Heat shock proteins regulate activation-induced proteasomal degradation of the mature phosphorylated form of protein kinase C

PKCα and PKCδ: Friends and Rivals

PKC comprises a large family of serine/threonine kinases that share a requirement for allosteric activation by lipids. While PKC isoforms have significant homology, functional divergence is evident among subfamilies and between individual PKC isoforms within a subfamily. Here, we highlight these differences by comparing the regulation and function of representative PKC isoforms from the conventional (PKCα) and novel (PKCδ) subfamilies. We discuss how unique structural features of PKCα and PKCδ underlie differences in activation and highlight the similar, divergent, and even opposing biological functions of these kinases. We also consider how PKCα and PKCδ can contribute to pathophysiological conditions and discuss challenges to targeting these kinases therapeutically.

A novel anti-proliferative PKCα-Ras-ERK signaling axis in intestinal epithelial cells

We have previously shown that the serine/threonine kinase PKCα triggers MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)-dependent G₁→S cell cycle arrest in intestinal epithelial cells, characterized by downregulation of cyclin D1 and inhibitor of DNA-binding protein 1 (Id1) and upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21^Cip1. Here, we use pharmacological inhibitors, genetic approaches, siRNA-mediated knockdown, and immunoprecipitation to further characterize anti-proliferative ERK signaling in intestinal cells. We show that PKCα signaling intersects the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK kinase cascade at the level of Ras small GTPases, and that anti-proliferative effects of PKCα require active Ras, Raf, MEK and ERK, core ERK pathway components that are also essential for pro-proliferative ERK signaling induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF). However, PKCα-induced anti-proliferative signaling differs from EGF signaling in that it is independent of the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Ras-GEFs), SOS1/2, and involves prolonged rather than transient ERK activation. PKCα forms complexes with A-Raf, B-Raf and C-Raf that dissociate upon pathway activation, and all three Raf isoforms can mediate PKCα-induced anti-proliferative effects. At least two PKCα-ERK pathways that collaborate to promote growth arrest were identified: one pathway requiring the Ras-GEF, RasGRP3, and H-Ras, leads to p21^Cip1 upregulation, while additional pathway(s) mediate PKCα-induced cyclin D1 and Id1 downregulation. PKCα also induces ERK-dependent SOS1 phosphorylation, indicating possible negative crosstalk between anti-proliferative and growth-promoting ERK signaling. Importantly, the spatio-temporal activation of PKCα and ERK in the intestinal epithelium in vivo supports the physiological relevance of these pathways and highlights the importance of anti-proliferative ERK signaling to tissue homeostasis in the intestine.

Protein Kinase C Life Cycle: Explained Through Systems Biology Approach

Protein kinase C (PKC) enzymes are a family of kinases that mediate signal transduction originating at the cell surface. Most cell membranes can contain functional PKC enzymes. Aberrations in the PKC life cycle may result in cellular damage and dysfunction. For example, some cancerous cells exhibit alterations in PKC activity. Here, we use a systems biology approach to describe a molecular model of the PKC life cycle. Understanding the PKC life cycle is necessary to identify new drug targets. The PKC life cycle is composed of three key regulatory processes: maturation, activation, and termination. These processes precisely control PKC enzyme levels. This model describes the fate of PKC during de novo synthesis and PKC’s lipid-mediated activation cycle. We utilize a systems biology approach to show the PKC life cycle is controlled by multiple phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events. PKC processing events can be divided into two types: maturation via processing of newly synthesized enzyme and secondary messenger-dependent activation of dormant, but catalytically competent enzyme. Newly synthesized PKC enzyme is constitutively processed through three ordered phosphorylations and stored in the cytosol as a stable, signaling-competent inactive and autoinhibited molecule. Upon extracellular stimulation, diacylglycerol (DAG) and calcium ion (Ca²⁺) generated at the membrane bind PKC. PKC then undergoes cytosol-to-membrane translocation and subsequent activation. Our model shows that, once activated, PKC is prone to dephosphorylation and subsequent degradation. This model also describes the role of HSP70 in stabilization and re-phosphorylation of dephosphorylated PKC, replenishing the PKC pool. Our model shows how the PKC pool responds to different intensities of extracellular stimuli? We show that blocking PHLPP dephosphorylation replenishes the PKC pool in a dose-dependent manner. This model provides a comprehensive understanding of PKC life cycle regulation.

Targeting PKC in microglia to promote remyelination and repair in the CNS

Microglia and CNS-infiltrating macrophages play significant roles in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Prolonged and dysregulated inflammatory responses by these innate immune cells can have deleterious effects on the surrounding CNS microenvironment, which can worsen neurodegeneration and demyelination. However, although chronic activation of pro-inflammatory microglia is maladaptive, other functional microglial subtypes play beneficial roles during CNS repair and regeneration. Therefore, there is a tremendous interest in understanding the underlying mechanism of the activation of these reparative/regenerative microglia. In this review, we focus on the potential role of PKC, a downstream signaling molecule of TREM2 and PLCγ2, and PKC modulators in promoting the activation of reparative/regenerative microglial subtypes as a novel therapy for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Conventional protein kinase C in the brain: repurposing cancer drugs for neurodegenerative treatment?

Protein Kinase C (PKC) isozymes are tightly regulated kinases that transduce a myriad of signals from receptor-mediated hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids. They play an important role in brain physiology, and dysregulation of PKC activity is associated with neurodegeneration. Gain-of-function mutations in PKCα are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mutations in PKCγ cause spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) type 14 (SCA14). This article presents an overview of the role of the conventional PKCα and PKCγ in neurodegeneration and proposes repurposing PKC inhibitors, which failed in clinical trials for cancer, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

The complexities of PKCα signaling in cancer

Protein kinase C α (PKCα) is a ubiquitously expressed member of the PKC family of serine/threonine kinases with diverse functions in normal and neoplastic cells. Early studies identified anti-proliferative and differentiation-inducing functions for PKCα in some normal tissues (e.g., regenerating epithelia) and pro-proliferative effects in others (e.g., cells of the hematopoietic system, smooth muscle cells). Additional well documented roles of PKCα signaling in normal cells include regulation of the cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, and cell migration, and PKCα can function as a survival factor in many contexts. While a majority of tumors lose expression of PKCα, others display aberrant overexpression of the enzyme. Cancer-related mutations in PKCα are uncommon, but rare examples of driver mutations have been detected in certain cancer types (e. g., choroid gliomas). Here we review the role of PKCα in various cancers, describe mechanisms by which PKCα affects cancer-related cell functions, and discuss how the diverse functions of PKCα contribute to tumor suppressive and tumor promoting activities of the enzyme. We end the discussion by addressing mutations and expression of PKCα in tumors and the clinical relevance of these findings.

Functional Genomic Screening Reveals Core Modulators of Echinocandin Stress Responses in Candida albicans

Candida albicans is a leading cause of death due to fungal infection. Treatment of systemic candidiasis often relies on echinocandins, which disrupt cell wall synthesis. Resistance is readily acquired via mutations in the drug target gene, FKS1. Both basal tolerance and resistance to echinocandins require cellular stress responses. We performed a systematic analysis of 3,030 C. albicans mutants to define circuitry governing cellular responses to echinocandins. We identified 16 genes for which deletion or transcriptional repression enhanced echinocandin susceptibility, including components of the Pkc1-MAPK signaling cascade. We discovered that the molecular chaperone Hsp90 is required for the stability of Pkc1 and Bck1, establishing key mechanisms through which Hsp90 mediates echinocandin resistance. We also discovered that perturbation of the CCT chaperonin complex causes enhanced echinocandin sensitivity, altered cell wall architecture, and aberrant septin localization. Thus, we provide insights into the mechanisms by which cellular chaperones enable crucial responses to echinocandin-induced stress.

Evolving mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle contraction highlight key targets in vascular disease

Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) plays an important role in the regulation of vascular function. Identifying the mechanisms of VSM contraction has been a major research goal in order to determine the causes of vascular dysfunction and exaggerated vasoconstriction in vascular disease. Major discoveries over several decades have helped to better understand the mechanisms of VSM contraction. Ca2+ has been established as a major regulator of VSM contraction, and its sources, cytosolic levels, homeostatic mechanisms and subcellular distribution have been defined. Biochemical studies have also suggested that stimulation of Gq protein-coupled membrane receptors activates phospholipase C and promotes the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids into inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 stimulates initial Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and is buttressed by Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent, receptor-operated, transient receptor potential and store-operated channels. In order to prevent large increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c), Ca2+ removal mechanisms promote Ca2+ extrusion via the plasmalemmal Ca2+ pump and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, and Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and the coordinated activities of these Ca2+ handling mechanisms help to create subplasmalemmal Ca2+ domains. Threshold increases in [Ca2+]c form a Ca2+-calmodulin complex, which activates myosin light chain (MLC) kinase, and causes MLC phosphorylation, actin-myosin interaction, and VSM contraction. Dissociations in the relationships between [Ca2+]c, MLC phosphorylation, and force have suggested additional Ca2+ sensitization mechanisms. DAG activates protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, which directly or indirectly via mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylate the actin-binding proteins calponin and caldesmon and thereby enhance the myofilaments force sensitivity to Ca2+. PKC-mediated phosphorylation of PKC-potentiated phosphatase inhibitor protein-17 (CPI-17), and RhoA-mediated activation of Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibit MLC phosphatase and in turn increase MLC phosphorylation and VSM contraction. Abnormalities in the Ca2+ handling mechanisms and PKC and ROCK activity have been associated with vascular dysfunction in multiple vascular disorders. Modulators of [Ca2+]c, PKC and ROCK activity could be useful in mitigating the increased vasoconstriction associated with vascular disease.

Candida albicans Heat Shock Proteins and Hsps-Associated Signaling Pathways as Potential Antifungal Targets

In recent decades, the incidence of invasive fungal infections has increased notably. Candida albicans (C. albicans), a common opportunistic fungal pathogen that dwells on human mucosal surfaces, can cause fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised and high-risk surgical patients. In addition, the wide use of antifungal agents has likely contributed to resistance of C. albicans to traditional antifungal drugs, increasing the difficulty of treatment. Thus, it is urgent to identify novel antifungal drugs to cope with C. albicans infections. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) exist in most organisms and are expressed in response to thermal stress. In C. albicans, Hsps control basic physiological activities or virulence via interaction with a variety of diverse regulators of cellular signaling pathways. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that Hsps confer drug resistance to C. albicans. Many studies have shown that disrupting the normal functions of C. albicans Hsps inhibits fungal growth or reverses the tolerance of C. albicans to traditional antifungal drugs. Here, we review known functions of the diverse Hsp family, Hsp-associated intracellular signaling pathways and potential antifungal targets based on these pathways in C. albicans. We hope this review will aid in revealing potential new roles of C. albicans Hsps in addition to canonical heat stress adaptions and provide more insight into identifying potential novel antifungal targets.

Protein Kinase C as Regulator of Vascular Smooth Muscle Function and Potential Target in Vascular Disorders

Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) plays an important role in maintaining vascular tone. In addition to Ca²⁺-dependent myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, protein kinase C (PKC) is a major regulator of VSM function. PKC is a family of conventional Ca²⁺-dependent α, β, and γ, novel Ca²⁺-independent δ, ɛ, θ, and η, and atypical ξ, and ι/λ isoforms. Inactive PKC is mainly cytosolic, and upon activation it undergoes phosphorylation, maturation, and translocation to the surface membrane, the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and other cell organelles; a process facilitated by scaffold proteins such as RACKs. Activated PKC phosphorylates different substrates including ion channels, pumps, and nuclear proteins. PKC also phosphorylates CPI-17 leading to inhibition of MLC phosphatase, increased MLC phosphorylation, and enhanced VSM contraction. PKC could also initiate a cascade of protein kinases leading to phosphorylation of the actin-binding proteins calponin and caldesmon, increased actin-myosin interaction, and VSM contraction. Increased PKC activity has been associated with vascular disorders including ischemia-reperfusion injury, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetic vasculopathy. PKC inhibitors could test the role of PKC in different systems and could reduce PKC hyperactivity in vascular disorders. First-generation PKC inhibitors such as staurosporine and chelerythrine are not very specific. Isoform-specific PKC inhibitors such as ruboxistaurin have been tested in clinical trials. Target delivery of PKC pseudosubstrate inhibitory peptides and PKC siRNA may be useful in localized vascular disease. Further studies of PKC and its role in VSM should help design isoform-specific PKC modulators that are experimentally potent and clinically safe to target PKC in vascular disease.

Protein Kinase Cα (PKCα) Is Resistant to Long Term Desensitization/Down-regulation by Prolonged Diacylglycerol Stimulation

Sustained activation of PKCα is required for long term physiological responses, such as growth arrest and differentiation. However, studies with pharmacological agonists (e.g. phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)) indicate that prolonged stimulation leads to PKCα desensitization via dephosphorylation and/or degradation. The current study analyzed effects of chronic stimulation with the physiological agonist diacylglycerol. Repeated addition of 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DiC8) resulted in sustained plasma membrane association of PKCα in a pattern comparable with that induced by PMA. However, although PMA potently down-regulated PKCα, prolonged activation by DiC8 failed to engage known desensitization mechanisms, with the enzyme remaining membrane-associated and able to support sustained downstream signaling. DiC8-activated PKCα did not undergo dephosphorylation, ubiquitination, or internalization, early events in PKCα desensitization. Although DiC8 efficiently down-regulated novel PKCs PKCδ and PKCϵ, differences in Ca(2+) sensitivity and diacylglycerol affinity were excluded as mediators of the selective resistance of PKCα. Roles for Hsp/Hsc70 and Hsp90 were also excluded. PMA, but not DiC8, targeted PKCα to detergent-resistant membranes, and disruption of these domains with cholesterol-binding agents demonstrated a role for differential membrane compartmentalization in selective agonist-induced degradation. Chronic DiC8 treatment failed to desensitize PKCα in several cell types and did not affect PKCβI; thus, conventional PKCs appear generally insensitive to desensitization by sustained diacylglycerol stimulation. Consistent with this conclusion, prolonged (several-day) membrane association/activation of PKCα is seen in self-renewing epithelium of the intestine, cervix, and skin. PKCα deficiency affects gene expression, differentiation, and tumorigenesis in these tissues, highlighting the importance of mechanisms that protect PKCα from desensitization in vivo.

Tuning the signalling output of protein kinase C

Precise control of the amplitude of protein kinase C (PKC) signalling is essential for cellular homoeostasis, and disruption of this control leads to pathophysiological states such as cancer, neurodegeneration and diabetes. For conventional and novel PKC, this amplitude is meticulously tuned by multiple inputs that regulate the amount of enzyme in the cell, its ability to sense its allosteric activator diacylglycerol, and protein scaffolds that co-ordinate access to substrates. Key to regulation of the signalling output of most PKC isoenzymes is the ability of cytosolic enzyme to respond to the membrane-embedded lipid second messenger, diacylglycerol, in a dynamic range that prevents signalling in the absence of agonists but allows efficient activation in response to small changes in diacylglycerol levels. The present review discusses the regulatory inputs that control the spatiotemporal dynamics of PKC signalling, with a focus on conventional and novel PKC isoenzymes.

Common mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and ischemic stroke: the role of protein kinase C in the progression of age-related neurodegeneration

Ischemic stroke and Alzheimer's disease (AD), despite being distinct disease entities, share numerous pathophysiological mechanisms such as those mediated by inflammation, immune exhaustion, and neurovascular unit compromise. An important shared mechanistic link is acute and chronic changes in protein kinase C (PKC) activity. PKC isoforms have widespread functions important for memory, blood-brain barrier maintenance, and injury repair that change as the body ages. Disease states accelerate PKC functional modifications. Mutated forms of PKC can contribute to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. In some cases the PKC isoforms are still functional but are not successfully translocated to appropriate locations within the cell. The deficits in proper PKC translocation worsen stroke outcome and amyloid-β toxicity. Cross talk between the innate immune system and PKC pathways contribute to the vascular status within the aging brain. Unfortunately, comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension disrupt normal communication between the two systems. The focus of this review is to highlight what is known about PKC function, how isoforms of PKC change with age, and what additional alterations are consequences of stroke and AD. The goal is to highlight future therapeutic targets that can be applied to both the treatment and prevention of neurologic disease. Although the pathology of ischemic stroke and AD are different, the similarity in PKC responses warrants further investigation, especially as PKC-dependent events may serve as an important connection linking age-related brain injury.

A kinase inhibitor screen reveals protein kinase C-dependent endocytic recycling of ErbB2 in breast cancer cells

ErbB2 overexpression drives oncogenesis in 20-30% cases of breast cancer. Oncogenic potential of ErbB2 is linked to inefficient endocytic traffic into lysosomes and preferential recycling. However, regulation of ErbB2 recycling is incompletely understood. We used a high-content immunofluorescence imaging-based kinase inhibitor screen on SKBR-3 breast cancer cells to identify kinases whose inhibition alters the clearance of cell surface ErbB2 induced by Hsp90 inhibitor 17-AAG. Less ErbB2 clearance was observed with broad-spectrum PKC inhibitor Ro 31-8220. A similar effect was observed with Go 6976, a selective inhibitor of classical Ca(2+)-dependent PKCs (α, β1, βII, and γ). PKC activation by PMA promoted surface ErbB2 clearance but without degradation, and ErbB2 was observed to move into a juxtanuclear compartment where it colocalized with PKC-α and PKC-δ together with the endocytic recycling regulator Arf6. PKC-α knockdown impaired the juxtanuclear localization of ErbB2. ErbB2 transit to the recycling compartment was also impaired upon PKC-δ knockdown. PMA-induced Erk phosphorylation was reduced by ErbB2 inhibitor lapatinib, as well as by knockdown of PKC-δ but not that of PKC-α. Our results suggest that activation of PKC-α and -δ mediates a novel positive feedback loop by promoting ErbB2 entry into the endocytic recycling compartment, consistent with reported positive roles for these PKCs in ErbB2-mediated tumorigenesis. As the endocytic recycling compartment/pericentrion has emerged as a PKC-dependent signaling hub for G-protein-coupled receptors, our findings raise the possibility that oncogenesis by ErbB2 involves previously unexplored PKC-dependent endosomal signaling.

Differential regulation of cyclin D1 expression by protein kinase C α and ϵ signaling in intestinal epithelial cells

Cellular accumulation of cyclin D1, a key regulator of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, is subject to tight control. Our previous studies have identified PKCα as a negative regulator of cyclin D1 in the intestinal epithelium. However, treatment of non-transformed IEC-18 ileal crypt cells with PKC agonists has a biphasic effect on cyclin D1 expression. Initial PKCα-mediated down-regulation is followed by recovery and subsequent accumulation of the cyclin to levels markedly higher than those seen in untreated cells. Using protein overexpression strategies, siRNA, and pharmacological inhibitors, we now demonstrate that the recovery and hyperinduction of cyclin D1 reflect the combined effects of (a) loss of negative signals from PKCα due to agonist-induced PKCα down-regulation and (b) positive effects of PKCϵ. PKCϵ-mediated up-regulation of cyclin D1 requires sustained ERK stimulation and transcriptional activation of the proximal cyclin D1 (CCDN1) promoter, without apparent involvement of changes in protein stability or translation. PKCϵ also up-regulates cyclin D1 expression in colon cancer cells, through mechanisms that parallel those in IEC-18 cells. Although induction of cyclin D1 by PKCϵ is dependent on non-canonical NF-κB activation, the NF-κB site in the proximal promoter is not required. Instead, cyclin D1 promoter activity is regulated by a novel interaction between NF-κB and factors that associate with the cyclic AMP-response element adjacent to the NF-κB site. The differential effects of PKCα and PKCϵ on cyclin D1 accumulation are likely to contribute to the opposing tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting activities of these PKC family members in the intestinal epithelium.