核糖体S6蛋白激酶的生物学特性和功能

核糖体S6蛋白激酶（ribosomal S6 kinase,RSK）是细胞信号传导通路中的重要成员。1985年Erikson和Mailer在非洲爪蟾卵中发现一种90kD的蛋白激酶,它可以使40S核糖体亚单位S6蛋白发生磷酸化,从而促进某些mRNA的翻译,在调节细胞生长和增殖过程中起重要作用。这种蛋白激酶被命名为RSK或p90rsk。后来发现该蛋白是丝裂原激活蛋白激酶（mitogen—activated protein kinases,MAPKs）的下游底物,可以被MAPKs磷酸化激活,因此,又称为MAPKAP—K1（mitogen—activated protein kinase—activated protein kinase-1）。迄今为止,人们已经发现了4种RSK亚型,它们在高等真核细胞中广泛表达。随着研究的逐步深入,人们发现RSK在多种生命活动中发挥重要作用,包括调节基因转录、参与细胞周期调控、促进细胞增殖和分化、调节细胞生存和凋亡以及参与学习和记忆的形成等。本将简要介绍RSK的结构、激活机制、信号传导通路,以及对细胞功能的调节。     

促分裂原活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶

促分裂原活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶（mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatases,MKPs）是一类丝／苏氨酸和酪氨酸双特异性的磷酸酶。它在细胞分化、增殖和基因表达过程中起着重要的作用。MKPs可以选择性地结合促分裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK）,对MAPK进行去磷酸化,从而调节MAPK信号通路的活性。另一方面,MAPK也可以激活MKPs,它们的相互作用确保了细胞内信号的精确传递,并参与细胞功能的调节。     

盐诱导激酶对TORC-CREB复合体的调节及其与高血压、糖尿病的关系

环腺苷酸反应元件结合蛋白(cyclic AMP responsive element-binding protein,CREB)是受cAMP和Ca²⁺共同激活的转录因子,其目的基因产物涉及广泛的生理过程,如细胞增殖与存活、糖与脂类代谢、类固醇激素合成、学习与记忆等．新近发现的CREB活性调节转导子(transducer of regulated CREB activity,TORC)通过核-质穿梭调节CREB的活性而控制目的基因的转录与表达．盐诱导激酶(salt-inducible kinase,SIK)是一组丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶,包含SIK1、SIK2和SIK3．这些蛋白激酶通过影响TORC的磷酸化水平,改变其在核-质中的分布,间接影响CREB目的基因的转录与表达．在某些器官与组织中,SIK(SIK1)也是CREB目的基因之一,因此SIK与TORC-CREB复合体形成一个完整的负反馈调节环路．TORC-CREB复合体广泛存在于多种器官与组织,如胰岛β-细胞、肝脏、肾上腺皮质和骨骼肌中,与胰岛β-细胞存活、肝脏糖异生、类固醇激素合成、骨骼肌线粒体增生与脂肪酸β氧化密切相关．将重点讨论SIK对TORC-CREB复合体的反馈调节及其与高血压、糖尿病发生的关系．     

盐诱导激酶2的研究进展

盐诱导激酶(salt-inducible kinase,SIK)是属于单磷酸腺苷激活蛋白激酶/蔗糖非酵解1(adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and sucrose non-fermenting 1,AMPK/SNF1)家族的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶。SIK自1998年被发现以来,越来越多的功能被人们证实和认可。现已发现,SIK在能量代谢、细胞信号转导、细胞周期、肿瘤、黑素原生成等诸多方面有重要作用。通过查阅近些年相关文献,在此重点总结一下SIK2功能的研究进展。     

SnRK2在植物响应逆境胁迫和生长发育中的作用

蔗糖非发酵-1-相关蛋白激酶2(sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase 2,SnRK2)是一类植物特有的Ser/Thr蛋白激酶,其主要通过磷酸化底物来调节下游基因的表达,实现不同组织部位的抗逆调控,使植物适应不利环境.该蛋白激酶家族成员数量较少,分子量约为40 k...     

模式识别受体激活状态对小胶质细胞p38-MAPK磷酸化水平的影响

为了探讨小胶质细胞模式识别受体（pattern recognition receptor,PRR）激活状态对Aβ42诱导下的细胞应激性p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p38-mitogen activated protein kinase,p38-MAPK）磷酸化及细胞吞噬能力的影响,在不同模式识别受体（SRA,TRL2,SRB,CD36）的抗体存在的条件下用寡聚物Aβ42蛋白（oAβ42）孵育并活化小胶质细胞,测定细胞活化后的p38-MAPK激酶磷酸化水平和小胶质细胞模式识别受体TLR2的阻断对细胞Aβ42吞噬量的影响。结果发现,与正常小胶质细胞对比,模式识别受体SRA（scavenger receptor A）及TLR2受体（toll-like receptor 2）被相应抗体阻断的小胶质细胞在受到Aβ42蛋白激活时,p38-MAPK的磷酸化水平显著降低;TLR2受体被其抗体阻断后小胶质细胞对Aβ42的吞噬量降低,说明该模式识别受体激活状态影响胶质细胞吞噬能力,该过程与p38-MAPK的磷酸化水平相关。而受体内吞抑制剂对小胶质细胞的Aβ42蛋白的吞入量没有显著影响,说明上述细胞对寡聚物Aβ42的吞入过程并非经典的受体内吞过程。TLR家族受体有望成为阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimei Disease, AD)免疫治疗的潜在治疗靶标。     

组蛋白乙酰转移酶PCAF在原核细胞的表达及其生物学活性检测

p300/CBP相关因子（p300/CBPassociated factor,PCAF）是真核细胞内一种重要的组蛋白乙酰转移酶,它主要通过催化核心组蛋白的乙酰化,促进特定基因的转录,参与细胞内多种生物学过程。国内目前尚没有制备出具有生物学活性的组蛋白乙酰转移酶PCAF的报道。为此, PCAF全长cDNA被克隆入原核表达载体pGEX-5X-1,通过对诱导条件进行优化,实现了PCAF在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）菌株中的高效可溶性表达并进行了亲和纯化。利用体外乙酰转移酶活性分析实验,检测到所表达的GST-PCAF融合蛋白能够使组蛋白H3发生乙酰化。这种具有生物学活性的PCAF蛋白的成功制备为进一步研究PCAF的转录调控功能以及它与其它蛋白间的相互作用奠定了基础。     

中药金叶败毒制剂抑制巨细胞病毒感染

目的：通过对感染丝裂索活化蛋白激酶（Mitogen—Activated Protein Kinase,MAPK）细胞外信号调节激酶（extracellular signal-regulated kinase包括ERK1和ERK2）的信号通路的抑制作用,研究中药金叶败毒制剂治疗巨细胞病毒（human cytomegalovirus,HCMV）感染的分子机制。方法：使用免疽印记技术检测中药金叶败毒制剂和更昔洛韦（ganciclovir,GCV）干预HCMV感染的人胚肺成纤维细胞（human embryonic lung,HEL）的ERK表达水平,并观察MEK（mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase）特异性抑制剂PD98059,中药金叶败毒制刑对细胞的病变作用（cytopathic effect,CPE）的影响。结果：两种药物都可抑制HCMV在HEL中的增殖,以PD98059与中药金叶败毒制剂合用效果明显。中药金叶败毒制剂使磷酸化ERK1／2表达降低,对ERK1的抑制作用在感染后10min出现,30min达到高峰,对ERK2的抑制作用在感染后10min出现,60min达到高峰。而GCV对ERK1／2无明显的抑制作用。结论：中药金叶败毒制剂可通过调节MAPK／ERK通路而抑制HCMV基因的表达和复制从而发挥其部分抗病毒作用。     

植物蔗糖非发酵-1相关蛋白激酶家族研究进展

蛋白质磷酸化与去磷酸化过程在细胞的信号转导网络中起关键的作用,是生物体中普遍存在的一种调节机制。植物中的蛋白激酶通过磷酸化和去磷酸化在调节ABA信号传导、能量缺失反应和非生物胁迫反应过程中有着重要的作用。其中,植物蔗糖非发酵-1相关蛋白激酶(sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase,SnRK)是植物蛋白激酶家族中一个重要家族,它们与酵母中的SNF1(sucrose non-fermenting-1,SNF1)和哺乳动物中的AMPK(AMP-activated protein kinase,AMPK)同源,具有与它们相似和自身独特的功能,根据其氨基酸序列的同源性和表达模式的差异可分为3个亚组:SnRK1、SnRK2和SnRK3。目前,在拟南芥、水稻、豆科植物、高粱以及苔藓植物等基因组中都发现了大量的SnRK蛋白激酶,它们广泛参与了植物的生长发育、病虫害防御、ABA和非生物胁迫等各种信号的应答反应。     

磷酸化修饰在病理性心肌肥大中的作用

心肌肥大与高水平神经-体液因子、血流动力学超负荷、心肌细胞的损伤有关，如果病因持续存在或未及时消除，最终将演变为慢性心力衰竭。在病理性心肌肥大的发生发展过程中，磷酸化修饰可以精确地调节和改善丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen activated protein kinase,MAPK)、钙调磷酸酶(calcineurin,CAN)、钙调素依赖性蛋白酶Ⅱ(calmodulin dependent protein kinaseⅡ，CaMKⅡ)、蛋白激酶B(protein kinase B,PKB/AKT)、单磷酸腺苷依赖的蛋白激酶(adenosine 5-monophosphate-activated protein kinase,AMPK)、核因子κB(nuclear factor kappa-B,NF-κB)信号通路以及细胞自噬的稳定性和活性。本文分别总结了磷酸化修饰在病理性心肌肥大中的作用机制以及治疗或预防心肌肥大的潜在靶点，探索病理性心肌肥大中基于质谱的磷酸化蛋白质组学进展，为未来心脏病学转化研究提供参考。     

Reversible Acetylation Regulates Salt-inducible Kinase (SIK2) and Its Function in Autophagy

Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is a serine/threonine protein kinase belonging to the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family. SIK2 has been shown to function in the insulin-signaling pathway during adipocyte differentiation and to modulate CREB-mediated gene expression in response to hormones and nutrients. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of SIK2 kinase activity remains largely elusive. Here we report a dynamic, post-translational regulation of its kinase activity that is coordinated by an acetylation-deaceytlation switch, p300/CBP-mediated Lys-53 acetylation inhibits SIK2 kinase activity, whereas HDAC6-mediated deacetylation restores the activity. Interestingly, overexpression of acetylation-mimetic mutant of SIK2 (SIK2-K53Q), but not the nonacetylatable K53R variant, resulted in accumulation of autophagosomes. Further consistent with a role in autophagy, knockdown of SIK2 abrogated autophagosome and lysosome fusion. Consequently, SIK2 and its kinase activity are indispensable for the removal of TDP-43Δ inclusion bodies. Our findings uncover SIK2 as a critical determinant in autophagy progression and further suggest a mechanism in which the interplay among kinase and deacetylase activities contributes to cellular protein pool homeostasis.     

Salt-inducible Kinase 3 Signaling Is Important for the Gluconeogenic Programs in Mouse Hepatocytes

Salt-inducible kinases (SIKs), members of the 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family, are proposed to be important suppressors of gluconeogenic programs in the liver via the phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of the CREB-specific coactivator CRTC2. Although a dramatic phenotype for glucose metabolism has been found in SIK3-KO mice, additional complex phenotypes, dysregulation of bile acids, cholesterol, and fat homeostasis can render it difficult to discuss the hepatic functions of SIK3. The aim of this study was to examine the cell autonomous actions of SIK3 in hepatocytes. To eliminate systemic effects, we prepared primary hepatocytes and screened the small compounds suppressing SIK3 signaling cascades. SIK3-KO primary hepatocytes produced glucose more quickly after treatment with the cAMP agonist forskolin than the WT hepatocytes, which was accompanied by enhanced gluconeogenic gene expression and CRTC2 dephosphorylation. Reporter-based screening identified pterosin B as a SIK3 signaling-specific inhibitor. Pterosin B suppressed SIK3 downstream cascades by up-regulating the phosphorylation levels in the SIK3 C-terminal regulatory domain. When pterosin B promoted glucose production by up-regulating gluconeogenic gene expression in mouse hepatoma AML-12 cells, it decreased the glycogen content and stimulated an association between the glycogen phosphorylase kinase gamma subunit (PHKG2) and SIK3. PHKG2 phosphorylated the peptides with sequences of the C-terminal domain of SIK3. Here we found that the levels of active AMPK were higher both in the SIK3-KO hepatocytes and in pterosin B-treated AML-12 cells than in their controls. These results suggest that SIK3, rather than SIK1, SIK2, or AMPKs, acts as the predominant suppressor in gluconeogenic gene expression in the hepatocytes.     

JUP/plakoglobin is regulated by salt-inducible kinase 2, and is required for insulin-induced signalling and glucose uptake in adipocytes

BackgroundSalt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is abundant in adipocytes, but downregulated in adipose tissue from individuals with obesity and insulin resistance. Moreover, SIK isoforms are required for normal insulin signalling and glucose uptake in adipocytes, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are currently not known. The adherens junction protein JUP, also termed plakoglobin or γ-catenin, has recently been reported to promote insulin signalling in muscle cells.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to analyse if JUP is required for insulin signalling in adipocytes and the underlying molecular mechanisms of this regulation.MethodsCo-expression of SIK2 and JUP mRNA levels in adipose tissue from a human cohort was analysed. siRNA silencing and/or pharmacological inhibition of SIK2, JUP, class IIa HDACs and CRTC2 was employed in 3T3-L1- and primary rat adipocytes. JUP protein expression was analysed by western blot and mRNA levels by qPCR. Insulin signalling was evaluated by western blot as levels of phosphorylated PKB/Akt and AS160, and by monitoring the uptake of ³H-2-deoxyglucose.ResultsmRNA expression of SIK2 correlated with that of JUP in human adipose tissue. SIK2 inhibition or silencing resulted in downregulation of JUP mRNA and protein expression in 3T3-L1- and in primary rat adipocytes. Moreover, JUP silencing reduced the expression of PKB and the downstream substrate AS160, and consequently attenuated activity in the insulin signalling pathway, including insulin-induced glucose uptake. The known SIK2 substrates CRTC2 and class IIa HDACs were found to play a role in the SIK-mediated regulation of JUP expression.ConclusionsThese findings identify JUP as a novel player in the regulation of insulin sensitivity in adipocytes, and suggest that changes in JUP expression could contribute to the effect of SIK2 on insulin signalling in these cells.     

Interaction between Salt-inducible Kinase 2 (SIK2) and p97/Valosin-containing Protein (VCP) Regulates Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)-associated Protein Degradation in Mammalian Cells

Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is an important regulator of cAMP response element-binding protein-mediated gene expression in various cell types and is the only AMP-activated protein kinase family member known to interact with the p97/valosin-containing protein (VCP) ATPase. Previously, we have demonstrated that SIK2 can regulate autophagy when proteasomal function is compromised. Here we report that physical and functional interactions between SIK2 and p97/VCP underlie the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein degradation (ERAD). SIK2 co-localizes with p97/VCP in the ER membrane and stimulates its ATPase activity through direct phosphorylation. Although the expression of wild-type recombinant SIK2 accelerated the degradation and removal of ERAD substrates, the kinase-deficient variant conversely had no effect. Furthermore, down-regulation of endogenous SIK2 or mutation of the SIK2 target site on p97/VCP led to impaired degradation of ERAD substrates and disruption of ER homeostasis. Collectively, these findings highlight a mechanism by which the interplay between SIK2 and p97/VCP contributes to the regulation of ERAD in mammalian cells.