p34cdc2 is physically associated with and phosphorylated by a cdc2-specific tyrosine kinase.

The mammalian homologue of the yeast cdc2 gene encodes a 34-kilodalton serine/threonine kinase that is a subunit of M phase-promoting factor. Recent studies have shown that p34cdc2 is also a major tyrosine-phosphorylated protein in HeLa cells and that its phosphotyrosine content is cell cycle regulated and related to its kinase activity. Here, we show that cdc2 is physically associated with and phosphorylated in vitro by a highly specific tyrosine kinase. Tyrosine phosphorylation of cdc2 in vitro occurs at tyrosine 15, the same site that is phosphorylated in vivo. The association between the two kinases takes place in the cytosolic compartment and involves cyclin B-associated cdc2. Evidence is presented that a substantial fraction of cytosolic cdc2 is hypophosphorylated, whereas nuclear cdc2 is hyperphosphorylated. Finally, we show that the tyrosine kinase associated with cdc2 may be a 67-kilodalton protein and is distinct from src, abl, fms, and other previously reported tyrosine kinases.     

Characterization of the cytoplasmic proline-directed protein kinase in proliferative cells and tissues as a heterodimer comprised of p34cdc2 and p58cyclin A.

Site-specific analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation in rat pheochromocytoma led previously to the identification of a novel growth factor-sensitive serine/threonine protein kinase, designated proline-directed protein kinase (PDPK). In this article we describe further the activation, purification, subunit configuration, and biochemical characteristics of this cytoplasmic enzyme system. In human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells PDPK activity was found to be stimulated by epidermal growth factor in a dose-dependent, time-dependent manner. The PDPK purified from the cytosol of mouse FM3A mammary carcinoma cells exhibited the same chromatographic behavior and biochemical properties as the tyrosine hydroxylase-associated enzyme purified originally from rat pheochromocytoma. The presence of p34cdc2 was ultimately detected in all active fractions of highly purified PDPK by Western blotting and immunoprecipitation; however, it was determined that this catalytic subunit is complexed with a 58-kDa regulatory subunit that is clearly distinct from that of the "growth-associated" M phase-specific histone H1 kinase (i.e. cyclin B). The 58 kDa regulatory subunit of PDPK was identified by direct immunoblotting as a mammalian A-type cyclin. Furthermore, the p58cyclin A subunit of PDPK was found to be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in vivo and in vitro, the latter of which resulted in a significant increase in PDPK activity. Additional distinctions between this growth factor-sensitive PDPK (p34cdc2-p58cyclin A) and the M phase-specific histone H1 kinase (p34cdc2-p62cyclin B-p13suc1) are identified on the basis of chromatographic behavior, enzyme kinetics, and physicochemical properties. Based on these findings, it is proposed that PDPK represents a unique complex of the p34cdc2 protein kinase which is active in the cytoplasm of proliferative cells, is regulated differently from the M phase-specific histone H1 kinase by phosphorylation reactions, and is modulated selectively by growth factors.     

The lamin B receptor of the inner nuclear membrane undergoes mitosis-specific phosphorylation and is a substrate for p34cdc2-type protein kinase.

The lamin B receptor (LBR) is an integral protein of the inner nuclear membrane that interacts with lamin B in vitro. If contains a 204-amino acid nucleoplasmic amino-terminal domain and a hydrophobic carboxyl-terminal domain with eight putative transmembrane segments. We found cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of LBR using phosphoamino acid analysis and phosphopeptide mapping of in vivo 32P-labeled LBR immunoprecipitated from chicken cells in interphase and arrested in mitosis. LBR was phosphorylated only on serine residues in interphase and on serine and threonine residues in mitosis. Some serine residues phosphorylated in interphase were not phosphorylated in mitosis. To identify a threonine residue specifically phosphorylated in mitosis and the responsible protein kinase, wild-type and mutant LBR nucleoplasmic domain fusion proteins were phosphorylated in vitro by p34cdc2-type protein kinase. Comparisons of phosphopeptide maps to those of in vivo 32P-labeled mitotic LBR showed that Thr188 is likely to be phosphorylated by this enzyme during mitosis. These phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events may be responsible for some of the changes in the interaction between the nuclear lamina and the inner nuclear membrane that occur during mitosis.     

Role of threonine residues in the regulation of manganese-dependent arabidopsis serine/threonine/tyrosine protein kinase activity

Tyrosine phosphorylation in plants could be performed only by dual-specificity kinases. Arabidopsis thaliana dual-specificity protein kinase (AtSTYPK) exhibited strong preference for manganese over magnesium for its kinase activity. The kinase autophosphorylated on serine, threonine and tyrosine residues and phosphorylated myelin basic protein on threonine and tyrosine residues. The AtSTYPK harbors manganese dependent serine/threonine kinase domain, COG3642. His248 and Ser265 on COG3642 are conserved in AtSTYPK and the site-directed mutant, H248A showed loss of serine/threonine kinase activity. The protein kinase activity was abolished when Thr208 in the TEY motif and Thr293 of the activation loop were converted to alanine. The conversion of Thr284 in the activation loop to alanine resulted in an increased phosphorylation. This study reports the first identification of a manganese dependent dual-specificity kinase and the importance of Thr208, Thr284, and Thr293 residues in the regulation of kinase activity.     

Xenopus MAP kinase activator is a serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase activated by threonine phosphorylation.

Xenopus MAP kinase activator, a 45 kDa protein, has been shown to function as a direct upstream factor sufficient for full activation and both tyrosine and serine/threonine phosphorylation of inactive MAP kinase. We have now shown by using an anti-MAP kinase activator antiserum that MAP kinase activator is ubiquitous in tissues and is regulated post-translationally. Activation of MAP kinase activator is correlated precisely with its threonine phosphorylation during the oocyte maturation process. It is a key question whether MAP kinase activator is a kinase or not. We have shown that Xenopus MAP kinase activator purified from mature oocytes is capable of undergoing autophosphorylation on serine, threonine and tyrosine residues. Dephosphorylation of purified activator by protein phosphatase 2A treatment inactivates its autophosphorylation activity as well as its activator activity. Thus, Xenopus MAP kinase activator is a protein kinase with specificity for both serine/threonine and tyrosine. Partial protein sequencing of purified activator indicates that it contains a sequence homologous to kinase subdomains VI and VII of two yeast protein kinases, STE7 and byrl.     

Cyclin promotes the tyrosine phosphorylation of p34cdc2 in a wee1+ dependent manner.

The regulation of p34cdc2 was investigated by overproducing p34cdc2, cyclin (A and B) and the wee1+ gene product (p107wee1) using a baculoviral expression system. p34cdc2 formed a functional complex with both cyclins as judged by co-precipitation, phosphorylation of cyclin in vitro, and activation of p34cdc2 histone H1 kinase activity. Co-production of p34cdc2 and p107wee1 in insect cells resulted in a minor population of p34cdc2 that was phosphorylated on tyrosine and displayed an altered electrophoretic mobility. When p34cdc2 and p107wee1 were co-produced with cyclin (A or B) in insect cells, there was a dramatic increase in the population of p34cdc2 that was phosphorylated on tyrosine and that displayed a shift in electrophoretic mobility. The phosphorylation of p34cdc2 on tyrosine was absolutely dependent upon the presence of kinase-active p107wee1. Tyrosine-specific as well as serine/threonine-specific protein kinase activities co-immunoprecipitated with p107wee1. These results suggest that cyclin functions to facilitate tyrosine phosphorylation of p34cdc2 and that p107wee1 functions to regulate p34cdc2, either directly or indirectly, by tyrosine phosphorylation.     

Phosphorylation of the beta subunit of casein kinase II in human A431 cells. Identification of the autophosphorylation site and a site phosphorylated by p34cdc2

To examine the phosphorylation of casein kinase II in cells, the enzyme was isolated by immunoprecipitation from metabolically labeled human epidermal carcinoma A431 cells using polyclonal antipeptide antibodies specific for either the alpha subunit or the beta subunit of the enzyme. When isolated from 32P-labeled cells, the beta subunit was found to be significantly labeled on serine residues whereas only minimal labeling was associated with the alpha subunit. In vitro, the beta subunit of purified bovine casein kinase II was autophosphorylated, also on serine residues. Cleavage of the beta subunit, that had been autophosphorylated in vitro, at tryptophan 9 and tryptophan 12 using N-chlorosuccinimide demonstrated that the autophosphorylation site is located near the amino terminus of the protein, most likely at serine 2 and serine 3. Two-dimensional maps of phosphopeptides generated by digestion of the beta subunit with endoproteinase Glu-C indicted that the majority of the phosphate that was incorporated into the protein in cells was at sites that were indistinguishable from the sites that were autophosphorylated in vitro. In addition to phosphorylation at the autophosphorylation site, the beta subunit is also phosphorylated at an additional site, serine 209, in intact cells. This residue, which is near the carboxyl terminus of the protein, can be phosphorylated in vitro by p34cdc2.     

Identification and characterization of a myristylated and palmitylated serine/threonine protein kinase.

We report the molecular cloning and initial characterization of a novel fatty acid acylated serine/threonine protein kinase. The putative open reading frame is predicted to encode a 305 amino acid protein possessing a carboxy-terminal protein kinase domain and amino-terminal myristylation and palmitylation sites. The protein kinase has been accordingly denoted as the myristylated and palmitylated serine/threonine protein kinase (MPSK). Human and mouse MPSKs share approximately 93% identity at the amino acid level with complete retention of acylation sites. Radiation hybridization localized the human MPSK gene to chromosome 2q34-37. Northern analysis demonstrated that the human MPSK 1.7 kilobase mRNA is widely distributed. Epitope tagged human MPSK was found to be acylated by myristic acid at glycine residue 2 and by palmitic acid at cysteines 6 and/or 8. Palmitylation of MPSK in these experiments was found to require an intact myristylation site. While epitope tagged MPSK in immune complexes or purified human glutathione S transferase-MPSK was found to autophosphorylate at one or more threonine residues, the enzyme was not found to phosphorylate several other common exogenous substrates. Indeed, only PHAS-I was identified as an exogenous substrate which was found to be phosphorylated on threonine and serine residues.     

Purification and characterization of a protein tyrosine kinase from bovine spleen

Protein tyrosine kinase was purified extensively from a 30,000 X g particulate fraction of bovine spleen by a procedure involving four column chromatographies: DEAE-Sepharose, polyamino acids affinity, hydroxylapatite, and Sephacryl S-200 molecular sieving. The purification resulted in more than 3,000-fold enrichment in [Val5]angiotensin II phosphorylation activity (specific activity 202 nmol/min/mg). All column chromatography profiles showed single protein tyrosine kinase activity peaks with the exception of that of affinity chromatography, where about 50% of the enzyme activity appeared with the breakthrough fraction; only the bound enzyme was further purified. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of a purified sample phosphorylated in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP revealed the presence of a single phosphorylated polypeptide of molecular weight 50,000 which represents about 40% of total protein. Analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions showed that protein tyrosine kinase activity co-migrated with the phosphoprotein. Stoichiometry of the phosphorylation of the 50-kDa polypeptide was found to be 1.0 mol/mol. The purified sample did not appear to contain phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase activity. Both casein and histone could be phosphorylated by the purified sample, and the phosphorylation occurred only at tyrosine residue, suggesting that there was no protein serine and threonine kinase contamination.     

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MKK1) is negatively regulated by threonine phosphorylation.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MKK1), a dual-specificity tyrosine/threonine protein kinase, has been shown to be phosphorylated and activated by the raf oncogene product as part of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. Here we report the phosphorylation and inactivation of MKK1 by phosphorylation on threonine 286 and threonine 292. MKK1 contains a consensus phosphorylation site for p34cdc2, a serine/threonine protein kinase that regulates the cell division cycle, at Thr-286 and a related site at Thr-292. p34cdc2 catalyzes the in vitro phosphorylation of MKK1 on both of these threonine residues and inactivates MKK1 enzymatic activity. Both sites are phosphorylated in vivo as well. The data presented in this report provide evidence that MKK1 is negatively regulated by threonine phosphorylation.