PEST Sequence Research Articles

The Acidic Residues of the IκBα PEST Sequence are Responsible for “Stripping” NFκB from DNA

Nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) transcription factors are responsible for the regulation of more than 150 target genes, their expression is induced by many classes of stimuli, and NFκBs play essential roles in the healthy regulation of cellular development and proliferation in inflammatory and immune responses. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and AIDS can be attributed to the aberrant regulation of NFκB. The transcriptional activity of NFκB is controlled by its inhibitors, the IκBs. IκBα, in particular, dynamically responds to extracellular stimuli releasing a burst of NFκB that enters the nucleus and activates hundreds of target genes. The transcriptional activation is short-lived, and our lab has been investigating the mechanism of post-induction repression. We previously showed that IκBα actively dissociates or strips NFκB from DNA. Analysis of the crystal structures of NFκB (RelA/p50) with DNA and with IκBα shows that the IκBα PEST sequence, which is rich in glutamate and aspartate residues, forms similar electrostatic contacts to NFκB as the DNA. Given this, we hypothesized that the IκBα PEST sequence electrostatically repels DNA from NFκB during the stripping process. Here we present fascinating results that show that the individual and collective, conservative mutation of these acidic residues to their amide counterparts does not affect the binding affinities of these mutants to NFκB; however, the mutant in which all five acidic residues are neutralized is incapable of stripping NFκB from DNA and instead forms a stable IκBα-NFκB-DNA ternary complex.

Regulation of mIκBNS stability through PEST-mediated degradation by proteasome

Negative regulatory proteins in a cytokine signaling play a critical role in restricting unwanted excess activation of the signaling pathway. At the same time, negative regulatory proteins need to be removed rapidly from cells to respond properly to the next incoming signal. A nuclear IκB protein called IκBNS is known to inhibit a subset of NF-κB target genes upon its expression by NF-κB activation. Here, we show a mechanism to control the stability of mIκBNS which might be important for cells to prepare the next round signaling. We found that mIκBNS is a short-lived protein of which the stability is controlled by proteasome, independent of ubiquitylation process. We identified that the N-terminal PEST sequence in mIκBNS was critical for the regulation of stability.

Cloning and expression analysis of the NFκB inhibitor IκBα of ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis)

The NFκB inhibitor (IκBα) is an integral part of NFκB/IκB signaling pathways, which plays roles in a variety of immune responses, such as bacterial infection resistance. By interacting with nuclear transcription factor NFκB, IκBα controls a variety of biological immune gene expressions. In this study, full-length cDNA (1341 bp) of the NFκB inhibitor IκBα (PaIκBα, GenBank Accession No. JN801027) of Plecoglossus altivelis was obtained by RACE and PCR, and included a 5' untranslated region (UTR) (64 bp), a 3' untranslated region (UTR) (341 bp) and an open reading frame (ORF) (936 bp) encoding a polypeptide of 311 amino acids. PaIκBα had high homology with other IκBαs, containing a conserved ankyrin repeat domain, which was required for interacting with NFκB, a PEST sequence in the C-terminus and a signal responsive domain in the N-terminus. The deduced amino acid sequence of PaIκBα shared 95% homology with Osmerus mordax, and 76%, 75%, 70%, and 68% homology with Salmo salar, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Nile tilapia, and Siniperca chuatsi, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that IκBα of ayu and Osmerus mordax, Salmo salar, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Nile tilapia, and Siniperca chuatsi were in the same phylogenetic tree. RT-PCR analysis showed that PaIκBα mRNA expression was highest in the liver, kidney, intestine, and gills, then followed by the spleen, brain and muscle, and was lowly expressed in the heart. Likewise, after Aeromonas hydrophila infection, the mRNA level of ayu PaIκBα in the liver was also up-regulated.

Control of Cellular Bcl-xL Levels by Deamidation-Regulated Degradation

Author SummaryCellular levels of the pro-survival protein Bcl-xL are an important determinant of cellular susceptibility to many death stimuli, including most cancer therapies. We previously showed that human Bcl-xL undergoes deamidation – the conversion of two neutral asparaginyl side-chains into negatively charged aspartyl side-chains – a process that occurs spontaneously but is accelerated by the treatment of tumor cells with DNA-damaging agents. Here, we show that deamidation activates a hitherto undetected signal sequence within Bcl-xL that targets it for degradation by a pathway involving the proteolytic enzyme calpain. This increased degradation of Bcl-xL, and the consequent enhanced cellular susceptibility to programmed cell death, may contribute to the ability of DNA-damaging agents to kill tumors. We also demonstrate that deamidation of Bcl-xL has likely been conserved from the simplest metazoans to humans, underscoring the importance of deamidation in the regulation of Bcl-xL.

Akt regulates L-type Ca2+ channel activity by modulating Cavα1 protein stability

The insulin IGF-1-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway has been suggested to improve cardiac inotropism and increase Ca(2+) handling through the effects of the protein kinase Akt. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we provide evidence for an unanticipated regulatory function of Akt controlling L-type Ca(2+) channel (LTCC) protein density. The pore-forming channel subunit Ca(v)alpha1 contains highly conserved PEST sequences (signals for rapid protein degradation), and in-frame deletion of these PEST sequences results in increased Ca(v)alpha1 protein levels. Our findings show that Akt-dependent phosphorylation of Ca(v)beta2, the LTCC chaperone for Ca(v)alpha1, antagonizes Ca(v)alpha1 protein degradation by preventing Ca(v)alpha1 PEST sequence recognition, leading to increased LTCC density and the consequent modulation of Ca(2+) channel function. This novel mechanism by which Akt modulates LTCC stability could profoundly influence cardiac myocyte Ca(2+) entry, Ca(2+) handling, and contractility.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of IκB from Haliotis discus discus

Innate immune system relies on the recognition of pathogen associated molecular patterns present in the microbes by the pattern recognition receptors leading to the activation of signaling cascade and subsequent synthesis of cytokines. NF-κB is a major stimulus activated transcription factor, which regulates the expression of a diverse array of genes. IκB is an inhibitor of NF-κB, retaining NF-κB in an inactive state in the cytoplasm. In this study, we have reported the characterization of first abalone IκB (HdIκB). The cDNA possessed an ORF of 1200 bp coding for a protein of 400 amino acids with molecular mass of 45 kDa and isoelectric point of 4.7. HdIκB protein possessed a conserved phosphorylation site 58DSGIFS63 in the N-terminal region, six ankyrin repeats, and a PEST sequence in the C-terminal region. A casein kinase II phosphorylation site could also be observed in the PEST sequence. Constitutive expression of HdIκB revealed its physiological significance since NF-κB is known to be activated by various stimuli. Elevated expression of HdIκB transcripts could be observed in abalones challenged with various mitogens and live microbes. This novel characterization of abalone IκB would further be a positive approach in the affirmation of evolutionary conservation and significance of this protein as a repressor/inhibitor of a pleiotropic transcription factor like NF-κB.

Long-Range Effects and Functional Consequences of Stabilizing Mutations in the Ankyrin Repeat Domain of IκBα

Protein domains containing three or more ankyrin repeats (ARs) are ubiquitous in all phyla. Sequence alignments previously identified certain conserved positions, which have been shown to stabilize AR domains and promote their folding. Consensus mutations [Y254L/T257A (YLTA) and C186P/A220P (CPAP)] stabilize the naturally occuring AR domain of human IκBα to denaturation; however, only the YLTA mutations stabilize the protein to proteasomal degradation. We present results from NMR experiments designed to probe the roles of these consensus mutations in IκBα. According to residual dipolar coupling analysis, the gross structures of the AR domains of both mutants appear to be similar to the wild type (WT). Comparison of chemical shifts of mutant and WT proteins reveals that the YLTA and CPAP consensus mutations cause unexpected long-range effects throughout the AR domains. Backbone dynamics experiments reveal that the YLTA mutations in the sixth AR order the C-terminal PEST sequence on the picosecond-to-nanosecond timescale, compared to either the WT or the CPAP mutant IκBαs. This property is likely the mechanism by which the half-life of YLTA IκBα is extended in vivo.

In silicoIdentification of Novel Chitinase-Like Proteins in the Silkworm,Bombyx mori, Genome

In insects, chitinases participate in the periodic shedding of old exoskeletons and the turnover of peritrophic membranes. Chitinase family members have been identified in dozens of species, including Tribolium castaneum, Drosophila melanogaster, and Anopheles gambiae. In this study, nine chitinases and three hypothetical chitinases have been identified in Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) through genome-wide searching. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that seven of them belong to the seven chitinase groups, respectively. BmCht25 and BmCht26 could not be grouped into the known chitinase groups, and might belong to two new groups of the chitinase family. BmCht10, BmCht25, and BmIDGF have glutamate amino acid substitutions in the active catalytic domain. Only BmCht5 and BmCht10 contain CBD domain and PEST sequences (rich in proline, glutamic acid, serine, and threonine). BmCht5 and BmCht26 are located on chromosome 7, and others (BmCht6, BmCht7, BmCht10, BmCht11, BmCht20, BmIDGF) are located on separate chromosomes of Bombyx mori, respectively. The present study provides important background information for future studies using Bombyx mori as a model organism for insect development and virus and host interaction.

Fusion to a highly charged proteasomal retargeting sequence increases soluble cytoplasmic expression and efficacy of diverse anti-synuclein intrabodies

Intrabodies can be powerful reagents to effect modulation of aberrant intracellular proteins that underlie a range of diseases. However, their cytoplasmic solubility can be limiting. We previously reported that overall charge and hydrophilicity can be combined to provide initial estimates of intracellular solubility, and that charge engineering via fusion can alter solubility properties experimentally. Additional studies showed that fusion of a proteasome-targeting PEST motif to the anti-huntingtin intrabody scFv-C4 can degrade mutant huntingtin proteins by directing them to the proteasome, while also increasing the negative charge. We now validate the generality of this approach with intrabodies against α-synuclein (α-syn), an important target in Parkinson disease. In this study, fusion of the PEST sequence to a set of four diverse, poorly soluble anti-α-syn intrabodies (D5E, 10H, D10 scFv, VH14 nanobody) significantly increased steady-state soluble intrabody protein levels in all cases, despite fusion with the PEST proteasomal-targeting signal. Furthermore, adding this PEST motif to the least soluble construct, VH14, significantly enhanced degradation of the target protein, α-syn~GFP. The intrabody-PEST fusion approach thus has dual advantages of potentially solubilizing intrabodies and enhancing their functionality in parallel. Empirical testing of intrabody-PEST fusions is recommended for enhancement of intrabody solubility from diverse sources.

IκB Kinase 2 Regulates TPL-2 Activation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases 1 and 2 by Direct Phosphorylation of TPL-2 Serine 400

Tumor progression locus 2 (TPL-2) functions as a MEK-1/2 kinase, which is essential for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK-1/2) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and for inducing the production of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1β. In unstimulated cells, association of TPL-2 with NF-κB1 p105 prevents TPL-2 phosphorylation of MEK-1/2. LPS stimulation of TPL-2 MEK-1/2 kinase activity requires TPL-2 release from p105. This is triggered by IκB kinase 2 (IKK-2) phosphorylation of the p105 PEST region, which promotes p105 ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. LPS activation of ERK-1/2 additionally requires transphosphorylation of TPL-2 on serine 400 in its C terminus, which controls TPL-2 signaling to ERK-1/2 independently of p105. However, the identity of the protein kinase responsible for TPL-2 serine 400 phosphorylation remained unknown. In the present study, we show that TPL-2 serine 400 phosphorylation is mediated by IKK2. The IKK complex therefore regulates two of the key regulatory steps required for TPL-2 activation of ERK-1/2, underlining the close linkage of ERK-1/2 MAP kinase activation to upregulation of NF-κB-dependent transcription.

Immune response-related gene expression profile of a novel molluscan IκB protein member from Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum)

Mollusks lack an adaptive immune system and rely solely on the innate immune response. The nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is one of the most important components of the innate immune system and its activity is regulated by physical interaction with the inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) protein. The manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum (Rp), is a key species of the world's aquaculture industry, and recent pathogenic threats, such as the Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-expressing Vibrio tapetis bacteria, have produced severe adverse economic impacts. Here, we describe identification, characterization and immune responses of novel IκB (Rp-IκB) in the manila clam. The Rp-IκB cDNA is comprised of a 1,032bp open reading frame, which encodes 343 amino acid residues and has a predicted molecular mass of 38kDa. The Rp-IκB protein exhibits typical structural features of IκB family members, including the IκB degradation motif, PEST sequence, and six ankyrin repeats. Phylogenetic analysis showed that manila clam and other known molluscan IκB proteins grouped together in the invertebrate cluster. Analysis of the tissue expression distribution revealed that Rp-IκB was ubiquitously expressed. However, immune challenge with V. tapetis and purified LPS endotoxin induced significant up-regulation of Rp-IκB expression in gill and hemocytes. These results indicated that Rp-IκB may play an important role in manila clam defense against bacterial infection.

Thr 163 Phosphorylation Causes Mcl-1 Stabilization when Degradation Is Independent of the Adjacent GSK3-Targeted Phosphodegron, Promoting Drug Resistance in Cancer

The antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1 is a PEST protein (containing sequences enriched in proline, glutamic acid, serine, and threonine) and is subject to rapid degradation via multiple pathways. Impaired degradation leading to the maintenance of Mcl-1 expression is an important determinant of drug resistance in cancer. Phosphorylation at Thr 163 in the PEST region, stimulated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol acetic acid (TPA)-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), is associated with Mcl-1 stabilization in BL41-3 Burkitt lymphoma cells. This contrasts with the observation that Thr 163 phosphorylation in normal fibroblasts primes glycogen synthase kinase (GSK3)-induced phosphorylation at Ser 159, producing a phosphodegron that targets Mcl-1 for degradation. In the present follow-up studies in BL41-3 cells, Mcl-1 degradation was found to be independent of the GSK3-mediated pathway, providing a parallel to emerging findings showing that Mcl-1 degradation through this pathway is lost in many different types of cancer. Findings in Mcl-1-transfected CHO cells corroborated those in BL41-3 cells in that the GSK3-targeted phosphodegron did not play a major role in Mcl-1 degradation, and a phosphomimetic T163E mutation resulted in marked Mcl-1 stabilization. TPA-treated BL41-3 cells, in addition to exhibiting Thr 163 phosphorylation and Mcl-1 stabilization, exhibited an ∼10-fold increase in resistance to multiple chemotherapeutic agents, including Ara-C, etoposide, vinblastine, or cisplatin. In these cancer cells in which Mcl-1 degradation is not dependent on the GSK3/phosphodegron-targeted pathway, ERK activation and Thr 163 phosphorylation are associated with pronounced Mcl-1 stabilization and drug resistance – effects that can be suppressed by inhibition of ERK activation.

Serine 162, an Essential Residue for the Mitochondrial Localization, Stability and Anti-Apoptotic Function of Mcl-1

Mcl-1 is an anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family that plays a key role in normal development, but also in pathologies such as cancer. It has some unusual properties compared to other anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, and its expression and function are dynamically regulated by a variety of post-transcriptional and post-translational processes. Of note, Mcl-1 protein has a very short half life, and its stability and function may be regulated by reversible phosphorylation. There is also evidence to suggest that it may be localized to different subcellular compartments. The aim of this work was to determine whether residues within the PEST region of Mcl-1 that may undergo reversible phosphorylation, also regulate its subcellular distribution. We show that EGFP:Mcl-1 localizes mainly to the mitochondria of HeLa cells, with some additional cytoplasmic and nuclear localization. The mutations, S64A, S64E, S121A, S159A, T163A and T163E did not significantly affect the localization of Mcl-1. However, mutation of Ser162 to the phospho-null residue, Alanine resulted in an essentially nuclear localization, with some cytoplasmic but no mitochondrial localization. This mutant Mcl-1 protein, S162A, showed significantly decreased stability and it decreased the ability to protect against Bak-induced apoptosis. These data identify a new molecular determinant of Mcl-1 function, localization and stability that may be important for understanding the role of this protein in disease.

The novel Solanum tuberosum calcium dependent protein kinase, StCDPK3, is expressed in actively growing organs

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are key components of calcium regulated signaling cascades in plants. In this work, isoform StCDPK3 from Solanum tuberosum was studied and fully described. StCDPK3 encodes a 63kDa protein with an N-terminal variable domain (NTV), rich in prolines and glutamines, which presents myristoylation and palmitoylation consensus sites and a PEST sequence indicative of rapid protein degradation. StCDPK3 gene (circa 11kb) is localized in chromosome 3, shares the eight exons and seven introns structure with other isoforms from subgroup IIa and contains an additional intron in the 5'UTR region. StCDPK3 expression is ubiquitous being transcripts more abundant in early elongating stolons (ES), leaves and roots, however isoform specific antibodies only detected the protein in leaf particulate extracts. The recombinant 6xHis-StCDPK3 is an active kinase that differs in its kinetic parameters and calcium requirements from StCDPK1 and 2 isoforms. In vitro, StCDPK3 undergoes autophosphorylation regardless of the addition of calcium. The StCDPK3 promoter region (circa 1,800bp) was subcloned by genome walking and fused to GUS. Light and ABRE responsive elements were identified in the promoter region as well as elements associated to expression in roots. StCDPK3 expression was enhanced by ABA while GA decreased it. Potato transgenic lines harboring StCDPK3 promoter∷GUS construct were generated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated plant transformation. Promoter activity was detected in leaves, root tips and branching points, early ES, tuber eyes and developing sprouts indicating that StCDPK3 is expressed in actively growing organs.

The Importance of Conserved Features of Yeast Actin-Binding Protein 1 (Abp1p): The Conditional Nature of Essentiality

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Actin-Binding Protein 1 (Abp1p) is a member of the Abp1 family of proteins, which are in diverse organisms including fungi, nematodes, flies, and mammals. All proteins in this family possess an N-terminal Actin Depolymerizing Factor Homology (ADF-H) domain, a central Proline-Rich Region (PRR), and a C-terminal SH3 domain. In this study, we employed sequence analysis to identify additional conserved features of the family, including sequences rich in proline, glutamic acid, serine, and threonine amino acids (PEST), which are found in all family members examined, and two motifs, Conserved Fungal Motifs 1 and 2 (CFM1 and CFM2), that are conserved in fungi. We also discovered that, similar to its mammalian homologs, Abp1p is phosphorylated in its PRR. This phosphorylation is mediated by the Cdc28p and Pho85p kinases, and it protects Abp1p from proteolysis mediated by the conserved PEST sequences. We provide evidence for an intramolecular interaction between the PRR region and SH3 domain that may be affected by phosphorylation. Although deletion of CFM1 alone caused no detectable phenotype in any genetic backgrounds or conditions tested, deletion of this motif resulted in a significant reduction of growth when it was combined with a deletion of the ADF-H domain. Importantly, this result demonstrates that deletion of highly conserved domains on its own may produce no phenotype unless the domains are assayed in conjunction with deletions of other functionally important elements within the same protein. Detection of this type of intragenic synthetic lethality provides an important approach for understanding the function of individual protein domains or motifs.

Hax-1 is rapidly degraded by the proteasome dependent on its PEST sequence

BackgroundHS-1-associated protein X-1 (Hax-1), is a multifunctional protein that has sequence homology to Bcl-2 family members. HAX-1 knockout animals reveal that it plays an essential protective role in the central nervous system against various stresses. Homozygous mutations in the HAX-1 gene are associated with autosomal recessive forms of severe congenital neutropenia along with neurological symptoms. The protein level of Hax-1 has been shown to be regulated by cellular protease cleavage or by transcriptional suppression upon stimulation.ResultsHere, we report a novel post-translational mechanism for regulation of Hax-1 levels in mammalian cells. We identified that PEST sequence, a sequence rich in proline, glutamic acid, serine and threonine, is responsible for its poly-ubiquitination and rapid degradation. Hax-1 is conjugated by K48-linked ubiquitin chains and undergoes a fast turnover by the proteasome system. A deletion mutant of Hax-1 that lacks the PEST sequence is more resistant to the proteasomal degradation and exerts more protective effects against apoptotic stimuli than wild type Hax-1.ConclusionOur data indicate that Hax-1 is a short-lived protein and that its PEST sequence dependent fast degradation by the proteasome may contribute to the rapid cellular responses upon different stimulations.

Exploration of the Role of the IκB Pest Sequence in Stripping NFκB from DNA

Nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) transcription factors are responsible for the regulation of more than 150 target genes, their expression is induced by many classes of stimuli, and NFκBs play essential roles in the healthy regulation of cellular development and proliferation in inflammatory and immune responses. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and AIDS can be attributed to the wayward regulation of NFκB. The transcriptional activity of NFκB is commanded by its inhibitor—IκB. Two major isoforms of the inhibitor—IκBα and IκBβ—are structurally similar (i.e., crystal structures of the two exhibit a six ankyrin repeat domain followed by a largely unstructured, C-terminal PEST sequence), yet their inhibitory activities markedly differ. It has been shown that IκBα can actively “strip” NFκB from DNA in vitro, but IκBβ cannot. We are investivating a panel of “PEST swap” mutants to probe the role of the PEST sequence in the regulation of NFκB. In addition, the role of individual residues within the IκBα PEST sequence in the “stripping” phenomenon is being analyzed.

Role of the PEST sequence in the long-type GATA-6 DNA-binding protein expressed in human cancer cell lines

GATA-6 mRNA utilizes two Met-codons in frame as translational initiation codons in cultured mammalian cells. Deletion of the nucleotide sequence encoding the PEST sequence between the two initiation codons unusually reduced the protein molecular size on SDS-polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis. The reduced molecular size is ascribed to the molecular property of GATA-6, since both amino-and carboxy-lterminal tags introduced into GATA-6 were detected on the gel. This PEST sequence seems to contribute to expansion of the long-type GATA-6 molecule. The long-type GATA-6 containing the PEST sequence exhibits more activation potential than that without this sequence, the latter’s activity being similar to that of the short-type GATA-6. We further demonstrated that human colon and lung cancer cell lines express both the long-type GATA-6 and the short-type GATA-6 in their nuclei.

Bifunctional Anti-Huntingtin Proteasome-Directed Intrabodies Mediate Efficient Degradation of Mutant Huntingtin Exon 1 Protein Fragments

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a trinucleotide (CAG)n repeat expansion in the coding sequence of the huntingtin gene, and an expanded polyglutamine (>37Q) tract in the protein. This results in misfolding and accumulation of huntingtin protein (htt), formation of neuronal intranuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions, and neuronal dysfunction/degeneration. Single-chain Fv antibodies (scFvs), expressed as intrabodies that bind htt and prevent aggregation, show promise as immunotherapeutics for HD. Intrastriatal delivery of anti-N-terminal htt scFv-C4 using an adeno-associated virus vector (AAV2/1) significantly reduces the size and number of aggregates in HDR6/1 transgenic mice; however, this protective effect diminishes with age and time after injection. We therefore explored enhancing intrabody efficacy via fusions to heterologous functional domains. Proteins containing a PEST motif are often targeted for proteasomal degradation and generally have a short half life. In ST14A cells, fusion of the C-terminal PEST region of mouse ornithine decarboxylase (mODC) to scFv-C4 reduces htt exon 1 protein fragments with 72 glutamine repeats (httex1-72Q) by ∼80–90% when compared to scFv-C4 alone. Proteasomal targeting was verified by either scrambling the mODC-PEST motif, or via proteasomal inhibition with epoxomicin. For these constructs, the proteasomal degradation of the scFv intrabody proteins themselves was reduced<25% by the addition of the mODC-PEST motif, with or without antigens. The remaining intrabody levels were amply sufficient to target N-terminal httex1-72Q protein fragment turnover. Critically, scFv-C4-PEST prevents aggregation and toxicity of httex1-72Q fragments at significantly lower doses than scFv-C4. Fusion of the mODC-PEST motif to intrabodies is a valuable general approach to specifically target toxic antigens to the proteasome for degradation.

Abstract P131: An Akt-Phosphomimetic Sequence of the Cavb2 C-Terminal Region Protects L-Type Calcium Channels from Protein Degradation

Alteration in the density or function of L-Type Calcium Channels (LTCCs) has been related to cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and diabetic cardiomyopathy. It could therefore be envisioned that increasing LTCC density may improve cardiac function in heart failure. Recently, we determined that the Ser-Thr kinase Akt plays a key role in regulating cardiac inotropism through the modulation of LTCC density and function. Specifically, we found that the LTCC pore-forming channel subunit Cava1.2 contains highly evolutionary conserved PEST sequences (signals for rapid proteolytic degradation) that are responsible for direct Cava1.2 protein degradation. Phosphorylation of the C-terminal coiled coil of the Cavb2 chaperone subunit enhances LTCC protein stability by preventing PEST-mediated Cava1.2 degradation. The aim of this study was to further dissect this Akt-dependent fine-tuning mechanism regulating LTCC density, searching for potential Akt-phosphomimetic (APM) molecules that could enhance LTCC density. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, we found that APM Cavb2 sequences interact with the globular domain of Cavb2 itself in a solvent-exposed region that we named Tail Interacting Domain (TID). Biochemical and functional assays as well as site-specific mutagenesis in TID identified the minimal aminoacid sequence responsible for the TID-tail interaction. In addition, through an approach comprising western blot analyses, fluorescent-based calcium assays, calcium current (ICaL) measurements, molecular modeling and peptide arrays, we identified the minimal APMs that efficiently protects Cava1.2 from protein degradation. Based on our in vitro results, we suggest that the identified APM sequence/peptide could be used as a “therapeutic approach”; for increasing or reestablishing impaired cardiac contractility in mouse models of cardiomyopathy in which the LTCC density is altered, thus enhancing inotropism.