Protein Kinase C-dependent Phosphorylation Research Articles

The Insulin-like Growth Factor Type 1 and Insulin-like Growth Factor Type 2/Mannose-6-phosphate Receptors Independently Regulate ERK1/2 Activity in HEK293 Cells

Insulin-like growth factor types 1 and 2 (IGF-1; IGF-2) and insulin-like peptides are all members of the insulin superfamily of peptide hormones but bind to several distinct classes of membrane receptor. Like the insulin receptor, the IGF-1 receptor is a heterotetrameric receptor tyrosine kinase, whereas the IGF-2/ mannose 6-phosphate receptor is a single transmembrane domain protein that is thought to function primarily as clearance receptors. We recently reported that IGF-1 and IGF-2 stimulate the ERK1/2 cascade by triggering sphingosine kinase-dependent "transactivation" of G protein-coupled sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors. To determine which IGF receptors mediate this effect, we tested seven insulin family peptides, IGF-1, IGF-2, insulin, and insulin-like peptides 3, 4, 6, and 7, for the ability to activate ERK1/2 in HEK293 cells. Only IGF-1 and IGF-2 potently activated ERK1/2. Although IGF-2 was predictably less potent than IGF-1 in activating the IGF-1 receptor, they were equipotent stimulators of ERK1/2. Knockdown of IGF-1 receptor expression by RNA interference reduced the IGF-1 response to a greater extent than the IGF-2 response, suggesting that IGF-2 did not signal exclusively via the IGF-1 receptor. In contrast, IGF-2 receptor knockdown markedly reduced IGF-2-stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, with no effect on the IGF-1 response. As observed previously, both the IGF-1 and the IGF-2 responses were sensitive to pertussis toxin and the sphingosine kinase inhibitor, dimethylsphingosine. These data indicate that endogenous IGF-1 and IGF-2 receptors can independently initiate ERK1/2 signaling and point to a potential physiologic role for IGF-2 receptors in the cellular response to IGF-2.

The anti-apoptotic MAP kinase pathway is inhibited in NIH3T3 fibroblasts with increased expression of phosphatidylinositol transfer protein β

Mouse NIH3T3 fibroblast cells overexpressing phosphatidylinositol transfer protein β (PI-TPβ, SPIβ cells) demonstrate a low rate of proliferation and a high sensitivity towards UV-induced apoptosis when compared with wtNIH3T3 cells. In contrast, SPIβS262A cells overexpressing a mutant PI-TPβ that lacks the protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation site Ser-262, demonstrate a phenotype comparable with wtNIH3T3 cells. This suggests that the phosphorylation of Ser-262 in PI-TPβ is involved in the regulation of apoptosis. Conditioned medium (CM) from wtNIH3T3 cells contains bioactive factors, presumably arachidonic acid metabolites [H. Bunte, et al., 2006; M. Schenning, et al., 2004] that are able to protect SPIβ cells against UV-induced apoptosis. CM from SPIβ cells lacks this protective activity. However, after heat denaturation CM from SPIβ cells regains a protective activity comparable with that of wtNIH3T3 cells. This indicates that CM from SPIβ cells contains an antagonistic factor interfering with the anti-apoptotic activity present. SPIβS262A cells do not produce the antagonist suggesting that phosphorylation of Ser-262 is required. Moreover, in line with the apparent lack of anti-apoptotic activity, CM from SPIβ cells does not induce the expression of COX-2 or the activation of p42/p44 MAP kinase in SPIβ cells. In contrast, CM from wtNIH3T3 and SPIβS262A cells or heat-treated CM from SPIβ cells does induce these anti-apoptotic markers. Since we have previously shown that some of the arachidonic acid metabolites present in CM from wtNIH3T3 cells are prostaglandin (PG) E 2 and PGF 2α, we investigated the effect of these PGs on cell survival. Although PGE 2 and PGF 2α were found to protect wtNIH3T3 and SPIβS262A cells against UV-induced apoptosis, these PGs failed to rescue SPIβ cells. The fact that the concentrations of PGE 2 and PGF 2α in the CM from SPIβ cells and wtNIH3T3 cells were found to be comparable suggests that the failure of these PGs to protect SPIβ cells could render these cells more apoptosis sensitive. Concomitantly, upon incubation with PGE 2 and PGF 2α, an increased expression of COX-2 and activation of p42/p44 MAP kinase were observed in wtNIH3T3 and SPIβS262A cells but not in SPIβ cells. Hence, it appears that specific mechanisms of cell survival are impaired in SPIβ cells.

Nonconventional Trafficking of Ras Associated with Ras Signal Organization

Ras signaling to its downstream effectors appears to include combinations of extracellular-signal-regulated Ras activation at the plasma membrane (PM) and endomembranes, dynamic lateral segregation in the PM, and translocation of Ras from the PM to intracellular compartments. These processes are governed by the C-terminal polybasic farnesyl domain in K-Ras 4B and by the cysteine-palmitoylated C-terminal farnesyl domains in H-Ras and N-Ras. K-Ras 4B has no palmitoylated cysteines. Depalmitoylation/repalmitoylation of H-/N-Ras proteins promotes their cellular redistribution and signaling by mechanisms as yet unknown, possibly involving chaperones. Palmitoylation of H-/N-Ras also promotes their association with 'rasosomes', randomly diffusing nanoparticles that apparently provide a means by which multiple copies of activated Ras and its signal can spread rapidly. Ubiquitination of H-Ras evidently targets it to the endosomes. The polybasic farnesyl domain of K-Ras 4B was shown to act as a target for Ca++/calmodulin, which sequesters the active protein from the PM, thereby facilitating its trafficking to Golgi apparatus and early endosomes. Protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of S181 in K-Ras 4B was shown to provide a regulated farnesyl-electrostatic switch on K-Ras 4B, which promotes its translocation to the mitochondria. All these translocation events are characterized by nonconventional trafficking of the farnesyl-modified Ras proteins and seem to govern the selectivity and probably also the robustness of the Ras signal. In this review, we discuss the various modifications and interactions of the farnesylated C-terminus, the trafficking of Ras proteins in the PM and between the PM and the endomembranes, and the relevance of the subcellular localization of Ras for Ras function.

Redox Activation of Aldose Reductase in the Ischemic Heart

Aldose reductase (AR) reduces cytotoxic aldehydes and glutathione conjugates of aldehydes derived from lipid peroxidation. Its inhibition has been shown to increase oxidative injury and abolish the late phase of ischemic preconditioning. However, the mechanisms by which ischemia regulates AR activity remain unclear. Herein, we report that rat hearts subjected to ischemia, in situ or ex vivo, display a 2-4-fold increase in AR activity. The AR activity was not further enhanced by reperfusion. Activation increased Vmax of the enzyme without affecting the Km and decreased the sensitivity of the enzyme to inhibition by sorbinil. Enzyme activation could be prevented by pretreating the hearts with the radical scavenging thiol, N-(2-mercaptoproprionyl)glycine or the superoxide dismutase mimetic, Tiron, or by treating homogenates with dithiothreitol. In vitro, the recombinant enzyme was activated upon treatment with H2O2 and the activated, but not the native enzyme, formed a covalent adduct with the sulfenic acid-specific reagent dimedone. The enzyme activity in the ischemic, but not the nonischemic heart homogenates was inhibited by dimedone. Separation of proteins from hearts subjected to coronary occlusion by two-dimensional electrophoresis and subsequent matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/mass spectrometry analysis revealed the formation of sulfenic acids at Cys-298 and Cys-303. These data indicate that reactive oxygen species formed in the ischemic heart activate AR by modifying its cysteine residues to sulfenic acids.

Blocking Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion with Biphenyl Isoxazole Derivative KRIBB3, a Synthetic Molecule That Inhibits Hsp27 Phosphorylation

Cell migration is a prerequisite for cancer invasion and metastasis, suggesting cell motility as a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment. A synthetic library was screened to identify inhibitors of tumor cell migration. From this, we discovered that CAC-1098 (aurintricarboxylic acid) and CBI-0997 (5-(2,4-dimethoxy-5-ethylphenyl)-4-(4-bromophenyl) isoxazole) inhibited migration of MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 = 5 and 50 nM, respectively. We synthesized KRIBB3 (5-(5-ethyl-2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-4-(4-methoxyphenyl) isoxazole) by replacing the bromide group of CBI-0997 with a methoxyl group. Like CBI-0997, KRIBB3 has anti-migratory and anti-invasive activities in MDA-MB-231 cells. Because KRIBB3 has a better drug-like structure, we focused our effort on further understanding its anti-migratory mechanism. Biotinyl-KRIBB3 was synthesized as an affinity probe for identification of KRIBB3-binding proteins. Using affinity chromatography, we identified Hsp27 as a target protein of KRIBB3 in vitro. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of Hsp27 and tumor cell migration. In contrast, treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with KRIBB3 blocked phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced phosphorylation of Hsp27 and tumor cell migration. Furthermore, overexpression of Hsp27 antagonized the inhibitory effect of KRIBB3 on tumor cell invasion, and knockdown of Hsp27 using small interfering RNA inhibited tumor cell migration. Overall, our results demonstrate that KRIBB3 inhibits tumor cell migration and invasion by blocking protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of Hsp27 through its direct binding to Hsp27.

Shp2 Is Required for Protein Kinase C-dependent Phosphorylation of Serine 307 in Insulin Receptor Substrate-1

The function of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), a key molecule of insulin signaling, is modulated by phosphorylation at multiple serine/threonine residues. Phorbol ester stimulation of cells induces phosphorylation of two inhibitory serine residues in IRS-1, i.e. Ser-307 and Ser-318, suggesting that both sites may be targets of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. However, in an in vitro system using a broad spectrum of PKC isoforms (alpha, beta1, beta2, delta, epsilon, eta, mu), we detected only Ser-318, but not Ser-307 phosphorylation, suggesting that phorbol ester-induced phosphorylation of this site in intact cells requires additional signaling elements and serine kinases that link PKC activation to Ser-307 phosphorylation. As we have observed recently that the tyrosine phosphatase Shp2, a negative regulator of insulin signaling, is a substrate of PKC, we studied the role of Shp2 in this context. We found that phorbol ester-induced Ser-307 phosphorylation is reduced markedly in Shp2-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (Shp2-/-) whereas Ser-318 phosphorylation is unaltered. The Ser-307 phosphorylation was rescued by transfection of mouse embryonic fibroblasts with wild-type Shp2 or with a phosphatase-inactive Shp2 mutant, respectively. In this cell model, tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced Ser-307 phosphorylation as well depended on the presence of Shp2. Furthermore, Shp2-dependent phorbol ester effects on Ser-307 were blocked by wortmannin, rapamycin, and the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125. This suggests an involvement of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin cascade and of JNK in this signaling pathway resulting in IRS-1 Ser-307 phosphorylation. Because the activation of these kinases does not depend on Shp2, it is concluded that the function of Shp2 is to direct these activated kinases to IRS-1.

Phosphorylation of octamer-binding transcriptional factor may be correlated with H2B histone gene repression during 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-dependent differentiation of HL-60 cells

To gain insight on the role of transacting factors in the regulatory mechanism of H2B histone gene expression during the differentiation of HL-60 cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), the binding pattern of nuclear proteins to various elements in the human H2B histone gene upstream region have been investigated with DNase I footprinting and DNA mobility shift assay. The level of H2B histone mRNA rapidly reduced at 24 h in TPA-treated HL-60 cells. The H2B histone mRNA was repressed in proportion to the concentration of TPA. In DNase I footprinting analysis, one nuclear factor (octamer-binding transcription factor, OTF) bound at -42 bp (octamer motif), before and after TPA-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells. One DNA-protein complex (OTF) was formed by DNA mobility shift assay when octamer element was incubated with nuclear extract of undifferentiated HL-60 cells. In DNA mobilith shift assay, OTF vanished, and phosphorylated OTF (p-OTF) newly appeared during TPA-induced differentiation. p-OTF was not detected after pretreatment of the protein kinase C inhibitor, staurosporin, but was not changed after CHX treatment. TPA-induced repression of H2B histone mRNA was also restored after pretreatment of staurosporin. These results suggest that OTF is phosphorylated by protein kinase C during TPA-induced differentiation of HL-60 and the transcriptional repression of the H2B histone gene may be mediated by protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of OTF.

Uncoupling Secretion from Calcium

Regulated secretion occurs in response to increases in intracellular calcium concentration [Ca 2+ ] i and underlies synaptic transmission and hormone release. Andric et al. found that endothelin (ET), acting through at least two G protein pathways, produces a bidirectional effect on pituitary lactotroph secretion of prolactin. Lactotrophs spontaneously fire action potentials, promoting calcium-induced basal secretion of prolactin. Addition of ET-1 to single lactotrophs produced an initial transient increase in secretion followed by a prolonged suppression below basal levels. The bidirectional effect of ET-1 on secretion was matched by a similar effect on [Ca 2+ ] i --initially increasing [Ca 2+ ] i , then decreasing [Ca 2+ ] i . This was only observed for nanomolar concentrations of ET-1; subnanomolar concentrations only suppressed basal prolactin secretion without initially stimulating it and did not affect [Ca 2+ ] i . The stimulatory phase of ET-1 activity was inhibited by addition of a phospholipase C inhibitor, consistent with involvement of G q/11 . Although pertussis toxin (an inhibitor of G i/o ) converted the ET-1 effect on [Ca 2+ ] i to one of prolonged elevation, the effect on prolactin secretion was still bidirectional. Thus, the inhibition of secretion by ET-1 was independent from its effects on [Ca 2+ ] i . Addition of phorbol ester to stimulate protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation (Gα z is one target) inhibited the coupling of ET-1 to decreased adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) concentration and prevented inhibition of prolactin secretion. Cells treated with antisense against Gα z showed a loss of suppression of prolactin secretion and an uncoupling from inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Thus, ET-1 appears to regulate secretion using multiple G protein pathways. The Gα z pathway uncoupled secretion from [Ca 2+ ] i , thereby inhibiting prolactin secretion without affecting pacemaking activity. S. A. Andric, D. Zivadinovic, A. E. Gonzalez-Iglesias, A. Lachowicz, M. Tomic, S. S. Stojilkovic, Endothelin-induced, long lasting, and Ca 2+ influx-independent blockade of intrinsic secretion in pituitary cells by G z subunits. J. Biol. Che m. 280 , 26896-26903 (2005). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Inhibition of Nuclear Import of LIMK2 in Endothelial Cells by Protein Kinase C-dependent Phosphorylation at Ser-283

LIM kinases (LIMKs) are mainly in the cytoplasm and regulate actin dynamics through cofilin phosphorylation. Recently, it has been reported that nuclear localization of LIMKs can mediate suppression of cyclin D1 expression. Using immunofluorescence monitoring of enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged LIMK2 in combination with photobleaching techniques and leptomycin B treatment, we demonstrate that LIMK2 shuttles between the cytoplasm and the nucleus in endothelial cells. Sequence analysis predicted two PKC phosphorylation sites in LIMK2 but not in LIMK1. One site at Ser-283 is present between the PDZ and the kinase domain, and the other site at Thr-494 is within the kinase domain. Activation of PKC by phorbol ester treatment of endothelial cells stimulated LIMK2 phosphorylation at Ser-283 and inhibited nuclear import of LIMK2 and the PDZ kinase construct of LIMK2 (amino acids 142-638) but not of LIMK1. The PKC-delta isoform phosphorylated LIMK2 at Ser-283 in vitro. Mutational analysis indicated that LIMK2 phosphorylation at Ser-283 but not Thr-494 was functional. Serum stimulation of endothelial cells also inhibited nuclear import of PDZK-LIMK2 by protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of Ser-283. Our study shows that phorbol ester and serum stimulation of endothelial cells inhibit nuclear import of LIMK2 but not LIMK1. This effect was dependent on PKC-delta-mediated phosphorylation of Ser-283. Since phorbol ester enhanced cyclin D1 expression and subsequent G1-to-S-phase transition of endothelial cells, we suggest that the PKC-mediated exclusion of LIMK2 from the nucleus might be a mechanism to relieve suppression of cyclin D1 expression by LIMK2.

C3‐induced 3LL cell proliferation is mediated by C kinase

It has been demonstrated that the third component of complement (C3)(1) and its peptides increase normal and tumour cell proliferation. However, the signal cascade responsible for this phenomenon is still unknown. In this study, we elucidate some of the mechanisms involved in the signalling of C3 stimulation of cell proliferation. We have first investigated the in and out traffic of C3 peptides, then we have identified the subcellular localisation of internalised C3 and, finally, we have explored the role of protein phosphorylation in C3 traffic and in the proliferation of the Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) cells. Our results indicate that traffic of C3 is not dependent on cytoskeletal integrity and requires protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation. In addition, proliferation of 3LL cells stimulated by C3 depends on both C3 internalisation and protein-kinase C phosphorylation.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-mediated Induction of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Occurs through Redox-dependent Regulation of Forkhead and IκB/NF-κB

The mitochondrial antioxidant manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) plays a critical cytoprotective role against oxidative stress. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was shown previously to induce expression of Mn-SOD in endothelial cells by a NADPH oxidase-dependent mechanism. The goal of the current study was to determine the transcriptional mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. VEGF resulted in protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of IkappaB and subsequent translocation of p65 NF-kappaB into the nucleus. Overexpression of constitutively active IkappaB blocked VEGF stimulation of Mn-SOD. In transient transfection assays, VEGF increased Mn-SOD promoter activity, an effect that was dependent on a second intronic NF-kappaB consensus motif. In contrast, VEGF-mediated induction of Mn-SOD was enhanced by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 and by dominant negative Akt and was decreased by constitutively active Akt. Overexpression of a constitutively active (phosphorylation-resistant) form of FKHRL1 (TMFKHRL1) resulted in increased Mn-SOD expression, suggesting that the negative effect of PI3K-Akt involves attenuation of forkhead activity. In co-transfection assays, the Mn-SOD promoter was transactivated by TMFKHRL1. Flavoenzyme inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), and antisense oligonucleotides against p47phox (AS-p47phox) inhibited VEGF stimulation of IkappaB/NF-kappaB and forkhead phosphorylation, supporting a role for NADPH oxidase activity in both signaling pathways. Like VEGF, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) activated the PI3K-Akt-forkhead pathway. However, HGF-PI3K-Akt-forkhead signaling was insensitive to diphenyleneiodonium and AS-p47phox. Moreover, HGF failed to induce phosphorylation of IkappaB/NF-kappaB or nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and had no effect on Mn-SOD expression. Together, these data suggest that VEGF is uniquely coupled to Mn-SOD expression through growth factor-specific reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive positive (protein kinase C-NF-kappaB) and negative (PI3K-Akt-forkhead) signaling pathways.

The plasma membrane translocation of diacylglycerol kinase delta1 is negatively regulated by conventional protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation at Ser-22 and Ser-26 within the pleckstrin homology domain.

DGK (diacylglycerol kinase) regulates the concentration of two bioactive lipids, diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. DGKdelta1 or its PH (pleckstrin homology) domain alone has been shown to be translocated to the plasma membrane from the cytoplasm in PMA-treated cells. In the present study, we identified Ser-22 and Ser-26 within the PH domain as the PMA- and epidermal-growth-factor-dependent phosphorylation sites of DGKdelta1. Experiments in vitro and with intact cells suggested that the cPKC (conventional protein kinase C) phosphorylated these Ser residues directly. Puzzlingly, alanine/asparagine mutants at Ser-22 and Ser-26 of DGKdelta1 and its PH domain are still persistently translocated by PMA treatment, suggesting that the PH domain phosphorylation is not responsible for the enzyme translocation and that the translocation was caused by a PMA-dependent, but cPKC-independent, process yet to be identified. Interestingly, the aspartate mutation, which mimics phosphoserine, at Ser-22 or Ser-26, inhibited the translocation of full-length DGKdelta1 and the PH domain markedly, suggesting that the phosphorylation regulates negatively the enzyme translocation. Our results provide evidence of the phosphorylation of the DGKdelta1 PH domain by cPKC, and suggest that the phosphorylation is involved in the control of subcellular localization of DGKdelta1.

Evidence for protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of the proliferation associated protein p8 in pancreatic beta-cells

Evidence for protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of the proliferation associated protein p8 in pancreatic beta-cells

Protein-kinase C-dependent phosphorylation inhibits the effect of the antiepileptic drug topiramate on the persistent fraction of sodium currents

We investigated the interference of protein-kinase C (PKC)-dependent Na + channel phosphorylation on the inhibitory effect that the antiepileptic drug topiramate (TPM) has on persistent Na + currents (I NaP) by making whole cell patch-clamp and intracellular recordings of rat sensorimotor cortex neurons. The voltage-dependent activation of I NaP was significantly shifted in the hyperpolarizing direction when PKC was activated by 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl- sn-glycerol (OAG). TPM reduced the peak amplitude of I NaP, but it did not counteract the OAG-induced shift in I NaP activation. Firing property experiments showed that the firing threshold was lowered by OAG. TPM was unable to counteract this effect, which may be due to OAG-dependent enhancement of the contribution of subthreshold I NaP. These data suggest that PKC activation may limit the effect of the anticonvulsant TPM on the persistent fraction of Na + currents. The channel phosphorylation that may occur in cortical neurons as a result of physiological or pathological (e.g. epileptic) events can modulate the action of TPM on Na + currents.

Role of Troponin I Phosphorylation in Protein Kinase C-mediated Enhanced Contractile Performance of Rat Myocytes

Our goal was to define the role of phosphorylated cardiac troponin-I in the adult myocyte contractile performance response to activated protein kinase C. In agreement with earlier work, endothelin enhanced both adult rat myocyte contractile performance and cardiac troponin-I phosphorylation. Protein kinase C participated in both responses. The role of cardiac troponin-I phosphorylation in the contractile function response to protein kinase C was further investigated using gene transfer into myocytes of troponin-I isoforms/mutants lacking one or more phosphorylation sites previously identified in purified cardiac troponin-I. Sarcomeric replacement with slow skeletal troponin-I-abrogated protein kinase C-mediated troponin-I phosphorylation. In functional studies, endothelin slowed relaxation in myocytes expressing slow skeletal troponin-I, while the relaxation rate increased in myocytes expressing cardiac troponin-I. Based on these results, acceleration of myocyte relaxation during protein kinase C activation largely depended on cardiac troponin-I phosphorylation. Experiments with troponin-I isoform chimeras provided evidence that phosphorylation sites in the amino portion of cardiac troponin I-mediated the protein kinase C acceleration of relaxation. The cardiac troponin-I Thr-144 phosphorylation site identified in earlier biochemical studies was not significantly phosphorylated during the acute contractile response. Thus, amino-terminal protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation sites in cardiac troponin-I are likely responsible for the accelerated relaxation observed in adult myocytes.

Diacylglycerol kinase-zeta localization in skeletal muscle is regulated by phosphorylation and interaction with syntrophins.

Syntrophins are scaffolding proteins that link signaling molecules to dystrophin and the cytoskeleton. We previously reported that syntrophins interact with diacylglycerol kinase-zeta (DGK-zeta), which phosphorylates diacylglycerol to yield phosphatidic acid. Here, we show syntrophins and DGK-zeta form a complex in skeletal muscle whose translocation from the cytosol to the plasma membrane is regulated by protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of the DGK-zeta MARCKS domain. DGK-zeta mutants that do not bind syntrophins were mislocalized, and an activated mutant of this sort induced atypical changes in the actin cytoskeleton, indicating syntrophins are important for localizing DGK-zeta and regulating its activity. Consistent with a role in actin organization, DGK-zeta and syntrophins were colocalized with filamentous (F)-actin and Rac in lamellipodia and ruffles. Moreover, extracellular signal-related kinase-dependent phosphorylation of DGK-zeta regulated its association with the cytoskeleton. In adult muscle, DGK-zeta was colocalized with syntrophins on the sarcolemma and was concentrated at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), whereas in type IIB fibers it was found exclusively at NMJs. DGK-zeta was reduced at the sarcolemma of dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse myofibers but was specifically retained at NMJs, indicating that dystrophin is important for the sarcolemmal but not synaptic localization of DGK-zeta. Together, our findings suggest syntrophins localize DGK-zeta signaling complexes at specialized domains of muscle cells, which may be critical for the proper control of lipid-signaling pathways regulating actin organization. In dystrophic muscle, mislocalized DGK-zeta may cause abnormal cytoskeletal changes that contribute to disease pathogenesis.

Thrombin Induces Nitric-oxide Synthase via Gα12/13-coupled Protein Kinase C-dependent I-κBα Phosphorylation and JNK-mediated I-κBα Degradation

An imbalance between thrombin and antithrombin III contributed to vascular hyporeactivity in sepsis, which can be attributed to excess NO production by inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS). In view of the importance of the thrombin-activated coagulation pathway and excess NO as the culminating factors in vascular hyporeactivity, this study investigated the effects of thrombin on the induction of iNOS and NO production in macrophages. Thrombin induced iNOS protein in the Raw264.7 cells, which was inhibited by a thrombin inhibitor, LB30057. Thrombin increased NF-kappaB DNA binding, whose band was supershifted with anti-p65 and anti-p50 antibodies. Thrombin elicited the phosphorylation and degradation of I-kappaBalpha prior to the nuclear translocation of p65. The NF-kappaB-mediated iNOS induction was stimulated by the overexpression of activated mutants of Galpha(12/13) (Galpha(12/13)QL). Protein kinase C depletion inhibited I-kappaBalpha degradation, NF-kappaB activation, and iNOS induction by thrombin or the iNOS induction by Galpha(12/13)QL. JNK, p38 kinase, and ERK were all activated by thrombin. JNK inhibition by the stable transfection with a dominant negative mutant of JNK1 (JNK1(-)) completely suppressed the NF-kappaB-mediated iNOS induction by thrombin. Conversely, the inhibition of p38 kinase enhanced the expression of iNOS. In addition, JNK and p38 kinase oppositely controlled the NF-kappaB-mediated iNOS induction by Galpha(12/13)QL. Hence, iNOS induction by thrombin was regulated by the opposed functions of JNK and p38 kinase downstream of Galpha(12/13). In the JNK1(-) cells, thrombin did not increase either the NF-kappaB binding activity or I-kappaBalpha degradation despite I-kappaBalpha phosphorylation. These results demonstrated that thrombin induces iNOS in macrophages via Galpha(12) and Galpha(13), which leads to NF-kappaB activation involving the protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of I-kappaBalpha and the JNK-dependent degradation of phosphorylated I-kappaBalpha.

Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake Requires Sustained Ca2+ Release from the Endoplasmic Reticulum

We analyzed the role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca(2+) release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (i) in powering mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake and (ii) in maintaining a sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)). For this purpose, we expressed in HeLa cells aequorin-based Ca(2+)-sensitive probes targeted to different intracellular compartments and studied the effect of two agonists: histamine, acting on endogenous H(1) receptors, and glutamate, acting on co-transfected metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1a), which rapidly inactivates through protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation and thus causes transient inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production. Glutamate induced a transient [Ca(2+)](c) rise and drop in ER luminal [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](er)), and then the ER refilled with [Ca(2+)](c) at resting values. With histamine, [Ca(2+)](c) after the initial peak stabilized at a sustained plateau, and [Ca(2+)](er) decreased to a low steady-state value. In mitochondria, histamine evoked a much larger mitochondrial Ca(2+) response than glutamate ( approximately 15 versus approximately 65 microm). Protein kinase C inhibition, partly relieving mGluR1a desensitization, reestablished both the [Ca(2+)](c) plateau and the sustained ER Ca(2+) release and markedly increased the mitochondrial Ca(2+) response. Conversely, mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake evoked by histamine was drastically reduced by very transient ( approximately 2-s) agonist applications. These data indicate that efficient mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake depends on the preservation of high Ca(2+) microdomains at the mouth of ER Ca(2+) release sites close to mitochondria. This in turn depends on continuous Ca(2+) release balanced by Ca(2+) reuptake into the ER and maintained by Ca(2+) influx from the extracellular space.

Protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of the β-subunit of the voltage-sensitive potassium channels (K vβ2)

The K vβ proteins are members of the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily that interact with the cytoplasmic face of the pore-forming α-subunits of the voltage-sensitive K + channels. The physiological functions of K vβ are unclear, although some members of the K vβ family impart rapid inactivation to non-inactivating K + channels. Structural analyses reveal that the NADPH-binding site as well as the active site architecture and residues of other AKR proteins are conserved in the K vβ proteins. The K vβ2 displays high-affinity NADPH binding, although no catalytic activity for this protein has been reported. Recent studies show that K vβ2 is constitutively associated with protein kinase C (PKC) ζ via the zeta-interacting protein (ZIP). The primary structure of K vβ displays 25 PKC consensus phosphorylation sites. We report that incubation of recombinant K vβ2 with PKCα in vitro leads to rapid phosphorylation of the protein. Stimulation of PKC by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) also induced the phosphorylation of K vβ2 expressed in COS-7 cells. Deletion of the first 35 amino acids of the variable N-terminus led to a substantial decrease in the overall extent of phosphorylation in vitro, indicating that the N-terminus peptide is the preferred site of PKC phosphorylation. Analysis of the phosphorylated protein by HPLC coupled with an ion-trap electrospray mass spectrometer revealed phosphorylation of Ser-266 located near the NADPH-binding site of the protein. We propose that phosphorylation could affect the N-terminus-mediated β–α interactions or the binding of NADP(H) to the conserved AKR domain of the K vβ proteins.

Protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation and mitochondrial translocation of aldose reductase

Although aldose reductase (AR) is a critical participant in osmoregulation, and the metabolism of glucose and aldehydes derived from lipid peroxidation, post-translational mechanisms regulating its activity have not been identified. In this paper, we report that stimulation of protein kinase C (PKC) in several cell types induces phosphorylation of AR and translocation of the phosphorylated protein to the mitochondria. In vitro, recombinant AR was directly phosphorylated by activated PKC, suggesting that AR may be an in vivo PKC substrate. Together, these observations reveal a novel link between PKC activation and the regulation of glucose and aldehyde metabolism.