Tyrosyl Phosphorylation Research Articles

Prolactin-induced tyrosyl phosphorylation of PAK1 facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

PAK1 and prolactin (PRL) regulate breast cancer. Prolactin-activated JAK2 tyrosyl phosphorylates PAK1 (pTyr-PAK1). We demonstrate here that pTyr-PAK1 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer cells. PRL treatment of T47D PAK1 WT cells leads to downregulation of E-cadherin surface expression and "ectodomain shedding" (extracellular cleavage of E-cadherin). pTyr-PAK1 increases mRNA levels of Snail, Slug, and Twist2, transcriptional factors implicated in E-cadherin repression. pTyr-PAK1 also significantly increases PRL-dependent Slug activity leading to expression of vimentin, a hallmark of EMT. Thus, our current data on pTyr-PAK1 regulation of EMT bring insight into the role of PAK1 and PRL in human breast cancer.

Comprehensive analysis of PTPN family expression and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: Tyrosyl phosphorylation is carried out by a group of enzymes known as non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPNs). In the current investigation, it is hoped to shed light on the relationships between the expression patterns of PTPN family members and the prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods: PTPN expression was examined using GEPIA and GEO databases. To investigate the connection between PTPN expression and survival in AML patients, we downloaded data from the Broad TCGA Firehose and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis (CPTAC) of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We used quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to confirm that essential genes were performed in clinical samples and cell lines. We then used western blot to verify that the genes expressed in the above databases were positive in normal tissues, AML patient samples, and AML cell lines. Next, we investigated associations between genome-wide expression profiles and PTPN6 expression using the GEO datasets. We investigated the interactive exploration of multidimensional cancer genomics using the cBioPortal datasets. Using the DAVID database, a study of gene ontology enrichment was performed. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created using the STRING portal, and the gene-gene interaction network was performed using GeneMANIA. Results: Data from GEO and GEPIA revealed that most PTPN family members were linked to AML. Patients with leukemia have elevated levels of several PTPN members. All of the AML patients' poor overall survival (OS, p < .05) was significantly linked with higher expression of PTPN1, PTPN6, and PTPN7. Additionally, clinical samples showed that the expression of PTPN 6, PTPN 7, PTPN 13, and PTPN 14 was higher than normal in AML patients (p = .0116, p = .0034, p = .0092, and p = .0057, respectively) and AML cell lines (p = .0004, p = .0035, p = .0357, and p = .0177, respectively). Western blotting results showed that the expression of PTPN6 in AML samples and AML cell lines was significantly higher than that in normal control samples. Conclusion: Differentially expressed PTPN family members were found in AML. The prognosis of patients and PTPN gene expression were shown to be correlated. PTPN6 is one of these members and may be used as an AML diagnostic and prognostic marker.

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Inhibits Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 Expression and Tyrosyl Phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes by Increasing NF-κB DNA-Binding Activity.

Background Abundant evidence indicates that thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are associated with insulin resistance in adipocytes. However, the potential mechanism of the association remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine the potential role of TSH in the suppression of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) expression and IRS-1 tyrosyl phosphorylation, which might contribute to insulin resistance. Methods Mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated into adipocytes. After treatment with 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mIU/ml bovine TSH, the TNF-α concentration in the medium was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity was quantified by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). IRS-1 levels in adipocytes were quantified by Western blotting, and tyrosine phosphorylation was measured by immunoprecipitation. Results TSH induced TNF-α secretion in a dose-dependent manner. There was a significant positive correlation between NF-κB DNA-binding activity and TNF-α secretion. This effect and correlation were weakened by BAY 11-7082 (a nuclear NF-κB inhibitor) and H89 (an inhibitor of cyclic adenosine monophosphate- (cAMP-) dependent protein kinase A (PKA)). Treatment of cultured adipocytes with TSH inhibited insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosyl phosphorylation but promoted TSH-dependent secretion of TNF-α and activation of NF-κB DNA-binding activity. The effects of TSH were significantly inhibited by BAY 11-7082 and H89 and were completely blocked by the TNF-α antagonist WP9QY. Conclusion TSH inhibited IRS-1 protein expression and tyrosyl phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by stimulating TNF-α production via promotion of NF-κB DNA-binding activity. TSH might play a pivotal role in the development of insulin resistance.

The Q61H mutation decouples KRAS from upstream regulation and renders cancer cells resistant to SHP2 inhibitors

Cancer cells bearing distinct KRAS mutations exhibit variable sensitivity to SHP2 inhibitors (SHP2i). Here we show that cells harboring KRAS Q61H are uniquely resistant to SHP2i, and investigate the underlying mechanisms using biophysics, molecular dynamics, and cell-based approaches. Q61H mutation impairs intrinsic and GAP-mediated GTP hydrolysis, and impedes activation by SOS1, but does not alter tyrosyl phosphorylation. Wild-type and Q61H-mutant KRAS are both phosphorylated by Src on Tyr32 and Tyr64 and dephosphorylated by SHP2, however, SHP2i does not reduce ERK phosphorylation in KRAS Q61H cells. Phosphorylation of wild-type and Gly12-mutant KRAS, which are associated with sensitivity to SHP2i, confers resistance to regulation by GAP and GEF activities and impairs binding to RAF, whereas the near-complete GAP/GEF-resistance of KRAS Q61H remains unaltered, and high-affinity RAF interaction is retained. SHP2 can stimulate KRAS signaling by modulating GEF/GAP activities and dephosphorylating KRAS, processes that fail to regulate signaling of the Q61H mutant.

MO14-2 KRAS Q61H mutation evades the regulation of tyrosyl phosphorylation and renders cancer cells resistant to SHP2 inhibitor

KRAS is a small GTPase that functions as a molecular switch to regulate vital eukaryotic cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation and survival. Mutations in KRAS and various other components of the KRAS signaling pathways are among the most common genetic alterations in human cancers. A recent series of reports suggest that SHP2 inhibition (SHP2i) is effective to KRAS-mutated cancers including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, a lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms is hindering the clinical advancement of SHP2i for cancer.

Low-dose Dasatinib Ameliorates Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Noonan Syndrome with Multiple Lentigines

PurposeNoonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (NSML) is an autosomal dominant disorder presenting with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Up to 85% of NSML cases are caused by mutations in the PTPN11 gene that encodes for the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2). We previously showed that low-dose dasatinib protects from the development of cardiac fibrosis in a mouse model of NSML harboring a Ptpn11Y279C mutation. This study is performed to determine the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of a low-dose of dasatinib in NSML mice and to determine its effectiveness in ameliorating the development of HCM.MethodsDasatinib was administered intraperitoneally into NSML mice with doses ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 mg/kg. PK parameters of dasatinib in NSML mice were determined. PD parameters were obtained for biochemical analyses from heart tissue. Dasatinib-treated NSML mice (0.1 mg/kg) were subjected to echocardiography and assessment of markers of HCM by qRT-PCR. Transcriptome analysis was performed from the heart tissue of low-dose dasatinib-treated mice.ResultsLow-dose dasatinib exhibited PK properties that were linear across doses in NSML mice. Dasatinib treatment of between 0.05 and 0.5 mg/kg in NSML mice yielded an exposure-dependent inhibition of c-Src and PZR tyrosyl phosphorylation and inhibited AKT phosphorylation. We found that doses as low as 0.1 mg/kg of dasatinib prevented HCM in NSML mice. Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed HCM-associated genes in the heart of NSML mice that were reverted to wild type levels by low-dose dasatinib administration.ConclusionThese data demonstrate that low-dose dasatinib exhibits desirable therapeutic PK properties that is sufficient for effective target engagement to ameliorate HCM progression in NSML mice. These data demonstrate that low-dose dasatinib treatment may be an effective therapy against HCM in NSML patients.

Tyrosyl phosphorylation of PZR promotes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in PTPN11-associated Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines.

Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (NSML) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder that presents with cardio-cutaneous-craniofacial defects. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) represents the major life-threatening presentation in NSML. Mutations in the PTPN11 gene that encodes for the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), SHP2, represents the predominant cause of HCM in NSML. NSML-associated PTPN11 mutations render SHP2 catalytically inactive with an "open" conformation. NSML-associated PTPN11 mutations cause hypertyrosyl phosphorylation of the transmembrane glycoprotein, protein zero-related (PZR), resulting in increased SHP2 binding. Here we show that NSML mice harboring a tyrosyl phosphorylation-defective mutant of PZR (NSML/PZRY242F) that is defective for SHP2 binding fail to develop HCM. Enhanced AKT/S6 kinase signaling in heart lysates of NSML mice was reversed in NSML/PZRY242F mice, demonstrating that PZR/SHP2 interactions promote aberrant AKT/S6 kinase activity in NSML. Enhanced PZR tyrosyl phosphorylation in the hearts of NSML mice was found to drive myocardial fibrosis by engaging an Src/NF-κB pathway, resulting in increased activation of IL-6. Increased expression of IL-6 in the hearts of NSML mice was reversed in NSML/PZRY242F mice, and PZRY242F mutant fibroblasts were defective for IL-6 secretion and STAT3-mediated fibrogenesis. These results demonstrate that NSML-associated PTPN11 mutations that induce PZR hypertyrosyl phosphorylation trigger pathophysiological signaling that promotes HCM and cardiac fibrosis.

The expression patterns and the diagnostic/prognostic roles of PTPN family members in digestive tract cancers

BackgroundNon-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPNs) are a set of enzymes involved in the tyrosyl phosphorylation. The present study intended to clarify the associations between the expression patterns of PTPN family members, and diagnosis as well as the prognosis of digestive tract cancers.MethodsOncomine and Ualcan were used to analyze PTPN expressions. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were downloaded through UCSC Xena for validation and to explore the relationship of the PTPN expression with diagnosis, clinicopathological parameters and survival of digestive tract cancers. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was conducted using the DAVID database. The gene–gene interaction network was performed by GeneMANIA and the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was built using STRING portal coupled with Cytoscape. The expression of differentially expressed PTPNs in cancer cell lines were explored using CCLE. Moreover, by histological verification, the expression of four PTPNs in digestive tract cancers were further analyzed.ResultsMost PTPN family members were associated with digestive tract cancers according to Oncomine, Ualcan and TCGA data. Several PTPN members were differentially expressed in digestive tract cancers. For esophageal carcinoma (ESCA), PTPN1 and PTPN12 levels were correlated with incidence; PTPN20 was associated with poor prognosis. For stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD), PTPN2 and PTPN12 levels were correlated with incidence; PTPN3, PTPN5, PTPN7, PTPN11, PTPN13, PTPN14, PTPN18 and PTPN23 were correlated with pathological grade; PTPN20 expression was related with both TNM stage and N stage; PTPN22 was associated with T stage and pathological grade; decreased expression of PTPN5 and PTPN13 implied worse overall survival of STAD, while elevated PTPN6 expression indicated better prognosis. For colorectal cancer (CRC), PTPN2, PTPN21 and PTPN22 levels were correlated with incidence; expression of PTPN5, PTPN12, and PTPN14 was correlated with TNM stage and N stage; high PTPN5 or PTPN7 expression was associated with increased hazards of death. CCLE analyses showed that in esophagus cancer cell lines, PTPN1, PTPN4 and PTPN12 were highly expressed; in gastric cancer cell lines, PTPN2 and PTPN12 were highly expressed; in colorectal cancer cell lines, PTPN12 was highly expressed while PTPN22 was downregulated. Results of histological verification experiment showed differential expressions of PTPN22 in CRC, and PTPN12 in GC and CRC.ConclusionsMembers of PTPN family were differentially expressed in digestive tract cancers. Correlations were found between PTPN genes and clinicopathological parameters of patients. Expression of PTPN12 was upregulated in both STAD and CRC, and thus could be used as a diagnostic biomarker. Differential expression of PTPN12 in GC and CRC, and PTPN22 in CRC were presented in our histological verification experiment.

Abstract A04: Biophysical and biochemical characterization of Src-phosphorylated KRas

Abstract Tyrosine phosphorylation of several small GTPase proteins including Ras has been reported; however, investigations to understand the biologic role of tyrosine phosphorylated small GTPases have been limited. We will present the detailed characterization of the impact of tyrosyl phosphorylation of KRas on each stage of the GTPase cycle, and on the binding to the RBD of BRaf. Using NMR and MS analysis we demonstrate that a catalytic amount of Src (1 mole of Src into 250 moles of KRas) specifically phosphorylates KRas at two of the eight tyrosine residues (Y32 and Y64) in vitro. In HEK293 cells, ectopic expression of Src with KRas results in tyrosyl phosphorylation of the same sites in KRas. Tyrosyl phosphorylation of KRas perturbs the chemical shifts of residues in the two switch regions. Using our real-time NMR-based small GTPase assay, we illustrate that tyrosyl phosphorylation alters regulation of the KRas GTPase cycle by guanine exchange factor (SOScat) and GTPase activating protein (p120GAP), rendering KRas resistant to both activities. Furthermore, using an Octet BLI binding assay, we demonstrated that tyrosyl phosphorylation of KRas strongly impairs BRaf-RBD binding. In vitro, Src-phosphorylated KRas can be completely dephosphorylated by the phosphatase SHP2. In cells, we were able to detect endogenous tyrosyl phosphorylated Ras upon SHP2 CRISPR knockout. Together, our findings demonstrate that the GTPase cycle and effector binding affinity of KRas can be regulated by the balance of Src and SHP2 activities. Citation Format: Teklab Gebregiworgis, Christopher B. Marshall, Yoshihito Kano, Michael Ohh, Mitsuhiko Ikura. Biophysical and biochemical characterization of Src-phosphorylated KRas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting RAS-Driven Cancers; 2018 Dec 9-12; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(5_Suppl):Abstract nr A04.

Jak-Stat Signaling Pathway Related Gene Expressions and Blood Biochemical indicators in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Jak-Stat Signaling Pathway Related Gene Expressions and Blood Biochemical indicators in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Is there a Role for Sodium Orthovanadate in the Treatment of Diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, whose incidences are increasing day by day. Various classes of anti-diabetic drugs are clinically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, but unfortunately, none of them is able to treat this condition. Thus, the exploration of novel mechanistic pathways of existing molecules may help to develop more safe and effective anti-diabetic agents. Sodium orthovanadate is a well known common laboratory agent used to preserve the protein tyrosyl phosphorylation state of the protein. The data related to sodium orthovanadate and diabetes mellitus has been collected from Pubmed. Various reports have indicated the potential of sodium orthovanadate as Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (PTP1B) inhibitors which play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. However, safety of Sodium orthovanadate is still questionable. The sodium orthovanadate could be developed as an anti-diabetic agent. However, further studies are required to confirm its safety profile in the treatment of diabetes mellitus before starting a clinical trial.

Decreased adiposity and enhanced glucose tolerance in Zyflamend treated mice

Obesity is a growing epidemic that presents a major health problem worldwide. Obese individuals are at a higher risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes. Zyflamend is a poly‐herbal supplement derived from the extracts of ten different herbs that effectively activates AMPK in‐vitro in multiple cancer cell lines. When activated, AMPK is instrumental in inhibiting lipogenesis and enhancing catabolic pathways that generate ATP, such as fatty acid oxidation. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Zyflamend on adiposity and glucose homeostasis in vitro and in‐vivo. To that end, we fed mice chow, high fat diet, or high fat diet supplemented with Zyflamend over a period of 24 weeks and we examined alterations in body weight and glucose homeostasis. In addition, we treated human and mouse pre‐adipocytes with Zyflamend and examined changes in adipogenesis and key signaling pathways were determined in vitro. Mice fed High fat diet supplemented with Zyflamend displayed decreased weight gain and resistance to HFD‐induced glucose intolerance. Further, Zyflamend treatment decreased HFD‐induced hepatic dyslipidemia. These findings correlated with decreased adipogenesis of mouse and human adipocytes in‐vitro. Additionally, Zyflamend enhanced adipose insulin signaling as evidenced by increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and enhanced downstream signaling.ConclusionThese studies identify Zyflamend as a potential regulator of systemic glucose tolerance, energy balance and adiposity.Support or Funding InformationThe work was supported by NIH R00DK100736 (AB)This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

IL-33 contributes to disease severity in Psoriasis-like models of mouse

Immune cells infiltrating the psoriatic skin secrete high amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17, TNF-α, IL-21 and IL-36 resulting in chronic inflammation. However, the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms have not been fully understood. We report here elevation of IL-33 expression in psoriatic lesions. Studies in imiquimod (IMQ)-induced mice with psoriatic inflammation confirmed a critical role for IL-33 in driving the disease. IL-33 reduces the CD4+ and CD8+ cells, inhibits autophagy in IMQ-treated mouse skin, and promoted tyrosyl phosphorylation of STAT3. Thus, IL-33 appears to be a major risk factor for severity of psoriasis-like skin inflammation. Our findings may open new perspectives for understanding the mechanisms and developing a therapeutic strategy for psoriasis.

Tyrosyl phosphorylation of KRAS stalls GTPase cycle via alteration of switch I and II conformation

Deregulation of the RAS GTPase cycle due to mutations in the three RAS genes is commonly associated with cancer development. Protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 promotes RAF-to-MAPK signaling pathway and is an essential factor in RAS-driven oncogenesis. Despite the emergence of SHP2 inhibitors for the treatment of cancers harbouring mutant KRAS, the mechanism underlying SHP2 activation of KRAS signaling remains unclear. Here we report tyrosyl-phosphorylation of endogenous RAS and demonstrate that KRAS phosphorylation via Src on Tyr32 and Tyr64 alters the conformation of switch I and II regions, which stalls multiple steps of the GTPase cycle and impairs binding to effectors. In contrast, SHP2 dephosphorylates KRAS, a process that is required to maintain dynamic canonical KRAS GTPase cycle. Notably, Src- and SHP2-mediated regulation of KRAS activity extends to oncogenic KRAS and the inhibition of SHP2 disrupts the phosphorylation cycle, shifting the equilibrium of the GTPase cycle towards the stalled ‘dark state’.

Abstract 4360: Altering the regulation of KRAS GTPase cycle via Src and SHP2 creates a potential therapeutic vulnerability for pancreatic cancer

Abstract More than 30% of all human cancers have Ras mutations and more than 95% of pancreatic cancers harbor KRAS mutations. However, therapeutically targeting cancers driven by oncogenic Ras mutations is still an ongoing investigation. KRas is a small GTPase found in either a GDP-bound inactive form or a GTP-loaded activated form. The activated form of KRas localizes on the membrane where it binds and activates downstream effector proteins such as Raf kinases. GDP-bound Ras can be activated by nucleotide exchange of GTP for GDP, a reaction that is catalyzed by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Ras is inactivated by hydrolysis of GTP, which is assisted by GTPase activating proteins (GAPs). It was recently reported that Ras can be tyrosyl phosphorylated by Src and dephosphorylated by SHP2 (PNAS 2014;111(36):E3785-94; Nat Commun 2015;6:8859). Here we have characterized the structural and functional alterations of Src-phosphorylated KRas to mechanistically explain the impact of tyrosyl phosphorylation on the GTPase cycle. Our NMR and MS analyses show that Src phosphorylates KRas at Tyr32 and Tyr64, which perturbs the chemical shifts of several residues in each of the two "switch" regions that mediate interactions with effectors and regulators. Using real-time NMR and biolayer interferometry (Octet) assays, we demonstrated the negative impact of KRas phosphorylation on the GTPase cycle as well as BRAF binding. Conversely, the SH2 domain containing inositol 5-phosphatase 2 (SHP2) dephosphorylates KRAS and reverses Src-induced phosphorylation. In vivo, either the pharmacologic inhibition or genetic ablation of SHP2 promotes cell death in several KRAS mutant cancers. Our findings reveal that altering the KRas GTPase cycle regulation via the balance of Src and SHIP2 activities may create a therapeutic vulnerability for pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: Teklab Gebregiworgis, Christopher B. Marshall, Yoshihito Kano, Nikolina Radulovich, Ming-Sound Tsao, Michael Ohh, Mitsuhiko Ikura. Altering the regulation of KRAS GTPase cycle via Src and SHP2 creates a potential therapeutic vulnerability for pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4360.

833 - Tyrosyl Phosphorylation of Kras Disrupts the Gtpase Cycle and Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth

833 - Tyrosyl Phosphorylation of Kras Disrupts the Gtpase Cycle and Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth

Shp1 positively regulates EGFR signaling by controlling EGFR protein expression in mammary epithelial cells

SH2-domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (Shp1/PTPN6) is mainly expressed in hematopoietic cells and acts a negative signaling regulator. Although Shp1 is also expressed in epithelial cells, the function of shp1 in normal epithelial is still less well understood, especially in regulating the growth of epithelial cells. In this study, different shRNAs and siRNAs against Shp1 were used to knockdown Shp1 expression in MCF10A, an immortalized mammary epithelial cell line. Shp1 knockdown resulted in inhibited cell growth in part due to lower percentage of MCF10A cells entering into S phase and reduced cyclin D1 expression. Accordingly, EGF-induced tyrosyl phosphorylation of EGFR and Stat5 was significantly inhibited in cells with Shp1 knockdown compared with control whereas EGF-induced Akt and Erk phosphorylation was not affected by Shp1 knockdown. Further analysis revealed that Shp1 knockdown lead to decreased EGFR protein expression without affecting EGFR mRNA expression or increasing EGFR protein degradation. Our data indicate that Shp1 functions as a positive regulator and acts in a novel mechanism through promoting EGFR protein expression in mammary epithelial cells.

Sodium orthovanadate inhibits proliferation and triggers apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro

Sodium orthovanadate (SOV) is a general inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatases, a large family of enzymes that catalyze the removal of phosphate groups from tyrosine residues. SOV is commonly used in the laboratory to preserve the protein tyrosyl phosphorylation state of proteins under study. It has shown promising antineoplastic activity in some human cancer cell lines; this effect has not been fully investigated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, the effect of SOV on cell growth, proliferation, viability, and apoptosis was assessed in Cal27 cells, an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line. SOV exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth and decrease in cell viability and colony formation. The IC50 values for treatment lasting 72 h and 7 days were 25 and 10 µM, respectively. The cytotoxic effect of the drug was associated with poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase cleavage detected by immunoblot. Flow cytometry of Cal27 cells stained with annexinV-FITC and propidium iodide showed a dose-dependent increase in apoptosis that reached approximately 40% at 25 µM SOV. These findings demonstrate that SOV has in vitro antiproliferative and proapoptotic effect on OSCC cells.

Low-dose dasatinib rescues cardiac function in Noonan syndrome.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a common autosomal dominant disorder that presents with short stature, craniofacial dysmorphism, and cardiac abnormalities. Activating mutations in the PTPN11 gene encoding for the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) causes approximately 50% of NS cases. In contrast, NS with multiple lentigines (NSML) is caused by mutations that inactivate SHP2, but it exhibits some overlapping abnormalities with NS. Protein zero-related (PZR) is a SHP2-binding protein that is hyper-tyrosyl phosphorylated in the hearts of mice from NS and NSML, suggesting that PZR and the tyrosine kinase that catalyzes its phosphorylation represent common targets for these diseases. We show that the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, dasatinib, at doses orders of magnitude lower than that used for its anticancer activities inhibited PZR tyrosyl phosphorylation in the hearts of NS mice. Low-dose dasatinib treatment of NS mice markedly improved cardiomyocyte contractility and functionality. Remarkably, a low dose of dasatinib reversed the expression levels of molecular markers of cardiomyopathy and reduced cardiac fibrosis in NS and NSML mice. These results suggest that PZR/SHP2 signaling is a common target of both NS and NSML and that low-dose dasatinib may represent a unifying therapy for the treatment of PTPN11-related cardiomyopathies.

Prolactin-induced PAK1 tyrosyl phosphorylation promotes FAK dephosphorylation, breast cancer cell motility, invasion and metastasis.

BackgroundThe serine/threonine kinase PAK1 is an important regulator of cell motility. Both PAK1 and the hormone/cytokine prolactin (PRL) have been implicated in breast cancer cell motility, however, the exact mechanisms guiding PRL/PAK1 signaling in breast cancer cells have not been fully elucidated. Our lab has previously demonstrated that PRL-activated tyrosine kinase JAK2 phosphorylates PAK1 on tyrosines 153, 201, and 285, and that tyrosyl phosphorylated PAK1 (pTyr-PAK1) augments migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.ResultsHere we further investigate the mechanisms by which pTyr-PAK1 enhances breast cancer cell motility in response to PRL. We demonstrate a distinct reduction in PRL-induced FAK auto-phosphorylation in T47D and TMX2-28 breast cancer cells overexpressing wild-type PAK1 (PAK1 WT) when compared to cells overexpressing either GFP or phospho-tyrosine-deficient mutant PAK1 (PAK1 Y3F). Furthermore, pTyr-PAK1 phosphorylates MEK1 on Ser298 resulting in subsequent ERK1/2 activation. PRL-induced FAK auto-phosphorylation is rescued in PAK1 WT cells by inhibiting tyrosine phosphatases and tyrosine phosphatase inhibition abrogates cell motility and invasion in response to PRL. siRNA-mediated knockdown of the tyrosine phosphatase PTP-PEST rescues FAK auto-phosphorylation in PAK1 WT cells and reduces both cell motility and invasion. Finally, we provide evidence that PRL-induced pTyr-PAK1 stimulates tumor cell metastasis in vivo.ConclusionThese data provide insight into the mechanisms guiding PRL-mediated breast cancer cell motility and invasion and highlight a significant role for pTyr-PAK1 in breast cancer metastasis.