Regulation Of Protein Phosphatase Activity Research Articles

The Ndc80 complex targets Bod1 to human mitotic kinetochores.

Regulation of protein phosphatase activity by endogenous protein inhibitors is an important mechanism to control protein phosphorylation in cells. We recently identified Biorientation defective 1 (Bod1) as a small protein inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A containing the B56 regulatory subunit (PP2A-B56). This phosphatase controls the amount of phosphorylation of several kinetochore proteins and thus the establishment of load-bearing chromosome-spindle attachments in time for accurate separation of sister chromatids in mitosis. Like PP2A-B56, Bod1 directly localizes to mitotic kinetochores and is required for correct segregation of mitotic chromosomes. In this report, we have probed the spatio-temporal regulation of Bod1 during mitotic progression. Kinetochore localization of Bod1 increases from nuclear envelope breakdown until metaphase. Phosphorylation of Bod1 at threonine 95 (T95), which increases Bod1's binding to and inhibition of PP2A-B56, peaks in prometaphase when PP2A-B56 localization to kinetochores is highest. We demonstrate here that kinetochore targeting of Bod1 depends on the outer kinetochore protein Ndc80 and not PP2A-B56. Crucially, Bod1 depletion functionally affects Ndc80 phosphorylation at the N-terminal serine 55 (S55), as well as a number of other phosphorylation sites within the outer kinetochore, including Knl1 at serine 24 and 60 (S24, S60), and threonine T943 and T1155 (T943, T1155). Therefore, Ndc80 recruits a phosphatase inhibitor to kinetochores which directly feeds forward to regulate Ndc80, and Knl1 phosphorylation, including sites that mediate the attachment of microtubules to kinetochores.

Protein turnover in cardiac cell growth and survival

Protein turnover represents the balance between protein synthesis and degradation. It can be controlled quantitatively, for instance by an activation of protein synthesis during cardiac hypertrophy or by activating protein degradation during ventricular unloading. It can also be regulated qualitatively by changing the steady state concentration of specific proteins and enzymes. The recent literature points to an emerging role for the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and for the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in this process, and both pathways interact in the regulation of cell growth and survival. We highlight the critical role played by such interaction in different cellular functions, including insulin signaling, stress response to hypoxia, adaptation to variations in workload, regulation of protein phosphatase activity, apoptosis and post-ischemic recovery. A deregulation of these pathways participates in the mechanisms of cardiac ischemia, hypertrophy and failure, and controlling their activity represents an opportunity for novel therapeutic avenues.

Characterization of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in rat liver microsomes: Suppressive effect of endogenous regucalcin in transgenic rats

The role of regucalcin, a regulatory protein in intracellular signaling system, in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in rat liver microsomes was investigated. Protein phosphatase activity torward phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine was assayed in a reaction mixture containing the microsomal protein. Protein phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine was strong as compared with that of the enzyme activity toward phosphoserine and phosphothreonine, indicating the existence of protein tyrosine phosphatase. Protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids was significantly enhanced by the addition of both calcium chloride (10 micro M) and calmodulin (2.5 or 5 micro g/ml) in the reaction mixture. The presence of ethylene glycol bis (2-amino-ethylether) N, N, N', N'-tetracetic acid (EGTA; 0.1, 1 or 2 mM) or trifluoperazine (TFP; 10, 20 or 50 micro M), an antagonist of calmodulin, did not have a significant effect on protein phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine without calcium addition. Microsomal protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was not changed by okadaic acid (10(-6)-10(-4) M). The enzyme activity was significantly decreased by vanadate (10, 50 or 100 micro M). The addition of regucalcin (0.25 or 0.5 micro M) in the reaction mixture caused a significant inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in liver microsomes. Western blot analysis showed a remarkable increase in regucalcin protein level in the liver microsomes of regucalcin transgenic (TG) rats. Protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was significantly suppressed in the liver microsomes of TG rats. This study demonstrates that protein tyrosine phosphatase activity is found in the liver microsomes, and that the enzyme activity is suppressed by regucalcin.

Suppressive effect of regucalcin on protein phosphatase activity in the heart cytosol of normal and regucalcin transgenic rats

The role of regucalcin, a regulatory protein in intracellular signaling pathway, in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in the heart muscle cytosol was investigated by using normal (wild-type) and regucalcin transgenic (TG) rats. Protein phosphatase activity was assayed in a reaction mixture containing the cytosolic protein in the presence of phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine. The addition of calcium chloride (10 and 20 microM) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant increase in protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids. Trifluoperazine (10 and 20 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin, completely inhibited calcium (10 microM) addition-increased protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids. Moreover, the calcium (10 microM)-increased enzyme activity toward phosphoserine and phosphothreonine was significantly enhanced by the addition of calmodulin (2.5 or 5 microg/ml). Such an enhancement was not seen in the presence of phosphotyrosine. Regucalcin (10(-9) and 10(-8) M) significantly inhibited protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids in the presence of ethylene glycol bis (2-aminoethlether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA; 1 mM), without Ca2+ addition. The inhibitory effect of regucalcin (10(-10)-10(-8) M) was also seen in the presence of calcium chloride (10 microM). Western blot analysis showed a remarkable expression of regucalcin protein in the cytosol of heart of regucalcin TG female rats as compared with that of wild-type female rats. Protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids was significantly decreased in the heart cytosol of TG rats. The enhancing effect of calcium (10 microM) addition on protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids was not seen in the heart cytosol of TG rats. This study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in rat heart cytoplasm.

Inhibitory effect of regucalcin on protein phosphatase activity in the nuclei of rat kidney cortex.

The role of regucalcin, which is a regulatory protein of calcium signaling, in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in the nuclei of rat kidney cortex was investigated. Protein phosphatase activity towards phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine was found in the nuclei. The enzyme activity towards three phosphoamino acids was significantly increased by the addition of calcium chloride (10-50 microM) in the enzyme reaction mixture. This increase was significantly inhibited by trifluoperazine (25 or 50 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin. The presence of regucalcin (50 or 100 nM) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in protein phosphatase activity towards three phosphoamino acids. This effect was also seen in the presence of calcium (25 microM) and/or calmodulin (5 microg/ml). Protein phosphatase activity towards three phosphoamino acids was significantly increased in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 or 50 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture. This effect was completely blocked by the addition of regucalcin (100 nM). The effect of antibody (25 ng/ml) in increasing protein phosphatase activity towards phosphotyrosine was significantly inhibited by vanadate (10(-4) M). Also, the antibody's effect towards phosphoserine and phosphothreonine was significantly inhibited by cyclosporin A (10(-5) M). Endogenous regucalcin was found in the nuclei of rat kidney cortex using Western blot analysis. Nuclear regucalcin level was significantly reduced by the administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) for seven days in rats. Protein phosphatase activity towards three phosphoamino acids was significantly decreased by saline administration. The effect of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 ng/ml) in increasing protein phosphatase activity towards three phosphoamino acids was weakened in the renal cortex nuclei of saline-administrated rats. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in the nuclei of rat kidney cortex cells.

Suppressive role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in rat renal cortex cytosol.

The role of endogenous regucalcin, which is a regulatory protein of calcium signaling, in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in the cytosol of rat renal cortex was investigated. Protein phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine was found in the cytosol of kidney cortex. The addition of regucalcin (50-250 nM) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids. The effect of calcium (25 microM) and calmodulin (2.5 microg/ml) in increasing protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids was significantly decreased by the addition of regucalcin (100 nM). Protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids was significantly increased in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (10-50 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture. The effect of antibody (25 ng/ml) in increasing the enzyme activity was significantly inhibited by cyclosporin A (10(-5) M) or vanadate (10(-5) M). Regucalcin in the kidney cortex cytosol was clearly decreased by the administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) for seven days in rats. Protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids was significantly decreased by saline administration. The effect of anti-regucalcin antibody (25 ng/ml) in increasing protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoamino acids was not seen in the renal cortex cytocol of saline-administered rats. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in the cytoplasm of rat kidney cortex.

Expression of Ca 2+-binding protein regucalcin in rat brain neurons: inhibitory effect on protein phosphatase activity

The expression of Ca 2+-binding protein regucalcin and its role in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity in rat brain neuronal cells obtained with primary culture was investigated. The expression of regucalcin mRNA was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in brain neuronal cells using rat regucalcin-specific primers. Moreover, regucalcin protein in brain neuronal cells was detected by Western blot analysis using a polyclonal rabbit anti-regucalcin antibody. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (20 or 50 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant increase in protein phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine and phosphothreonine in the reaction mixture containing the cytosol of neuronal cell homogenates. This increase was completely prevented by the addition of regucalcin (10 −8 M). Protein phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids was significantly elevated by the addition of Ca 2+ (100 μM) and calmodulin (5 μg/ml). This elevation was completely blocked by the addition of regucalcin (10 −8 M). The present study demonstrates that regucalcin is expressed in rat brain neuronal cells, and that it has an inhibitory effect on protein phosphatase activity in the cells.

Regulation of protein phosphatase activity by regucalcin localization in rat liver nuclei

Regulation of protein phosphatase activity by regucalcin localization in rat liver nuclei

Regulation of protein phosphatase activity by regucalcin localization in rat liver nuclei

The regulatory role of regucalcin on protein phosphatase activity in isolated rat liver nuclei was investigated. Phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine was significantly increased by the addition of CaCl(2) (10(-5) and 10(-4) M) in the enzyme reaction mixture. Trifluoperazine (25 and 50 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin, significantly inhibited protein phosphatase activity toward phosphoserine, while it had no effect on the enzyme activity toward phosphotysine and phosphothreonine. Cyclosporin A (10(-6)-10(-4) M), an inhibitor of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase activity toward phosphoserine, but not phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine. Thus, Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent phosphatases were present in liver nuclei. Regucalcin (0.25 and 0.5 microM) had an inhibitory effect on liver nuclear phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 and 50 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant elevation of nuclear phosphatase activity toward three phosphoaminoacids. An analysis with sodium sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggested a possibility of localization of regucalcin in liver nuclei. Moreover, regucalcin was determined in liver nuclei using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay. The present study demonstrates that the endogenous regucalcin inhibits phosphatase activity in the liver nuclei.

Characterization of the molecular mode of action of the sulfonylurea, glimepiride, at adipocytes.

The possibility of an insulin-independent blood glucose decreasing activity of sulfonylureas was re-evaluated. Single dose studies in dogs with different sulfonylureas revealed a ranking in the ratio of plasma insulin release/blood glucose decrease with glimepiride exhibiting the lowest and glibenclamide the highest ratio. This ranking suggests that sulfonylureas have extrapancreatic activity and that this is most pronounced for glimepiride. Further evidence for this was derived from single dose studies in rabbits, euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp studies in rats and subchronic studies in manifestly diabetic KK-AY mice. Extrapancreatic activity of sulfonylureas as deduced from the ranking in vivo between glimepiride and glibenclamide directly on peripheral tissues would imply a similar ranking between the two drugs in glucose utilizing processes in isolated muscle and fat cells. Indeed, glimepiride exhibits a higher potency compared to glibenclamide with respect to stimulation of glucose transport, glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT4) translocation and lipid and glycogen synthesis in normal and insulin-resistant adipocytes and in muscle cells, as well as of the potential underlying signalling processes examined at the molecular level. The molecular basis for the sulfonylurea-induced increase of glucose transport and non-oxidative glucose metabolism may rely on the dephosphorylation of key metabolic proteins/enzymes, like GLUT4 as demonstrated in isolated rat adipocytes. Activation of certain serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatases by insulin has been postulated to be mediated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and phosphatidylinositol (P1)-3'-kinase. However, there was no evidence that these pathways are involved in the regulation of protein phosphatase activity by sulfonylureas. Binding and photoaffinity studies showed that glimepiride associates in a time- and concentration dependent non-saturable manner with detergent-insoluble complexes of the plasma membrane which may correspond to caveolae. This association seems to be based on the interaction of glimepiride with glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) lipids and membrane protein anchors. These were found to be enriched in detergent-insoluble complexes together with a GPI-specific phospholipase (PLC), the caveolae-specific coast protein, caveolin, and acylated tyrosine kinases of the src family. Sulfonylureas were found to stimulate the GPI-PLC and tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin. This is presumably caused by direct interaction of the sulfonylurea into caveolar glycolipids and stimulation of a caveolar src tyrosine kinase, respectively. In accordance with the higher potency of glimepiride in vivo and in glucose transport/metabolism in vitro, the EC50 values for GPI-PLC activation and caveolin phosphorylation were lower for glimepiride than those for glibenclamide. The stimulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation by sulfonylureas via this pathway not involving the insulin signaling cascade may be coupled to activation of specific protein phosphatases regulating glucose transport and metabolism. The concentrations required in vitro were higher than the reported therapeutic plasma concentrations. However, provided that the observed time-dependent accumulation of glimepiride in caveolae of peripheral cells were of functional relevance for stimulation of glucose transport/metabolism and would also occur in vivo, due to the longer exposure times even at lower drug concentrations the insulin-independent blood glucose decreasing activity of sulfonylureas might become effective in vivo.

Identification and characterization of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and its possible direct interactions with protein phosphatase-1 in marine dinoflagellates.

We have examined the nature of signal transduction involving reversible protein phosphorylation in marine Prorocentrale species. Of particular interest is the marine dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima in which the tumour promoter okadaic acid is produced and may interfere with signal transduction. We have identified cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity in P. lima, P. micans, and P. minimum. The P. lima enzyme was characterized biochemically and appears to consist of two different isoforms in the R2C2 configuration. Whole cell extracts of P. micans and P. minimum treated with the specific PKA inhibitor peptide PKI (5-24) or cAMP demonstrated altered intensities of phosphopeptide 32P labeling, most likely involving regulation of a protein phosphatase via PKA activity. A primary candidate for PKA regulation is protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1), which in P. lima possesses a classical PKA consensus phosphorylation site. We demonstrate that a peptide fragment of PP-1 from P. lima corresponding to this PKA phosphorylation site can be effectively phosphorylated by PKA and dephosphorylated by calcineurin. We speculate that PP-1 activity among several lower eukaryotes may be mediated directly by reversible phosphorylation. Higher eukaryotes may have developed inhibitor proteins to provide more complex regulation of protein phosphatase activity.

The regulation and function of protein phosphatases in the brain.

Data emerging from a number of different systems indicate that protein phosphatases are highly regulated and potentially responsive to changes in the levels of intracellular second messengers produced by extracellular stimulation. They may therefore be involved in the regulation of many cell functions. The protein phosphatases in the nervous system have not been well studied. However, a number of neuronal-specific regulators (such as DARPP-32 and G-substrate) exist, and brain protein phosphatases appear to have particularly low specific activity, suggesting that neuronal protein phosphatases possess considerable and unique potential for regulation. Several early events following depolarization or receptor activation appear to involve specific dephosphorylations, indicating that regulation of protein phosphatase activity is important for the control of many neuronal functions. This article reviews the current literature concerning the identification, regulation, and function of serine/threonine protein phosphatases in the brain, with particular emphasis on the regulation of the major protein phosphatases, PP1 and PP2A, and their potential roles in modulating neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic responses.

In vivo progesterone regulation of protein phosphatase activity in Xenopus oocytes

Exogenous β casein, previously phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase A and casein kinase II, was microinjected into Xenopus oocytes to monitor in vivo protein phosphatase activities. Phosphatase activities were 1.6 and 3.4 fmol/min/oocyte, respectively, for β casein phosphorylated by casein kinase II and β casein phosphorylated by protein kinase A. Progesterone induced an early decrease (35% after 10 min) in phosphatase activity restricted to the protein kinase A sites of β casein.

Mechanism of Phosphorylation of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor at Threonine 669

The major site of phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor after treatment of cells with EGF is threonine 669. Phosphorylation of this site is also associated with the transmodulation of the EGF receptor caused by platelet-derived growth factor and phorbol ester. A distinctive feature of the primary sequence surrounding threonine 669 is the proximity of 2 proline residues (-Pro-Leu-Thr669-Pro-). This site is not a substrate for phosphorylation by protein kinase C. To investigate the mechanism of the increased phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at threonine 669, in vitro assays were used to measure protein kinase and protein phosphatase activities present in homogenates prepared from cells treated with and without EGF. No evidence for the regulation of protein phosphatase activity was obtained in experiments using the [32P]phosphate-labeled EGF receptor as a substrate. A synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 663-681 of the EGF receptor was used as a substrate for protein kinase assays. Incubation of murine 3T3 L1 pre-adipocytes and human WI-38 fibroblasts with EGF caused a rapid increase (3-10-fold) in the level of threonine protein kinase activity detected in cell homogenates. Similar results were obtained after EGF treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing wild-type (Thr669) and mutated (Ala669) human EGF receptors. Activation of the threonine protein kinase activity was also observed in cells treated with platelet-derived growth factor, serum, and phorbol ester. Insulin-like growth factor-1 caused no significant change in protein kinase activity. Together these data indicate a role for the regulation of the activity of a threonine protein kinase in the control of the phosphorylation state of the EGF receptor at threonine 669. The significance of the identification of a growth factor-stimulated threonine protein kinase to the mechanism of signal transduction is discussed.

Identification of protein phosphatases 1 and 2B as ribosomal protein S6 phosphatases in vitro and in vivo.

Protein phosphatases 1 and 2B from rabbit skeletal muscle were found to catalyze the dephosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in vitro. Phosphorylation of protein phosphatase-1 by the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus, pp60v-src, abolished S6 dephosphorylation by the purified enzyme. Analysis of the dephosphorylation of phosphorylase a and phosphorylase kinase in Xenopus oocyte extracts and after microinjection indicated the presence of oocyte enzymes similar to protein phosphatases-1 and -2B. Studies with 32P-labeled 40 S ribosomal subunits suggested that these enzymes were functioning as S6 phosphatases in oocytes. These findings support the hypothesis that regulation of protein phosphatase activity may be involved in the increase in S6 phosphorylation observed after mitogenic stimulation.

Regulation of protein phosphatase activity by the deinhibitor protein

In liver and muscle the major active phosphorylase and synthase phosphatase activity is associated with the glycogen particle. When we examined the effect of the inhibitor-1 and modulator protein on the enzyme present in crude glycogen fractions from dog liver, the phosphorylase phosphatase was not or only slightly affected. Since the enzyme isolated from the glycogen complex by DEAE-cellulose chromatography could be inhibited by inhibitor-1 as well as the modulator protein, it was assumed that an unknown mechanism or factor present in the glycogen fraction was responsible for this reduced sensitivity of the protein phosphatase. This led to the discovery (7) of the deinhibitor protein which has now been extensively purified from dog liver. The deinhibitor protein was shown to be thermostable, ethanol- and trichloroacetic acid-resistant, but non-dialyzable and it was destroyed by pronase or trypsin. The apparent molecular weight was estimated at about 17,500 in gel filtration, 8,300 in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 5,500 in sucrose density gradient centrifugation, behavior which is consistent with the assumption that the deinhibitor protein may have little ordered structure. Glycogen synthesis requires both phosphorylase and glycogen synthase as dephosphorylated enzymes. The interaction of the deinhibitor protein with the protein phosphatase brings about several effects which, when considered together, could all facilitate the dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase and phosphorylase. The protein phosphatase present in a resuspended glycogen pellet dephosphorylates inhibitor-1 in the absence of Mn 2+. This ability of the phosphatase, which is lost during purification of the enzyme, can be restored upon addition of the deinhibitor protein. Owing to the association of the deinhibitor protein with the active phosphatase the enzyme becomes insensitive to inhibition by inhibitor-1 and the modulator protein, and more resistant to the conversion into the F A-ATP,Mg-dependent form, brought about by the modulator protein. During the activation of the ATP,Mg-dependent phosphatase under conditions where kinase F A is rate limiting, the deinhibitor protein increases the level without affecting the rate of activation.