Molecular cloning, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid structure and predicted full-length amino acid sequence of the hormone-inducible regulatory subunit of 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase from human testis

In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of a full-length cDNA clone for the hormone-inducible regulatory subunit RII beta (formerly called RII51) of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase from a human testis cDNA library. The cloned cDNA demonstrated tissue-specific expression of RII beta mRNA in human tissues, with the highest mRNA levels in testis and ovary. The isolated human cDNA clone was 3.3 kilobases (kb) in length and contained 166 base pairs (bp) of G/C-rich 5'-noncoding sequence, an open reading frame of 1254 bp and an A/T-rich 3'-nontranslated region containing 1836 bp followed by an 89 nucleotide long poly(A)-tail. The predicted protein contains 418 amino acids including the start methionine, and the estimated mol wt of human RII beta is 53,856. The nucleotide sequence within the open reading frame and the predicted amino acid sequence of human RII beta are highly conserved compared with partial rat RII beta sequences, displaying 91% and 97% similarity, respectively. Codon preference analysis of the cloned cDNA sequence indicated that the two cAMP-binding domains and the hinge region are highly conserved through evolution, whereas the dimerization domain displayed a codon preference pattern indicative of appearance at a later stage of evolution. The isolated human cDNA detected an FSH- and cAMP-inducible mRNA of 3.2 kb in rat Sertoli cells, thus confirming that the cloned cDNA represents the hormone-inducible regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. This is the first report documenting the isolation of a full-length cDNA clone for the RII beta of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Separate nuclear genes encode sarcomere-specific and ubiquitous human mitochondrial creatine kinase isoenzymes

Creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) isoenzymes play a central role in energy transduction. Nuclear genes encode creatine kinase subunits from muscle, brain, and mitochondria (MtCK). We have recently isolated a cDNA clone encoding MtCK from a human placental library which is expressed in many human tissues (Haas, R. C., Korenfeld, C., Zhang, Z., Perryman, B., Roman, D., and Strauss, A. W. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 2890-2897). With nontranslated and coding region probes, we demonstrated by RNA blot analysis that the MtCK mRNA in sarcomeric muscle is distinct from this placenta-derived, ubiquitous MtCK cDNA. To compare these different mRNAs, a MtCK cDNA clone was isolated from a human heart library and characterized by complete nucleotide sequence analysis. The chemically determined NH2-terminal 26 residues of purified human heart MtCK protein are identical to those predicted from this sarcomeric MtCK cDNA. The human sarcomeric and ubiquitous cDNAs share 73% nucleotide and 80% predicted amino acid sequence identities, but have less than 66% identity with the cytosolic creatine kinases. The sarcomeric MtCK cDNA encodes a 419-amino acid protein which contains a 39-residue transit peptide essential for mitochondrial import. Primer extension analysis predicts a 348-base pair 5'-nontranslated region. RNA blot analysis demonstrates that heart-derived MtCK is sarcomere-specific, but the ubiquitous MtCK mRNA is expressed in most tissues. Thus, separate nuclear genes encode two closely related, tissue-specific isoenzymes of MtCK. Our finding that multiple genes encode different mitochondrial protein isoenzymes is rare.     

Muscle creatine kinase isoenzyme expression in adult human brain.

Previous studies have suggested that MM creatine kinase is a muscle-specific protein and is not present in adult brain tissue. We have isolated a protein from human brain with an apparent molecular weight of 43,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which is identical to the muscle M creatine kinase isoenzyme subunit at all 30 sequenced amino acid residues and possesses creatine kinase enzymatic activity following nondenaturing agarose-gel electrophoresis. Immunohistochemistry localizes M creatine kinase to discrete areas of adult human brain. Northern blot analysis of both total and poly(A)-selected RNA isolated from brain did not detect M creatine kinase mRNA. However, polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNA synthesized from human placenta, heart, and brain mRNA detected M creatine kinase message in both heart and brain but not placenta which contains no detectable M creatine kinase protein. N1E115 and NS20Y, mouse neuroblastoma cell lines which have been used as models of neural cell differentiation, were found also to express MM creatine kinase. Moreover, a transiently transfected reporter gene with 4,800 base pairs of M creatine kinase upstream region fused to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase was expressed during differentiation of these neural cell lines. In summary, MM creatine kinase is present in human brain and we suggest the M creatine kinase upstream region is sufficient to modulate M creatine kinase expression in certain neuronal cells and may be regulated independently from other muscle genes.     

Cloning of STK13, a Third Human Protein Kinase Related toDrosophilaAurora and Budding Yeast Ipl1 That Maps on Chromosome 19q13.3–ter

This report describes the identification of a cDNA encoding STK13, a third human protein kinase related to theDrosophilaAurora and the budding yeast Ipl1 kinases. After screening of a human placental cDNA library with aXenopus laeviscDNA encoding the pEg2 protein kinase and 5′ RACE on testis mRNA, a full-length cDNA was isolated. The chromosomal localization of STK13 on 19q13.3–ter between the markers D19S210 and D19S218 was established by a combination of somatic cell and radiation hybrid panel PCR screening. The localization of STK13 on human chromosome 19 was confirmed by fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH) using a genomic clone containing STK13 as a probe.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel human kinase gene,PDIK1L

We isolated a 4301-bp cDNA from a human foetal brain cDNA library by high-throughput cDNA sequencing. It encodes a protein of 341 amino acids, which shows 69% identity with the human kinase CLIK1 (AAL99353), which was suggested to be the CLP-36 interacting kinase. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that the putative kinase may interact with PDZ and LIM domain proteins. Therefore the protein and its cDNA were named ’PDLIM1 interacting kinase 1 like’ (PDIK1L; nomenclature approved by the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee). Ensembl Genome Browser locatedPDIK1L to human chromosome 1p35.3. It spans about 13.7 kb and consists of four exons and three introns. Multiple-tissue cDNA panel PCR revealed that the gene is expressed widely in human tissues: liver, kidney, pancreas, spleen, thymus and prostate. The protein appears to be localized to the nucleus.     

From mosquito to man: Identification of a novel protein kinase, HsHPK, which is highly expressed in human hepatoma tissues

Protein kinases play an important role in the signaling pathway of growth factors in most of the higher organisms. During the study of protein kinase profiles of mosquitoes using RT-PCR and degenerate primers for consensus catalytic domain motifs to amplify protein kinase genes, we have noticed that a novel mosquito kinase, AaPK-38, shares a stretch of amino acids identical to the corresponding domain in Tousled gene ofArabidopsis thaliana that is required for leaf and flower development. A 2.1-kb cDNA encoding human HsHPK gene, which is a homolog of AaPK-38, was isolated from human testis cDNA library. This cDNA contains an open reading frame of 563 amino acids, with a complete kinase domain in its carboxyl terminus. The expressed Flag-tagged HsHPK was shown to have kinase activity based on in vitro autophosphorylation. Northern blot analysis revealed that human HsHPK mRNA is most abundant in testes, much less in heart and skeletal muscle and almost undetectable in liver and lung. Finally, we found that the expression of HsHPK in 4 out of 6 human hepatoma tissues is much higher than that in the adjacent normal counterpart. This result suggests HsHPK may play a role in the development of human hepatoma.     

Acetylation of sphingosine kinase 1 regulates cell growth and cell-cycle progression

Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPK1) is a key enzyme in the sphingolipid metabolic pathway. It forms an essential checkpoint to regulate the relative levels of bioactive sphingolipid metabolites, ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Here, we present evidence that SPK1 is acetylated by the intrinsic acetyltransferase activity of p300/cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) at a conserved acetylation motif (the GK motif). This post-translational modification may be an important regulator of SPK1 protein, as acetylation by p300 or CBP increased its stability. Mutation of two lysine (K) residues in its GK motif to either arginine (R) or glutamine (Q) blocked SPK1 ubiquitination and prevented its degradation by the proteasome. The processes of acetylation and ubiquitination may compete for the same lysine residues and, therefore, form a switch for SPK1 protein regulation. Intriguingly, human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells stably expressed the mutated form of SPK1, in which the K residue was mutated to Q (Q-SPK1), and this mutated form mimicked acetylated SPK1. These cells were larger in size and had a slower growth rate compared to cells that expressed wild-type SPK1 (W-SPK1) or the K/R-mutated SPK1 (R-SPK1). These data suggest that SPK1 acetylation plays a key role in cell growth, cell size, and cell-cycle control.     

Cloning, expression and chromosomal localization of human Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase

A human cDNA clone encoding the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK) was isolated by RT-PCR amplification of the fragment corresponding to the conserved kinase catalytic domain followed by rapid amplification of cDNA ends and cDNA library screening. Compilation of nucleotide sequencing data yielded a consensus cDNA sequence of 1.9 kb with an open reading frame of 1,251 nucleotides in length which translates to a polypeptide of 417 amino acids (47 kd). It showed significant homology to the rat brain CaMKK isozymes. The human CaMKK, which was expressed as a Flag-tagged protein in human non-small cell lung cancer H-1299 cells followed by immunoprecipitation with anti-Flag antibody, was shown to phosphorylate recombinant human CaMK I in a calcium/CaM-dependent fashion. Northern blot analysis revealed that human CaMKK is ubiquitously expressed, with brain showing the highest level of expression. The CaMKK gene is localized to human chromosome 12. The presence of cDNA clones with divergent 3' terminal sequences suggests a family of CaMKK variants which may arise from alternative splicing.     

p40MO15, a cdc2-related protein kinase involved in negative regulation of meiotic maturation of Xenopus oocytes.

The clone MO15 which codes for a 40 kd protein (p40MO15) with 40% amino acid identity to the human cdc2 protein kinase has been isolated from a Xenopus cDNA library using a synthetic oligonucleotide probe. MO15 mRNA is accumulated during oogenesis, becomes de-adenylated during meiotic maturation, and is degraded after the mid-blastula-transition stage of embryogenesis. Translation of p40MO15 is restricted to non-mature oocytes. Specific inhibition of p40MO15 synthesis in stage VI oocytes by antisense oligonucleotide depletion of MO15 mRNA increases the rate of progesterone induced H1 kinase activation and oocyte maturation. This effect can be reversed by subsequent injection of synthetic MO15 mRNA. These results suggest that p40MO15 is involved in negatively regulating meiosis.     

Expression of TTK, a novel human protein kinase, is associated with cell proliferation.

We have isolated the full-length sequence for a unique human kinase, designated TTK. TTK was initially identified by screening of a T cell expression library with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. The kinases most closely related to TTK are the SPK1 serine, threonine and tyrosine kinase, the Pim1, PBS2, and CDC2 serine/threonine kinases, and the TIK kinase which was also identified through screening of an expression library with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. However, the relationships are distant with less than 25% identity. Nevertheless, TTK is highly conserved throughout phylogeny with hybridizing sequences being detected in mammals, fish, and yeast. TTK mRNA is present at relatively high levels in testis and thymus, tissues which contain a large number of proliferating cells, but is not detected in most other benign tissues. Freshly isolated cells from most malignant tumors assessed expressed TTK mRNA. As well, all rapidly proliferating cell lines tested expressed TTK mRNA. Escherichia coli expressing the complete kinase domain of TTK contain markedly elevated levels of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine as well as slightly increased levels of phosphotyrosine. Taken together, these findings suggest that expression of TTK, a previously unidentified member of the family of kinases which can phosphorylate serine, threonine, and tyrosine hydroxyamino acids, is associated with cell proliferation.     

A cloned bovine cDNA encodes an alternate form of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

While attempting to isolate a cDNA clone for the catalytic subunit of the bovine cAMP-dependent protein kinase, we have isolated cDNAs which code for a protein slightly different than the known amino acid sequence. The alternate cDNA was identified by screening a bovine pituitary cDNA library using synthetic oligonucleotides predicted from the known amino acid sequence of the catalytic subunit. The cDNA which we identified, encodes a protein which is 93% identical to the known amino acid sequence of the bovine catalytic subunit. It seems likely that this cDNA represents a previously undiscovered catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The mRNA for the alternate catalytic subunit is different in size from the mRNA coding for the previously known catalytic subunit and also has a different tissue distribution. These findings suggest that there are at least two different genes for the catalytic subunit. The differences in amino acid sequence and tissue distribution suggest the possibility of important functional differences in the two enzymes.     

Molecular cloning, expression, and chromosomal localization of a ubiquitously expressed human 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/ fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase gene (PFKFB3)

We report the identification of a human 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase gene (PFKFB3) isolated from a human fetal brain cDNA library. The gene was localized to 10p15-->p14 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The entire cDNA (4,322 bp) codes for a polypeptide of 520 amino acid residues (molecular weight, 59.571 kDa). Structural analysis showed the presence of a kinase domain located at the amino terminus and a bisphosphatase domain at the carboxy terminus, characteristic of previously described 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose 2, 6-bisphosphatase isozymes. In addition, a phosphorylation site for cAMP-dependent protein kinase was found at the carboxy terminus. Northern blot analysis showed the presence of a unique 4.8-kb mRNA expressed in the different tissues studied. In mammalian COS-1 cells, this cDNA drives the expression of an active isozyme. Taken together, these results identify the presence of a gene coding for a human 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase isozyme which is ubiquitously expressed.     

一个小麦丝氨酸—苏氨酸蛋白激酶基因的克隆和分析

用mRNA差异显示技术在含有抗白粉病基因Pm2 1的小麦 (TriticumaestivumL .)_簇毛麦 (Haynaldiavillosa)6VS/ 6AL易位系 92R137中分离与抗白粉病相关的基因 ,获得一个命名为TaPK1的全长cDNA克隆。序列分析表明 ,它与大豆 (Glycinemax (L .)Merr.)蛋白激酶基因GmPK6高度同源。经推测 ,TaPK1编码 416个氨基酸的多肽 ,属丝氨酸_苏氨酸蛋白激酶家族 ,并具酪氨酸激酶特性。TaPK1是从小麦中分离的新基因。