Identification and characterization of a novel inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase

We have identified a cDNA encoding a novel inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase. It contains two highly conserved catalytic motifs for 5-phosphatase, has a molecular mass of 51 kDa, and is ubiquitously expressed and especially abundant in skeletal muscle, heart, and kidney. We designated this 5-phosphatase as SKIP (Skeletal muscle and Kidney enriched Inositol Phosphatase). SKIP is a simple 5-phosphatase with no other motifs. Baculovirus-expressed recombinant SKIP protein exhibited 5-phosphatase activities toward inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 4,5-bisphosphate, and PtdIns 3,4, 5-trisphosphate but has 6-fold more substrate specificity for PtdIns 4,5-bisphosphate (K(m) = 180 microM) than for inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate (K(m) = 1.15 mM). The ectopic expression of SKIP protein in COS-7 cells and immunostaining of neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells revealed that SKIP is expressed in cytosol and that loss of actin stress fibers occurs where the SKIP protein is concentrated. These results imply that SKIP plays a negative role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton through hydrolyzing PtdIns 4,5-bisphosphate.     

Biochemical characterization of the type I inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase C2 domain

Inositol polyphosphate 4 phosphatases (IP4Ps) are enzymes involved in the regulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase lipid signaling. They catalyze the hydrolysis of the 4-position phosphate from phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate. In this paper we have characterized a lipid binding C2 domain located on the N-terminus of type I IP4Ps. Mutational analysis of the lipid binding loops suggests that Asp61, Asp120, Asp123, Lys122, Arg124 are involved in lipid binding in vitro. In addition, we show that this C2 domain binds calcium but calcium is not involved in lipid binding. This paper provides insight into the mechanism of membrane interaction of IP4Ps.     

The type Ialpha inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase generates and terminates phosphoinositide 3-kinase signals on endosomes and the plasma membrane

Endosomal trafficking is regulated by the recruitment of effector proteins to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P] on early endosomes. At the plasma membrane, phosphatidylinositol-(3,4)-bisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4)P2] binds the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain-containing proteins Akt and TAPP1. Type Ialpha inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase (4-phosphatase) dephosphorylates PtdIns(3,4)P2, forming PtdIns(3)P, but its subcellular localization is unknown. We report here in quiescent cells, the 4-phosphatase colocalized with early and recycling endosomes. On growth factor stimulation, 4-phosphatase endosomal localization persisted, but in addition the 4-phosphatase localized at the plasma membrane. Overexpression of the 4-phosphatase in serum-stimulated cells increased cellular PtdIns(3)P levels and prevented wortmannin-induced endosomal dilatation. Furthermore, mouse embryonic fibroblasts from homozygous Weeble mice, which have a mutation in the type I 4-phosphatase, exhibited dilated early endosomes. 4-Phosphatase translocation to the plasma membrane upon growth factor stimulation inhibited the recruitment of the TAPP1 PH domain. The 4-phosphatase contains C2 domains, which bound PtdIns(3,4)P2, and C2-domain-deletion mutants lost PtdIns(3,4)P2 4-phosphatase activity, did not localize to endosomes or inhibit TAPP1 PH domain membrane recruitment. The 4-phosphatase therefore both generates and terminates phosphoinositide 3-kinase signals at distinct subcellular locations.     

Up-regulation of phosphoinositide metabolism in tobacco cells constitutively expressing the human type I inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase

To evaluate the impact of suppressing inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3)) in plants, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cells were transformed with the human type I inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (InsP 5-ptase), an enzyme which specifically hydrolyzes InsP(3). The transgenic cell lines showed a 12- to 25-fold increase in InsP 5-ptase activity in vitro and a 60% to 80% reduction in basal InsP(3) compared with wild-type cells. Stimulation with Mas-7, a synthetic analog of the wasp venom peptide mastoparan, resulted in an approximately 2-fold increase in InsP(3) in both wild-type and transgenic cells. However, even with stimulation, InsP(3) levels in the transgenic cells did not reach wild-type basal values, suggesting that InsP(3) signaling is compromised. Analysis of whole-cell lipids indicated that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdInsP(2)), the lipid precursor of InsP(3), was greatly reduced in the transgenic cells. In vitro assays of enzymes involved in PtdInsP(2) metabolism showed that the activity of the PtdInsP(2)-hydrolyzing enzyme phospholipase C was not significantly altered in the transgenic cells. In contrast, the activity of the plasma membrane PtdInsP 5 kinase was increased by approximately 3-fold in the transgenic cells. In vivo labeling studies revealed a greater incorporation of (32)P into PtdInsP(2) in the transgenic cells compared with the wild type, indicating that the rate of PtdInsP(2) synthesis was increased. These studies show that the constitutive expression of the human type I InsP 5-ptase in tobacco cells leads to an up-regulation of the phosphoinositide pathway and highlight the importance of PtdInsP(2) synthesis as a regulatory step in this system.     

The isolation and characterization of inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase

We previously identified an alternative pathway for the metabolism of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4)P3) in calf brain. The enzyme responsible for the degradation of Ins(1,3,4)P3 was designated as inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase (Bansal, V. S., Inhorn, R. C., and Majerus, P. W. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 9644-9647). We have now purified this enzyme 3390-fold from calf brain-soluble fraction. The isolated enzyme has an apparent molecular mass of 110 kDa as determined by gel filtration. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the enzyme migrates as a protein of 105 kDa, suggesting that it is monomeric. Among various 4-phosphate-containing inositol polyphosphates, the enzyme hydrolyzes only Ins(1,3,4)P3 and inositol 3,4-bisphosphate (Ins(3,4)P2), yielding inositol 1,3-bisphosphate and inositol 3-phosphate as products. The inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase has apparent Km values of 40 and 25 microM for Ins(1,3,4)P3 and Ins(3,4)P2, respectively. The maximum velocities for these two substrates are 15-20 mumol of product/min/mg protein. Ins(1,3,4)P3 is a competitive inhibitor of Ins(3,4)P2 hydrolysis with an apparent Ki of 27 microM implying that the same active site is involved in hydrolysis of both substrates. The final enzyme preparation retained a small inositol polyphosphate 3-phosphatase activity (less than 2% of rate of inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase activity) which most likely reflects a contaminant. The enzyme displays maximum activity between pH 6.5 and 7.5. It is not inhibited by Li+, Ca2+, or Mg2+ except at 10 mM divalent ions. Mn2+ inhibits enzyme at high concentrations IC50 = 1.5 mM.     

Identification and isolation of a 75-kDa inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase from human platelets

We have identified, isolated, and characterized a second inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase enzyme from the soluble fraction of human platelets. The enzyme hydrolyzes inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins (1,4,5)P3) to inositol 1,4-bisphosphate (Ins(1,4)P2) with an apparent Km of 24 microM and a Vmax of 25 mumol of Ins(1,4,5)P3 hydrolyzed/min/mg of protein. The enzyme hydrolyzes inositol (1,3,4,5)-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) at a rate of 1.3 mumol of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 hydrolyzed/min/mg of protein with an apparent Km of 7.5 microM. The enzyme also hydrolyzes inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate (cIns(1:2,4,5)P3) and Ins(4,5)P2. We purified this enzyme 2,200-fold from human platelets. The enzyme has a molecular mass of 75,000 as determined by both sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme requires magnesium ions for activity and is not inhibited by calcium ions. The 75-kDa inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase enzyme differs from the previously identified platelet inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase as follows: molecular size (75 kDa versus 45 kDa), affinity for Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (Km 7.5 microM versus 0.5 microM), Km for Ins(1,4,5)P3 (24 microM versus 7.5 microM), regulation by protein kinase C, wherein the 45-kDa enzyme is phosphorylated and activated while the 75-kDa enzyme is not. The 75-kDa enzyme is inhibited by lower concentrations of phosphate (IC50 2 mM versus 16 mM for the 45-kDa enzyme) and is less inhibited by Ins(1,4)P2 than is the 45-kDa enzyme. The levels of inositol phosphates that act in calcium signalling are likely to be regulated by the interplay of these two enzymes both found in the same cell.     

A null mutation in inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type I causes selective neuronal loss in weeble mutant mice.

Weeble mutant mice have severe locomotor instability and significant neuronal loss in the cerebellum and in the hippocampal CA1 field. Genetic mapping was used to localize the mutation to the gene encoding inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type I (Inpp4a), where a single nucleotide deletion results in a likely null allele. The substrates of INPP4A are intermediates in a pathway affecting intracellular Ca(2+) release but are also involved in cell cycle regulation through binding the Akt protooncogene; dysfunction in either may account for the neuronal loss of weeble mice. Although other mutations in phosphoinositide enzymes are associated with synaptic defects without neuronal loss, weeble shows that Inpp4a is critical for the survival of a subset of neurons during postnatal development in mice.     

A novel receptor-mediated regulation mechanism of type I inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II phosphorylation

D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P(3)) and D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4)) are both substrates of the 43-kDa type I inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase. Transient and okadaic acid-sensitive inhibition by 70-85% of Ins(1,4,5)P(3) and Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4) 5-phosphatase activities was observed in homogenates from rat cortical astrocytes, human astrocytoma 1321N1 cells, and rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells after incubation with carbachol. The effect was reproduced in response to UTP in rat astrocytic cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing human type I 5-phosphatase. Immunodetection as well as mass spectrometric peptide mass fingerprinting and post-source decay (PSD) sequence data analysis after immunoprecipitation permitted unambiguous identification of the major native 5-phosphatase isoform hydrolyzing Ins(1,4,5)P(3) and Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4) as type I inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase. In ortho-(32)P-preincubated cells, the phosphorylated 43 kDa-enzyme could be identified after receptor activation by immunoprecipitation followed by electrophoretic separation. Phosphorylation of type I 5-phosphatase was blocked after cell preincubation in the presence of Ca(2+)/calmodulin kinase II inhibitors (i.e. KN-93 and KN-62). In vitro phosphorylation of recombinant type I enzyme by Ca(2+)/calmodulin kinase II resulted in an inhibition (i.e. 60-80%) of 5-phosphatase activity. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time a novel regulation mechanism of type I 5-phosphatase by phosphorylation in intact cells.     

Molecular characterization of an Arabidopsis gene encoding a phospholipid-specific inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase

Phosphoinositides are important molecules that serve as second messengers and bind to a complex array of proteins modulating their subcellular location and activity. The enzymes that metabolize phosphoinositides can in some cases serve to terminate the signaling actions of phosphoinositides. The inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases (5PTases) comprise a large protein family that hydrolyzes 5-phosphates from a variety of inositol phosphate and phosphoinositide substrates. We previously reported the identification of 15 putative 5PTase genes in Arabidopsis and have shown that overexpression of the At5PTase1 gene can alter abscisic acid signaling. At5PTase1 and At5PTase2 have been shown to hydrolyze the 5-phosphate from inositol phosphate substrates. We have examined the substrate specificity of the At5PTase11 protein, which is one of the smallest predicted 5PTases found in any organism. We report here that the At5PTase11 gene encodes an active 5PTase enzyme that can only dephosphorylate phosphoinositide substrates containing a 5-phosphate. In addition to hydrolyzing known substrates of 5PTase enzymes, At5PTase11 also hydrolyzes the 5-phosphate from phosphatidylinositol (3,5) bisphosphate. We also show that the At5PTase11 gene is regulated by abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and auxin, suggesting a role for phosphoinositide action in these signal transduction pathways.     

Pharbin, a novel inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase, induces dendritic appearances in fibroblasts.

We have cloned a cDNA encoding a novel protein pharbin with a homology to inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases. Pharbin contains relatively well-conserved catalytic motifs for 5-phosphatase, a proline-rich sequence corresponding to the SH3-binding motif, and a sequence consistent with the CaaX motif at the C-terminus. COS-7 cells transfected with pharbin exhibited elevated hydrolytic activity on the 5-phosphate group of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, and phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate. Thus, pharbin indeed serves as an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase. When pharbin was transfected to C3H/10T1/2 fibroblasts, it was located to the plasma membrane-associated structures including membrane ruffles. The cells were converted to dendritic forms within 24 h. The protein with deleted or point-mutated CaaX motif hardly induced the dendritic forms but remained associated with the membranes. These results imply that the CaaX motif is required for the morphological alteration but that some other structural element is likely to also be responsible for the membrane localization.     

Specificity determinants in phosphoinositide dephosphorylation: crystal structure of an archetypal inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase

Inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases are central to intracellular processes ranging from membrane trafficking to Ca(2+) signaling, and defects in this activity result in the human disease Lowe syndrome. The 1.8 resolution structure of the inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase domain of SPsynaptojanin bound to Ca(2+) and inositol (1,4)-bisphosphate reveals a fold and an active site His and Asp pair resembling those of several Mg(2+)-dependent nucleases. Additional loops mediate specific inositol polyphosphate contacts. The 4-phosphate of inositol (1,4)-bisphosphate is misoriented by 4.6 compared to the reactive geometry observed in the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1, explaining the dephosphorylation site selectivity of the 5-phosphatases. Based on the structure, a series of mutants are described that exhibit altered substrate specificity providing general determinants for substrate recognition.     

The inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase, PIPP, Is a novel regulator of phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent neurite elongation

The spatial activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) signaling at the axon growth cone generates phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃), which localizes and facilitates Akt activation and stimulates GSK-3β inactivation, promoting microtubule polymerization and axon elongation. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern the spatial down-regulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ signaling at the growth cone remain undetermined. The inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases (5-phosphatase) hydrolyze the 5-position phosphate from phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P₂) and/or PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃. We demonstrate here that PIPP, an uncharacterized 5-phosphatase, hydrolyzes PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ forming PtdIns(3,4)P₂, decreasing Ser473-Akt phosphorylation. PIPP is expressed in PC12 cells, localizing to the plasma membrane of undifferentiated cells and the neurite shaft and growth cone of NGF-differentiated neurites. Overexpression of wild-type, but not catalytically inactive PIPP, in PC12 cells inhibited neurite elongation. Targeted depletion of PIPP using RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in enhanced neurite differentiation, associated with neurite hyperelongation. Inhibition of PI3-kinase activity prevented neurite hyperelongation in PIPP-deficient cells. PIPP targeted-depletion resulted in increased phospho-Ser473-Akt and phospho-Ser9-GSK-3β, specifically at the neurite growth cone, and accumulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ at this site, associated with enhanced microtubule polymerization in the neurite shaft. PIPP therefore inhibits PI3-kinase-dependent neurite elongation in PC12 cells, via regulation of the spatial distribution of phospho-Ser473-Akt and phospho-Ser9-GSK-3β signaling.     

The isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding phospholipid-specific inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase

We report the cDNA cloning and characterization of a novel human inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (5-phosphatase) that has substrate specificity unlike previously described members of this large gene family. All previously described members hydrolyze water soluble inositol phosphates. This enzyme hydrolyzes only lipid substrates, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The cDNA isolated comprises 3110 base pairs and predicts a protein product of 644 amino acids and M(r) = 70,023. We designate this 5-phosphatase as type IV. It is a highly basic protein (pI = 8.8) and has the greatest affinity toward phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate of known 5-phosphatases. The K(m) is 0.65 micrometer, 1/10 that of SHIP (5.95 micrometer), another 5-phosphatase that hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. The activity of 5-phosphatase type IV is sensitive to the presence of detergents in the in vitro assay. Thus the enzyme hydrolyzes lipid substrates in the absence of detergents or in the presence of n-octyl beta-glucopyranoside or Triton X-100, but not in the presence of cetyltriethylammonium bromide, the detergent that has been used in other studies of the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Remarkably SHIP, a 5-phosphatase previously characterized as hydrolyzing only substrates with d-3 phosphates, also readily hydrolyzed phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in the presence of n-octyl beta-glucopyranoside but not cetyltriethylammonium bromide. We used antibodies prepared against a peptide predicted by the cDNA to identify the 5-phosphatase type IV enzyme in human tissues and find that it is highly expressed in the brain as determined by Western blotting. We also performed Western blotting of mouse tissues and found high levels of expression in the brain, testes, and heart with lower levels of expression in other tissues. mRNA was detected in many tissues and cell lines as determined by Northern blotting.     

Novel nuclear translocation of inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase is associated with cell cycle,proliferation and survival

Inositol polyphosphate 4 phosphatase type I enzyme (INPP4A) has a well-documented function in the cytoplasm where it terminates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) pathway by acting as a negative regulator. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that INPP4A shuttles between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Nuclear INPP4A is enzymatically active and in dynamic equilibrium between the nucleus and cytoplasm depending on the cell cycle stage, with highest amounts detected in the nucleus during the G₀/G₁ phase. Moreover, nuclear INPP4A is found to have direct proliferation suppressive activity. Cells constitutively overexpressing nuclear INPP4A exhibit massive apoptosis. In human tissues as well as cell lines, lower nuclear localization of INPP4A correlate with cancerous growth. Together, our findings suggest that nuclear compartmentalization of INPP4A may be a mechanism to regulate cell cycle progression, proliferation and apoptosis. Our results imply a role for nuclear-localized INPP4A in tumor suppression in humans.     

Identification of a novel type I cytokine receptor CRL2 preferentially expressed by human dendritic cells and activated monocytes

From a human dendritic cell (DC) cDNA library, we identified a novel type I cytokine receptor, designated as cytokine receptor-like molecule 2 (CRL2). CRL2 cDNA encoded a 371-residue type I transmembrane protein with an extracellular domain of 210 residues and an intracellular domain of 119 residues. Its extracellular domain contains conserved cysteine residues and WAS-like motif in place of the hallmark of WSXWS motif present in other type I cytokine receptors. The intracellular domain contained a membrane-proximal "box 1" motif and conserved tyrosine residue potentially as a binding site for signal transducing molecules. CRL2 protein shares significant homology with common cytokine receptor (gammac) and interleukin-13 receptor alpha1 chain. Northern blot analysis showed that CRL2 was restrictedly expressed by spleen and peripheral blood leukocytes, and abundantly expressed by HL-60 cells. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that CRL2 was preferentially expressed by DC and monocytes. Interestingly, CRL2 expression was up-regulated when monocytes were activated by LPS. These indicate that CRL2 may be involved in the biological functions of DC and monocytes. The Ba/F3 transfectants of CRL2 was retrovirally established with the expressed FLAG-tagged CRL2 in the size of approximately 48 kD, which could be efficiently immunoprecipitated. We also prepared a CRL2Ig fusion protein. The identification of its ligand and involvement of signal transduction will help to elucidate its potential function.     

Identification of a novel gene SRG4 expressed at specific stages of mouse spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is a complex process. Duringspermatogenesis, the production of sperm occurs withinthe testicular seminiferous tubules through three separatedphases. First of all, diploid germ cells, primitivespermatogonia, will self renew to amplify and producetypes A and B spermatogonia. Type B spermatogonia willdifferentiate into primary spermatocytes. Then, meioticdivisions of spermatocytes will produce round spermatids.Finally, after a series of biochemical and morphologicalchanges, sper…     

FRAGILE FIBER3, an Arabidopsis gene encoding a type II inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase, is required for secondary wall synthesis and actin organization in fiber cells

Type II inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases (5PTases) in yeast and animals have been known to regulate the level of phosphoinositides and thereby influence various cellular activities, such as vesicle trafficking and actin organization. In plants, little is known about the phosphatases involved in hydrolysis of phosphoinositides, and roles of type II 5PTases in plant cellular functions have not yet been characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that the FRAGILE FIBER3 (FRA3) gene of Arabidopsis thaliana, which encodes a type II 5PTase, plays an essential role in the secondary wall synthesis in fiber cells and xylem vessels. The fra3 mutations caused a dramatic reduction in secondary wall thickness and a concomitant decrease in stem strength. These phenotypes were associated with an alteration in actin organization in fiber cells. Consistent with the defective fiber and vessel phenotypes, the FRA3 gene was found to be highly expressed in fiber cells and vascular tissues in stems. The FRA3 protein is composed of two domains, an N-terminal localized WD-repeat domain and a C-terminal localized 5PTase catalytic domain. In vitro activity assay demonstrated that recombinant FRA3 exhibited phosphatase activity toward PtdIns(4,5)P2, PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, and Ins(1,4,5)P3, with the highest substrate affinity toward PtdIns(4,5)P2. The fra3 missense mutation, which caused an amino acid substitution in the conserved motif II of the 5PTase catalytic domain, completely abolished the FRA3 phosphatase activity. Moreover, the endogenous levels of PtdIns(4,5)2 and Ins(1,4,5)P3 were found to be elevated in fra3 stems. Together, our findings suggest that the FRA3 type II 5PTase is involved in phosphoinositide metabolism and influences secondary wall synthesis and actin organization.