PI 3-kinase and inhibition of GSK-3.

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of a dominant-negative H-ras suppresses neointimal formation in balloon-injured arteries in vivo

Abnormal migration and proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells may be a central event in inflammatory proliferative arterial diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. The proto-oncogene c-H-ras is considered to be a key transducer in various growth-signaling events. We constructed an adenoviral vector (AdexCAHRasY57) expressing a potent dominant-negative mutated form of c-H-ras in which tyrosine replaces aspartic acid at residue 57. Infection of smooth muscle cells with AdexCAHRasY57 produced a large quantity of H-ras-p21, completely inhibited serum-stimulated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, and abolished the DNA synthesis in response to serum mitogens. However, a surge of intracellular Ca2+ concentration in response to platelet-derived growth factor was not affected, suggesting that some cellular functions were preserved. When we applied AdexCAHRasY57 into balloon-injured rat carotid arteries from inside the lumen, neointimal formation was significantly reduced (neointima/media ratio: 0.28) compared with that (1.50) in arteries treated with either injury alone or injury and infection with a control adenovirus, AdexCALacZ, expressing bacterial beta-galactosidase. Our results suggest that adenovirus-mediated arterial transfer of dominant-negative H-ras may be a practical form of effective molecular intervention for proliferative arterial diseases.

Mutation in Sos1 dominantly enhances a weak allele of the EGFR, demonstrating a requirement for Sos1 in EGFR signaling and development

We have investigated the role of the mammalian Son of sevenless 1 (Sos1) protein in growth factor signaling in vivo by generating mice and cell lines that lacked the Sos1 protein. Homozygous null embryos were smaller than normal, died mid-gestation with cardiovascular and yolk sac defects, and their fibroblasts showed reduced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF). An intercross of mice mutant for Sos1 and the EGF receptor (EGFR) demonstrated that a heterozygous mutation in Sos1 dominantly enhanced the phenotype of a weak allele of the EGFR allele (wa-2). These animals had distinctive eye defects that closely resembled those seen in mice that were null for the EGFR or its ligand, TGF alpha. Our findings provide the first demonstration of a functional requirement for Sos1 in growth factor signaling in vivo. They also show that the genetic test of enhancement of weak receptor allele by heterozygous mutation in one component represents a powerful tool for analyzing the ras pathway in mammals.

Cytoskeleton reorganization induces the urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene via the Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) expression is induced upon cytoskeletal reorganization (CSR) by a mechanism independent of protein kinase C and cAMP protein kinase in nontransformed renal epithelial (LLC-PK1) cells. This CSR-dependent uPA gene activation is mediated by an AP-1-recognizing element located 2 kilobases upstream of the transcription initiation site. The phosphorylation of c-Jun, a component of AP-1, is induced by CSR, which seems to increase both the activity and stability of c-Jun (Lee, J. S., von der Ahe, D., Kiefer, B., and Nagamine, Y. (1993) Nucleic Acids Res. 21, 3365-3372). It has been shown that c-Jun is phosphorylated by members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, i.e. ERKs and JNKs. ERKs are activated through a growth factor-coupled Ras/Raf-dependent signaling pathway, while JNKs are activated through a stress-induced signaling pathway. Although CSR induces both ERK-2 and JNK activity, JNK does not seem to be involved in the uPA gene induction because UV irradiation, which activates JNK as efficiently as CSR, does not activate the uPA promoter. Further analysis showed the involvement of SOS, Ras, and Raf-1 in the pathway induced by CSR. Our results suggest that cells sense changes in cell morphology using the cytoskeleton as a sensor and respond by activating the ERK-involving signaling pathway from within the cell.

The Ras-JNK pathway is involved in shear-induced gene expression

Hemodynamic forces play a key role in inducing atherosclerosis-implicated gene expression in vascular endothelial cells. To elucidate the signal transduction pathway leading to such gene expression, we studied the effects of fluid shearing on the activities of upstream signaling molecules. Fluid shearing (shear stress, 12 dynes/cm2 [1 dyne = 10(-5)N]) induced a transient and rapid activation of p21ras and preferentially activated c-Jun NH2 terminal kinases (JNK1 and JNK2) over extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK-1 and ERK-2). Cotransfection of RasN17, a dominant negative mutant of Ha-Ras, attenuated the shear-activated JNK and luciferase reporters driven by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive elements. JNK(K-R) and MEKK(K-M), the respective catalytically inactive mutants of JNK1 and MEKK, also partially inhibited the shear-induced luciferase reporters. In contrast, Raf301, ERK(K71R), and ERK(K52R), the dominant negative mutants of Raf-1, ERK-1, and ERK-2, respectively, had little effect on the activities of these reporters. The activation of JNK was also correlated with increased c-Jun transcriptional activity, which was attenuated by a negative mutant of Son of sevenless. Thus, mechanical stimulation exerted by fluid shearing activates primarily the Ras-MEKK-JNK pathway in inducing endothelial gene expression.

Role of c-Src tyrosine kinase in G protein-coupled receptor- and Gbetagamma subunit-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases

Several G protein-coupled receptors that interact with pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric G proteins mediate Ras-dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. The mechanism involves Gbetagamma subunit-mediated increases in tyrosine phosphorylation of the Shc adapter protein, Shc*Grb2 complex formation, and recruitment of Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity. We have investigated the role of the ubiquitous nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Src in activation of the MAP kinase pathway via endogenous G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors or by transient expression of Gbetagamma subunits in COS-7 cells. In vitro kinase assays of Shc immunoprecipitates following LPA stimulation demonstrated rapid, transient recruitment of tyrosine kinase activity into Shc immune complexes. Recruitment of tyrosine kinase activity was pertussis toxin-sensitive and mimicked by cellular expression of Gbetagamma subunits. Immunoblots for coprecipitated proteins in Shc immunoprecipitates revealed a transient association of Shc and c-Src following LPA stimulation, which coincided with increases in Shc-associated tyrosine kinase activity and Shc tyrosine phosphorylation. LPA stimulation or expression of Gbetagamma subunits resulted in c-Src activation, as assessed by increased c-Src autophosphorylation. Overexpression of wild-type or constitutively active mutant c-Src, but not kinase inactive mutant c-Src, lead to increased tyrosine kinase activity in Shc immunoprecipitates, increased Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, and Shc.Grb2 complex formation. MAP kinase activation resulting from LPA receptor stimulation, expression of Gbetagamma subunits, or expression of c-Src was sensitive to dominant negatives of mSos, Ras, and Raf. Coexpression of Csk, which inactivates Src family kinases by phosphorylating the regulatory C-terminal tyrosine residue, inhibited LPA stimulation of Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, Shc.Grb2 complex formation, and MAP kinase activation. These data suggest that Gbetagamma subunit-mediated formation of Shc.c-Src complexes and c-Src kinase activation are early events in Ras-dependent activation of MAP kinase via pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein-coupled receptors.

Oncogenic Raf-1 activates p70 S6 kinase via a mitogen-activated protein kinase-independent pathway

Cell proliferation requires the co-ordinate triggering of several protein kinases of Ser/Thr specificity such as p70 S6 kinase (S6K), which phosphorylates the ribosomal S6 protein and thus increases translation of mRNAs with polypyrimidine tracts. The multiplicity of signaling pathways leading to p70 S6K activation are not fully elucidated. However, several reports have indicated that the activation of p70 S6K is independent of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Interestingly, we and others have shown that constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway promotes cell proliferation, suggesting that this cascade is able to activate p70 S6K, a key step to trigger cell cycle entry. In this report we demonstrate that transfection of constitutively active mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 in CCL 39 cells leads to activation of p70 S6K. Furthermore, we have established a cell line that stably expresses DeltaRaf-1:ER, an estradiol-regulated form of oncogenic Raf-1. The addition of estradiol to these cells was sufficient to elicit rapid activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1, MAPK, and p70 S6K. Surprisingly, the activation of p70 S6K is not mediated by MAPK because blocking MAPK activation by expression of the phosphatase MKP-1 did not prevent p70 S6K activation by DeltaRaf-1:ER. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that activation of p70 S6K by DeltaRaf-1:ER is mediated by a new MAPK-independent pathway. This pathway is resistant to low nanomolar concentrations of wortmannin, indicating that it does not involve membrane-bound phosphatidylinositol-trisphosphate kinase activation.

Effect of mutations at serines 1280-1283 on the mitogenic and transforming activities of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor

The insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) controls the extent of cell proliferation in a variety of cell types by at least 3 different ways: it is mitogenic, it causes transformation, and it protects cells from apoptosis. Previous reports indicated that certain domains in the C terminus of the IGF-IR transmitted a transforming signal that is additional to and separate from the mitogenic signal. We have now mutated the four serine residues at 1280-1283 of the IGF-IR, and transfected the mutant receptor into R- cells. Cells expressing the mutant receptor are fully responsive to IGF-I mediated mitogenesis, but are not transformed (no colony formation in soft agar). Several downstream signal transducers are not affected by the mutation, again suggesting a separate pathway for transformation. The mutant receptor can act as a dominant negative for growth, but cannot induce apoptosis in cells with endogenous wild-type receptors.

Insulin and phorbol ester stimulate initiation factor eIF-4E phosphorylation by distinct pathways in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing the insulin receptor

We have developed a one-dimensional isoelectric focusing technique to measure changes in the steady-state phosphorylation of the cap-binding initiation factor, eIF-4E. We have used a Chinese hamster ovary cell line transfected with the human insulin receptor (CHO.T cells) to study the regulation of eIF-4E phosphorylation by insulin and other stimuli. Exposure of CHO.T cells to insulin, phorbol ester or serum resulted in a rapid increase (up to twofold) in eIF-4E phosphorylation. As a control, we have also performed experiments with the parental cell line, CHO.K1 cells, in which both serum and phorbol ester, but not nanomolar concentrations of insulin, produce similar changes in eIF-4E phosphorylation. We have used two complementary approaches to study the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in these responses: a highly specific inhibitor of PKC and down-regulation of PKC by prior treatment of the cells with phorbol ester. In CHO.T cells, both approaches indicate that PKC is required for the response to phorbol ester but that insulin and serum each increase eIF-4E phosphorylation by a mechanism(s) independent of this protein kinase. Similarly, PKC is necessary for the effects of phorbol ester, but not of serum, on eIF-4E phosphorylation in CHO.K1 cells. These data indicate that multiple signal transduction mechanisms are involved in the modulation of eIF-4E phosphorylation and the implications of these findings are discussed.

Insulin regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression does not require activation of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway

Expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), the rate-limiting step in hepatic gluconeogenesis, is primarily regulated at the level of gene transcription. Insulin and phorbol esters inhibit basal PEPCK transcription and antagonize the induction of PEPCK gene expression by glucocorticoids and glucagon (or its second messenger cAMP). Insulin activates a signaling cascade involving Ras --> Raf --> p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase (MEK) --> p42/p44 MAP kinase (ERK 1 and 2). Recent reports suggest that activation of this Ras/MAP kinase pathway is critical for the effects of insulin on mitogenesis and c-fos transcription but is not required for insulin action on metabolic processes such as glycogen synthesis, lipogenesis, and Glut-4-mediated glucose transport. We have used three distinct approaches to examine the role of the Ras/MAP kinase pathway in the regulation of PEPCK transcription by insulin in H4IIE-derived liver cells: (i) chemical inhibition of Ras farnesylation, (ii) infection of cells with an adenovirus vector encoding a dominant-negative mutant of Ras, and (iii) use of a chemical inhibitor of MEK. Although each of these methods blocks insulin activation of MAP kinase, none alters insulin antagonism of cAMP- and glucocorticoid-stimulated PEPCK transcription. Although phorbol esters activate MAP kinase and mimic the effects of insulin on PEPCK gene transcription, inhibition of MEK has no effect on phorbol ester inhibition of PEPCK gene transcription. Using the structurally and mechanistically distinct phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitors, wortmannin and LY 294002, we provide further evidence supporting a role for PI 3-kinase activation in the regulation of PEPCK gene transcription by insulin. We conclude that neither insulin nor phorbol ester regulation of PEPCK gene transcription requires activation of the Ras/MAP kinase pathway and that insulin signaling to the PEPCK promoter is dependent on PI 3-kinase activation.

Activation and nuclear translocation of mitogen-activated protein kinases by polyomavirus middle-T or serum depend on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Several cellular signal transduction pathways activated by middle-T in polyomavirus-transformed cells are required for viral oncogenicity. Here we focus on the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and Ras and address the question how these signaling molecules cooperate during cell cycle activation. Ras activation is mediated through association with SHC.GRB2.SOS and leads to increased activity of several members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family, while activation of PI 3-kinase results in the generation of D3-phosphorylated phosphatidylinositides whose downstream targets remain elusive. PI 3-kinase activation might also ensue as a direct consequence of Ras activation. Oncogenicity of middle-T requires stimulation of both Ras- and PI 3-kinase-dependent pathways. Mutants of middle-T incapable to bind either SHC.GRB2.SOS or PI 3-kinase are not oncogenic. Sustained activation and nuclear localization of one of the MAP kinases, ERK1, was observed in wild type but not in mutant middle-T-expressing cells. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI 3-kinase, prevented MAP kinase activation and nuclear localization in middle-T-transformed cells. PI 3-kinase activity was also required for activation of the MAP kinase pathway in normal serum-stimulated cells, generalizing the concept that signaling through MAP kinases requires not only Ras-but also PI 3-kinase-mediated signals.

A combined genetic and biochemical approach to mammalian signal transduction

The last five years have seen a rapid increase in interest and understanding of signal transduction pathways. While the description of such pathways has become more detailed and complex, a number of consistent findings have emerged. Modular domains, such as SH2 and SH3 domains, are present on a wide variety of proteins and mediate specific protein-protein interactions. By defining the interaction mediated by such domains, a 'language' of interaction between proteins in signalling pathways is emerging. As more signalling proteins are identified it has become apparent that most oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes are components of major signalling pathways. Therefore, studies on the basic biology of signal transduction are having a direct impact on our understanding of cell transformation. With the characterisation of signalling pathways in a range of organisms, it has also become obvious that signalling pathways are ancient and have been highly conserved over the last billion years of evolution. A practical result of this finding has been the ability to exploit results obtained in genetically tractable invertebrate species such as C. elegans and Drosophila melanogaster to investigate signal transduction in mammals. This is an approach we have emphasized in our investigation of signal transduction by tyrosine kinase receptors in human and mouse cells. Results obtained in these studies with the Sos and Siah proteins are reviewed.

The insulin-dependent biosynthesis of GLUT1 and GLUT3 glucose transporters in L6 muscle cells is mediated by distinct pathways. Roles of p21ras and pp70 S6 kinase

Insulin binding results in rapid phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 to activate p21ras and mitogen-activated protein kinase. Insulin also activates the ribosomal protein S6 kinase (pp70 S6 kinase) independently of the Ras pathway. Chronic (18 h) treatment of L6 muscle cells with insulin increases glucose transport activity severalfold due to biosynthetic elevation of the GLUT1 and GLUT3 but not the GLUT4 glucose transporters. Here we investigate the roles of p21ras and pp70 S6 kinase in the insulin-mediated increases in GLUT1 and GLUT3 expression. L6 cells were transfected with the dominant negative Ras(S17N) under the control of a dexamethasone-inducible promoter. Induction of Ras(S17N) failed to block the insulin-mediated increase in GLUT1 glucose transporter protein and mRNA; however, it abrogated the insulin-mediated increase in GLUT3 glucose transporter protein and mRNA. Inhibition of pp70 S6 kinase by rapamycin, on the other hand, eliminated the insulin-mediated increase in GLUT1 but had no effect on that of GLUT3 in both parental and Ras(S17N) transfected L6 cells. These results suggest that the biosynthetic regulation of glucose transporters is differentially determined, with pp70 S6 kinase and p21ras playing active roles in the insulin-stimulated increases in GLUT1 and GLUT3, respectively.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibition does not block the stimulation of glucose utilization by insulin

Insulin stimulates the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) via its upstream activator, MAPK kinase (MEK), a dual specificity kinase that phosphorylates MAPK on threonine and tyrosine. The potential role of MAPK activation in insulin action was investigated with the specific MEK inhibitor PD98059. Insulin stimulation of MAPK activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes (2.7-fold) and L6 myotubes (1.4-fold) was completely abolished by pretreatment of cells with the MEK inhibitor, as was the phosphorylation of MAPK and pp90Rsk, and the transcriptional activation of c-fos. Insulin receptor autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase were unaffected. Pretreatment of cells with PD98059 had no effect on basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, lipogenesis, and glycogen synthesis. Glycogen synthase activity in extracts from 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes was increased 3-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively, by insulin. Pretreatment with 10 microM PD98059 was without effect. Similarly, the 2-fold activation of protein phosphatase 1 by insulin was insensitive to PD98059. These results indicate that stimulation of the MAPK pathway by insulin is not required for many of the metabolic activities of the hormone in cultured fat and muscle cells.

Receptor-tyrosine-kinase- and G beta gamma-mediated MAP kinase activation by a common signalling pathway

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases mediate the phosphorylation and activation of nuclear transcription factors that regulate cell growth. MAP kinase activation may result from stimulation of either tyrosine-kinase (RTK) receptors, which possess intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, or G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). RTK-mediated mitogenic signalling involves a series of SH2- and SH3-dependent protein-protein interactions between tyrosine-phosphorylated receptor, Shc, Grb2 and Sos, resulting in Ras-dependent MAP kinase activation. The beta gamma subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins (G beta gamma) also mediate Ras-dependent MAP kinase activation by an as-yet unknown mechanism. Here we demonstrate that activation of MAP kinase by Gi-coupled receptors is preceded by the G beta gamma-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc, leading to an increased functional association between Shc, Grb2 and Sos. Moreover, disruption of the Shc-Grb2-Sos complex blocks G beta gamma-mediated MAP kinase activation, indicating that G beta gamma does not mediate MAP kinase activation by a direct interaction with Sos. These results indicate that G beta gamma-mediated MAP kinase activation is initiated by a tyrosine phosphorylation event and proceeds by a pathway common to both GPCRs and RTKs.

Insulin-like growth factor I receptor activated by a transmembrane mutation

We constructed mutant receptors by mutating transmembrane Val922 of the human insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR). Assays of receptor kinase and autophosphorylation revealed constitutively augmented tyrosine kinase activity of V922E IGF-IR in both transient and stable expression. The constitutively active tyrosine kinase of this mutant was verified by promoted tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in the absence of IGF-I. In CHO cells stably increasing V922E IGF-IR, both IRS-1 phosphorylation and the IRS-1 associated phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity were stimulated in the absence of IGF-I to the level attained by 1 nM IGF-I stimulation of wild-type IGF-IR, whereas the Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway was not activated under the same condition. In these CHO cells, V922E IGF-IR significantly stimulated glucose uptake but did not promote mitogenesis in the absence of IGF-I. We thus conclude that the V922E mutation of IGF-IR switches on the intrinsic tyrosine kinase and differentially activates the downstream pathways. This mutant is extremely useful in clarifying the turning-on mechanism of IGF-IR as well as the differential roles of individual downstream pathways of receptor tyrosine kinases.

Ras-independent and wortmannin-sensitive activation of glycogen synthase by insulin in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Activation of glycogen synthase is one of the major metabolic events triggered by exposure of cells to insulin. The molecular mechanism by which insulin activates glycogen synthase was investigated. The possible role of Ras and mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade was investigated with a stable cell line, CHO-IR-C/S 46, that overexpresses insulin receptors and a catalytically inactive SH-PTP 2 protein phosphatase and in which insulin does not induce the formation of the Ras-GTP complex or the subsequently activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. Insulin activated glycogen synthase in this cell line to a similar extent as in parental CHO-IR cells. The importance of heteromeric phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase in insulin activation of glycogen synthase was examined in a stable cell line, CHO-IR/delta p85, that overexpresses insulin receptors and a dominant negative mutant (delta p85) of the 85-kDa subunit of PI 3-kinase that lacks the binding site for the catalytic 110-kDa subunit. Insulin-dependent activation of PI-3 kinase and glucose transport, but not the formation of the Ras-GTP complex, are markedly attenuated in this cell line. In CHO-IR/delta p85 cells, insulin activated glycogen synthase to a similar extent as in parental CHO-IR cells. The failure of overproduction of the mutant (delta p85) protein to inhibit insulin activation of glycogen synthase was also confirmed by transient expression in Rat 1 cells with the use of a recombinant vaccinia virus. However, wortmannin abolished insulin activation of glycogen synthase in all cell lines. These data suggest that existence of a Ras-independent and wortmannin-sensitive pathway for activation of glycogen synthase by insulin.