The two SH2-domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatases SHIP1 and SHIP2 are coexpressed in human T lymphocytes.

The activation of many hematopoietic cells via cytokine receptors, as well as B and T cell receptors, leads to the tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and its association with both Grb2-Sos1 complexes and with a 145 kDa protein referred to as the SH2 containing inositol 5-phosphatase (SHIP1). In a search of putative 5-phosphatase isoenzymes, we have isolated a second SH2 domain containing inositol 5-phosphatase, referred to as (SHIP2). Both SHIP1 and SHIP2 are coexpressed in human T lymphocytes. This was shown at the protein level by Western blot analysis in transformed T cell lines and in peripheral blood T lymphocytes either unstimulated or after in vitro activation through TCR-CD3 complex. SHIP1 protein level was not modulated after activation of T lymphocytes, in contrast to SHIP2, which was increased after long-term stimulation. SHIP1 was tyrosine phosphorylated in resting naive T cells. This was not observed in the transformed T cell lines. T lymphocyte is therefore a model of coexpression of the two SH2-containing inositol 5-phosphatases SHIP1 and SHIP2.     

Dok1 and SHIP Act as Negative Regulators of v-Abl-Induced Pre-B Cell Transformation,Proliferation and Ras/Erk Activation

The v-Abl tyrosine kinase activates several signaling pathways during transformation of bonemarrow cells in mice. Because the SH2-containing inositol 5’-phosphatase (SHIP) andDownstream of tyrosine kinase 1 (Dok1) have been shown interact with Abl, the effect ofSHIP and Dok1 deficiency on v-Abl transformation was investigated. Bone marrow cellsfrom either Dok1- or SHIP-deficient mice are more susceptible to transformation by v-Abl.v-Abl-transformed pre-B cells from these knockout mice show Abl kinase-dependenthyperproliferation and moderate resistance to apoptosis. Elevated activation of Ras, Raf-1,and Erk, but not of Akt, was observed in either SHIP (-/-) or Dok1 (-/-) v-Abl-transformedcells. This activation is sensitive to treatment with STI571. Furthermore, treatment of thesecells with either a farnesyltransferase inhibitor or a MEK1/2 inhibitor abrogates the increasedproliferation of SHIP (-/-) or Dok1 (-/-) cells in a dose-dependent manner. Complementationof SHIP (-/-) or Dok1 (-/-) cells abrogates their hyperproliferation and intracellular Erkactivation. These data indicate that both SHIP and Dok1 functionally regulate the activationof Ras-Erk pathway by v-Abl and affect the mitogenic activity of v-Abl transformed bonemarrow cells.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of shc in response to B cell antigen receptor engagement depends on the SHIP inositol phosphatase

Tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc in response to B cell Ag receptor (BCR) engagement creates binding sites for the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of Grb2. This facilitates the recruitment of both Grb2. Sos complexes and Grb2. SHIP complexes to the plasma membrane where Sos can activate Ras and SH2 domain-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP) can dephosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. Given the importance of Shc phosphorylation, we investigated the mechanism by which the BCR stimulates this response. We found that both the SH2 domain and phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain of Shc are important for BCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and the subsequent binding of Grb2 to Shc. The unexpected finding that the PTB domain of Shc is required for Shc phosphorylation was investigated further. Because the major ligand for the Shc PTB domain is SHIP, we asked whether the interaction of Shc with SHIP was required for BCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc. Using SHIP-deficient DT40 cells, we show that SHIP is necessary for the BCR to induce significant levels of Shc tyrosine phosphorylation. BCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc could be restored in the these cells by expressing wild-type SHIP but not by expressing a mutant form of SHIP that cannot bind to Shc. This suggests that BCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc may depend on the binding of SHIP to the Shc PTB domain. Thus, we have described a novel role for SHIP in BCR signaling, promoting the tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc.     

Molecular cloning of rat SH2-containing inositol phosphatase 2 (SHIP2) and its role in the regulation of insulin signaling.

SH2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase (SHIP) plays a negative regulatory role in hematopoietic cells. We have now cloned the rat SHIP isozyme (SHIP2) cDNA from skeletal muscle, which is one of the most important target tissue of insulin action. Rat SHIP2 cDNA encodes a 1183-amino-acid protein that is 45% identical with rat SHIP. Rat SHIP2 contains an amino-terminal SH2 domain, a central 5'-phosphoinositol phosphatase activity domain, and a phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) consensus sequence and a proline-rich region at the carboxyl tail. Specific antibodies to SHIP2 were raised and the function of SHIP2 was studied by stably overexpressing rat SHIP2 in Rat1 fibroblasts expressing human insulin receptors (HIRc). Endogenous SHIP2 underwent insulin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphorylation was markedly increased when SHIP2 was overexpressed. Although overexpression of SHIP2 did not affect insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit and Shc, subsequent association of Shc with Grb2 was inhibited, possibly by competition between the SH2 domains of SHIP2 and Grb2 for the Shc phosphotyrosine. As a result, insulin-stimulated MAP kinase activation was reduced in SHIP2-overexpressing cells. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, IRS-1 association with the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase, and PI3-kinase activation were not affected by overexpression of SHIP2. Interestingly, although both PtdIns-(3,4,5)P3 and PtdIns(3,4)P2 have been implicated in the regulation of Akt activity in vitro, overexpression of SHIP2 inhibited insulin-induced Akt activation, presumably by its 5'-inositol phosphatase activity. Furthermore, insulin-induced thymidine incorporation was decreased by overexpression of SHIP2. These results indicate that SHIP2 plays a negative regulatory role in insulin-induced mitogenesis, and regulation of the Shc. Grb2 complex and of the downstream products of PI3-kinase provides possible mechanisms of SHIP2 action in insulin signaling.     

Bcr-Abl oncoproteins bind directly to activators of the Ras signalling pathway.

The cytosolic 185 and 210 kDa Bcr-Abl protein tyrosine kinases play important roles in the development of Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). p185 and p210 Bcr-Abl contain identical abl-encoded sequences juxtaposed to a variable number of bcr-derived amino acids. As the mitogenic and transforming activities of tyrosine kinases involve stimulation of the Ras pathway, we analyzed Bcr-Abl oncoproteins for interactions with cytoplasmic proteins that mediate Ras activation. Such polypeptides include Grb2, which comprises a single Src homology 2 (SH2) domain flanked by two SH3 domains, and the 66, 52 and 46 kDa Shc proteins which possess an SH2 domain in their carboxy-terminus. Grb2 associates with tyrosine phosphorylated proteins through its SH2 domain, and with the Ras guanine nucleotide releasing protein mSos1 through its SH3 domains. mSos1 stimulates conversion of the inactive GDP-bound form of Ras to the active GTP-bound state. In bcr-abl-transformed cells, Grb2 and mSos1 formed a physical complex with Bcr-Abl. In vitro, the Grb2 SH2 domain bound Bcr-Abl through recognition of a tyrosine phosphorylation site within the amino-terminal bcr-encoded sequence (p.Tyr177-Val-Asn-Val), that is common to both Bcr-Abl proteins. These results suggest that autophosphorylation within the Bcr element of Bcr-Abl creates a direct physical link to Grb2-mSos1, and potentially to the Ras pathway, and thereby modifies the target specificity of the Abl tyrosine kinase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Recruitment and phosphorylation of SH2-containing inositol phosphatase and Shc to the B-cell Fc gamma immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif peptide motif.

Recently, we and others have demonstrated that negative signaling in B cells selectively induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of a novel inositol polyphosphate phosphatase, p145SHIP. In this study, we present data indicating that p145SHIP binds directly a phosphorylated motif, immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM), present in the cytoplasmic domain of Fc gammaRIIB1. Using recombinant SH2 domains, we show that binding is mediated via the Src homology region 2 (SH2)-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP) SH2 domain. SHIP also bound to a phosphopeptide derived from CD22, raising the possibility that SHIP contributes to negative signaling by this receptor as well as Fc gammaRIIB1. The association of SHIP with the ITIM phosphopeptide was activation independent, while coassociation with Shc was activation dependent. Furthermore, experiments with Fc gammaRIIB1-deficient B cells demonstrated a genetic requirement for expression of Fc gammaRIIB1 in the induction of SHIP phosphorylation and its interaction with Shc. Based on these results, we propose a model of negative signaling in which co-cross-linking of surface immunoglobulin and Fc gammaRIIB1 results in sequential tyrosine phosphorylation of the ITIM, recruitment and phosphorylation of p145SHIP, and subsequent binding of Shc.     

SHIP1, an SH2 domain containing polyinositol-5-phosphatase, regulates migration through two critical tyrosine residues and forms a novel signaling complex with DOK1 and CRKL

SHIP1 is an SH2 domain containing inositol-5-phosphatase that appears to be a negative regulator of hematopoiesis. The tyrosine kinase oncogene BCR/ABL drastically reduces expression of SHIP1. The major effect of re-expressing SHIP1 in BCR/ABL-transformed cells is reduction of hypermotility. To investigate the potential signaling pathways involving SHIP1 in hematopoietic cells, we overexpressed SHIP1 in a murine BCR/ABL-transformed Ba/F3 cell line and identified SHIP1-associated proteins. SHIP1 was found to form a novel signaling complex with BCR/ABL that includes DOK1 (p62(DOK)), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and CRKL, each of which has been previously shown to regulate migration in diverse cell types. We found that DOK1 binds directly through its PTB domain to SHIP1. Direct interaction of SHIP1 with CRKL was mediated through the CRKL-SH2 domain. Co-precipitation experiments suggest that Tyr(917) and Tyr(1020) in SHIP1 are likely to mediate interactions with DOK1. In contrast to wild type SHIP1, expression of tyrosine mutant SHIP1 by transient transfection did not alter migration. PI3K was likely linked to this complex by CRKL. Thus, this complex may serve to generate a very specific set of phosphoinositol products, possibly involved in regulating migration. Overall, these data suggest that proteins that interact with SHIP1 through Tyr(917) and Tyr(1020), such as DOK1 and SHC, are likely to be involved in the regulation of SHIP1 dependent migration.     

Protein kinase C-delta is a negative regulator of antigen-induced mast cell degranulation

Regulation of mast cell degranulation is dependent on the subtle interplay of cellular signaling proteins. The Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing inositol-5'-phosphatase (SHIP), which acts as the gatekeeper of degranulation, binds via both its SH2 domain and its phosphorylated NPXY motifs to the adapter protein Shc via the latter's phosphorylated tyrosines and phosphotyrosine-binding domain, respectively. This theoretically leaves Shc's SH2 domain available to bind proteins, which might be part of the SHIP/Shc complex. In a search for such proteins, protein kinase C-delta (PKC-delta) was found to coprecipitate in mast cells with Shc and to interact with Shc's SH2 domain following antigen or pervanadate stimulation. Phosphorylation of PKC-delta's Y(332), most likely by Lyn, was found to be responsible for PKC-delta's binding to Shc's SH2 domain. Using PKC-delta(-/-) bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), we found that the antigen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc was similar to that in wild-type (WT) BMMCs while that of SHIP was significantly increased. Moreover, increased translocation of PKC-delta to the membrane, as well as phosphorylation at T505, was observed in SHIP(-/-) BMMCs, demonstrating that while PKC-delta regulates SHIP phosphorylation, SHIP regulates PKC-delta localization and activation. Interestingly, stimulation of PKC-delta(-/-) BMMCs with suboptimal doses of antigen yielded a more sustained calcium mobilization and a significantly higher level of degranulation than that of WT cells. Altogether, our data suggest that PKC-delta is a negative regulator of antigen-induced mast cell degranulation.     

Catalytically inactive SHIP2 inhibits proliferation by attenuating PDGF signaling in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Inadequate proliferation and/or differentiation of preadipocytes may lead to adipose tissue dysfunction characterized by hypertrophied, insulin-resistant adipocytes. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) may alter adipose tissue function by promoting proliferation of preadipocytes. Two principal signaling pathways that regulate proliferation are PI3K/PI(3,4,5)P3/Akt and Shc/Ras/ERK1/2. SH2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 2 (SHIP2) dephosphorylates PI(3,4,5)P3, and also binds to Shc. Our goal was to determine how SHIP2 affects these PDGF signaling routes. To assess the role of the 5-phosphatase domain, we expressed wild-type or catalytically inactive dominant-negative SHIP2 (P686A-D690A-R691A; PDR/AAA) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Surprisingly, SHIP2 PDR/AAA inhibited proliferation more potently than wild-type SHIP2. After three days of proliferation, phospho-Akt, phospho-ERK1/2, and PDGF receptor (PDGFR) levels were reduced in PDR/AAA-expressing preadipocytes. SHIP2 PDR/AAA interference with PDGFR signaling was demonstrated using imatinib, an inhibitor of PDGFR tyrosine kinase. The anti-proliferative effect of imatinib observed in control preadipocytes was not significant in SHIP2 PDR/AAA-expressing preadipocytes, indicating a pre-existing impairment of PDGFR-dependent mitogenesis in these cells. The inhibition of PDGF-activated mitogenic pathways by SHIP2 PDR/AAA was consistent with a decrease in PDGFR phosphorylation caused by a drop in receptor levels in SHIP2 PDR/AAA-expressing cells. SHIP2 PDR/AAA promoted ubiquitination of the PDGFR and its degradation via the lysosomal pathway independently of the association between the E3 ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl and PDGFR. Overall, our findings indicate that SHIP2 PDR/AAA reduces preadipocyte proliferation by attenuating PDGFR signaling.     

Regulation of PDGF-stimulated SHIP2 tyrosine phosphorylation and association with Shc in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

In 3T3-L1 and human preadipocytes, insulin results in the isolated rise in phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3,4,5-P3, whereas PDGF produces PI(3,4)P2 in addition to PI(3,4,5)P3. SH2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 2 (SHIP2) converts PI(3,4,5)P3 into PI(3,4)P2. PDGF, but not insulin, stimulates SHIP2 tyrosine phosphorylation and its association with Shc in human and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. We now demonstrate that SHIP2 tyrosine phosphorylation and association with Shc in PDGF-treated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was reduced by bisindolylmaleimide I (BisI), an inhibitor of conventional/novel protein kinase C (PKC). However, the production of PI(3,4)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3 by PDGF was unaffected by BisI. Activation of PKC by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was not sufficient to induce SHIP2 tyrosine phosphorylation. Furthermore, we identified threonine 958 (T958) as a novel PDGF-responsive SHIP2 phosphorylation site. Mutation of T958 to alanine reduced PDGF-stimulated SHIP2 tyrosine phosphorylation and association with Shc, but did not alter its anti-proliferative effect on preadipocytes. This study demonstrates that SHIP2 tyrosine phosphorylation and Shc association can be regulated by serine/threonine signaling pathways, either indirectly (via PKC), or directly (via T958). Interestingly, the anti-proliferative effect of SHIP2 T958A, as well as another SHIP2 mutant (Y986F, Y987F) that also displays defective tyrosine phosphorylation and Shc association, does not depend on these molecular events.     

Mechanism of SHIP-mediated inhibition of insulin- and platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The Src homology 2-containing 5' inositolphosphatases (SHIP and SHIP2) dephosphorylate 3'-phosphorylated PtdIns on the 5' position, decreasing intracellular levels of PtdIns 3,4,5-P3. In the current study, we investigated the role of SHIP in insulin and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling by expressing wild-type (WT) and catalytically inactive SHIPDeltaIP in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, utilizing adenoviral infection. Insulin and PDGF both stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of SHIP-WT and of SHIPDeltaIP, and tyrosine phosphorylation of SHIP-associated proteins increased after ligand stimulation. Tyrosine-phosphorylated PDGFR, IR, and insulin receptor substrate-1 all immunoprecipitated with SHIP. Expression of WT and DeltaIP mutant SHIP did not affect tyrosine phosphorylation of either the insulin or the PDGF receptor, or the expression of insulin receptor substrate-1 and Shc proteins. Both SHIP-WT and SHIPDeltaIP blocked insulin and PDGF-induced MAPK and MAPK kinase phosphorylation as well as, GTP-bound Ras activity, suggesting that the catalytic activity of SHIP is not necessary for these effects. SHIP associated with Shc upon ligand stimulation, indicating that the SHIP-Shc association is phosphorylation dependent. This association was primarily between the SHIP-SH2 domain and the phosphorylated tyrosine residues of Shc because no association was observed when the 3YF-Shc mutant was coexpressed with SHIP. The Shc*Grb2 association was not compromised by SHIP expression, despite complete inhibition of the Ras/MAPK pathway. Interestingly, son-of-sevenless (SOS) protein normally found in Grb2 complexes was markedly reduced in SHIP expressing cells, whereas the displaced SOS was recovered when the post-Grb2-IP supernatants were blotted with anti-SOS antibody. Thus, SHIP competes son-of-sevenless (SOS) away from Shc-Grb2. In summary, 1) SHIP-WT and SHIPDeltaIP expression inhibit insulin and PDGF stimulated Ras, MAPK kinase, and MAPK activities; 2) SHIP associates with tyrosine phosphorylated Shc, and the proline-rich sequences in SHIP associate with Grb2 and titrate out SOS to form Shc*Grb2*SHIP complexes; and 3) dissociation of SOS from the Shc*Grb2 complex inhibits Ras GTP loading, leading to decreased signaling through the MAPK pathway.     

Co-aggregation of FcgammaRII with FcepsilonRI on human mast cells inhibits antigen-induced secretion and involves SHIP-Grb2-Dok complexes

Signaling through the high affinity IgE receptor FcepsilonRI on human basophils and rodent mast cells is decreased by co-aggregating these receptors to the low affinity IgG receptor FcgammaRII. We used a recently described fusion protein, GE2, which is composed of key portions of the human gamma1 and the human epsilon heavy chains, to dissect the mechanisms that lead to human mast cell and basophil inhibition through co-aggregation of FcgammaRII and FcepsilonRI. Unstimulated human mast cells derived from umbilical cord blood express the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif-containing receptor FcgammaRII but not FcgammaRI or FcgammaRIII. Interaction of the mast cells with GE2 alone did not cause degranulation. Co-aggregating FcepsilonRI and FcgammaRII with GE2 1) significantly inhibited IgE-mediated histamine release, cytokine production, and Ca(2+) mobilization, 2) reduced the antigen-induced morphological changes associated with mast cell degranulation, 3) reduced the tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular substrates, and 4) increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of the adapter protein downstream of kinase 1 (p62(dok); Dok), growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2), and SH2 domain containing inositol 5-phosphatase (SHIP). Tyrosine phosphorylation of Dok was associated with increased binding to Grb2. Surprisingly, in non-stimulated cells, there were complexes of phosphorylated SHIP-Grb2-Dok that were lost upon IgE receptor activation but retained under conditions of Fcepsilon-Fcgamma co-aggregation. Finally, studies using mast cells from Dok-1 knock-out mice showed that IgE alone triggers degranulation supporting an inhibitory role for Dok degranulation. Our results demonstrate how human FcepsilonRI-mediated responses can be inhibited by co-aggregation with FcgammaRIIB and implicate Dok, SHIP, and Grb2 as key intermediates in regulating antigen-induced mediator release.     

Activation-induced bi-dentate interaction of SHIP and Shc in B lymphocytes

SHIP is a SH2 domain-containing inositol polyphosphatase that is selectively tyrosine phosphorylated and associated with the adapter protein Shc in B lymphocytes upon co-crosslinking surface immunoglobulin and FcγRIIB1. We previously observed that this stimulation condition is associated with a reduction in the interaction of Grb2 with phosphorylated Shc, an enhanced interaction of Shc with SHIP, and a block in the Ras signaling pathway. We proposed that the SH2 domain of SHIP competes with Grb2 in binding to phospho-Shc, resulting in a block in Ras signaling. To test this model, we examined the mode of SHIP–Shc interaction. Using recombinant Shc and SHIP interaction domains and purified Shc and SHIP phosphopeptides, we show that the interaction is bi-dentate such that the SH2 domain of SHIP recognizes phosphorylated Y317 and doubly-phosphorylated Y239/Y240 of Shc and the Shc PTB domain recognizes phosphorylated NPxpY motifs within SHIP. We observed no role for the Shc SH2 domain in the interaction. These findings are consistent with our earlier model that SHIP and Grb2 compete for binding to phospho-Shc and support the notion that, in addition to the hydrolysis of inositol phosphates and phospholipids, SHIP contributes to anti-proliferative biochemistry by blocking protein–protein interactions. J. Cell. Biochem. 67:32–42, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

SH3YL1 regulates dorsal ruffle formation by a novel phosphoinositide-binding domain

Reversible interactions between cytosolic proteins and membrane lipids such as phosphoinositides play important roles in membrane morphogenesis driven by actin polymerization. In this paper, we identify a novel lipid-binding module, which we call the SYLF domain (after the SH3YL1, Ysc84p/Lsb4p, Lsb3p, and plant FYVE proteins that contain it), that is highly conserved from bacteria to mammals. SH3YL1 (SH3 domain containing Ysc84-like 1) strongly bound to phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P(3)) and several D5-phosphorylated phosphoinositides through its SYLF domain and was localized to circular dorsal ruffles induced by platelet-derived growth factor stimulation. Interestingly, SHIP2 (the PI(3,4,5)P(3) 5-phosphatase, src-homology 2-containing inositol-5-phosphatase 2) was identified as a binding partner of SH3YL1, and knockdown of these proteins significantly suppressed dorsal ruffle formation. Phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P(2)), which is mainly synthesized from PI(3,4,5)P(3) by the action of SHIP2, was enriched in dorsal ruffles, and PI(3,4)P(2) synthesis strongly correlated with formation of the circular membrane structure. These results provide new insight into the molecular mechanism of dorsal ruffle formation and its regulation by phosphoinositide metabolism.     

Role of Dok1 in cell signaling mediated by RET tyrosine kinase

Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified Dok1 as a docking protein for RET tyrosine kinase. Dok1 bound more strongly to RET with a multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2B mutation than RET with a MEN2A mutation and was highly phosphorylated in the cells expressing the former mutant protein. Analysis by site-directed mutagenesis revealed that tyrosine 361 in mouse Dok1 represents a binding site for the Nck adaptor protein and tyrosines 295, 314, 361, 376, 397, and 408 for the Ras-GTPase-activating protein. We replaced tyrosine 361 or these six tyrosines with phenylalanine (designated Y361F or 6F) in Dok1 and introduced the mutant Dok1 genes into the cells expressing the wild-type RET or RET-MEN2B protein. Overexpression of Dok1 or Dok1-Y361F, but not Dok1-6F, suppressed the Ras/Erk activation induced by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor or RET-MEN2B, implying that this inhibitory effect requires the Ras-GTPase-activating protein binding to Dok1. In contrast, overexpression of Dok1, but not Dok1-Y361F or Dok1-6F, enhanced the c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and c-Jun activation. This suggested that the association of Nck to tyrosine 361 in Dok1 is necessary for the JNK and c-Jun activation by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor or RET-MEN2B. Because a high level of the JNK phosphorylation was observed in the cells expressing RET-MEN2B, its strong activation via Nck binding to Dok1 may be responsible for aggressive properties of medullary thyroid carcinoma developed in MEN 2B.     

Insights into structure and function of SHIP2-SH2: homology modeling, docking, and molecular dynamics study

SRC homology 2 (SH2)-containing inositol 5′-phosphatase protein (SHIP2) is a potential target for type 2 diabetes. Its ability to dephosphorylate the lipid messenger phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3], important for insulin signaling, makes it an important target against type 2 diabetes. The insulin-induced SHIP2 interaction with Shc is very important for the membrane localization and functioning of SHIP2. There is a bidentate relationship between the two proteins where two domains each from SHIP2 and Shc are involved in mutual binding. However in the present study, the SHIP2-SH2 domain binding with the phosphorylated tyrosine 317 on the collagen-homology (CH) domain of Shc, has been studied due to the indispensability of this interaction in SHIP2 localization. In the absence of the crystal structure of SHIP2-SH2, its structural model was developed followed by tracking its molecular interactions with Shc through molecular docking and dynamics studies. This study revealed much about the structural interactions between the SHIP2-SH2 and Shc-CH. Finally, docking study of a nonpeptide inhibitor into the SHIP2-SH2 domain further confirmed the structural interactions involved in ligand binding and also proposed the inhibitor as a major starting point against SHIP2-SH2 inhibition. The insights gained from the current study should prove useful in the design of more potent inhibitors against type 2 diabetes.     

Association of Bcr-Abl with the proto-oncogene Vav is implicated in activation of the Rac-1 pathway.

Vav is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the Rho/Rac family predominantly expressed in hematopoietic cells and implicated in cell proliferation and cytoskeletal organization. The oncogenic tyrosine kinase Bcr-Abl has been shown to activate Rac-1, which is important for Bcr-Abl induced leukemogenesis. Previous studies by Matsuguchi et al. (Matsuguchi, T., Inhorn, R. C., Carlesso, N., Xu, G., Druker, B., and Griffin, J. D. (1995) EMBO J. 14, 257-265) describe enhanced phosphorylation of Vav in Bcr-Abl-expressing Mo7e cells yet fail to demonstrate association of the two proteins. Here, we report the identification of a direct complex between Vav and Bcr-Abl in yeast, in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we show tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav by Bcr-Abl. Mutational analysis revealed that the SH2 domain and the C-terminal SH3 domain as well as a tetraproline motif directly adjacent to the N-terminal SH3 domain of Vav are important for establishing this phosphotyrosine dependent interaction. Activation of Rac-1 by Bcr-Abl was abrogated by co-expression of the Vav C terminus encoding the SH3-SH2-SH3 domains as a dominant negative construct. Bcr-Abl transduced primary bone marrow from Vav knock-out mice showed reduced proliferation in a culture cell transformation assay compared with wild-type bone marrow. These results suggest, that Bcr-Abl utilizes Vav as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor to activate Rac-1 in a process that involves a folding mechanism of the Vav C terminus. Given the importance of Rac-1 activation for Bcr-Abl-mediated leukemogenesis, this mechanism may be crucial for the molecular pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia and of importance for other signal transduction pathways leading to the activation of Rac-1.     

Structural basis for the specific recognition of RET by the Dok1 phosphotyrosine binding domain

Dok1 is a common substrate of activated protein-tyrosine kinases. It is rapidly tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to receptor tyrosine activation and interacts with ras GTPase-activating protein and Nck, leading to inhibition of ras signaling pathway activation and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and c-Jun activation, respectively. In chronic myelogenous leukemia cells, it has shown constitutive phosphorylation. The N-terminal phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain of Dok1 can recognize and bind specifically to phosphotyrosine-containing motifs of receptors. Here we report the crystal structure of the Dok1 PTB domain alone and in complex with a phosphopeptide derived from RET receptor tyrosine kinase. The structure consists of a beta-sandwich composed of two nearly orthogonal, 7-stranded, antiparallel beta-sheets, and it is capped at one side by a C-terminal alpha-helix. The RET phosphopeptide binds to Dok1 via a surface groove formed between strand beta5 and the C-terminal alpha-helix of the PTB domain. The structures reveal the molecular basis for the specific recognition of RET by the Dok1 PTB domain. We also show that Dok1 does not recognize peptide sequences from TrkA and IL-4, which are recognized by Shc and IRS1, respectively.     

The docking properties of SHIP2 influence both JIP1 tyrosine phosphorylation and JNK activity

SHIP2 (SH2-containing inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase 2) is an ubiquitously expressed phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)) 5-phosphatase which contains various motifs susceptible to mediate protein-protein interaction. In cell models, evidence has been provided that SHIP2 plays a role in insulin and growth factor signaling, cytoskeletal organization, cell adhesion and migration. Herein we describe the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)-interacting protein 1 (JIP1) as a new protein partner of SHIP2. The interaction between SHIP2 and JIP1 was confirmed in both overexpression systems and native cells. Without modifying the association of JIP1 with the MAPKs in the scaffold complex and with no apparent change of Akt phosphorylation, SHIP2 positively modulated the MLK3/JIP1-mediated JNK1 activation. Moreover, SHIP2 positively regulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of JIP1. This up-regulation was prevented by inhibitors of the Src family and Abl kinases, PP2 and Glivec. The effects of SHIP2 on JNK activity and JIP1 tyrosine phosphorylation were independent of the SHIP2 phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase activity, as similar results were obtained when using a SHIP2 catalytic inactive mutant instead of wild-type SHIP2. Together, these data suggest that by its docking properties, SHIP2 can modulate JIP1-mediated JNK pathway signaling.     

Membrane localization of Src homology 2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase 2 via Shc association is required for the negative regulation of insulin signaling in Rat1 fibroblasts overexpressing insulin receptors

Lipid phosphatase SHIP2 [Src homology 2 (SH2)-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase 2] has been shown to be a physiologically critical negative regulator of insulin signaling. We investigated the molecular mechanism by which SHIP2 negatively regulates insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt, a key downstream molecule of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase important for the biological action of insulin. Overexpression of wild-type SHIP2 (WT-SHIP2) inhibited insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt at both Thr(308) and Ser(473) in Rat1 fibroblasts expressing insulin receptors. The degree of inhibition was less in the cells expressing either a mutant SHIP2 with R47Q change (R/Q-SHIP2) in the SH2 domain, or a mutant SHIP2 with Y987F change (Y/F-SHIP2) in the C-terminal tyrosine phosphorylation site. However, on addition of a myristoylation signal, WT-SHIP2, R/Q-SHIP2, and Y/F-SHIP2 all efficiently inhibited insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation at both residues, whereas a 5'-phosphatase-defective mutant SHIP2 (deltaIP-SHIP2) with the myristoylation signal did not. Interestingly, the degree of inhibition of Akt phosphorylation by R/Q-SHIP2 and Y/F-SHIP2 is well correlated with the extent of their association with Shc. In addition, overexpression of WT-Shc increased the insulin-induced association of SHIP2 with Shc, whereas a decrease in the amount of Shc on expression of antisense Shc mRNA led to a reduction in the SHIP2-Shc association. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect on insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation by WT-SHIP2 was decreased in antisense-Shc cells. These results indicate that the membrane localization of SHIP2 with its 5'-phosphatase activity is required for negative regulation of insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation and that the localization is regulated, at least in part, by the association of SHIP2 with Shc in Rat1 fibroblasts.