Light-Induced CREB Phosphorylation and Gene Expression in Rat Retinal Cells

Abstract: The signal pathway for light-induced expression of c- fos and the neuropeptide somatostatin (SS) in rat retinal cells was investigated. Flashing light induced c- fos and SS mRNA in the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer. As both c- fos and SS genes have a cyclic AMP response element (CRE) in their promoters, CRE-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation in retinal cells was examined with a phospho-CREB-specific antibody. Both flashing light and administration of the L-type Ca²⁺ channel activator Bay K 8644 induced phosphorylation of CREB in the nuclei of the amacrine cells and the ganglion cells where c- fos /SS mRNAs were expressed. These cells could be double-stained with anti-calmodulin kinase II (anti-CaM kinase II) monoclonal antibody and phospho-CREB-specific polyclonal antiserum after Bay K 8644 administration, indicating the colocalization of phosphorylated CREB at Ser¹³³ and CaM kinase II in the neural retina.     

Adrenalectomy Potentiates Immediate Early Gene Expression in Rat Brain

Administration of kainate or pentylenetetrazole increased c-fos, c-jun, junB, and junD mRNA levels in rat brain in a dose-dependent manner. Kainate increased these mRNA levels predominantly in the hippocampus, and pentylenetetrazole was more effective in the cortex. Adrenalectomy (3 days) was used to eliminate endogenous glucocorticoid hormones. Adrenalectomy significantly potentiated kainate-induced increases, compared with increases caused by kainate (4 mg/kg) alone, in the hippocampal mRNA levels of c-fos and junB by 6.5-fold and of junD by twofold and tended to augment c-jun mRNA. Corticosterone administration blocked the potentiated stimulation of these mRNA levels caused by adrenalectomy. Adrenalectomy also significantly increased pentylenetetrazole-induced levels of c-fos mRNA in the cortex. These results demonstrate that glucocorticoids modulate immediate early gene expression in the brain, raising the possibility that this interaction contributes to interneuronal and interindividual differences in responses to stimuli and to the effects of stress- or disease-induced changes in glucocorticoid concentrations.     

Integrin Signaling: Cytoskeletal Complexes,MAP Kinase Activation,and Regulation of Gene Expression

Members of the integrin family of adhesion receptors mediate interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix. Besides their role in tissue morphogenesis by anchorage of cells to basement membranes and migration along extracellular matrix proteins, integrins are thought to play a key role in mediating the control of gene expression by the extracellular matrix. Studies over the past 10 years have shown that integrin-mediated cell adhesion can trigger signal transduction cascades involving translocation of proteins and protein tyrosine phosphorylation events. In this review, we discuss approaches used in our lab to study early events in integrin signalling as well as further downstream changes.     

p38 MAP Kinase Regulation of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation with CREB as a Potential Target

Despite a substantial understanding of the factors regulating oligodendrocyte differentiation, the signaling mechanisms involved in this process are not well-understood. This study elaborates on the findings (Bhat NR, Zhang P (1997) FASEB J 11:A925; Baron W, Metz B, Bansal R, Hoekstra D, de Vries H (2000) Mol Cell Neurosci 15:314–329) of a role for p38 MAP kinase signaling in oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin gene expression. When proliferating oligodendrocyte progenitors were switched to a growth factor-free differentiation medium, there was a rapid activation of p38 kinase that correlated with an increased phosphorylation of CREB, a down-stream target and a factor involved in oligodendrocyte differentiation. Addition of forskolin, a known inducer of intracellular c-AMP and of oligodendrocyte differentiation, also stimulated CREB phosphorylation in a p38 kinase dependent way. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 interfered with the morphological and antigenic changes associated with differentiating oligodendrocytes as well as with the developmental and forskolin-induced expression of myelin basic protein, thereby supporting an essential role for p38 MAPK pathway in oligodendrocyte differentiation. Special issue dedicated to Anthony Campagnoni.     

Phosphorylation and Stabilization of Arabidopsis MAP Kinase Phosphatase 1 in Response to UV-B Stress

MAP kinase phosphatases (MKPs) are important regulators of the activation levels and kinetics of MAP kinases. This is crucial for a large number of physiological processes during development and growth, as well as interactions with the environment, including the response to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) stress. Arabidopsis MKP1 is a key regulator of MAP kinases MPK3 and MPK6 in response to UV-B stress. However, virtually nothing is presently known about the post-translational regulation of plant MKPs in vivo. Here, we provide evidence that MKP1 is a phosphoprotein in vivo and that MKP1 accumulates in response to UV-B stress. Moreover, proteasome inhibitor experiments suggest that MKP1 is constantly turned-over under non-stress conditions and that MKP1 is stabilized upon stress treatment. Stress-responsive phosphorylation and stabilization of MKP1 demonstrate the post-translational regulation of a plant MKP in vivo, adding an additional regulatory layer to MAP kinase signaling in plants.     

Soluble Collagen VI Induces Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Paxillin and Focal Adhesion Kinase and Activates the MAP Kinase Erk2 in Fibroblasts

Signals from the extracellular matrix can modulate cellular differentiation and gene expression. We have shown previously that in contrast to other extracellular matrix molecules pepsin-solubilized collagen VI (CVI) can stimulate DNA synthesis of various mesenchymal cell types, apparently independent of integrin-mediated signal transduction. In order to further elucidate collagen VI-induced signaling events, we exposed mouse 3T3 fibroblasts and human HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells to soluble CVI. CVI induced tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins that associate with focal adhesions, such as paxillin, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and p130CAS. Furthermore, it activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase, erk2. Kinetic analysis showed that these phosphorylations were transient, reaching a maximum after 5 min for transformed HT1080 cells and 30 min for 3T3 fibroblasts. These effects were partly inhibited by a beta1-integrin function blocking antibody and by single chains of CVI. Our results indicate that soluble fragments of native collagen VI, a ubiquitous component of the interstitial extracellular matrix, can mediate stimulation of DNA synthesis via tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, FAK, p130CAS, and erk2 in the absence of classical growth factors. Thus, CVI may serve as a matrix-derived sensor that allows for rapid reconstitution of a tissue defect by activating nearby mesenchymal cells.     

电针刺激下即刻早期基因和前脑啡肽基因在中枢神经系统中的表达及定位研究

采用免疫组织化学、Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交与原位杂交等方法,观察到２／１５Ｈｚ电针刺激可诱导大鼠中枢神经系统内即刻早期基因ｃ－ｆｏｓ、ｃ－ｊｕｎ的ｍＲＮＡ与免疫阳性物质以及前脑啡肽ｍＲＮＡ的生成。Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交显示,电针在１－２ｈ内引起即刻早期基因ｃ－ｆｏｓｍＲＮＡ的表达,继之以ＰＥＮＫ ｍＲＮＡ的表达,在４８ｈ内方达顶点;形态学结果表明,电针诱导ｃ－ｆｏｓ、ｃ－ｊｕｎ与ＰＥＮＫ ｍＲＮＡ及其蛋     

Phosphorylation of MAP kinases by MAP/ERK involves multiple regions of MAP kinases.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are activated with great specificity by MAP/ERK kinases (MEKs). The basis for the specific activation is not understood. In this study chimeras composed of two MAP kinases, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 2 and p38, were assayed in vitro for phosphorylation and activation by different MEK isoforms to probe the requirements for productive interaction of MAP kinases with MEKs. Experimental results and modeling support the conclusion that the specificity of MEK/MAP kinase phosphorylation results from multiple contacts, including surfaces in both the N- and C-terminal domains.     

CREB4基因的表达谱分析和功能初步研究

cAMP反应元件结合蛋白(cAMPresponseelement-bindingproteins,CREB)是一个哺乳动物转录因子家族,通过cAMP反应元件(cAMPresponseelement,CRE)介导cAMP和钙离子依赖性基因表达。CREB4是CREB转录家族的新成员。人肿瘤MTCpanel结果显示,CREB4在人肺癌LX-1、结肠腺癌CX-1、前列腺癌PC-3、结肠癌G1-112和胰腺癌G1-103中有表达。构建表达CREB4-LexA和CREB215~395aa-LexA的pLexA融合质粒分别转化含p8opLacZ报告质粒的酵母EGY48菌株,诱导表达后发现CREB4蛋白为转录激活因子,N端决定其转录激活活性。亚细胞定位结果显示,全长CREB4蛋白定位于细胞质,而缺失C端假定转膜结构域的CREB41~275aa蛋白突变体则转移至细胞核内。表达谱结果显示CREB4蛋白可能在人多种肿瘤组织的基因表达调控中起作用,其C端假定的转膜结构域与其转录激活功能密切相关。