Sequestration shapes the response of signal transduction cascades

Many signal transduction cascades are composed of covalent modification cycles such as kinase/phosphatase cycles. In the 1980s Goldbeter and Koshland showed that such cycles can exhibit non-linear input-output relations when the enzymes are saturated by their substrates, which may facilitate signal processing. Recent papers show that this mechanism is unlikely to cause non-linearity in mammalian signal transduction cascades as sequestration of the target due to enzyme concentrations present in these cascades will hamper this mechanism. However, sequestration due to high-affinity enzymes can shape the dynamics and steady-state behaviour of signal transduction cascades in different ways, some of which are discussed in this review.     

Reciprocal Regulation as a Source of Ultrasensitivity in Two-Component Systems with a Bifunctional Sensor Kinase

Two-component signal transduction systems, where the phosphorylation state of a regulator protein is modulated by a sensor kinase, are common in bacteria and other microbes. In many of these systems, the sensor kinase is bifunctional catalyzing both, the phosphorylation and the dephosphorylation of the regulator protein in response to input signals. Previous studies have shown that systems with a bifunctional enzyme can adjust the phosphorylation level of the regulator protein independently of the total protein concentrations – a property known as concentration robustness. Here, I argue that two-component systems with a bifunctional enzyme may also exhibit ultrasensitivity if the input signal reciprocally affects multiple activities of the sensor kinase. To this end, I consider the case where an allosteric effector inhibits autophosphorylation and, concomitantly, activates the enzyme''s phosphatase activity, as observed experimentally in the PhoQ/PhoP and NRII/NRI systems. A theoretical analysis reveals two operating regimes under steady state conditions depending on the effector affinity: If the affinity is low the system produces a graded response with respect to input signals and exhibits stimulus-dependent concentration robustness – consistent with previous experiments. In contrast, a high-affinity effector may generate ultrasensitivity by a similar mechanism as phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycles with distinct converter enzymes. The occurrence of ultrasensitivity requires saturation of the sensor kinase''s phosphatase activity, but is restricted to low effector concentrations, which suggests that this mode of operation might be employed for the detection and amplification of low abundant input signals. Interestingly, the same mechanism also applies to covalent modification cycles with a bifunctional converter enzyme, which suggests that reciprocal regulation, as a mechanism to generate ultrasensitivity, is not restricted to two-component systems, but may apply more generally to bifunctional enzyme systems.     

Robust global sensitivity in multiple enzyme cascade system explains how the downstream cascade structure may remain unaffected by cross-talk

A steady-state framework was applied to the ubiquitous tricyclic enzyme cascade structure, as seen in the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase system, to analyze the effect of upstream kinase concentrations on final output response. The results suggest that signal amplification achieved by the cascade structure ensured that the modifying enzymes at various steps of the cascade were nearly saturated. Thus, there was no change in the response sensitivity with increasing upstream kinase concentration. Analysis was also extended to branching of a signaling pathway as an example of cross-talk. It was observed that the cascade structure confers a larger share of the signal transduction properties to its last kinase. This phenomenon in enzyme cascades may explain how the response of the terminal MAP kinase is unaffected by cross-talk of upstream kinases.     

Control of endogenous phosphorylation of the major cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate in adipocytes by insulin and beta-adrenergic stimulation

In isolated, 32Pi-loaded, rat adipocytes, we have examined phosphorylation of the major cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) substrate, a protein that appears to be associated with the lipid storage droplet and migrates in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a 65-67-kDa doublet. In control cells, a strong phosphorylation signal is detected as the (+/- cAMP) A-kinase activity ratio ranges from approximately 0.1 to approximately 0.3-0.4 with increasing isoproterenol concentrations. By contrast, insulin-treated cells exhibiting A-kinase activity ratios over the range of 0.1-0.25 contain less 32P in the 65-67-kDa protein than control cells exhibiting identical A-kinase activity ratios. At higher activity ratios (greater than 0.3), this reduction in phosphorylation of the 65-67-kDa protein by insulin disappears. It is concluded that insulin stimulates a phosphatase activity that acts on the 65-67-kDa protein. Insulin actions aside, these studies reveal two interesting phenomena. 1) Whereas elevated, steady-state A-kinase activities are established rapidly (1-2 min) upon isoproterenol stimulation, phosphorylation of the 65-67-kDa substrate proceeds through a burst, followed by a decline to a steady-state level by 10-12 min. An "adaptation" mechanism, providing for a constant response to a constant stimulus, may underlie this lack of parallelism between the time course of phosphorylation and A-kinase activity. 2) Removal of [32Pi] orthophosphate immediately before isoproterenol stimulation leads to a rapid (t approximately 10 min) loss in labeling of the 65-67-kDa protein, whereas the phosphorylation state of other phosphoproteins are not changed. These data suggest that elevation of A-kinase activity leads to a rapid exchange of external Pi with an ATP pool that is used by A-kinase.     

Effects of 6- and 8-substituted analogs of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and tyrosine aminotransferase in hepatoma cell cultures.

A variety of 6- and 8-substituted analogs of cAMP (cyclic adenosine 3:5-monophosphate) have been tested for their ability to increase activity of tyrosine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.5) in cultured Reuber H35 hepatoma cells. Some analogs, particularly the 8-thio-substituted ones, produced effects approximately equivalent to those generated by N-6, O2'-dibutyryl cAMP. In contrast, cAMP and its O-2-monobutyryl derivative were relatively ineffective even at very high concentrations, whereas three other analogs actually depressed the activity of the aminotransferase. Changes in enzyme activity generated by the various analogs were paralleled closely by changes in the relative rate of aminotransferase synthesis. An excellent correlation was found to exist between the ability of any given analog to influence the activity of tyrosine aminotransferase and that of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (EC 4.1.1.32). A similar correlation was found to exist between the ability of various analogs to evelate the activity of these enzymes and to inhibit reversibly the growth of H35 cells. Only one of five inhibitors of cAMP phosphodiesterase activity tested produce any increase in aminotransferase activity when added alone. All of the 6- and 8-substituted analogs tested, including noniducers, stimulated f1 histone phosphorylation in crude rat liver extracts with approximately equal potencies. On the other hand, dibutyryl cAMP was only a weak activator of protein kinase in vitro, even though it is a potent enzyme inducer. A possible resolution of this apparent discrepancy has been provided by preliminary analyses of site-specific f1 histone phosphorylation in whole cells. Only compounds active as aminotransferase inducers are capable of stimulating phosphorylation of the serine-37 residue of endogenous f1 histone (3- to 10-fold).     

Inhibitory effects of cAMP and protein kinase C on meiotic maturation and MAP kinase phosphorylation in porcine oocytes

The regulation of MAP kinase phosphorylation by cAMP and protein kinase C (PKC) modulators during pig oocyte maturation was studied by Western immunoblotting. We showed that both forskolin and IBMX inhibited MAP kinase phosphorylation and meiosis resumption in a dose-dependent manner, and this inhibitory effect was overcome by the protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid. Pharmacological PKC activator phorbol myristate acetate or physiological PKC activator diC8 also delayed MAP kinase phosphorylation and meiosis resumption, and their effect was abrogated by PKC inhibitors, staurosporine, and calphostin C. The results suggest that meiotic resumption is inhibited by elevation of cAMP or delayed by activation of PKC probably via down-regulation of MAP kinase activation, which is mediated by protein phosphatase, during pig oocyte maturation.     

Xenopus MAP kinase activator: identification and function as a key intermediate in the phosphorylation cascade.

MAP kinase is thought to play a pivotal role not only in the growth factor-stimulated signalling pathway but also in the M phase phosphorylation cascade downstream of MPF. MAP kinase is fully active only when both tyrosine and threonine/serine residues are phosphorylated. We have now identified and purified a Xenopus MAP kinase activator from mature oocytes that is able to induce activation and phosphorylation on tyrosine and threonine/serine residues of an inactive form of Xenopus MAP kinase. The Xenopus MAP kinase activator itself is a 45 kDa phosphoprotein and is inactivated by protein phosphatase 2A treatment in vitro. Microinjection of the purified activator into immature oocytes results in immediate activation of MAP kinase. Further experiments using microinjection as well as cell free extracts have shown that Xenopus MAP kinase activator is an intermediate between MPF and MAP kinase. Thus, MAP kinase activator plays a key role in the phosphorylation cascade.     

Control of PKA stability and signalling by the RING ligase praja2

Activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mobilizes compartmentalized pulses of cyclic AMP. The main cellular effector of cAMP is protein kinase A (PKA), which is assembled as an inactive holoenzyme consisting of two regulatory (R) and two catalytic (PKAc) subunits. cAMP binding to R subunits dissociates the holoenzyme and releases the catalytic moiety, which phosphorylates a wide array of cellular proteins. Reassociation of PKAc and R components terminates the signal. Here we report that the RING ligase praja2 controls the stability of mammalian R subunits. Praja2 forms a stable complex with, and is phosphorylated by, PKA. Rising cAMP levels promote praja2-mediated ubiquitylation and subsequent proteolysis of compartmentalized R subunits, leading to sustained substrate phosphorylation by the activated kinase. Praja2 is required for efficient nuclear cAMP signalling and for PKA-mediated long-term memory. Thus, praja2 regulates the total concentration of R subunits, tuning the strength and duration of PKA signal output in response to cAMP.     

Phosphorylation of the carotenoid droplet protein p57 by the catalytic subunit of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase and the effect of fluoride

We have previously shown that the dispersion and aggregation of carotenoid droplets in goldfish xanthophores are regulated, respectively, by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of a carotenoid droplet protein p57. There is a basal level of p57 phosphorylation of p57 in unstimulated cells, which is greatly stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) acting via cAMP-dependent protein kinase. We have also observed that, in permeabilized xanthophores, pigment dispersion can be induced when cAMP is replaced by fluoride. Since p57 has multiple phosphorylation sites, there is the question of whether all p57 phosphorylation is by cAMP-dependent protein kinase or whether phosphorylation by cAMP-independent protein kinase coupled with inhibition of phosphatase activity by fluoride can replace cAMP-dependent protein kinase and that the ability of fluoride to replace cAMP for pigment dispersion in permeabilized cells is probably due to activation of adenylcyclase. We also show that ACTH causes an approximately threefold increase in the level of cAMP in these cells.     

Bovine mitochondrial rhodanese is a phosphoprotein

The mitochondrial sulfurtransferase, rhodanese, has been analyzed for phosphate content. Significant amounts of protein-bound phosphate (30-40%) were measured in the six rhodanese preparations examined. Chromatographic experiments followed by phosphate analyses done on two of the preparations indicated that rhodanese A and rhodanese B, two enzyme forms that were previously resolved on DEAE-Sephadex by Blumenthal and Heinrikson (Blumenthal, K., and Heinrikson, R. L. (1971) J. Biol. Chem. 240, 2430-2437), correspond to dephospho- and phosphorhodanese, respectively. The phosphorylation of rhodanese by [gamma-32P]ATP is catalyzed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The stoichiometry of 32P incorporation based on the amount of dephosphorhodanese in the enzyme preparation approaches 1.0. The phosphorylation site is accessible in rhodanese that is free of substrate sulfur but not in the covalent enzyme-sulfur intermediate which is formed as an obligatory step during the course of catalysis. Because the cellular localization of cAMP-dependent protein kinase makes it unlikely as the physiologic modulator of rhodanese activity, liver extracts have been tested for a rhodanese kinase that does not require cAMP. Rhodanese kinase activity which is independent of cAMP is observed in extract fractions resolved by Affi-Gel Blue chromatography and freed from endogenous rhodanese by chromatography on Sephadex G-100. These results together with previous findings from this and other laboratories have led to a working model of a bicyclic cascade system that can modulate the rate of mitochondrial respiration. The essence of the model is a transduction and amplification of cellular signals into the altered covalent phosphorylation of rhodanese. Rhodanese, in turn, serves as a converter enzyme which directly alters the rate of the respiratory chain and, thus, ATP production by the reversible sulfuration of key iron-sulfur centers. The model, when expanded to include signal pathways initiated by hormones or neurotransmitters, represents a mechanism by which mitochondria can recognize and meet changing energy demands.     

Cyclic modulation of cross-linking interactions of microtubule-associated protein-2 with actin and microtubules by protein kinase FA

The ATP.Mg-dependent type-1 protein phosphatase activating factor (factor FA) was identified as a brain protein kinase that could phosphorylate microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) and thereby inhibit cross-linking interactions of MAP-2 with actin filaments and microtubules isolated from porcine brain. The phosphorylation sites were found to be equally located on both projection and microtubule-binding domains of MAP-2. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that the phosphorylation sites were on both serine and threonine residues, indicating that factor FA is a serine/threonine-specific MAP-2 kinase. Conversely, factor FA was further identified as a MAP-2 phosphatase activator that could promote the dephosphorylation of³²P-MAP-2 phosphorylated by factor FA itself and thereby potentiate cross-linking interactions of MAP-2 with actin and microtubules. Furthermore, the two opposing functions of factor FA can be selectively modulated in a reciprocal manner bypH change. For instance, alkalinepH could stimulate factor FA to work as a MAP-2 kinase but simultaneously block it to work as a MAP-2 phosphatase activator to potentiate the inhibition on the cross-linking interactions of MAP-2 with actin and microtubules. Taken together, the results provide initial evidence that a cyclic modulation of cross-linking interactions of MAP-2 with actin filaments and microtubules can be controlled by factor FA, representing an efficient cyclic cascade control mechanism for rapid structural and functional regulation of neuronal cytoskeletal system.     

Glucose-induced hyperaccumulation of cyclic AMP and defective glucose repression in yeast strains with reduced activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Addition of glucose or related fermentable sugars to derepressed cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae triggers a RAS-mediated cyclic AMP (cAMP) signal that induces a protein phosphorylation cascade. In yeast mutants (tpk1w1, tpk2w1, and tpk3w1) containing reduced activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, fermentable sugars, as opposed to nonfermentable carbon sources, induced a permanent hyperaccumulation of cAMP. This finding confirms previous conclusions that fermentable sugars are specific stimulators of cAMP synthesis in yeast cells. Despite the huge cAMP levels present in these mutants, deletion of the gene (BCY1) coding for the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase severely reduced hyperaccumulation of cAMP. Glucose-induced hyperaccumulation of cAMP was also observed in exponential-phase glucose-grown cells of the tpklw1 and tpk2w1 strains but not the tpk3w1 strain even though addition of glucose to glucose-repressed wild-type cells did not induce a cAMP signal. Investigation of mitochondrial respiration by in vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed the tpk1w1 and tpk2w1 strains, to be defective in glucose repression. These results are consistent with the idea that the signal transmission pathway from glucose to adenyl cyclase contains a glucose-repressible protein. They also show that a certain level of cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation is required for glucose repression. Investigation of the glucose-induced cAMP signal and glucose-induced activation of trehalase in derepressed cells of strains containing only one of the wild-type TPK genes indicates that the transient nature of the cAMP signal is due to feedback inhibition by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in liver plasma membrane. Effect of inorganic phosphate

When a plasma membrane preparation isolated from rat liver was incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP and Mg2+, protein-bound 32P increased rapidly, followed by a gradual decrease. The time course suggested the existence of membrane-bound kinase(s) and phosphatase(s) phosphorylating and dephosphorylating endogenous proteins. The extent of phosphorylation was not affected by inclusion of cyclic AMP in the reaction mixture. The extent of the maximum phosphorylation was dependent on membrane concentration, owing to rapid hydrolysis of ATP by the membrane-bound ATPase activity. Thus, phosphorylation proceeded further on repeated addition of ATP. Both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation were stimulated by Mg2+, an effective rate of phosphorylation being obtained at 15 mM. Pi up to 20 mM stimulated phosphorylation with little effect on the rate of dephosphorylation. At higher phosphate concentrations, the maximum 32P-incorporation decreased again, and at 100 mM, dephosphorylation was prevented significantly. Autoradiography after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and urea revealed six main phosphorylated bands, two of which (Band 3 and 5) were partly extractable with 1 M NaCl. In the presence of 100 mM Pi, very strong phosphorylation of Band 5 (about 23,000 daltons) was noted, and a new strongly labeled band (Band P, about 20,000 daltons) was observed. It was concluded that the phosphoproteins in the membrane may be turned over at different rates and high concentrations of Pi may affect the turnover rate of some phosphoproteins, probably through interference with the phosphatase.     

Regulation of melanosome movement by MAP kinase

Our objectives were to further characterize the signaling pathways in melatonin-induced aggregation in Xenopus melanophores, specifically to investigate a possible role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). By Western blotting we found that melatonin activates MAPK, which precedes melanosome aggregation measured in a microplate reader. Activation of MAPK, tyrosine phosphorylation of a previously described 280-kDa protein, and melanosome aggregation are sensitive to PD98059, a selective inhibitor of MAPK kinase. The MAPK activation is also decreased by the adenylate cyclase stimulant forskolin. In summary, we found that MAPK is activated during melatonin-induced melanosome aggregation. Activation was decreased by an inhibitor of MAPK kinase, and by forskolin. In addition to inhibition of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), reduction in protein kinase A activity (PKA), and activation of protein phosphatase 2A, we suggest that melatonin receptors activate the MAPK cascade and tyrosine phosphorylation of the 280-kDa protein. Although the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway is the most prominent, our data suggest that simultaneous activation of the MAPK cascade is of importance to obtain a completely aggregated state. This new regulatory mechanism of organelle transport by the MAPK cascade might be important in other eukaryotic cells.     

Muscle glycogenolysis. Regulation of the cyclic interconversion of phosphorylase a and phosphorylase b

Regulation of glycogenolysis in skeletal muscle is dependent on a network of interacting enzymes and effectors that determine the relative activity of the enzyme phosphorylase. That enzyme is activated by phosphorylase kinase and inactivated by protein phosphatase-1 in a cyclic process of covalent modification. We present evidence that the cyclic interconversion is subject to zero-order ultrasensitivity, and the effect is responsible for the "flash" activation of phosphorylase by Ca2+ in the presence of glycogen. The zero-order effect is observable either by varying the amounts of kinase and phosphatase or by modifying the ratio of their activities by a physiological effector, protein phosphatase inhibitor-2. The sensitivity of the system is enhanced in the presence of the phosphorylase limit dextrin of glycogen which lowers the Km of phosphorylase kinase for phosphorylase. The in vitro experimental results are examined in terms of physiological conditions in muscle, and it is shown that zero-order ultrasensitivity would be more pronounced under the highly compartmentalized conditions found in that tissue. The sensitivity of this system to effector changes is much greater than that found for allosteric enzymes. Furthermore, the sensitivity enhancement increases more rapidly than energy consumption (ATP) as the phosphorylase concentration increases. Energy effectiveness is shown to be a possible evolutionary factor in favor of the development of zero-order ultrasensitivity in compartmentalized systems.     

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of spectrin

The phosphorylation of spectrin polypeptide 2 is thought to be involved in the metabolically dependent regulation of red cell shape and deformability. Spectrin phosphorylation is not affected by cAMP. The reaction in isolated membranes resembles the cAMP-independent, salt-stimulated phosphorylation of an exogenous substrate, casein, by enzyme(s) present both in isolated membranes and cytoplasmic extracts. Spectrin kinase is selectively eluted from membranes by 0.5 M NaCl and co-fractionates with eluted casein kinase. Phosphorylation of band 3 in the membrane is inhibited by salt, but the band 3 kinase is otherwise indistinguishable operationally from spectrin kinase. The membrane-bound casein (spectrin) kinase is not eluted efficiently with spectrin at low ionic strength; about 80% of the activity is apparently bound at sites (perhaps on or near band 3) other than spectrin. Partitioning of casein kinase between cytoplasm and membrane is metabolically dependent; the proportion of casein kinase on the membrane can range from 25% to 75%, but for fresh cells is normally about 40%. Dephosphorylation of phosphorylated spectrin has not been studied intensively. Slow release of ³²Pi from [³²P] spectrin on the membrane can be demonstrated, but phosphatase activity measured against solubilized [³²P] spectrin is concentrated in the cytoplasm. The crude cytoplasmic phosphospectrin phosphatase is inhibited by various anions – notably, ATP and 2,3-DPG at physiological concentrations. Regulation of spectrin phosphorylation in intact cells has not been studied. We speculate that spectrin phosphorylation state may be regulated (1) by metabolic intermediates and other internal chemical signals that modulate kinase and phosphatase activities per se or determine their intracellular localization and (2) by membrane deformation that alters enzyme–spectrin interaction locally. Progress in the isolation and characterization of spectrin kinase and phosphospectrin phosphatase should lead to the resolution of major questions raised by previous work: the relationships between membrane-bound and cytoplasmic forms of the enzymes, the nature of their physical interactions with the membrane, and the regulation of their activities in defined cell-free systems.     

Phosphorylation of a 100 000 dalton component and its relationship to calcium transport in sarcoplasmic reticulum from rabbit skeletal muscle

Sarcomplasmic reticulum from rabbit fast skeletal muscle contains intrinsic protein kinase activity (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) and a substrate. The protein kinase activity was Mg2+ dependent and could also phosphorylate exogenous protein substrates. Autophosphorylation of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles was not stimulated by cyclic AMP, neither was it inhibited by the heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor protein. The phosphorylated membranes had the characteristics of a protein with a phosphoester bond. An average of 73 pmol Pi/mg protein were incorporated in 10 min at 30 degrees C. Addition of exogenous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase increased the endogenous level of phosphorylation by 25-100%. Sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane phosphorylation, mediated by either endogenous cyclic AMP-independent or exogenous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, occurred on a 100 000 dalton protein and both enzyme activities resulted in enhanced calcium uptake and Ca2+-dependent ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3), in a manner similar to cardiac microsomal preparations. Regulation of Ca2+ transport in skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum may be mediated by phosphorylation of a 100 000 dalton component of these membranes.     

Cyclic nucleotide- and calcium-independent phosphorylation of proteins in rat brain polyribosome: Effects of ACTH,spermine, and hemin

The incorporation of [-³²P]ATP into proteins of rat brain polyribosomes was studied in vitro. The effects of cyclic nucleotides, calcium, hemin, ACTH, GTP, and spermine were examined. The incorporation of phosphate into proteins increased with time and phosphatase activity was very low; thus, the extent of phosphorylation was predominantly a reflection of protein kinase activity. Phosphorylation of proteins was not sensitive to Ca²⁺ in the presence or absence of either calmodulin or phosphatidylserine. Phosphorylation was also unaffected by cyclic nucleotides in the absence of exogenous enzymes. However, addition of a cMAP-dependent protein kinase together with cAMP resulted in a stimulation of the incorporation of phosphate into 4 phosphoproteins (pp70, pp58, pp43, and pp32); phosphorylation of pp32 was completely dependent on the addition of the kinase. ACTH (1–24), (11–24), and spermine inhibited the endogenous phosphorylation of one protein band (pp30). The phosphorylation of this 30 kD band was also selectively increased by hemin (5 M). Higher concentrations of hemin exerted an inhibitory effect on the majority of the phosphoproteins. Protein phosphatase activity was not influenced by ACTH or spermine. The specific inhibition of pp30 phosphorylation by ACTH or spermine is most probably explained by an interaction with a cyclic nucleotide- and Ca²⁺-independent protein kinase.