Phosphoprotein with phosphoglycerate mutase activity from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

When soluble extracts of the extreme acidothermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus were incubated with [gamma-(32)P]ATP, several proteins were radiolabeled. One of the more prominent of these, which migrated with a mass of approximately 46 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), was purified by column chromatography and SDS-PAGE and subjected to amino acid sequence analysis via both the Edman technique and mass spectroscopy. The best match to the partial sequence obtained was the potential polypeptide product of open reading frame sso0417, whose DNA-derived amino acid sequence displayed many features reminiscent of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-independent phosphoglycerate (PGA) mutases [iPGMs]. Open reading frame sso0417 was therefore cloned, and its protein product was expressed in Escherichia coli. Assays of its catalytic capabilities revealed that the protein was a moderately effective PGA mutase that also exhibited low levels of phosphohydrolase activity. PGA mutase activity was dependent upon the presence of divalent metal ions such as Co(2+) or Mn(2+). The recombinant protein underwent autophosphorylation when incubated with either [gamma-(32)P]ATP or [gamma-(32)P]GTP. The site of phosphorylation was identified as Ser(59), which corresponds to the catalytically essential serine residue in bacterial and eucaryal iPGMs. The phosphoenzyme intermediate behaved in a chemically and kinetically competent manner. Incubation of the (32)P-labeled phosphoenzyme with 3-PGA resulted in the disappearance of radioactive phosphate and the concomitant appearance of (32)P-labeled PGA at rates comparable to those measured in steady-state assays of PGA mutase activity.     

Open reading frame sso2387 from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus encodes a polypeptide with protein-serine kinase activity

The predicted polypeptide product of open reading frame sso2387 from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, SsoPK2, displayed several of the sequence features conserved among the members of the "eukaryotic" protein kinase superfamily. sso2387 was cloned, and its polypeptide product was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein, rSsoPK2, was recovered in insoluble aggregates that could be dispersed by using high concentrations (5 M) of urea. The solubilized polypeptide displayed the ability to phosphorylate itself as well as several exogenous proteins, including mixed histones, casein, bovine serum albumin, and reduced carboxyamidomethylated and maleylated lysozyme, on serine residues. The source of this activity resided in that portion of the protein displaying homology to the catalytic domain of eukaryotic protein kinases. By use of mass spectrometry, the sites of autophosphorylation were found to be located in two areas, one immediately N terminal to the region corresponding to subdomain I of eukaryotic protein kinases, and the second N terminal to the presumed activation loop located between subdomains VII and VIII. Autophosphorylation of rSsoPK2 could be uncoupled from the phosphorylation of exogenous proteins by manipulation of the temperature or mutagenic alteration of the enzyme. Autophosphorylation was detected only at temperatures >or=60 degrees C, whereas phosphorylation of exogenous proteins was detectable at 37 degrees C. Similarly, replacement of one of the potential sites of autophosphorylation, Ser(548), with alanine blocked autophosphorylation but not phosphorylation of an exogenous protein, casein.     

A phosphohexomutase from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus is covalently modified by phosphorylation on serine

A phosphoserine-containing peptide was identified from tryptic digests from Sulfolobus solfataricus P1 by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Its amino acid sequence closely matched that bracketing Ser-309 in the predicted protein product of open reading frame sso0207, a putative phosphohexomutase, in the genome of S. solfataricus P2. Open reading frame sso0207 was cloned, and its protein product expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein proved capable of interconverting mannose 1-phosphate and mannose 6-phosphate, as well as glucose 1-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate, in vitro. It displayed no catalytic activity toward glucosamine 6-phosphate or N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate. Models constructed using the X-ray crystal structure of a homologous phosphohexomutase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa predicted that Ser-309 of the archaeal protein lies within the substrate binding site. The presence of a phosphoryl group at this location would be expected to electrostatically interfere with the binding of negatively charged phosphohexose substrates, thus attenuating the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme. Using site-directed mutagenesis, Ser-309 was substituted by aspartic acid to mimic the presence of a phosphoryl group. The V(max) of the mutationally altered protein was only 4% that of the unmodified form. Substitution of Ser-309 with larger, but uncharged, amino acids, including threonine, also decreased catalytic efficiency, but to a lesser extent--three- to fivefold. We therefore predict that phosphorylation of the enzyme in vivo serves to regulate its catalytic activity.     

The vaccinia virus B1R gene product is a serine/threonine protein kinase.

The nucleotide sequence of the vaccinia virus open reading frame B1 predicts a polypeptide with significant sequence similarity to the catalytic domain of known protein kinases. To determine whether the B1R polypeptide is a protein kinase, we have expressed it in bacteria as a fusion with glutathione S-transferase. Affinity-purified preparations of the fusion protein were found to undergo autophosphorylation and also phosphorylated the exogenous substrates casein and histone H1. Mutation of lysine 41 to glutamine within the conserved kinase catalytic domain II abrogated protein kinase activity on all three protein substrates, supporting the notion that the protein kinase activity is inherent to the B1R polypeptide. Casein and histone H1 were phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues. The B1R fusion protein was phosphorylated on a threonine residue(s) by an apparently intramolecular mechanism. The autophosphorylation reaction resulted in phosphorylation of the glutathione S-transferase portion of the fusion and not the protein kinase domain. The protein kinase activity of B1R was specific for ATP as the phosphate donor; GTP was not utilized to a detectable extent. Immunoblotting experiments with anti-B1R antiserum showed that the protein kinase is located in the virion particle. Chromatography of virion extracts resulted in separation of the B1R protein kinase from the bulk of the total protein kinase activity, indicating that multiple protein kinases are present in the virion particle and that B1R is distinct from the previously described vaccinia virus-associated protein kinase.     

The activity of an ancient atypical protein kinase is stimulated by ADP-ribose in vitro

The piD261/Bud32 protein kinases are universal amongst the members of the Eucarya and Archaea. Despite the fact that phylogenetic analyses indicate that the piD261/Bud32 protein kinases descend directly from the primordial ancestor of the "eukaryotic" protein kinase superfamily, our knowledge of their physiological role is relatively fragmentary and largely limited to two eucaryal representatives: piD261/Bud32 from yeast and the p53-related protein kinase from humans. A deduced archaeal homolog, SsoPK5, is encoded by open reading frame sso0433 from the acidothermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus. Recombinantly-expressed SsoPK5 exhibited protein kinase activity, with a noticeable preference for phosphorylating proteins of acidic character and for Mn(2+) as cofactor. The protein kinase also can phosphorylate itself on serine and threonine residues. The activity of rSsoPK5 was increased several-fold upon preincubation with either millimolar concentrations of 5'-AMP or submicromolar concentrations of ADP-ribose. Other mono- and di-nucleotides were ineffective. While activation was enhanced by the presence of ATP, no autophosphorylation of the protein kinase could be detected prior to addition of exogenous substrate proteins. We therefore suggest that ADP-ribose acts by evoking a conformational transition in the enzyme. Activation by ADP-ribose represents a potential regulatory link between chromatin remodeling and the activity of SsoPK5.     

The archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus contains a membrane-associated protein kinase activity that preferentially phosphorylates threonine residues in vitro

The extreme acidothermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus harbors a membrane-associated protein kinase activity. Its solubilization and stabilization required detergents, suggesting that this activity resides within an integral membrane protein. The archaeal protein kinase utilized purine nucleotides as phosphoryl donors in vitro. A noticeable preference for nucleotide triphosphates over nucleotide diphosphates and for adenyl nucleotides over the corresponding guanyl ones was observed. The molecular mass of the solubilized, partially purified enzyme was estimated to be approximately 125 kDa by gel filtration chromatography. Catalytic activity resided in a polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 67 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Challenges with several exogenous substrates revealed the protein kinase to be relatively selective. Only casein, histone H4, reduced carboxyamidomethylated and maleylated lysozyme, and a peptide modeled after myosin light chains (KKRAARATSNVFA) were phosphorylated to appreciable levels in vitro. All of the aforementioned substrates were phosphorylated on threonine residues, while histone H4 was phosphorylated on serine as well. Substitution of serine for the phosphoacceptor threonine in the myosin light chain peptide produced a noticeably inferior substrate. The protein kinase underwent autophosphorylation on threonine and was relatively insensitive to a set of known inhibitors of "eukaryotic" protein kinases.     

Phosphorylation of varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein gpI by mammalian casein kinase II and casein kinase I.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein gpI is the predominant viral glycoprotein within the plasma membranes of infected cells. This viral glycoprotein is phosphorylated on its polypeptide backbone during biosynthesis. In this report, we investigated the protein kinases which participate in the phosphorylation events. Under in vivo conditions, VZV gpI was phosphorylated on its serine and threonine residues by protein kinases present within lysates of either VZV-infected or uninfected cells. Because this activity was diminished by heparin, a known inhibitor of casein kinase II, isolated gpI was incubated with purified casein kinase II and shown to be phosphorylated in an in vitro assay containing [gamma-32P]ATP. The same glycoprotein was phosphorylated when [32P]GTP was substituted for [32P]ATP in the protein kinase assay. We also tested whether VZV gpI was phosphorylated by two other ubiquitous mammalian protein kinases--casein kinase I and cyclic AMP-dependent kinase--and found that only casein kinase I modified gpI. When the predicted 623-amino-acid sequence of gpI was examined, two phosphorylation sites known to be optimal for casein kinase II were observed. Immediately upstream from each of the casein kinase II sites was a potential casein kinase I phosphorylation site. In summary, this study showed that VZV gpI was phosphorylated by each of two mammalian protein kinases (casein kinase I and casein kinase II) and that potential serine-threonine phosphorylation sites for each of these two kinases were present in the viral glycoprotein.     

A novel transmembrane serine/threonine protein kinase gene from a rifamycin SV-producing amycolatopsis mediterranei U32.

Genomic DNA sequencing in the vicinity of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase gene (mutAB) from a rifamycin SV-producing Amycolatopsis mediterranei U32 allowed us to clone, sequence, and identify a gene encoding a novel serine/threonine protein kinase (amk). The sequence contains a complete ORF of 1821 base pairs encoding a predicted protein of 606 amino acids in length. The N-terminal domain of the protein shows significant homology to the catalytic domain of other protein kinases from both prokaryotic and eukaryotic sources. It also contains all the structural features that are highly conserved in active protein kinases, including the Gly-X-Gly-X-X-Gly motif of ATP-binding and the essential amino acids known to be important for the recognition of the correct hydroxyamino acid in serine/threonine protein kinase. This protein kinase gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and was shown to have the ability of autophosphorylation. The autophosphorylated site was found to be the threonine at position 164 by labeled phosphoamino acid analysis and site-directed mutagenesis. The C-terminal half of protein kinase was found to contain strong transmembrane structures by PhoA fusion protein analysis, suggesting that Amk protein kinase is a transmembrane protein. A Southern hybridization experiment showed that this type of protein kinase is distributed ubiquitously and might play significant physiological roles in the various species of streptomycetes. However, overexpression of amk gene in Streptomyces cinnamonensis showed no effect on methylmalonyl-CoA mutase activity, monensin production and the hyphae morphology. Although its biological role is still unknown, Amk protein kinase is the first transmembrane serine/threonine protein kinase described for genus Amycolatopsis.     

The membrane-associated protein-serine/threonine kinase from Sulfolobus solfataricus is a glycoprotein

Treatment of a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain or blotting with Galanthus nivalis agglutinin revealed the presence of several glycosylated polypeptides in a partially purified detergent extract of the membrane fraction of Sulfolobus solfataricus. One of the glycoproteins comigrated with the membrane-associated protein-serine/threonine kinase from S. solfataricus, which had been radiolabeled by autophosphorylation with [(32)P]ATP in vitro. Treatment with a chemical deglycosylating agent, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, abolished PAS staining and reduced the M(r) of the protein kinase from approximately 67,000 to approximately 62,000. Protein kinase activity also adhered to, and could be eluted from, agarose beads containing bound G. nivalis agglutinin. Glycosylation of the protein kinase implies that at least a portion of this integral membrane protein resides on the external surface of the cell membrane.     

WNK1, a novel mammalian serine/threonine protein kinase lacking the catalytic lysine in subdomain II

We have cloned and characterized a novel mammalian serine/threonine protein kinase WNK1 (with no lysine (K)) from a rat brain cDNA library. WNK1 has 2126 amino acids and can be detected as a protein of approximately 230 kDa in various cell lines and rat tissues. WNK1 contains a small N-terminal domain followed by the kinase domain and a long C-terminal tail. The WNK1 kinase domain has the greatest similarity to the MEKK protein kinase family. However, overexpression of WNK1 in HEK293 cells exerts no detectable effect on the activity of known, co-transfected mitogen-activated protein kinases, suggesting that it belongs to a distinct pathway. WNK1 phosphorylates the exogenous substrate myelin basic protein as well as itself mostly on serine residues, confirming that it is a serine/threonine protein kinase. The demonstration of activity was striking because WNK1, and its homologs in other organisms lack the invariant catalytic lysine in subdomain II of protein kinases that is crucial for binding to ATP. A model of WNK1 using the structure of cAMP-dependent protein kinase suggests that lysine 233 in kinase subdomain I may provide this function. Mutation of this lysine residue to methionine eliminates WNK1 activity, consistent with the conclusion that it is required for catalysis. This distinct organization of catalytic residues indicates that WNK1 belongs to a novel family of serine/threonine protein kinases.     

cDNA cloning of a novel cdc2+/CDC28-related protein kinase from rice

A cDNA clone, named R2, has been isolated by screening a rice cell cDNA library with a redundant oligonucleotide probe derived from the conserved ATP binding site of cdc2+/CDC28 protein kinases. The cDNA contained the entire coding sequence for a 424 amino acid polypeptide with a molecular mass of 47.6 kDa. The R2 mRNA, 2.1 kb in size, was expressed in both cultured rice cells and rice seedlings at similar levels. The predicted R2 protein has canonical motifs for ATP binding and catalysis, and is significantly homologous (up to 47%) to members of the cdc2+/CDC28 subfamily of serine/threonine protein kinase. The R2 protein is a novel member of the subfamily.     

Phosphorylation of varicella-zoster virus open reading frame (ORF) 62 regulatory product by viral ORF 47-associated protein kinase.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes within its unique long region a gene product with protein kinase motifs. In a previous study, we demonstrated that immunoprecipitated VZV open reading frame (ORF) 47 protein was associated with a functional protein kinase activity, on the basis of its ability to both autophosphorylate and phosphorylate artificial substrates. To further define potential substrates of ORF 47-associated protein kinase, we analyzed individual viral phosphoproteins to determine whether any were modified by the viral protein kinase. These candidates included gene products of VZV ORFs 4, 61, 62, and 63, which are homologs of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) immediate-early proteins. Each of the above VZV proteins was coimmunoprecipitated with ORF 47 kinase, and the immune complex was incubated in a protein kinase assay. Under these conditions, only the VZV immediate-early ORF 62 protein was phosphorylated by ORF 47-associated protein kinase. The specificity of this phosphorylation event was analyzed by a competition assay in which a recombinant ORF 47 protein lacking enzymatic activity was able to reduce the amount of phosphorylation of ORF 62 protein by VZV ORF 47-associated kinase. To provide an additional evaluation of specificity, the experiment was repeated with [32P]GTP instead of [32P]ATP, because the VZV ORF 47 kinase has the distinctive property of using GTP as a phosphate donor. Again the ORF 62 substrate was phosphorylated. In summary, the VZV ORF 47-associated protein kinase (the HSV-1 UL13 homolog) catalyzed the in vitro phosphorylation of the VZV ORF 62 protein, the homolog of the HSV-1 ICP4 regulatory protein.     

Endgoenous protein kinase in outer plasma membrane of cultured 3T3 cells. Nature of the membrane-bound substrate and effect of cell density, serum addition, and oncogenic transformation.

Endogenous protein kinase activity was detected in the outer plasma membrane of 373 and SV40 transformed 3T3 cells. When intact cells were incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP, there was a transfer of [32P]phosphate into an acid-insoluble product. The reaction was: (a) linear as a function of time (up to 30 min), (b) proportional to the number of cells present and (c) dependent on temperature and Mg2+ concentration. The acid-insoluble product was susceptible to pronase but not RNase or DNase. More specifically, phosphomonoester bonds to serine and threonine were identified. There was less than 3% hydrolysis of the [gamma-32P]ATP during the reaction; moreover, free [32P]phosphate failed to substitute for the ATP. The reaction product was located on the cell surface, as evidenced by the fact that it could be removed by mild trypsin treatment of intact 3T3 cells. Further evidence for the surface location of the kinase was shown by its activity in phosphorlating exogenous substrate, histone, and phosvitin. The level of phosphorylation increased by 2- to 4-fold prior to the start of S phase when quiescent 3T3 cells were stimulated to reinitiate growth by the addition of serum. The SV40 3T3 cells had from 5- to 10-fold more activity per cell than the quiescent 3T3 cells. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and radioautography show at least 25 phosphorylated proteins; the surface label pattern of 3T3 cells differs from that of SV40-transformed 3T3 cells.     

A low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803: enzymatic characterization and identification of its potential substrates

The predicted protein product of open reading frame slr0328 from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, SynPTP, possesses significant amino acid sequence similarity with known low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). To determine the functional properties of this hypothetical protein, open reading frame slr0328 was expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant protein, SynPTP, displayed its catalytic phosphatase activity towards several tyrosine, but not serine, phosphorylated exogenous protein substrates. The protein phosphatase activity of SynPTP was inhibited by sodium orthovanadate, a known inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatases, but not by okadaic acid, an inhibitor for many serine/threonine phosphatases. Kinetic analysis indicated that the K(m) and V(max) values for SynPTP towards p-nitrophenyl phosphate are similar to those of other known bacterial low molecular weight PTPs. Mutagenic alteration of the predicted catalytic cysteine of PTP, Cys(7), to serine abolished enzyme activity. Using a combination of immunodetection, mass spectrometric analysis and mutagenically altered Cys(7)SerAsp(125)Ala-SynPTP, we identified PsaD (photosystem I subunit II), CpcD (phycocyanin rod linker protein) and phycocyanin-α and -β subunits as possible endogenous substrates of SynPTP in this cyanobacterium. These results indicate that SynPTP might be involved in the regulation of photosynthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.     

cAMP-independent protein kinase from amphibian lens: identification, organ distribution and substrates of phosphorylation

Eye lens extracts of the frog Rana temporaria contain a cAMP-independent protein kinase which is quantitatively adsorbed on immobilized RNA at physiological salt concentrations. The enzyme activity is maximal in the lenticular cortex, medium in the epithelium and minimal in the lens nuclei. Crude preparations of RNA-binding protein kinase from the epithelium, cortex and nuclei of the eye lens were prepared by affinity chromatography on poly(U)-Sepharose. It was found that these preparations contain no active forms of phosphatases, ATPases or proteases which may interfere with the results of phosphorylation experiments on exogenous and endogenous substrates. The protein kinase under study catalyzes the binding of phosphate groups to threonine and serine residues in casein molecules, does not phosphorylate histones and utilizes GTP alongside with ATP as phosphate donors. Heparin and RNA used at low concentrations inhibit the protein kinase activity. The data obtained allow the identification of lenticular RNA-binding protein kinase(s) as a casein kinase type II. It was shown that incubation of RNA-binding proteins from epithelium and lenticular cortex with [gamma-32P]ATP results in the label incorporation into six to seven polypeptide chains with Mr of 27-130 kDa. Poly(U) and heparin inhibit the self-phosphorylation reaction, cAMP has no stimulating effect on this process, while Ca2+ ions inhibit the self-phosphorylation of RNA-binding proteins.     

Cellulose degradation by Sulfolobus solfataricus requires a cell-anchored endo-β-1-4-glucanase

A sequence encoding a putative extracellular endoglucanase (sso1354) was identified in the complete genome sequence of Sulfolobus solfataricus. The encoded protein shares signature motifs with members of glycoside hydrolases family 12. After an unsuccessful first attempt at cloning the full-length coding sequences in Escherichia coli, an active but unstable recombinant enzyme lacking a 27-residue N-terminal sequence was generated. This 27-amino-acid sequence shows significant similarity with corresponding regions in the sugar binding proteins AraS, GlcS, and TreS of S. solfataricus that are responsible for anchoring them to the plasma membrane. A strategy based on an effective vector/host genetic system for Sulfolobus and on expression control by the promoter of the S. solfataricus gene which encodes the glucose binding protein allowed production of the enzyme in sufficient quantities for study. In fact, the enzyme expressed in S. solfataricus was stable and highly thermoresistant and showed optimal activity at low pH and high temperature. The protein was detected mainly in the plasma membrane fraction, confirming the structural similarity to the sugar binding proteins. The results of the protein expression in the two different hosts showed that the SSO1354 enzyme is endowed with an endo-β-1-4-glucanase activity and specifically hydrolyzes cellulose. Moreover, it also shows significant but distinguishable specificity toward several other sugar polymers, such as lichenan, xylan, debranched arabinan, pachyman, and curdlan.