Interaction of the fork head domain transcription factor MPP2 with the human papilloma virus 16 E7 protein: enhancement of transformation and transactivation

The high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E7 protein affects cell growth control and promotes transformation by interfering with functions of cellular proteins. A key target of E7 is the tumor suppressor protein p105RB. Although this interaction is required for E7-dependent transformation, other cellular molecules must also be involved, because some E7 mutants that have reduced transforming abilities still bind to p105RB. In order to identify additional proteins that interact with E7 and that may be responsible to mediate its transforming function, we have used the C-terminal half of E7 in a yeast two-hybrid screen. We identified the fork head domain transcription factor M phase phosphoprotein 2 (MPP2) as an interaction partner of E7. Specific interaction of the two proteins both in vitro and in vivo in mammalian cells was detected. The interaction of MPP2 with E7 is functionally relevant since MPP2 enhances the E7/Ha-Ras co-transformation of rat embryo fibroblasts. In addition HPV16 E7, but neither non-transforming mutants of HPV16 E7 nor low risk HPV6 E7, was able to stimulate MPP2-specific transcriptional activity. Thus, MPP2 is a potentially important target for E7-mediated transformation.

STOP proteins are responsible for the high degree of microtubule stabilization observed in neuronal cells

Neuronal differentiation and function require extensive stabilization of the microtubule cytoskeleton. Neurons contain a large proportion of microtubules that resist the cold and depolymerizing drugs and exhibit slow subunit turnover. The origin of this stabilization is unclear. Here we have examined the role of STOP, a calmodulin-regulated protein previously isolated from cold-stable brain microtubules. We find that neuronal cells express increasing levels of STOP and of STOP variants during differentiation. These STOP proteins are associated with a large proportion of microtubules in neuronal cells, and are concentrated on cold-stable, drug-resistant, and long-lived polymers. STOP inhibition abolishes microtubule cold and drug stability in established neurites and impairs neurite formation. Thus, STOP proteins are responsible for microtubule stabilization in neurons, and are apparently required for normal neurite formation.

Nonneuronal isoforms of STOP protein are responsible for microtubule cold stability in mammalian fibroblasts

A number of cycling mammalian cells, such as NIH 3T3, contain abundant subsets of cold-stable microtubules. The origin of such microtubule stabilization in nonneuronal cells is unknown. We have previously described a neuronal protein, stable tubule-only polypeptide (STOP), that binds to microtubules and induces cold stability. We find that NIH 3T3 fibroblasts contain a major 42-kDa isoform of STOP (fibroblastic STOP, F-STOP). F-STOP contains the central repeats characteristic of brain STOP but shows extensive deletions of N- and C-terminal protein domains that are present in brain STOP. These deletions arise from differences in STOP RNA splicing. Despite such deletions, F-STOP has full microtubule stabilizing activity. F-STOP accumulates on cold-stable microtubules of interphase arrays and is present on stable microtubules within the mitotic spindle of NIH 3T3 cells. STOP inhibition by microinjection of affinity-purified STOP central repeat antibodies into NIH 3T3 cells abolishes both interphase and spindle microtubule cold stability. Similar results were obtained with Rat2 cells. These results show that STOP proteins have nonneuronal isoforms that are responsible for the microtubule cold stability observed in mammalian fibroblasts.

M phase phosphoprotein 10 is a human U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein component

We have previously developed a novel technique for isolation of cDNAs encoding M phase phosphoproteins (MPPs). In the work described herein, we further characterize MPP10, one of 10 novel proteins that we identified, with regard to its potential nucleolar function. We show that by cell fractionation, almost all MPP10 was found in isolated nucleoli. By immunofluorescence, MPP10 colocalized with nucleolar fibrillarin and other known nucleolar proteins in interphase cells but was not detected in the coiled bodies stained for either fibrillarin or p80 coilin, a protein found only in the coiled body. When nucleoli were separated into fibrillar and granular domains by treatment with actinomycin D, almost all the MPP10 was found in the fibrillar caps, which contain proteins involved in rRNA processing. In early to middle M phase of the cell cycle, MPP10 colocalized with fibrillarin to chromosome surfaces. At telophase, MPP10 was found in cellular structures that resembled nucleolus-derived bodies and prenucleolar bodies. Some of these bodies lacked fibrillarin, a previously described component of nucleolus-derived bodies and prenucleolar bodies, however, and the bulk of MPP10 arrived at the nucleolus later than fibrillarin. To further examine the properties of MPP10, we immunoprecipitated it from cell sonicates. The resulting precipitates contained U3 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) but no significant amounts of other box C/D snoRNAs. This association of MPP10 with U3 snoRNA was stable to 400 mM salt and suggested that MPP10 is a component of the human U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein.

Identification of novel M phase phosphoproteins by expression cloning

Using an expression cloning technique, we isolated cDNAs for eight M phase phosphoproteins (MPPs 4-11). We then used affinity-purified antibodies to fusion proteins to characterize the intracellular localization and some biochemical properties of these proteins and two others that we identified previously (MPPs 1-2). Each antibody immunoprecipitated one or two protein species of a characteristic size ranging from 17,000 to 220,000 Da. Each MPP, when immunoprecipitated from lysates of M phase cells, was reactive with MPM2, a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a group of related M phase phosphorylation sites, including F-phosphoT-P-L-Q. This reactivity indicated that all the MPPS encoded genuine M phase phosphoproteins. When antibodies to the MPPS were used for immunofluorescence microscopy, each anti-MPP gave a characteristic pattern of localization. In interphase, several of the MPPs were nuclear proteins, whereas others were cytoplasmic or distributed throughout the cell. Three MPPS were strikingly localized to interphase structures: MPP7 to centers of DNA replication, MPP9 to the Golgi complex, and MPP10 to nucleoli. In mitosis, most of the MPPs were distributed throughout the cells. Further studies of the 10 MPPs, most of which are previously undescribed, are expected to provide new understandings of the process of cell division.

Cloning, expression, and properties of the microtubule-stabilizing protein STOP

Nerve cells contain abundant subpopulations of cold-stable microtubules. We have previously isolated a calmodulin-regulated brain protein, STOP (stable tubule-only polypeptide), which reconstitutes microtubule cold stability when added to cold-labile microtubules in vitro. We have now cloned cDNA encoding STOP. We find that STOP is a 100.5-kDa protein with no homology to known proteins. The primary structure of STOP includes two distinct domains of repeated motifs. The central region of STOP contains 5 tandem repeats of 46 amino acids, 4 with 98% homology to the consensus sequence. The STOP C terminus contains 28 imperfect repeats of an 11-amino acid motif. STOP also contains a putative SH3-binding motif close to its N terminus. In vitro translated STOP binds to both microtubules and Ca2+-calmodulin. When STOP cDNA is expressed in cells that lack cold-stable microtubules, STOP associates with microtubules at 37 degrees C, and stabilizes microtubule networks, inducing cold stability, nocodazole resistance, and tubulin detyrosination on microtubules in transfected cells. We conclude that STOP must play an important role in the generation of microtubule cold stability and in the control of microtubule dynamics in brain.

Accumulation of delta 2-tubulin, a major tubulin variant that cannot be tyrosinated, in neuronal tissues and in stable microtubule assemblies

Tubulin is the major protein component of brain tissue. It normally undergoes a cycle of tyrosination-detyrosination on the carboxy terminus of its alpha-subunit and this results in subpopulations of tyrosinated tubulin and detyrosinated tubulin. Brain tubulin preparations also contain a third major tubulin subpopulation, composed of a non-tyrosinatable variant of tubulin that lacks a carboxy-terminal glutamyl-tyrosine group on its alpha-subunit (delta 2-tubulin). Here, the abundance of delta 2-tubulin in brain tissues, its distribution in developing rat cerebellum and in a variety of cell types have been examined and compared with that of total alpha-tubulin and of tyrosinated and detyrosinated tubulin. Delta 2-tubulin accounts for approximately 35% of brain tubulin. In rat cerebellum, delta 2-tubulin appears early during neuronal differentiation and is detected only in neuronal cells. This apparent neuronal specificity of delta 2-tubulin is confirmed by examination of its distribution in cerebellar cells in primary cultures. In such cultures, neuronal cells are brightly stained with anti-delta 2-tubulin antibody while glial cells are not. Delta 2-tubulin is apparently present in neuronal growth cones. As delta 2-tubulin, detyrosinated tubulin is enriched in neuronal cells, but in contrast with delta 2-tubulin, detyrosinated tubulin is not detectable in Purkinje cells and is apparently excluded from neuronal growth cones. In a variety of cell types such as cultured fibroblasts of primary culture of bovine adrenal cortical cells, delta 2-tubulin is confined to very stable structures such as centrosomes and primary cilia. Treatment of such cells with high doses of taxol leads to the appearance of delta 2-tubulin in microtubule bundles. Delta 2-tubulin also occurs in the paracrystalline bundles of protofilamentous tubulin formed after vinblastine treatment. Delta 2-tubulin is present in sea urchin sperm flagella and it appears in sea urchin embryo cilia during development. Thus, delta 2-tubulin is apparently a marker of very long-lived microtubules. It might represent the final stage of alpha-tubulin maturation in long-lived polymers.

Ca(2+)-calmodulin regulated effectors of microtubule stability in neuronal tissues

In general, microtubules are labile structures which depolymerize at low temperature and are sensitive to Ca2+. However, in brain tissue, axonal microtubules are disassembly-resistant and can exist without attachment to a microtubule organizing center. Stable microtubules cannot be purified by usual recycling procedures and this has made the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in their stabilization difficult. This paper summarizes previous work in our laboratories, aimed at the identification of brain microtubule stabilizing proteins. We present assay methods which allow the detection of microtubule stability effectors in complex extracts and in chromatographic column fractions. Applied to brain crude extracts, they result in the isolation of Ca(2+)-calmodulin binding and Ca(2+)-calmodulin regulated proteins. One, called STOP, appears to account for microtubule stabilization in neurons. A second protein with similar activity is myelin basic protein. Non-neuronal tissues also contain Ca(2+)-calmodulin-regulated effectors which appear to differ in structure from their neuronal counterparts. Thus, in all tissues examined, microtubule stability seems to be accounted for by unique Ca(2+)-calmodulin regulated proteins, showing tissue specificity.

Ca(2+)-calmodulin regulated effectors of microtubule stability in bovine brain

Stable microtubules (as defined by resistance to Ca2+, drug or cold temperature induced disassembly) form in abundance during tubulin assembly in brain crude extracts. We have previously shown that, in rat brain crude extracts, all microtubule stabilizing activity could be ascribed to a single Ca(2+)-calmodulin binding and Ca(2+)-calmodulin regulated protein, called "stable tubule only polypeptide", STOP145 [Pirollet, F., Rauch, C. T., Job, D., & Margolis, R. L. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 835-842]. We have now performed an exhaustive study of STOP-like effectors in bovine brain high-speed supernatants. All activity binds to cation exchangers and to Ca(2+)-calmodulin affinity columns. The activity can be resolved into two peaks on sizing columns. The first eluted peak contains a prominent 220-kDa protein. The second peak contains an apparently homogeneous 20-kDa polypeptide. A monoclonal antibody specific to rat brain STOP145 recognizes the 220-kDa protein, but not the 20-kDa species. The 220-kDa protein can be purified on a STOP antibody column and accounts for the bulk of stabilizing activity in the first peak. The 20-kDa protein does not bind to STOP antibody affinity columns. Sequence analysis of oligopeptide fragments of the 20-kDa protein shows 100% homology with bovine myelin basic protein (MBP). Anti-MBP antibodies recognize the 20-kDa, but not the 220-kDa species. We conclude that the 220-kDa protein is the bovine equivalent to rat brain STOP145 and that the 20-kDa species is MBP. Microtubule stabilization by MBP and STOP220 is abolished in the presence of Ca(2+)-calmodulin, and inhibition curves are similar for both proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Specific association of STOP protein with microtubules in vitro and with stable microtubules in mitotic spindles of cultured cells

STOP (Stable Tubule Only Polypeptide) is a neuronal microtubule associated protein of 145 kd that stabilizes microtubules indefinitely to in vitro disassembly induced by cold temperature, millimolar calcium or by drugs. We have produced monoclonal antibodies against STOP. Using an antibody affinity column, we have produced a homogeneously pure 145 kd protein which has STOP activity as defined by its ability to induce cold stability and resistance to dilution induced disassembly in microtubules in vitro. Western blot analysis, using a specific monoclonal antibody, demonstrates that STOP recycles quantitatively with microtubules through three assembly cycles in vitro. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrates that STOP is specifically associated with microtubules of mitotic spindles in neuronal cells. Further, and most interestingly, STOP at physiological temperature appears to be preferentially distributed on the distinct microtubule subpopulations that display cold stability; kinetochore-to-pole microtubules and telophase midbody microtubules. The observed distribution suggests that STOP induces the observed cold stability of these microtubule subpopulations in vivo.

Monoclonal antibody to microtubule-associated STOP protein: affinity purification of neuronal STOP activity and comparison of antigen with activity in neuronal and nonneuronal cell extracts

Microtubules, ordinarily cold-labile structures, are made entirely resistant to cold temperature by the presence of substoichiometric amounts of STOP (stable tubule only polypeptide), a microtubule-associated protein. We have produced a monoclonal antibody which specifically recognizes a 145-kDa protein previously implicated in STOP activity in rat brain extracts. An antibody affinity column removes both the 145-kDa protein and STOP activity from solution. A urea eluate from the affinity column contains the 145-kDa protein and exhibits substantial STOP activity. We conclude the 145-kDa protein accounts for all measurable STOP activity in rat neuronal extracts. For this work, we have developed an assay of microtubule cold stability which is generally applicable to the detection of STOP activity in various tissues. Using this assay, we show STOP activity is most abundant in neuronal tissue but is detectable in all tissues tested, with the exception of heart muscle. In all tissues that we have examined, STOP activity elutes as a single peak from heparin affinity columns, and in common with brain STOP, all activity is Ca2+-calmodulin sensitive. The monoclonal antibody recognizes the 145-kDa STOP in rat neuronal extracts but reacts with no protein in active fractions from other tissue. A similar, but not identical, analogue of brain STOP thus appears to be widespread in mammalian tissues.

Biochemical assay of microtubule mean length

We present a method for the rapid determination of microtubule mean length in vitro. This method rests on mathematical analysis of the rate of polymer disassembly induced by the introduction of calcium at a known concentration. The rate of disassembly is monitored in our assay by filter trapping of residual microtubule polymers, which contain a radioactive tracer, [3H]GTP. We show that the assay is accurate and reproducible, by comparison with physical measurement of lengths from electron micrographs. Furthermore, we show that the assay can be used to determine rapid shifts in polymer length induced in polymer populations that exhibit "dynamic instability".

An oscillatory mode for microtubule assembly

Depending upon the conditions under which polymerization takes place, pure tubulin can assemble into microtubules following either the usual monotonic kinetics or a more complex oscillatory mechanism. When present, these oscillations involve large cyclic changes in the extent of polymer formed before a steady-state is reached. Analysis of the microtubules formed at different times shows that these oscillations involve marked redistribution in both the length and number of microtubules. No significant difference is found between two populations of microtubules corresponding to the same level of assembly, one for which the extent of polymerization will remain stable with time and one for which it will decrease by as much as 90% in the next oscillation. The amplitude of these oscillations is sensitive to changes in the concentrations of protein, nucleotide (GTP, GDP or GMPpNp), magnesium ion or GTP regenerating system. A complete shift from an oscillatory to a monotonic polymerization can be induced by a minor increase in the concentration of free nucleotide, GTP or GDP.

Identification of the catalytic subunit of an oligomeric casein kinase (G type). Affinity labeling of the nucleotide site using 5'-[p-(fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl]adenosine

Identification of the catalytic subunit of a G type [using guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) as well as adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) as phosphate donor], oligomeric, cyclic nucleotide independent casein kinase purified from bovine lung was carried out after reaction with 5'-[p-(fluorosulfonyl)-benzoyl]adenosine (FSBA) and isolation of the subunit components of the enzyme. FSBA exhibited the major characteristics of an affinity label reacting at the nucleotide (ATP, GTP) site of the casein kinase. FSBA acted as a competitive inhibitor of ATP (and GTP), led to complete inactivation of the enzyme in a reaction showing two kinetic steps, and became irreversibly bound to the protein. After being labeled with FSBA, the casein kinase (apparent molecular weight of 140 000) was separated into its two monomeric components of apparent molecular weights 38 000 (alpha) and 27 000 (beta), respectively, after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Use of radioactive FSBA showed that specific affinity labeling was limited to the alpha casein kinase subunit. This result was in agreement with the fact that casein kinase activity was found associated with the alpha monomer after electrophoretic separation of the alpha and beta subunits. It may thus be concluded that the largest (alpha) subunit contains the catalytic site of the casein kinase G. Electrophoretic analysis of purified protein kinase under denaturing conditions suggested an alpha 3 beta 2 combination for an apparent molecular weight of 130 000-140 000. However, a maximum of 2 mol of FSBA could be specifically bound to the alpha subunit per mol of enzyme, with a concomitant complete inactivation. These data would be in agreement with an alpha 2 beta 2 subunit composition for casein kinase G, as proposed by other research groups for a similar type of protein kinase of different sources. These observations suggest that the alpha subunits are functionally similar, each of them containing a nucleotide (ATP, GTP) binding site. The possible role of the beta subunit in the enzyme activity remains to be established.

Purification and characterization of sheep brain cold-stable microtubules

The isolation of cold-stable microtubules in high yields, described previously only from rodents, was extended to the brain of higher animals. Under optimal conditions, yields of 30 mg of cold-stable microtubles per 100 g of sheep brain could be obtained routinely. Material purified by two polymerization cycles displayed the same stability to cold temperature or to millimolar concentrations of calcium and the same lability to calmodulin and to ATP as did the purified material obtained from the rat [Job, D., Rauch, C.T., Fischer, E.H. & Margolis, R.L. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 509]. Furthermore, DE-52 chromatography of this material yielded a fraction that restored cold stability when added to cold-labile microtubules. Known to bind to calmodulin and to enhance microtubule assembly, tau proteins had no cold-stabilizing activity. Protein profiles of the cold-stabilizing fraction from sheep and rat brain were similar to one another but showed no protein bands corresponding to the tau proteins.

Control of glycosaminoglycan metabolism by ACTH in bovine adrenocortical cells in primary culture

Bovine adrenocortical cells in primary culture actively incorporated [35S]sodium sulphate and [3H]glucosamine into glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Most of the synthesized GAGs were found associated with the pericellular material and secreted in the culture medium, while less than 15% remained associated with the cell pellet. In all these fractions the major product was identified by its molecular properties and selective degradation procedures as a heparan sulphate structure. Exposure of the cells to ACTH induces a shift of the synthesized GAGs from the cellular to the pericellular compartment, an increase in the heparan sulphate labelling and the occurrence of an additional product characterized as a hyaluronate. These data suggest that GAG metabolism of the adrenocortical cell may be under hormonal control and open the possibility of a modulation of cell activity through modifications of its GAG components, especially those involved in the cell matrix architecture.

Selective inhibition of a cyclic nucleotide independent protein kinase (G type casein kinase) by quercetin and related polyphenols

The effect of quercetin and a number of structurally related phenolic compounds upon the activity of three different purified protein kinases was examined. Whereas the catalytic subunit of a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and an A type (using only ATP) cyclic nucleotide-independent casein kinase (CKA) were not affected, a G type (using GTP as well as ATP) casein kinase (CKG) was selectively inhibited by several bioflavonoid structures. Kinetic studies showed that quercetin behaved as a competitive inhibitor toward the nucleotidic substrate and exhibited a high affinity for the ATP (Ki = 0.75 microM) and GTP (Ki = 0.22 microM) site of the enzyme. Considering the CKG inhibitory potency of a series of flavonoid, cinnamic acid and coumarin derivatives, it is suggested that the biological activity lays upon a common structural feature involving a phenolic ring bearing a side chain with conjugated double bonds and an oxygenated function, as found in the coumaroyl residue. These observations suggest that quercetin and related compounds may lead to a shift in intracellular protein phosphorylations by selectively inhibiting a particular type of protein kinase activity (CKG). It remains to be established whether this process may contribute to the mechanism of action of flavonoids upon cellular metabolism, particularly in the case of malignant cells.

Cyclic nucleotide independent casein kinase (G type) in bovine adrenal cortex: purification and properties of two molecular forms

Two soluble cyclic nucleotide independent protein kinase (ATP: protein-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) activities have been purified from bovine adrenal cortex cytosol. Both purified enzymes exhibit the best affinity for acidic substrates such as casein and can use GTP as well as ATP as phosphoryl donor. They can thus be classified as casein kinase of the G type as previously proposed (Cochet C. et al., (1980) Endocrinology 106, 750-757). Whereas the two moieties could be separated using their different affinities toward a phosphocellulose resin, both purified enzymes appeared indistinguishable on the basis of several molecular and catalytic properties. Both G type casein kinase moieties have an identical sedimentation behavior (5.5 S in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl), yield similar patterns upon electrophoresis under denaturing conditions with three major protein components (42 000, 38 000 and 27 000), and show an ability to undergo self-phosphorylation mostly on the 27 000 component. Both enzymes have the same protein and nucleotide (ATP and GTP) substrate specificity, show similar increases in activity in the presence of polyamines and Mg2+ (optimum at 50 mM) and similar inhibition by NaCl above 0.2 M. The only difference between the two forms of casein kinase (i.e., affinity for phosphocellulose) could not be explained by a different degree of self-phosphorylation or by a limited proteolytic process during handling and purification. These results suggest that the two active moieties may represent isoenzymatic forms of the G type casein kinase activity in bovine adrenal cortex cytosol.