The PIM-2 kinase phosphorylates BAD on serine 112 and reverses BAD-induced cell death

Hematopoietic growth factors mediate the survival and proliferation of blood-forming cells, but the mechanisms through which these proteins produce their effects are incompletely known. Recent studies have identified the pim family of kinases as mediators of cytokine-dependent survival signals. Several studies have identified substrates for the pim-1 kinase, but little is known about the other family members, pim-2 and pim-3. We have investigated potential functions for the pim-2 kinase in factor-dependent murine hematopoietic cells. We find that pim-2 mRNA and protein expression are regulated by cytokines similarly to pim-1. Three PIM-2 protein isoforms are produced in cytokine-treated cells. All three forms are active kinases, and the short (PIM-2(34 kDa)) form is the most active at enhancing survival of FDCP1 cells after cytokine withdrawal. This pro-survival function involves inhibition of apoptosis and caspase activation. Enforced expression of PIM-2(34 kDa) kinase does not appear to regulate expression of BCL-2, BCL-xL, BIM, or BAX proteins. However, the kinase can phosphorylate the pro-apoptotic protein BAD on serine 112, which accounts in part for its ability to reverse Bad-induced cell death. Our results indicate that pim-2 functions similarly to pim-1 as a pro-survival kinase and suggest that BAD is a legitimate PIM-2 substrate.     

Depletion of the cap-associated isoform of translation factor eIF4G induces germline apoptosis in C. elegans

During mammalian programmed cell death, cleavage of the translation initiation factor 4G proteins (eIF4GI and eIF4GII) by caspase-3 induces the cap-independent synthesis of pro-apoptotic proteins. Apoptosis occurs naturally in the gonad to remove germ cells that are not selected to grow as oocytes and mature into eggs. Here, we describe two major isoforms of Caenorhabditis elegans eIF4G that are derived from a single gene (ifg-1) and their separate roles in germline homeostasis. Full length IFG-1 protein (170 kDa isoform) differs from the shorter isoform (130 kDa) by the inclusion of the N-terminal domain containing the putative eIF4E-binding site required for mRNA cap recognition. Depletion of the cap-associated p170 isoform induced CED-4 expression in oocytes and markedly increased germline apoptotic events, but did not prevent early mitotic germ cell proliferation. Loss of both p170 and p130 suppressed germ cell proliferation and arrested larval development. Evidence suggests that eIF4G isoforms are differentially utilized during oogenesis to regulate germ cell apoptosis. We propose that an alternative mechanism to eIF4G cleavage may be employed in germ cells by changing the availability of the p170 isoform.     

Marked structural and functional heterogeneity in CXCR4: separation of HIV-1 and SDF-1alpha responses

CXCR4, the chemotactic cell receptor for SDF-1alpha, is essential for immune trafficking and HIV infection. CXCR4 is remarkably heterogeneous and the purpose of this study was to better identify the isoforms expressed by cells and compare their structure and function. We found that cells express either a predominant isoform or multiple isoforms. These were best resolved on SDS-PAGE using sucrose-gradient-fractionated, triton-insoluble, membrane extracts. We hypothesized that glycosyl modification may underpin some of this heterogeneity and that cell isoform(s) differences may underscore CXCR4's multiple cell functions. A comparison of wild-type (WT) and dual N-linked glycosylation site, N11A/N176A, mutant CXCR4 expressed in 3T3 and HEK-293 cells served to implicate variabilities in glycosylation and oligomerization in almost half of the isoforms. Immunoprecipitation of CXCR4 revealed monomer and dimer non-glycosylated forms of 34 kDa and 68 kDa from the N11A/N176A mutant, compared with glycosylated 40 kDa and 47 kDa and 73 kDa and 80 kDa forms from WT. The functional specificity of isoform action was also implicated because, despite CEMT4 cells expressing high levels of CXCR4 and 11 different isoforms, a single 83 kDa form was found to bind gp120 for HIV-1 IIIB infection. Furthermore, comparative studies found that in contrast to SDF-1alpha-responsive Nalm-6 cells that expressed similar levels of a single isoform, CEMT4 cells did not show a Ca(++) flux or a chemotactic response to SDF-1alpha. Thus, CXCR4 can differ both structurally and functionally between cells, with HIV-1 infection and chemotaxis apparently mediated by different isoforms. This separation of structure and function has implications for understanding HIV-1 entry and SDF-1alpha responses and may indicate therapeutic possibilities.     

Interaction of nucleoredoxin with protein phosphatase 2A

A trimeric protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A(T55)) composed of the catalytic (PP2Ac), structural (PR65/A), and regulatory (PR55/B) subunits was isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle by thiophosphorylase affinity chromatography, and contained two additional proteins of 54 and 55 kDa, respectively. The 54 kDa protein was identified as eukaryotic translation termination factor 1 (eRF1) and as a PP2A interacting protein. The 55 kDa protein is now identified as nucleoredoxin (NRX). The formation of a complex between GST-NRX, PP2A(C) and PP2A(D) was demonstrated by pull-down experiments with purified forms of PP2A, and by immunoprecipitation of HA-tagged NRX expressed in HEK293 cells complexed endogenous PP2A subunits. Analysis of PP2A activity in the presence of GST-NRX showed that NRX competed with polycations for both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on different forms of PP2A.     

Human CD180 Transmits Signals via the PIM-1L Kinase

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important sensors of the innate immune system that recognize conserved structural motifs and activate cells via a downstream signaling cascade. The CD180/MD1 molecular complex is an unusual member of the TLR family, since it lacks the components that are normally required for signal transduction by other TLRs. Therefore the CD180/MD 1 complex has been considered of being incapable of independently initiating cellular signals. Using chemogenetic approaches we identified specifically the membrane bound long form of PIM-1 kinase, PIM-1L as the mediator of CD180-dependent signaling. A dominant negative isoform of PIM-1L, but not of other PIM kinases, inhibited signaling elicited by cross-linking of CD180, and this effect was phenocopied by PIM inhibitors. PIM-1L was directed to the cell membrane by its N-terminal extension, where it colocalized and physically associated with CD180. Triggering CD180 also induced increased phosphorylation of the anti-apoptotic protein BAD in a PIM kinase-dependent fashion. Also in primary human B cells, which are the main cells expressing CD180 in man, cross-linking of CD180 by monoclonal antibodies stimulated cell survival and proliferation that was abrogated by specific inhibitors. By associating with PIM-1L, CD180 can thus obtain autonomous signaling capabilities, and this complex is then channeling inflammatory signals into B cell survival programs. Pharmacological inhibition of PIM-1 should therefore provide novel therapeutic options in diseases that respond to innate immune stimulation with subsequently increased B cell activity, such as lupus erythematosus or myasthenia gravis.     

Modulated kinase activities in cells undergoing tumour necrosis factor-induced apoptotic cell death

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) has a variety of cellular effects including apoptotic and necrotic cytotoxicity. TNF activates a range of kinases, but their role in cytotoxic mechanisms is unclear. HeLa cells expressing elevated type II 75 kDa TNF receptor (TNFR2) protein, analysed by flow cytometry and Western analysis, showed altered c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK; but not MAPK) protein content and activation. There was greater JNK activation, but reduced p38MAPK activation in dying cells compared to those still to enter TNF-induced apoptosis. Moreover, cells displaying more rapid apoptosis possess higher levels of type I 55 kDa TNFR1 receptor isoform, but less TNFR2. These findings reveal differential kinase activation in TNF-induced apoptotic death.     

Camptothecin induces p53-dependent and -independent apoptogenic signaling in melanoma cells

Various DNA-targeting agents may initiate p53-dependent as well as p53-independent response and subsequent apoptosis via alternative cellular systems which include for instance p73, caspase-2 or Bcl-2 family proteins. The scope of involvement of individual molecules in this process and the mechanisms governing their potential interplay are still not entirely understood, in particular in highly aggressive cancers such as in malignant melanoma. In this work we investigated the role and involvement of both p53-dependent and -independent mechanisms in selected melanoma cell lines with differing status of p53 using a model DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin (CPT). Here we report that CPT induced in Bowes melanoma cells apoptosis which is essentially p53 and mitochondria-dependent but with some involvement of caspase-2 and p73. Conversely, in mutant p53 melanoma cells overall levels of CPT-induced apoptosis are significantly lower, with p73 and caspase-2 signaling playing important roles. In addition, in these cells the expression of micro RNAs family 34 (miR-34) were low compared to wild-type p53 cells. The ectopic expression of wild type p53 than restored apoptotic response of cells to CPT despite the fact that the expression of miR-34 and miR-155 were not influenced. These results suggest that CPT induces multivariate cellular stress responses including activation of DNA-damage response-p53 pathway as well as p53-independent signaling and their mutual crosstalk play the decisive role in the efficient triggering of apoptosis in melanoma cells.     

A 43 kDa form of the GTP-binding protein Gi3 in human erythrocytes

Purified preparations of human erythrocyte G-proteins contain a 43 kDa pertussis toxin substrate which appears to be the alpha-subunit of a heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein. The 43 kDa protein is recognized by antisera that are sequence-specific for peptides encoding a sequence common to all 39-53 kDa G-protein alpha-subunits. G alpha o-specific antiserum did not recognize 43 or 40-41 kDa alpha-subunits. AS/6, which recognizes the alpha i proteins, recognized 43 kDa as well as 40-41 kDa proteins. Of the three antisera specific for individual members of the alpha i family, only the Gi3-specific antiserum recognized the 43 kDa erythrocyte G-protein. However, 40-41 kDa forms of all three alpha is are present. These observations indicate that human erythrocytes contain a novel 43 kDa form of Gi3.     

The role of PIM kinases in human and mouse CD4+ T cell activation and inflammatory bowel disease

PIM kinases are a family of three serine/threonine kinases expressed following T cell activation. Using potent selective small molecule antagonists of PIM-1/3 kinases, we demonstrate a potential role for these enzymes in naïve and effector CD4+ T cell activation. PIM-1/3 inhibition prevented CD4+ T cell proliferation by inducing a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest without affecting cellular survival. In the absence of PIM-1/3 kinase activity, naïve CD4+ T cells failed to fully differentiate into effector cells both in vitro and in vivo. Therapeutic dosing of a PIM-1/3 inhibitor was efficacious in a CD4+ T cell-mediated model of inflammatory bowel disease suggesting that PIM-1 and PIM-3 kinase activity contributes to sustained disease severity. These results demonstrate that PIM-1/3 kinases have an important role in CD4+ T cell responses and inhibition of this activity may provide a therapeutic benefit in T cell-mediated diseases.     

A pre-start checkpoint preventing mitosis in fission yeast acts independently of p34cdc2 tyrosine phosphorylation.

We have monitored the tyrosine (Y15) phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms of p34cdc2 from Schizosaccharomyces pombe as cells proceed through the cell cycle. Y15 is dephosphorylated in G1 before start and becomes phosphorylated only after cells pass start and enter late G1. This transition is associated with a switch from one checkpoint which restrains mitosis in pre-start G1, by a mechanism independent from Y15 phosphorylation, to a second checkpoint acting post-start during late G1 and S phase operating through Y15 phosphorylation. The pre-start checkpoint may act by preventing formation of the p34cdc2/p56cdc13 complex. The complex between Y15-phosphorylated p34cdc2 and p56cdc13 accumulates during S phase and G2, but the level generated is not solely dependent on the amount of p34cdc2 and p56cdc13 present in the cell. The extent of p56cdc13 breakdown at the end of mitosis may be determined by the amount complexed with p34cdc2. We have also shown that an insoluble form of p34cdc2 is associated with the progression of the cell through late G1 into S phase.     

Regulation of synthesis of p34cdc2 and its homologues and their relationship to p110Rb phosphorylation during cell cycle progression of normal human T cells.

In yeast, the protein kinase p34cdc2 plays a role in regulating both the G2 to M and G1 to S phase transitions. The discovery of multiple homologues of the protein in cells of higher eukaryotic organisms suggests that different cell cycle regulatory events may be performed by different kinases in such cells. Here, the synthesis and metabolism of the human forms of these proteins are described in a normal human cell type, peripheral blood T lymphocytes that have been stimulated to enter the cell cycle in vitro. Using a carboxyl-terminus antiserum specific for true p34cdc2, the protein could first be found in T cells at about 24 to 30 h after stimulation, just before the initiation of DNA synthesis. Three forms of the enzyme could be resolved by denaturing gel electrophoresis: an unphosphorylated form with an apparent molecular mass of 34,500 daltons and two phosphorylated derivatives. In cells synchronized at G2/M phase with nocodazole, p34 was almost entirely in the unphosphorylated form whereas the phosphorylated derivatives were more predominant in cultures arrested at the G1/S border with aphidicolin. The relationship of p34 synthesis to the phosphorylation of p110Rb, an event known to be associated with passage through late G1 and/or the G1/S phase transition, was also investigated. It was noted that p110Rb phosphorylation began before p34 synthesis first became detectable. Furthermore, it appeared that the two events could be largely uncoupled by treating cells with deferoxamine (10 microM), an iron chelating agent that arrests T cells at a point in late G1 phase but substantially before the G1 to S phase transition. Under these conditions, p110Rb phosphorylation was almost completely accomplished in the absence of significant p34 synthesis, a finding that suggests that most or all of p110 phosphorylation is performed by kinases other than p34. Because of this observation, extracts were next examined for p34-like molecules using an antibody against the so-called PSTAIRE domain found in all cdc2 homologues identified to date. A species of protein with a mobility slightly less than true p34 was found, even in resting T cells. Upon stimulation, this protein increased slightly in amount, and a second protein with a mobility greater than p34, a putative p33cdk2, was seen. Not only was the appearance of these proteins not inhibited by deferoxamine but they accumulated in cultures treated with the drug, suggesting that p33, and not p34, may be the G1 phase kinase for p110Rb.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

A novel isoform of prostate apoptosis response 4 (PAR-4) that co-distributes with F-actin and prevents apoptosis in neural stem cells

The elevated expression of prostate apoptosis response-4 (PAR-4) induces apoptosis in differentiating mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. In embryoid body (EB) cells and the E15.5 stage of embryonic mouse brain, PAR-4 is expressed as two isoforms (38 and 33 kDa). Using mouse EB-derived RNA as a template we have cloned and characterized a novel isoform of PAR-4 (PAR-4/p33) that lacks exon 3 and shows a bona fide splice junction of exons 2 and 4. The molecular mass for PAR-4/p33 is estimated to be 33 kDa, corresponding to the short form found in the EB cells and E15.5 mouse brain. The fluorescent fusion protein of PAR-4/p33 is mainly found in the cytosol and is co-distributed with F-actin filaments, while that of the 38 kDa full length PAR-4/p38 is predominantly translocated to the nucleus. In contrast to the full length PAR-4 (PAR-4/p38), ectopic expression of PAR-4/p33 does not result in the activation of caspase 3 and the induction of apoptosis. PAR-4/p33 forms a complex with PAR-4/p38, which inhibits its nuclear translocation and the induction of apoptosis. PAR-4/p33 is suggested to be a dominant negative isoform of PAR-4/p38 and may regulate PAR-4-dependent apoptosis.     

Sensitization of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells Harboring Mutated K-ras to Apoptosis

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating human malignancy and gain of functional mutations in K-ras oncogene is observed in 75%-90% of the patients. Studies have shown that oncogenic ras is not only able to promote cell growth or survival, but also apoptosis, depending upon circumstances. Using pancreatic cancer cell lines with or without expressing mutated K-ras, we demonstrated that the inhibition of endogenous PKC activity sensitized human pancreatic cancer cells (MIA and PANC-1) expressing mutated K-ras to apoptosis, which had no apoptotic effect on BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells that contain a normal Ras as well as human lung epithelial BAES-2B cells. In this apoptotic process, the level of ROS was increased and PUMA was upregulated in a p73-dependent fashion in MIA and PANC-1 cells. Subsequently, caspase-3 was cleaved. A full induction of apoptosis required the activation of both ROS- and p73-mediated pathways. The data suggest that PKC is a crucial factor that copes with aberrant K-ras to maintain the homeostasis of the pancreatic cancer cells harboring mutated K-ras. However, the suppression or loss of PKC disrupts the balance and initiates an apoptotic crisis, in which ROS and p73 appear the potential, key targets.