Enhanced phosphorylation of a nucleolar 110-kDa protein in rat liver by dietary manipulation

RNA polymerase 1 activity and nucleolar volume have been reported to increase in hepatocytes from rats fed a protein-free diet. Phosphorylation in vitro of a 110-kDa protein was enhanced in nuclei and nucleoli from livers of rats fed a protein-free diet. In nuclear extracts the 110-kDa protein in heat-treated nuclei was much more phosphorylated than from control liver. In contrast, casein kinase activity in the nuclear extract from control liver was comparable to that from livers of rats fed a protein-free diet. Nuclear extracts from control rat liver and livers of rats fed a protein-free diet were fractionated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Casein kinase II (NII) eluted at around 0.17 M NaCl scarcely phosphorylates the 110-kDa protein. Chromatography of the nuclear extract from livers of rats fed a protein-free diet, but not from control liver, yielded fractions which eluted at 0.21-0.25 M NaCl and predominantly phosphorylated the 110-kDa protein. The phosphorylation of 110-kDa protein was not appreciably affected by a heparin concentration of 5 micrograms/ml, which completely inhibited casein kinase II. In addition, phosphorylation of the 110-kDa protein in liver nucleoli from rats fed a protein-free diet showed a lower sensitivity to heparin than that in control rat liver nucleoli. These results suggest that enhanced phosphorylation of the nuclear 110-kDa protein in livers from rats fed a protein-free diet is due to the induction of a 110-kDa protein kinase distinct from casein kinase II.     

A one-step procedure for the determination of protein kinase activities and a protein kinase inhibitor in nuclear extract

An isoelectric focusing procedure has been developed that achieves the complete separation of an inhibitor protein from its target enzymes, the nuclear protein kinases, in a one-step operation. The method thus enables one to estimate the amount of inhibitory activity in nuclear extracts, an activity that can not be measured in the presence of the protein kinases. Using this procedure, we have determined the apparent and the actual protein kinase activities in nuclear extracts of rat liver and of two transplantable rat hepatomas by two independent measurements: (a) the increase in protein kinase activity upon separation of the enzyme(s) from the inhibitor, relative to the activity in the crude extracts which was taken as 100%; (b) the inhibitory activity of the pooled focused inhibitor fractions. The amount of cryptic enzyme activity closely correlated with the amount of inhibitor present in extracts from different tissues. Considerably less cryptic kinase activity was found in the tumor nuclei than in liver which may account, at least in part, for the higher phosphorylating capacity previously observed in hepatoma.     

Protein kinase C located in rat liver nuclei. Partial purification and biochemical and immunochemical characterization

In the rat liver homogenate, maximal protein kinase C activity was found at two calcium concentrations (1.75 and 3.5 mM). Subcellular fractionation of the liver homogenate revealed that the protein kinase C activity requiring 1.75 mM calcium was present only in the cytosolic and particulate subcellular fractions. The protein kinase C activity requiring 3.5 mM calcium concentration was mainly located in the rat liver nuclei preparation. About 19% of the liver homogenate protein kinase C activity requiring 3.5 mM calcium was present in the nuclei. Goat anti-rat brain protein kinase C antibodies revealed a single immunoreactive band at 80-82 kDa in the rat liver nuclear, particulate, or cytosolic fractions. Based on the ratio of plasma membrane marker enzyme activity determined in the nuclear preparation, the purity of the isolated nuclei was ascertained. Rat liver nuclear protein kinase C activity has been partially purified. The purification steps sequentially employed were Triton X-100 extraction of isolated nuclei, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Phenyl-Superose, and Mono Q (fast protein liquid) chromatography. The final purification step revealed, by silver nitrate staining on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, two protein bands at 80 and 66 kDa, respectively. These findings provide definitive data regarding the nuclear location of protein kinase C. The nuclear location of protein kinase C may lead to an understanding of the molecular pathway involved in signal transduction from the plasma membrane to the nucleus.     

Purification of nuclear cAMP-independent protein kinases from rat ventral prostate

Two nuclear cAMP-independent protein kinases (designated PK-N1 and PK-N2) were purified from rat ventral-prostate and liver. The yield of enzyme units was 4-5% and 7-9% for each enzyme from the prostatic nuclei and liver nuclei, respectively. The average fold purification for prostatic nuclear protein kinase N1 and N2 was 1360 and 1833, respectively. The respective average specific activity of the two enzymes towards casein was 81,585 and 110,000 nmol 32P incorporated/hr/mg of enzyme. Protein kinase N1 comprised one polypeptide of Mr 35,000 which underwent phosphorylation in the presence of Mg2+ + ATP. Protein kinase N2 comprised two polypeptides Mr 40,000 and 30,000 of which only the Mr 30,000 polypeptide was autophosphorylated. Both enzymes were active towards casein, phosvitin, dephosphophosvitin, spermine-binding protein, and non-histone proteins in vitro. Little activity was detected towards histones. Both enzymes were stimulated by 150-200 mM NaCl. MgCl2 requirement varied with the protein substrate but was between 2-4 mM for both enzymes. With dephosphophosvitin as substrate, the apparent Km for ATP for N1 protein kinase was 0.01 mM. GTP did not replace ATP in this reaction. Protein kinase N2 was active in the presence of ATP or GTP. The apparent Km was 0.01 mM for ATP, but 0.1 mM for GTP.     

Protein kinase C binding to isolated nuclei and its activation by a Ca2+/phospholipid-independent mechanism

The direct interaction of protein kinase C with the nucleus was examined utilizing endogenous protein phosphorylation and [3H]PDBu binding to detect the enzyme. Rat brain nuclei were relatively rich in phorbol ester receptors whereas liver nuclei contained less than 10% of their brain counterpart. Purified protein kinase C from rat brain could bind to purified rat liver nuclei at 4 degrees C or at 24 degrees C reaching apparent equilibrium by 20 min. The binding was linearly dependent on protein kinase C concentration and required free Ca2+ with an EC50 of 0.5 microM. Chelation of Ca2+ with EGTA resulted in rapid loss of phorbol ester receptors from nuclei. Differential extraction experiments with Triton X-100 and NaCl suggested that about 50% of the acquired phorbol ester receptors were bound to chromatin and 25% were associated with the nuclear matrix. Protein Kinase C bound to nuclei was also able to phosphorylate several endogenous nuclear substrates in a Ca2+/phospholipid-independent reaction. These data suggest that protein kinase C can associate with nuclear components leading to the phosphorylation of nuclear substrates.     

Immunochemical characterization of rat brain protein kinase C

Polyclonal antibodies against rat brain protein kinase C (the Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme) were raised in goat. These antibodies can neutralize completely the kinase activity in purified enzyme preparation as well as that in the crude homogenate. Immunoblot analysis of the purified and the crude protein kinase C preparations revealed a major immunoreactive band of 80 kDa. The antibodies also recognize the same enzyme from other rat tissues. Neuronal tissues (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, and retina) and lymphoid organs (thymus and spleen) were found to be enriched in protein kinase C, whereas lung, kidney, liver, heart, and skeletal muscle contained relatively low amounts of this kinase. Limited proteolysis of the purified rat brain protein kinase C with trypsin results in an initial degradation of the kinase into two major fragments of 48 and 38 kDa. Both fragments are recognized by the antibodies. However, further digestion of the 48-kDa fragment to 45 kDa and the 38-kDa fragment to 33 kDa causes a loss of the immunoreactivity. Upon incubation of the cerebellar extract with Ca2+, the 48-kDa fragment was also identified as a major proteolytic product of protein kinase C. Proteolytic degradation of protein kinase C converts the Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent kinase to an independent form without causing a large impairment of the binding of [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. The two major proteolytic fragments were separated by ion exchange chromatography and one of them (45-48 kDa) was identified as a protein kinase and the other (33-38 kDa) as a phorbol ester-binding protein. This degraded form of the phorbol ester-binding protein still requires phospholipid for activity but, unlike the native enzyme, becomes less dependent on Ca2+. These results demonstrate that rat brain protein kinase C is composed of two functionally distinct units, namely, a protein kinase and a Ca2+-independent/phospholipid-dependent phorbol ester-binding protein.     

Role of 3',5'-cyclic AMP in the control of nuclear protein kinase activity

The role of cAMP in the regulation of nuclear protein kinase activity was investigated. Acidic nuclear proteins prepared from rat liver nuclei were separated by phosphocellulose chromatography into four peaks of protein kinase activity and two peaks of cAMP-binding activity. A fraction which bound cAMP also inhibited the most active nuclear protein kinase, K IV, and the inhibition was diminished in the presence of 5 μM cAMP. Further support for the regulation of nuclear kinases by cAMP was obtained using a regulatory subunit prepared from rabbit muscle protein kinase. The muscle regulatory subunit markedly inhibited liver nuclear kinase activities. The addition of cAMP partially restored the activities.     

Cyclic AMP-binding protein and estrogen receptor: antagonism during nuclear translocation in a hormone-dependent mammary tumor

Incubation of nuclei from hormone-dependent rat mammary tumors with its cytosol activated with 5 nM 17β-estradiol resulted in a 4-fold increase of nuclear estrogen binding activity over the control nuclei. The presence of 100 nM cAMP in the activated cytosol inhibited this nuclear uptake of estrogen receptor by 50%. Conversely, incubation of the nuclei with cytosol activated with 100 nM cAMP increased nuclear cAMP binding and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity 4-fold, while the presence of 5 nM 17β-estradiol in the activated cytosol inhibited the nuclear cAMP binding and the protein kinase activity by 50%. No competition was found between estrogen and cAMP for each other's cytoplasmic binding proteins or the nuclear acceptor sites. These data suggest that a mutual antagonism exists between the cAMP-binding protein and estrogen receptor during their nuclear translocation.     

Inhibitory effect of calcium-binding protein regucalcin on protein kinase activity in the nuclei of regenerating rat liver

The effect of Ca²⁺-binding protein regucalcin on protein kinase activity in the nuclei of normal and regenerating rat livers was investigated. Protein kinase activity in the nuclei isolated from normal rat liver was significantly increased by addition of Ca²⁺ (500 μM) and calmodulin (10 μg/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture. Nuclear protein kinase activity was significantly decreased in the presence of EGTA (1.0 mM), trifluoperazine (TFP; 20 μM), dibucaine (10⁻⁴ M), or staurosporine (10⁻⁷ M), indicating that Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinases are present in the nuclei. Protein kinase activity was significantly elevated in the liver nuclei obtained at 6 to 48 h after a partial hepatectomy. Hepatectomy-increased nuclear protein kinase activity was significantly decreased in the presence of EGTA (1.0 mM), TFP (20 μM), or staurosporine (10⁻⁷ M) in the enzyme reaction mixture. The presence of regucalcin (0.1–0.5 μM) caused a significant decrease in protein kinase activity in the nuclei obtained from normal and regenerating rat livers. Meanwhile, the nuclear protein kinase activity from normal and regenerating livers was significantly elevated in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50–200 ng/ml). The present study suggests that regucalcin plays a role in the regulation of protein kinase activity in the nuclei of proliferative liver cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 71:569–576, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

alpha-Tocopherol increases phosphorylation of rat nuclear proteins,catalyzed by protein kinase C

alpha-Tocopherol added in vivo increased protein kinase C--dependent phosphorylation of rat liver nuclei proteins. Such effect of tocopherol was found also after the addition of sphingosine known as natural inhibitor of protein kinase C to incubation medium. The stimulation of phosphorilation was observed also after the addition of alpha-tocopherol to the Triton X-100 solubilized nuclear fraction which contained protein kinase C and tocopherol-binding proteins.     

The nuclear lamin protein family in higher vertebrates. Identification of quantitatively minor lamin proteins by monoclonal antibodies

The nuclear lamina, a structure closely apposed to the inner nuclear membrane, is believed to provide a framework important for nuclear envelope integrity and interphase chromatin organization. So far, in mammalian and avian species three major constituents of the lamina, lamins A, B, and C, have been identified. These proteins migrate to characteristic positions on two-dimensional gels, lamin B being more acidic than lamins A and C. Here, we show that the composition of the nuclear lamina in avian and mammalian cells is more complex than previously assumed. When analyzed on two-dimensional gels, the major 66-kDa chicken "lamin B" protein can readily be identified. However, an additional 68-kDa protein migrates to a similarly acidic position. Based on the following evidence, both proteins can be considered as two distinct members of the lamin protein family. First, peptide mapping experiments and immunological criteria demonstrate that these two proteins are not related to each other or to lamin A via postsynthetic modifications or precursor-product relationships. Second, as determined by immunocytochemical techniques, both proteins are located exclusively at the nuclear periphery. Third, both proteins display the biochemical properties characteristic of lamin proteins, i.e. they are resistant to extraction of nuclei with nonionic detergents, nucleases, and high salt. Fourth, both proteins are immunologically related to previously characterized lamin proteins: the major 66-kDa chicken "lamin B" protein shares at least two epitopes with lamin A. However, contrary to what current nomenclature might suggest, this 66-kDa chicken "lamin B" protein is not related to rat liver lamin B, but to a minor component of rat liver pore-complex lamina preparations that had not previously been recognized as a lamin protein. Conversely, the minor 68-kDa component of chicken lamina preparations that had not previously been considered to be a lamin protein is immunologically related to rat liver lamin B. Thus, in addition to demonstrating the existence of quantitatively minor lamin proteins in higher vertebrates, our results caution against assigning structural homologies between lamin proteins from different species on the basis of gel electrophoresis analyses.     

Functional dissection of nuclear envelope mRNA translocation system: effects of phorbol ester and a monoclonal antibody recognizing cytoskeletal structures

Unidirectional transport of poly(A)-containing mRNA [poly(A)+ mRNA] through the nuclear envelope pore complex is thought to be an energy (ATP or GTP)-dependent process which involves a nuclear envelope nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase). In the intact envelope, this enzyme is regulatable by poly(A) binding and by poly(A)-dependent phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of other components of the mRNA translocation system, which are as yet unidentified. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were elicited against the poly(A) binding nuclear envelope fraction isolated from rat liver. The mAbs were screened for their modulatory effects on mRNA transport in vitro. One stable clone decreased the efflux of rapidly labeled RNA and of one specific mRNA (ovalbumin) from isolated nuclei. It increased the binding of poly(A) to the envelope and increased the maximal catalytic rate of the NTPase, but it did not alter the apparent Km of the enzyme or the extent of its stimulation by poly(A). The nuclear envelope-associated protein kinase that down-regulates the NTPase was inhibited by the antibody, while other protein kinases were not affected. Because both the NTPase and mRNA efflux were inhibited by the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, the sensitive kinase is probably protein kinase C. Protein kinase C was found to be associated with the isolated nuclear envelope. The antibody reacted with both a Mr 83,000 and a Mr 65,000 nuclear envelope polypeptide from rat liver and other tissues. By immunofluorescence microscopy in CV-1 cells, the antibody localized to the nuclear envelope and, in addition, to cytoplasmic filaments which show some superposition with the microfilament network.     

Phosphorylation and inactivation of liver glycogen synthase by liver protein kinases

A rapid method for purifying glycogen synthase a from rat liver was developed and the enzyme was tested as a substrate for nine different protein kinases, six of which were isolated from rat liver. The enzyme was phosphorylated on a 17-kDa CNBr fragment to approximately 1 phosphate/87-kDa subunit by phosphorylase b kinase from muscle or liver with a decrease in the activity ratio (-Glc-6-P/+Glc-6-P) from 0.95 to 0.6. Calmodulin-dependent glycogen synthase kinase from rabbit liver produced a similar phosphorylation pattern, but a smaller activity change. The catalytic subunit of beef heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase incorporated greater than 1 phosphate/subunit initially into a 17-kDa CNBr peptide and then into a 27-30-kDa CNBr peptide, with an activity ratio decrease to 0.5. Glycogen synthase kinases 3, 4, and 5 and casein kinase 1 were purified from rat liver. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 rapidly phosphorylated liver glycogen synthase to 1.5 phosphate/subunit with incorporation of phosphate into 3 CNBr peptides and a decrease in the activity ratio to 0.3. Glycogen synthase kinase 4 produced a pattern of phosphorylation and inactivation of liver synthase which was very similar to that caused by phosphorylase b kinase. Glycogen synthase kinase 5 incorporated 1 phosphate/subunit into a 24-kDa CNBr peptide, but did not alter the activity of the synthase. Casein kinase 1 phosphorylated and inactivated liver synthase with incorporation of phosphate into a 24-kDa CNBr peptide. This kinase and glycogen synthase kinase 4 were more active against muscle glycogen synthase. Calcium-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase from brain phosphorylated liver and muscle glycogen synthase on 17- and 27-kDa CNBr peptides, respectively. However, there was no change in the activity ratio of either enzyme. The following conclusions are drawn. 1) Liver glycogen synthase a is subject to multiple site phosphorylation. 2) Phosphorylation of some sites does not per se control activity of the enzyme under the assay conditions used. 3) Liver contains most, if not all, of the protein kinases active on glycogen synthase previously identified in skeletal muscle.     

Enhancement of nuclear Ca2+-ATPase activity in regenerating rat liver: involvement of nuclear DNA increase

The alteration of calcium content, Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, DNA content and DNA fragmentation in the nuclei of regenerating rat liver was investigated. Liver was surgically removed about 70% of that of sham-operated rats. the reduced liver weight by partial hepatectomy was completely restored at 3 days after the surgery. Regenerating liver significantly increased Ca²⁺-ATPase activity and DNA content in the nuclei between 1 and 5 days after hepatectomy. The nuclear calcium content was clearly increased from 2 days after hepatectomy. The increase of Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in regenerating liver was clearly inhibited by the presence of trifluoperazine (10 M), staurosporine (2.5 M) and dibucaine (10 M), which are inhibitors of calmodulin and protein kinase, in the enzyme reaction mixture. However, the nuclear enzyme activity in normal rat liver was not significantly altered by these inhibitors. Meanwhile, the increase of nuclear DNA content in regenerating liver was completely blocked by the administration of trifluoperazine (2.5 mg/100 g body weight), suggesting an involvement of calmodulin. Now, the nuclear DNA fragmentation was significantly decreased in regenerating liver, suggesting that this decrease is partly contributed to the increase in nuclear DNA content. The present study clearly demonstrates that regenerating liver enhances nuclear Ca²⁺-ATPase activity and induces a corresponding elevation of nuclear calcium content. This Ca²⁺-signaling system may be involved in the regulation of nuclear DNA functions in regenerating rat liver.     

Studies on protein kinases involved in regulation of nucleocytoplasmic mRNA transport.

The rate of energy-dependent nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase)-mediated nucleocytoplasmic translocation of poly(A)-containing mRNA [poly(A)+mRNA] across the nuclear envelope is thought to be regulated by poly(A)-sensitive phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of nuclear-envelope protein. Studying the phosphorylation-related inhibition of the NTPase, we found that phosphorylation of one polypeptide of rat liver envelopes by endogenous NI- and NII-like protein kinase was particularly sensitive to poly(A). This polypeptide (106 kDa) was also phosphorylated by nuclear-envelope-bound Ca2+-activated and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). Activation of kinase C by tumour-promoting phorbol esters resulted in inhibition of nuclear-envelope NTPase activity and in a concomitant decrease of mRNA (actin) efflux rate from isolated rat liver nuclei. Protein kinase C, but not nuclear envelope NI-like or NII-like protein kinase, was found to be solubilized from the envelope by Triton X-100, whereas the presumable poly(A)-binding site [the 106 kDa polypeptide, representing the putative carrier for poly(A)+mRNA transport] remained bound to this structure. RNA efflux from detergent-treated nuclei lost its susceptibility to phorbol esters. Addition of purified protein kinase C to these nuclei restored the effect of the tumour promoters. Protein kinase C was found to bind also to isolated rat liver nuclear matrices in the absence but not in the presence of ATP. The NII-like nuclear-envelope protein kinase co-purified together with the 106 kDa polypeptide which specifically binds to poly(A) in an ATP-labile linkage.     

Identification of a meiotic prophase-specific nuclear matrix protein in the rat

We have identified a 110-kDa pI 5.6 phosphoprotein with DNA binding properties in the rat pachytene spermatocyte nuclear matrix. By immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence assays using polyclonal antibodies against the 110-kDa protein, we observed that it was germ cell nuclear matrix specific, more prominent in pachytene spermatocytes compared to premeiotic spermatogonia or postmeiotic round spermatids, and present in rat oocytes and in germ cells of mouse and monkey. We propose that this protein could play an important role in the meiotic process.     

A protein-tyrosine kinase in the nuclear matrix from rat liver

Protein kinase activity in isolated nuclei from rat liver was detected in situ after electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gel containing no exogenous protein substrate. After renaturation of polypeptides, the gel was incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP and divalent cations. Among five major protein kinase activities observed as radioactive bands by autoradiography, a protein kinase autophosphorylating on tyrosine (Mr 30,000) was identified and found to be localized in the nucleus, particularly in the nuclear matrix. The intensity of the activity band representing the level of the protein-tyrosine kinase in rat liver nuclei did not appreciably change during 3-24 h after partial hepatectomy.     

zeta-Related protein kinase C in nuclei of nerve cells

To determine whether or not PKC is present in the nuclei of nerve tissue we made use of biochemical and immunocytochemical techniques. A 219-fold purification of rabbit brain nuclear protein kinase C was achieved by sequential steps of Triton X-100 extraction of isolated nuclei, DEAE-cellulose, Butyl-toyopearl and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The major peak of protein kinase C activity was eluted from the hydroxylapatite column at the KPO4 concentration of 0.3 M. Both Ca2+ and Ptd Ser were required for stimulation of the enzyme. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the kinase fraction was immunoreactive with a polyclonal antibody, PC-zeta, that had been raised against a peptide synthesized according to the deduced sequence of rat zeta protein kinase C. Light-microscopy revealed strong immunoreactivity in the nuclei of Purkinje cells in cerebellum and pyramidal cells in the rat cerebral cortex. These observations suggest that a zeta-related protein kinase C is present in the nuclei of nerve cells.     

Identification of nuclear envelope proteins and glycoproteins which co-isolate with the nuclear protein matrix

Nuclear envelopes and nuclear matrices were isolated from rat liver nuclei. Although differences in polypeptide composition of the structures are evident on SDS gel electrophoresis, they have an almost identical distribution of concanavalin A-binding glycoproteins. These matrix-associated concanavalin A-binding glycoproteins derive entirely from the nuclear envelope and are recovered almost quantitatively in the matrix. They constitute easily identifiable markers for nuclear envelope association with matrix or other nuclear subfractions. Surface labelling of nuclei with 125I using solid-phase lactoperoxidase further confirmed that a large number of envelope-associated nuclear surface proteins co-isolate with the matrix. Protein kinase activity, as well as endogenous substrates for the kinase(s) are shown to be the same in both envelopes and matrix. Envelope-derived proteins and glycoproteins may comprise a substantial proportion of total matrix protein.