Reprogramming of arachidonate metabolism confers temozolomide resistance to glioblastoma through enhancing mitochondrial activity in fatty acid oxidation

Background

Sp1 is involved in the recurrence of glioblastoma (GBM) due to the acquirement of resistance to temozolomide (TMZ). Particularly, the role of Sp1 in metabolic reprogramming for drug resistance remains unknown.

Methods

RNA-Seq and mass spectrometry were used to analyze gene expression and metabolites amounts in paired GBM specimens (primary vs. recurrent) and in paired GBM cells (sensitive vs. resistant). ω-3/6 fatty acid and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in GBM patients were analyzed by targeted metabolome. Mitochondrial functions were determined by Seahorse XF Mito Stress Test, RNA-Seq, metabolome and substrate utilization for producing ATP. Therapeutic options targeting prostaglandin (PG) E2 in TMZ-resistant GBM were validated in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Among the metabolic pathways, Sp1 increased the prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 expression and PGE2 production in TMZ-resistant GBM. Mitochondrial genes and metabolites were obviously increased by PGE2, and these characteristics were required for developing resistance in GBM cells. For inducing TMZ resistance, PGE2 activated mitochondrial functions, including fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle progression, through PGE2 receptors, E-type prostanoid (EP)1 and EP3. Additionally, EP1 antagonist ONO-8713 inhibited the survival of TMZ-resistant GBM synergistically with TMZ.

Conclusion

Sp1-regulated PGE2 production activates FAO and TCA cycle in mitochondria, through EP1 and EP3 receptors, resulting in TMZ resistance in GBM. These results will provide us a new strategy to attenuate drug resistance or to re-sensitize recurred GBM.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-022-00804-3.

HDAC6 involves in regulating the lncRNA-microRNA-mRNA network to promote the proliferation of glioblastoma cells

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and lethal brain tumor. Although the histone deacetylase (HDAC)/transcription factor axis promotes growth in GBM, whether HDACs including HDAC6 are involved in modulating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to affect GBM malignancy remains obscure.

Methods

Integrative analysis of microarray and RNA-seq was performed to identify lncRNAs governed by HDAC6. Half-life measurement and RNA-protein pull-down assay combined with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic analysis were conducted to identify RNA modulators. The effect of LINC00461 on GBM malignancy was evaluated using animal models and cell proliferation-related assays. Functional analysis of the LINC00461 downstream networks was performed comprehensively using ingenuity pathway analysis and public databases.

Results

We identified a lncRNA, LINC00461, which was substantially increased in stem-like/treatment-resistant GBM cells. LINC00461 was inversely correlated with the survival of mice-bearing GBM and it was stabilized by the interaction between HDAC6 and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) such as carbon catabolite repression—negative on TATA-less (CCR4-NOT) core exoribonuclease subunit 6 and fused in sarcoma. Targeting LINC00461 using azaindolylsulfonamide, an HDAC6 inhibitor, decreased cell-division-related proteins via the lncRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA networks and caused cell-cycle arrest, thereby suppressing proliferation in parental and drug-resistant GBM cells and prolonging the survival of mice-bearing GBM.

Conclusions

This study sheds light on the role of LINC00461 in GBM malignancy and provides a novel therapeutic strategy for targeting the HDAC6/RBP/LINC00461 axis and its downstream effectors in patients with GBM.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-022-02257-w.

RalA, PLD and mTORC1 Are Required for Kinase-Independent Pathways in DGKβ-Induced Neurite Outgrowth

Diacylglycerol kinase β (DGKβ) is an enzyme that converts diacylglycerol to phosphatidic acid and is mainly expressed in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum. We previously reported that DGKβ induces neurite outgrowth and spinogenesis, contributing to higher brain functions, including emotion and memory. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in neuronal development by DGKβ, we investigated the importance of DGKβ activity in the induction of neurite outgrowth using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Interestingly, both wild-type DGKβ and the kinase-negative (KN) mutant partially induced neurite outgrowth, and these functions shared a common pathway via the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). In addition, we found that DGKβ interacted with the small GTPase RalA and that siRNA against RalA and phospholipase D (PLD) inhibitor treatments abolished DGKβKN-induced neurite outgrowth. These results indicate that binding of RalA and activation of PLD and mTORC1 are involved in DGKβKN-induced neurite outgrowth. Taken together with our previous reports, mTORC1 is a key molecule in both kinase-dependent and kinase-independent pathways of DGKβ-mediated neurite outgrowth, which is important for higher brain functions.

Histone deacetylase 6 acts upstream of DNA damage response activation to support the survival of glioblastoma cells

DNA repair promotes the progression and recurrence of glioblastoma (GBM). However, there remain no effective therapies for targeting the DNA damage response and repair (DDR) pathway in the clinical setting. Thus, we aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of DDR genes in GBM specimens to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying treatment resistance. Herein, transcriptomic analysis of 177 well-defined DDR genes was performed with normal and GBM specimens (n = 137) from The Cancer Genome Atlas and further integrated with the expression profiling of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibition in temozolomide (TMZ)-resistant GBM cells and patient-derived tumor cells. The effects of HDAC6 inhibition on DDR signaling were examined both in vitro and intracranial mouse models. We found that the expression of DDR genes, involved in repair pathways for DNA double-strand breaks, was upregulated in highly malignant primary and recurrent brain tumors, and their expression was related to abnormal clinical features. However, a potent HDAC6 inhibitor, MPT0B291, attenuated the expression of these genes, including RAD51 and CHEK1, and was more effective in blocking homologous recombination repair in GBM cells. Interestingly, it resulted in lower cytotoxicity in primary glial cells than other HDAC6 inhibitors. MPT0B291 reduced the growth of both TMZ-sensitive and TMZ-resistant tumor cells and prolonged survival in mouse models of GBM. We verified that HDAC6 regulated DDR genes by affecting Sp1 expression, which abolished MPT0B291-induced DNA damage. Our findings uncover a regulatory network among HDAC6, Sp1, and DDR genes for drug resistance and survival of GBM cells. Furthermore, MPT0B291 may serve as a potential lead compound for GBM therapy.

LY6D-induced macropinocytosis as a survival mechanism of senescent cells

Although senescent cells display various morphological changes including vacuole formation, it is still unclear how these processes are regulated. We have recently identified the gene, lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus D (LY6D), to be upregulated specifically in senescent cells. LY6D is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell-surface protein whose function remains unknown. Here, we analyzed the functional relationship between LY6D and the senescence processes. We found that overexpression of LY6D induced vacuole formation and knockdown of LY6D suppressed the senescence-associated vacuole formation. The LY6D-induced vacuoles were derived from macropinocytosis, a distinct form of endocytosis. Furthermore, Src family kinases and Ras were found to be recruited to membrane lipid rafts in an LY6D-dependent manner, and inhibition of their activity impaired the LY6D-induced macropinocytosis. Finally, reduction of senescent-cell survival induced by glutamine deprivation was recovered by albumin supplementation to the culture media in an LY6D-dependent manner. Because macropinocytosis acts as an amino acid supply route, these results suggest that LY6D-mediated macropinocytosis contributes to senescent-cell survival through the incorporation of extracellular nutrients.

The S. pombe CDK5 ortholog Pef1 regulates sexual differentiation through control of the TORC1 pathway and autophagy

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a general strategy for survival in response to environmental changes is sexual differentiation, which is triggered by TORC1 inactivation. However, mechanisms of TORC1 regulation in fission yeast remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that Pef1, which is an ortholog of mammalian CDK5, regulates the initiation of sexual differentiation through positive regulation of TORC1 activity. Conversely, deletion of pef1 leads to activation of autophagy and subsequent excessive TORC1 reactivation during the early phases of the nitrogen starvation response. This excessive TORC1 reactivation results in the silencing of the Ste11-Mei2 pathway and mating defects. Additionally, we found that pef1 genetically interacts with tsc1 and tsc2 for TORC1 regulation, and physically interacts with three cyclins, Clg1, Pas1 and Psl1. The double deletion of clg1 and pas1 promotes activation of autophagy and TORC1 during nitrogen starvation, similar to what is seen in pef1Δ cells. Overall, our work suggests that Pef1-Clg1 and Pef1-Pas1 complexes regulate initiation of sexual differentiation through control of the TSC-TORC1 pathway and autophagy.

mTORC1 is involved in DGKβ-induced neurite outgrowth and spinogenesis

Diacylglycerol kinase β (DGKβ) is an enzyme converting DG to phosphatidic acid (PA) and is specifically expressed in neurons, especially those in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum. We previously reported that DGKβ induces neurite outgrowth and spinogenesis, contributing to higher brain function including emotion and memory, and plasma membrane localization of DGKβ via the C1 domain and a cluster of basic amino acids at the C-terminus is necessary for its function. To clarify the mechanisms involved in neuronal development by DGKβ, we investigated whether DGKβ activity induces neurite outgrowth using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. DGKβ induced neurite outgrowth by activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) through a kinase-dependent pathway. In addition, in primary cultured cortical and hippocampal neurons, inhibition of mTORC1 abolished DGKβ induced-neurite outgrowth, branching and spinogenesis. These results indicated that DGKβ induces neurite outgrowth and spinogenesis by activating mTORC1 in a kinase-dependent pathway.

d-amino acid oxidase promotes cellular senescence via the production of reactive oxygen species

This study reveals a novel role of d-amino acid oxidase in promoting cellular senescence induced by genotoxic stresses via enzymatic generation of reactive oxygen species.

d-amino acid oxidase (DAO) is a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)–dependent oxidase metabolizing neutral and polar d-amino acids. Unlike l-amino acids, the amounts of d-amino acids in mammalian tissues are extremely low, and therefore, little has been investigated regarding the physiological role of DAO. We have recently identified DAO to be up-regulated in cellular senescence, a permanent cell cycle arrest induced by various stresses, such as persistent DNA damage and oxidative stress. Because DAO produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) as byproducts of substrate oxidation and the accumulation of ROS mediates the senescence induction, we explored the relationship between DAO and senescence. We found that inhibition of DAO impaired senescence induced by DNA damage, and ectopic expression of wild-type DAO, but not enzymatically inactive mutant, enhanced it in an ROS-dependent manner. Furthermore, addition of d-amino acids and riboflavin, a metabolic precursor of FAD, to the medium potentiated the senescence-promoting effect of DAO. These results indicate that DAO promotes senescence through the enzymatic ROS generation, and its activity is regulated by the availability of its substrate and coenzyme.

The story of PKC: A discovery marked by unexpected twists and turns

Protein kinase C (PKC) is activated by 1,2-diacylglycerol as a second messenger in the signaling mechanism coupled with the hydrolysis of membrane inositol phospholipids, although it was not found by screening for a 1,2-diacylglycerol-dependent enzyme. PKC is also a receptor for the tumor-promoting phorbol esters, but it was not identified by its property of binding phorbol esters, either. Instead, the discovery and characterization of PKC, now known to comprise a family with multiple isoforms, was through a circuitous voyage filled with unexpected twists and turns. This review summarizes the discovery and the initial experiments of PKC as a historical perspective of the enzyme family in the context of the progress in the studies on protein phosphorylation. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 71(6):697-705, 2019.

Growth hormone and Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) modulate the expression of L-type amino acid transporters in the muscles of spontaneous dwarf rats and L6 and C2C12 myocytes

OBJECTIVE

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have been reported to inhibit several types of muscle atrophy via the activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). However, we previously found that BCAA did not activate mTORC1 in growth hormone (GH)-deficient spontaneous dwarf rats (SDRs), and that GH restored the stimulatory effect of BCAAs toward the mTORC1. The objective of this study was to determine whether GH or Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) stimulated the expression of L-type amino acid transporters (LATs) that delivered BCAAs, and whether LATs were involved in the mTORC1 activation.

DESIGN

After the continuous administration of GH, cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of muscle fibers and LAT mRNA levels in the skeletal muscles of SDRs were compared to those from the SDRs that received normal saline. The effect of GH and IGF-I on LAT mRNA levels were determined in L6 and C2C12 myocytes. The effects of 2-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH), a blocker for LATs, and LAT1 siRNA on mTORC1 activation and cell functions were examined in C2C12 cells.

RESULTS

GH increased LAT1 and LAT4 mRNA levels in accordance with the increase in CSAs of muscle fibers in SDRs. IGF-I, and not GH, increased LAT1 mRNA levels in cultured L6 myocytes. IGF-I also increased LAT1 mRNA level in another myocyte line, C2C12. Furthermore, IGF-I reduced LAT3 and LAT4 mRNA levels in both cell lines. GH reduced LAT3 and LAT4 mRNA levels in L6 cells. BCH decreased basal C2C12 cell proliferation and reduced IGF-I-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and S6K, both of which are mTORC1 targets, but LAT1 siRNA did not affect the phosphorylation. This suggests that BCH may exert its effect via other pathway than LAT1.

CONCLUSIONS

IGF-I increased LAT1 mRNA level in myocytes. However, the role of LAT1 in IGF-I-induced mTORC1 activation and cell functions remains unclear.

Proline dehydrogenase promotes senescence through the generation of reactive oxygen species

Cellular senescence is a complex stress response characterized by permanent loss of proliferative capacity and is implicated in age-related disorders. Although the transcriptional activity of p53 (encoded by TP53) is known to be vital for senescence induction, the downstream effector genes critical for senescence remain unsolved. Recently, we have identified the proline dehydrogenase gene (PRODH) to be upregulated specifically in senescent cells in a p53-dependent manner, and the functional relevance of this to senescence is yet to be defined. Here, we conducted functional analyses to explore the relationship between PRODH and the senescence program. We found that genetic and pharmacological inhibition of PRODH suppressed senescent phenotypes induced by DNA damage. Furthermore, ectopic expression of wild-type PRODH, but not enzymatically inactive forms, induced senescence associated with the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the accumulation of DNA damage. Treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a ROS scavenger, prevented senescence induced by PRODH overexpression. These results indicate that PRODH plays a causative role in DNA damage-induced senescence through the enzymatic generation of ROS.

Identification of cellular senescence-specific genes by comparative transcriptomics

Cellular senescence is defined as permanent cell cycle arrest induced by various stresses. Although the p53 transcriptional activity is essential for senescence induction, the downstream genes that are crucial for senescence remain unsolved. Here, by using a developed experimental system in which cellular senescence or apoptosis is induced preferentially by altering concentration of etoposide, a DNA-damaging drug, we compared gene expression profiles of senescent and apoptotic cells by microarray analysis. Subtraction of the expression profile of apoptotic cells identified 20 genes upregulated specifically in senescent cells. Furthermore, 6 out of 20 genes showed p53-dependent upregulation by comparing gene expression between p53-proficient and -deficient cells. These 6 genes were also upregulated during replicative senescence of normal human diploid fibroblasts, suggesting that upregulation of these genes is a general phenomenon in senescence. Among these genes, 2 genes (PRODH and DAO) were found to be directly regulated by p53, and ectopic expression of 4 genes (PRODH, DAO, EPN3, and GPR172B) affected senescence phenotypes induced by etoposide treatment. Collectively, our results identified several proteins as novel downstream effectors of p53-mediated senescence and provided new clues for further research on the complex signalling networks underlying the induction and maintenance of senescence.

Overexpression of eIF5 or its protein mimic 5MP perturbs eIF2 function and induces ATF4 translation through delayed re-initiation

ATF4 is a pro-oncogenic transcription factor whose translation is activated by eIF2 phosphorylation through delayed re-initiation involving two uORFs in the mRNA leader. However, in yeast, the effect of eIF2 phosphorylation can be mimicked by eIF5 overexpression, which turns eIF5 into translational inhibitor, thereby promoting translation of GCN4, the yeast ATF4 equivalent. Furthermore, regulatory protein termed eIF5-mimic protein (5MP) can bind eIF2 and inhibit general translation. Here, we show that 5MP1 overexpression in human cells leads to strong formation of 5MP1:eIF2 complex, nearly comparable to that of eIF5:eIF2 complex produced by eIF5 overexpression. Overexpression of eIF5, 5MP1 and 5MP2, the second human paralog, promotes ATF4 expression in certain types of human cells including fibrosarcoma. 5MP overexpression also induces ATF4 expression in Drosophila The knockdown of 5MP1 in fibrosarcoma attenuates ATF4 expression and its tumor formation on nude mice. Since 5MP2 is overproduced in salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma, we propose that overexpression of eIF5 and 5MP induces translation of ATF4 and potentially other genes with uORFs in their mRNA leaders through delayed re-initiation, thereby enhancing the survival of normal and cancer cells under stress conditions.

The Loss of Lam2 and Npr2-Npr3 Diminishes the Vacuolar Localization of Gtr1-Gtr2 and Disinhibits TORC1 Activity in Fission Yeast

In mammalian cells, mTORC1 activity is regulated by Rag GTPases. It is thought that the Ragulator complex and the GATOR (GAP activity towards Rags) complex regulate RagA/B as its GDP/GTP exchange factor (GEF) and GTPase-activating protein (GAP), respectively. However, the functions of components in these complexes remain elusive. Using fission yeast as a model organism, here we found that the loss of Lam2 (SPBC1778.05c), a homolog of a Ragulator component LAMTOR2, as well as the loss of Gtr1 or Gtr2 phenocopies the loss of Npr2 or Npr3, homologs of GATOR components Nprl2 or Nprl3, respectively. These phenotypes were rescued by TORC1 inhibition using pharmacological or genetic means, and the loss of Lam2, Gtr1, Gtr2, Npr2 or Npr3 disinhibited TORC1 activity under nitrogen depletion, as measured by Rps6 phosphorylation. Consistently, overexpression of GDP-locked Gtr1^S20L or GTP-locked Gtr2^Q60L, which suppress TORC1 activity in budding yeast, rescued the growth defect of Δgtr1 cells or Δgtr2 cells, respectively, and the loss of Lam2, Npr2 or Npr3 similarly diminished the vacuolar localization and the protein levels of Gtr1 and Gtr2. Furthermore, Lam2 physically interacted with Npr2 and Gtr1. These findings suggest that Lam2 and Npr2-Npr3 function together as a tether for GDP-bound Gtr1 to the vacuolar membrane, thereby suppressing TORC1 activity for multiple cellular functions.

Versatile function of the circadian protein CIPC as a regulator of Erk activation

The CLOCK-interacting protein, Circadian (CIPC), has been identified as an additional negative-feedback regulator of the circadian clock. However, recent study on CIPC knockout mice has shown that CIPC is not critically required for basic circadian clock function, suggesting other unknown biological roles for CIPC. In this study, we focused on the cell cycle dependent nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling function of CIPC and on identifying its binding proteins. Lys186 and 187 were identified as the essential amino acid residues within the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of CIPC. We identified CIPC-binding proteins such as the multifunctional enzyme CAD protein (carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamoylase, and dihydroorotase), which is a key enzyme for de novo pyrimidine synthesis. Compared to control cells, HEK293 cells overexpressing wild-type CIPC showed suppressed cell proliferation and retardation of cell cycle. We also found that PMA-induced Erk activation was inhibited with expression of wild-type CIPC. In contrast, the NLS mutant of CIPC, which reduced the ability of CIPC to translocate into the nucleus, did not exhibit these biological effects. Since CAD and Erk have significant roles in cell proliferation and cell cycle, CIPC may work as a cell cycle regulator by interacting with these binding proteins.

Midostaurin preferentially attenuates proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer cell lines through inhibition of Aurora kinase family

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is classified into three subtypes by the expression of biomarker receptors such as hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) expresses none of these receptors and has an aggressive phenotype with a poor prognosis, which is insensitive to the drugs that target the hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. It is, thus, required to develop an effective therapeutic reagent to treat TNBC.

RESULTS

The study using a panel of 19 breast cancer cell lines revealed that midostaurin, a multi-target protein kinase inhibitor, suppresses preferentially the growth of TNBC cells comparing with non-TNBC cells. Clustering analysis of the drug activity data for the panel of cancer cell lines predicted that midostaurin shares the target with Aurora kinase inhibitors. Following studies indicated that midostaurin attenuates the phosphorylation reaction mediated by Aurora kinase in the cells and directly inhibits this protein kinase in vitro, and that this reagent induces apoptosis accompanying accumulation of 4N and 8N DNA cells in TNBC cells.

CONCLUSION

Midostaurin suppresses the proliferation of TNBC cells among the breast cancer cell lines presumably through the inhibition of the Aurora kinase family. The precise study of midostaurin on cell growth will contribute to the development of the drug for the treatment of TNBC.

Fission yeast arrestin-related trafficking adaptor, Arn1/Any1, is ubiquitinated by Pub1 E3 ligase and regulates endocytosis of Cat1 amino acid transporter

The Tsc1–Tsc2 complex homologous to human tuberous sclerosis complex proteins governs amino acid uptake by regulating the expression and intracellular distribution of amino acid transporters in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here, we performed a genetic screening for molecules that are involved in amino acid uptake and found Arn1 (also known as Any1). Arn1 is homologous to ART1, an arrestin-related trafficking adaptor (ART) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and contains a conserved arrestin motif, a ubiquitination site, and two PY motifs. Overexpression of arn1⁺ confers canavanine resistance on cells, whereas its disruption causes hypersensitivity to canavanine. We also show that Arn1 regulates endocytosis of the Cat1 amino acid transporter. Furthermore, deletion of arn1⁺ suppresses a defect of amino acid uptake and the aberrant Cat1 localization in tsc2Δ. Arn1 interacts with and is ubiquitinated by the Pub1 ubiquitin ligase, which is necessary to regulate Cat1 endocytosis. Cat1 undergoes ubiquitinations on lysine residues within the N-terminus, which are mediated, in part, by Arn1 to determine Cat1 localization. Correctively, Arn1 is an ART in S. pombe and contributes to amino acid uptake through regulating Cat1 endocytosis in which Tsc2 is involved.

Identification of regions critical for the integrity of the TSC1-TSC2-TBC1D7 complex

The TSC1-TSC2-TBC1D7 complex is an important negative regulator of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 that controls cell growth in response to environmental cues. Inactivating TSC1 and TSC2 mutations cause tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by the occurrence of benign tumours in various organs and tissues, notably the brain, skin and kidneys. TBC1D7 mutations have not been reported in TSC patients but homozygous inactivation of TBC1D7 causes megaencephaly and intellectual disability. Here, using an exon-specific deletion strategy, we demonstrate that some regions of TSC1 are not necessary for the core function of the TSC1-TSC2 complex. Furthermore, we show that the TBC1D7 binding site is encoded by TSC1 exon 22 and identify amino acid residues involved in the TSC1-TBC1D7 interaction.

Cyclin I is involved in the regulation of cell cycle progression

Cyclins control cell cycle progression by regulating the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks). Cyclin I is a member of the cyclin family because of the presence of a cyclin box motif. It has been suggested that Cyclin I is involved in various biological processes, such as cell survival, angiogenesis, and cell differentiation. However, whether or not Cyclin I has a role in regulating the cell cycle similarly to other cyclins has yet to be clarified. Therefore, we investigated the role for Cyclin I in cell cycle progression. We showed that the protein level of Cyclin I oscillated during the cell cycle, and that Cyclin I was subjected to ubiquitination and degradation in cells. The interaction between Cyclin I and Cdk5 was detected in cells overexpressed with both proteins. Furthermore, depletion of Cyclin I by siRNAs prevented cell proliferation, suggesting the positive role of Cyclin I for the cell cycle progression. In addition, flow cytometric analysis revealed that cells depleted of Cyclin I were accumulated at G₂/M phases. By using HeLa.S-Fucci (fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator) cells, we further confirmed that knockdown of Cyclin I induced cell cycle arrest at S/G₂/M phases. These results strongly suggest that Cyclin I has the role in the regulation of cell cycle progression.

Association of CAD, a multifunctional protein involved in pyrimidine synthesis, with mLST8, a component of the mTOR complexes

Background

mTOR is a genetically conserved serine/threonine protein kinase, which controls cell growth, proliferation, and survival. A multifunctional protein CAD, catalyzing the initial three steps in de novo pyrimidine synthesis, is regulated by the phosphorylation reaction with different protein kinases, but the relationship with mTOR protein kinase has not been known.

Results

CAD was recovered as a binding protein with mLST8, a component of the mTOR complexes, from HEK293 cells transfected with the FLAG-mLST8 vector. Association of these two proteins was confirmed by the co-immuoprecipitaiton followed by immunoblot analysis of transfected myc-CAD and FLAG-mLST8 as well as that of the endogenous proteins in the cells. Analysis using mutant constructs suggested that CAD has more than one region for the binding with mLST8, and that mLST8 recognizes CAD and mTOR in distinct ways. The CAD enzymatic activity decreased in the cells depleted of amino acids and serum, in which the mTOR activity is suppressed.

Conclusion

The results obtained indicate that mLST8 bridges between CAD and mTOR, and plays a role in the signaling mechanism where CAD is regulated in the mTOR pathway through the association with mLST8.

Insulin receptor substrate-1 prevents autophagy-dependent cell death caused by oxidative stress in mouse NIH/3T3 cells

Background

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 is associated with tumorigenesis; its levels are elevated in several human cancers. IRS-1 protein binds to several oncogene proteins. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the initiation and progression of cancers. Cancer cells produce greater levels of ROS than normal cells do because of increased metabolic stresses. However, excessive production of ROS kills cancer cells. Autophagy usually serves as a survival mechanism in response to stress conditions, but excessive induction of autophagy results in cell death. In addition to inducing necrosis and apoptosis, ROS induces autophagic cell death. ROS inactivates IRS-1 mediated signaling and reduces intracellular IRS-1 concentrations. Thus, there is a complex relationship between IRS-1, ROS, autophagy, and cancer. It is not fully understood how cancer cells grow rapidly and survive in the presence of high ROS levels.

Methods and results

In this study, we established mouse NIH/3T3 cells that overexpressed IRS-1, so mimicking cancers with increased IRS-1 expression levels; we found that the IRS-1 overexpressing cells grow more rapidly than control cells do. Treatment of cells with glucose oxidase (GO) provided a continuous source of ROS; low dosages of GO promoted cell growth, while high doses induced cell death. Evidence for GO induced autophagy includes increased levels of isoform B-II microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), aggregation of green fluorescence protein-tagged LC3, and increased numbers of autophagic vacuoles in cells. Overexpression of IRS-1 resulted in inhibition of basal autophagy, and reduced oxidative stress-induced autophagy and cell death. ROS decreased the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase signaling, while overexpression of IRS-1 attenuated this inhibition. Knockdown of autophagy-related gene 5 inhibited basal autophagy and diminished oxidative stress-induced autophagy and cell death.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that overexpression of IRS-1 promotes cells growth, inhibits basal autophagy, reduces oxidative stress-induced autophagy, and diminishes oxidative stress-mediated autophagy-dependent cell death. ROS-mediated autophagy may occur via inhibition of IRS-1/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/mTOR signaling. Our data afford a plausible explanation for IRS-1 involvement in tumor initiation and progression.

Preferential Fas-mediated apoptotic execution at G1 phase: the resistance of mitotic cells to the cell death

Apoptosis is induced by various stresses generated from the extracellular and intracellular environments. The fidelity of the cell cycle is monitored by surveillance mechanisms that arrest its further progression if any crucial process has not been completed or damages are sustained, and then the cells with problems undergo apoptosis. Although the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of the cell cycle and that of apoptosis have been elucidated, the links between them are not clear, especially that between cell cycle and death receptor-mediated apoptosis. By using the HeLa.S-Fucci (fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator) cells, we investigated the relationship between the cell cycle progression and apoptotic execution. To monitor apoptotic execution during cell cycle progression, we observed the cells after induction of apoptosis with time-lapse fluorescent microscopy. About 70% of Fas-mediated apoptotic cells were present at G₁ phase and about 20% of cells died immediately after cytokinesis, whereas more than 60% of etoposide-induced apoptotic cells were at S/G₂ phases in random culture of the cells. These results were confirmed by using synchronized culture of the cells. Furthermore, mitotic cells showed the resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis. In conclusion, these findings suggest that apoptotic execution is dependent on cell cycle phase and Fas-mediated apoptosis preferentially occurs at G₁ phase.

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein mediates neddylation by itself but does not function as a NEDD8-E3 ligase for caspase-7

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a potent antagonist of caspases, and functions as a ubiquitin-E3 ligase by itself and for caspases. Recently, NEDD8, a ubiquitin-like modifier, has been suggested to be used for modification of caspase-7 mediated by XIAP. However, it is not clear whether caspase-7 is a bona fide target for NEDD8. Here we showed that no neddylation of caspase-7 but that of XIAP itself was observed under the conditions in which caspase-7 was modified with ubiquitin. These results reveal that XIAP does not function as a NEDD8-E3 ligase for caspase-7 in vivo.

Functional and direct interaction between the RNA binding protein HuD and active Akt1

The RNA binding protein HuD plays essential roles in neuronal development and plasticity. We have previously shown that HuD stimulates translation. Key for this enhancer function is the linker region and the poly(A) binding domain of HuD that are also critical for its function in neurite outgrowth. Here, we further explored the underlying molecular interactions and found that HuD but not the ubiquitously expressed HuR interacts directly with active Akt1. We identify that the linker region of HuD is required for this interaction. We also show by using chimeric mutants of HuD and HuR, which contain the reciprocal linker between RNA-binding domain 2 (RBD2) and RBD3, respectively, and by overexpressing a dominant negative mutant of Akt1 that the HuD–Akt1 interaction is functionally important, as it is required for the induction of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. These results suggest the model whereby RNA-bound HuD functions as an adapter to recruit Akt1 to trigger neurite outgrowth. These data might also help to explain how HuD enhances translation of mRNAs that encode proteins involved in neuronal development.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 upregulates interleukin-8 expression at the level of transcription in human melanoma cells

Many melanoma cells continuously produce interleukin-8 (IL-8). The involvement of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the constant production of IL-8 in melanoma cells was examined. The level of IL-8 production correlated well with that of the phosphorylated (activated) STAT3 in six human melanoma cell lines. Introduction of the constitutively activated form of STAT3 (STAT3-C) into WM35 melanoma cells, that show low levels of IL-8 and phosphorylated STAT3, enhanced IL-8 production. Knockdown of STAT3 suppressed IL-8 production in WM1205Lu cells that contain a high level of IL-8 accompanied by STAT3 phosphorylation. Introduction of STAT3-C markedly increased the luciferase activity in WM1205Lu cells transfected with reporter vectors linked to the 5'-flanking region of the IL-8 gene from -546 to +44 base pair (bp) and from -272 to +44 bp, but not in cells expressing reporter plasmids from -133 to +44 bp and from -98 to +44 bp. These results indicate that the upregulation of IL-8 production is caused by constitutive STAT3 activation at the level of gene transcription in melanoma cells.

Tti1 and Tel2 are critical factors in mammalian target of rapamycin complex assembly

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a member of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinase (PIKK) family and is a major regulator of translation, cell growth, and autophagy. mTOR exists in two distinct complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, that differ in their subunit composition. In this study, we identified KIAA0406 as a novel mTOR-interacting protein. Because it has sequence homology with Schizosaccharomyces pombe Tti1, we named it mammalian Tti1. Tti1 constitutively interacts with mTOR in both mTORC1 and mTORC2. Knockdown of Tti1 suppresses phosphorylation of both mTORC1 substrates (S6K1 and 4E-BP1) and an mTORC2 substrate (Akt) and also induces autophagy. S. pombe Tti1 binds to Tel2, a protein whose mammalian homolog was recently reported to regulate the stability of PIKKs. We confirmed that Tti1 binds to Tel2 also in mammalian cells, and Tti1 interacts with and stabilizes all six members of the PIKK family of proteins (mTOR, ATM, ATR, DNA-PKcs, SMG-1, and TRRAP). Furthermore, using immunoprecipitation and size-exclusion chromatography analyses, we found that knockdown of either Tti1 or Tel2 causes disassembly of mTORC1 and mTORC2. These results indicate that Tti1 and Tel2 are important not only for mTOR stability but also for assembly of the mTOR complexes to maintain their activities.

Possible involvement of caspase-7 in cell cycle progression at mitosis

Caspases are suggested to play essential roles not only in apoptotic but also in non-apoptotic functions. However, the contribution of caspases to the cell cycle regulation is unclear. Here we found that caspases including caspase-3, caspase-7, caspase-8 and caspase-9 were activated during mitosis. Chemically synthesized caspase inhibitors delayed mitotic progression and induced accumulation of mitotic cells, which exhibited abnormal chromatin condensation and incomplete chromosome segregation. Furthermore, knockdown of caspase-7 by using small interfering RNAs resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation, but knockdown of other caspases did not show a significant effect on cell growth. The expression of short hairpin RNA directed against caspase-7 induced the cell cycle arrest at mitosis, which was rescued by the re-expression of caspase-7 containing silent mutations at the target site for the short hairpin RNA. These results revealed that caspase-7 has a novel role during cell cycle progression at mitosis.

AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylates glutamine : fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase 1 at Ser243 to modulate its enzymatic activity

Glutamine : fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase 1 (GFAT1) was identified as a protein phosphorylated in glucose-deprived cells by immunoprecipitation using the anti-phospho Akt substrates (PAS) antibody, which recognizes the phosphorylation motif site by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), followed by mass fingerprinting analysis. Glucose depletion-induced phosphorylation of endogenous GFAT was potentiated by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), an AMPK activator, and the 2-DG-stimulated phosphorylation of FLAG-tagged GFAT1 in transfected cells was suppressed by Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. The 2-DG induced phosphorylation of GFAT1 was attenuated by the introduction of the kinase-negative mutant of AMPK, and the phosphorylation was observed in the cells expressing the constitutively active mutant of AMPK even in the absence of 2-DG. Subsequent analysis revealed that the PAS antibody recognized GFAT1 phosphorylated at Ser243, which is conserved among different species. The assay of the GFAT enzymatic activity in the cell lysates indicated that the 2-DG-treatment inhibited the enzymatic activity, and Compound C-preincubation partially prevented the 2-DG-induced decrease of the activity. Furthermore, the mutant replacing Ser243 by alanine partially prevented the decrease of GFAT activity by 2-DG treatment. These results indicate that the phosphorylation of GFAT1 at Ser243 by AMPK has an important role in the regulation of the GFAT1 enzymatic activity.

AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylates Golgi-specific brefeldin A resistance factor 1 at Thr1337 to induce disassembly of Golgi apparatus

Sufficiency and depletion of nutrients regulate the cellular activities through the protein phosphorylation reaction; however, many protein substrates remain to be clarified. GBF1 (Golgi-specific brefeldin A resistance factor 1), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the ADP-ribosylation factor family associated with the Golgi apparatus, was isolated as a phosphoprotein from the glucose-depleted cells by using the phospho-Akt-substrate antibody, which recognizes the substrate proteins of several protein kinases. The phosphorylation of GBF1 was induced by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), which blocks glucose utilization and increases the intracellular AMP concentration, and by AICAR, an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator. This phosphorylation was observed in the cells expressing the constitutively active AMPK. The 2-DG-induced phosphorylation of GBF1 was suppressed by Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, and by the overexpression of the kinase-negative AMPK. Analysis using the deletion and point mutants identified Thr(1337) as the 2-DG-induced phosphorylation site in GBF1, which is phosphorylated by AMPK in vitro. ATP depletion is known to provoke the Golgi apparatus disassembly. Immunofluorescent microscopic analysis with the Golgi markers indicated that GBF1 associates with the fragmented Golgi apparatus in the cells treated with 2-DG and AICAR. The expression of the kinase-negative AMPK and the GBF1 mutant replacing Thr(1337) by Ala prevented the 2-DG-induced Golgi disassembly. These results indicate that GBF1 is a novel AMPK substrate and that the AMPK-mediated phosphorylation of GBF1 at Thr(1337) has a critical role, presumably by attenuating the function of GBF1, in the disassembly of the Golgi apparatus induced under stress conditions that lower the intracellular ATP concentration.

Epidermal growth factor receptor phosphorylates protein kinase C {delta} at Tyr332 to form a trimeric complex with p66Shc in the H2O2-stimulated cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) delta is phosphorylated at Tyr311 and Tyr332 and its catalytic activity is enhanced in the H(2)O(2)-stimulated cells, but the enzymes that recognize these tyrosine residues, especially Tyr332, have been remained to be clarified. The analysis of the endogenous proteins in COS-7 cells revealed that PKCdelta binds to p66Shc, an adaptor protein containing two phosphotyrosine-binding domains, in a manner dependent on its tyrosine phosphorylation upon H(2)O(2) stimulation. The studies using the mutated PKCdelta clarified that PKCdelta associates with p66Shc through the phosphorylated Tyr332 residue. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was detected in the anti-p66Shc immunoprecipitate prepared from the H(2)O(2)-stimulated cells, and this receptor-type tyrosine kinase phosphorylated PKCdelta at Tyr332 in vitro. PKCdelta was, however, not tyrosine phosphorylated in the EGF-stimulated cells, whereas H(2)O(2)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PKCdelta and its association with p66Shc were strongly suppressed by EGF receptor kinase inhibitors such as AG1478 and PD153035. These results indicate that EGF receptor phosphorylates PKCdelta at Tyr332 in the H(2)O(2)-stimulated but not in the growth-factor treated cells, and suggest that PKCdelta in the complex with p66Shc and EGF receptor may play a role in the stress-signalling pathway.

Role of protein kinase C in calcium-mediated signal transduction

Information from certain extracellular signals, including a group of peptide hormones and some neurotransmitters, appears to flow from the cell surface into the cell interior through two pathways, protein kinase C activation and Ca2+ mobilization, both of which become available by a single ligand-receptor interaction. Under normal conditions protein kinase C is activated by association with membrane phospholipids in the presence of 1,2-diacylglycerol. This diacylglycerol may arise in the membrane only transiently from the receptor-mediated hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids. By using a synthetic permeable diacylglycerol or tumour-promoting phorbol ester (as a substitute for active diacylglycerol) it has been shown that signal passage through this protein kinase pathway is an essential prerequisite, often synergistic to that via the Ca2+ pathway, for full physiological responses, such as transmitter release and exocytosis, to be obtained. Presumably, such a role of protein kinase C may be extrapolated to the activation of many other cellular processes, including membrane conductance, gene expression and some metabolic reactions, as well as to the modulation of other receptor-mediated signal pathways. Some morphological findings with monoclonal antibodies raised against protein kinase C are presented.

Identification of TBC7 having TBC domain as a novel binding protein to TSC1-TSC2 complex

TBC7, a TBC (Tre-2/Bub2/Cdc16) 1 domain protein, was identified as a novel binding protein to the TSC1-TSC2 tumor suppressor complex by peptide mass fingerprinting analysis of the proteins immunoprecipitated with FLAG-epitope tagged TSC1 and TSC2 from the transfected mammalian cells. The in vivo and in vitro association of TBC7 and the TSC1-TSC2 complex was confirmed by the co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down analysis, respectively, and TBC7 was revealed to bind to the C-terminal half region of TSC1, which is distinct from the binding site with TSC2. The immunofluorescence microscopy and subcellular fractionation showed that TBC7 co-localizes with the tumor suppressor complex in the endomembrane. Overexpression of TBC7 enhanced ubiquitination of TSC1 and increased phosphorylation of S6 protein by S6 kinase, that is located in the mTOR-signaling pathway. These results indicate TBC7 could take a part in the negative regulation of the tumor suppressor complex through facilitating the downregulation of TSC1.

Protein kinase C-betaII represses hepatocyte growth factor-induced invasion by preventing the association of adapter protein Gab1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in melanoma cells

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling pathway was examined in human normal melanocytes and three malignant melanoma cell lines. HGF-induced activation of c-Met, its receptor-tyrosine kinase, was observed in both melanocytes and melanoma cells, whereas phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), a downstream target of c-Met, was not activated in the melanocytes but enhanced in the melanoma cell lines. The electrophoretic mobility of Gab1, the scaffolding adapter protein that couples activated c-Met and PI3K, was slower in the melanocytes than that in the melanoma cells, and the mobility shifted to that of the melanoma cells after treatment with alkaline phosphatase, indicating that Gab1 is highly phosphorylated on serine and threonine in the melanocytes. Introduction of protein kinase C (PKC)-betaII into the melanoma cells, which is expressed in melanocytes but absent in melanoma cells, resulted in serine and threonine phosphorylation of Gab1 and also prevented tyrosine phosphorylation of Gab1 and its association with PI3K. Furthermore, the introduction of PKC-betaII suppressed HGF-induced activation of PI3K, and attenuated the in vitro invasion activity of the melanoma cells. These results indicate that the HGF signaling process from Gab1 to PI3K is negatively regulated by PKC-betaII, and its loss is critical for melanoma cells to gain invasive potential.

The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kDa (PRAS40) is a physiological substrate of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1

The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kilodaltons (PRAS40) was identified as a raptor-binding protein that is phosphorylated directly by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) but not mTORC2 in vitro, predominantly at PRAS40 (Ser(183)). The binding of S6K1 and 4E-BP1 to raptor requires a TOR signaling (TOS) motif, which contains an essential Phe followed by four alternating acidic and small hydrophobic amino acids. PRAS40 binding to raptor was severely inhibited by mutation of PRAS40 (Phe(129) to Ala). Immediately carboxyl-terminal to Phe(129) are two small hydrophobic amino acid followed by two acidic residues. PRAS40 binding to raptor was also abolished by mutation of the major mTORC1 phosphorylation site, Ser(183), to Asp. PRAS40 (Ser(183)) was phosphorylated in intact cells; this phosphorylation was inhibited by rapamycin, by 2-deoxyglucose, and by overexpression of the tuberous sclerosis complex heterodimer. PRAS40 (Ser(183)) phosphorylation was also inhibited reversibly by withdrawal of all or of only the branched chain amino acids; this inhibition was reversed by overexpression of the Rheb GTPase. Overexpressed PRAS40 suppressed the phosphorylation of S6K1 and 4E-BP1 at their rapamycin-sensitive phosphorylation sites, and reciprocally, overexpression of S6K1 or 4E-BP1 suppressed phosphorylation of PRAS40 (Ser(183)) and its binding to raptor. RNA interference-induced depletion of PRAS40 enhanced the amino acid-stimulated phosphorylation of both S6K1 and 4E-BP1. These results establish PRAS40 as a physiological mTORC1 substrate that contains a variant TOS motif. Moreover, they indicate that the ability of raptor to bind endogenous substrates is limiting for the activity of mTORC1 in vivo and is therefore a potential locus of regulation.

Biochemical assays for multiple activation states of protein kinase C

This protocol describes biochemical procedures to monitor the activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) family using PKCdelta as the representative. The PKC family is composed of ten isoforms divided into cPKC, nPKC and aPKC groups, and their catalytic activity is regulated by multiple mechanisms. For example, PKCdelta in the nPKC group is activated by diacylglycerol as a second messenger in the receptor-coupled manner, through tyrosine phosphorylation and protein complex formation in stress-stimulated cells, and by the caspase-catalyzed cleavage during apoptosis. The isoform is immunoprecipitated from cultured cells, the protein kinase activity is measured by in vitro kinase assay and the tyrosine phosphorylation and protein complex formation are characterized by immunoblot, whereas the generation of the catalytic fragment is detected by immunoblot in the cell extract. The combination of these procedures is useful to evaluate the activation states of the PKC family in cells. This protocol can be completed in 3-5 d.

Suppression of the mTOR-raptor signaling pathway by the inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 geldanamycin

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) was co-immunoprecipitated with raptor, the binding partner of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) from HEK293 cells. Hsp90 was detected in the anti-raptor antibody immunoprecipitates prepared from the cell extract by immunoblot analysis using the anti-Hsp90 antibody, and the association of these two proteins was confirmed by immunoprecipitation from the cells co-expressing Hsp90 and raptor as epitope-tagged molecules. Geldanamycin, a potent inhibitor of Hsp90, disrupted the in vivo binding of Hsp90 to raptor without affecting the association of raptor and mTOR, and suppressed the phosphorylation by mTOR of the downstream translational regulators p70 S6 kinase (S6K) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). The protein kinase activity of S6K as well as the phosphorylation of the substrate, 40S ribosomal protein S6, were lowered in the geldanamycin-treated cells. These results indicate that Hsp90 is involved in the regulation of protein translation by facilitating the phosphorylation reaction of 4E-BP1 and S6K catalyzed by the mTOR/raptor complex through the association with raptor, and that the mTOR signaling pathway is a novel target of geldanamycin.

PP2B-mediated dephosphorylation of c-Jun C terminus regulates phorbol ester-induced c-Jun/Sp1 interaction in A431 cells

The c-Jun/Sp1 interaction is essential for growth factor- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced genes expression, including human 12(S)-lipoxygenase, keratin 16, cytosolic phospholipase A2, p21(WAF1/CIP1), and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta4. Here, we examined the mechanism underlying the PMA-induced regulation on the interaction between c-Jun and Sp1. We found that treatment of cells with PMA induced a dephosphorylation at the C terminus of c-Jun at Ser-243 and a concomitant inhibition of PP2B by using PP2B small interfering RNA, resulting in reduction of PMA-induced gene expression as well as the c-Jun/Sp1 interaction. The c-Jun mutant TAM-67-3A, which contains three substitute alanines at Thr-231, Ser-243, and Ser-249 compared with TAM-67, binds more efficaciously with Sp1 and is about twice as efficacious as TAM-67 in inhibiting the PMA-induced activation of the 12(S)-lipoxygenase promoter. Importantly, PP2B not only dephosphorylates the c-Jun at Ser-243 but also interacts with c-Jun in PMA-treated cells. PMA stimulates the association of the PP2B/c-Jun/Sp1 complex with the promoter. These findings indicate the dephosphorylation of c-Jun C terminus is required for the c-Jun/Sp1 interaction and reveal that PP2B plays an important role in regulating c-Jun/Sp1 interaction in PMA-induced gene expression.

Different roles for the TOS and RAIP motifs of the translational regulator protein 4E-BP1 in the association with raptor and phosphorylation by mTOR in the regulation of cell size

The translational regulator protein 4E-BP1, that binds to eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF4E) to prevent the formation of the active translation complex, dissociates from eIF4E by phosphorylation through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the cells stimulated by amino acids. 4E-BP1 has been shown to associate with the scaffold protein raptor through its TOS and RAIP motifs to be recognized by mTOR. We revealed that the TOS motif mutant was phosphorylated by mTOR only at the priming sites of Thr37/46 but the RAIP motif mutant was phosphorylated not only at the priming sites but also at the subsequent site of Thr70 in vitro and in response to amino acid treatment in HEK293 cells. Analysis using the phosphorylation site mutants indicated that phosphorylation of the priming and subsequent sites of 4E-BP1 was required for dissociation from raptor as well as for the release of eIF4E. The expression of the 4E-BP1 mutants replacing the TOS motif and phosphorylation sites, that are poor substrates for mTOR and have no or little dissociation ability from raptor and eIF4E, respectively, significantly reduced the size of K562 cells. These results indicate that the the TOS motif has an essential function whereas the RAIP motif has an accessory role in the association with raptor and mTOR-mediated phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 to dissociate it from raptor and release eIF4E in response to amino acid stimulation leading to the control of cell size.

Nuclear Transportation of Diacylglycerol Kinase γ and Its Possible Function in the Nucleus

Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) convert diacylglycerol (DG) to phosphatidic acid, and both lipids are known to play important roles in lipid signal transduction. Thereby, DGKs are considered to be a one of the key players in lipid signaling, but its physiological function remains to be solved. In an effort to investigate one of nine subtypes, we found that DGKgamma came to be localized in the nucleus with time in all cell lines tested while seen only in the cytoplasm at the early stage of culture, indicating that DGKgamma is transported from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. The nuclear transportation of DGKgamma didn't necessarily need DGK activity, but its C1 domain was indispensable, suggesting that the C1 domain of DGKgamma acts as a nuclear transport signal. Furthermore, to address the function of DGKgamma in the nucleus, we produced stable cell lines of wild-type DGKgamma and mutants, including kinase negative, and investigated their cell size, growth rate, and cell cycle. The cells expressing the kinase-negative mutant of DGKgamma were larger in size and showed slower growth rate, and the S phase of the cells was extended. These findings implicate that nuclear DGKgamma regulates cell cycle.

The complex formation of PKCdelta through its C1- and C2-like regions in H2O2-stimulated cells

PKCdelta was revealed to make a homologous protein complex that shows a high protein kinase activity upon H(2)O(2) stimulation by expressing the enzymes having different epitope tags in COS-7 cells. The association of the endogenous PKCdelta in the cells was observed by sucrose density gradients. Analysis using the mutant replacing the tyrosine phosphorylation sites showed that PKCdelta is activated without tyrosine phosphorylation in the stimulated cells, and the time course of the activation was parallel with that of the complex formation. The binding sites were identified as the C1 and C2-like regions in the regulatory domain using a series of deletion mutants. The binding between the C1 and C2-like region fragments was induced by cell stimulation, whereas the association of the C1 region fragments by itself and that of the C2-like region fragments were observed even without stimulation. These results suggest that the protein complexes of PKCdelta through the association between the C1 and C2-like regions by different combinations are generated in the H(2)O(2)-treated cells, that may show an enhanced protein kinase activity.

A-kinase-anchoring protein 95 functions as a potential carrier for the nuclear translocation of active caspase 3 through an enzyme-substrate-like association

Caspase-mediated proteolysis is a critical and central element of the apoptotic process, and caspase 3, one of the effector caspases, is proposed to play essential roles in the nuclear morphological changes of apoptotic cells. Although many substrates for caspase 3 localize in the nucleus and caspase 3 translocates from the cytoplasm to the nuclei after activation in apoptotic cells, the molecular mechanisms of nuclear translocation of active caspase 3 have been unclear. Recently, we suggested that a substrate-like protein(s) served as a carrier to transport caspase 3 from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. In the present study, we identified A-kinase-anchoring protein 95 (AKAP95) as a caspase 3-binding protein. Small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of AKAP95 reduced apoptotic nuclear morphological changes, suggesting that AKAP95 is involved in the process of apoptotic nuclear morphological changes. The association of AKAP95 with active caspase 3 was analogous to an enzyme-substrate interaction. Furthermore, overexpression of AKAP95 with nuclear localization sequence mutations inhibited nuclear morphological changes in apoptotic cells. These results indicate that AKAP95 is a potential carrier protein for active caspase 3 from the cytoplasm into the nuclei in apoptotic cells.

Regulation of Intracellular Localization and Transcriptional Activity of FOXO4 by Protein Kinase B through Phosphorylation at the Motif Sites Conserved among the FOXO Family

FOXO4 transcription factor, also referred to AFX, contains three putative phosphorylation motif sites for protein kinase B (PKB), Thr32, Ser197, and Ser262, and it is proposed that phosphorylated FOXO4 stays in the cytosol and is imported to the nucleus through dephosphorylation to induce target gene expression. These three sites were revealed to be phosphorylated by PKB in vitro on phosphopeptide analysis, and in cultured cells on immunoblotting with phosphorylation-site specific antibodies. The mutants with either Thr32 or Ser197 replaced by Ala were found mostly in the nuclear but not the cytosol fraction, and treatment with platelet-derived growth factor did not change their distributions in the cells. FOXO4 proteins mutated at these two sites showed 3- to 5-fold higher transcriptional activity than that of the wild type. In contrast, the replacement of Ser262 did not alter the localization or transcriptional activity. These results indicate that phosphorylation at Thr32 and Ser197 is indispensable, whereas that at Ser262 is not critical, for regulation of the nuclear localization and transcriptional activity of FOXO4. These properties are similar to those of FOXO1 and FOXO3, and thus FOXO transcription factors seem to be regulated through a common mechanism by PKB in the growth factor signaling pathway.

Protein kinase C in melanoma

Protein kinase C (PKC) is activated by diacylglycerol generated by receptor-mediated hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids to mediate signals for cell growth and plays as a target of tumor-promoting phorbol esters in malignant transformation. PKC is a family of enzymes and their expression profiles have been examined in the normal melanocytes and melanoma cells, and studies have been carried out on the functions of PKC isoforms in proliferation, transformation, and metastasis of melanoma cells. Here, we summarize current knowledge of the expression and possible roles of the PKC family in melanoma in comparison with those of normal melanocytes.

Nuclear translocation of caspase-3 is dependent on its proteolytic activation and recognition of a substrate-like protein(s)

Caspase-3 is thought to play an important role(s) in the nuclear morphological changes that occur in apoptotic cells and many nuclear substrates for caspase-3 have been identified despite the cytoplasmic localization of procaspase-3. Therefore, whether activated caspase-3 is localized in the nuclei and how active caspase-3 has access to its nuclear targets are important and unresolved questions. Here we confirmed nuclear localizations for both caspase-3-p17 and caspase-3-p12 subunits of active caspase in apoptotic cells using subcellular fractionation analysis. We also prepared polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for active caspase-3 to define the subcellular localization of active caspase-3. Immunocytochemical observations using anti-active caspase-3 antibodies showed nuclear accumulation of active caspase-3 during apoptosis. In addition, caspase-3, but not caspase-7, translocated from the cytoplasm into the nucleus after induction of apoptosis. Mutations at the cleavage site between the p17 and p12 subunits and the substrate recognition site for the P3 amino acid of the DXXD substrate cleavage motif inhibited nuclear translocation of caspase-3, indicating that nuclear transport of active caspase-3 required proteolytic activation and substrate recognition. These results suggest that active caspase-3 is translocated in association with a substrate-like protein(s) from the cytoplasm into the nucleus during progression through apoptosis.

Distinct activation mechanisms of protein kinase B by growth-factor stimulation and heat-shock treatment

Protein kinase B (PKB) alpha, having the pleckstrin homology (PH) and catalytic domains in its amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions, respectively, is activated in the signaling pathway of growth factors as a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and becomes an active form in heat-shocked cells in a manner independent of the lipid kinase. Therefore, the activation mechanisms of PKBalpha were compared in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated and heat-shocked cells by monitoring the protein kinase activity and phosphorylation of the mutant molecules expressed in COS-7 cells. In heat-shocked cells, PKBalpha was activated to a certain level without phosphorylation on Thr-308 in the activation loop and on Thr-450 and Ser-473 in the carboxyl-terminal end region, which is critical for growth-factor-induced activation of PKBalpha. Metabolic labeling with (32)P-orthophosphate in the transfected cells revealed that there is no major phosphorylation site other than the three residues in PKBalpha. PKBalpha activated by heat shock was more stable than the enzyme stimulated by PDGF in the cells, and PKBalpha recovered from heat-shocked cells was resistant to the protein phosphatase treatment, whereas the enzyme obtained from the growth-factor-stimulated cells was inactivated by dephosphorylation. Heat shock also enhanced the association of the PH-domain fragment to the full-length PKBalpha in the transfected cells. On the other hand, the PH-domain fragment of PKBalpha, which moves from the cytosol to the plasma membrane upon PDGF stimulation by the interaction with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase products, did not translocate but stayed in the cytosol in heat-shocked NIH 3T3 cells. Furthermore, PKBalpha was associated with the nuclear region in heat-shocked cells, which is not observed in growth-factor-stimulated cells. These results indicate that heat shock induces the conformational change of PKBalpha that accompanies the protein complex formation and perinuculear/nuclear localization of the enzyme, to generate an active form by a mechanism distinct from that in the growth-factor-signaling pathway.

Ceramide-induced Apoptosis by Translocation, Phosphorylation, and Activation of Protein Kinase Cδ in the Golgi Complex

Protein kinase C (PKC), a Ca(2+)/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, is known as a key enzyme in various cellular responses, including apoptosis. However, the functional role of PKC in apoptosis has not been clarified. In this study, we focused on the involvement of PKCdelta in ceramide-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells and examined the importance of spatiotemporal activation of the specific PKC subtype in apoptotic events. Ceramide-induced apoptosis was inhibited by the PKCdelta-specific inhibitor rottlerin and also was blocked by knockdown of endogenous PKCdelta expression using small interfering RNA. Ceramide induced the translocation of PKCdelta to the Golgi complex and the concomitant activation of PKCdelta via phosphorylation of Tyr(311) and Tyr(332) in the hinge region of the enzyme. Unphosphorylatable PKCdelta (mutants Y311F and Y332F) could translocate to the Golgi complex in response to ceramide, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation is not necessary for translocation. However, ceramide failed to activate PKCdelta lacking the C1B domain, which did not translocate to the Golgi complex, but could be activated by tyrosine phosphorylation. These findings suggest that ceramide translocates PKCdelta to the Golgi complex and that PKCdelta is activated by tyrosine phosphorylation in the compartment. Furthermore, we utilized species-specific knockdown of PKCdelta by small interfering RNA to study the significance of phosphorylation of Tyr(311) and Tyr(332) in PKCdelta for ceramide-induced apoptosis and found that phosphorylation of Tyr(311) and Tyr(332) is indispensable for ceramide-induced apoptosis. We demonstrate here that the targeting mechanism of PKCdelta, dual regulation of both its activation and translocation to the Golgi complex, is critical for the ceramide-induced apoptotic event.