Regulation of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase by calmodulin kinases.

Phosphorylation of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) by Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinases (CaM kinases) including CaM kinase Ialpha (CaM-K Ialpha), CaM kinase IIalpha (CaM-K IIalpha), and CaM kinase IV (CaM-K IV), was studied. It was found that purified recombinant nNOS was phosphorylated by CaM-K Ialpha, CaM-K IIalpha, and CaM-K IV at Ser847 in vitro. Replacement of Ser847 with Ala (S847A) prevented phosphorylation by CaM kinases. Phosphorylated recombinant wild-type nNOS at Ser847 (approximately 0.5 mol of phosphate incorporation into nNOS) exhibited a 30% decrease of Vmax with little change of both the Km for L-arginine and Kact for CaM relative to unphosphorylated enzyme. The activity of mutant S847D was decreased to a level 50-60% as much as the wild-type enzyme. The decreased NOS enzyme activity of phosphorylated nNOS at Ser847 and mutant S847D was partially due to suppression of CaM binding, but not to impairment of dimer formation which is thought to be essential for enzyme activation. Inactive nNOS lacking CaM-binding ability was generated by mutation of Lys732-Lys-Leu to Asp732-Asp-Glu (Watanabe, Y., Hu, Y., and Hidaka, H. (1997) FEBS Lett. 403, 75-78). It was phosphorylated by CaM kinases, as was the wild-type enzyme, indicating that CaM-nNOS binding was not required for the phosphorylation reaction. We developed antibody NP847, which specifically recognize nNOS in its phosphorylated state at Ser847. Using the antibody NP847, we obtained evidence that nNOS is phosphorylated at Ser847 in rat brain. Thus, our results suggest that CaM kinase-induced phosphorylation of nNOS at Ser847 alters the activity control of this enzyme.     

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I inhibits neuronal nitric-oxide synthase activity through serine 741 phosphorylation

We demonstrate here that neuronal nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) is phosphorylated and inhibited by a constitutively active form of Ca²⁺/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase I (CaM-K I1-293). Substitution of Ser⁷⁴¹ to Ala in nNOS blocked the phosphorylation and the inhibitory effect. Mimicking phosphorylation at Ser⁷⁴¹ by Ser to Asp mutation resulted in decreased binding of and activation by CaM, since the mutation was within the CaM-binding domain. CaM-K I1-293 gave phosphorylation of nNOS at Ser⁷⁴¹ in transfected cells, resulting in 60–70% inhibition of nNOS activity. Wild-type CaM-K I also did phosphorylate nNOS at Ser⁷⁴¹ in transfected cells, but either CaM-K II or CaM-K IV did not. These results raise the possibility of a novel cross-talk between nNOS and CaM-K I through the phosphorylation of Ser⁷⁴¹ on nNOS.     

p90 RSK-1 associates with and inhibits neuronal nitric oxide synthase

Evidence is presented that RSK1 (ribosomal S6 kinase 1), a downstream target of MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), directly phosphorylates nNOS (neuronal nitric oxide synthase) on Ser847 in response to mitogens. The phosphorylation thus increases greatly following EGF (epidermal growth factor) treatment of rat pituitary tumour GH3 cells and is reduced by exposure to the MEK (MAPK/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase kinase) inhibitor PD98059. Furthermore, it is significantly enhanced by expression of wild-type RSK1 and antagonized by kinase-inactive RSK1 or specific reduction of endogenous RSK1. EGF treatment of HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) cells, expressing RSK1 and nNOS, led to inhibition of NOS enzyme activity, associated with an increase in phosphorylation of nNOS at Ser847, as is also the case in an in vitro assay. In addition, these phenomena were significantly blocked by treatment with the RSK inhibitor Ro31-8220. Cells expressing mutant nNOS (S847A) proved resistant to phosphorylation and decrease of NOS activity. Within minutes of adding EGF to transfected cells, RSK1 associated with nNOS and subsequently dissociated following more prolonged agonist stimulation. EGF-induced formation of the nNOS-RSK1 complex was significantly decreased by PD98059 treatment. Treatment with EGF further revealed phosphorylation of nNOS on Ser847 in rat hippocampal neurons and cerebellar granule cells. This EGF-induced phosphorylation was partially blocked by PD98059 and Ro31-8220. Together, these data provide substantial evidence that RSK1 associates with and phosphorylates nNOS on Ser847 following mitogen stimulation and suggest a novel role for RSK1 in the regulation of nitric oxide function in brain.     

Bidirectional regulation of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase phosphorylation at serine 847 by the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor

At glutamatergic synapses, the scaffolding protein PSD95 links the neuronal isoform of nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) to the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Phosphorylation of nNOS at serine 847 (Ser(847)) by the calcium-calmodulin protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibits nNOS activity, possibly by blocking the binding of Ca(2+)-CaM. Here we show that the NMDA mediates a novel bidirectional regulation of Ser(847) phosphorylation. nNOS phosphorylated at Ser(847) colocalizes with the NMDA receptor at spines of cultured hippocampal neurons. Treatment of neurons with 5 microm glutamate stimulated CaMKII phosphorylation of nNOS at Ser(847), whereas excitotoxic concentrations of glutamate, 100 and 500 microm, induced Ser(847)-PO(4) dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase 1. Strong NMDA receptor stimulation was likely to activate nNOS under these conditions because protein nitration to form nitrotyrosine, a marker of nNOS activity, correlated in individual neurons with Ser(847)-PO(4) dephosphorylation. Of particular note, stimulation with low glutamate that increased phosphorylation of nNOS at Ser(847) could be reversed by subsequent high glutamate treatment which induced dephosphorylation. The reversibility of NMDA receptor-induced phosphorylation at Ser(847) by different doses of glutamate suggests two mechanisms with opposite effects: 1). a time-dependent negative feedback induced by physiological concentrations of glutamate that limits nNOS activation and precludes the overproduction of NO; and 2). a pathological stimulation by high concentrations of glutamate that leads to unregulated nNOS activation and production of toxic levels of NO. These mechanisms may share pathways, respectively, with NMDA receptor-induced forms of synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity.     

Differential effects of a calcineurin inhibitor on glutamate-induced phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM kinases) are major multifunctional enzymes that play important roles in calcium-mediated signal transduction. To characterize their regulatory mechanisms in neurons, we compared glutamate-induced phosphorylation of CaM kinase IV and CaM kinase II in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. We observed that dephosphorylation of these kinases followed different time courses, suggesting different regulatory mechanisms for each kinase. Okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase (PP) 1 and PP2A, increased the phosphorylation of both kinases. In contrast, cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of calcineurin, showed different effects: the phosphorylation and activity of CaM kinase IV were significantly increased with this inhibitor, but those of CaM kinase II were not significantly increased. Cyclosporin A treatment of neurons increased phosphorylation of Thr196 of CaM kinase IV, the activated form with CaM kinase kinase, which was recognized with an anti-phospho-Thr196 antibody. Moreover, recombinant CaM kinase IV was dephosphorylated and inactivated with calcineurin as well as with PP1, PP2A, and PP2C in vitro. These results suggest that CaM kinase IV, but not CaM kinase II, is directly regulated with calcineurin.     

Chronic hyperammonemia reduces the activity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in cerebellum by altering its localization and increasing its phosphorylation by calcium-calmodulin kinase II

Impaired function of the glutamate-nitric oxide-cGMP pathway contributes to cognitive impairment in hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy. The mechanisms by which hyperammonemia impairs this pathway remain unclear. Understanding these mechanisms would allow designing clinical treatments for cognitive deficits in hepatic encephalopathy. The aims of this work were: (i) to assess whether chronic hyperammonemia in vivo alters basal activity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in cerebellum and/or its activation in response to NMDA receptor activation and (ii) to analyse the molecular mechanisms by which hyperammonemia induces these alterations. It is shown that hyperammonemia reduces both basal activity of nNOS and its activation following NMDA receptor activation. Reduced basal activity is because of increased phosphorylation in Ser847 (by 69%) which reduces basal activity of nNOS by about 40%. Increased phosphorylation of nNOS in Ser847 is because of increased activity of calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKII) which in turn is because of increased phosphorylation at Thr286. Inhibiting CaMKII with KN-62 normalizes phosphorylation of Ser847 and basal NOS activity in hyperammonemic rats, returning to values similar to controls. Reduced activation of nNOS in response to NMDA receptor activation in hyperammonemia is because of altered subcellular localization of nNOS, with reduced amount in post-synaptic membranes and increased amount in the cytosol.     

Substrate recognition by Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase. Role of the arg-pro-rich insert domain.

Mammalian Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaM-KK) has been identified and cloned as an activator for two kinases, CaM kinase I (CaM-KI) and CaM kinase IV (CaM-KIV), and a recent report (Yano, S., Tokumitsu, H., and Soderling, T. R. (1998) Nature 396, 584-587) demonstrates that CaM-KK can also activate and phosphorylate protein kinase B (PKB). In this study, we identify a CaM-KK from Caenorhabditis elegans, and comparison of its sequence with the mammalian CaM-KK alpha and beta shows a unique Arg-Pro (RP)-rich insert in their catalytic domains relative to other protein kinases. Deletion of the RP-domain resulted in complete loss of CaM-KIV activation activity and physical interaction of CaM-KK with glutathione S-transferase-CaM-KIV (T196A). However, CaM-KK autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of a synthetic peptide substrate were normal in the RP-domain mutant. Site-directed mutagenesis of three conserved Arg in the RP- domain of CaM-KK confirmed that these positive charges are important for CaM-KIV activation. The RP- domain deletion mutant also failed to fully activate and phosphorylate CaM-KI, but this mutant was indistinguishable from wild-type CaM-KK for the phosphorylation and activation of PKB. These results indicate that the RP-domain in CaM-KK is critical for recognition of downstream CaM-kinases but not for its catalytic activity (i.e. autophosphorylation) and PKB activation.     

Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S19 at Ser59 by CaM Kinase Iα

In order to examine the possible involvements of Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM kinases) in the regulation of ribosomal functions, we tested the phosphorylation of rat ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19) by various CaM kinases in vitro . We found that CaM kinase Iα, but not CaM kinase Iβ1, Iβ2, II, or IV, robustly phosphorylated RPS19. From the consensus phosphorylation site sequence, Ser59, Ser90, and Thr124 were likely to be phosphorylated; therefore, we mutated each amino acid to alanine and found that the mutation of Ser59 to alanine strongly attenuated phosphorylation by CaM kinase Iα, suggesting that Ser59 was a major phosphorylation site. Furthermore, we produced a specific antibody against RPS19 phosphorylated at Ser59, and found that Ser59 was phosphorylated both in GT1-7 cells and rat brain. Phosphorylation of RPS19 in GT1-7 cells was inhibited by KN93, an inhibitor of CaM kinases. Immunoblot analysis after subcellular fractionation of rat brain demonstrated that phosphorylated RPS19 was present in 80S ribosomes. Phosphorylation of RPS19 by CaM kinase Iα augmented the interaction of RPS19 with the previously identified S19 binding protein. These results suggest that CaM kinase Iα regulates the functions of RPS19 through phosphorylation of Ser59.     

Nitric oxide-mediated modulation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II

The mechanisms of NO inhibition of CaMK [Ca(2+)/CaM (calmodulin)-dependent protein kinase] II activity were studied. In rat pituitary tumour GH3 cells, TRH [thyrotrophin (TSH)-releasing hormone]-stimulated phosphorylation of nNOS [neuronal NOS (NO synthase)] at Ser(847) was sensitive to an inhibitor of CaMKs, KN-93, and was enhanced by inhibition of nNOS with 7NI (7-nitroindazole). Enzyme activity of CaMKII following in situ treatment with 7NI was also increased. The in vitro activity of CaMKII was inhibited by co-incubation either with nNOS and L-arginine or with NO donors SNAP (S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine) and DEA-NONOate [diethylamine-NONOate (diazeniumdiolate)]. Once inhibited by these treatments, CaMKII was observed to undergo full reactivation on the addition of a reducing reagent, DTT (dithiothreitol). In transfected cells expressing CaMKII and nNOS, treatment with the calcium ionophore A23187 further revealed nNOS phosphorylation at Ser(847), which was enhanced by 7NI and CaMKII S-nitrosylation. Mutated CaMKII (C6A), in which Cys(6) was substituted with an alanine residue, was refractory to 7NI-induced enhancement of nNOS phosphorylation or to CaMKII S-nitrosylation. Furthermore, we could identify Cys(6) as a direct target for S-nitrosylation of CaMKII using MS. In addition, treatment with glutamate caused an increase in CaMKII S-nitrosylation in rat hippocampal slices. This glutamate-induced S-nitrosylation was blocked by 7NI. These results suggest that inactivation of CaMKII mediated by S-nitrosylation at Cys(6) may contribute to NO-induced neurotoxicity in the brain.     

Activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

We have focused on activation mechanisms of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM) kinase I in the hippocampal neurons and compared them with that of CaM kinase IV. Increased activation of CaM kinase I occurred by stimulation with glutamate and depolarization in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Similar to CaM kinases II and IV, CaM kinase I was essentially activated by stimulation with the NMDA receptor. Although both CaM kinases I and IV seem to be activated by CaM kinase kinase, the activation of CaM kinase I was persistent during stimulation with glutamate in contrast to a transient activation of CaM kinase IV. In addition, CaM kinase I was activated in a lower concentration of glutamate than that of CaM kinase IV. Depolarization-induced activation of CaM kinase I was also evident in the cultured neurons and was largely blocked by nifedipine. In the experiment with 32P-labeled cells, phosphorylation of CaM kinase I was stimulated by glutamate treatment and depolarization. The glutamate- and depolarization-induced phosphorylation was inhibited by the NMDA receptor antagonist and nifedipine, respectively. These results suggest that, although CaM kinases I and IV are activated by the NMDA receptor and depolarization stimulation, these kinase activities are differently regulated in the hippocampal neurons.     

Regulatory mechanism of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase

Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaM-KK) is a novel member of the CaM kinase family, which specifically phosphorylates and activates CaM kinase I and IV. In this study, we characterized the CaM-binding peptide of alphaCaM-KK (residues 438-463), which suppressed the activity of constitutively active CaM-KK (84-434) in the absence of Ca(2+)/CaM but competitively with ATP. Truncation and site-directed mutagenesis of the CaM-binding region in CaM-KK reveal that Ile(441) is essential for autoinhibition of CaM-KK. Furthermore, CaM-KK chimera mutants containing the CaM-binding sequence of either myosin light chain kinases or CaM kinase II located C-terminal of Leu(440), exhibited enhanced Ca(2+)/CaM-independent activity (60% of total activity). Although the CaM-binding domains of myosin light chain kinases and CaM kinase II bind to the N- and C-terminal domains of CaM in the opposite orientation to CaM-KK (Osawa, M., Tokumitsu, H., Swindells, M. B., Kurihara, H., Orita, M., Shibanuma, T., Furuya, T., and Ikura, M. (1999) Nat. Struct. Biol. 6, 819-824), the chimeric CaM-KKs containing Ile(441) remained Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent. This result demonstrates that the orientation of the CaM binding is not critical for relief of CaM-KK autoinhibition. However, the requirement of Ile(441) for autoinhibition, which is located at the -3 position from the N-terminal anchoring residue (Trp(444)) to CaM, accounts for the opposite orientation of CaM binding of CaM-KK compared with other CaM kinases.     

Regulation of type IIalpha phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase localisation by the protein kinase CK2.

Inositol lipid synthesis is regulated by several distinct families of enzymes [1]. Members of one of these families, the type II phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIP kinases), are 4-kinases and are thought to catalyse a minor route of synthesis of the multifunctional phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) from the inositide PI(5)P [2]. Here, we demonstrate the partial purification of a protein kinase that phosphorylates the type IIalpha PIP kinase at a single site unique to that isoform - Ser304. This kinase was identified as protein kinase CK2 (formerly casein kinase 2). Mutation of Ser304 to aspartate to mimic its phosphorylation had no effect on PIP kinase activity, but promoted both redistribution of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged enzyme in HeLa cells from the cytosol to the plasma membrane, and membrane ruffling. This effect was mimicked by mutation of Ser304 to alanine, although not to threonine, suggesting a mechanism involving the unmasking of a latent membrane localisation sequence in response to phosphorylation.     

Regulation of type I adenylyl cyclase by calmodulin kinase IV in vivo.

Type I adenylyl cyclase is a neurospecific enzyme that is stimulated by Ca2+ and calmodulin (CaM). This enzyme couples the Ca2+ and cyclic AMP (cAMP) regulatory systems in neurons, and it may play an important role for some forms of synaptic plasticity. Mutant mice lacking type I adenylyl cyclase show deficiencies in spatial memory and altered long-term potentiation (Z. Wu, S. A. Thomas, Z. Xia, E. C. Villacres, R. D. Palmiter, and D. R. Storm, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:220-224, 1995). Although type I adenylyl cyclase is synergistically stimulated by Ca2+ and G-protein-coupled receptors in vivo, very little is known about mechanisms for inhibition of the enzyme. Here, we report that type I adenylyl cyclase is inhibited by CaM kinase IV in vivo. Expression of constitutively active or wild-type CaM kinase IV inhibited Ca2+ stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity without affecting basal or forskolin-stimulated activity. Type I adenylyl cyclase has two CaM kinase IV consensus phosphorylation sequences near its CaM binding domain at Ser-545 and Ser-552. Conversion of either serine to alanine by mutagenesis abolished CaM kinase IV inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. This suggests that the activity of this enzyme may be directly inhibited by CaM kinase IV phosphorylation. Type VIII adenylyl cyclase, another enzyme stimulated by CaM, was not inhibited by CaM kinase II or IV. We propose that CaM kinase IV may function as a negative feedback regulator of type I adenylyl cyclase and that CaM kinases may regulate cAMP levels in some cells.     

Ser289 phosphorylation activates both DAPK1 and DAPK2 but in response to different intracellular signaling pathways

DAPK1 and DAPK2 are calmodulin (CaM)-regulated protein kinases that share a high degree of homology in their catalytic and CaM regulatory domains. Both kinases function as tumor suppressors, and both have been implicated in autophagy regulation. Over the years, common regulatory mechanisms for the two kinases as well as kinase-specific ones have been identified. In a recent work, we revealed that DAPK2 is phosphorylated on Ser289 by the metabolic sensor AMPK, and that this phosphorylation enhances DAPK2 catalytic activity. Notably, Ser289 is conserved between DAPK1 and DAPK2, and was previously found to be phosphorylated in DAPK1 by RSK. Intriguingly, Ser289 phosphorylation was conversely reported to inhibit the pro-apoptotic activity of DAPK1 in cells. However, as the direct effect of this phosphorylation on DAPK1 catalytic activity was not tested, indirect effects were not excluded. Here, we compared Ser289 phosphorylation of the two kinases in the same cells and found that the intracellular signaling pathways that lead to Ser289 phosphorylation are mutually-exclusive and different for each kinase. In addition, we found that Ser289 phosphorylation in fact enhances DAPK1 catalytic activity, similar to the effect on DAPK2. Thus, Ser289 phosphorylation activates both DAPK1 and DAPK2, but in response to different intracellular signaling pathways.     

Purification and characterization of two protein kinases acting on the aquaporin SoPIP2;1

Aquaporins are water channel proteins that facilitate the movement of water and other small solutes across biological membranes. Plants usually have large aquaporin families, providing them with many ways to regulate the water transport. Some aquaporins are regulated post-translationally by phosphorylation. We have previously shown that the water channel activity of SoPIP2;1, an aquaporin in the plasma membrane of spinach leaves, was enhanced by phosphorylation at Ser115 and Ser274. These two serine residues are highly conserved in all plasma membrane aquaporins of the PIP2 subgroup. In this study we have purified and characterized two protein kinases phosphorylating Ser115 and Ser274 in SoPIP2;1. By anion exchange chromatography, the Ser115 kinase was purified from the soluble protein fraction isolated from spinach leaves. The Ca²⁺-dependent Ser274 kinase was purified by peptide affinity chromatography using plasma membranes isolated from spinach leaves. When characterized, the Ser115 kinase was Mg²⁺-dependent, Ca²⁺-independent and had a pH-optimum at 6.5. In accordance with previous studies using the oocyte expression system, site-directed mutagenesis and kinase and phosphatase inhibitors, the phosphorylation of Ser274, but not of Ser115, was increased in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors while kinase inhibitors decreased the phosphorylation of both Ser274 and Ser115. The molecular weight of the Ser274 kinase was approximately 50 kDa. The identification and characterization of these two protein kinases is an important step towards elucidating the signal transduction pathway for gating of the aquaporin SoPIP2;1.     

Regulation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase alpha by cAMP-dependent protein kinase: I. Biochemical analysis

Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM-kinases) I and IV are activated upon phosphorylation of their Thr(177) and Thr(196), respectively, by the upstream Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases CaM-kinase kinase alpha and beta, and deactivated upon dephosphorylation by protein phosphatases such as CaM-kinase phosphatase. Recent studies demonstrated that the activity of CaM-kinase kinase alpha is decreased upon phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), and the relationship between the inhibition and phosphorylation of CaM-kinase kinase alpha by PKA has been studied. In the present study, we demonstrate that the activity of CaM-kinase kinase alpha toward PKIV peptide, which contains the sequence surrounding Thr(196) of CaM-kinase IV, is increased by incubation with PKA in the presence of Ca(2+)/calmodulin but decreased in its absence, while the activity toward CaM-kinase IV is decreased by incubation with PKA in both the presence and absence of Ca(2+)/calmodulin. Six phosphorylation sites on CaM-kinase kinase alpha, Ser(24) for autophosphorylation, and Ser(52), Ser(74), Thr(108), Ser(458), and Ser(475) for phosphorylation by PKA, were identified by amino acid sequence analysis of the phosphopeptides purified from the tryptic digest of the phosphorylated enzymes. The presence of Ca(2+)/calmodulin suppresses phosphorylation on Ser(52), Ser(74), Thr(108), and Ser(458) by PKA, but accelerates phosphorylation on Ser(475). The changes in the activity of the enzyme upon phosphorylation appear to occur as a result of conformational changes induced by phosphorylation on several sites.