PKD, PKD2, and p38 MAPK mediate Hsp27 serine-82 phosphorylation induced by neurotensin in pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells

It is widely recognized that Hsp27 is a downstream substrate of the p38 MAPK cascade whereas the role of PKD family members in mediating receptor-stimulated Hsp27 Ser-82 phosphorylation has not been evaluated. Here, we show that neurotensin induced a rapid and striking increase in Hsp27 Ser-82 phosphorylation in PANC-1 cells, which was closely correlated with stimulation of activation loop phosphorylation of PKDs and p38 MAPK Thr180/Tyr182 phosphorylation. Treatment of PANC-1 cells with either the selective PKC inhibitor GF-I or the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 partially reduced neurotensin-induced Hsp27 Ser-82 phosphorylation. However, treatment of the cells with a combination of GF-I and SB202190 virtually abolished neurotensin-induced Hsp27 Ser-82 phosphorylation. Overexpression of PKD in stably transfected PANC-1 cells increased the magnitude and prolonged the duration of Hsp27 Ser-82 phosphorylation in response to neurotensin. Either PKD or PKD2 gene silencing utilizing siRNAs targeting distinct PKD or PKD2 sequences reduced neurotensin-stimulated Hsp27 Ser-82 phosphorylation, but cotransfection of siRNAs targeting both, PKD and PKD2, markedly decreased neurotensin-induced Hsp27 Ser-82 phosphorylation. Knockdown of PKD and PKD2 abolished Hsp27 phosphorylation in cells treated with SB202190. Thus, neurotensin induces Hsp27 Ser-82 phosphorylation through p38 MAPK- and PKC/PKD-dependent pathways in PANC-1 cells. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that neurotensin induces a striking increase in Hsp27 phosphorylation on Ser-82 in PANC-1 cells through convergent p38 MAPK, PKD, and PKD2 signaling.     

A novel protein kinase C target site in protein kinase D is phosphorylated in response to signals for cardiac hypertrophy

Protein kinase D (PKD) regulates cardiac myocyte growth and contractility through phosphorylation of proteins such as class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) and troponin I (TnI). In response to agonists that activate G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), PKD is phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) on two serine residues (Ser-738 and Ser-742 in human PKD1) within an activation loop of the catalytic domain, resulting in stimulation of PKD activity. Here, we identify a novel PKC target site located adjacent to the auto-inhibitory pleckstrin homology (PH) domain in PKD. This site (Ser-412 in human PKD1) is conserved in each of the three PKD family members and is efficiently phosphorylated by multiple PKC isozymes in vitro. Employing a novel anti-phospho-Ser-412-specific antibody, we demonstrate that this site in PKD is rapidly phosphorylated in primary cardiac myocytes exposed to hypertrophic agonists, including norepinephrine (NE) and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Differential sensitivity of this event to pharmacological inhibitors of PKC, and data from in vitro enzymatic assays, suggest a predominant role for PKCδ in the control of PKD Ser-412 phosphorylation. Together, these data suggest a novel, signal-dependent mechanism for controlling PKD function in cardiac myocytes.     

Protein kinase D1 stimulates proliferation and enhances tumorigenesis of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells through a MEK/ERK-dependent signaling pathway

Protein kinase D1, PKD1, is a novel serine/threonine kinase whose altered expression and dysregulation in many tumors as well as its activation by several mitogens suggest that this protein could regulate proliferation and tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, the precise signaling pathways used are still unclear and the potential direct role of PKD1 in tumor development and progression has not been yet investigated. In order to clarify the role of PKD1 in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, we studied the effects of PKD1 overexpression in a human adenocarcinoma breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 cells. We demonstrated that overexpression of PKD1 specifically promotes MCF-7 cell proliferation through accelerating G0/G1 to S phase transition of the cell cycle. Moreover, inhibition of endogenous PKD1 significantly reduced cell proliferation. Taken together, these results clearly strengthen the regulatory role of PKD1 in cell growth. We also demonstrated that overexpression of PKD1 specifically diminished serum- and anchorage-dependence for proliferation and survival in vitro and allowed MCF-7 cells to form tumors in vivo. Thus, all these data highlight the central role of PKD1 in biological processes which are hallmarks of malignant transformation. Analysis of two major signaling pathways implicated in MCF-7 cell proliferation showed that PKD1 overexpression significantly increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation state without affecting Akt phosphorylation. Moreover, PKD1 overexpression-stimulated cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth were totally impaired by inhibition of the MEK/ERK kinase cascade. However, neither of these effects was affected by blocking the PI 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway. Thus, the MEK/ERK signaling appears to be a determining pathway mediating the biological effects of PKD1 in MCF-7 cells. Taken together, all these data demonstrate that PKD1 overexpression increases the aggressiveness of MCF-7 breast cancer cells through enhancing their oncogenic properties and would, therefore, define PKD1 as a potentially new promising anti-tumor therapeutic target.     

Protein Kinase D1-mediated Phosphorylations Regulate Vasodilator-stimulated Phosphoprotein (VASP) Localization and Cell Migration

Enabled/Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (Ena/VASP) protein family members link actin dynamics and cellular signaling pathways. VASP localizes to regions of dynamic actin reorganization such as the focal adhesion contacts, the leading edge or filopodia, where it contributes to F-actin filament elongation. Here we identify VASP as a novel substrate for protein kinase D1 (PKD1). We show that PKD1 directly phosphorylates VASP at two serine residues, Ser-157 and Ser-322. These phosphorylations occur in response to RhoA activation and mediate VASP re-localization from focal contacts to the leading edge region. The net result of this PKD1-mediated phosphorylation switch in VASP is increased filopodia formation and length at the leading edge. However, such signaling when persistent induced membrane ruffling and decreased cell motility.     

Protein kinase D1 mediates stimulation of DNA synthesis and proliferation in intestinal epithelial IEC-18 cells and in mouse intestinal crypts

We examined whether protein kinase D1 (PKD1), the founding member of a new protein kinase family, plays a critical role in intestinal epithelial cell proliferation. Our results demonstrate that PKD1 activation is sustained, whereas that of PKD2 is transient in intestinal epithelial IEC-18 stimulated with the G(q)-coupled receptor agonists angiotensin II or vasopressin. PKD1 gene silencing utilizing small interfering RNAs dramatically reduced DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in IEC-18 cells stimulated with G(q)-coupled receptor agonists. To clarify the role of PKD1 in intestinal epithelial cell proliferation in vivo, we generated transgenic mice that express elevated PKD1 protein in the intestinal epithelium. Transgenic PKD1 exhibited constitutive catalytic activity and phosphorylation at the activation loop residues Ser(744) and Ser(748) and on the autophosphorylation site, Ser(916). To examine whether PKD1 expression stimulates intestinal cell proliferation, we determined the rate of crypt cell DNA synthesis by detection of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporated into the nuclei of crypt cells of the ileum. Our results demonstrate a significant increase (p < 0.005) in DNA-synthesizing cells in the crypts of two independent lines of PKD1 transgenic mice as compared with non-transgenic littermates. Morphometric analysis showed a significant increase in the length and in the total number of cells per crypt in the transgenic PKD1 mice as compared with the non-transgenic littermates (p < 0.01). Thus, transgenic PKD1 signaling increases the number of cells per crypt by stimulating the rate of crypt cell proliferation. Collectively, our results indicate that PKD1 plays a role in promoting cell proliferation in intestinal epithelial cells both in vitro and in vivo.     

Subcellular Localization and Ser-137 Phosphorylation Regulate Tumor-suppressive Activity of Profilin-1

The actin-binding protein profilin-1 (Pfn1) inhibits tumor growth and yet is also required for cell proliferation and survival, an apparent paradox. We previously identified Ser-137 of Pfn1 as a phosphorylation site within the poly-l-proline (PLP) binding pocket. Here we confirm that Ser-137 phosphorylation disrupts Pfn1 binding to its PLP-containing ligands with little effect on actin binding. We find in mouse xenografts of breast cancer cells that mimicking Ser-137 phosphorylation abolishes cell cycle arrest and apoptotic sensitization by Pfn1 and confers a growth advantage to tumors. This indicates a previously unrecognized role of PLP binding in Pfn1 antitumor effects. Spatial restriction of Pfn1 to the nucleus or cytoplasm indicates that inhibition of tumor cell growth by Pfn1 requires its nuclear localization, and this activity is abolished by a phosphomimetic mutation on Ser-137. In contrast, cytoplasmic Pfn1 lacks inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth but rescues morphological and proliferative defects of PFN1 null mouse chondrocytes. These results help reconcile seemingly opposed cellular effects of Pfn1, provide new insights into the antitumor mechanism of Pfn1, and implicate Ser-137 phosphorylation as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.     

Regulation of MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation by GSK-3β involves epigenetic modifications under high glucose conditions

Hyperglycemia is a critical risk factor for development and progression of breast cancer. We have recently reported that high glucose induces phosphorylation of histone H3 at Ser 10 as well as de-phosphorylation of GSK-3β at Ser 9 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Here, we elucidate the mechanism underlying hyperglycemia-induced proliferation in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We provide evidence that hyperglycemia led to increased DNA methylation and DNMT1 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells. High glucose condition led to significant increase in the expression of PCNA, cyclin D1 and decrease in the expression of PTPN 12, p21 and PTEN. It also induced hypermethylation of DNA at the promoter region of PTPN 12, whereas hypomethylation at Vimentin and Snail. Silencing of GSK-3β by siRNA prevented histone H3 phosphorylation and reduced DNMT1 expression. We show that chromatin obtained after immunoprecipitation with phospho-histone H3 was hypermethylated under high glucose condition, which indicates a cross-talk between DNA methylation and histone H3 phosphorylation. ChIP-qPCR analysis revealed up-regulation of DNMT1 and metastatic genes viz. Vimentin, Snail and MMP-7 by phospho-histone H3, which were down-regulated upon GSK-3β silencing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report which shows that interplay between GSK-3β activation, histone H3 phosphorylation and DNA methylation directs proliferation of breast cancer cells.