cAMP activates MAP kinase and Elk-1 through a B-Raf- and Rap1-dependent pathway

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) has tissue-specific effects on growth, differentiation, and gene expression. We show here that cAMP can activate the transcription factor Elk-1 and induce neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells via its activation of the MAP kinase cascade. These cell type-specific actions of cAMP require the expression of the serine/threonine kinase B-Raf and activation of the small G protein Rap1. Rap1, activated by mutation or by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase PKA, is a selective activator of B-Raf and an inhibitor of Raf-1. Therefore, in B-Raf-expressing cells, the activation of Rap1 provides a mechanism for tissue-specific regulation of cell growth and differentiation via MAP kinase.

TRADD-TRAF2 and TRADD-FADD interactions define two distinct TNF receptor 1 signal transduction pathways

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can induce apoptosis and activate NF-kappa B through signaling cascades emanating from TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1). TRADD is a TNFR1-associated signal transducer that is involved in activating both pathways. Here we show that TRADD directly interacts with TRAF2 and FADD, signal transducers that activate NF-kappa B and induce apoptosis, respectively. A TRAF2 mutant lacking its N-terminal RING finger domain is a dominant-negative inhibitor of TNF-mediated NF-kappa B activation, but does not affect TNF-induced apoptosis. Conversely, a FADD mutant lacking its N-terminal 79 amino acids is a dominant-negative inhibitor of TNF-induced apoptosis, but does not inhibit NF-kappa B activation. Thus, these two TNFR1-TRADD signaling cascades appear to bifurcate at TRADD.

The TNFR2-TRAF signaling complex contains two novel proteins related to baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis proteins

The 75 kDa tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR2) transduces extracellular signals via receptor-associated cytoplasmic proteins. Two of these signal transducers, TRAF1 and TRAF2, were isolated and characterized previously. We report here the biochemical purification and subsequent molecular cloning of two novel TNFR2-associated proteins, designated c-IAP1 and c-IAP2, that are closely related mammalian members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family originally identified in baculoviruses. The viral and cellular IAPs contain N-terminal baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) motifs and a C-terminal RING finger. The c-IAPs do not directly contact TNFR2, but rather associate with TRAF1 and TRAF2 through their N-terminal BIR motif-comprising domain. The recruitment of c-IAP1 or c-IAP2 to the TNFR2 signaling complex requires a TRAF2-TRAF1 heterocomplex.

The Wnt-1 proto-oncogene regulates MAP kinase activation by multiple growth factors in PC12 cells

PC12/Wnt-1 cells display morphological changes in response to stimulation by select growth factors but do not respond to NGF. Furthermore, stimulation by EGF can induce neuronal differentiation in these cells but not in wild type cells. We have found that in these cells, compared to wild type PC12 cells, FGF and EGF stimulation of MAP kinase activity is enhanced, while NGF stimulation of MAP kinase in diminished. Finally, in cells expressing Wnt-1, the effect of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on MAP kinase activation is reversed; cAMP stimulates MAP kinase in wild type PC12 cells but inhibits MAP kinase in PC12/Wnt-1 cells. These data suggest that Wnt-1 expression alters the specificity of growth factor signaling in neuronal cells.

Cloning and expression of two structurally distinct receptor-linked protein-tyrosine phosphatases generated by RNA processing from a single gene

We describe here the first example of RNA processing generating two functional receptor-linked protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) (protein-tyrosine-phosphate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.48) that are structurally distinct within their catalytic domains. Two cDNAs, PTP-P1 and PTP-PS, were isolated from rat pheochromocytoma cells, which encode two receptor-linked protein-tyrosine-phosphatases and are produced by alternative splicing and differential use of polyadenylation sites. Both cDNAs share an identical extracellular domain and a single transmembrane domain, but differ within their cytoplasmic regions: PTP-P1 contains two tandem repeated PTPase catalytic domains, whereas PTP-PS contains only the amino-terminal domain. Bacterial expression of PTPase domains of both cDNAs demonstrates that PTP-P1 and PTP-PS contain tyrosine-phosphatase activity. PTP-P1 is encoded by three transcripts of approximately 8, 6, and 4 kilobases, whereas PTP-PS is encoded by a single 4.8-kilobase transcript. PTP-P1 (6 kilobases) and PTP-PS are mainly expressed within the brain and in neuronal and endocrine cells. These data suggest that PTP-P1 and PTP-PS may be involved in neuronal function.

Dopaminergic inhibition of DNA synthesis in pituitary tumor cells is associated with phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity

Dopaminergic D2 receptor agonists, such as bromocriptine, are potent anti-proliferative agents in the treatment of human pituitary adenomas. We have reproduced the anti-proliferative effect of dopamine in an established pituitary cell line stably transfected with the rat D2 dopamine receptor cDNA. We found that dopaminergic inhibition of DNA synthesis parallels the stimulation of a phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity. Both actions are blocked by pertussis toxin and by the phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, vanadate. We suggest that the anti-proliferative action of dopamine is mediated, at least in part, by the dopaminergic stimulation of a phosphotyrosine phosphatase.

G Protein Activation of a Hormone-Stimulated Phosphatase in Human Tumor Cells

The growth-inhibiting peptide hormone somatostatin stimulates phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity in the human pancreatic cell line MIA PaCa-2. This hormonal activation was mediated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanosine 5'-triphosphate-binding protein (G protein) in the membranes of these cells. Activation of this G protein by somatostatin stimulated the dephosphorylation of exogenous epidermal growth factor receptor prepared from A-431 cells in vitro. This pathway may mediate the antineoplastic action of somatostatin in these cells and in human tumors and could represent a general mechanism of G protein coupling that is utilized by normal cells in the hormonal control of cell growth.

[Effect of low protein diet, plus essential amino acids on lipid metabolism in patients with chronic renal failure]

We investigated lipoprotein profile of 18 non-dialysis patients with CRF and 17 patients on hemodialysis, and studied effect of LPD plus EAA on lipid metabolism of 18 non-dialysis patients with CRF. The results revealed that total triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, and semi-quantity of ApoCII, ApoCIII were significantly increased, and HDL, ApoAI ApoAI/ApoB rate, semiquantify of ApoCI were significantly reduced in non-dialysis patients and patients on hemodialysis; VLDL and Ccr were closely negative related in non-dialysis patients. The lipid abnormalities were more severe in non-dialysis patients complicated with hypertension than without hypertension. After 6 to 10 weeks' LPD plus EAA treatment in 18 non-dialysis patients, total triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, VLDL were significantly reduced, and HDL, ApoAI, ApoAI/ApoB were significantly increased. We conclude that it is characterized by type IV hyperlipidemia in lipid abnormalities of patients with CRF, and LPD plus EAA treatment may improve it effectively.