Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-stimulated phospholipase D2 activity by Ser/Thr phosphorylation

Treatment of HeLa cells overexpressing PLD2 with the Ser/Thr-specific protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, augmented spontaneous phosphorylation of PLD2 with concomitant inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2))-stimulated PLD2 activity. Dephosphorylation of the immunoprecipitated, spontaneously phosphorylated PLD2 in COS-7 cells by catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1gamma1 resulted in the stimulation of the PLD2 catalytic activity. These observations suggest that Ser/Thr phosphorylation regulates PLD2 activity.     

Rapamycin decreases tau phosphorylation at Ser214 through regulation of cAMP-dependent kinase

Preventing or reducing tau hyperphosphorylation is considered to be a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Rapamycin may be a potential therapeutic agent for AD, because the rapamycin-induced autophagy may enhance the clearance of the hyperphosphorylated tau. However, recent rodent studies show that the protective effect of rapamycin may not be limited in the autophagic clearance of the hyperphosphorylated tau. Because some tau-related kinases are targets of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), we assume that rapamycin may regulate tau phosphorylation by regulating these kinases. Our results showed that in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, treatment with rapamycin induced phosphorylation of the type IIα regulatory (RIIα) subunit of cAMP-dependent kinase (PKA). Rapamycin also induced nuclear translocation of the catalytic subunits (Cat) of PKA and decreases in tau phosphorylation at Ser214 (pS214). The above effects of rapamycin were prevented by pretreatment with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor U0126. In addition, these effects of rapamycin might not depend on the level of tau expression, because similar results were obtained in both the non-tau-expressing wild type human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells and HEK293 cells stably transfected with the longest isoform of recombinant human tau (tau441; HEK293/tau441). These findings suggest that rapamycin decreases pS214 via regulation of PKA. Because tau phosphorylation at Ser214 may prime tau for further phosphorylation by other kinases, our findings provide a novel possible mechanism by which rapamycin reduces or prevents tau hyperphosphorylation.     

Mechanism of regulation of group IVA phospholipase A2 activity by Ser727 phosphorylation

Although group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)alpha) has been reported to be phosphorylated at multiple Ser residues, the mechanisms by which phosphorylation at different sites regulates cPLA(2)alpha activities are not fully understood. To explore the possibility that phosphorylation of Ser(727) modulates cellular protein-protein interactions, we measured the effect of Ser(727) mutations on the interaction of cPLA(2)alpha with a reported cPLA(2)alpha-binding protein, p11. In vitro activity assays and membrane binding measurements by surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that a heterotetramer (A2t) of p11 and annexin A2, but not p11 or annexin A2 alone, directly binds cPLA(2)alpha via Ser(727), which keeps the enzyme from binding the membrane and catalyzing the phospholipid hydrolysis. Phosphorylation of Ser(727) disrupts this inhibitory cPLA(2)alpha-A2t interaction, thereby activating cPLA(2)alpha. Subcellular translocation and activity measurements in HEK293 cells cotransfected with cPLA(2)alpha and p11 also showed that p11, in the form of A2t, inhibits cPLA(2)alpha by the same mechanism and that phosphorylation of Ser(727) activates cPLA(2)alpha by interfering with the inhibitory cPLA(2)alpha-A2t interaction. Collectively, these studies provide new insight into the regulatory mechanism of cPLA(2)alpha through Ser(727) phosphorylation.     

人参皂甙Rb1减轻冈田酸诱导的大鼠海马神经元Tau蛋白过度磷酸化

为研究人参皂甙Rb1(ginsenoside Rb1)对冈田酸(okadaic acid,OA)诱导的大鼠海马神经元Tau蛋白过度磷酸化的影响及其可能机制,实验随机分为正常组、溶媒对照组、OA模型组和Rb1预处理组。正常组不作任何处理;Rb1预处理组大鼠分别用5、10、20 mg/kg的Rb1预处理,每天一次,共14 d,于第13天向海马背侧注射1.5μl OA[0.483 μl,溶于10% 二甲基亚砜(dimethysulphoxide,DMSO)];OA模型组大鼠于第13天时海马背侧注射OA,溶媒对照组则注射等体积的生理盐水。各组均于第15天收取标本。通过Biescbowski’s染色、免疫组化和Western blot,分别观察大鼠海马神经元胞体和突起内神经原纤维的改变和磷酸化Tau蛋白的表达水平,同时检测蛋白磷酸酯酶2A(protein phosphatase-2A,PP2A)活性以探讨其作用机制。结果显示:(1)OA模型组与溶媒对照组及正常组比较,海马神经元胞体和突起着色较深,染色不均匀;神经元中Thr231和Sei396位点磷酸化的Tau蛋白和总Tau含量增多;PP2A活性则明显下降(P<0.01):(2)Rb1预处理组大鼠海马神经元胞体和突起染色均匀,神经原纤维走行规则;海马神经元中Thr231和Ser396位点磷酸化的Tau蛋白和总Tau 含量较OA模型组减少,而PP2A活性明显增高(P<0.01)。以上观察结果表明,人参皂甙Rb1可以减轻OA诱导的大鼠海马神经元Tau蛋白过度磷酸化,其机制可能与提高PP2A活性有关。     

Novel screening cascade identifies MKK4 as key kinase regulating Tau phosphorylation at Ser422

Phosphorylation of Tau at serine 422 promotes Tau aggregation. The kinase that is responsible for this key phosphorylation event has so far not been identified but could be a potential drug target for Alzheimer's disease. We describe here an assay strategy to identify this kinase. Using a combination of screening a library of 65'000 kinase inhibitors and in vitro inhibitor target profiling of the screening hits using the Ambit kinase platform, MKK4 was identified as playing a key role in Tau-S422 phosphorylation in human neuroblastoma cells.     

Amyloid beta-mediated cell death of cultured hippocampal neurons reveals extensive Tau fragmentation without increased full-length tau phosphorylation

A variety of genetic and biochemical evidence suggests that amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers promote downstream errors in Tau action, in turn inducing neuronal dysfunction and cell death in Alzheimer and related dementias. To better understand molecular mechanisms involved in Aβ-mediated neuronal cell death, we have treated primary rat hippocampal cultures with Aβ oligomers and examined the resulting cellular changes occurring before and during the induction of cell death with a focus on altered Tau biochemistry. The most rapid neuronal responses upon Aβ administration are activation of caspase 3/7 and calpain proteases. Aβ also appears to reduce Akt and Erk1/2 kinase activities while increasing GSK3β and Cdk5 activities. Shortly thereafter, substantial Tau degradation begins, generating relatively stable Tau fragments. Only a very small fraction of full-length Tau remains intact after 4 h of Aβ treatment. In conflict with expectations based on suggested increases of GSK3β and Cdk5 activities, Aβ does not cause any major increases in phosphorylation of full-length Tau as assayed by immunoblotting one-dimensional gels with 11 independent site- and phospho-specific anti-Tau antibodies as well as by immunoblotting two-dimensional gels probed with a pan-Tau antibody. There are, however, subtle and transient increases in Tau phosphorylation at 3-4 specific sites before its degradation. Taken together, these data are consistent with the notion that Aβ-mediated neuronal cell death involves the loss of full-length Tau and/or the generation of toxic fragments but does not involve or require hyperphosphorylation of full-length Tau.     

Astrocytes regulate amino acid receptor current densities in embryonic rat hippocampal neurons

Embryonic rat hippocampal neurons were cultured in a serum-free defined medium (MEM/N3) either directly on poly-D -lysine (PDL) or on a confluent monolayer of postnatal cortical astrocytes, C6 glioma cells, or Rat2 fibroblasts. Neurons on PDL were grown in MEM/N3 or in MEM/N3 conditioned for 24 h by astrocytes or C6 cells. Membrane capacitance (C_m) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-, glycine-, kainate-, and N-methyl-D -aspartate (NMDA)-induced currents were quantified using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. C_m as well as the amplitude and the density of these currents in neurons cultured on astrocytes were significantly greater than those in neurons grown on PDL after 24 and 48 h. C6 cells mimicked astrocytes in promoting C_m and GABA-, glycine-, and NMDA-evoked, but not kainate-evoked, currents. C_m and currents in neurons grown on Rat2 cells were comparable to those in neurons on PDL. Astrocytes maintained in culture for 3 months were noticeably less effective than freshly prepared ones just grown to confluence. Suppression of spontaneous cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ (Ca_c²⁺) elevations in astrocytes by 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy) ehane-N, N, N, N-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM) loaded intracellularly blocked the observed modulatory effects. Medium conditioned by either astrocytes or C6 cells mimicked the effects of direct coculture of neurons on these cells in promoting C_m and amino acid-evoked currents. Inclusion of antagonists at GABA and glutamate receptors in coculture experiments blocked the observed effects. Thus, diffusible substances synthesized and/or secreted by astrocytes in a Ca_c²⁺-dependent manner can regulate neuronal growth and aminoacid receptor function, and these effects may involve neuronal GABA and glutamate receptors. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 33: 848–864, 1997     

Angiotensin II-dependent phosphorylation at Ser11/Ser18 and Ser938 shifts the E2 conformations of rat kidney Na+/K+-ATPase

Kidney plasma membranes, which contain a single α-1 isoform of Na+/K+-ATPase, simultaneously contain two sub-conformations of E2P, differing in their rate of digoxin release in response to Na+ and ATP. Treating cells with Ang II (angiotensin II) somehow changes the conformation of both, because it differentially inhibits the rate of digoxin release. In the present study we tested whether Ang II regulates release by increasing phosphorylation at Ser11/Ser18 and Ser938. Opossum kidney cells co-expressing the AT1a receptor and either α-1.wild-type, α-1.S11A/S18A or α-1.S938A were treated with or without 10?nM Ang II for 5?min, increasing phosphorylation at the three sites. Na+/K+-ATPase was bound to digoxin-affinity columns in the presence of Na+, ATP and Mg2+. A solution containing 30?mM NaCl and 3?mM ATP eluted ~20% of bound untreated Na+/K+-ATPase (Population #1). Pre-treating cells with Ang II slowed the elution of Population #1 in α-1.wild-type and α-1.S938A, but not α-1.S11A/S18A cells. Another 50% of bound Na+/K+-ATPase (Population #2) was subsequently eluted in two phases by a solution containing 150?mM NaCl and 3?mM ATP. Ang II increased the initial rate and slowed the second phase in α-1.wild-type, but not α-1.S938A, cells. Thus Ang II changes the conformation of two forms of EP2 via differential phosphorylation.     

Inhibition of PP-2A upregulates CaMKII in rat forebrain and induces hyperphosphorylation of tau at Ser 262/356

The regulation of the activity of CaMKII by PP-1 and PP-2A, as well as the role of this protein kinase in the phosphorylation of tau protein in forebrain were investigated. The treatment of metabolically active rat brain slices with 1.0 microM okadaic acid (OA) inhibited approximately 65% of PP-2A and had no significant effect on PP-1 in the 16000xg tissue extract. Calyculin A (CL-A), 0.1 microM under the same conditions, inhibited approximately 50% of PP-1 and approximately 20% of PP-2A activities. In contrast, a mixture of OA and CL-A practically completely inhibited both PP-2A and PP-1 activities. The inhibition of the two phosphatase activities or PP-2A alone resulted in an approximately 2-fold increase in CaMKII activity and an approximately 8-fold increase in the phosphorylation of tau at Ser 262/356 in 60 min. Treatment of the brain slices with KN-62, an inhibitor of the autophosphorylation of CaMKII at Thr 286/287, produced approximately 60% inhibition in CaMKII activity and no significant effect on tau phosphorylation at Ser 262/356. The KN-62-treated brain slices when further treated with OA and CL-A did not show any change in CaMKII activity. In vitro, both PP-2A and PP-1 dephosphorylated tau at Ser 262/356 that was phosphorylated with purified CaMKII. These studies suggest (i) that in mammalian forebrain the cytosolic CaMKII activity is regulated mainly by PP-2A, (ii) that CaMKII is the major tau Ser 262/356 kinase in brain, and (iii) that a decrease in PP-2A/PP-1 activities in the brain leads to hyperphosphorylation of tau not only by inhibition of its dephosphorylation but also by promoting the CaMKII activity.     

Inhibition of phospholipase A2 by heparin

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is an important enzyme in the regulation of cell behavior. The hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine in vitro catalyzed by porcine pancreatic PLA2 was inhibited by heparin. Other glycosaminoglycans inhibited PLA2 activity to a significantly lesser extent, with a pattern of inhibition: heparin much greater than chondroitin sulfate (CS)-C greater than CS-A greater than CS-B greater than keratan sulfate. Hyaluronic acid and heparan sulfate caused no inhibition. Heparin's ability to inhibit PLA2 activity did not depend on substrate concentration, but did depend on ionic strength, with inhibition decreasing with increasing ionic strength. Heparin inhibition also varied with pH, being more effective at pH 5-8 than at pH 10. As a consequence, heparin induced a shift of the pH optimum of PLA2 from 7 to 8. Histone IIA and protamine sulfate, heparin-binding proteins, reversed heparin-induced PLA2 inhibition. The concentration of heparin which inhibited PLA2 activity by 50% increased with increasing enzyme concentration. Furthermore, PLA2 bound to heparin-Affigel. The data indicate that the catalytic potential of PLA2 can be regulated by heparin or heparin-like molecules and that inhibition is contingent on the formation of a heparin-PLA2 complex.     

Phosphorylation of Ser19 increases both Ser40 phosphorylation and enzyme activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in intact cells

We have previously shown that the phosphorylation of Ser19 in tyrosine hydroxylase can increase the rate of phosphorylation of Ser40 in tyrosine hydroxylase threefold in vitro. In this report we investigated the role of Ser19 on Ser40 phosphorylation in intact cells. Treatment of bovine chromaffin cells with anisomycin produced a twofold increase in Ser19 phosphorylation with no increase in Ser31 phosphorylation and only a small increase in Ser40 phosphorylation. Treatment of bovine chromaffin cells with forskolin produced a fourfold increase in Ser40 phosphorylation but no significant increase in either Ser19 or Ser31 phosphorylation. When chromaffin cells were first treated with anisomycin, the level of Ser40 phosphorylation after treatment by forskolin was 76% greater than the level of Ser40 phosphorylation in cells treated with forskolin alone. This potentiation of Ser40 phosphorylation by anisomycin could be completely blocked by the p38 MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase inhibitor SB 203580. The potentiation of Ser40 phosphorylation by anisomycin was not due to an increase in Ser40 kinase activity. Anisomycin treatment of chromaffin cells potentiated the forskolin-induced increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity by 50%. This potentiation of activity was also blocked by SB 203580. These data provide the first evidence that the phosphorylation of Ser19 can potentiate the phosphorylation of Ser40 and subsequent activation of tyrosine hydroxylase in intact cells.     

Inhibition in hippocampal pyramidal neurons during peripheral stimulation

Responses of hippocampal pyramidal neurons were investigated intracellularly in unanesthetized rabbits immobilized with tubocurarine. A single stimulus, applied to the sciatic nerve, evoked prolonged (up to 2.5 sec) hyperpolarization of the cell membrane, accompanied by inhibition of action potentials. The latent period of the evoked hyperpolarization was 48±16.4 msec, and its amplitude 2.5±1.9 mV. In some neurons the development of hyperpolarization potentials was preceded by excitation. The suggestion is made that hyperpolarization of the membrane of pyramidal cells during peripheral stimulation is manifested as an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP), generated with the participation of hippocampal interneurons. The possibility of prolonged tonic action of interneurons from outside as a cause of prolonged inhibition of the pyramidal neurons is discussed.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 278–284, November–December, 1969.     

Regulation of phosphorylation at Ser of GluN2B receptor in the postsynaptic density

Neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor (NMDAR) that plays essential roles in excitatory synaptic transmission is regulated by phosphorylation. However, the kinases and phosphatases involved in this regulation are not completely known. We show that the GluN2B subunit of NMDAR is phosphorylated at Ser¹³⁰³ by protein kinase C (PKC) and is dephosphorylated by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), but not protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in isolated postsynaptic density (PSD). Although PSD is known to harbor PKC, PP1 and PP2A, their ability to regulate phosphorylation of GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ would depend on the accessibility of GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ to these proteins. Since PSD preparation is likely to maintain the organization of its component proteins as inside neurons, accessibility of kinases and phosphatases to GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³in vivo would be addressed by experiments using this system. Using an antibody specific for the phosphorylated state of GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ we demonstrate that PP1 is the major phosphatase in rat brain PSD that can dephosphorylate the GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ endogenous to PSD. We also show that PKC present in PSD can phosphorylate GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³. The events reported here might be important in regulating GluN2B-Ser¹³⁰³ phosphorylation in vivo.     

Wnt-5a increases NO and modulates NMDA receptor in rat hippocampal neurons

Wnt signaling has a crucial role in synaptic function at the central nervous system. Here we evaluate whether Wnts affect nitric oxide (NO) generation in hippocampal neurons. We found that non-canonical Wnt-5a triggers NO production; however, Wnt-3a a canonical ligand did not exert the same effect. Co-administration of Wnt-5a with the soluble Frizzled related protein-2 (sFRP-2) a Wnt antagonist blocked the NO production. Wnt-5a activates the non-canonical Wnt/Ca²⁺ signaling through a mechanism that depends on Ca²⁺ release from Ryanodine-sensitive internal stores. The increase in NO levels evoked by Wnt-5a promotes the insertion of the GluN2B subunit of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) into the neuronal cell surface. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that Wnt-5a signaling is related to NO production, which in turn increases NMDARs trafficking to the cell surface.     

Reactions of hippocampal neurons at different stages of rat avoidance conditioning

The electrophysiological responses of neurons were compared in hippocampal slices from rats acquired and not acquired the passive avoidance reaction after the same conditioning procedure. Associative conditioning was accompanied by a gradual increase in the amplitude of the population spike evoked in CA1 area by stimulation of Schaffer collaterals. However, after reaching the learning criterion, the population spike significantly decreased. These phenomena were observed only at low (not maximal) intensities of test stimuli. After reaching the learning criterion, the paired-pulse facilitation was significantly higher in the slices prepared from the well-learned animals as compared with other groups (those having not reached the learning criterion, passive and active control). The obtained evidence validates the hypothesis that the observed intergroup differences stem from modifications of synaptic efficacy and suggests that after behavioral acquisition, plasticity induced by associative learning was substituted by other mechanisms probably related with declarative memory formation.     

Inhibition of phospholipase A2 by protein I

The 36 kDa substrate of several tyrosine protein kinases has been shown to exist in monomeric and oligomeric (362102) forms. Partial sequence data has suggested that the oligomer, referred to as protein I, is homologous to a group of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortins. In the present communication we demonstrate that protein I inhibits bovine pancreas phospholipase A2 with similar potency to that of lipocortin. Approximately 44 pmol protein I was required to produce 50% inhibition of 7.2 pmol of phospholipase A2. Inhibition of phospholipase A2 activity by calmodulin, S-100, calregulin, parvalbumin, troponin-C, or CAB-48 was not observed. These results indicate that protein I is a potent and specific inhibitor of phospholipase A2 activity, and thus shares functional homology with the lipocortin proteins. We therefore propose that this protein be named lipocortin-85.     

Vasopressin-stimulated increase in phosphorylation at Ser269 potentiates plasma membrane retention of aquaporin-2

Vasopressin controls water excretion through regulation of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) trafficking in renal collecting duct cells. Using mass spectrometry, we previously demonstrated four phosphorylated serines (Ser(256), Ser(261), Ser(264), and Ser(269)) in the carboxyl-terminal tail of rat AQP2. Here, we used phospho-specific antibodies and protein mass spectrometry to investigate the roles of vasopressin and cyclic AMP in the regulation of phosphorylation at Ser(269) and addressed the role of this site in AQP2 trafficking. The V2 receptor-specific vasopressin analog dDAVP increased Ser(P)(269)-AQP2 abundance more than 10-fold, but at a rate much slower than the corresponding increase in Ser(256) phosphorylation. Vasopressin-mediated changes in phosphorylation at both sites were mimicked by cAMP addition and inhibited by protein kinase A (PKA) antagonists. In vitro kinase assays, however, demonstrated that PKA phosphorylates Ser(256), but not Ser(269). Phosphorylation of AQP2 at Ser(269) did not occur when Ser(256) was replaced by an unphosphorylatable amino acid, as seen in both S256L-AQP2 mutant mice and in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells expressing an S256A mutant, suggesting that Ser(269) phosphorylation depends upon prior phosphorylation at Ser(256). Immunogold electron microscopy localized Ser(P)(269)-AQP2 solely in the apical plasma membrane of rat collecting duct cells, in contrast to the other three phospho-forms (found in both apical plasma membrane and intracellular vesicles). Madin-Darby canine kidney cells expressing an S269D "phosphomimic" AQP2 mutant showed constitutive localization at the plasma membrane. The data support a model in which vasopressin-mediated phosphorylation of AQP2 at Ser(269):(a) depends on prior PKA-mediated phosphorylation of Ser(256) and (b) enhances apical plasma membrane retention of AQP2.