The interaction between protein-kinase-C (pkc) and estrogens (review)

The interactions between protein kinase C (PKC) and the steroid hormone estradiol or its receptor (ER) are reviewed. Estradiol upregulates PKC both in vitro and in vivo in the ovary, the anterior pituitary and in mammary tissue of several mammalian species. The antiestrogen tamoxifen inhibits PKC. Activation of PKC leads to a marked decrease of ER protein and ERmRNA in human breast cancer cells and some other cell lines. Inhibition or down-regulation of PKC enhances ER binding. These results indicate that there are links between the PKC signal transduction pathway and the steroid receptor family. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of PKC isoforms in normal and cancerous tissues which are known to be influenced by estradiol.

DIK, a novel protein kinase that interacts with protein kinase Cdelta. Cloning, characterization, and gene analysis

A novel serine/threonine kinase, termed DIK, was cloned using the yeast two-hybrid system to screen a cDNA library from the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT with the catalytic domain of rat protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta(cat)) cDNA as bait. The predicted 784-amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 86 kDa contains a catalytic kinase domain and a putative regulatory domain with ankyrin-like repeats and a nuclear localization signal. Expression of DIK at the mRNA and protein level could be demonstrated in several cell lines. The dik gene is located on chromosome 21q22.3 and possesses 8 exons and 7 introns. DIK was synthesized in an in vitro transcription/translation system and expressed as recombinant protein in bacteria, HEK, COS-7, and baculovirus-infected insect cells. In the in vitro system and in cells, but not in bacteria, various post-translationally modified forms of DIK were produced. DIK was shown to exhibit protein kinase activity toward autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation. The interaction of PKCdelta(cat) and PKCdelta with DIK was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation of the proteins from HEK cells transiently transfected with PKCdelta(cat) or PKCdelta and DIK expression constructs.

Role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the regulation of the interaction of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K protein with its protein and RNA partners

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K protein recruits a diversity of molecular partners and may act as a docking platform involved in such processes as transcription, RNA processing, and translation. We show that K protein is tyrosine-phosphorylated in vitro by Src and Lck. Treatment with H(2)O(2)/Na(3)VO(4), which induces oxidative stress, stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of K protein in cultured cells and in intact livers. Tyrosine phosphorylation increased binding of Lck and the proto-oncoprotein Vav to K protein in vitro. Oxidative stress increased the association of K protein with Lck and Vav, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation regulates the ability of K protein to recruit these effectors in vivo. Translation-based assay showed that K protein is constitutively bound to many mRNAs in vivo. Native immunoprecipitated K protein-mRNA complexes were disrupted by tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting that the in vivo binding of K protein to mRNA may be responsive to the extracellular signals that activate tyrosine kinases. This study shows that tyrosine phosphorylation of K protein regulates K protein-protein and K protein-RNA interactions. These data are consistent with a model in which functional interaction of K protein is responsive to changes in the extracellular environment. Acting as a docking platform, K protein may bridge signal transduction pathways to sites of nucleic acid-dependent process such as transcription, RNA processing, and translation.

Proteolytic cleavage of protein kinase Cmu upon induction of apoptosis in U937 cells

Treatment of U937 cells with various apoptosis-inducing agents, such as TNFalpha and beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) alone or in combination with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), bryostatin 1 or cycloheximide, causes proteolytic cleavage of protein kinase Cmu (PKCmu) between the regulatory and catalytic domain, generating a 62 kDa catalytic fragment of the kinase. The formation of this fragment is effectively suppressed by the caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK. In accordance with these in vivo data, treatment of recombinant PKCmu with caspase-3 in vitro results also in the generation of a 62 kDa fragment (p62). Treatment of several aspartic acid to alanine mutants of PKCmu with caspase-3 resulted in an unexpected finding. PKCmu is not cleaved at one of the typical cleavage sites containing the motif DXXD but at the atypical site CQND378/S379. The respective fragment (amino acids 379-912) was expressed in bacteria as a GST fusion protein (GST-p62) and partially purified. In contrast to the intact kinase, the fragment does not respond to the activating cofactors TPA and phosphatidylserine and is thus unable to phosphorylate substrates effectively.

Cloning, expression and characterization of an A6-related protein

By interaction cloning (yeast two-hybrid system) using the catalytic domain of protein kinase Czeta (PKCzeta) as bait, we cloned a human full-length cDNA with 62% nucleotide homology to the A6 protein recently cloned and characterized by Beeler et al. [Beeler, J.F., LaRochelle, W.J., Chedid, M., Tronick, S.R. & Aaronson, S. A. (1994) Mol. Cell. Biol. 14, 982-988]. The deduced amino acid sequence (349 amino acids) of the A6-related protein (A6rp) contained potential actin-binding sites and ATP-binding sites. We also cloned the murine homolog of A6rp. Human A6rp was expressed in an in-vitro transcriptional/translational system with an apparent molecular mass of 40 kDa and as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein in bacteria. A polyclonal anti-(A6rp) was raised in rabbits and used for the identification of A6rp by immunoblotting. A6rp was found to be expressed at the mRNA and the protein levels in all cells and tissues investigated. GST-A6rp was phosphorylated by PKCzeta but not significantly by other PKC isoenzymes. Moreover, it was phosphorylated by casein kinase 2 and most effectively by the tyrosine kinase Src. In contrast to GST-A6rp, GST-A6 was also phosphorylated by PKC isoforms other than PKCzeta and strongly by CK2, but just weakly by Src. In contrast to the results of Beeler et al. on beta-galactosidase-A6, we were unable to demonstrate autokinase activity or tyrosine phosphorylation of either GST-A6 or GST-A6rp. In accordance with the potential ATP-binding sites, both proteins were able to bind ATP.

Regulated interaction of protein kinase Cdelta with the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K protein

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) K protein recruits a diversity of molecular partners that are involved in signal transduction, transcription, RNA processing, and translation. K protein is phosphorylated in vivo and in vitro by inducible kinase(s) and contains several potential sites for protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation. In this study we show that K protein is phosphorylated in vitro by PKCdelta and by other PKCs. Deletion analysis and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that Ser302 is a major K protein site phosphorylated by PKCdelta in vitro. This residue is located in the middle of a short amino acid fragment that divides the two clusters of SH3-binding domains. Mutation of Ser302 decreased the level of phosphorylation of exogenously expressed K protein in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-treated COS cells, suggesting that Ser302 is also a site for PKC-mediated phosphorylation in vivo. In vitro, PKCdelta binds K protein via the highly interactive KI domain, an interaction that is blocked by poly(C) RNA. Mutation of Ser302 did not alter the K protein-PKCdelta interaction in vitro, suggesting that phosphorylation of this residue alone is not sufficient to alter this interaction. Instead, binding of PKCdelta to K protein in vitro and in vivo was greatly increased by K protein phosphorylation on tyrosine residues. The ability of PKCdelta to bind and phosphorylate K protein may serve not only to alter the activity of K protein itself, but K protein may also bridge PKCdelta to other K protein molecular partners and thus facilitate molecular cross-talk. The regulated nature of the PKCdelta-K protein interaction may serve to meet cellular needs at sites of active transcription, RNA processing and translation in response to changing extracellular environment.

Requirements of protein kinase cdelta for catalytic function. Role of glutamic acid 500 and autophosphorylation on serine 643

Recently, we reported that, in contrast to protein kinase C (PKC)alpha and betaII, PKCdelta does not require phosphorylation of a specific threonine (Thr505) in the activation loop for catalytic competence (Stempka et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 6805-6811). Here, we show that the acidic residue glutamic acid 500 (Glu500) in the activation loop is important for the catalytic function of PKCdelta. A Glu500 to valine mutant shows 76 and 73% reduced kinase activity toward autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation, respectively. With regard to thermal stability and inhibition by the inhibitors Gö6976 and Gö6983 the mutant does not differ from the wild type, indicating that the general conformation of the molecule is not altered by the site-directed mutagenesis. Thus, Glu500 in the activation loop of PKCdelta might take over at least part of the role of the phosphate groups on Thr497 and Thr500 of PKCalpha and betaII, respectively. Accordingly, PKCdelta exhibits kinase activity and is able to autophosphorylate probably without posttranslational modification. Autophosphorylation of PKCdelta in vitro occurs on Ser643, as demonstrated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry of tryptic peptides of autophosphorylated PKCdelta wild type and mutants. A peptide containing this site is phosphorylated also in vivo, i.e. in recombinant PKCdelta purified from baculovirus-infected insect cells. A Ser643 to alanine mutation indicates that autophosphorylation of Ser643 is not essential for the kinase activity of PKCdelta. Probably additional (auto)phosphorylation site(s) exist that have not yet been identified.

Amyloid beta protein (25-35) phosphorylates MARCKS through tyrosine kinase-activated protein kinase C signaling pathway in microglia

Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) is a widely distributed specific protein kinase C (PKC) substrate and has been implicated in membrane trafficking, cell motility, secretion, cell cycle, and transformation. We found that amyloid beta protein (A beta) (25-35) and A beta (1-40) phosphorylate MARCKS in primary cultured rat microglia. Treatment of microglia with A beta (25-35) at 10 nM or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (1.6 nM) led to phosphorylation of MARCKS, an event inhibited by PKC inhibitors, staurosporine, calphostin C, and chelerythrine. The A beta (25-35)-induced phosphorylation of MARCKS was inhibited by pretreatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A, but not with pertussis toxin. PKC isoforms alpha, delta, and epsilon were identified in microglia by immunocytochemistry and western blots using isoform-specific antibodies. PKC-delta was tyrosine-phosphorylated by the treatment of microglia for 10 min with A beta (25-35) at 10 nM. Other PKC isoforms alpha and epsilon were tyrosine-phosphorylated by A beta (25-35), but only to a small extent. We propose that a tyrosine kinase-activated PKC pathway is involved in the A beta (25-35)-induced phosphorylation of MARCKS in rat microglia.

Protein kinase C delta

The protein kinase C (PKC) family consists of 11 isoenzymes that, due to structural and enzymatic differences, can be subdivided into three groups: The Ca(2+)-dependent, diacylglycerol (DAG)-activated cPKCs (conventional PKCs: alpha, beta 1, beta 2, gamma); the Ca(2+)-independent, DAG-activated nPKCs (novel PKCs: delta, epsilon, eta, theta, mu), and the Ca(2+)-dependent, DAG non-responsive aPKCs (atypical PKCs: zeta, lambda/iota). PKC mu is a novel PKC, but with some special structural and enzymatic properties.

Colon carcinoma cells use different mechanisms to escape CD95-mediated apoptosis

CD95(APO-1/Fas) is a cell surface receptor that, when oligomerized by natural ligand, CD95L, or antibody, confers an apoptotic signal to apoptosis-sensitive cells. Whereas CD95 is expressed in every colonocyte of normal colon mucosa, CD95 is down-regulated or lost in the majority of colon carcinomas. To investigate the sensitivity to CD95-mediated apoptosis of normal and neoplastic colonocytes, we applied cross-linking CD95(anti-APO-1) monoclonal antibody to freshly isolated colon crypts and colon carcinoma cell lines and monitored apoptosis by DNA fragmentation and morphology. Normal colonocytes were constitutively sensitive to CD95-mediated apoptosis. All carcinoma lines were constitutively resistant but were sensitized upon pretreatment with IFN-gamma. Transcription blocking, protein synthesis, and export in carcinoma cells indicated that even low surface levels of CD95 were sufficient to efficiently transmit the signal. Despite low CD95 surface levels of non-IFNgamma-treated cells, actinomycin D, cycloheximide, and brefeldin A each sensitized all cell lines, but at different rates and kinetics. In this context, it was observed that a greatly delayed apoptotic response of SW620 cells was associated with the absence of antibody-induced CD95 capping. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate inhibited CD95-mediated apoptosis by counteracting the IFNgamma-, actinomycin D-, and cycloheximide-mediated but not the brefeldin A-mediated sensitization. This phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced protection against apoptosis was completely abolished by staurosporine and by a selective protein kinase C inhibitor, Goe 6983. We conclude that, during malignant transformation, colonocytes acquire different mechanisms to escape CD95-mediated apoptosis. These include abrogation of CD95, inhibition of CD95 capping, and activation of antiapoptotic programs, both governed by and independent of protein kinase C.

Differential effects of suramin on protein kinase C isoenzymes. A novel tool for discriminating protein kinase C activities

Suramin, a hexasulfonated naphthylurea, is known to induce differentiation and inhibit proliferation, angiogenesis, and development of tumors. It has also been shown to suppress the activity of the protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes alpha, beta, and gamma. Here we report on a differential effect of suramin on PKCmu and various PKC isoforms representing the cPKC, nPKC, and aPKC group of the PKC family. In the absence of any cofactors suramin activates all PKC isoforms in the order of aPKCzeta >> PKCmu > cPKC, nPKCdelta. As judged by the Vmax/KM ratios (0.5 for PKCmu and 2.2 for PKCzeta) the substrate syntide 2 is phosphorylated by suramin-activated PKCzeta around four times more effectively than by suramin-activated PKCmu. Suramin-activated PKCmu behaves like that activated by phosphatidylserine and the phorbol ester TPA regarding autophosphorylation and differential inhibition by the PKC inhibitors Gö 6976 and Gö 6983. In the presence of activating cofactors, such as phosphatidylserine and TPA or cholesterol sulfate (for PKCzeta), the activity of the aPKCzeta is further stimulated, PKCmu is not significantly affected, and the cPKCs and the nPKCdelta are strongly inhibited by suramin. The differential action of suramin on PKC isoenzymes might play a role in some of its biological effects, as for instance inhibition of proliferation and tumor development. Moreover, due to this property suramin will possibly be a valuable tool for discriminating the activities of PKC isoenzymes in vitro and in vivo.

Regulation of protein kinase Cmu by basic peptides and heparin. Putative role of an acidic domain in the activation of the kinase

Protein kinase Cmu is a novel member of the protein kinase C (PKC) family that differs from the other isoenzymes in structural and enzymatic properties. No substrate proteins of PKCmu have been identified as yet. Moreover, the regulation of PKCmu activity remains obscure, since a structural region corresponding to the pseudosubstrate domains of other PKC isoenzymes has not been found for PKCmu. Here we show that aldolase is phosphorylated by PKCmu in vitro. Phosphorylation of aldolase and of two substrate peptides by PKCmu is inhibited by various proteins and peptides, including typical PKC substrates such as histone H1, myelin basic protein, and p53. This inhibitory activity seems to depend on clusters of basic amino acids in the protein/peptide structures. Moreover, in contrast to other PKC isoenzymes PKCmu is activated by heparin and dextran sulfate. Maximal activation by heparin is about twice and that by dextran sulfate four times as effective as maximal activation by phosphatidylserine plus 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, the conventional activators of c- and nPKC isoforms. We postulate that PKCmu contains an acidic domain, which is involved in the formation and stabilization of an active state and which, in the inactive enzyme, is blocked by an intramolecular interaction with a basic domain. This intramolecular block is thought to be released by heparin and possibly also by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate/phosphatidylserine, whereas basic peptides and proteins inhibit PKCmu activity by binding to the acidic domain of the active enzyme.

Suppression of apoptosis in COLO 205 cells by the phorbol ester TPA may be mediated by the PKC isoenzyme alpha

Apoptosis induced by an antibody to CD95/APO-1/FAS in the colon carcinoma cells COLO 205 and HT-29 is suppressed by the phorbol ester TPA. Inhibition is much more effective in COLO 205 than in HT-29 cells. The TPA effect is abrogated by the protein kinase C (PKC)-specific inhibitor Go6983 indicating a role of PKC in this process. Bryostatin 1, unlike TPA, is unable to suppress apoptosis, but inhibits the TPA-induced suppression of apoptosis. TPA also inhibits indomethacin-induced apoptosis in COLO 205 cells. COLO 205 and HT-29 cells contain the PKC isoenzymes alpha, beta(II) delta, epsilon, eta, mu and zeta. Expression and activity of PKC alpha are at least 5 times higher in COLO 205 than in HT-29 cells. This correlates with the fact that inhibition of CD95-mediated apoptosis by TPA is more prominent in COLO 205 than in HT-29 cells. Thus, these findings suggest that PKC alpha has an important role in the TPA-induced inhibition of apoptosis.

Phosphorylation of protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta) at threonine 505 is not a prerequisite for enzymatic activity. Expression of rat PKCdelta and an alanine 505 mutant in bacteria in a functional form

A structural feature shared by many protein kinases is the requirement for phosphorylation of threonine or tyrosine in the so-called activation loop for full enzyme activity. Previous studies by several groups have indicated that the isotypes alpha, betaI, and betaII of protein kinase C (PKC) are synthesized as inactive precursors and require phosphorylation by a putative "PKC kinase" for permissive activation. Expression of PKCalpha in bacteria resulted in a nonfunctional enzyme, apparently due to lack of this kinase. The phosphorylation sites for the PKC kinase in the activation loop of PKCalpha and PKCbetaII could be identified as Thr497 and Thr500, respectively. We report here that PKCdelta, contrary to PKCalpha, can be expressed in bacteria in a functional form. The activity of the recombinant enzyme regarding substrate phosphorylation, autophosphorylation, and dependence on activation by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate as well as the Km values for two substrates are comparable to those of recombinant PKCdelta expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells. By site-directed mutagenesis we were able to show that Thr505, corresponding to Thr497 and Thr500 of PKCalpha and PKCbetaII, respectively, is not essential for obtaining a catalytically competent conformation of PKCdelta. The mutant Ala505 can be activated and does not differ from the wild type regarding activity and several other features. Ser504 can not take over the role of Thr505 and is not prerequisite for the kinase to become activated, as proven by the unaffected enzyme activity of respective mutants (Ala504 and Ala504/Ala505). These results indicate that phosphorylation of Thr505 is not required for the formation of functional PKCdelta and that at least this PKC isoenzyme differs from the isotypes alpha, betaI, and betaII regarding the permissive activation by a PKC kinase.

Conventional PKC-alpha, novel PKC-epsilon and PKC-theta, but not atypical PKC-lambda are MARCKS kinases in intact NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

Phosphorylation of myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS) in intact cells has been employed as an indicator for activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Specific PKC isoenzymes responsible for MARCKS phosphorylation under physiological conditions, however, remained to be identified. In our present study using stably transfected NIH 3T3 cell clones we demonstrate that expression of constitutively active mutants of either conventional cPKC-alpha or novel nPKC-epsilon increased phosphorylation of endogenous MARCKS in the absence of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate in intact mouse fibroblasts, implicating that each of these PKC isoforms itself is sufficient to induce enhanced MARCKS phosphorylation. Similarly, ectopic expression of a constitutively active mutant of PKC-theta significantly increased MARCKS phosphorylation compared to vector controls, identifying PKC-theta as a MARCKS kinase. The PKC-specific inhibitor GF 109203X (bisindolylmaleimide I) reduced MARCKS phosphorylation in intact cells at a similar dose-response as enzymatic activity of recombinant isoenzymes cPKC-alpha, nPKC-epsilon, and nPKC-theta in vitro. Consistently, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-dependent MARCKS phosphorylation was significantly reduced in cell lines expressing dominant negative mutants of either PKC-alpha K368R or (dominant negative) PKC-epsilon K436R. The fact, that the constitutively active PKC-lambda A119E mutant did not alter the MARCKS phosphorylation underscores the assumption that atypical PKC isoforms are not involved in this process. We conclude that under physiological conditions, conventional cPKC-alpha and novel nPKC-epsilon, but not atypical aPKC-lambda are responsible for MARCKS phosphorylation in intact NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.

Immunological demonstration of protein kinase C mu in murine tissues and various cell lines. Differential recognition of phosphorylated forms and lack of down-regulation upon 12-O-tetradecanoylphorphol-13-acetate treatment of cells

13 murine tissues and 12 cell lines were tested for the expression of the novel protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzyme mu. Using two different PKC mu antibodies (sc-639 and P26720), PKC mu was detected in all tissues and cells and thus proved to be an ubiquitous PKC isotype. However, in some tissues, PKC mu was recognized only by the antibody P26720 and not by sc-639. Thymus, lung and peripheral blood mononuclear cells expressed the greatest amount of PKC mu. Recognition of PKC mu by the antibody sc-639 was drastically impaired when treating keratinocytes or mouse skin in vivo with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), thus mimicking down-regulation of PKC mu. The lack of a decrease in the PKC mu amount and, thus, the lack of down-regulation could be proved using the antibody P26720. This antibody was able to recognize PKC mu in extracts of untreated as well as TPA-treated tissues or cells. Phosphorylation of proteins in a cell-free system (cell or tissue extracts) in the presence and absence of TPA or other PKC activators and various protein kinase inhibitors indicated that phosphorylation of activated PKC mu caused its reduced interaction with the antibody sc-639. Therefore, this antibody might present a well suited tool for the detection of activated PKC mu in vivo. Moreover, our results clearly show that some antibodies, such as sc-639, might be able to selectively detect non-phosphorylated or phosphorylated forms of a protein, and that such properties of an antibody have to be studied carefully before the latter can be used for reliable quantitative determination of this protein. We consider this information important to avoid misinterpretation of data concerning the immunological quantification of proteins such as PKC mu.

Inhibition of protein kinase C mu by various inhibitors. Differentiation from protein kinase c isoenzymes

Various inhibitors were tested for their potential to suppress the kinase activity of protein kinase C mu (PKC mu) in vitro and in vivo. Among the staurosporine-derived, rather selective PKC inhibitors the indolocarbazole Gö 6976 previously shown to inhibit preferentially cPKC isotypes proved to be a potent inhibitor of PKC mu with an IC50 of 20 nM, whereas the bisindolylmaleimide Gö 6983 was extremely ineffective in suppressing PKC mu kinase activity with a thousand-fold higher IC50 of 20 microM. Other strong inhibitors of PKC mu were the rather unspecific inhibitors staurosporine and K252a. Contrary to the poor inhibition of PKC mu by Gö 6983, this compound was found to suppress in vitro kinase activity of PKC isoenzymes from all three subgroups very effectively with IC50 values from 7 to 60 nM. Thus, Gö 6983 was able to differentiate between PKC mu and other PKC isoenzymes being useful for selective determination of PKC mu kinase activity in the presence of other PKC isoenzymes.

Loss of protein kinase C delta from human HaCaT keratinocytes upon ras transfection is mediated by TGF alpha

The spontaneously immortalized human skin keratinocytes HaCaT contain protein kinase C (PKC) alpha, -delta, -epsilon, and -zeta. All PKC isoenzymes except PKC zeta are down-regulated by TPA as well as by bryostatin. However, with PKC delta, bryostatin but not TPA was found to be much less effective at high concentrations than at low ones. PKC delta expression at the protein and mRNA level is significantly suppressed in HaCaT cells I-7 and II-4, which are transfected with mutated c-Ha-ras. The expression of the other isoenzymes remains essentially unchanged in the ras-transfected cells compared to normal ones. PKC delta is lost when growing HaCaT cells in a medium obtained from the cultivation of ras-transfected cells ("ras-conditioned" medium). The factor secreted into the medium by the ras-transfected cells that is responsible for this effect appears to be TGF alpha, since the action of ras-conditioned medium on PKC delta expression can be overcome by the addition of an anti-TGF alpha antibody. Moreover, treatment of HaCaT cells with TGF alpha suppresses selectively the expression of the PKC isoenzyme delta.

Protein kinase C delta-specific phosphorylation of the elongation factor eEF-alpha and an eEF-1 alpha peptide at threonine 431

Two cytosolic proteins of murine epidermis or porcine spleen with molecular masses of 37 kDa (p37) and 50 kDa (p50) are differentially phosphorylated in vitro by the purified protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes alpha, beta, gamma (cPKC) and PKC delta. p37, identified as annexin I, is preferentially phosphorylated by cPKC, whereas p50, identified as elongation factor eEF-1 alpha, is phosphorylated with much greater efficacy by PKC delta than by cPKC. Using the recombinant PKC isoenzymes alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, eta, and zeta, we could show that purified eEF-1 alpha is indeed a specific substrate of PKC delta. It is not significantly phosphorylated by PKC epsilon, -eta, and -zeta and only slightly by PKC alpha, -beta, and -gamma. PKC delta phosphorylates eEF-1 alpha at Thr-431 (based on the murine amino acid sequence). The peptide RFAVRDMRQTVAVGVIKAVDKK with a sequence corresponding to that of 422-443 from murine eEF-1 alpha and containing Thr-431 is an absolutely specific substrate for the delta-type of PKC. The single basic amino acid close to Thr-431 (Arg-429) is essential for recognition of the peptide as a substrate by PKC delta and for the selectivity of this recognition. Substitution of Arg-429 by alanine abolishes the ability of PKC delta to phosphorylate the peptide, and insertion of additional basic amino acids in the vicinity of Thr-431 causes a complete loss of selectivity.

Protein kinase C delta accepts GTP for autophosphorylation

Protein kinase C delta (PKC delta) from porcine spleen exhibits a marked capacity for autophosphorylation. Autophosphorylation is much more efficient in the presence of GTP than of ATP (6-fold). 15 mol phosphate/mol enzyme is incorporated with GTP as phosphate donor. The activity of PKC delta for autophosphorylation with ATP is around 4 times that of the isoenzymes alpha, beta, gamma (cPKC), and with GTP it is around 24 times that of cPKC. The catalytic subunit of protein kinase A and the tyrosine kinase src are not or only slightly autophosphorylated in the presence of GTP. The autophosphorylation of PKC delta with GTP does not differ from that with ATP regarding its activation by TPA or bryostatin, its inhibition by staurosporine, the type of phosphorylated amino acids (serine and threonine) and the mode of reaction (intrapeptide reaction). However, different sites are phosphorylated with GTP and ATP, as indicated by the amount of phosphate incorporated and by phosphopeptide mapping.

Lack of an effect of novel inhibitors with high specificity for protein kinase C on the action of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on mouse skin in vivo

The inhibitory effects of three novel staurosporine-derived compounds were tested with five different types of protein kinases, including protein kinase C (PKC). IC50 values of two of these compounds were found to be 300 to > 5000 times lower for PKC alpha beta gamma (a mixture of the PKC isoenzymes alpha, beta and gamma) than for any of the other protein kinases. The inhibitory action of the most selective inhibitor was tested also with the Ca(2+)-unresponsive PKC isoenzyme delta and was found to suppress PKC alpha beta gamma and PKC delta differentially. The highly specific PKC inhibitors are active both in cell culture and in vivo. They inhibit the PKC-catalyzed phosphorylation of the specific PKC substrate MARCKS in Swiss-3T3 fibroblasts and the okadaic acid-induced edema of the mouse ear. However, the more complex biological processes triggered by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in mouse skin, such as inflammation, stimulation of cellular hyperproliferation and tumor promotion, remain largely unaffected upon topical application of these compounds.

Partial purification of a type eta protein kinase C from murine brain: separation from other protein kinase C isoenzymes and characterization

Various murine tissues were tested, by using a protein kinase C-eta-specific antiserum, for the expression of type eta protein kinase C. Brain was found to be the richest source of a type eta isoenzyme. Native protein kinase C-eta was partially purified from the cytosol of murine brain by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, hydroxyapatite and protamine-agarose. This procedure resulted in a separation of protein kinase C-eta from the other phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-responsive isoenzymes (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon) and allowed, for the first time, characterization of the native enzyme. The protein kinase C of type eta from mouse brain is a phospholipid-dependent Ca(2+)-unresponsive protein kinase. Both PMA and bryostatin activate the kinase for phosphorylation of a substrate as well as for autophosphorylation. Various pseudo-substrate-related peptides are suitable as substrates for the eta-type kinase, peptide delta being the best and peptides eta and epsilon the poorest substrates. The enzyme is inhibited by staurosporine and staurosporine-related compounds, such as K252a and Gö 6976. However, protein kinase C-eta, like protein kinase C-delta, is around two orders of magnitude less sensitive towards Gö 6976 than are the Ca(2+)-responsive isoenzymes (alpha, beta, gamma). The eta-type protein kinase C exhibits an extreme tendency to lose its PMA-responsiveness. Consequently, purification of the enzyme to homogeneity has not yet been successful.

Tyrosine phosphorylation and stimulation of protein kinase C delta from porcine spleen by src in vitro. Dependence on the activated state of protein kinase C delta

Native protein kinase C delta from porcine spleen is phosphorylated in vitro by the tyrosine kinase src and to a much smaller extent by fyn. The tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC delta is restricted to the activated state of the enzyme, i.e. it occurs only in the presence of an activator, such as TPA or bryostatin. Upon phosphorylation at tyrosine, the apparent molecular weight of PKC delta increases by 6 kDa. Phosphorylation by src induces a stimulation of PKC delta activity apparently exhibiting some substrate selectivity. Other PKC isoenzymes, such as cPKC (alpha, beta, gamma), are not phosphorylated by src or only to a very small extent. This phosphorylation is not dependent on TPA and does not cause an increase in activity and molecular weight of the enzyme.

Rottlerin, a novel protein kinase inhibitor

Rottlerin, a compound from Mallotus philippinensis, is shown to inhibit protein kinases with some specificity for PKC. To some extent, the novel inhibitor is able to differentiate between PKC isoenzymes, with IC50 values for PKC delta of 3-6 microM, PKC alpha,beta,gamma of 30-42 microM and PKC epsilon,eta,zeta of 80-100 microM. Inhibition of PKC appears, at least in part, to be due to a competition between rottlerin and ATP. Among the protein kinases tested, only CaM-kinase III is suppressed by rottlerin as effectively as PKC delta. The chemical structure of rottlerin might serve as a basis for the development of novel inhibitors with improved selectivity for a distinct PKC isoenzyme, such as PKC delta, or for CaM-kinase III.

Elongation factor-2 kinase: effective inhibition by the novel protein kinase inhibitor rottlerin and relative insensitivity towards staurosporine

The elongation factor-2 (eEF-2) is selectively phosphorylated by the eEF-2 kinase (calmodulin-dependent kinase III). This phosphorylation can be inhibited by calmodulin antagonists, such as CGS 9343B (IC50 = 4 microM). The novel protein kinase inhibitor rottlerin is shown to suppress eEF-2 phosphorylation with an IC50 of 5.3 microM. By contrast, the eEF-2 kinase is rather resistant towards the potent but non-selective protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (IC50 > 50 microM) and thus can be differentiated from most other protein kinases that are suppressed by staurosporine in the nM range.

Protein kinase C forms a complex with and phosphorylates the GTPase activating protein GAP: phosphorylation by PKC is dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation of GAP and/or a GAP-associated protein

Protein kinase C (PKC) and the GTPase-activating protein GAP can be detected in immunoprecipitates of mouse epidermis and lung cytosol obtained with either anti-GAP or anti-PKC antisera. The PKC in the immune-complex phosphorylates the coprecipitated GAP protein. Moreover, purified recombinant GAP is phosphorylated in vitro by purified PKC. The efficacy of this phosphorylation appears to depend on the extent of tyrosine phosphorylation of GAP and/or a GAP-associated protein.

Differential inhibition by staurosporine of phorbol ester, bryostatin and okadaic acid effects on mouse skin

The tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a strong activator of protein kinase C (PKC) and okadaic acid, which is ineffective in this respect, induce a rapidly developing ('early') edema of the mouse ear. Bryostatin, another potent activator of PKC, is unable to induce an 'early' edema but causes a more delayed development of edema at a time when most of the PKC is down-regulated. The PKC inhibitor staurosporine neither inhibits the early TPA- nor the late bryostatin-induced edema, but suppresses the okadaic acid-induced edema very effectively. TPA as well as bryostatin, but not okadaic acid cause a down-regulation of PKC, which is not inhibited by staurosporine. The calmodulin antagonist cyclosporine A, which does not suppress PKC activity, very effectively inhibits the TPA-induced edema and down regulation of PKC. Hence we conclude that protein phosphorylation catalyzed by staurosporine-suppressable PKC is not involved in the induction of edema and PKC down-regulation by TPA but that a calmodulin dependent process may play a critical role in these and other TPA effects in mouse skin.

Protein kinase C zeta and eta in murine epidermis. TPA induces down-regulation of PKC eta but not PKC zeta

Murine epidermis contains PKC zeta and eta as evidenced by the application of specific antisera. PKC zeta predominates in the cytosol and PKC eta in the particulate fraction. PKC zeta is shown to be present also in other murine tissues, with large amounts found in lung. Whereas epidermal PKC eta is completely down-regulated by treatment of mouse skin with TPA or bryostatin 1 for 18 h, PKC zeta is neither translocated by treatment with TPA for 20 min, nor down-regulated by treatment with TPA or bryostatin 1 for 18 h. PKC zeta is activated by phosphatidyl serine alone and does neither respond to Ca2+ nor to TPA. It is inhibited by staurosporine with an IC50 of 16 nM, which is within the same range of other PKC isoenzymes. The sensitivity of PKC zeta towards the staurosporine derivative K252a is similar to that of PKC alpha,beta,gamma but much higher than that of PKC delta and epsilon.

Phorbol ester-induced down-regulation of the 80-kDa myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate-related protein in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Inhibition by staurosporine

A polyclonal antiserum raised against an oligopeptide with an amino acid sequence corresponding to a sequence of the myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) from mouse macrophages and rat brain recognizes the 80-kDa C-kinase substrate from Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Using this antiserum for quantitative determination of the 80-kDa MARCKS-related protein, we found that the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induces a rapid down-regulation of this protein in the fibroblasts. In accordance with earlier reports, TPA causes phosphorylation of the 80-kDa protein which can be inhibited by staurosporine. Staurosporine also suppresses the TPA-induced down-regulation, possibly indicating that the down-regulation of the MARCKS-related protein is dependent on its phosphorylation by protein kinase C.

Immunological demonstration of epsilon PKC. Murine tissue distribution, ontogeny, cellular localization and translocation

An antiserum raised against an epsilon PKC-specific peptide recognizes epsilon PKC with an apparent molecular weight of 97 kDa in cytosol of mouse brain. No cross-reaction with alpha, beta, gamma PKC or the delta PKC-like p76-kinase is observed. Epsilon PKC is mainly present in brain. Just traces of this PKC isoenzyme can be detected in some other murine tissues. Ontogenetic studies indicate that the amount of epsilon PKC in murine brain increases constantly and reaches a maximal level at day 7 after birth. Upon TPA activation epsilon PKC is translocated from the cytosol to the particulate fraction in a brain homogenate.

Immunological demonstration of a calcium-unresponsive protein kinase C of the delta-type in different species and murine tissues. Predominance in epidermis

An antiserum raised against a delta-protein kinase C (delta-PKC)-specific peptide recognized the purified calcium-unresponsive 76-kDa protein kinase of porcine spleen in the native and the denatured form. This antiserum was used to demonstrate the delta-PKC-like enzyme in spleen of different species, in various cell types and in murine tissues by immunoblotting of the respective extracts. Due to species differences, delta-PKC-like kinases with slightly different molecular weights were observed. The enzyme was found to be present in primary murine keratinocytes, primary bovine endothelial cells, and many cell lines originating from human, rat, and murine tissues. It was present also in all murine tissues tested, predominantly in epidermis, uterus, placenta, lung, brain, spleen, and kidney. In contrast to the conventional alpha, beta, gamma-PKC, it was located almost exclusively in the particulate fraction. The delta-like PKC could be demonstrated in the epidermis and brain of newborn mice, and in both tissues its concentration increased dramatically between day 7 and 14 after birth. The delta-PKC-like kinase of mouse epidermis (p82-kinase) was down-regulated after topical application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to mouse skin. The amount of the enzyme decreased to less than 20% of the controls within 16 h and recovered almost completely within 72 h after TPA. The existence of the delta-PKC-like kinase in mouse skin, papillomas, and carcinomas could also be demonstrated by immunocytochemical staining of the respective sections. The enzyme was observed predominantly in epithelial layers. A remarkable immunostaining of nuclei in skin sections disappeared after TPA treatment of the animals.

Down-regulation of protein kinase C in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts is independent of its phosphorylating activity

The phorbol ester TPA induces down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) in Swiss-3T3 fibroblasts, as determined by the use of an alpha, beta, gamma PKC-specific antiserum. PKC is almost completely degraded 10 hours after TPA treatment of the cells and recovers within 72 hours. The staurosporine derivative K252a, known to inhibit PKC activity, causes strong suppression of TPA-induced (PKC-catalyzed) protein phosphorylation in Swiss-3T3 cells. Inhibition of protein phosphorylation by K252a is still effective when the process of down-regulation is completed. However, K252a does not influence TPA-induced down-regulation of PKC at all. Thus, down-regulation of PKC is not dependent on the enzyme's phosphorylating activity and, therefore, most likely not on its autophosphorylation as has been suggested by Ohno et al. [J. Biol. Chem. 265, 6296-6300 (1990)].

Protein kinase C activation by phorbol esters: do cysteine-rich regions and pseudosubstrate motifs play a role?

A model for the binding of two activators of protein kinase C (PKC), the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and diacylglycerol, to the enzyme is proposed. It is suggested that each activator is hydrogen-bonded to sulfhydryl groups of cysteine residues and to the carbonyl of an asparagine within the cysteine-rich regions of PKC. This might induce a conformational change that would disrupt the association of the inhibitory pseudosubstrate sequence with the active center of PKC.

Purification and characterization of a calcium-unresponsive, phorbol ester/phospholipid-activated protein kinase from porcine spleen

A calcium-unresponsive, phorbol ester/phospholipid-activated protein kinase was purified to apparent homogeneity from a Triton X-100 extract of an EGTA/EDTA-preextracted particulate fraction of porcine spleen by chromatography on S-Sepharose Fast Flow, phenyl-Sepharose Fast Flow, protamine-agarose, and Superdex 200. The enzyme had a Mr of 76,000, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (p76-kinase). A similar value (78,000) was obtained by gel filtration. The purified p76-kinase proved to be much more stable than the enzyme in crude preparations. Storage in a buffer containing 50 mM mercaptoethanol and 20% glycerol at -20 degrees C for at least 4 months caused less than 20% loss in enzyme activity. The enzyme exhibited a pH optimum of 8.3. The affinity of the novel enzyme for substrates and cofactors differed to some extent from that of conventional alpha, beta, gamma protein kinase C (PKC). p76-kinase did not respond to calcium, had a lower requirement for magnesium, and a higher affinity for histone III-S than PKC. Both the p76-kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of histone III-S and the autophosphorylation of the enzyme could be activated by the phorbol ester TPA (or diacylglycerol) plus phosphatidyl serine, but not by calcium plus phosphatidyl serine. The stoichiometry of autophosphorylation suggested that fully phosphorylated p76-kinase contained two phosphoserine residues and one phosphothreonine residue. Like PKC, p76-kinase bound TPA with high affinity (KD = 9.6 nM). In the absence of TPA, various unsaturated fatty acids, particularly arachidonic acid, were more potent as activators of the enzyme than phosphatidyl serine. The p76-kinase was recognized by an antiserum raised against a delta PKC-specific peptide, but not by an alpha, beta, gamma PKC-specific antiserum. The previously described p82-kinase of mouse epidermis and spleen exhibiting the same properties as the p76-kinase did also react with the p76-kinase-specific antiserum.

Differentiative action of K252a on protein kinase C and a calcium-unresponsive, phorbol ester/phospholipid-activated protein kinase

The Triton X-100 extract of the particulate fraction of porcine spleen contains a protein kinase which can be activated by phospholipid and the phorbol ester TPA but does not respond to phospholipid and calcium. The partially purified kinase has a molecular weight of 76 kDa (p76-kinase) and hence is somewhat smaller than the similarly behaving p82-kinase from mouse epidermis and spleen. The p76-kinase shows strong autophosphorylation. The protein kinase inhibitor K252a clearly differentiates between the Ca2+-unresponsive p76-kinase and Ca2+-responsive PKC. At concentrations of up to 5 x 10(-7)M it fails to suppress p76-kinase-catalyzed autophosphorylation and histone phosphorylation, but it inhibits PKC-catalyzed phosphorylation up to 50%. The IC50 values of K252a regarding PKC and the p76-kinase differ by two orders of magnitude. At low concentrations, K252a appears to slightly activate further TPA-activated p76-kinase. It is not able, however, to replace TPA and to stimulate the p76-kinase in the presence of phospholipid alone.

A type 2A protein phosphatase dephosphorylates the elongation factor 2 and is stimulated by the phorbol ester TPA in mouse epidermis in vivo

Mouse epidermal cytosol contains a protein phosphatase with Mr 38,000, which dephosphorylates the elongation factor 2 (EF-2) of protein biosynthesis and is stimulated after topical application of TPA to mouse skin [(1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 153, 1129-1135]. Dephosphorylation of EF-2 by this phosphatase is inhibited by okadaic acid at concentrations as low as 10(-8) M, but not by heparin up to concentrations of 600.micrograms/ml. The catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Ac) with EF-2 as a substrate exhibits the same sensitivity towards okadaic acid and insensitivity towards heparin as the EF-2 phosphatase of epidermal cytosol. The catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1c) is strongly suppressed by heparin and less sensitive towards okadaic acid than PP2Ac. PP2Ac is around 50 times more efficient in dephosphorylating EF-2 than PP1c. These data indicate that the TPA-stimulated EF-2 phosphatase in epidermal cytosol is a type 2A protein phosphatase.

Cyclosporine A suppresses an early process in phorbol ester action

Simultaneous application of cyclosporine A (CsA) and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on mouse skin strongly inhibits various biological responses to TPA. Delayed application of CsA is less effective. CsA given 1-2 h after TPA is unable to suppress TPA effects. Thus, the process that can be inhibited by CsA and that appears to be crucial for the response to TPA occurs rather early in TPA action.

A phorbol ester and phospholipid-activated, calcium-unresponsive protein kinase in mouse epidermis: characterization and separation from protein kinase C

The phosphorylation of an Mr 82,000 protein (p82) in the Triton X-100 extract of the particulate fraction of mouse epidermis is dependent on the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or diacylglycerol and phospholipid and, contrary to protein kinase C (PKC)-catalyzed phosphorylation, cannot be activated by calcium plus phospholipid. The novel p82 kinase differs also from PKC in many other respects, such as substrate specificity, turnover rate, and sensitivity to inhibitors. The p82 kinase can be separated from PKC by chromatography on phenyl sepharose and does not react with a polyclonal PKC antiserum. Like PKC, the novel kinase phosphorylates its substrate on threonine and serine, but not on tyrosine. Similar to PKC, the epidermal p82-kinase system is down-modulated after TPA treatment of mouse skin, with a half-life of around 5 h. Down-modulation is also accomplished by the phorbol ester RPA, but not by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, and it is inhibited by the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A. In addition to down-modulation, TPA treatment of the animals activates a phosphatase that dephosphorylates phosphorylated p82 in the extract of the particulate fraction.

The immunosuppressant FK-506, like cyclosporins and didemnin B, inhibits calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of the elongation factor 2 in vitro and biological effects of the phorbol ester TPA on mouse skin in vivo

Similar to previous observations with cyclosporins and didemnin B, the novel immunosuppressant FK-506 inhibits the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of the eukaryotic elongation factor 2 of protein synthesis in vitro and biological effects of the phorbol ester TPA on mouse skin in vivo. These effects include the induction of the ear edema and the stimulation of alkaline phosphatase activity. FK-506 neither activates nor inhibits protein kinase C in vitro. FK-506 does not compete with cyclosporin A for the high-affinity binding sites in mouse epidermis cytosol.

Effect of tumor promoting phorbol ester TPA on epidermal protein synthesis: stimulation of an elongation factor 2 phosphatase activity by TPA in vivo

Topical application of the phorbol ester TPA to mouse skin causes an increase in the amount of elongation factor 2 (EF-2), a factor in eukaryotic protein synthesis, in the epidermal cytosol (2- to 3-fold) and particulate fraction (7-fold). Furthermore, as a consequence of this TPA treatment the activity of an epidermal EF-2 phosphatase is stimulated. The EF-2 phosphatase has an apparent molecular weight of around 38,000 daltons. The enzyme activity is induced as early as 45 minutes after TPA treatment and remains at the elevated level for more than 17 hours. Both of the TPA-induced effects result in an increase in unphosphorylated, i.e. active EF-2 and can be suppressed by cyclosporine A.

Bryostatin 1, an activator of protein kinase C, mimics as well as inhibits biological effects of the phorbol ester TPA in vivo and in vitro

The macrocyclic lactone bryostatin 1 activates protein kinase C as effectively as the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Nevertheless, there are only certain TPA-effects that can be induced by bryostatin 1. These include stimulation of epidermal DNA synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity in vivo as well as activation of the Ca2+-independent, phospholipid-requiring phosphorylation of an epidermal protein in a cell-free system. Various other TPA-effects in vivo and in vitro, which are not mimicked by bryostatin 1 can be inhibited by applying bryostatin 1 30 min prior to TPA. TPA-effects suppressible by bryostatin 1 include the Ca2+-dependent stimulation of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release, of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and ODC-mRNA expression and of transglutaminase activity in keratinocytes in vivo and/or in vitro and, in addition, Epstein-Barr virus induction in Raji cells. The same is true for the conversion step (first stage of promotion) of multistage carcinogenesis. In contrast to the TPA induction of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 release and of transglutaminase activity, induction by the Ca2+-ionophore and by high Ca2+-shift, respectively, are not significantly inhibited by bryostatin 1. We suggest that bryostatin 1 might inhibit a specific 'Ca2+-component' of TPA action.

The weak immunosuppressant cyclosporine D as well as the immunologically inactive cyclosporine H are potent inhibitors in vivo of phorbol ester TPA-induced biological effects in mouse skin and of Ca2+/calmodulin dependent EF-2 phosphorylation in vitro

Various biological effects induced by the tumor promoting phorbol ester TPA in mouse skin are comparably suppressed by the immunologically inactive cyclosporine H (CsH) and by the strongly immunosuppressive cyclosporine A (CsA). These effects inhibited include the development of edema, stimulation of alkaline phosphatase activity, DNA and protein synthesis, as well as tumor promotion. Furthermore, CsH, like CsA, inhibits the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of the elongation factor 2 (EF-2) in vitro and the TPA-induced increases in the amount of EF-2 in vivo. Similar observations were made using the weak immunosuppressant CsD. We conclude from these results that the ability of cyclosporines to act as immunosuppressants and their ability to inhibit TPA-effects are based on two different mechanisms of action. Inhibition of TPA-effects may involve suppression of calmodulin-dependent processes, such as augmentation and phosphorylation of EF-2.

Ciclosporin inhibits phorbol-ester-induced hyperplastic transformation and tumor promotion in mouse skin probably by suppression of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent processes such as phosphorylation of elongation factor 2

This study deals with the mechanism of the inhibitory effect exerted by the immunosuppressant ciclosporin (CsA) on phorbol-ester-induced inflammation, epidermal hyperplasia and tumor promotion in mouse skin in vivo. This effect coincides with an inhibition of the phosphorylation of a 100-kilodalton protein (p100) in epidermal cytosol in vitro, which has been identified as elongation factor 2 (EF-2) of protein biosynthesis. Phosphorylation of EF-2 is dependent on Ca2+ and calmodulin, and inhibition of EF-2 phosphorylation by CsA is due to an interaction of CsA with calmodulin. The EF-2 phosphorylation system has a metabolic half-life of 1.5 h probably due to a rather rapid turnover rate of the EF-2 kinase. Since CsA inhibits specifically 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TAP)-stimulated but not basal protein synthesis in epidermis, it is proposed that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of EF-2 is involved in the induction of the hyperplastic response by TPA and that CsA suppresses TPA effects by inhibition of EF-2-phosphorylation and perhaps other calmodulin-dependent processes. The potential applicability of calmodulin inhibitors in the treatment of hyperproliferative skin diseases is discussed.

Didemnin B inhibits biological effects of tumor promoting phorbol esters on mouse skin, as well as phosphorylation of a 100 kD protein in mouse epidermis cytosol

The immunosuppressive agent Didemnin B (DB) inhibits biological effects that are induced by topical application of phorbol esters to mouse skin as measured by mouse ear edema and the alkaline phosphatase activity of mouse epidermis. Furthermore, DB suppresses the phosphorylation in vitro of an epidermal cytosolic protein (p100). In these respects DB behaves like CsA, another immunosuppressive compound. Didemnin, however, does not bind to recently described CsA-binding sites.

Cyclosporin A inhibits phorbol ester-induced cellular proliferation and tumor promotion as well as phosphorylation of a 100-kd protein in mouse epidermis

Mouse epidermis and HEL30 keratinocytes contain cellular binding sites for the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A (CsA). Phorbol ester-induced DNA synthesis and tumor promotion in mouse skin is strongly suppressed by CsA. The anti-tumor effect of CsA is not the consequence of destruction of initiated cells. CsA selectively inhibits the phosphorylation in vitro of a protein with the relative molecular mass of 100 kd in mouse epidermis and HEL30 cytosol. The CsA-suppressible phosphorylation in vitro does not depend on the addition of Ca2+, phospholipid and the phorbol ester TPA.

A novel type of phorbol ester-dependent protein phosphorylation in the particulate fraction of mouse epidermis

In a Triton X100-extract from the particulate fraction of mouse epidermis but also of other murine tissues, the phosphorylation of a protein with the relative molecular mass of 82,000 (p82) is found to be dependent on phosphatidyl serine and the tumor promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Unlike protein kinase C-catalyzed phosphorylation, p82 phosphorylation is neither observed in the presence of high concentrations of Ca2+ and phosphatidyl serine alone nor after addition of exogenous protein kinase C. Dioctanoylglycerol and the "incomplete" promoter 12-0-retinoylphorbol-13-acetate are also capable of stimulating p82 phosphorylation, whereas the non-promoting phorbol ester 4-0-methyl-TPA is at least 100-fold less active in this respect.