The protein phosphatases involved in cellular regulation. Identification of the inhibitor-2 phosphatases in rabbit skeletal muscle

Inhibitor-2, purified by an improved procedure, was used to identify protein phosphatases capable of catalysing its dephosphorylation. The results showed that, under our experimental conditions, protein phosphatases-1, 2A and 2B were the only significant protein phosphatases in rabbit skeletal muscle extracts acting on this substrate. Protein phosphatases-1 and 2A accounted for all the inhibitor-2 phosphatase activity in the absence of Ca2+ (resting muscle), and the potential importance of these enzymes in vivo is discussed. Protein phosphatase-2B, a Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent enzyme, could account for up to 30% of the inhibitor-2 phosphatase activity in contracting muscle. The Km of protein phosphatase-1 for inhibitor-2 (40 nM) was 100-fold lower than the Km for phosphorylase a (4.8 microM). This finding, coupled with the failure of inhibitor-2 to inhibit its own dephosphorylation, suggests that inhibitor-2 is dephosphorylated at one of the two sites on protein phosphatase-1 involved in preventing the dephosphorylation of other substrates. The dephosphorylation of inhibitor-2 by protein phosphatase-1 was also unaffected by inhibitor-1, suggesting that the phosphorylation state of inhibitor-2 is unlikely to be controlled by cyclic AMP in vivo.     

Distinct type-1 protein phosphatases are associated with hepatic glycogen and microsomes

The type-1 protein phosphatase associated with hepatic microsomes has been distinguished from the glycogen-bound enzyme in five ways. (1) The phosphorylase phosphatase/synthase phosphatase activity ratio of the microsomal enzyme (measured using muscle phosphorylase a and glycogen synthase (labelled in sites-3) as substrates) was 50-fold higher than that of the glycogen-bound enzyme. (2) The microsomal enzyme had a greater sensitivity to inhibitors-1 and 2. (3) Release of the catalytic subunit from the microsomal type-1 phosphatase by tryptic digestion was accompanied by a 2-fold increase in synthase phosphatase activity, whereas release of the catalytic subunit from the glycogen-bound enzyme decreased synthase phosphatase activity by 60%. (4) 95% of the synthase phosphatase activity was released from the microsomes with 0.3 M NaCl, whereas little activity could be released from the glycogen fraction with salt. (5) The type-1 phosphatase separated from glycogen by anion-exchange chromatography could be rebound to glycogen, whereas the microsomal enzyme (separated from the microsomes by the same procedure, or by extraction with NaCl) could not. These findings indicate that the synthase phosphatase activity of the microsomal enzyme is not explained by contamination with glycogen-bound enzyme. The microsomal and glycogen-associated enzymes may contain a common catalytic subunit complexed to microsomal and glycogen-binding subunits, respectively. Thiophosphorylase a was a potent inhibitor of the dephosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6, HMG-CoA reductase and glycogen synthase, by the glycogen-associated type-1 protein phosphatase. By contrast, thiophosphorylase a did not inhibit the dephosphorylation of S6 or HMG-CoA reductase by the microsomal enzyme, although the dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase was inhibited. The I50 for inhibition of synthase phosphatase activity by thiophosphorylase a catalysed by either the glycogen-associated or microsomal type-1 phosphatases, or for inhibition of S6 phosphatase activity catalysed by the glycogen-associated enzyme, was decreased 20-fold to 5-10 nM in the presence of glycogen. The results suggest that the physiologically relevant inhibitor of the glycogen-associated type-1 phosphatase is the phosphorylase a-glycogen complex, and that inhibition of the microsomal type-1 phosphatase by phosphorylase a is unlikely to play a role in the hormonal control of cholesterol or protein synthesis. Protein phosphatase-1 appears to be the principal S6 phosphatase in mammalian liver acting on the serine residues phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

The protein phosphatases of Drosophila melanogaster and their inhibitors

Protein phosphatases-1, 2A and 2B have been identified in membrane and soluble fractions of Drosophila melanogaster heads. Similarities between Drosophila and mammalian protein phosphatase-1 included specificity for the beta subunit of phosphorylase kinase, sensitivity to inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2, inhibition by protamine, retention by heparin-Sepharose and selective interaction with membranes. In addition, an inactive form of protein phosphatase-1, termed protein phosphatase-1I, was detected in the soluble fraction that could be activated by preincubation with MgATP and mammalian glycogen synthase kinase-3. Inhibitor-2 partially purified from Drosophila had an identical molecular mass to its mammalian counterpart, and recombined with mammalian protein phosphatase-1 to form a hybrid protein phosphatase-1I. Similarities between Drosophila and mammalian protein phosphatase-2A included preferential dephosphorylation of the alpha subunit of phosphorylase kinase, insensitivity to inhibitors-1 and -2, activation by protamine, exclusion from heparin-Sepharose and apparent molecular mass. A Ca2+-dependent calmodulin-stimulated protein phosphatase (protein phosphatase-2B) that was inhibited by trifluoperazine was identified in the soluble fraction. The remarkable similarities between Drosophila protein phosphatases and their mammalian counterparts are indicative of strict phylogenetic conservation and demonstrate that the procedures used to classify mammalian protein phosphatases have a wider application. Characterisation of the Drosophila phosphatases will facilitate genetic analysis of dephosphorylation systems and their possible roles in neuronal and behavioural plasticity in Drosophila.     

The protein phosphatases involved in cellular regulation. 1. Classification and substrate specificities

The protein phosphatase activities involved in regulating the major pathways of intermediary metabolism can be explained by only four enzymes which can be conveniently divided into two classes, type-1 and type-2. Type-1 protein phosphatases dephosphorylate the beta-subunit of phosphorylase kinase and are potently inhibited by two thermostable proteins termed inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2, whereas type-2 protein phosphatases preferentially dephosphorylate the alpha-subunit of phosphorylase kinase and are insensitive to inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2. The substrate specificities of the four enzymes, namely protein phosphatase-1 (type-1) and protein phosphatases 2A, 2B and 2C (type-2) have been investigated. Eight different protein kinases were used to phosphorylate 13 different substrate proteins on a minimum of 20 different serine and threonine residues. These substrates include proteins involved in the regulation of glycogen metabolism, glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis, protein synthesis and muscle contraction. The studies demonstrate that protein phosphatase-1 and protein phosphatase 2A have very broad substrate specificities. The major differences, apart from the site specificity for phosphorylase kinase, are the much higher myosin light chain phosphatase and ATP-citrate lyase phosphatase activities of protein phosphatase-2A. Protein phosphatase-2C (an Mg2+-dependent enzyme) also has a broad specificity, but can be distinguished from protein phosphatase-2A by its extremely low phosphorylase phosphatase and histone H1 phosphatase activities, and its slow dephosphorylation of sites (3a + 3b + 3c) on glycogen synthase relative to site-2 of glycogen synthase. It has extremely high hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase phosphatase and HMG-CoA reductase kinase phosphatase activity. Protein phosphatase-2B (a Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent enzyme) is the most specific phosphatase and only dephosphorylated three of the substrates (the alpha-subunit of phosphorylase kinase, inhibitor-1 and myosin light chains) at a significant rate. It is specifically inhibited by the phenathiazine drug, trifluoperazine. Examination of the amino acid sequences around each phosphorylation site does not support the idea that protein phosphatase specificity is determined by the primary structure in the immediate vicinity of the phosphorylation site.     

Dephosphorylation and inactivation of phosphorylase kinase: subunit specificity of rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatases

The dephosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase by four rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatases was studied. The four enzymes used were preparations of protein phosphatases C-I, C-II, H-I, and H-II. Phosphatases C-I, C-II, and H-II were obtained as homogeneous preparations using procedures previously developed. Phosphatase H-I was purified 644-fold from rabbit skeletal muscle for the purposes of this study, and was the major phosphorylase phosphatase activity in the tissue extract. Phosphatases C-I and H-I were relatively specific for removal of the beta subunit phosphate of phosphorylase kinase, this occurring at rates approximately 100 times more rapidly than the removal of the alpha subunit phosphate. In contrast, phosphatases C-II and H-II readily dephosphorylated both the alpha and beta subunits, although the alpha subunit phosphate release occurred at rates about twice that of the beta subunit phosphate. These studies show that skeletal muscle contains two phosphatases capable of acting on phosphorylase kinase, and that these have different specificities as represented by phosphatases H-I and C-I on the one hand, and phosphatases C-II and H-II on the other hand. These studies also provided unequivocal evidence that dephosphorylation of the beta subunit of phosphorylase kinase is solely involved in the inactivation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase-activated enzyme. When autophosphorylated phosphorylase kinase was used as the substrate, the four phosphatases displayed similar general specificities as they did toward the cAMP-dependent protein kinase-activated enzyme. With none of the phosphatases examined was there any evidence that alpha subunit phosphorylation affected the rate of beta subunit dephosphorylation.     

The protein phosphatases involved in cellular regulation. 1. Modulation of protein phosphatases-1 and 2A by histone H1, protamine, polylysine and heparin

The phosphorylase phosphatases in rat and rabbit liver cytosol that are markedly stimulated by histone H1, protamine and polylysine were identified as protein phosphatases-2A0, 2A1 and 2A2 by anion-exchange chromatography, gel-filtration and immunotitration experiments. Histone H1 and protamine also stimulated the dephosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase, glycogen synthase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, pyruvate kinase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and phenylalanine hydroxylase by phosphatases-2A1 and 2A2, and with several of these substrates activation was even more striking (20-100-fold) than that observed with phosphorylase (approximately 5-fold). Activation by basic polypeptides did not involve dissociation of these phosphatases to the free catalytic subunit. The dephosphorylation of phosphorylase by protein phosphatase-1 was suppressed by basic polypeptides, protamine and polylysine being the most potent inhibitors. However, the dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase, pyruvate kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase were markedly stimulated by histone H1 and protamine (2-13-fold). Consequently, with the appropriate substrates, protein phosphatase-1 can also be regarded as a basic-polypeptide-activated protein phosphatase. Heparin stimulated (1.5-2-fold) the dephosphorylation of phosphorylase by phosphatases-2A0 and 2A1, provided that Mn2+ was present, but phosphatase-2A2 and the free catalytic subunit of phosphatase-2A were unaffected. Heparin, in conjunction with Mn2+, also stimulated (1.5-fold) the dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase (labelled in sites 3 abc), phosphorylase kinase and phenylalanine hydroxylase by phosphatase-2A1, but not by phosphatase-2A2. By contrast, the dephosphorylation of phosphorylase and phosphorylase kinase by protein phosphatase-1 was inhibited by heparin. However, dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase and pyruvate kinase by phosphatase-1 was stimulated by this mucopolysaccharide. The studies demonstrate that basic proteins can be used to distinguish protein phosphatase-1 from protein phosphatase-2A, but only if phosphorylase is employed as substrate. Optimal differentiation of the two phosphatases is observed at 30 micrograms/ml protamine or at heparin concentrations greater than 150 microM.     

Identification of protein phosphatases-1 and 2A and inhibitor-2 in oocytes of the starfish Asterias rubens and Marthasterias glacialis

Protein phosphatases present in the particulate and soluble fractions of oocytes of the starfish Asterias rubens and Marthasterias glacialis have been classified according to the criteria used for these enzymes from mammalian cells. The major protein phosphatase activity in the particulate fraction had very similar properties to protein phosphatase-1 from mammalian tissues, including preferential dephosphorylation of the beta subunit of phosphorylase kinase, sensitivity to inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2, inhibition of phosphorylase phosphatase activity by protamine and heparin, and retention by heparin-Sepharose. The major protein phosphatase in the soluble fraction had very similar properties to mammalian protein phosphatase-2A, including preferential dephosphorylation of the alpha subunit of phosphorylase kinase, insensitivity to inhibitors-1 and 2, activation by protamine and heparin, and exclusion from heparin-Sepharose. An acid-stable and heat-stable protein was detected in the soluble fraction of starfish oocytes, whose properties were indistinguishable from those of inhibitor-2 from mammalian tissues. It inhibited protein phosphatase-1 specifically, and its apparent molecular mass on SDS polyacrylamide gels was 31 kDa. Furthermore, an inactive hybrid formed between the starfish oocyte inhibitor and the catalytic subunit of mammalian protein phosphatase-1 could be reactivated by preincubation with MgATP and mammalian glycogen synthase kinase-3. The remarkable similarities between starfish oocyte protein phosphatases and their mammalian counterparts are indicative of strict phylogenetic conservation of these enzymes. The results will facilitate further analysis of the role of protein phosphorylation in the control of starfish oocyte maturation by the hormone 1-methyladenine.     

The protein phosphatases involved in cellular regulation. 2. Glycogen metabolism

The nature of protein phosphatases that are active against the phosphorylated proteins of glycogen metabolism was investigated in rabbit skeletal muscle and liver. Six 32P-labelled substrates corresponding to the major phosphorylation sites on glycogen phosphorylase, phosphorylase kinase, glycogen synthase and inhibitor-1 were used in these studies. The results showed that the four protein phosphatases defined in the preceding paper, namely protein phosphatases-1, 2A, 2B and 2C [Ingebritsen, T. S. and Cohen, P. (1983) Eur. J. Biochem. 132, 255-261] were the only significant enzymes acting on these substrates. The four enzymes can be conveniently separated and identified by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration and by the use of specific inhibitors. Three species of protein phosphatase-2A were resolved on DEAE-cellulose, termed protein phosphatases-2Ao (0.12 M NaCl), 2A1 (0.2 M NaCl) and 2A2 (0.28 M NaCl) that had apparent molecular weights of 210000, 210000 and 150000 respectively. Protein phosphatase-2Ao was a completely inactive enzyme whose activity was only expressed after dissociation to a 34000-Mr(app) catalytic subunit by freezing and thawing in 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol. This treatment also dissociated protein phosphatases 2A1 and 2A2 to more active 34000-Mr(app) catalytic subunits. The catalytic subunits derived from protein phosphatases-2Ao, 2A1 and 2A2 possessed identical substrate specificities, preferentially dephosphorylated the alpha-subunit of phosphorylase kinase, were unaffected by inhibitor-1 and inhibitor-2 and were inhibited by similar concentrations of ATP. The properties of protein phosphatases-2A1 and 2A2 were very similar to those of the catalytic subunits, except that they were less sensitive to inhibition by ATP. Protein phosphatase-2B was eluted from DEAE-cellulose in the same fraction as protein phosphatase-2Ao. These activities were resolved by gel filtration, the Mr(app) of protein phosphatase-2B being 98000. Protein phosphatase-2B was completely inhibited by 100 microM trifluoperazine, which did not affect the activity of protein phosphatase-2Ao or any other protein phosphatase. Freezing and thawing in 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol resulted in partial inactivation of protein phosphatase-2B. Protein phosphatase-2C was eluted from DEAE-cellulose at the leading edge of the peak of protein phosphatase-2A1. These activities were completely resolved by gel filtration, since the Mr(app) of protein phosphatase-2C was 46000. Two forms of protein phosphatase-1 can be identified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, namely protein phosphatase-1 itself and the Mg X ATP-dependent protein phosphatase. Both these species were eluted at 0.16 M NaCl just ahead of protein phosphatases-2C and 2A1. These enzymes did not interfere with measurements of type-2 protein phosphatases, since it was possible to block their activity with inhibitor-2...     

Purification and characterization of a novel protein phosphatase highly specific for ribosomal protein S6

Ribosomal protein S6 is the principal phosphoprotein of the eucaryotic ribosome that becomes multiply phosphorylated on serine residues in response to a wide variety of mitogenic stimuli. In this paper the principal protein phosphatases able to dephosphorylate S6 were characterized in Xenopus laevis ovary and eggs. Two enzymes termed peak I and peak II were found to account for most S6 phosphatase activity in both oocytes and eggs. The peak I enzyme had an apparent Mr of 200,000 on gel filtration, dephosphorylated the beta subunit of phosphorylase kinase and phosphorylase a, and was inhibited by inhibitor 1 and inhibitor 2, suggesting it was similar to protein phosphatase 1. The peak II enzyme was purified over 12,000-fold and had an apparent Mr = 55,000 on glycerol gradient centrifugation. This phosphatase could dephosphorylate all sites in S6 but was unable to dephosphorylate phosphorylase a or phosphorylase kinase. However, it was inhibited by nanomolar concentrations of inhibitor 1 and inhibitor 2. These results indicate the peak II enzyme represents a new class of highly specific protein phosphatase and suggest that inhibition of dephosphorylation in cellular extracts by inhibitor 1 and inhibitor 2 is not a sufficient criterion for implicating protein phosphatase 1 in a cellular process.     

The protein phosphatases involved in cellular regulation. Influence of polyamines on the activities of protein phosphatase-1 and protein phosphatase-2A

The effects of polyamines on the oligomeric forms of protein phosphatase-1 (1G), protein phosphatase-2A (2A0, 2A1 and 2A2) and their free catalytic subunits (1C and 2AC) has been studied using homogeneous enzymes isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle. Spermine increased the activity of protein phosphatase-2A towards eight of nine substrates tested. Half-maximal activation was observed at 0.2 mM with optimal effects at 1-2 mM. Above 2 mM, spermine became inhibitory. The most impressive activation of protein phosphatase-2A was obtained with glycogen synthase, especially when phosphorylated at sites-3 (8-15-fold with protein phosphatase-2A1) and phenylalanine hydroxylase (6-7-fold with protein phosphatase-2A1) as substrates. Activation of protein phosphatases 2A0, 2A1 and 2A2 was greater than that observed with 2AC. Spermine was a more potent activator than spermidine, while putrescine had only a small effect. Qualitatively similar results were obtained with five other substrates, although maximal activation was much less (1.3-3-fold with protein phosphatase-2A1). The rate of dephosphorylation of glycogen phosphorylase was decreased by spermine, inhibition being more pronounced with protein phosphatase-2AC than with 2A0, 2A1 and 2A2. Spermine (I50 = 0.1 mM with protein phosphatase-2AC) was a more potent inhibitor than spermidine (I50 = 0.9 mM) or putrescine (I50 = 8 mM). Partially purified preparations of protein phosphatases-2A0, 2A1 and 2A2 from from rat liver were affected by spermine in a similar manner to the homogeneous enzymes from rabbit skeletal muscle. Spermine did not activate protein phosphatase-1 to the same extent as protein phosphatase-2A. Greatest stimulation (2.5-fold) was again observed with glycogen synthase labelled in sites-3, with half-maximal activation at 0.2 mM and optimal effects at 1-2 mM spermine. Spermine was a much more effective stimulator than spermidine, while putrescine was ineffective. Very similar results were obtained with protein phosphatases 1G and 1C. With four other substrates maximal activation by spermine was less than 1.5-fold, while the dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase (labelled in site-2), phosphorylase kinase, pyruvate kinase and glycogen phosphorylase were inhibited. Spermine (I50 = 0.04 mM) was a more potent inhibitor of the dephosphorylation of glycogen phosphorylase than spermidine (I50 = 0.9 mM) or putrescine (I50 = 9 mM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Functional analysis of the PP2A subfamily of protein phosphatases in regulating Drosophila S6 kinase

Phosphorylation and activation of ribosomal S6 protein kinase is an important link in the regulation of cell size by the target of rapamycin (TOR) protein kinase. A combination of selective inhibition and RNA interference were used to test the roles of members of the PP2A subfamily of protein phosphatases in dephosphorylation of Drosophila S6 kinase (dS6K). Treatment of Drosophila Schneider 2 cells with calyculin A, a selective inhibitor of PP2A-like phosphatases, resulted in a 7-fold increase in the basal level of dS6K phosphorylation at the TOR phosphorylation site (Thr398) and blocked dephosphorylation following inactivation of TOR by amino acid starvation or rapamycin treatment. Knockdown of the PP2A catalytic subunit increased basal dS6K phosphorylation and inhibited dephosphorylation induced by amino acid withdrawal. In contrast, depletion of the catalytic subunits of the other two members of the subfamily did not enhance dS6K phosphorylation. Knockdown of PP4 caused a 20% decrease in dS6K phosphorylation and knockdown of PP6 had no effect. Knockdown of the Drosophila B56-2 subunit resulted in enhanced dephosphorylation of dS6K following removal of amino acids. In contrast, knockdown of the homologs of the other PP2A regulatory subunits had no effects. Knockdown of the Drosophila homolog of the PP2A/PP4/PP6 interaction protein alpha4/Tap42 did not affect S6K phosphorylation, but did induce apoptosis. These results indicate that PP2A, but not other members of this subfamily, is likely to be a major S6K phosphatase in intact cells and is consistent with an important role for this phosphatase in the TOR pathway.     

Purification and characterization of two inactive/latent protein phosphatases from pig brain

Two inactive/latent protein phosphatases termed LP-1 (Mr 260,000) and LP-2 (Mr 350,000) were identified and purified from pig brain. Examination of molecular structures indicated that LP-1 has three subunits with molecular weights of 69,000, 55,000, and 34,000, respectively, whereas LP-2 contains only one subunit, with molecular weight of 49,000. When using phosphorylase a as a substrate, LP-1 was completely inactive and could be dramatically activated by freezing and thawing in 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol, whereas LP-2 contained some basal activity but could also be stimulated 40-fold by the same treatment. Kinetic analysis further indicated that both LP-1 and LP-2 enzymes dephosphorylate histone 2A, myelin basic protein, and phosphorylase a at a rather comparable rate, but the dephosphorylation of histone 2A and myelin basic protein seems to be spontaneously active. This, together with the results that trypsinolysis could specifically knock off phosphorylase phosphatase activity but caused no effect on the associated myelin basic protein/histone phosphatase activities, supports the notion that a two-site mechanism may possibly be involved in the regulation of substrate specificity of LP-1 and LP-2 enzymes in the central nervous system.     

Identification of protein phosphatases dephosphorylating mRNP proteins from cryptobiotic gastrulae of the brine shrimp A. salina

In the cytosol of A. salina cryptobiotic gastrulae at least five protein phosphatases active on phosphorylase a have been detected by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Only two of these enzymes (PP-X and PP-Y) are active in mRNP dephosphorylation. Both enzymes are insensitive to inhibitor-1 and -2 and stimulation of enzymatic activity (2.5-fold with PP-X and 6.5-fold with PP-Y) can be accomplished by ethanol treatment of the native enzymes, or freeze-thawing in the presence of 1.7% (v/v) 2-mercaptoethanol. These properties allow PP-X and PP-Y to be classified as type-2A enzymes according to the nomenclature of Cohen. This paper is the first report of protein phosphatases capable of dephosphorylating mRNP proteins.     

Purification and characterization of two wheat-embryo protein phosphatases.

Two protein phosphatases (enzymes I and II) were extensively purified from wheat embryo by a procedure involving chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B, DEAE-Sephacel and Ultrogel AcA 44. Preparations of enzyme I (Mr 197,000) are heterogeneous. Preparations of enzyme II (Mr 35,000) contain only one major polypeptide (Mr 17,500), which exactly co-purifies with protein phosphatase II on gel filtration and is not present in preparations of enzyme I. However, this major polypeptide has been identified as calmodulin. Calmodulin and protein phosphatase II can be separated by further chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B. Protein phosphatases I and II do not require Mg2+ or Ca2+ for activity. Both enzymes catalyse the dephosphorylation of phosphohistone H1 (phosphorylated by wheat-germ Ca2+-dependent protein kinase) and of phosphocasein (phosphorylated by wheat-germ Ca2+-independent casein kinase), but neither enzyme dephosphorylates a range of non-protein phosphomonoesters tested. Both enzymes are inhibited by Zn2+, Hg2+, vanadate, molybdate, F-, pyrophosphate and ATP.     

Specific dephosphorylation of Janus Kinase 2 by protein tyrosine phosphatases

Many protein kinases are activated through phosphorylation of an activation loop thereby turning on downstream signaling pathways. Activation of JAK2, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase with an important role in growth factor and cytokine signaling, requires phosphorylation of the 1007 and 1008 tyrosyl residues. Dephosphorylation of these two sites by phosphatases presumably inactivates the enzyme, but the underlying mechanism is not known. In this study, we employed MALDI‐TOF/TOF and triple quadrupole mass spectrometers to analyze qualitatively and quantitatively the dephosphorylation process by using synthetic peptides derived from the tandem autophosphorylation sites (Y1007 and Y1008) of human JAK2. We found that tyrosine phosphatases catalyzed the dephosphorylation reaction sequentially, but different enzymes exhibited different selectivity. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B caused rapid dephosphorylation of Y1008 followed by Y1007, while SHP1 and SHP2 selectively dephosphorylated Y1008 only, and yet HePTP randomly removed a single phosphate from either Y1007 or Y1008, leaving behind mono‐phosphorylated peptides. The specificity of dephosphorylation was further confirmed by molecular modeling. The data reveal multiple modes of JAK2 regulation by tyrosine phosphatases, reflecting a complex, and intricate interplay between protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.     

Modulation of rat liver hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase by protein phosphatases: purification of nonspecific hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase phosphatases

Four phosphoprotein phosphatases, with the ability to act upon hydroxymethylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase, phosphorylase, and glycogen synthase have been purified from rat liver cytosol through a process that involves DEAE-cellulose, aminohexyl-Sepharose-4B, and Bio-Gel A 1.5 m chromatographies. Protein phosphatase II (Mr 180,000) was the major enzyme (68%) with a very broad substrate specificity, showing similar activity toward the three substrates. Phosphatases I1 (Mr 180,000) and I3 (Mr 250,000) accounted for only 12 and 15% of the total activity, respectively, and they were also able to dephosphorylate the three substrates. In contrast, phosphatase I2 (Mr 200,000) showed only phosphorylase phosphatase activity with insignificant dephosphorylating capacity toward HMG-CoA reductase and glycogen synthase. Upon ethanol treatment at room temperature, the Mr of all phosphatases changed; protein phosphatases I2, I3, and II were brought to an Mr of 35,000, while phosphatase I1 was reduced to an Mr of 69,000. Glycogen synthase phosphatase activity was decreased in all four phosphatases. There was also a decrease in phosphatase I1 activity toward HMG-CoA reductase and phosphorylase as substrates. The HMG-CoA reductase phosphatase and phosphorylase phosphatase activities of phosphatases I2, I3, and II were increased after ethanol treatment. Each protein phosphatase showed a different optimum pH, which changed depending on the substrate. The four phosphatases increased their activity in the presence of Mn2+ and Mg2+. In general, Mn2+ was a better activator than Mg2+, and phosphatase I1 showed a stronger dependency on these cations than any other phosphatase. Phosphorylase was a competitive substrate in the HMG-CoA reductase phosphatase and glycogen synthase phosphatase reactions of protein phosphatases I1, I3, and II. HMG-CoA reductase was also able to compete with phosphorylase and glycogen synthase for phosphatase activity. Glycogen synthase phosphatase activity presented less inhibition in the low-Mr forms. A comparison has been made with other protein phosphatases previously reported in the literature.     

Identification of high levels of type 1 and type 2A protein phosphatases in higher plants.

Extracts of Brassica napus (oilseed rape) seeds contain type 1 and type 2A protein phosphatases whose properties are indistinguishable from the corresponding enzymes in mammalian tissues. The type 1 activity dephosphorylated the beta-subunit of phosphorylase kinase selectively and was inhibited by the same concentrations of okadaic acid [IC50 (concentration causing 50% inhibition) approximately 10 nM], mammalian inhibitor 1 (IC50 = 0.6 nM) and mammalian inhibitor 2 (IC50 = 2.0 nM) as the rabbit muscle type 1 phosphatase. The plant type 2A activity dephosphorylated the alpha-subunit of phosphorylase kinase preferentially, was exquisitely sensitive to okadaic acid (IC50 approximately 0.1 nM), and was unaffected by inhibitors 1 and 2. As in mammalian tissues, a substantial proportion of plant type 1 phosphatase activity (40%) was particulate, whereas plant type 2A phosphatase was cytosolic. The specific activities of the plant type 1 and type 2A phosphatases were as high as in mammalian tissue extracts, but no type 2B or type 2C phosphatase activity was detected. The results demonstrate that the improved procedure for identifying and quantifying protein phosphatases in animal cells is applicable to higher plants, and suggests that okadaic acid may provide a new method for identifying plant enzymes that are regulated by reversible phosphorylation.     

Characterization of the major phosphofructokinase-dephosphorylating protein phosphatases from Ascaris suum muscle.

In contrast to the mammalian enzyme, PFK from the nematode Ascaris suum is activated following phosphorylation (Daum et al. (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 139, 215-221) catalyzed by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (Thalhofer et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 952-957). In the present report, we describe the characterization of the major PFK dephosphorylating phosphatases from Ascaris muscle. Two of these phosphatases exhibit apparent M(r) values of 174,000 and 126,000, respectively, and are dissociated to active 33 kDa proteins by ethanol precipitation. Denaturing electrophoresis of each of the enzyme preparations showed two bands of M(r) 33,000 and 63,000. The enzymes are classified as type 2A phosphatases according to their inhibition by subnanomolar concentrations of okadaic acid, the lack of inhibition by heat-stable phosphatase inhibitors 1 and 2, and their preference for the alpha- rather than for the beta-subunit of phosphorylase kinase. Like other type 2A phosphatases, they exhibit broad substrate specificities, are activated by divalent cations and polycations, and inhibited by fluoride, inorganic phosphate and adenine nucleotides. In addition, we have found that PFK is also dephosphorylated by an unusual protein phosphatase. This exhibits kinetic properties similar to type 2A protein phosphatases, but has a distinctly lower sensitivity towards inhibition by okadaic acid (IC50 approx. 20 nM). Partial purification of the enzyme provided evidence that it is composed of a 30 kDa catalytic subunit and probably two other subunits (molecular masses 66 and 72 kDa). The dephosphorylation of PFK by protein phosphatases is strongly inhibited by heparin. This effect, however, is substrate-specific and does not occur with Ascaris phosphorylase a.     

Protein phosphatases of the guinea-pig parotid gland

The nature of protein phosphatases of the guinea-pig parotid gland was investigated. The protein phosphatases were characterized by (a) the use of five different 32P-labelled substrate proteins (phosphorylase a, histone H2B, casein, and the alpha and beta subunits of phosphorylase kinase), (b) their behaviour during ion-exchange chromatography, (c) their relative molecular mass distribution during gel filtration, (d) their sensitivity towards inhibition by inhibitor 2, (e) their ability to be stimulated by protamine and (f) by their behaviour during freezing and thawing in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The following results were obtained. 1. The 'cytosol' (100,000 X g supernatant) contains protein phosphatases of the types 1, 2A and 2B. 2. On the basis of inhibition with inhibitor 2 (1.2 micrograms/ml) the 'cytosolic' phosphorylase phosphatase activity consists to about 40% of protein phosphatase 1 and to about 60% of protein phosphatase 2A. 3. In the cytosol about 80-90% of the protein phosphatases 1 and 2A exist in an inactive state. 4. A 5-10-fold activation can be achieved by ethanol precipitation, which results in the generation of a mixture of forms of low apparent molecular mass of about 30 kDa. 5. Microsome-associated phosphorylase phosphatase activities can be extracted in a highly active state by detergent (1% Triton X-100) or by 0.8 M NaCl. 6. Activity measurements in the presence of inhibitor 2 (1.2 micrograms/ml) indicate that the microsomal activities consist to about 75% of protein phosphatase 1 and to about 25% of protein phosphatase 2A. Activities corresponding to protein phosphatases 2B and 2C could not be detected. 7. The 'microsomal' protein phosphatase activities exhibit lower apparent molecular masses (70 kDa and 30 kDa) than the 'cytosolic' protein phosphatases (about 260 kDa). 8. After ethanol treatment of the microsomal protein phosphatases only activities with apparent molecular masses of about 30 kDa can be detected. These share several similarities with the ethanol-treated cytosolic protein phosphatases. 9. Both cytosolic and microsomal protein phosphatases display activity towards histone H2B and casein.     

Characterization of Neuronal Protein Phosphatases in Aplysia californica

Biochemical properties of neuronal protein phosphatases from Aplysia californica were characterized. Dephosphorylation of phosphorylase alpha by extracts of abdominal ganglia and clusters of sensory neurons from pleural ganglia was demonstrated. Type-1 protein phosphatase (PrP-1) was identified in these extracts by the dephosphorylation of the beta-subunit of phosphorylase kinase and its inhibition by the protein, inhibitor-2. Type-2A protein phosphatase (PrP-2A) was demonstrated by the dephosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of phosphorylase kinase, which was insensitive to inhibitor-2. As in vertebrate tissues, only four enzymes, PrP-1 (47%), PrP-2A (42%), PrP-2B (11%), and PrP-2C (less than 1%), accounted for all the cellular protein phosphatase activity dephosphorylating phosphorylase kinase. Aplysia PrP-1 and PrP-2A were potently inhibited by okadaic acid, with PrP-1 being approximately 20-fold more sensitive than PrP-2A. By comparison, purified PrP-2A from rabbit skeletal muscle was 15- to 20-fold more sensitive to okadaic acid than PrP-1 from the same source. Only PrP-1 was associated with the particulate fractions from Aplysia neurons, whereas PrP-1 and PrP-2A, -2B, and -2C were all present in the cytosol. Extraction of the particulate PrP-1 decreased its sensitivity to okadaic acid by sixfold, suggesting that cellular factor(s) affect its sensitivity to this inhibitor. In most respects, protein phosphatases from Aplysia neurons resemble their mammalian counterparts, and their biochemical characterization sets the stage for examining the role of these enzymes in neuronal plasticity, and in learning and memory.