Akt/protein kinase B is regulated by autophosphorylation at the hypothetical PDK-2 site

The function of Akt (protein kinase B) is regulated by phosphorylation on two sites conserved within the AGC kinase family: the activation loop (Thr-308) in the kinase core and a hydrophobic phosphorylation site on the carboxyl terminus (Ser-473). Thr-308 is phosphorylated by the phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1, (PDK-1), whereas the mechanism of phosphorylation of the hydrophobic site, tentatively referred to as the PDK-2 site, is unknown. Here we report that phosphorylation of the hydrophobic motif requires catalytically competent Akt. First we show that a kinase-inactive construct of Akt fails to incorporate phosphate at Ser-473 following IGF-1 stimulation in vivo but does incorporate phosphate at Thr-308 and a second carboxyl-terminal site, Thr-450; this ligand triggers the phosphorylation of both sites in wild-type enzyme. Neither does a catalytically inactive construct in which phosphorylation at the activation loop is blocked, T308A, become phosphorylated on the hydrophobic site in response to stimulation. Second, we show that Akt autophosphorylates on the hydrophobic site in vitro: phosphorylation of the activation loop by PDK-1 triggers the phosphorylation of the hydrophobic site in kinase-active, but not thermally inactivated, Akt alpha. Thus, Akt is regulated by autophosphorylation at the Ser-473 hydrophobic site.     

Akt (protein kinase B) negatively regulates SEK1 by means of protein phosphorylation.

The protein serine-threonine kinase Akt mediates cell survival signaling initiated by various growth-promoting factors such as insulin. Here we report that SEK1 is a target of Akt in intact cells. Insulin inhibited the anisomycin-induced stimulation of both endogenous SEK1 and its substrate c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not that of the upstream kinase MEKK1, in 293T cells. The inhibitory action of insulin on SEK1 or JNK1 activation was prevented by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. Expression of a constitutively active form of Akt also inhibited both SEK1 and JNK1 activation, but not that of MEKK1, in transfected 293T cells. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that endogenous Akt physically interacted with endogenous SEK1 in cells and that this interaction was promoted by insulin. In vitro and in vivo (32)P labeling indicated that Akt phosphorylated SEK1 on serine 78. The SEK1 mutant SEK1(S78A) was resistant to Akt-induced inhibition. Finally, activated Akt inhibited SEK1-mediated apoptosis, and this effect of Akt was prevented by overexpression of SEK(S78A). Taken together, these results suggest that Akt suppresses stress-activated signaling by targeting SEK1.     

Myosin 5a is an insulin-stimulated Akt2 (protein kinase Bbeta) substrate modulating GLUT4 vesicle translocation

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation of Akt signaling is critical to insulin-stimulated glucose transport and GLUT4 translocation. However, the downstream signaling events following Akt activation which mediate glucose transport stimulation remain relatively unknown. Here we identify an Akt consensus phosphorylation motif in the actin-based motor protein myosin 5a and show that insulin stimulation leads to phosphorylation of myosin 5a at serine 1650. This Akt-mediated phosphorylation event enhances the ability of myosin 5a to interact with the actin cytoskeleton. Small interfering RNA-induced inhibition of myosin 5a and expression of dominant-negative myosin 5a attenuate insulin-stimulated glucose transport and GLUT4 translocation. Furthermore, knockdown of Akt2 or expression of dominant-negative Akt (DN-Akt) abolished insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of myosin 5a, inhibited myosin 5a binding to actin, and blocked insulin-stimulated glucose transport. Taken together, these data indicate that myosin 5a is a newly identified direct substrate of Akt2 and, upon insulin stimulation, phosphorylated myosin 5a facilitates anterograde movement of GLUT4 vesicles along actin to the cell surface.     

IGF1 regulates PKM2 function through Akt phosphorylation

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) acts at the crossroad of growth and metabolism pathways in cells. PKM2 regulation by growth factors can redirect glycolytic intermediates into key biosynthetic pathway. Here we show that IGF1 can regulate glycolysis rate, stimulate PKM2 Ser/Thr phosphorylation and decrease cellular pyruvate kinase activity. Upon IGF1 treatment we found an increase of the dimeric form of PKM2 and the enrichment of PKM2 in the nucleus. This effect was associated to a reduction of pyruvate kinase enzymatic activity and was reversed using metformin, which decreases Akt phosphorylation. IGF1 induced an increased nuclear localization of PKM2 and STAT3, which correlated with an increased HIF1α, HK2, and GLUT1 expression and glucose entrapment. Metformin inhibited HK2, GLUT1, HIF-1α expression and glucose consumption. These findings suggest a role of IGFIR/Akt axis in regulating glycolysis by Ser/Thr PKM2 phosphorylation in cancer cells.     

OSBP-related protein 11 (ORP11) dimerizes with ORP9 and localizes at the Golgi-late endosome interface

We characterize here ORP11, a member of the oxysterol-binding protein family. ORP11 is present at highest levels in human ovary, testis, kidney, liver, stomach, brain, and adipose tissue. Immunohistochemistry demonstrates abundant ORP11 in the epithelial cells of kidney tubules, testicular tubules, caecum, and skin. ORP11 in HEK293 cells resides on Golgi complex and LE, co-localizing with GFP-Rab9, TGN46, GFP-Rab7, and a fluorescent medial-trans-Golgi marker. Under electron microscopic observation, cells overexpressing ORP11 displayed lamellar lipid bodies associated with vacuolar structures or the Golgi complex, indicating a disturbance of lipid trafficking. N-terminal fragment of ORP11 (aa 1-292) localized partially to Golgi, but displayed enhanced localization on Rab7- and Rab9-positive LE, while the C-terminal ligand-binding domain (aa 273-747) was cytosolic, demonstrating that the membrane targeting determinants are N-terminal. Yeast two-hybrid screen revealed interaction of ORP11 with the related ORP9. The interacting region was delineated within aa 98-372 of ORP9 and aa 154-292 of ORP11. Overexpressed ORP9 was able to recruit EGFP-ORP11 to membranes, and ORP9 silencing inhibited ORP11 Golgi association. The results identify ORP11 as an OSBP homologue distributing at the Golgi-LE interface and define the ORP9-ORP11 dimer as a functional unit that may act as an intracellular lipid sensor or transporter.     

Oxysterol-binding Protein (OSBP)-related Protein 4 (ORP4) Is Essential for Cell Proliferation and Survival

Oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP) and OSBP-related proteins (ORPs) comprise a large gene family with sterol/lipid transport and regulatory activities. ORP4 (OSBP2) is a closely related paralogue of OSBP, but its function is unknown. Here we show that ORP4 binds similar sterol and lipid ligands as OSBP and other ORPs but is uniquely required for the proliferation and survival of cultured cells. Recombinant ORP4L and a variant without a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain (ORP4S) bind 25-hydroxycholesterol and extract and transfer cholesterol between liposomes. Two conserved histidine residues in the OSBP homology domain ORP4 are essential for binding phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate but not sterols. The PH domain of ORP4L also binds phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate in the Golgi apparatus. However, in the context of ORP4L, the PH domain is required for normal organization of the vimentin network. Unlike OSBP, RNAi silencing of all ORP4 variants (including a partial PH domain truncation termed ORP4M) in HEK293 and HeLa cells resulted in growth arrest but not cell death. ORP4 silencing in non-transformed intestinal epithelial cells (IEC)-18 caused apoptosis characterized by caspase 3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase processing, DNA cleavage, and JNK phosphorylation. IEC-18 transformed with oncogenic H-Ras have increased expression of ORP4L and ORP4S proteins and are resistant to the growth-inhibitory effects of ORP4 silencing. Results suggest that ORP4 promotes the survival of rapidly proliferating cells.     

Bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate regulates oxysterol binding protein-related protein 11 dependent sterol trafficking

Bis(Monoacylglycero) Phosphate (BMP) is a unique phospholipid localized in late endosomes, a critical cellular compartment in low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol metabolism. In previous work, we demonstrated the important role of BMP in the regulation of macrophage cholesterol homeostasis. BMP exerts a protective role against the pro-apoptotic effect of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) by reducing the production of deleterious oxysterols. As the intracellular sterol traffic in macrophages is in part regulated by oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) and OSBP-related proteins (ORPs), we investigated the role of ORP11, localized at the Golgi-late endosomes interface, in the BMP-mediated protection from oxLDL/oxysterol cytotoxicity. Stably silencing of ORP11 in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages via a shRNA lentiviruses system had no effect on BMP production. However, ORP11 knockdown abrogated the protective action of BMP against oxLDL induced apoptosis. In oxLDL treated control cells, BMP enrichment was associated with reduced generation of 7-oxysterols, while these oxysterol species were abundant in the ORP11 knock-down cells. Of note, BMP enrichment in ORP11 knock-down cells was associated with a drastic increase in free cholesterol and linked to a decrease of cholesterol efflux. The expression of ATP-binding cassette-transporter G1 (ABCG1) was also reduced in the ORP11 knock-down cells. These observations demonstrate a cooperative function of OPR11 and BMP, in intracellular cholesterol trafficking in cultured macrophages. We suggest that BMP favors the egress of cholesterol from late endosomes via an ORP11-dependent mechanism, resulting in a reduced production of cytotoxic 7-oxysterols.     

SIN1/MIP1 maintains rictor-mTOR complex integrity and regulates Akt phosphorylation and substrate specificity

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) controls cell growth and proliferation via the raptor-mTOR (TORC1) and rictor-mTOR (TORC2) protein complexes. Recent biochemical studies suggested that TORC2 is the elusive PDK2 for Akt/PKB Ser473 phosphorylation in the hydrophobic motif. Phosphorylation at Ser473, along with Thr308 of its activation loop, is deemed necessary for Akt function, although the regulatory mechanisms and physiological importance of each phosphorylation site remain to be fully understood. Here, we report that SIN1/MIP1 is an essential TORC2/PDK2 subunit. Genetic ablation of sin1 abolished Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation and disrupted rictor-mTOR interaction but maintained Thr308 phosphorylation. Surprisingly, defective Ser473 phosphorylation affected only a subset of Akt targets in vivo, including FoxO1/3a, while other Akt targets, TSC2 and GSK3, and the TORC1 effectors, S6K and 4E-BP1, were unaffected. Our findings reveal that the SIN1-rictor-mTOR function in Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation is required for TORC2 function in cell survival but is dispensable for TORC1 function.     

ORP2, a homolog of oxysterol binding protein, regulates cellular cholesterol metabolism

Oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) related proteins (ORPs) constitute a family that has at least 12 members in humans. In the present study we characterize one of the novel OSBP homologs, ORP2, which we show to be expressed ubiquitously in mammalian tissues. The ORP2 cDNA encodes a deduced 55 kDa protein that lacks a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, a feature found in the other family members. Sucrose gradient centrifugation analysis of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell post-nuclear supernatant demonstrated that ORP2 is distributed in soluble and membrane-bound fractions. Immunofluorescence microscopy of the endogenous and overexpressed ORP2 in CHO cells suggested that the membrane-bound fraction of the protein localizes to the Golgi apparatus. Stably transfected CHO cells that overexpress ORP2 showed an increase in [14C]cholesterol efflux to serum, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and phosphatidyl choline vesicles. The proportion of cellular [14C]cholesterol that is esterified and the ACAT activity measured as [14C]oleyl-CoA conversion into cholesteryl [14C]oleate by the cellular membranes, were markedly decreased in the ORP2 expressing cells. Transient high level overexpression of ORP2 interfered with the clearance of a secretory pathway protein marker from the Golgi complex. The results implicate ORP2 as a novel regulator of cellular sterol homeostasis and intracellular membrane trafficking.     

Oxysterol-binding Protein-related Protein 8 (ORP8) Increases Sensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Fas-Mediated Apoptosis

Human hepatoma (HCC) has been reported to be strongly resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study the function of oxysterol-binding protein-related protein 8 (ORP8) in human hepatoma cells apoptosis was assessed. We found that ORP8 is down-regulated, whereas miR-143, which controls ORP8 expression, is up-regulated in clinical HCC tissues as compared with liver tissue from healthy subjects. ORP8 overexpression triggered apoptosis in primary HCC cells and cell lines, which coincided with a relocation of cytoplasmic Fas to the cell plasma membrane and FasL up-regulation. Co-culture of HepG2 cells or primary HCC cells with Jurkat T-cells or T-cells, respectively, provided further evidence that ORP8 increases HCC cell sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis. ORP8-induced Fas translocation is p53-dependent, and FasL was induced upon ORP8 overexpression via the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. Moreover, ORP8 overexpression and miR-143 inhibition markedly inhibited tumor growth in a HepG2 cell xenograft model. These results indicate that ORP8 induces HCC cell apoptosis through the Fas/FasL pathway. The role of ORP8 in Fas translocation to the plasma membrane and its down-regulation by miR-143 offer a putative mechanistic explanation for HCC resistance to apoptosis. ORP8 may be a potential target for HCC therapy.     

Oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP) is required for the perinuclear localization of intra-Golgi v-SNAREs

Oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP) and OSBP-related proteins (ORPs) have been implicated in the distribution of sterols among intracellular organelles. OSBP regulates the Golgi cholesterol level, but how it relates to Golgi function is elusive. Here we report that OSBP is essential for the localization of intra-Golgi soluble vesicle N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion attachment protein receptors (v-SNAREs). Depletion of OSBP by small interfering RNA causes mislocalization of intra-Golgi v-SNAREs GS28 and GS15 throughout the cytoplasm without affecting the perinuclear localization of Golgi target-SNARE syntaxin5 and reduces the abundance of a Golgi enzyme, mannosidase II (Man II). GS28 mislocalization and Man II reduction are also induced by cellular cholesterol depletion. Three domains of OSBP—an endoplasmic reticulum–targeting domain, a Golgi-targeting domain, and a sterol-binding domain—are all required for Golgi localization of GS28. Finally, GS28 mislocalization and Man II reduction in OSBP-depleted cells are largely restored by depletion of ArfGAP1, a regulator of the budding of coat protein complex (COP)-I vesicles. From these results, we postulate that Golgi cholesterol level, which is controlled by OSBP, is essential for Golgi localization of intra-Golgi v-SNAREs by ensuring proper COP-I vesicle transport.     

Akt activity negatively regulates phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase in the heart

In the heart, insulin stimulates a variety of kinase cascades and controls glucose utilization. Because insulin is able to activate Akt and inactivate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the heart, we hypothesized that Akt can regulate the activity of AMPK. To address the potential existence of this novel signaling pathway, we used a number of experimental protocols to activate Akt in cardiac myocytes and monitored the activation status of AMPK. Mouse hearts perfused in the presence of insulin demonstrated accelerated glycolysis and glucose oxidation rates as compared with non-insulin-perfused hearts. In addition, insulin caused an increase in Akt phosphorylation and a decrease in AMPK phosphorylation at its major regulatory site (threonine 172 of the alpha catalytic subunit). Transgenic mice overexpressing a constitutively active mutant form of Akt1 displayed decreased phosphorylation of cardiac alpha-AMPK. Isolated neonatal cardiac myocytes infected with an adenovirus expressing constitutively active mutant forms of either Akt1 or Akt2 also suppressed AMPK phosphorylation. However, Akt-dependent depression of alpha-AMPK phosphorylation could be overcome in the presence of the AMPK activator, metformin, suggesting that an override mechanism exists that can restore AMPK activity. Taken together, this study suggests that there is cross-talk between the AMPK and Akt pathways and that Akt activation can lead to decreased AMPK activity. In addition, our data suggest that the ability of insulin to inhibit AMPK may be controlled via an Akt-mediated mechanism.     

Extensive crosstalk between O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation regulates Akt signaling

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine glycosylations (O-GlcNAc) and O-linked phosphorylations (O-phosphate), as two important types of post-translational modifications, often occur on the same protein and bear a reciprocal relationship. In addition to the well documented phosphorylations that control Akt activity, Akt also undergoes O-GlcNAcylation, but the interplay between these two modifications and the biological significance remain unclear, largely due to the technique challenges. Here, we applied a two-step analytic approach composed of the O-GlcNAc immunoenrichment and subsequent O-phosphate immunodetection. Such an easy method enabled us to visualize endogenous glycosylated and phosphorylated Akt subpopulations in parallel and observed the inhibitory effect of Akt O-GlcNAcylations on its phosphorylation. Further studies utilizing mass spectrometry and mutagenesis approaches showed that O-GlcNAcylations at Thr 305 and Thr 312 inhibited Akt phosphorylation at Thr 308 via disrupting the interaction between Akt and PDK1. The impaired Akt activation in turn resulted in the compromised biological functions of Akt, as evidenced by suppressed cell proliferation and migration capabilities. Together, this study revealed an extensive crosstalk between O-GlcNAcylations and phosphorylations of Akt and demonstrated O-GlcNAcylation as a new regulatory modification for Akt signaling.     

Akt phosphorylation and stabilization of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP)

Akt negatively regulates apoptotic pathways at a premitochondrial level through phosphorylation and modulation of proteins such as Bad, Forkhead proteins, and GSK-3beta. Akt has also been shown to protect cell death at a post-mitochondrial level, although its downstream targets have not been well documented. Here, we demonstrate that Akt, including AKT1 and AKT2, interacts with and phosphorylates X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) at residue serine-87 in vitro and in vivo. Phosphorylation of XIAP by Akt protects XIAP from ubiquitination and degradation in response to cisplatin. Moreover, autoubiquitination of XIAP is also inhibited by Akt. Consistent with this, an XIAP mutant introduced into cells which mimics the Akt-phosphorylated form (i.e. XIAP-S87D) displays reduced ubiquitination and degradation as compared with wild type XIAP. The greater stability of XIAP-S87D in cells translated to increased cell survival after cisplatin treatment. Conversely, a mutant that could not be phosphorylated by Akt (XIAP-S87A) was more rapidly degraded and showed increased cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, suppression of XIAP by either siRNA or adenovirus of antisense of XIAP induced programmed cell death and inhibited Akt-stimulated cell survival in ovarian cancer cells. These data identify XIAP as a new downstream target of Akt and a potentially important mediator of the effect of Akt on cell survival.     

Cyclin a-CDK phosphorylation regulates MDM2 protein interactions

The product of the MDM2 gene interacts with and regulates a number of proteins, in particular the tumor suppressor p53. The MDM2 protein is likely to be extensively modified in vivo, and such modification may regulate its functions in cells. We identified a potential cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) site in murine MDM2, and found the protein to be efficiently phosphorylated in vitro by cyclin A-containing complexes (cyclin A-CDK2 and cyclin A-CDK1), but MDM2 was either weakly or not phosphorylated by other cyclin-containing complexes. Moreover, a peptide containing a putative MDM2 cyclin recognition motif specifically inhibited phosphorylation by cyclin A-CDK2. The site of cyclin A-CDK2 phosphorylation was identified as Thr-216 by two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping and mutational analysis. Phosphorylation of MDM2 at Thr-216 both weakens its interaction with p53 and modestly augments its binding to p19(ARF). Interestingly, an MDM2-specific monoclonal antibody, SMP14, cannot recognize MDM2 phosphorylated at Thr-216. Changes in SMP14 reactivity of MDM2 in staged cell extracts indicate that phosphorylation of MDM2 at Thr-216 in vivo is most prevalent at the onset of S phase when cyclin A first becomes detectable.     

TCR-induced Akt serine 473 phosphorylation is regulated by protein kinase C-alpha

Akt signaling plays a central role in T cell functions, such as proliferation, apoptosis, and regulatory T cell development. Phosphorylation at Ser⁴⁷³ in the hydrophobic motif, along with Thr³⁰⁸ in its activation loop, is considered necessary for Akt function. It is widely accepted that phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK-1) phosphorylates Akt at Thr³⁰⁸, but the kinase(s) responsible for phosphorylating Akt at Ser⁴⁷³ (PDK-2) remains elusive. The existence of PDK-2 is considered to be specific to cell type and stimulus. PDK-2 in T cells in response to TCR stimulation has not been clearly defined. In this study, we found that conventional PKC positively regulated TCR-induced Akt Ser⁴⁷³ phosphorylation. PKC-alpha purified from T cells can phosphorylate Akt at Ser⁴⁷³ in vitro upon TCR stimulation. Knockdown of PKC-alpha in T-cell-line Jurkat cells reduced TCR-induced phosphorylation of Akt as well as its downstream targets. Thus our results suggest that PKC-alpha is a candidate for PDK-2 in T cells upon TCR stimulation.