SAPK/JNK regulates cdc2/cyclin B kinase through phosphorylation and inhibition of cdc25c

Cells undergo M phase arrest in response to stresses like UV irradiation or DNA damage. Stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK, also known as c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK) is activated by such stress stimuli. We addressed the potential effects of SAPK activation on cell cycle regulatory proteins. Activation of SAPK strongly correlated with inhibition of cdc2/cyclin B kinase, an important regulator of G2/M phase. SAPK directly phosphorylated the cdc2 regulator, cdc25c, in vitro on serine 168 (S168). This residue was highly phosphorylated in vivo in response to stress stimuli. cdc25c phosphorylated on S168 in cells lacks phosphatase activity, and expression of a S168A mutant of cdc25c reversed the inhibition of cdc2/cyclin B kinase activity by cell stress. Antibodies directed against phosphorylated S168 detect increased phosphorylation of S168 after cell stress. We conclude that SAPK regulates cdc2/cyclin B kinase following stress events by a novel mechanism involving inhibitory phosphorylation of the cdc2-activating phosphatase cdc25c on S168.     

Relationships between cdc2 kinase, DNA cross-linking, and cell cycle perturbations induced by nitrogen mustard.

M phase-promoting factor (MPF) consists of a p34cdc2 (cdc2) kinase and cyclin B complex which in its active form promotes G2 to M transition. The role of MPF in G2 arrest following DNA damage, however, has remained largely uncharacterized. We have investigated whether nitrogen mustard (HN2) interfered with either the formation of MPF or its activation. For this purpose, we measured cdc2 kinase activity relative to cdc2 and cyclin B protein turnover and the phosphorylation status of cdc2. Studies were performed in two exceptional human lymphoma cell lines, which differed in HN2 sensitivity by 5-fold (CA46, 50% growth-inhibitory dose = 1.0 microM; JLP119, 50% growth-inhibitory dose = 0.2 microM) but exhibited virtually identical DNA interstrand and DNA-protein cross-link exposure. Following HN2 treatment, CA46 cells ceased to enter mitosis and exhibited a marked delay in G2 phase. Failure to enter mitosis paralleled inhibition of cdc2 kinase. Inhibition was not due to decreased levels of cdc2 or cyclin B protein; rather, G2 arrest correlated with the accumulation of both tyrosine-phosphorylated cdc2 and cyclin B. These findings implied that G2 arrest resulted from a down-regulation of the processes that activate MPF. We also found that JLP119 cells, within a few hours of mitosis at the time of drug treatment, evaded checkpoint control and continued cell division unabated by DNA damage. Furthermore, despite similar DNA cross-link exposure, JLP119 cells within the window of checkpoint control were more susceptible to S phase delay than CA46 cells. Altered cell cycle responses correlated with the greater susceptibility of JLP119 cells to the cytotoxic effects of HN2.     

Ectopic Expression of cdc2/cdc28 Kinase Subunit Homo sapiens 1 Uncouples Cyclin B Metabolism from the Mitotic Spindle Cell Cycle Checkpoint

Primary human fibroblasts arrest growth in response to the inhibition of mitosis by mitotic spindle-depolymerizing drugs. We show that the mechanism of mitotic arrest is transient and implicates a decrease in the expression of cdc2/cdc28 kinase subunit Homo sapiens 1 (CKsHs1) and a delay in the metabolism of cyclin B. Primary human fibroblasts infected with a retroviral vector that drives the expression of a mutant p53 protein failed to downregulate CKsHs1 expression, degraded cyclin B despite the absence of chromosomal segregation, and underwent DNA endoreduplication. In addition, ectopic expression of CKsHs1 interfered with the control of cyclin B metabolism by the mitotic spindle cell cycle checkpoint and resulted in a higher tendency to undergo DNA endoreduplication. These results demonstrate that an altered regulation of CKsHs1 and cyclin B in cells that carry mutant p53 undermines the mitotic spindle cell cycle checkpoint and facilitates the development of aneuploidy. These data may contribute to the understanding of the origin of heteroploidy in mutant p53 cells.     

FGF inhibits the activity of the cyclin B1/CDK1 kinase to induce a transient G2 arrest in RCS chondrocytes

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) negatively regulate long bone development by inhibiting the proliferation of chondrocytes that accumulate in the G1 phase of the cycle following FGF treatment. Here we report that FGF also causes a striking but transient delay in mitotic entry in RCS chondrocytes by inactivating the cyclin B1-associated CDK1(CDC2) kinase. As a consequence of this inactivation, cells accumulate in the G2 phase of the cycle for the first 4-6 hours of the treatment. Cyclin B1/CDK1 activity is then restored and cells reach a G1 arrest. The reduced cyclin B1/CDK1 activity was accompanied by increased CDK1 inhibitory phosphorylation, likely caused by increased activity and expression of the Myt1 kinase. FGF1 also caused dephosphorylation of the CDC25C phosphatase, that however appears due the inactivation of cyclin B1/CDK1 complex in the CDK1 feedback loop, and not the activation of specific phosphatases. The inactivation of the cyclin B1/CDK1 complex is a direct effect of FGF signaling, and not a consequence of the G2 arrest as it can be observed also in cells blocked at mitosis by Nocodazole. The Chk1 and ATM/ATR kinase are known to play essential roles in the G2 checkpoint induced by DNA damage/genotoxic stress, but inhibition of Chk1 or ATM/ATR not only did not prevent, but rather potentiated the FGF-induced G2 arrest. Additionally our results indicate that the transient G2 arrest is induced by FGF in RCS cell through mechanisms that are independent of the G1 arrest, and that the G2 block is not strictly required for the sustained G1 arrest but may provide a pausing mechanism that allows the FGF response to be fully established.     

Differing responses of G2-related genes during differentiation of HL60 cells induced by TPA or DMSO

Differentiation leads to the cessation of cellular proliferation, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms of growth arrest. We compared the effect of two differentiation inducers, 12-o-tetradecanoyl 13-acetate (TPA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on both the cell-cycle and the modulation of G2-related genes in synchronized HL60 cells. TPA treatment of HL60 cells resulted in G1 arrest within 24 h. In contrast, the cell cycling of DMSO-treated cells was initially accelerated and they progressed to the second cycle before accumulating in the G1 phase. Expression of cyclin B, cdc25, wee1 and cdc2 was studied during cell cycle arrest by Northern blot hybridization. Expression of cyclin B, cdc25 and cdc2 fluctuated in association with cell cycle progression towards the G2/M phase, while wee1 expression remained constant in untreated cells. These four genes were highly expressed in TPA-treated cells for the first 12 h, but drastic down-regulation was seen at 18 h and expression became undetectable after 24 h. In contrast, no remarked changes of gene expression were seen in DMSO-treated cells. These findings suggest that cell cycle progression along with the initial process of differentiation in response to TPA differs from the response to DMSO and that the down-regulation of cdc2 expression by TPA-treated HL60 cells contributes to endorsement of G1 arrest.     

Cyclin B1、P34cdc2在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及意义

目的为了研究非小细胞肺癌组织中Cyclin B1及P34cdc2的表达,探讨Cyclin B1及P34cdc2的表达与非小细胞肺癌临床病理特征的关系.方法随机收集非小细胞肺癌(含癌旁细支气管和/或小支气管增生组织和正常肺组织)标本100例.采用免疫组织化学SP法.结果显示在癌组织与癌旁细支气管和/或小支气管上皮增生组织及正常肺组织中Cyclin B1及P34cdc2表达差异有显著性(P＜0.01).在癌组织中有过表达;在癌旁细支气管和/或小支气管上皮增生组织中的表达较正常肺组织中的表达增强.100例非小细胞肺癌组织中Cyclin B1及P34cdc2表达呈正相关(P＜0.01),相关系数为0.966.癌旁细支气管和/或小支气管上皮增生组织中,Cyclin B1及P34cdc2的表达也呈正相关(P＜0.01),相关系数为0.638.组织类型、分化程度和淋巴结转移与Cyclin B1及P34cdc2的表达均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).不同临床分期的非小细胞肺癌,其Cyclin B1及P34 cdc2的表达差异有显著性(P＜0.05).结论 Cyclin B1及P34cdc2在非小细胞肺癌中有过表达现象,二者在M期前形成过多的促成熟因子(maturation promoting factor, MPF)从而加速非小细胞肺癌细胞跨越G2/M期关卡进入分裂期.过表达的Cyclin B1及P34cdc2可作为反映非小细胞肺癌细胞分裂增殖能力和临床分期的指标之一.     

Requirement for p34cdc2 kinase is restricted to mitosis in the mammalian cdc2 mutant FT210

The mouse FT210 cell line is a temperature-sensitive cdc2 mutant. FT210 cells are found to arrest specifically in G2 phase and unlike many alleles of cdc2 and cdc28 mutants of yeasts, loss of p34cdc2 at the nonpermissive temperature has no apparent effect on cell cycle progression through the G1 and S phases of the division cycle. FT210 cells and the parent wild-type FM3A cell line each possess at least three distinct histone H1 kinases. H1 kinase activities in chromatography fractions were identified using a synthetic peptide substrate containing the consensus phosphorylation site of histone H1 and the kinase subunit compositions were determined immunochemically with antisera prepared against the "PSTAIR" peptide, the COOH-terminus of mammalian p34cdc2 and the human cyclins A and B1. The results show that p34cdc2 forms two separate complexes with cyclin A and with cyclin B1, both of which exhibit thermal lability at the non-permissive temperature in vitro and in vivo. A third H1 kinase with stable activity at the nonpermissive temperature is comprised of cyclin A and a cdc2-like 34-kD subunit, which is immunoreactive with anti-"PSTAIR" antiserum but is not recognized with antiserum specific for the COOH-terminus of p34cdc2. The cyclin A-associated kinases are active during S and G2 phases and earlier in the division cycle than the p34cdc2-cyclin B1 kinase. We show that mouse cells possess at least two cdc2-related gene products which form cell cycle regulated histone H1 kinases and we propose that the murine homolog of yeast p34cdc/CDC28 is essential only during the G2-to-M transition in FT210 cells.     

p53-dependent Chk1 phosphorylation is required for maintenance of prolonged G2 Arrest

Targeting checkpoint kinases has been shown to have a potential chemosensitizing effect in cancer treatment. However, inhibitors of such kinases preferentially abrogate the DNA damage-induced G2 checkpoint in p53-/- as opposed to p53+/+ cells. The mechanisms by which p53 (TP53) can prevent abrogation of the G2 checkpoint are unclear. Using normal human diploid p53+/+ and p53-/- fibroblasts as model systems, we have compared the effects of three checkpoint inhibitors, caffeine, staurosporine and UCN-01, on gamma-radiation-induced G2 arrest. The G2 arrest in p53+/+ cells was abrogated by caffeine, but not by staurosporine and UCN-01, whereas the G2 arrest in p53-/- cells was sensitive to all three inhibitors. Chk2 (CHEK1) phosphorylation was maintained in the presence of all three inhibitors in both p53+/+ and p53-/- cells. Chk1 phosphorylation was maintained only in the presence of staurosporine and UCN-01 in p53+/+ cells. In the presence of caffeine Chk1 phosphorylation was inhibited regardless of p53 status. The pathway of Chk1 phosphorylation --> Cdc25A degradation --> inhibition of cyclin B1/Cdk1 activity --> G2 arrest is accordingly resistant to staurosporine and UCN-01 in p53+/+ cells. Moreover, sustained phosphorylation of Chk1 in the presence of staurosporine and UCN-01 is strongly related to phosphorylation of p53. The present study suggests the unique role of Chk1 in preventing abrogation of the G2 checkpoint in p53+/+ cells.     

The human polo-like kinase, PLK, regulates cdc2/cyclin B through phosphorylation and activation of the cdc25C phosphatase

Entry into mitosis by mammalian cells is triggered by the activation of the cdc2/cyclin B holoenzyme. This is accomplished by the specific dephosphorylation of key residues by the cdc25C phosphatase. The polo-like kinases are a family of serine/threonine kinases which are also implicated in the control of mitotic events, but their exact regulatory mechanism is not known. Recently, a Xenopus homologue, PLX1, was reported to phosphorylate and activate cdc25, leading to activation of cdc2/cyclin B. Jurkat T leukemia cells were chemically arrested and used to verify that PLK protein expression and its phosphorylation state is regulated with respect to cell cycle phase (i.e., protein is undetectable at G1/S, accumulates at S phase and is modified at G2/M). Herein, we show for the first time that endogenous human PLK protein immunoprecipitated from the G2/M-arrested Jurkat cells directly phosphorylates human cdc25C. In addition, we demonstrate that recombinant human (rh) PLK also phosphorylates rhcdc25C in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Phosphorylation of endogenous cdc25C and recombinant cdc25C by PLK resulted in the activation of the phosphatase as assessed by dephosphorylation of cdc2/cyclin B. These data are the first to demonstrate that human PLK is capable of phosphorylating and positively regulating human cdc25C activity, allowing cdc25C to dephosphorylate inactive cdc2/cyclin B. As this event is required for cell cycle progression, we define at least one key regulatory mode of action for human PLK in the initiation of mitosis.     

Involvement of p21 in the PKC-induced regulation of the G2/M cell cycle transition

Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibits cell cycle progression at the G1/S and G2/M transitions. We found that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced upregulation of p21, not only in MCF-7 cells arrested in the G1 phase as previously shown, but also in cells delayed in the G2 phase. This increase in p21 in cells accumulated in the G1 and G2/M phases of the cell cycle after PMA treatment was inhibited by the PKC inhibitor GF109203X. This indicates that PKC activity is required for PMA-induced p21 upregulation and cell cycle arrest in the G1 and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. To further assess the role of p21 in the PKC-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest independently of its G1 arrest, we used aphidicolin-synchronised MCF-7 cells. Our results show that, in parallel with the inhibition of cdc2 activity, PMA addition enhanced the associations between p21 and either cyclin B or cdc2. Furthermore, we found that after PMA treatment p21 was able to associate with the active Tyr-15 dephosphorylated form of cdc2, but this complex was devoid of kinase activity indicating that p21 may play a role in inhibition of cdc2 induced by PMA. Taken together, these observations provide evidence that p21 is involved in integrating the PKC signaling pathway to the cell cycle machinery at the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint.     

THE ROLE OF CDC2, CDC25 AND CYCLIN A GENES IN THE MAINTENANCE OF IMMORTALIZATION AND GROWTH ARREST IN A RAT EMBRYONIC FIBROBLAST CONDITIONAL CELL LINE

Immortalization of rodent cells by oncogenes is a complex biological process which involves the abnormal regulation of genes who control cellular proliferation. The role of the cell cycle control genes cdc2, cdc25 and cyclin A in the maintenance of immortalization and in growth arrest was examined in the tsa14, a SV40 T antigen rat embryonic fibroblast conditional for growth cell line. Analysis of RNA expression showed minimal levels of cdc2 mRNA in both proliferating and growth-arrested tsa14 cells. In contrast, cyclin A mRNA was found downregulated in growth-arrested tsa14 cells, as well as in senescent primary rat embryonic fibroblasts (REFS). The ability of cdc2, or cdc25, or cyclin A genes to maintain the tsa14 immortal phenotype was also examined by electroporations of these genes into the tsa14 cells. Clones over-expressing the electroporated cdc2, or cdc25, or cyclin A, or combinations of these genes growth arrested at the non-permissive conditions similar to controls, thereby suggesting that the expression of these genes alone is insufficient for tsa14 maintenance of immortalization.     

The NIMA protein kinase is hyperphosphorylated and activated downstream of p34cdc2/cyclin B: coordination of two mitosis promoting kinases.

Initiation of mitosis in Aspergillus nidulans requires activation of two protein kinases, p34cdc2/cyclin B and NIMA. Forced expression of NIMA, even when p34cdc2 was inactivated, promoted chromatin condensation. NIMA may therefore directly cause mitotic chromosome condensation. However, the mitosis-promoting function of NIMA is normally under control of p34cdc2/cyclin B as the active G2 form of NIMA is hyperphosphorylated and further activated by p34cdc2/cyclin B when cells initiate mitosis. To see the p34cdc2/cyclin B dependent activation of NIMA, okadaic acid had to be added to isolation buffers to prevent dephosphorylation of NIMA during isolation. Hyperphosphorylated NIMA contained the MPM-2 epitope and, in vitro, phosphorylation of NIMA by p34cdc2/cyclin B generated the MPM-2 epitope, suggesting that NIMA is phosphorylated directly by p34cdc2/cyclin B during mitotic initiation. These two kinases, which are both essential for mitotic initiation, are therefore independently activated as protein kinases during G2. Then, to initiate mitosis, we suggest that each activates the other's mitosis-promoting functions. This ensures that cells coordinately activate p34cdc2/cyclin B and NIMA to initiate mitosis only upon completion of all interphase events. Finally, we show that NIMA is regulated through the cell cycle like cyclin B, as it accumulates during G2 and is degraded only when cells traverse mitosis.     

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpr-mediated G(2) cell cycle arrest: Vpr interferes with cell cycle signaling cascades by interacting with the B subunit of serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A

The Vpr protein of primate lentiviruses arrests cell cycling at the G(2)/M phase through an inactivation of cyclin B-p34(cdc2) and its upstream regulator cdc25. We provide here biochemical and functional evidence demonstrating that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpr mediates G(2) arrest by forming a complex with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), an upstream regulator of cdc25. Vpr associates with PP2A through a specific interaction with the B55 regulatory subunit. This interaction is necessary but not sufficient for G(2) arrest. Interestingly, we found that Vpr association with B55-containing PP2A targets the enzymatic complex to the nucleus and, importantly, enhances the recruitment and dephosphorylation of the cdc25 substrate. Our data suggest that Vpr mediates G(2) arrest by enhancing the nuclear import of PP2A and by positively modulating its catalytic activity towards active phosphorylated nuclear cdc25.     

Human Parvovirus B19 Induces Cell Cycle Arrest at G2 Phase with Accumulation of Mitotic Cyclins

Human parvovirus B19 infects specifically erythroid progenitor cells, which causes transient aplastic crises and hemolytic anemias. Here, we demonstrate that erythroblastoid UT7/Epo cells infected with B19 virus fall into growth arrest with 4N DNA, indicating G(2)/M arrest. These B19 virus-infected cells displayed accumulation of cyclin A, cyclin B1, and phosphorylated cdc2 and were accompanied by an up-regulation in the kinase activity of the cdc2-cyclin B1 complex, similar to that in cells treated with the mitotic inhibitor. However, degradation of nuclear lamina and phosphorylation of histone H3 and H1 were not seen in B19 virus-infected cells, indicating that the infected cells do not enter the M phase. Accumulation of cyclin B1 was persistently localized in the cytoplasm, but not in the nucleus, suggesting that B19 virus infection of erythroid cells raises suppression of nuclear import of cyclin B1, resulting in cell cycle arrest at the G(2) phase. The B19 virus-induced G(2)/M arrest may be the critical event in the damage of erythroid progenitor cells seen in patients with B19 virus infection.     

Multiple splicing variants of cdc25B regulate G2/M progression.

Progression through G2 phase into mitosis is regulated by the activation of the mitotic cyclin/cdk complexes, which are in turn activated cdc25B and cdc25C phosphatases. Here we report that alternate splicing produces at least five variants of cdc25B, although only cdc25B2 and cdc25B3 are detectable as proteins. Analysis of these two variants shows that cdc25B2 is expressed at lower levels relative to cdc25B3 in all cell lines tested, and the expression of both increased markedly during G2 and mitosis. Overexpression of the catalytically inactive version of either cdc25B variant produced a G2 arrest implicating both in regulating G2/M progression.     

14-3-3 gamma is required to enforce both the incomplete S phase and G2 DNA damage checkpoints

Checkpoint pathways inhibit mitotic progression by inducing the phosphorylation of serine 216 in cdc25C resulting in the generation of a 14-3-3 binding site on cdc25C. Two 14-3-3 isoforms, 14-3-3ε and 14-3-3γ form a complex with cdc25C and inhibit cdc25C function. To examine the contribution of 14-3-3γ to checkpoint regulation, the expression of 14-3-3γ was inhibited in HCT116 cells using vector based RNA interference. A transient reduction in the expression of 14-3-3γ in HCT116 cells resulted in an override of both the incomplete S phase and the G2 DNA damage checkpoint. A 14-3-3γ knockdown clone also showed an override of both checkpoint pathways. These phenotypes were reversed upon expression of a shRNA resistant 14-3-3γ cDNA. Override of the G2 DNA damage checkpoint pathway was accompanied by a decrease in the levels of inhibitory phosphorylation on cdc25C and cdk1. However, there was no difference in the γ-H2AX foci formation and levels of phospho-chk1 and phospho-chk2, suggesting that activation of the DNA damage checkpoint response and subsequent activation of the checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Chk2 was not perturbed. These results suggest that the override of checkpoint observed in 14-3-3γ knockdown cells is due to failure to inhibit cdc25C function.