The small heat shock-related protein, HSP20, is phosphorylated on serine 16 during cyclic nucleotide-dependent relaxation

The small heat shock-related protein 20 (HSP20) is present in four isoforms in bovine carotid artery smooth muscles. Three of the isoforms are phosphorylated and one is not. Increases in the phosphorylation of two isoforms of HSP20 (isoform 3, pI 5.9; and 8, pI 5.7) are associated with cyclic nucleotide-dependent relaxation of bovine carotid artery smooth muscles. Increases in the phosphorylation of another isoform (isoform 4, pI 6.0) are associated with phorbol ester-induced contraction of bovine carotid artery smooth muscles. In this investigation we determined that isoforms 3 and 8 are phosphorylated on Ser16 of the HSP20 molecule during activation of cAMP-dependent signaling pathways. Phosphorylation state-specific antibodies produced against a peptide containing phosphorylated Ser16 recognized isoforms 3 and 8 but not isoform 4. In human vascular tissue, only isoform 3 is present. Incubation of transiently permeabilized strips of bovine carotid artery smooth muscle with synthetic peptides in which Ser16 is phosphorylated, inhibits contractile responses to high extracellular KCl and to serotonin. These data suggest that phosphorylation of HSP20 on Ser16 modulates cAMP-dependent vasorelaxation.     

Tropomyosin interacts with phosphorylated HSP27 in agonist-induced contraction of smooth muscle

Displacement of the contractile protein tropomyosin from actin filament exposes the myosin-binding sites on actin, resulting in actin-myosin interaction and muscle contraction. The objective of the present study was to better understand the interaction of tropomyosin with heat shock protein (HSP)27 in contraction of smooth muscle cells of the colon. We investigated the possibility of a direct protein-protein interaction of tropomyosin with HSP27 and the role of phosphorylated HSP27 in this interaction. Immunoprecipitation studies on rabbit smooth muscle cells indicate that upon acetylcholine-induced contraction tropomyosin shows increased association with HSP27 phosphorylated at Ser82 and Ser78. Transfection of smooth muscle cells with HSP27 phosphorylation mutants indicated that the association of tropomyosin with HSP27 could be affected by HSP27 phosphorylation. In vitro binding studies with glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged HSP27 mutant proteins show that tropomyosin has greater direct interaction to phosphomimic HSP27 mutant compared with wild-type and nonphosphomimic HSP27. Our data suggest that, in response to a contractile agonist, HSP27 undergoes a rapid phosphorylation that may strengthen its interaction with tropomyosin. acetylcholine; fusion proteins; serine     

Phosphorylated HSP27 essential for acetylcholine-induced association of RhoA with PKCalpha

Reorganization of the cytoskeleton and association of contractile proteins are important steps in modulating smooth muscle contraction. Heat shock protein (HSP) 27 has significant effects on actin cytoskeletal reorganization during smooth muscle contraction. We investigated the role of phosphorylated HSP27 in modulating acetylcholine-induced sustained contraction of smooth muscle cells from the rabbit colon by transfecting smooth muscle cells with phosphomimic (3D) or nonphosphomimic (3G) HSP27. In 3G cells, the initial peak contractile response at 30 s was inhibited by 25% (24.0 +/- 4.5% decrease in cell length, n = 4). The sustained contraction was greatly inhibited by 75% [9.3 +/-.9% decreases in cell length (n = 4)]. Furthermore, in 3D cells, translocation of both PKCalpha and of RhoA was greatly enhanced and resulted in a greater association of PKCalpha-RhoA in the membrane fraction. In 3G transfected cells, PKCalpha and RhoA failed to translocate in response to stimulation with acetylcholine, resulting in an inhibition of association of PKCalpha-RhoA in the membrane fraction. Studies using GST-RhoA fusion protein indicate that there is a direct association of RhoA with PKCalpha and with HSP27. The results suggest that phosphorylated HSP27 plays a crucial role in the maintenance of association of PKCalpha-RhoA in the membrane fraction and in the maintenance of acetylcholine-induced sustained contraction.     

HSP22, a new member of the small heat shock protein superfamily, interacts with mimic of phosphorylated HSP27 ((3D)HSP27)

Most of the members of the superfamily of mammalian small heat shock or stress proteins are abundant in muscles where they play a role in muscle function and maintenance of muscle integrity. One member of this protein superfamily, human HSP27, is rapidly phosphorylated on three serine residues (Ser(15), Ser(78), and Ser(82)) during cellular response to a number of extracellular factors. To understand better the role of HSP27, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen of a human heart cDNA library for HSP27-interacting proteins. By using the triple aspartate mutant, a mimic of phosphorylated HSP27, as "bait" construct, a protein with a molecular mass of 21.6 kDa was identified as an HSP27-binding protein. Sequence analysis revealed that this new protein shares an overall sequence identity of 33% with human HSP27. This protein also contains the alpha-crystallin domain in its C-terminal half, a hallmark of the superfamily of small stress proteins. Thus, the new protein itself is a member of this protein superfamily, and consequently we designated it HSP22. According to the two-hybrid data, HSP22 interacts preferentially with the triple aspartate form of HSP27 as compared with wild-type HSP27. HSP22 is expressed predominantly in muscles. In vitro, HSP22 is phosphorylated by protein kinase C (at residues Ser(14) and Thr(63)) and by p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (at residues Ser(27) and Thr(87)) but not by MAPKAPK-2.     

Reactive oxygen species-induced phosphorylation of p53 on serine 20 is mediated in part by polo-like kinase-3.

Upon exposure of cells to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) phosphorylation of p53 was rapidly induced in human fibroblast GM00637, and this phosphorylation occurred on serine 9, serine 15, serine 20, but not on serine 392. In addition, H(2)O(2)-induced phosphorylation of p53 was followed by induction of p21, suggesting functional activation of p53. Induction of phosphorylation of p53 on multiple serine residues by H(2)O(2) was caffeine-sensitive and blocked in ATM(-/-) cells. Polo-like kinase-3 (Plk3) activity was also activated upon H(2)O(2) treatment, and this activation was ATM-dependent. Recombinant His(6)-Plk3 phosphorylated glutathione S-transferase (GST)-p53 fusion protein but not GST alone. When phoshorylated in vitro by His(6)-Plk3, but not by the kinase-defective mutant His6-Plk3(K52R), GST-p53 was recognized by an antibody specifically to serine 20-phosphorylated p53, indicating that serine 20 is an in vitro target of Plk3. Also serine 20-phosphorylated p53 was coimmunoprecipitated with Plk3 in cells treated with H(2)O(2). Furthermore, although H(2)O(2) strongly induced serine 15 phosphorylation of p53, it failed to induce serine 20 phosphorylation in Plk3-dificient Daudi cells. Ectopic expression of a Plk3 dominant negative mutant, Plk3(K52R), in GM00637 cells suppressed H(2)O(2)-induced serine 20 phosphorylation. Taken together, our studies strongly suggest that the oxidative stress-induced activation of p53 is at least in part mediated by Plk3.     

Phosphorylation of the small heat shock-related protein, HSP20, in vascular smooth muscles is associated with changes in the macromolecular associations of HSP20

Cyclic nucleotide-dependent vasorelaxation is associated with increases in the phosphorylation of a small heat shock-related protein, HSP20. We hypothesized that phosphorylation of HSP20 in vascular smooth muscles is associated with alterations in the macromolecular associations of HSP20. Treatment of bovine carotid artery smooth muscles with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, led to increases in the phosphorylation of HSP20 and dissociation of macromolecular aggregates of HSP20. However, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and forskolin treatment of a muscle that is uniquely refractory to cyclic nucleotide-dependent vasorelaxation, human umbilical artery smooth muscle, did not result in increases in the phosphorylation of HSP20 or to dissociation of macromolecular aggregates. HSP20 can be phosphorylated in vitro by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in both carotid and umbilical arteries and this phosphorylation of HSP20 is associated with dissociation of macromolecular aggregates of HSP20. Activation of cyclic nucleotide-dependent signaling pathways does not lead to changes in the macromolecular associations of another small heat shock protein, HSP27. Interestingly, the myosin light chains (MLC20) are in similar fractions as the HSP20, and phosphorylation of HSP20 is associated with changes in the macromolecular associations of MLC20. These data suggest that increases in the phosphorylation of HSP20 are associated with changes in the macromolecular associations of HSP20. HSP20 may regulate vasorelaxation through a direct interaction with specific contractile regulatory proteins.     

Transduction of phosphorylated heat shock-related protein 20, HSP20, prevents vasospasm of human umbilical artery smooth muscle.

Activation of cyclic nucleotide-dependent signaling pathways inhibits agonist-induced contraction of most vascular smooth muscles except human umbilical artery smooth muscle (HUASM). This impaired vasorelaxation may contribute to complications associated with preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and preterm delivery. Cyclic nucleotide-dependent signaling pathways converge at the phosphorylation of the small heat shock-related protein HSP20, causing relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. We produced recombinant proteins containing a protein transduction domain linked to HSP20 (rTAT-HSP20). Pretreatment of HUASM with in vitro phosphorylated rTAT-HSP20 (rTAT-pHSP20) significantly inhibited serotonin-induced contraction, without a decrease in myosin light chain phosphorylation. rTAT-pHSP20 remained phosphorylated upon transduction into isolated HUASM as demonstrated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Transduction of peptide analogs of phospho-HSP20 containing the phosphorylation site on HSP20 and phosphatase-resistant mimics of the phosphorylation site (S16E) also inhibited HUASM contraction. These data suggest that impaired relaxation of HUASM may result from decreased levels of phosphorylated HSP20. Protein transduction can be used to restore intracellular expression levels and the associated physiological response. Transduction of posttranslationally modified substrate proteins represents a proteomic-based therapeutic approach that may be particularly useful when the expression of downstream substrate proteins is downregulated.     

The human T3 gamma chain is phosphorylated at serine 126 in response to T lymphocyte activation

The gamma subunit of the human T lymphocyte T3 antigen is rapidly phosphorylated on serine residues in vivo during the initiation of T cell activation by a polyclonal mitogen (Phaseolus vulgaris phytohemagglutinin), an activator of protein kinase C (phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate), and an elevator of intracellular calcium (ionomycin). The sites of phosphorylation were identified by comparing tryptic peptide analyses of T3 gamma chains labeled in vivo with various synthetic peptides, corresponding to portions of the cytoplasmic domain of the gamma chain that had been labeled in vitro using purified protein kinase C. Two sites, serines 123 and 126, were phosphorylated in response to ionomycin, whereas a single site, serine 126, was phosphorylated when T lymphocytes were stimulated by P. vulgaris phytohemagglutinin or when protein kinase C was directly activated by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Immune activation of T cells via the protein kinase C pathway thus induces phosphorylation of a single site on the T3 gamma chain, namely serine 126.     

T cell antigen receptor phosphorylation induced by an anti-receptor antibody

In previous studies we demonstrated that the antigen receptor complex on murine T cells is phosphorylated after antigen or mitogen activation. After the clonotypic structures bind antigen, the invariant subunits or CD3 molecules are the target of dual kinase activation. The antigen receptor CD3-gamma-chain subunit is phosphorylated on serine residues by activated protein kinase C and the p21 subunit is phosphorylated by a tyrosine kinase. Herein we demonstrate that another mechanism of receptor activation by the stimulatory monoclonal antibody 145-2C11, which binds the CD3-epsilon chain, results in a similar pattern of kinase activation and receptor phosphorylation.     

PI3-kinase/Akt modulates vascular smooth muscle tone via cAMP signaling pathways.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) activates protein kinase B (also known as Akt), which phosphorylates and activates a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B. Increases in cyclic nucleotide concentrations inhibit agonist-induced contraction of vascular smooth muscle. Thus we hypothesized that the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway may regulate vascular smooth muscle tone. In unstimulated, intact bovine carotid artery smooth muscle, the basal phosphorylation of Akt was higher than that in cultured smooth muscle cells. The phosphorylation of Akt decreases in a time-dependent manner when incubated with the PI3-kinase inhibitor, LY-294002. Agonist (serotonin)-, phorbol ester (phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate; PDBu)-, and depolarization (KCl)-induced contractions of vascular smooth muscles were all inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by LY-294002. However, LY-294002 did not inhibit serotonin- or PDBu-induced increases in myosin light chain phosphorylation or total O(2) consumption, suggesting that inhibition of contraction was not mediated by reversal or inhibition of the pathways that lead to smooth muscle activation and contraction. Treatment of vascular smooth muscle with LY-294002 increased the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and increased the phosphorylation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate heat shock protein 20 (HSP20). These data suggest that activation of the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in unstimulated smooth muscle may modulate vascular smooth muscle tone (allow agonist-induced contraction) through inhibition of the cyclic nucleotide/HSP20 pathway and suggest that cyclic nucleotide-dependent inhibition of contraction is dissociated from the myosin light chain contractile regulatory pathways.     

Caldesmon and heat shock protein 20 phosphorylation in nitroglycerin- and magnesium-induced relaxation of swine carotid artery

Nitrovasodilators, high extracellular Mg(2+), and some other relaxing agents can cause smooth muscle relaxation without reductions in myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) phosphorylation. Relaxations without MRLC dephosphorylation suggest that other regulatory systems, beyond MRLC phosphorylation, are present in smooth muscle. We tested whether changes in caldesmon phosphorylation, heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) phosphorylation, or intracellular pH (pH(i)) could be responsible for relaxation without MRLC dephosphorylation. In unstimulated tissues, caldesmon was phosphorylated 1.02+/-0.10 mol P(i)/mol caldesmon (mean+/-1 S.E.M.), HSP20 was phosphorylated 0.005+/-0.003 mol P(i)/mol HSP20, and estimated pH(i) was 7.21+/-0.07. Histamine stimulation induced a contraction, an intracellular acidosis, but did not significantly change caldesmon or HSP20 phosphorylation. Addition of nitroglycerin induced a relaxation, significantly increased HSP20 phosphorylation to 0.18+/-0.02 mol P(i)/mol HSP20, did not significantly change caldesmon phosphorylation, and pH(i) returned to near unstimulated values. Increase in extracellular Mg(2+) to 10 mM induced a relaxation, but did not significantly change HSP20 or caldesmon phosphorylation. These data suggest that changes in caldesmon phosphorylation, HSP20 phosphorylation, or pH(i) cannot be the sole explanation for relaxation without MRLC dephosphorylation. However, it is possible that HSP20 phosphorylation may be involved in nitroglycerin-induced relaxation without MRLC dephosphorylation.     

PRAK, a novel protein kinase regulated by the p38 MAP kinase.

We have identified and cloned a novel serine/ threonine kinase, p38-regulated/activated protein kinase (PRAK). PRAK is a 471 amino acid protein with 20-30% sequence identity to the known MAP kinase-regulated protein kinases RSK1/2/3, MNK1/2 and MAPKAP-K2/3. PRAK was found to be expressed in all human tissues and cell lines examined. In HeLa cells, PRAK was activated in response to cellular stress and proinflammatory cytokines. PRAK activity was regulated by p38alpha and p38beta both in vitro and in vivo and Thr182 was shown to be the regulatory phosphorylation site. Activated PRAK in turn phosphorylated small heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) at the physiologically relevant sites. An in-gel kinase assay demonstrated that PRAK is a major stress-activated kinase that can phosphorylate small heat shock protein, suggesting a potential role for PRAK in mediating stress-induced HSP27 phosphorylation in vivo.     

Attenuated phosphorylation of heat shock protein 27 correlates with tumor progression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is expressed at high levels in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We examined correlations of total HSP27 and serine phosphorylated (Ser-15, Ser-78, and Ser-82) HSP27 levels in HCC tissues with clinical and pathologic characteristics in 48 resected HCC specimens. The levels of total and Ser-phosphorylated HSP27 were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis of HSP27 expression was also performed on some samples. Phosphorylation of HSP27 was detected in all 48 HCC tissues. Levels of phosphorylated HSP27 were correlated inversely with tumor size, microvascular invasion of HCC, and tumor stage by TNM classification. In contrast, only microvascular invasion showed an inverse correlation with total HSP27 levels. The decrease in phosphorylated HSP27 in progressed HCC was also observed by immunohistochemistry. Levels of phosphorylated HSP27 gradually decreased in parallel with HCC progression. Our findings suggest that phosphorylated HSP27 may have a suppressive role in progression of human HCC.     

Phosphorylated Heat Shock Protein 20 (HSPB6) Regulates Transforming Growth Factor-α-Induced Migration and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major malignancies in the world. Small heat shock proteins (HSPs) are reported to play an important role in the regulation of a variety of cancer cell functions, and the functions of small HSPs are regulated by post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation. We previously reported that protein levels of a small HSP, HSP20 (HSPB6), decrease in vascular invasion positive HCC compared with those in the negative vascular invasion. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated whether HSP20 is implicated in HCC cell migration and the invasion using human HCC-derived HuH7 cells. The transforming growth factor (TGF)-α-induced migration and invasion were suppressed in the wild-type-HSP20 overexpressed cells in which phosphorylated HSP20 was detected. Phospho-mimic-HSP20 overexpression reduced the migration and invasion compared with unphosphorylated HSP20 overexpression. Dibutyryl cAMP, which enhanced the phosphorylation of wild-type-HSP20, significantly reduced the TGF-α-induced cell migration of wild-type HSP20 overexpressed cells. The TGF-α-induced cell migration was inhibited by SP600125, a c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) inhibitor. In phospho-mimic-HSP20 overexpressed HuH7 cells, TGF-α-stimulated JNK phosphorylation was suppressed compared with the unphosphorylated HSP20 overexpressed cells. Moreover, the level of phospho-HSP20 protein in human HCC tissues was significantly correlated with tumor invasion. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that phosphorylated HSP20 inhibits TGF-α-induced HCC cell migration and invasion via suppression of the JNK signaling pathway.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor induces heat shock protein (HSP) 27 serine 82 phosphorylation and endothelial tubulogenesis via protein kinase D and independent of p38 kinase

Proteomic analysis identified HSP27 phosphorylation as a major change in protein phosphorylation stimulated by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). VEGF-induced HSP27 phosphorylation at serines 15, 78 and 82, but whereas HSP27 phosphorylation induced by H2O2 and TNFalpha was completely blocked by the p38 kinase inhibitor, SB203580, VEGF-stimulated serine 82 phosphorylation was resistant to SB203580 and small interfering(si)RNA-mediated knockdown of p38 kinase and MAPKAPK2. The PKC inhibitor, GF109203X, partially reduced VEGF-induced HSP27 serine 82 phosphorylation, and SB203580 plus GF109203X abolished phosphorylation. VEGF activated Protein Kinase D (PKD) via PKC, and siRNAs targeted to PKD1 and PKD2 inhibited VEGF-induced HSP27 serine 82 phosphorylation. Furthermore recombinant PKD selectively phosphorylated HSP27 at serine 82 in vitro, and PKD2 activated by VEGF in HUVECs also phosphorylated HSP27 selectively at this site. Knockdown of HSP27 and PKDs markedly inhibited VEGF-induced HUVEC migration and tubulogenesis, whereas inhibition of the p38 kinase pathway using either SB203580 or siRNAs against p38alpha or MAPKAPK2, had no significant effect on the chemotactic response to VEGF. These findings identify a novel pathway for VEGF-induced HSP27 serine 82 phosphorylation via PKC-mediated PKD activation and direct phosphorylation of HSP27 by PKD, and show that PKDs and HSP27 play major roles in the angiogenic response to VEGF.     

Factor Xa Inhibitor Suppresses the Release of Phosphorylated HSP27 from Collagen-Stimulated Human Platelets: Inhibition of HSP27 Phosphorylation via p44/p42 MAP Kinase

Selective inhibitors of factor Xa (FXa) are widely recognized as useful therapeutic tools for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation or venous thrombosis. Thrombin, which is rapidly generated from pro-thrombin through the activation of factor X to FXa, acts as a potent activator of human platelets. Thus, the reduction of thrombin generation by FXa inhibitor eventually causes a suppressive effect on platelet aggregation. However, little is known whether FXa inhibitors directly affect the function of human platelets. We have previously reported that collagen induces the phosphorylation of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), a low-molecular weight heat shock protein via Rac-dependent activation of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in human platelets, eventually resulting in the release of HSP27. In the present study, we investigated the direct effect of FXa inhibitor on the collagen-induced human platelet activation. Rivaroxaban as well as edoxaban significantly reduced the collagen-induced phosphorylation of both HSP27 and p44/p42 MAP kinase without affecting the platelet aggregation. Rivaroxaban significantly inhibited the release of phosphorylated HSP27 from collagen-stimulated platelets but not the secretion of platelet derived growth factor-AB. In patients administrated with rivaroxaban, the collagen-induced levels of phosphorylated HSP27 were markedly diminished after 2 days of administration, which failed to affect the platelet aggregation. These results strongly suggest that FXa inhibitor reduces the collagen-stimulated release of phosphorylated HSP27 from human platelets due to the inhibition of HSP27 phosphorylation via p44/p42 MAP kinase.     

Phosphorylation of the human interleukin-2 receptor and a synthetic peptide identical to its C-terminal, cytoplasmic domain

The recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor was expressed in mouse mammary epithelial cells following the transfection of these cells with an expression vector containing the human IL-2 receptor cDNA. The recombinant IL-2 receptor in these cells was rapidly phosphorylated in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), but its phosphorylation could not be detected in the absence of PMA or upon addition of human IL-2. The C-terminal, cytoplasmic peptide domain of the IL-2 receptor, Gln-Arg-Arg-Gln-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg-Thr-Ile, was synthesized and used as a substrate for protein kinase C. The Km for phosphorylation of the peptide by protein kinase C was 23 microM. The stoichiometry of phosphorylation was 1 mol of phosphate/mol of peptide and serine was the predominant amino acid phosphorylated. Because this peptide was a good substrate for protein kinase C in vitro, it was possible that the same serine (serine 247) was also phosphorylated in the receptor in the cell. The IL-2 receptor gene in the expression vector was therefore altered by site-directed mutagenesis to code for an IL-2 receptor containing an alanine in the place of serine 247. The IL-2 receptor expressed by these cells was not phosphorylated in the presence of PMA. These data suggest that protein kinase C, in response to PMA, phosphorylates the C-terminal serine residue (serine 247) in the human IL-2 receptor.     

Suppression by heat shock protein 20 of hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation via inhibition of the mitogen‐activated protein kinases and AKT pathways

Heat shock protein (HSP) 20, one of the low‐molecular weight HSPs, is known to have versatile functions, such as vasorelaxation. However, its precise role in cancer proliferation remains to be elucidated. While HSP20 is constitutively expressed in various tissues including the liver, we have previously reported that HSP20 protein levels in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells inversely correlate with the progression of HCC. In this study, we investigated the role of HSP20 in HCC proliferation. The activities of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), c‐jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), and AKT were negatively correlated with the HSP20 protein levels in human HCC tissues. Since HSP20 proteins were hardly detected in HCC‐derived cell lines, the effects of HSP20 expression were evaluated using human HCC‐derived HuH7 cells that were stably transfected with wild‐type human HSP20 (HSP20 overexpressing cells). In HSP20 overexpressing cells, cell proliferation was retarded, and the activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways, including the ERK and JNK, and AKT pathways, as well as cyclin D1 accumulation induced by either transforming growth factor‐α (TGFα) or hepatocyte growth factor, were significantly suppressed compared with the empty vector‐transfected cells (control cells). Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that HSP20 suppresses the growth of HCC cells via the MAPKs and AKT signaling pathways, thus suggesting that the HSP20 could be a new therapeutic target for HCC. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 3430–3439, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Protein kinase A blocks Raf-1 activity by stimulating 14-3-3 binding and blocking Raf-1 interaction with Ras

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) blocks Raf-1 activation by stimulating its phosphorylation on serine 43 (Ser43), serine 233 (Ser233), and serine 259 (Ser259). We show here that phosphorylation of all three sites blocks Raf-1 binding to Ras.GTP in vivo and that cAMP stimulates binding of 14-3-3 proteins to Ser233 and Ser259. We also show that Raf-1 and protein kinase A (PKA) form a complex in vivo that is disrupted by cAMP and that ablation of PKA by use of small interfering RNA blocks phosphorylation by cAMP. The ability of PKA to block Raf-1 activation is ablated by the PKA inhibitor H89. These studies suggest that Raf-1 and cAMP form a signaling complex in cells. Upon activation of PKA, Raf-1 is phosphorylated and 14-3-3 binds, blocking Raf-1 recruitment to the plasma membrane and preventing its activation.