Endogenous Protein Kinase Inhibitor Research Articles

An NMR portrait of functional and dysfunctional allosteric cooperativity in cAMP-dependent protein kinase A.

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) is the archetypical eukaryotic kinase. The catalytic subunit (PKA-C) structure is highly conserved among the AGC-kinase family. PKA-C is a bilobal enzyme with a dynamic N-lobe, harbouring the Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) binding site and a more rigid helical C-lobe. The substrate-binding groove resides at the interface of the two lobes. A distinct feature of PKA-C is the positive binding cooperativity between nucleotide and substrate. Several PKA-C mutations lead to the development of adenocarcinomas, myxomas, and other rare forms of liver tumours. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy shows that these mutations disrupt the allosteric communication between the two lobes, causing a drastic decrease in binding cooperativity. The loss of cooperativity correlates with changes in substrate fidelity and reduced kinase affinity for the endogenous protein kinase inhibitor (PKI). The similarity between PKI and the inhibitory sequence of the kinase regulatory subunits suggests that the overall mechanism of regulation of the kinase may be disrupted. We surmise that a reduced or obliterated cooperativity may constitute a common trait for both orthosteric and allosteric mutations of PKA-C that may lead to dysregulation and disease.

The Kinase Specificity of Protein Kinase Inhibitor Peptide.

G-protein-coupled-receptor (GPCR) signaling is exquisitely controlled to achieve spatial and temporal specificity. The endogenous protein kinase inhibitor peptide (PKI) confines the spatial and temporal spread of the activity of protein kinase A (PKA), which integrates inputs from three major types of GPCRs. Despite its wide usage as a pharmaceutical inhibitor of PKA, it was unclear whether PKI only inhibits PKA activity. Here, the effects of PKI on 55 mouse kinases were tested in in vitro assays. We found that in addition to inhibiting PKA activity, both PKI (6–22) amide and full-length PKIα facilitated the activation of multiple isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC), albeit at much higher concentrations than necessary to inhibit PKA. Thus, our results call for appropriate interpretation of experimental results using PKI as a pharmaceutical agent. Furthermore, our study lays the foundation to explore the potential functions of PKI in regulating PKC activity and in coordinating PKC and PKA activities.

A Cushing Syndrome Mutation of Protein Kinase A C‐subunit Disrupts the Internal Allosteric Network Affecting Regulation and Substrate Specificity

Genetic alterations of the PRKACA gene coding for the catalytic subunit of the CAMP‐dependent protein kinase A (PKA‐C) are linked to cortisol‐secreting adrenocortical adenomas resulting in the onset of Cushing's syndrome. Among those, a single mutation (L205R) located in the P+1 loop of the kinase's active site has been found in 30–60% of patients. It has been proposed that L205R hinders the interactions of PKA‐C with its regulatory (R) subunit generating a constitutively active kinase causing hyperphosphorylation of downstream substrates. However, the x‐ray structures of PKA‐C wild‐type and L205R are essentially identical and the aberrant mechanism of function of the mutant remains unknown. To gain mechanistic insights into the multifarious effects of this single mutation, we carried out solution NMR spectroscopy in concert with binding thermodynamics as well as molecular dynamics simulations. We found that this single mutation, in addition to changing the protein‐protein interface, disrupts the internal allosteric network of the kinase and the network of interactions between the small and large lobes. The ternary complex of L205R with nucleotide and pseudo‐substrate displays significantly altered allosteric interactions, leading to the disruption of the interactions with R‐subunit, the binding with endogenous protein kinase inhibitor (PKI), and modifying substrate specificity. Our results show that this single mutation has global effects on the structure of the kinase that leads to the dysregulation and aberrant phosphorylation profiles.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, GM100310 (G.V.) and S10 OD021536 (G.V.)., and the CRC/Trasregio 166 (Project C1 to DC) as well as the IZKF Würzburg (grant B‐281 to DC). KB was partially supported by a fellowship through a grant of the German Excellence Initiative to the Graduate School of Life Sciences, University of Würzburg.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Ascl1-induced neuronal differentiation of P19 cells requires expression of a specific inhibitor protein of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) plays a critical role in nervous system development by modulating sonic hedgehog and bone morphogenetic protein signaling. In the current studies, P19 embryonic carcinoma cells were neuronally differentiated by expression of the proneural basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Ascl1. After expression of Ascl1, but prior to expression of neuronal markers such as microtubule associated protein 2 and neuronal β-tubulin, P19 cells demonstrated a large, transient increase in both mRNA and protein for the endogenous protein kinase inhibitor (PKI)β. PKIβ-targeted shRNA constructs both reduced the levels of PKIβ expression and blocked the neuronal differentiation of P19 cells. This inhibition of differentiation was rescued by transfection of a shRNA-resistant expression vector for the PKIβ protein, and this rescue required the PKA-specific inhibitory sequence of the PKIβ protein. PKIβ played a very specific role in the Ascl1-mediated differentiation process as other PKI isoforms were unable to rescue the deficit conferred by shRNA-mediated knockdown of PKIβ. Our results define a novel requirement for PKIβ and its inhibition of PKA during neuronal differentiation of P19 cells.

Endogenous Protein Kinase Inhibitor γ Terminates Immediate-early Gene Expression Induced by cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase (PKA) Signaling: TERMINATION DEPENDS ON PKA INACTIVATION RATHER THAN PKA EXPORT FROM THE NUCLEUS

Expression of many genes induced by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling is rapidly terminated. Although many mechanisms contribute to regulation of PKA signaling, members of the endogenous protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) family may be particularly important for terminating nuclear PKA activity and gene expression. Here we used both siRNA and antisense knockdown strategies to examine PKA signaling activated by parathyroid hormone or the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol. We found that endogenous PKIgamma is required for efficient termination of nuclear PKA activity, transcription factor phosphorylation, and immediate-early genes. Moreover, PKIgamma is required for export of PKA catalytic subunits from the nucleus back to the cytoplasm following activation of PKA signaling because this is also inhibited by PKIgamma knockdown. Leptomycin B blocks PKA nuclear export but has little or no effect on nuclear PKA activity or immediate-early gene expression. Thus, inactivation of PKA activity in the nucleus is sufficient to terminate signaling, and nuclear export is not required. These results were the first in any cell type showing that endogenous levels of PKI regulate PKA signaling.

PKA Inhibitors in Development

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) functions in cell type determination in the embryos of Drosophila , zebrafish, and chicks. The α isoform of protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) inhibits the catalytic activity of PKA; however, the endogenous function of PKIα has not been well elucidated. Now, Kawakami and Nakanishi have uncovered a role for PKIα in cell patterning in the developing chick. During the early stages of development, PKIα expression was higher on the right side of Hensen's node in chick embryos; however, symmetric expression of PKIα was observed later in development. Treatment of chick embryos with antisense oligonucleotides to PKIα disrupted the placement of the developing heart and also caused perturbations in the expression of Nodal, and Pitx2, whereas asymmetric expression of Sonic Hedgehog remained normal. PKIα expression was stimulated in chick embryos ectopically treated with activin, suggesting that PKIα may act in an activin-dependent pathway to regulate asymmetric patterning. M. Kawakami, N. Nakanishi, The role of an endogenous PKA inhibitor, PKIα, in organizing left-right axis formation. Development 128 , 2509-2515 (2001). [Online Journal]

Involvement of annexin V in the antiproliferative effect of GnRH agonist on cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells.

The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of annexin V, an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), with regard to the antiproliferative effect of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (buserelin) on cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells. Uterine leiomyoma tissue was collected from the surgical specimens of patients and cells from 37 specimens (15 cases) were cultured. For up to 96 h after the addition of buserelin to the cultured cells, a time-dependent antiproliferative effect was noted in the group to which 10(-5) mol/l buserelin was added. Both the intracellular concentration of annexin V and the expression of annexin V mRNA increased time-dependently with the addition of buserelin. The intracellular concentration of annexin V increased with the addition of PKC activator (12-O:-tetradecanoylphorbor-13-acetate; TPA) much as it did with the addition of buserelin, and the rise in the concentration caused by the addition of buserelin was completely attenuated by pretreatment with PKC inhibitor (calphostin C). Our findings suggest that buserelin inhibits cell proliferation in cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells accompanied with an increase in the intracellular concentration of annexin V, mediated, at least in part, by the activation of PKC.

Lacrimal gland PKC isoforms are differentially involved in agonist-induced protein secretion.

In the present study, we have synthesized and N-myristoylated peptides derived from the pseudosubstrate sequences of protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha, -delta, and -epsilon [Myr-PKC-alpha-(15-28), Myr-PKC-delta-(142-153), and Myr-PKC-epsilon-(149-164)], three isoforms present in rat lacrimal gland, and a peptide derived from the sequence of the endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase A [Myr-PKI-(17-25)]. Lacrimal gland acini were preincubated for 60 min with the myristoylated peptides (10(-10) to 3 x 10(-7) M), then protein secretion was stimulated with a phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (10(-6) M); vasoactive intestinal peptide (10(-8) M); a cholinergic agonist, carbachol (10(-5) M); or an alpha 1-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine (10(-4) M), for 20 min. In intact lacrimal gland acini, Myr-PKC-alpha-(15-28) inhibited phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-induced protein secretion. This effect was not reproduced by the acetylated peptide or by the myristoylated PKI, which inhibited vasoactive intestinal peptide-induced protein secretion, a response mediated by protein kinase A. Carbachol-induced protein secretion was inhibited by all three peptides. In contrast, phenylephrine-induced protein secretion was inhibited only by Myr-PKC-epsilon-(149-164), whereas Myr-PKC-alpha-(15-28) and Myr-PKC-delta-(142-153) had a stimulatory effect. None of these myristoylated peptides affected the calcium increase evoked by cholinergic or alpha 1-adrenergic agonists. We concluded that phorbol ester- and receptor-induced protein secretion involve different PKC isoforms in lacrimal gland.

Rapamycin Inhibits Protein Kinase C Activity and Stimulates Na+ Transport in A6 Cells

Rapamycin and FK506 have unique cellular effects despite the fact that they bind to the same set of immunophilins, the FK506 binding proteins (FKBP). We have previously reported that rapamycin (RAP) stimulates sodium transport in A6 cells. FK506 did not stimulate sodium transport but did inhibit the stimulation seen in RAP-treated cells. Since FKBP12 has been shown to have sequence homology with an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) and PKC inhibition has been shown to increase Na+ channel activity in A6 cells, studies to determine the effect of RAP on PKC activity and its relationship to sodium transport were performed. Here we report that RAP stimulates sodium transport, and the effect is not additive to that seen with a cell-permeant inhibitor of PKCalpha and -beta subtypes. RAP significantly inhibits endogenous PKC activity in A6 cells both in membrane and cytosolic preparations. There is a strong correlation between the degree of inhibition of PKC activity and the stimulation of sodium transport by RAP. RAP has no effect on Na+/K+-ATPase activity over this time course. Purified recombinant FKBP12 with or without FK506 has no effect on PKC activity when incubated with a rat brain-derived PKC preparation of known activity. By contrast, RAP plus FKBP12 significantly inhibits PKC activity. RAP plus FKBP12 inhibits the PKCalpha and not the -beta subtype. The results demonstrate inhibition of PKC activity by RAP and not FK506 through its binding to FKBP12. The inhibition of PKC activity by RAP stimulates sodium transport in A6. The results therefore imply the existence of an endogenous RAP-like ligand which when bound to FKBP12 could regulate Na+ channel activity through this mechanism.

Production of an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C by embryonic myoblasts undergoing differentiation

The current studies were undertaken to determine whether embryonic myoblasts or myogenic satellite cells undergoing differentiation and fusion contained endogenous modulators of protein kinase c(PKC). Clonal-derived turkey embryonic myoblast and satellite cell cultures were harvested at confluency and at approximately 40% fusion (embryonic myoblasts) or 75% fusion (satellite cells). PKC activity in cystosolic preparations of the cells and myotubes was undetectable. Cytosolic extracts (0.065 mg protein) of confluent and fused satellite cell cultures and confluent embryonic myoblasts had no effect on control PKC activity (control: 14.9 pmol/min, control + cytosols: 15.2, 13.9 and 13.5 pmol/min, respectively). Cytosolic preparations (0.065 mg protein) of embryonic myoblast-derived myotubes inhibited control PKC activity (4.0 pmol/min). In a time-course study, PKC-inhibitory activity was present in embryonic myoblasts at the earliest time point examined (30% fusion). Additionally, protein phosphatase activity correlated with PKC inhibitory activity. Thus, PKC-inhibitory activity appears as embryonic myoblasts begin to undergo fusion to form myotubes, but is not present in differentiating satellite cells.

Suppression of Calphobindin I (CPB I) Production in Carcinoma of Uterine Cervix and Endometrium

Calphobindin I (CPB I) is a member of the family of Ca 2+-dependent phospholipid binding proteins collectively termed as annexins. CPB I (Annexin V) has recently been shown to be an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C, a key enzyme in the cellular signal transduction and its inhibition by CPB I is presumed to be related ultimately to carcinogenesis. We therefore examined the level of production of CPB I in uterine cancer cells. Immunohistochemical analysis, northern blot, and in situ hybridization showed that the production of CPB I was markedly suppressed at the level of transcription in both cervical and endometrial carcinoma cells when compared to their normal counterparts. Decrease in production of CPB I may lead to dysregulated activation of protein kinase C and, accordingly, may be involved in a disorder of cell differentiation, proliferation, and carcinogenesis.

Differential expression of mRNAs for protein kinase inhibitor isoforms in mouse brain.

Many neurotransmitters are known to regulate neuronal cell function by means of activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and phosphorylation of neuronal substrate proteins, including transcription factors and ion channels. Here, we have characterized the gene expression of two isoforms of a protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) specific for PKA in mouse brain by RNase protection and in situ hybridization histochemistry. The studies demonstrate that the PKI alpha isoform is abundant in many regions of the adult mouse brain but particularly in cerebellum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cortex. In contrast, PKI beta is present at much lower levels in most brain regions but is found in significant amounts in the cerebellum, as well as in distinct nuclei within the pons, medulla, and hypothalamus. These results are consistent with a regulatory role of endogenous PKI in PKA-mediated signal transduction in brain and suggest differential functions for the two isoforms of PKI within the central nervous system.

The Expression and Intracellular Distribution of the Heat-stable Protein Kinase Inhibitor Is Cell Cycle Regulated

The heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) is a potent and specific inhibitor of the catalytic (C) subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. We report the isolation of a polyclonal antibody raised to purified recombinant PKI alpha. Using this antibody, the intracellular distribution of endogenous PKI alpha was assessed by immunostaining. The PKI alpha expression and intracellular distribution varied as a function of cell cycle progression. PKI alpha expression appeared low in serum-starved cells and in cells in G1 and increased as cells progressed through S phase. Its distribution became increasingly nuclear as cells entered G2/M. Nuclear levels of PKI alpha remained high through cell division and decreased again as cells reentered G1. The cell cycle regulated expression and nuclear distribution suggests a specific role for PKI alpha in the nucleus during the G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Consistent with this, microinjection of PKI alpha antibody into serum-starved cells prevented their subsequent cell cycle progression. Similarly, overexpression of C subunit in cells arrested at the G1/S boundary prevented their subsequent division. Together these results support the idea that PKI alpha plays an important role in the inhibition of nuclear C subunit activity required for cell cycle progression, although a determination of the relative amounts of endogenous nuclear PKI and C-subunit will be required to substantiate this hypothesis.

Evidence for two additional isoforms of the endogenous protein kinase inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in mouse

Oligonucleotides derived from the previously published rat testicular protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) sequence (Van Patten, S. M., Ng, D. C., Th'ng, J. P. H., Angelos, K. L., Smith, A. J., and Walsh, D. A. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 88, 5383-5387) were used to isolate a DNA fragment coding for a mouse homologue of the rat testicular PKI. This DNA fragment was then used to screen a mouse brain cDNA library, and two cDNA clones related to the testicular PKI (PKI beta) were isolated. Sequencing and comparison showed that the two cDNAs differ only in the presence of a 105-base pair insert, which results in an amino-terminal extension of the predicted PKI beta 2 protein by 20 residues relative to the PKI beta 1 protein. By using the appropriate primers, PCR was used to amplify specific regions of both of these clones from mouse brain cDNA. When both clones were expressed in vitro, the mRNA for PKI beta 2 produced a protein product that was larger and much more effectively translated, suggesting a functional role for the inserted sequence. Both isoforms were transiently expressed in COS-1 cells to evaluate their ability to inhibit the catalytic subunit of PKA in vivo. Extracts from cells expressing the PKI beta 2 isoform showed greater inhibition of catalytic subunit kinase activity than extracts expressing the PKI beta 1 isoform. Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from various mouse tissues showed the presence of transcripts of 1.8 kilobases related to these cDNAs. Analysis of brain RNA from several species indicated that expression of these PKI mRNAs is evolutionarily conserved. Together with previous studies, these results indicate the presence of at least three PKI proteins in mouse. The skeletal muscle isoform has been designated PKI alpha, while the testicular isoform is PKI beta. We propose to designate the two testicular isoforms described here PKI beta 1 and PKI beta 2.

Calphobindins (placental annexins) inhibit protein kinase C.

Calphobindins (CPBs, placental annexins) are intracellular Ca(2+)- and phospholipid-dependent proteins like protein kinase C [EC 2.7.1.37]. We investigated the inhibitory effects of calphobindins on the protein kinase C activity in vitro. CPB I inhibited the protein kinase C activity for both histone phosphorylation and lipocortin phosphorylation, but CPB II and CPB III inhibited only the protein kinase C activity for histone phosphorylation. In the case of histone phosphorylation, all CPBs inhibited the protein kinase C activity in a concentration-dependent manner, and the IC50 (concentration required for 50% inhibition) value of CPB I was 70 nM. The inhibition of protein kinase C by CPB I was Ca(2+)-dependent, and did not disappear upon increasing the concentration of phosphatidyl-serine. Kinetic analysis by double-reciprocal plots indicated that CPB I interacted not only with phosphatidylserine but also with protein kinase C. Although CPB I partially interacts with phospholipid, it is conceivable that the inhibitory action of CPB I on protein kinase C results from direct interaction of CPB I with protein kinase C. Since CPBs are mainly present under the plasma membrane, it is presumed that CPB I is an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C, and according to intracellular circumstances, CPB II and CPB III may also be endogenous inhibitors.

CDNA cloning and chromosome assignment of the gene for human brain 14–3–3 protein η chain

We present the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone of mRNA encoding human 14-3-3 protein, a protein kinase-dependent activator of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases and an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C. The 1,730-nucleotide sequence of the cloned cDNA contains 191 bp of a 5'-noncoding region, the complete 738 bp of coding region, and 801 bp of a 3'-noncoding region containing three canonical polyadenylation signals. The 14-3-3 protein eta chain cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 246 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight 28,196. The predicted amino acid sequence of human 14-3-3 protein eta was highly homologous to that of previously reported bovine and rat 14-3-3 proteins with only two amino acid differences. The sequence carries structural features as putative regions responsible for activation of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases and for inhibition of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C. Northern blot analysis demonstrated widespread expression of the 14-3-3 protein eta chain in cultured cell lines derived from various human tumors. These findings suggest the conservative functions of the 14-3-3 protein among species. Spot blot hybridization analysis with flow-sorted chromosomes showed that the human 14-3-3 protein eta chain gene is assigned to chromosome 22.

Calphobindin I (annexin V) inhibits protein kinase C.

We investigated the inhibitory effect of calphobindin I (CPB I) on protein kinase C activity. CPB I inhibited protein kinase C activity in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 70 nM. The inhibition of protein kinase C by CPB I was Ca(2+)-dependent, and was partially overcome by increasing the concentration of phosphatidylserine. Since CPB I is widely distributed in various organs and cells, it is presumed that CPB I is an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C.

FKBP-12 is not an inhibitor of protein kinase C.

It was recently noted that the amino acid sequence of FK506 binding protein (FKBP-12) is nearly identical to that of an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C, PKCI-2. To follow up on this observation, we have tested the hypothesis that FKBP-12 is an inhibitor of PKC. The kinase activity of rat brain protein kinase C (PKC) was not inhibited by the presence of up to 700 micrograms recombinant human FKBP-12 per ml, in either the presence or absence of FK506. FKBP-12 also did not affect PMA-induced phosphorylation of an endogenous PKC substrate, an 80 kDa protein, in permeabilized cells. To test whether FKBP-12 could account for endogenous PKC inhibitory activity in cells, Jurkat cell lysate was chromatographed on an anion exchange column. A peak of PKC inhibitory activity was eluted at approximately 200 mM NaCl. As shown by both Western blots and FK506 binding activity, FKBP-12 was eluted only in the flow-through and wash fractions. These results demonstrate that FKBP-12 is clearly distinct from endogenous PKC inhibitory activity.

A protein kinase C inhibitory activity is present in the human T lymphoblast cell line Jurkat

The human lymphoblast cell line Jurkat is widely used as a model system for studying signal transduction pathways during lymphocyte activation. We report the presence of a potent endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) in the cytosolic fraction of Jurkat cells. This inhibitor is not diffusible and is thermolabile; it is assumed to be a protein. It was separated from PKC by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The inhibitory activity was partially reversed by increasing the concentration of the PKC substrate; increasing that of PKC activators (calcium and phospholipids) was without effect. PKC activity was inhibited by more than 90% in the crude cytosolic fraction but the inhibition could be completely reversed by diluting the cell extract. This inhibitory activity could not be detected in the cytosol from normal lymphocytes or from lymphoblasts from leukemic patients.

An endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C in the pseudopregnant rat ovary

Removal of contaminating proteins from rat ovarian cytosol by DEAE chromatography results in a 358% recovery of protein kinase C activity. The data suggest that rat ovaries contain an endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C whose activity dominates that of protein kinase C in the cytosol. The inhibitor is specific for protein kinase C and does not activate the enzyme through proteolysis. This endogenous inhibitor may be important in the hormonal control of protein kinase C in the rat ovary, and may become an important tool in the study of the role of protein kinase C in other cell functions.