Mess1的结构分析和功能研究

Mess1是新近鉴定的 STE2 0家族的蛋白激酶 .对 Mess1的基因表达和蛋白功能进行研究 ,发现其 m RNA在鼠组织中广泛分布 ,但在不同细胞系中表达显著不同 ;结构分析表明 ,Mess1蛋白N端是保守的 STE2 0样激酶催化区 ,C端是高度亲水的酸性调节区 ,包含多个潜在的丝氨酸 /苏氨酸磷酸化调节位点 .哺乳动物细胞表达的 Mess1对 MBP显示出激酶活性 ,并发生自主磷酸化 .Mess1可被砷酸盐应激激活 ,但丝裂原 EGF刺激无活化效应 .表明 Mess1可能在蛋白磷酸化的早期过程中发挥作用 ,介导细胞对严重应激刺激引起的特异性反应 .     

Messl的结构分析和功能研究

Messl是新近鉴定的STE20家族的蛋白激酶.对Messl的基因表达和蛋白功能进行研究,发现其mRNA在鼠组织中广泛分布,但在不同细胞系中表达显著不同;结构分析表明,MeSSl蛋白N端是保守的STE20样激酶催化区,C端是高度亲水的酸性调节区,包含多个潜在的丝氨酸/苏氨酸磷酸化调节位点.哺乳动物细胞表达的MeSSl对MBP显示出激酶活性,并发生自主磷酸化.essl可被砷酸盐应激激活,但丝裂原EGF刺激无活化效应.表明Messl可能在蛋白磷酸化的早期过程中发挥作用,介导细胞对严重应激刺激引起的特异性反应.     

一个新的鼠STE20家族激酶的克隆和鉴定

从鼠肝cDNA文库克隆了一个新的STE20类蛋白激酶,Mess1.其cDNA长1.7 kb,编码了一个497个氨基酸残基的多肽,与人MST2具有95%的氨基酸相同.Mess1蛋白氨基末端激酶催化区的序列与STE20同源,其羧基末端包含了一簇丝氨酸/苏氨酸和谷氨酸丰富的序列,被认为具有介导与SH2功能区结合的作用.MESS1可能通过与含有SH2功能区的蛋白质相互作用参与细胞内信号转导.     

CDKs和CKIs在胃癌细胞周期调控中的相关性

研究 CDKs和 CKIs在调节胃癌细胞周期进程中的作用表明 ,全反式视黄酸 ( ATRA)通过诱导细胞滞留在 G1/G0 期而抑制胃癌细胞生长 .Western blot分析显示 ,ATRA可上调 p2 1 waf1/ cip1的表达 ,而抑制 p1 6ink4 的表达 .免疫沉淀及活性测定表明 ,CDK2 激酶活性可被 ATRA抑制 ,而CDK4 活性先被诱导上升 ,2 4 h后逐渐下降 .另外 ,ATRA可以调节 Rb蛋白的磷酸化和 c- myc蛋白的表达 .由此证实 ,ATRA诱导胃癌细胞滞留于 G1/G0 期与其上调 p2 1 waf1/ cip1的表达和抑制CDK2 和 CDK4 激酶活性 ,进而抑制 Rb蛋白的磷酸化和 c- myc的表达有关 . Rb蛋白是 ATRA抑制胃癌细胞生长的下游调节因子 .另外 ,p1 6ink4 的功能在胃癌细胞中可能丧失 .     

复制阻滞应激引发的Artemis蛋白磷酸化调控细胞周期蛋白E的稳定性

Artemis是1个具有多种生物学功能的磷酸化蛋白,它在基因毒性应激引发的细胞周期检测点调控中起重要作用,但其调控机制知之甚少.为了探讨UVC等DNA复制阻滞应激引发的Artemis磷酸化及蛋白表达水平对细胞周期蛋白E的调控作用和调控机制.首先以Western印迹方法检测Artemis S516-645A突变细胞和Artemis表达降低细胞的细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平,发现ArtemisS516-645A突变细胞和多种Artemis siRNA转染细胞的细胞周期蛋白E表达水平均高于对照细胞.在此基础上,为分析细胞周期蛋白E表达受调控的分子机制,在稳定表达各种磷酸化状态Artemis的HEK-293细胞中导入外源性启动子转录驱动的细胞周期蛋白E表达质粒,发现表达Artemis S516-645A突变体的细胞中外源性的细胞周期蛋白E蛋白表达水平也高于野生型细胞.进一步的研究发现在Artemis蛋白表达降低的细胞中与泛素结合的细胞周期蛋白E减少而蛋白稳定性增加.本研究还发现Artemis蛋白对细胞周期蛋白E的调控过程是不依赖于p53和p21表达的.这些结果表明,Artemis S516-645A突变和Artemis表...     

复制阻滞应激引发的ARTEMIS蛋白磷酸化调控CYCLIN E蛋白的稳定性

Artemis是1个具有多种生物学功能的磷酸化蛋白,它在基因毒性应激引发的细胞周期检测点调控中起重要作用,但其调控机制知之甚少.为了探讨UVC等DNA复制阻滞应激引发的Artemis磷酸化及蛋白表达水平对细胞周期蛋白 E的调控作用和调控机制.首先以Western印迹方法检测Artemis S516-645A突变细胞和Artemis表达降低细胞的细胞周期蛋白E的表达水平,发现ArtemisS516-645A突变细胞和多种Artemis siRNA转染细胞的细胞周期蛋白E表达水平均高于对照细胞.在此基础上,为分析细胞周期蛋白E表达受调控的分子机制,在稳定表达各种磷酸化状态Artemis的HEK-293细胞中导入外源性启动子转录驱动的细胞周期蛋白E表达质粒,发现表达Artemis S516-645A突变体的细胞中外源性的细胞周期蛋白E蛋白表达水平也高于野生型细胞.进一步的研究发现在Artemis蛋白表达降低的细胞中与泛素结合的细胞周期蛋白E减少而蛋白稳定性增加.本研究还发现Artemis蛋白对细胞周期蛋白E的调控过程是不依赖于p53和p21表达的.这些结果表明,Artemis S516-645A突变和Artemis表达降低都可以引起细胞周期蛋白E蛋白水平升高,该调控作用是在转录后水平发生的,可能是干扰了细胞周期蛋白E的泛素化介导的蛋白降解过程,并且该调控作用是独立于p53-p21信号通路的.     

过表达Grx1抑制HEK293T细胞中H2O2诱导的p38MAPK信号通路

谷氧还蛋白1(glutaredoxin1, Grx1)是细胞内一种重要的巯基-二硫键氧化还原酶,在细胞内氧化还原状态的调控及抵抗氧化应激损伤过程中发挥重要作用.为进一步探讨Grx1的抗氧化机制,本实验将重组质粒pcDNA3.1(+)-hGrx1瞬时转染HEK293T细胞,经RT-PCR和Western印迹验证,细胞转染后实现了Grx1的过表达;以不同浓度H2O2为损伤因素,建立细胞氧化应激模型,检测过表达Grx1后细胞存活率,丙二醛(MDA)含量,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)漏出率的变化,观察过表达Grx1后细胞的抗氧化能力;用终浓度100μmol/L H2O2作用于细胞,利用Western印迹检测120min内HEK293T细胞中p38MAPK磷酸化水平.实验结果表明,HEK293T细胞过表达Grx1后,缓解了细胞的氧化应激损伤;转染空载体组细胞p38MAPK磷酸化水平在H2O2刺激后5min开始升高,15min达到最高值,并可维持至120min左右;而过表达Grx1组细胞p38MAPK磷酸化水平在H2O2刺激后各时间段没有明显改变,提示Grx1通过抑制H2O2诱导的p38MAPK信号通路激活发挥其抗氧化作用.     

VASP在切应力诱导的内皮细胞骨架重排中的变化

目的:探讨不同强度的稳定层流切应力对内皮细胞骨架肌动蛋白相关蛋白VASP表达、磷酸化和分布影响规律及其机制.方法:采用平行板流动腔模型,刺激培养HUVECs.免疫荧光双标显示层流下细胞中肌动蛋白重排与VASP分布变化之间的规律.RT-PCR检测VASP mRNA表达;Western blot监测VASP表达及磷酸化水平.结果:10 dyn/cm2剪切24 h后,细胞延长、长轴重排、形成顺流场排列的粗大肌动蛋白纤维丝;VASP沿肌动蛋白纤维分布,在其末端汇聚成明显的点状;10 dyn/cm2剪切1 h诱导VASPmRNA表达增加;24 h内VASP反复磷酸化、总表达量增加2 h达高峰后恢复,8 h后再次升高;cAMP抑制剂H89显著抑制切应力诱导VASP表达增加及磷酸化.结论:切应力通过cAMP/cAK途径磷酸化VASP,发挥骨架调节蛋白作用,介导血液流动引起的内皮细胞骨架重组、形态改变.     

表氧化二十碳三烯对eNOS磷酸化水平的影响及其相关信号转导通路

内皮源性一氧化氮合酶(eNOS)是一氧化氮(NO)参与的血管稳态调节过程中的关键酶. 多种体液因子和机械刺激都可以通过磷酸化修饰调节eNOS的活性, 但具体的信号转导通路因刺激物不同而异. 最近发现花生四烯酸细胞色素P450(CYP)表氧化酶代谢产物表氧化二十碳三烯(EETs)可以显著上调eNOS的蛋白表达并增强其活性, 但其分子机制尚不清楚. 通过在4代以内培养的牛主动脉内皮细胞中直接加入外源性EETs和转染CYP表氧化酶基因CYP2C11和CYPF87V, 并同时给予实验组不同信号转导抑制剂进行干预, 观察其对总的eNOS表达及其在Ser1179 和Thr497位点磷酸化水平的影响. 结果显示, 内外源性EETs均可以显著上调eNOS的蛋白表达并增强及其在Ser1179和Thr497位点的磷酸化水平; PI3K抑制剂LY294002可以阻断EETs对eNOS-Ser1179的磷酸化上调作用, 但它对eNOS-Thr(P)497并无影响, 而Akt抑制剂却可以抑制eNOS在这两个位点的磷酸化, 且这两种抑制剂都可以阻断EETs对eNOS的蛋白表达上调作用.结果提示: (i) EETs对eNOS的活性调节可能与PI3K/Akt所介导的eNOS-Ser1179和Akt所介导的eNOS- Thr497磷酸化水平改变相关; (ii) PI3K/Akt信号通路可能参与了EETs对eNOS的蛋白表达上调过程.     

过表达Grx1抑制HEK293T细胞中H2O2诱导的p38MAPK信号通路

谷氧还蛋白1（glutaredoxin1,Grx1）是细胞内一种重要的巯基 二硫键氧化还原酶,在细胞内氧化还原状态的调控及抵抗氧化应激损伤过程中发挥重要作用.为进一步探讨Grx1的抗氧化机制,本实验将重组质粒pcDNA3.1(+)-hGrx1瞬时转染HEK293T细胞,经RT-PCR和Western印迹验证,细胞转染后实现了Grx1的过表达;以不同浓度H₂O₂为损伤因素,建立细胞氧化应激模型,检测过表达Grx1后细胞存活率,丙二醛（MDA）含量,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活力和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）漏出率的变化,观察过表达Grx1后细胞的抗氧化能力;用终浓度100 μmol/LH₂O₂作用于细胞,利用Western 印迹检测120 min内HEK293T细胞中p38MAPK磷酸化水平.实验结果表明,HEK293T细胞过表达Grx1后,缓解了细胞的氧化应激损伤;转染空载体组细胞p38MAPK磷酸化水平在H₂O₂刺激后5 min开始升高,15 min达到最高值,并可维持至120 min左右;而过表达Grx1组细胞p38MAPK磷酸化水平在H₂O₂刺激后各时间段没有明显改变,提示Grx1通过抑制H₂O₂诱导的p38MAPK信号通路激活发挥其抗氧化作用.     

Human JIK, a novel member of the STE20 kinase family that inhibits JNK and is negatively regulated by epidermal growth factor

Mammalian members related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae serine/threonine kinase STE20 can be divided into two subfamilies based on their structure and function. The PAK subfamily is characterized by an N-terminal p21-binding domain (also known as CRIB domain), a C-terminal kinase domain, and is regulated by the small GTP-binding proteins Rac1 and Cdc42Hs. The second group is represented by the GCK-like members, which contain an N-terminal catalytic domain and lack the p21-binding domain. Some of them have been demonstrated to induce c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) cascade, while others have been shown to be activated by a subset of stress conditions or apoptotic agents, although little is known about their specific function. Here, we have identified a novel human STE20-related serine/threonine kinase, belonging to the GCK-like subfamily. This kinase does not induce the JNK/SAPK pathway, but, instead, inhibits the basal activity of JNK/SAPK, and diminishes its activation in response to human epidermal growth factor (EGF). Therefore, we designated this molecule JIK for JNK/SAPK-inhibitory kinase. The inhibition of JNK/SAPK signaling pathway by JIK was found to occur between the EGF receptor and the small GTP-binding proteins Rac1 and Cdc42Hs. In contrast, JIK does not activate nor does it inhibit ERK2, ERK6, p38, or ERK5. Furthermore, JIK kinase activity is not modulated by any exogenous stimuli, but, interestingly, it is dramatically decreased upon EGF receptor activation. Thus, JIK might represent the first member of the STE20 kinase family whose activity can be negatively regulated by tyrosine kinase receptors, and whose downstream targets inhibit, rather than enhance, JNK/SAPK activation.     

Pheromone signalling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the small GTP-binding protein Cdc42p and its activator CDC24.

Pheromone signalling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is mediated by the STE4-STE18 G-protein beta gamma subunits. A possible target for the subunits is Ste20p, whose structural homolog, the serine/threonine kinase PAK, is activated by GTP-binding p21s Cdc42 and Rac1. The putative Cdc42p-binding domain of Ste20p, expressed as a fusion protein, binds human and yeast GTP-binding Cdc42p. Cdc42p is required for alpha-factor-induced activation of FUS1.cdc24ts strains defective for Cdc42p GDP/GTP exchange show no pheromone induction at restrictive temperatures but are partially rescued by overexpression of Cdc42p, which is potentiated by Cdc42p12V mutants. Epistatic analysis indicates that CDC24 and CDC42 lie between STE4 and STE20 in the pathway. The two-hybrid system revealed that Ste4p interacts with Cdc24p. We propose that Cdc42p plays a pivotal role both in polarization of the cytoskeleton and in pheromone signalling.     

Phosphorylation and activation of tryptophan hydroxylase 2: identification of serine-19 as the substrate site for calcium, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin. TPH was once thought to be a single-gene product but it is now known to exist in two isoforms. TPH1 is found in the periphery and pineal gland whereas TPH2 is expressed specifically in the CNS. Both TPH isoforms are known to be regulated by protein kinase-dependent phosphorylation and the sites of modification of TPH1 by protein kinase A have been identified. While TPH2 is activated by calcium, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), the sites at which this isoform is modified are not known. Treatment of wild-type TPH2 with CaMKII followed by mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the enzyme was activated and phosphorylated at a single site, serine-19. Mutagenesis of serine-19 to alanine did not alter the catalytic function of TPH2 but this mutant enzyme was neither activated nor phosphorylated by CaMKII. A phosphopeptide bracketing phosphoserine-19 in TPH2 was used as an antigen to generate polyclonal antibodies against phosphoserine-19. The antibodies are highly specific for phosphoserine-19 in TPH2. The antibodies do not react with wild-type TPH2 or TPH1 and they do not recognize phophoserine-58 or phosphoserine-260 in TPH1. These results establish that activation of TPH2 by CaMKII is mediated by phosphorylation of serine-19 within the regulatory domain of the enzyme. Production of a specific antibody against the CaMKII phosphorylation site in TPH2 represents a valuable tool to advance the study of the mechanisms regulating the function of this important enzyme.     

MST1 promotes apoptosis through phosphorylation of histone H2AX

MST1 (mammalian STE20-like kinase 1) is a serine/threonine kinase that is cleaved and activated by caspases during apoptosis. Overexpression of MST1 induces apoptotic morphological changes such as chromatin condensation, but the mechanism is not clear. Here we show that MST1 induces apoptotic chromatin condensation through its phosphorylation of histone H2AX at Ser-139. During etoposide-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells, the cleavage of MST1 directly corresponded with strong H2AX phosphorylation. In vitro kinase assay results showed that MST1 strongly phosphorylates histone H2AX. Western blot and kinase assay results with a mutant S139A H2AX confirmed that MST1 phosphorylates H2AX at Ser-139. Direct binding of MST1 and H2AX can be detected when co-expressed in HEK293 cells and was also confirmed by an endogenous immunoprecipitation study. When overexpressed in HeLa cells, both the MST1 full-length protein and the MST1 kinase domain (MST1-NT), but not the kinase-negative mutant (MST1-NT-KN), could induce obvious endogenous histone H2AX phosphorylation. The caspase-3 inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-DEVD-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-DEVD-fmk) attenuates phosphorylation of H2AX by MST1 but cannot inhibit MST1-NT-induced histone H2AX phosphorylation, indicating that cleaved MST1 is responsible for H2AX phosphorylation during apoptosis. Histone H2AX phosphorylation and DNA fragmentation were suppressed in MST1 knockdown Jurkat cells after etoposide treatment. Taken together, our data indicated that H2AX is a substrate of MST1, which functions to induce apoptotic chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation.     

The full-length, cytoplasmic C-terminus of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor expressed in E. coli acts as a substrate for phosphorylation by protein kinase A, insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, GRK2, but not protein kinase C and suppresses desensitization when expressed in vivo

The ability of the cytoplasmic, full-length C-terminus of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor (BAC1) expressed in Escherichia coli to act as a functional domain and substrate for protein phosphorylation was tested. BAC1 was expressed at high-levels, purified, and examined in solution as a substrate for protein phosphorylation. The mobility of BAC1 on SDS-PAGE mimics that of the native receptor itself, displaying decreased mobility upon chemical reduction of disulfide bonds. Importantly, the C-terminal, cytoplasmic domain of the receptor expressed in E. coli was determined to be a substrate for phosphorylation by several candidate protein kinases known to regulate G-protein-linked receptors. Mapping was performed by proteolytic degradation and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization, time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Purified BAC1 is phosphorylated readily by protein kinase A, the phosphorylation occurring within the predicted motif RRSSSK. The kinetic properties of the phosphorylation by protein kinase A displayed cooperative character. The activated insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, which phosphorylates the beta-adrenergic receptor in vivo, phosphorylates BAC1. The Y364 residue of BAC1 was predominantly phosphorylated by the insulin receptor kinase. GRK2 catalyzed modest phosphorylation of BAC1. Phosphorylation of the human analog of BAC1 in which Cys341 and Cys378 were mutated to minimize disulfide bonding constraints, displayed robust phosphorylation following thermal activation, suggesting under standard conditions that the population of BAC1 molecules capable of assuming the "activated" conformer required by GRKs is low. BAC1 was not a substrate for protein kinase C, suggesting that the canonical site in the second cytoplasmic loop of the intact receptor is preferred. The functional nature of BAC1 was tested additionally by expression of BAC1 protein in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. BAC1 was found to act as a dominant-negative, blocking agonist-induced desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor when expressed in mammalian cells. Thus, the C-terminal, cytoplasmic tail of this G-protein-linked receptor expressed in E. coli acts as a functional domain, displaying fidelity with regard to protein kinase action in vivo and acting as a dominant-negative with respect to agonist-induced desensitization.     

Activation of MEK family kinases requires phosphorylation of two conserved Ser/Thr residues.

MEK is a family of dual specific protein kinases which activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinases by phosphorylation of threonine and tyrosine residues. MEK itself is activated via serine phosphorylation by upstream activator kinases, including c-raf, mos and MEK kinase. Here, we report the activation phosphorylation sites of human MEK1 and yeast STE7 kinase as determined by a combination of biochemical and genetic approaches. In human MEK1, substitution of either serine residue 218 or 222 with alanine completely abolished its activation by epidermal growth factor-stimulated Swiss 3T3 cell lysates or immunoprecipitated c-raf, suggesting that both serine residues are required for MEK1 activation. Phosphopeptide analysis demonstrated that serine residues 218 and 222 of human MEK1 are the primary sites for phosphorylation by c-raf. These two serine residues are highly conserved in all members of the MEK family, including the yeast STE7 gene product, a MEK homolog in the yeast mating pheromone response pathway. Mutation of the corresponding residues in STE7 completely abolished the biological functions of this gene. These data demonstrate that MEK is activated by phosphorylation of two adjacent serine/threonine residues and this activation mechanism is conserved in the MEK family kinases.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel human STE20-like kinase, hSLK

We have cloned a human counterpart to a guinea pig STE20-like kinase cDNA, designated human SLK (hSLK), from a human lung carcinomatous cell line A549 cDNA library. hSLK cDNA encodes a novel 1204 amino acid serine/threonine kinase for which the kinase domain located at the N-terminus shares considerable homology to that of the STE20-like kinase family. The C-terminal domain of hSLK includes both the coiled-coil structure and four Pro/Glu/Ser/Thr-rich (PEST) sequences, but not the GTPase-binding domain (GBD) that is characteristic of the p21-activated kinase (PAK) family, polyproline consensus binding sites, or the Leu-rich domain seen in the group I germinal center kinases (GCKs). Northern blot analysis indicated that hSLK was ubiquitously expressed. hSLK overexpressed in COS-7 cells phosphorylates itself as well as myelin basic protein used as a substrate. On the other hand, hSLK cannot activate any of the three well-characterized mitogen-activated protein kinase MAPK (ERK, JNK/SAPK and p38) pathways. Moreover, hSLK kinase activity is not upregulated by constitutive active forms of GTPases (RasV12, RacV12 and Cdc42V12). These structural and functional properties indicate that hSLK should be considered to be a new member of group II GCKs.