Serine-proline Motif Research Articles

Targeting Pin1 by inhibitor API-1 regulates microRNA biogenesis and suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma development.

Experimental evidence suggests that Pin1 inhibition by API-1 up-regulates miRNA biogenesis by retaining active XPO5 conformation and suppresses HCC development, revealing the mechanism of Pin1-mediated miRNA biogenesis and unequivocally supporting API-1 as a drug candidate for HCC therapy, especially for Pin1-overexpressing, extracellular signal-regulated kinase-activated HCC. (Hepatology 2018).

Pin1 impairs microRNA biogenesis by mediating conformation change of XPO5 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation is associated with the tumorigenesis and development of numerous human cancers. The defect in miRNA biogenesis is the main cause of miRNA dysregulation. We previously demonstrated that ERK-induced phosphorylation of XPO5 followed by peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1-mediated isomerization downregulates miRNA expression and contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. However, how Pin1 precisely regulates miRNA biogenesis in HCC remains elusive. Here we reveal that Pin1 has a pivotal role in the miRNA maturation process by modulating phosphorylated Serine-Proline (pS-P) motif of XPO5 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. By recognizing and binding to XPO5 via its WW domain, Pin1 catalyzes the conformation change of XPO5 and diminishes XPO5 ability to export pre-miRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, resulting in the reduced mature miRNA levels and promoted HCC development. Furthermore, downregulation of Pin1 by shRNA restores XPO5-dependent pre-miRNA export and effective biogenesis of mature miRNAs, leading to both in vitro and in vivo HCC inhibition. Therefore, our research discloses a new posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism of miRNA biosynthesis and provides the experimental basis for a novel HCC therapy by targeting Pin1.

The type 3 effector NopL of Sinorhizobium sp. strain NGR234 is a mitogen-activated protein kinase substrate.

Pathogenic bacteria utilize type 3 secretion systems to inject type 3 effectors (T3Es) into host cells, thereby subverting host defense reactions. Similarly, T3Es of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia can affect nodule formation on roots of legumes. Previous work showed that NopL (nodulation outer protein L) of Sinorhizobium(Ensifer) sp. strain NGR234 is multiply phosphorylated in eukaryotic cells and that this T3E suppresses responses mediated by mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling in yeast (mating pheromone signaling) and plant cells (expression of pathogenesis-related defense proteins). Here, we show that NopL is a MAP kinase substrate. Microscopic observations of fluorescent fusion proteins and bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis in onion cells indicated that NopL is targeted to the nucleus and forms a complex with SIPK (salicylic acid-induced protein kinase), a MAP kinase of tobacco. In vitro experiments demonstrated that NopL is phosphorylatyed by SIPK. At least nine distinct spots were observed after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, indicating that NopL can be hyperphosphorylated by MAP kinases. Senescence symptoms in nodules of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Tendergreen) were analyzed to determine the symbiotic effector activity of different NopL variants with serine to alanine substitutions at identified and predicted phosphorylation sites (serine-proline motif). NopL variants with six or eight serine to alanine substitutions were partially active, whereas NopL forms with 10 or 12 substituted serine residues were inactive. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence that NopL interacts with MAP kinases and reveals the importance of serine-proline motifs for effector activity during symbiosis.

Ascl1 phospho-status regulates neuronal differentiation in a Xenopus developmental model of neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB), although rare, accounts for 15% of all paediatric cancer mortality. Unusual among cancers, NBs lack a consistent set of gene mutations and, excluding large-scale chromosomal rearrangements, the genome seems to be largely intact. Indeed, many interesting features of NB suggest that it has little in common with adult solid tumours but instead has characteristics of a developmental disorder. NB arises overwhelmingly in infants under 2 years of age during a specific window of development and, histologically, NB bears striking similarity to undifferentiated neuroblasts of the sympathetic nervous system, its likely cells of origin. Hence, NB could be considered a disease of development arising when neuroblasts of the sympathetic nervous system fail to undergo proper differentiation, but instead are maintained precociously as progenitors with the potential for acquiring further mutations eventually resulting in tumour formation. To explore this possibility, we require a robust and flexible developmental model to investigate the differentiation of NB's presumptive cell of origin. Here, we use Xenopus frog embryos to characterise the differentiation of anteroventral noradrenergic (AVNA) cells, cells derived from the neural crest. We find that these cells share many characteristics with their mammalian developmental counterparts, and also with NB cells. We find that the transcriptional regulator Ascl1 is expressed transiently in normal AVNA cell differentiation but its expression is aberrantly maintained in NB cells, where it is largely phosphorylated on multiple sites. We show that Ascl1's ability to induce differentiation of AVNA cells is inhibited by its multi-site phosphorylation at serine-proline motifs, whereas overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and MYCN inhibit wild-type Ascl1-driven AVNA differentiation, but not differentiation driven by a phospho-mutant form of Ascl1. This suggests that the maintenance of ASCL1 in its multiply phosphorylated state might prevent terminal differentiation in NB, which could offer new approaches for differentiation therapy in NB.

Ascl1 phospho-status regulates neuronal differentiation in a Xenopus developmental model of neuroblastoma.

ABSTRACTNeuroblastoma (NB), although rare, accounts for 15% of all paediatric cancer mortality. Unusual among cancers, NBs lack a consistent set of gene mutations and, excluding large-scale chromosomal rearrangements, the genome seems to be largely intact. Indeed, many interesting features of NB suggest that it has little in common with adult solid tumours but instead has characteristics of a developmental disorder. NB arises overwhelmingly in infants under 2 years of age during a specific window of development and, histologically, NB bears striking similarity to undifferentiated neuroblasts of the sympathetic nervous system, its likely cells of origin. Hence, NB could be considered a disease of development arising when neuroblasts of the sympathetic nervous system fail to undergo proper differentiation, but instead are maintained precociously as progenitors with the potential for acquiring further mutations eventually resulting in tumour formation. To explore this possibility, we require a robust and flexible developmental model to investigate the differentiation of NB's presumptive cell of origin. Here, we use Xenopus frog embryos to characterise the differentiation of anteroventral noradrenergic (AVNA) cells, cells derived from the neural crest. We find that these cells share many characteristics with their mammalian developmental counterparts, and also with NB cells. We find that the transcriptional regulator Ascl1 is expressed transiently in normal AVNA cell differentiation but its expression is aberrantly maintained in NB cells, where it is largely phosphorylated on multiple sites. We show that Ascl1's ability to induce differentiation of AVNA cells is inhibited by its multi-site phosphorylation at serine-proline motifs, whereas overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and MYCN inhibit wild-type Ascl1-driven AVNA differentiation, but not differentiation driven by a phospho-mutant form of Ascl1. This suggests that the maintenance of ASCL1 in its multiply phosphorylated state might prevent terminal differentiation in NB, which could offer new approaches for differentiation therapy in NB.

Abstract 2189: Inhibition of PIN1 suppresses tumorigenicity of EBV-associated NPC.

Abstract Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an EBV-associated epithelial malignancy which is prevalent in southern China and south-east Asia. EBV-encoded EBNA1 is consistently expressed in NPC cells and implicates the replication and stable persistence of latent viral genome. As a phosphorylated protein, the function of EBV is believed to be affected by phosphorylation.In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the phospho-Ser/Thr-Pro specific prolyl-isomerase PIN1 alters EBNA1 function and plays a role in the tumorigenesis of EBV-associated NPC.By western blotting and immunohistochemical staining, we have found that PIN1 was highly expressed in almost all 6 NPC tumor lines and 70 primary tumors. In the EBV-positive C666-1 cells, co-localization and interaction of EBNA1 and PIN1 was detected by immunofluorence staining and co-immunoprecipitation assay respectively. The interaction between PIN1 and EBNA1 at the specific serine-proline motif (Ser383 and Ser393 in EBNA1;WW domain in Pin1) was also demonstrated. To investigate potential role of PIN1 in NPC tumorigenesis, we established a stable nasopharyngeal epitheliacell line NP69 overexpressing PIN1. In this model, we found that overexpression of PIN1 up-regulated cyclin D1 and activated MAPK/JNK pathway. Increased anchorage-independent growth of NP69 overexpressing PIN was shown in soft agar assay.To further validate the oncogencity of PIN1, we knocked down its expression in the NPC cell line C666-1 by RNA interference (siRNA). The study confirmed the PIN1-mediated cyclin D1 suppression. Importantly, knocking down of PIN1 significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, DNA synthesis and migration of NPC cells.Similar findings were also detected in the NPC cells treated with PIN1 inhibitor, Juglone. Treating EBV-positive C666-1cell with Juglone,we found it can significantly induce apoptosisand suppress the cyclinD1expression in C666-1cells. The anti-tumor effect of PIN inhibitor was demonstrated in the in vitro NPC model. To elucidate the anti-tumor potential of PIN1 inhibitorin vivo, the mice implanted with NPC cells were subjected to treatment with different doses of Juglone. A dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth was observed in the mice treated with PIN1 inhibitor. In conclusion, our findings imply that PIN1overexpression plays important role in the development of NPC. Targeting Pin1 may serve as a potential therapeutic approach for treating patients suffering from this EBV-associated cancer. Citation Format: Meng Xu, Chit Chow, Chartia Ching-Mei Cheung, Chi-Man Tsang, Samantha Wei-Man Lun, Jessie Wai-Fung Yuen, Grace Tin-Yun Chung, Sah-Wah Tsao, Ka Fai To, Kwok Wai Lo. Inhibition of PIN1 suppresses tumorigenicity of EBV-associated NPC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2189. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2189

Drosophila Heat Shock Response Requires the JNK Pathway and Phosphorylation of Mixed Lineage Kinase at a Conserved Serine-Proline Motif

Defining context specific requirements for proteins and pathways is a major challenge in the study of signal transduction. For example, the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) pathways are comprised of families of closely related transducers that are activated in a variety of tissues and contexts during development and organismal homeostasis. Consequently, redundant and pleiotropic effects have hampered a complete understanding of the individual contributions of transducers in distinct contexts. Here, we report on the function of a context-specific regulatory phosphorylation site, PXSP, in the Drosophila mixed lineage kinase protein, Slpr, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) in the Jun Kinase (JNK) pathway. Genetic analysis of the function of non-phosphorylatable (PXAP) and phosphomimetic mutant (PXEP) Slpr transgenes in several distinct contexts revealed minimal effects in JNK-dependent tissue closure processes but differential requirements in heat stress response. In particular, PXAP expression resulted in sensitivity of adults to sustained heat shock, like p38 and JNK pathway mutants. In contrast, PXEP overexpression conferred some resistance. Indeed, phosphorylation of the PXSP motif is enriched under heat shock conditions and requires in part, the p38 kinases for the enrichment. These data suggest that coordination of signaling between p38 and Slpr serves to maintain JNK signaling during heat stress. In sum, we demonstrate a novel role for JNK signaling in the heat shock response in flies and identify a posttranslational modification on Slpr, at a conserved site among MAP3K mixed lineage kinase family members, which bolsters stress resistance with negligible effects on JNK-dependent developmental processes.

Degradation of the Tumor Suppressor PML by Pin1 Contributes to the Cancer Phenotype of Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells

Promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is an important regulator due to its role in numerous cellular processes including apoptosis, viral infection, senescence, DNA damage repair, and cell cycle regulation. Despite the role of PML in many cellular functions, little is known about the regulation of PML itself. We show that PML stability is regulated through interaction with the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase Pin1. This interaction is mediated through four serine-proline motifs in the C terminus of PML. Binding to Pin1 results in degradation of PML in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Furthermore, our data indicate that sumoylation of PML blocks the interaction, thus preventing degradation of PML by this pathway. Functionally, we show that in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line modulating levels of Pin1 affects steady-state levels of PML. Furthermore, degradation of PML due to Pin1 acts both to protect these cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced death and to increase the rate of proliferation. Taken together, our work defines a novel mechanism by which sumoylation of PML prevents Pin1-dependent degradation. This interaction likely occurs in numerous cell lines and may be a pathway for oncogenic transformation.

Pin1 Interacts With a Specific Serine-Proline Motif of Hepatitis B Virus X-Protein to Enhance Hepatocarcinogenesis

The peptidyl prolyl isomerase Pin1 frequently is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most common etiologic agent in HCC, and its encoded X-protein (HBx) is oncogenic and possesses a serine-proline motif that may bind Pin1. The role of Pin1 in hepatocarcinogenesis, particularly in HBV-related HCC, was investigated. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the prevalence of Pin1 overexpression in HCCs of different etiologies. Glutathione S-transferase pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation experiments were used to validate the physical interaction between Pin1 and HBx. Reporter assay, cell proliferation assay, and xenotransplantation experiments were used to show the functional consequence and importance of Pin1-HBx interaction in hepatocarcinogenesis. We showed preferential Pin1 overexpression in HBV-related tumors and confirmed the interaction between Pin1 and HBx at the specific serine-proline motif. Pin1 overexpression increased the protein stability of HBx. Furthermore, HBx-mediated transactivation was enhanced by co-expression of Pin1. HepG2 expressing Pin1 and HBx showed a synergistic increase in cellular proliferation, as compared with cells expressing Pin1 or HBx alone. Furthermore, concomitant expression of Pin1 and HBx in the nontumorigenic human hepatocyte cell line MIHA led to a synergistic increase in tumor growth. Finally, in Hep3B cells with suppressed Pin1 expression, HBx-enhanced tumor growth in nude mice was abrogated. Pin1 binds HBx to enhance hepatocarcinogenesis in HBV-infected hepatocytes. The discovery of an interaction between Pin1 and HBx will further our understanding of the molecular pathogenic mechanism of HBV-related HCC in human beings.

Phosphorylation Effects on cis/trans Isomerization and the Backbone Conformation of Serine−Proline Motifs: Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Analysis

The presence of serine/threonine-proline motifs in proteins provides a conformational switching mechanism of the backbone through the cis/trans isomerization of the peptidyl-prolyl (omega) bond. The reversible phosphorylation of the serine/threonine modulates this switching in regulatory proteins to alter signaling and transcription. However, the mechanism is not well understood. This is partly because cis/trans isomerization is a very slow process and, hence, difficult to study. We have used our accelerated molecular dynamics method to study the cis/trans proline isomerization, preferred backbone conformation of a serine-proline motif, and the effects of phosphorylation of the serine residue. We demonstrate that, unlike normal molecular dynamics, the accelerated molecular dynamics allows for the system to escape very easily from the trans isomer to cis isomer, and vice versa. Moreover, for both the unphosphorylated and phosphorylated peptides, the statistical thermodynamic properties are recaptured, and the results are consistent with experimental values. Isomerization of the proline omega bond is shown to be asymmetric and strongly dependent on the psi backbone angle before and after phosphorylation. The rates of escape decrease after phosphorylation. Also, the alpha-helical backbone conformation is more favored after phosphorylation. This accelerated molecular dynamics approach provides a general approach for enhancing the conformational transitions of molecular systems without having prior knowledge of the location of the minima and barriers on the potential-energy landscape.

In situ determination of a PKA phosphorylation site in the C-terminal region of filamin.

A C-terminal region of human endothelial actin-binding protein-280 (ABP-280 or ABP, non-muscle filamin) was subcloned and efficiently expressed in a mammalian cells system as indicated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting analysis. As predicted by the aminoacid sequence, the fragment, a 79 kD peptide (residues 1671-2361, plus 3.9 kD from an N-terminal fusion peptide included in the expression plasmid), contained the two potential cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylation sites (serine 2152 and threonine 2336) predicted to be present in this region of the molecule. Incubation of cells in the presence of cAMP-elevating agents enhanced 32P uptake into the fragment. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis indicated that serine 2152 is the unique substrate in the C-terminal region of ABP for endogenously activated PKA. The functional implications of phosphorylation of this residue, which belongs to a serine-proline motif, are discussed in terms of the role of filamin in cytoskeleton reorganization.

The murine DSCR1-like (Down Syndrome Candidate Region 1) gene family: conserved synteny with the human orthologous genes

A recently recognized gene family, conserved from yeast to humans, includes Down syndrome candidate region 1 gene ( DSCR1), Adapt78 (recognized as the hamster ortholog of the DSCR1 isoform 4), ZAKI-4 (renamed DSCR1-like 1, DSCR1L1) and DSCR1L2 (a novel gene on human chromosome 1), along with yeast and C. elegans single members (Strippoli P., Lenzi L., Petrini M., Carinci P., Zannotti M., 2000. A new gene family including DSCR1 (Down Syndrome Candidate Region 1) and ZAKI-4: characterization from yeast to human and identification of DSCR1-like 2, a novel human member. Genomics 64, 252–263). The proposed family labels were a putative single-strand nucleic acid binding domain similar to the RNA recognition motif, and a unique, highly-conserved serine-proline motif. We have used a bioinformatics-driven molecular biology approach to characterize the murine members of DSCR1-like gene family. Systematic expressed-sequence-tags (EST) database search and reverse-transcription polymerase chain rection (RT-PCR) product sequencing allowed identification of the murine DSCR1, DSCR1L1 and DSCR1L2. The sequences of the respective protein products are of 198, 197 and 241 amino acids, respectively, and are very similar to the corresponding human proteins. The very broad expression pattern of the murine DSCR1 genes is similar to that of the human genes. Using a radiation hybrid panel, we mapped the murine DSCR1-like family members. The murine DSCR1 ortholog is located on the chromosome 16, in a region corresponding to that on human chromosome 21 just upstream of the Down syndrome candidate region. DSCR1L1 and DSCR1L2 murine genes are also located in chromosomal segments of chromosome 17 and 4, respectively, exactly corresponding to those containing the respective human homologs on chromosomes 6 and 1. Description of the mouse orthologs for DSCR1-like genes will allow knockout mice to be obtained for specific family members.

Isomerization of the Peptide Bond

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Prolyl isomerases are most familiar as the targets of the immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporin and FK506, which bind, respectively, to cyclophilins and FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs). An as yet intractable puzzle has been the cellular function of these enzymes, which generally are not essential for viability. Wu et al. have studied a third class of prolyl isomerases, typified by Ess1 which is essential for growth in yeast. Unlike the other two kinds, Ess1 contains a WW domain (so-called for two invariant tryptophans) in addition to the catalytic domain; the WW domain is known to interact with phosphoserine-proline sequences. From a combination of genetic (to identify suppressors) and biochemical (to characterize interactions) experiments, they conclude that Ess1 functions by binding to the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase. Thus, Ess1 would control the recruitment of transcriptional regulatory factors via their interactions with the CTD—which is known to include many copies of a seven-residue repeat containing two serine-proline motifs. Arevalo-Rodriguez et al. have examined the interactions of cyclophilin and Ess1 with components of a chromatin remodeling complex, while Verdecia et al. describe the structure of a WW domain bound to the doubly phosphorylated heptad repeat. — GJC EMBO J. 19 , 3727 (2000); EMBO J. 19 , 3739 (2000); Nature Struct. Biol. 7 , 639 (2000).

Determination of a cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Phosphorylation Site in the C-Terminal Region of Human Endothelial Actin-Binding Protein

Three different C-terminal regions of human endothelial actin-binding protein-280 (ABP-280 or ABP; nonmuscle filamin) were subcloned and efficiently expressed in the Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) system as indicated by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. As predicted by the aminoacid sequence one of the fragments, a 109-kDa peptide (residues 1671–2647), contained a calpain cleavage site and two potential cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylation sites (serine 2152 and threonine 2336). A second fragment, a 74-kDa peptide (residues 1671–2331), contained a calpain cleavage site and one of the three presumptive PKA phosphorylation sites (serine 2152). The third fragment, a 48-kDa peptide (residues 2223–2647), contained only one of the PKA sites (threonine 2336). Phosphorylation of these truncated peptides indicated that only the fragments containing serine 2152 incorporated phosphate after PKA treatment. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis confirmed that serine 2152 is the unique substrate for PKA in the C-terminal region of ABP. The functional significance of phosphorylation of this residue, which belongs to a serine-proline motif, is discussed.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein 1B regulates the stability of microtubules in growth cones.

We have recently shown that glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) phosphorylates the microtubule-associated protein (MAP) 1B in an in vitro kinase assay and in cultured cerebellar granule cells. Mapping studies identified a region of MAP1B high in serine-proline motifs that is phosphorylated by GSK3beta. Here we show that COS cells, transiently transfected with both MAP1B and GSK3beta, express high levels of the phosphorylated isoform of MAP1B (MAP1B-P) generated by GSK3beta. To investigate effects of MAP1B-P on microtubule dynamics, double transfected cells were labelled with antibodies to tyrosinated and detyrosinated tubulin markers for stable and unstable microtubules. This showed that high levels of MAP1B-P expression are associated with the loss of a population of detyrosinated microtubules in these cells. Transfection with MAP1B protected microtubules in COS cells against nocodazole depolymerisation, confirming previous studies. However, this protective effect was greatly reduced in cells containing high levels of MAP1B-P following transfection with both MAP1B and GSK3beta. Since we also found that MAP1B binds to tyrosinated, but not to detyrosinated, microtubules in transfected cells, we propose that MAP1B-P prevents tubulin detyrosination and subsequent conversion of unstable to stable microtubules and that this involves binding of MAP1B-P to unstable microtubules. The highest levels of MAP1B-P are found in neuronal growth cones and therefore our findings suggest that a primary role of MAP1B-P in growing axons may be to maintain growth cone microtubules in a dynamically unstable state, a known requirement of growth cone microtubules during pathfinding. To test this prediction, we reduced the levels of MAP1B-P in neuronal growth cones of dorsal root ganglion cells in culture by inhibiting GSK3beta with lithium. In confirmation of the proposed role of MAP1B-P in maintaining microtubule dynamics we found that lithium treatment dramatically increased the numbers of stable (detyrosinated) microtubules in the growth cones of these neurons.

Human topoisomerase II alpha is phosphorylated in a cell-cycle phase-dependent manner by a proline-directed kinase.

Topoisomerase II is essential for chromosome condensation and segregation at mitosis in eukaryotic cells, but the mechanism of its regulation is not clearly understood. We have investigated whether or not the alpha isozyme of human topoisomerase II is phosphorylated in a cell-cycle phase-dependent manner. Two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping revealed that several sites on HeLa topoisomerase II alpha protein were phosphorylated predominantly or exclusively during the G2 and M phases. To identify the protein kinases involved in this cell-cycle phase-specific phosphorylation, oligohistidine-tagged recombinant domains of the topoisomerase II alpha protein were expressed in Escherichia coli, purified by affinity chromatography and phosphorylated in vitro by different protein kinases. Phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of the topoisomerase II alpha protein by the universal mitotic controller, p34cdc2, generated multiple tryptic phosphopeptides, many of which corresponded to the G2/M-phase-specific phosphorylation sites observed in vivo. The same phosphopeptides were obtained following phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain in vitro by the mitogen-activated protein kinase. Site-directed mutagenesis studies identified five of these sites of phosphorylation, each of which comprised a serine-proline motif. Our data implicate one or more proline-directed kinases in the cell-cycle-dependent regulation of topoisomerase II alpha enzyme activity in human cells.

Phosphorylation of the human estrogen receptor. Identification of hormone-regulated sites and examination of their influence on transcriptional activity.

We have used a transient transfection system with a cytomegalovirus-based vector expressing high levels of biologically active human estrogen receptor (ER) in COS-1 cells to study the phosphorylation of human ER and to identify major hormone-regulated phosphorylation sites. The features of phosphorylation of the wild-type ER were very similar to those previously observed for the endogenous ER in uterine cells: The ER exhibited a basal level of phosphorylation which was increased approximately 3-4-fold by estrogen (estradiol) and by antiestrogens (hydroxytamoxifen and ICI164,384), and phosphorylation was increased to an almost similar extent by activation of either protein kinase A or C signal transduction pathways with cholera toxin plus isobutyl methylxanthine (CT+IBMX) or phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), respectively. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that the phosphorylation occurred exclusively on serine residues in all cases. Tryptic phosphopeptide analysis of ER, using a two-dimensional peptide mapping procedure, revealed similar patterns for ER in cells treated with estradiol, antiestrogens or TPA; with CT+IBMX treatment, the same phosphopeptides were seen, but the relative phosphorylation of the different ER phosphotryptic peptides differed. In ER deleted of the NH2-terminal A and B (A/B) domains, estrogen and antiestrogen-stimulated phosphorylations were abolished, while the phosphorylation induced by CT+IBMX was maintained. This suggests that sites of phosphorylation enhanced by estradiol and antiestrogen, but not those induced by CT+IBMX, are located in the A/B domain. These results were further confirmed by comparing the tryptic phosphopeptide patterns of wild-type and A/B-deleted receptor upon estradiol and CT+IBMX treatments, and then by site-directed mutagenesis, by substituting alanines for the serine residues in the A/B domain (Ser104, Ser106, Ser118, Ser154, and Ser167) involved in known protein kinase consensus sequences. Comparison of the tryptic phosphopeptide patterns of wild-type ER and these mutant ERs allowed us to identify serine 104 and/or serine 106 and serine 118, all three being part of a serine-proline motif, the preferred substrate of proline-directed protein kinase, as major ER phosphorylation sites. When tested with two estrogen-responsive reporter gene constructs in several cell types, the mutant S104A, S106A, S118A showed a approximately 40% reduction in transactivation activity in response to E2, while the mutants S118A and S104A, S106A alone showed a approximately 15% decrease in transactivation. Our studies identify several serines in the NH2-terminal portion of the human ER as being major hormone-regulated phosphorylation sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The switch of tau protein to an Alzheimer-like state includes the phosphorylation of two serine-proline motifs upstream of the microtubule binding region.

The paired helical filaments (PHFs) of Alzheimer's disease consist mainly of the microtubule-associated protein tau. PHF tau differs from normal human brain tau in that it has a higher Mr and a special state of phosphorylation. However, the protein kinase(s) involved, the phosphorylation sites on tau and the resulting conformational changes are only poorly understood. Here we show that a new monoclonal antibody, AT8, records the PHF-like state of tau in vitro, and we describe a kinase activity that turns normal tau into a PHF-like state. The epitope of AT8 is around residue 200, outside the region of internal repeats and requires the phosphorylation of serines 199 and/or 202. Both of these are followed by a proline, suggesting that the kinase activity belongs to the family of proline-directed kinases. The epitope of AT8 is nearly coincident with that of another phosphorylation-dependent antibody, TAU1 [Binder, L.I., Frankfurter, A. and Rebhun, L. (1985) J. Cell Biol., 101, 1371-1378], but the two are complementary since TAU1 requires a dephosphorylated epitope.