Differential association of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, SHIP-1, and PTEN with forming phagosomes

In macrophages, enzymes that synthesize or hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P(3)] regulate Fcgamma receptor-mediated phagocytosis. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) or overexpression of the lipid phosphatases phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) and Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP-1), which hydrolyze PI(3,4,5)P(3) to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate [PI(3,4)P(2)], respectively, inhibit phagocytosis in macrophages. To examine how these enzymes regulate phagosome formation, the distributions of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) chimeras of enzymes and pleckstrin homology (PH) domains specific for their substrates and products were analyzed quantitatively. PTEN-YFP did not localize to phagosomes, suggesting that PTEN regulates phagocytosis globally within the macrophage. SHIP1-YFP and p85-YFP were recruited to forming phagosomes. SHIP1-YFP sequestered to the leading edge and dissociated from phagocytic cups earlier than did p85-cyan fluorescent protein, indicating that SHIP-1 inhibitory activities are restricted to the early stages of phagocytosis. PH domain chimeras indicated that early during phagocytosis, PI(3,4,5)P(3) was slightly more abundant than PI(3,4)P(2) at the leading edge of the forming cup. These results support a model in which phagosomal PI3K generates PI(3,4,5)P(3) necessary for later stages of phagocytosis, PTEN determines whether those late stages can occur, and SHIP-1 regulates when and where they occur by transiently suppressing PI(3,4,5)P(3)-dependent activities necessary for completion of phagocytosis.     

Autophosphorylation of type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase regulates its lipid kinase activity

Phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) have important roles in the production of various phosphoinositides. For type I PIP5Ks (PIP5KI), a broad substrate specificity is known. They phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate most effectively but also phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, and phosphatidylinositol (3,4)-bisphosphate (PI(3, 4)P(2)), resulting in the production of phosphatidylinositol (4, 5)-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)), phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, phosphatidylinositol (3,4)-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P(2)), phosphatidylinositol (3,5)-bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P(2)), and phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate. We show here that PIP5KIs have also protein kinase activities. When each isozyme of PIP5KI (PIP5KIalpha, -beta, and -gamma) was subjected to in vitro kinase assay, autophosphorylation occurred. The lipid kinase-negative mutant of PIP5KIalpha (K138A) lost the protein kinase activity, suggesting the same catalytic mechanism for the lipid and the protein kinase activities. PIP5KIbeta expressed in Escherichia coli also retains this protein kinase activity, thus confirming that no co-immunoprecipitated protein kinase is involved. In addition, the autophosphorylation of PIP5KI is markedly enhanced by the addition of PI. No other phosphoinositides such as phosphatidylinositol phosphate, phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate, or phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate have such an effect. We also found that the PI-dependent autophosphorylation strongly suppresses the lipid kinase activity of PIP5KI. The lipid kinase activity of PIP5KI was decreased to one-tenth upon PI-dependent autophosphorylation. All these results indicate that the lipid kinase activity of PIP5KI that acts predominantly for PI(4,5)P(2) synthesis is regulated by PI-dependent autophosphorylation in vivo.     

Allosteric activation of PTEN phosphatase by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate

Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a tumor suppressor that is lost in many human tumors and encodes a phosphatidylinositol phosphate phosphatase specific for the 3-position of the inositol ring. Here we report a novel mechanism of PTEN regulation. Binding of di-C8-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-P2 (PI(4,5)P2) to PTEN enhances phosphatase activity for monodispersed substrates, PI(3,4,5)P3 and PI(3,4)P2. PI(5)P also is an activator, but PI(4)P, PI(3,4)P2, and PI(3,5)P2 do not activate PTEN. Activation by exogenous PI(4,5)P2 is more apparent with PI(3,4)P2 as a substrate than with PI(3,4,5)P3, probably because hydrolysis of PI(3,4)P2 yields PI(4)P, which is not an activator. In contrast, hydrolysis of PI(3,4,5)P3 yields a potent activator, PI(4,5)P2, creating a positive feedback loop. In addition, neither di-C4-PI(4,5)P2 nor inositol trisphosphate-activated PTEN. Hence, the interaction between PI(4,5)P2 and PTEN requires specific, ionic interactions with the phosphate groups on the inositol ring as well as hydrophobic interactions with the fatty acid chains, likely mimicking the physiological interactions that PTEN has with the polar surface head groups and the hydrophobic core of phospholipid membranes. Mutations of the apparent PI(4,5)P2-binding motif in the PTEN N terminus severely reduced PTEN activity. In contrast, mutation of the C2 phospholipid-binding domain had little effect on PTEN activation. These results suggest a model in which a PI(4,5)P2 monomer binds to PTEN, initiates an allosteric conformational change and, thereby, activates PTEN independent of membrane binding.     

Regulation of phosphoinositide metabolism, Akt phosphorylation, and glucose transport by PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

To investigate the roles of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) in the regulation of 3-position phosphorylated phosphoinositide metabolism as well as insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation and glucose metabolism, wild-type PTEN and its phosphatase-dead mutant (C124S) with or without an N-terminal myristoylation tag were overexpressed in Sf-9 cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes using baculovirus and adenovirus systems, respectively. When expressed in Sf-9 cells together with the p110alpha catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, myristoylated PTEN markedly reduced the accumulations of both phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate induced by p110alpha. In contrast, overexpression of the C124S mutants apparently increased these accumulations. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, insulin-induced accumulations of phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate were markedly suppressed by overexpression of wild-type PTEN with the N-terminal myristoylation tag, but not by that without the tag. On the contrary, the C124S mutants of PTEN enhanced insulin-induced accumulations of phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. Interestingly, the phosphorylation level of Akt at Thr308 (Akt2 at Thr309), but not at Ser473 (Akt2 at Ser474), was revealed to correlate well with the accumulation of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate modified by overexpression of these PTEN proteins. Finally, insulin-induced increases in glucose transport activity were significantly inhibited by the overexpression of myristoylated wild-type PTEN, but were not enhanced by expression of the C124S mutant of PTEN. Therefore, in conclusion, 1) PTEN dephosphorylates both phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate in vivo, and the C124S mutants interrupt endogenous PTEN activity in a dominant-negative manner. 2) The membrane targeting process of PTEN may be important for exerting its function. 3) Phosphorylations of Thr309 and Ser474 of Akt2 are regulated differently, and the former is regulated very sensitively by the function of PTEN. 4) The phosphorylation level of Ser474, but not that of Thr309, in Akt2 correlates well with insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 5) The activity of endogenous PTEN may not play a major role in the regulation of glucose transport activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.     

Novel mechanism of PTEN regulation by its phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate binding motif is critical for chemotaxis

In chemotaxing cells, localization of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) to the leading edge of the cell sets the direction and regulates the formation of pseudopods at the anterior. We show that the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN mediates chemotaxis and that the sharp localization of PI(3,4,5)P3 requires localization of PTEN to the rear of the cell. Our data suggest that a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) binding motif at the N terminus of PTEN serves the dual role of localizing the enzyme to the membrane and regulating its activity. Mutations in this motif enhance catalytic activity but render the enzyme inactive in vivo by preventing membrane association. The key role of this motif may explain the heretofore puzzling tumor-suppressing mutations occurring within the PI(4,5)P2 binding motif. On the other hand, the localization of PTEN does not depend on its phosphatase activity, the actin cytoskeleton, or the intracellular level of PI(3,4,5)P3, suggesting that events controlling localization are upstream of phosphoinositide signaling.     

Evidence that SHIP-1 contributes to phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate metabolism in T lymphocytes and can regulate novel phosphoinositide 3-kinase effectors

The leukemic T cell line Jurkat is deficient in protein expression of the lipid phosphatases Src homology 2 domain containing inositol polyphosphate phosphatase (SHIP) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN). We examined whether the lack of expression of SHIP-1 and PTEN is shared by other leukemic T cell lines and PBLs. Analysis of a range of cell lines and PBLs revealed that unlike Jurkat cells, two other well-characterized T cell lines, namely CEM and MOLT-4 cells, expressed the 5'-phosphatase SHIP at the protein level. However, the 3-phosphatase PTEN was not expressed by CEM or MOLT-4 cells or Jurkat cells. The HUT78 cell line and PBLs expressed both SHIP and PTEN. Jurkat cells exhibited high basal levels of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P(3); the lipid substrate for both SHIP and PTEN) as well as saturated protein kinase B (PKB) phosphorylation. Lower levels of PI(3,4,5)P(3) and higher levels of phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P(2)) as well as unsaturated constitutive phosphorylation of PKB were observed in CEM and MOLT-4 cells compared with Jurkat cells. In PBLs and HUT78 cells which express both PTEN and SHIP-1, there was no constitutive PI(3,4,5)P(3) or PKB phosphorylation, and receptor stimuli were able to elicit robust phosphorylation of PKB. Expression of a constitutively active SHIP-1 protein in Jurkat cells was sufficient to reduce both constitutive PKB membrane localization and PKB phosphorylation. Together, these data indicate important differences between T leukemic cells as well as PBLs, regarding expression of key lipid phosphatases. This study provides the first evidence that SHIP-1 can influence the constitutive levels of PI(3,4,5)P(3) and the activity of downstream phosphoinositide 3-kinase effectors in T lymphocytes.     

Phospholipase C regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated chemotaxis

Generation of a phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P(3)] gradient within the plasma membrane is important for cell polarization and chemotaxis in many eukaryotic cells. The gradient is produced by the combined activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) to increase PI(3,4,5)P(3) on the membrane nearest the polarizing signal and PI(3,4,5)P(3) dephosphorylation by phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) elsewhere. Common to both of these enzymes is the lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P(2)], which is not only the substrate of PI3K and product of PTEN but also important for membrane binding of PTEN. Consequently, regulation of phospholipase C (PLC) activity, which hydrolyzes PI(4,5)P(2), could have important consequences for PI(3,4,5)P(3) localization. We investigate the role of PLC in PI(3,4,5)P(3)-mediated chemotaxis in Dictyostelium. plc-null cells are resistant to the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and produce little PI(3,4,5)P(3) after cAMP stimulation, as monitored by the PI(3,4,5)P(3)-specific pleckstrin homology (PH)-domain of CRAC (PH(CRAC)GFP). In contrast, PLC overexpression elevates PI(3,4,5)P(3) and impairs chemotaxis in a similar way to loss of pten. PI3K localization at the leading edge of plc-null cells is unaltered, but dissociation of PTEN from the membrane is strongly reduced in both gradient and uniform stimulation with cAMP. These results indicate that local activation of PLC can control PTEN localization and suggest a novel mechanism to regulate the internal PI(3,4,5)P(3) gradient.     

Identification of multiple phosphoinositide-specific phospholipases D as new regulatory enzymes for phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-trisphosphate

In the course of delineating the regulatory mechanism underlying phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) metabolism, we have discovered three distinct phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase D (PI-PLD) isozymes from rat brain, tentatively designated as PI-PLDa, PI-PLDb, and PI-PLDc. These enzymes convert [3H]PI(3,4,5)P3 to generate a novel inositol phosphate, D-myo-[3H]inositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate ([3H]Ins(3,4,5)P3) and phosphatidic acid. These isozymes are predominantly associated with the cytosol, a notable difference from phosphatidylcholine PLDs. They are partially purified by a three-step procedure consisting of DEAE, heparin, and Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. PI-PLDa and PI-PLDb display a high degree of substrate specificity for PI(3,4, 5)P3, with a relative potency of PI(3,4,5)P3 > phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) or phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P) > phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) > phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P2). In contrast, PI-PLDc preferentially utilizes PI(3)P as substrate, followed by, in sequence, PI(3,4,5)P3, PI(4)P, PI(3,4)P2, and PI(4,5)P2. Both PI(3, 4)P2 and PI(4,5)P2 are poor substrates for all three isozymes, indicating that the regulatory mechanisms underlying these phosphoinositides are different from that of PI(3,4,5)P3. None of these enzymes reacts with phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, or phosphatidylethanolamine. All three PI-PLDs are Ca2+-dependent. Among them, PI-PLDb and PI-PLDc show maximum activities within a sub-microM range (0.3 and 0.9 microM Ca2+, respectively), whereas PI-PLDa exhibits an optimal [Ca2+] at 20 microM. In contrast to PC-PLD, Mg2+ has no significant effect on the enzyme activity. All three enzymes require sodium deoxycholate for optimal activities; other detergents examined including Triton X-100 and Nonidet P-40 are, however, inhibitory. In addition, PI(4,5)P2 stimulates these isozymes in a dose-dependent manner. Enhancement in the enzyme activity is noted only when the molar ratio of PI(4,5)P2 to PI(3,4, 5)P3 is between 1:1 and 2:1.     

Direct activation of the epithelial Na(+) channel by phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate produced by phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase

The phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P(2)) is accepted to be a direct modulator of ion channel activity. The products of phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI3K), PtdIns(3,4)P(2) and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)), in contrast, are not. We report here activation of the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) reconstituted in Chinese hamster ovary cells by PI3K. Insulin-like growth factor-I also activated reconstituted ENaC and increased Na(+) reabsorption across renal A6 epithelial cell monolayers via PI3K. Neither IGF-I nor PI3K affected the levels of ENaC in the plasma membrane. The effects of PI3K and IGF-I on ENaC activity paralleled changes in the plasma membrane levels of the PI3K product phospholipids, PtdIns(3,4)P(2)/PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3), as measured by evanescent field fluorescence microscopy. Both PtdIns(3,4)P(2) and PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) activated ENaC in excised patches. Activation of ENaC by PI3K and its phospholipid products corresponded to changes in channel open probability. We conclude that PI3K directly modulates ENaC activity via PtdIns(3,4)P(2) and PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3). This represents a novel transduction pathway whereby growth factors, such as IGF-I, rapidly modulate target proteins independent of signaling elicited by kinases downstream of PI3K.     

5' phospholipid phosphatase SHIP-2 causes protein kinase B inactivation and cell cycle arrest in glioblastoma cells

The tumor suppressor protein PTEN is mutated in glioblastoma multiform brain tumors, resulting in deregulated signaling through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (PKB) pathway, which is critical for maintaining proliferation and survival. We have examined the relative roles of the two major phospholipid products of PI3K activity, phosphatidylinositol 3,4-biphosphate [PtdIns(3,4)P2] and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3], in the regulation of PKB activity in glioblastoma cells containing high levels of both of these lipids due to defective PTEN expression. Reexpression of PTEN or treatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abolished the levels of both PtdIns(3, 4)P2 and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, reduced phosphorylation of PKB on Thr308 and Ser473, and inhibited PKB activity. Overexpression of SHIP-2 abolished the levels of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, whereas PtdIns(3,4)P2 levels remained high. However, PKB phosphorylation and activity were reduced to the same extent as they were with PTEN expression. PTEN and SHIP-2 also significantly decreased the amount of PKB associated with cell membranes. Reduction of SHIP-2 levels using antisense oligonucleotides increased PKB activity. SHIP-2 became tyrosine phosphorylated following stimulation by growth factors, but this did not significantly alter its phosphatase activity or ability to antagonize PKB activation. Finally we found that SHIP-2, like PTEN, caused a potent cell cycle arrest in G(1) in glioblastoma cells, which is associated with an increase in the stability of expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p27(KIP1). Our results suggest that SHIP-2 plays a negative role in regulating the PI3K-PKB pathway.     

Regulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling by oxidants: hydrogen peroxide selectively enhances immunoreceptor-induced recruitment of phosphatidylinositol (3,4) bisphosphate-binding PH domain proteins

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) generate several distinct lipid second messengers including phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) trisphosphate (PIP3) and phosphatidylinositol (3,4) bisphosphate PI(3,4)P2. PI(3,4)P2 is produced with distinct kinetics and binds to distinct PH domain effector proteins; however, the regulation of this signaling pathway is poorly understood. Superoxides such as hydrogen peroxide are transiently produced after activation through various cell surface receptors and play important roles in immune and inflammatory responses. Here we use quantitative microscopy to examine the effect of peroxide on PI(3,4)P2-mediated mobilization of signaling proteins in B lymphocytes. Peroxide was found to induce dose-dependant membrane recruitment of the PI(3,4)P2-binding PH domain proteins Bam32, TAPP2 and Akt/PKB but not the PIP3-binding PH domain of Btk. Peroxide-induced membrane recruitment was found to be dependant on PI3K activity, with the p110delta isoform contributing much of the activity in the BJAB human B lymphoma model. Strikingly, peroxide co-stimulation enhanced antigen receptor-induced membrane recruitment of Bam32 and TAPP2, with combined stimulation exceeding the maximum achievable with either stimulus alone. Expression of the lipid phosphatase PTEN led to reduction of antigen receptor-induced membrane recruitment of TAPP2; however, peroxide costimulation could overcome the inhibitory effect of PTEN. Inhibition of the NADPH oxidase led to reduction of antigen receptor-induced membrane recruitment of TAPP2. Our results indicate that exogenous and endogenous superoxides can modulate the quality of the PI3K signal in lymphocytes by selectively increasing PI(3,4)P2-dependant signaling.     

PTEN phosphatase selectively binds phosphoinositides and undergoes structural changes

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) is a tumor suppressor that is mutated or deleted in a variety of human tumors, and even loss of only one PTEN gene profoundly affects carcinogenesis. PTEN encodes a phosphatidylinositol phosphate phosphatase specific for the 3-position of the inositol ring. Despite its importance, we are just beginning to understand the regulatory circuits that maintain the correct levels of PTEN phosphatase activity. Several independent studies reported that PI(4,5)P2 enhances PTEN phosphatase activity, but the reasons for this enhancement are currently being debated. In this study, PTEN bound to PI(4,5)P2-bearing vesicles has increased alpha-helicity, providing direct spectroscopic proof of a conformational change. Neither PI(3,5)P2 nor PI(3,4,5)P3 induced this conformational change. On the basis of experiments with two mutant PTEN proteins, it is shown that PI(4,5)P2 induces this conformational change by binding to the PTEN N-terminal domain. Using PTEN protein and a 21-amino acid peptide based on the PTEN N-terminus, we tested all natural phosphatidylinositol phosphates and found preferential binding of PI(4,5)P2. PTEN also binds to phosphatidylserine-bearing vesicles, resulting in a slight increase in beta-sheet content. In addition, PTEN binds synergistically to PI(4,5)P2 and phosphatidylserine, and hence, these anionic lipids do not compete for PTEN binding sites. Collectively, these results demonstrate that PTEN binds to membranes through multiple sites, but only PI(4,5)P2 binding to the N-terminal domain triggers a conformational change with increased alpha-helicity.     

Distinct phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase lipid products accumulate upon oxidative and osmotic stress and lead to different cellular responses

Signaling by phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinases is mediated by 3-phosphoinositides, which bind to Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains that are present in a wide spectrum of proteins. PH domains can be classified into three groups based on their different lipid binding specificities. Distinct 3-phosphoinositides can accumulate upon PI 3-kinase activation in cells in response to different stimuli and mediate specific cellular responses. In Swiss 3T3 mouse fibroblasts, oxidative stress induced by 1 mM H(2)O(2) caused almost exclusive accumulation of phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3, 4)P(2)), whereas osmotic stress increased both phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)) and PtdIns(3,4)P(2) levels. The increase in PtdIns(3,4)P(2) levels, caused by oxidative stress, correlated with the activation of protein kinase B, which has a promiscuous PH domain that binds both PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) and PtdIns(3, 4)P(2). p70 S6 kinase, another signaling component downstream of PI 3-kinase, however, was not activated by this oxidative stress-induced increase in PtdIns(3,4)P(2) levels. Increased PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) and PtdIns(3,4)P(2) levels in response to osmotic stress did not correlate with protein kinase B activation, because of concomitant activation of an inhibitory pathway, but p70 S6 kinase was activated by osmotic stress. These results demonstrate that PtdIns(3,4)P(2) can accumulate independently of PtdIns(3,4, 5)P(3) and exerts a pattern of cellular responses that is distinct from that induced by accumulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3).     

Galpha q inhibits cardiac L-type Ca2+ channels through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Cardiac myocyte contractility is initiated by Ca2+ entry through the voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC). To study the effect of Galpha q on the cardiac LTCC, we utilized two transgenic mouse lines that selectively express inducible Galpha q-estrogen receptor hormone-binding domain fusion proteins (Galpha qQ209L-hbER or Galpha qQ209L-AA-hbER) in cardiac myocytes. Both of these proteins inhibit phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, but Galpha qQ209L-AA-hbER cannot activate the canonical Galpha q effector phospholipase Cbeta (PLCbeta). L-type Ca2+ current (I(Ca,L)) density measured by whole-cell patch clamping was reduced by more than 50% in myocytes from both Galpha q animals as compared with wild-type cells, suggesting that inhibition of the LTCC by Galpha q does not require PLCbeta. To investigate the role of PI3K in this inhibitory effect, I(Ca,L) was measured in the presence of various phosphoinositides infused through the patch pipette. Infusion of PI 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) into wild-type myocytes did not affect I(Ca,L), but it fully restored I(Ca,L) density in both Galpha q transgenic myocytes to wild-type levels. By contrast, PI 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) or PI 3,5-bisphosphate had no effect. Infusion with p110beta/p85alpha or p110gamma PI3K in the presence of PI(4,5)P2 also restored I(Ca,L) density to wild-type levels. Last, infusion of either PTEN, a PI(3,4,5)P3 phosphatase, or the pleckstrin homology domain of Grp1, which sequesters PI(3,4,5)P3, reduced the peak I(Ca,L) density in wild-type myocytes by approximately 30%. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the inhibitory effect of Galpha q on the cardiac LTCC is mediated by inhibition of PI3K.     

Transformation-defective mutants of polyomavirus middle T antigen associate with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) but are unable to maintain wild-type levels of PI 3-kinase products in intact cells.

Middle T antigen (MT) of polyomavirus causes transformation by associating with a number of cellular proteins. The association with and activation of two such proteins, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and pp60c-src, appears to be necessary for transformation by MT. The tyrosine kinase activity of MT-associated pp60c-src is significantly increased when assayed in vitro, and levels of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins are elevated in vivo. Similarly, levels of the PI 3-kinase products phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate [PI(3,4)P2] and phosphatiylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P3] are constitutively elevated in MT-transformed cells. However, the formation of a complete MT/cellular protein complex and the activation of tyrosine kinase are not sufficient to cause transformation, since the transformation-defective mutants 248m and dl1015 associate with all wild-type MT-associated proteins, including PI 3-kinase and pp60c-src, and neither mutant appears to be defective in MT-associated tyrosine kinase activity. Studies presented here compared (i) the amount of PI 3-kinase activity associated with the MT complex and (ii) levels of [3H]inositol incorporation into PI 3-kinase products in cells expressing mutant or wild-type MT. The results show that dl1015 is defective in both assays, whereas 248m is defective only for incorporation of [3H]inositol into PI(3,4,5)P2 and PI(3,4)P3. These findings identify a biochemical defect in the 248m mutant and corroborate previous results correlating transformation and elevated levels of PI 3-kinase products in vivo. In addition, they indicate that PI 3-kinase product levels are affected by factors other than simply the amount of PI 3-kinase activity associated with the MT complex.     

Regulation of protein kinase B activity by PTEN and SHIP2 in human prostate-derived cell lines

Protein Kinase B (PKB/Akt) is a key regulator of cell proliferation, motility and survival. The activation status of PKB is regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) via the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3, PIP3). PTEN antagonises PI3K by degrading PIP3 to phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2). Deregulation of PKB through loss of functional PTEN has frequently been implicated in the progression of tumours, including prostate cancer, and the PTEN-negative prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC3 have been widely used as models for this mechanism of constitutive PKB activation. However, other enzymes in addition to PTEN can antagonise PI3K, including SHIP2, which degrades PIP3 to phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P2). We investigated the role of PTEN and SHIP2 in the regulation of PKB phosphorylation in a panel of human prostate-derived epithelial cell lines. In the PTEN-positive prostate-derived cell lines PNT2, PNT1a and P4E6, PI3K inhibition by LY294002 caused rapid dephosphorylation of PKB at ser473 (T(1/2)<2 min), leading to its inactivation. In the PTEN-null line LNCaP, LY294002-induced PKB dephosphorylation was much slower (T(1/2)>20 min), but in PC3 cells (also PTEN-null) it was only slightly slower than in PTEN-positive cells (T(1/2)=3 min). PKB dephosphorylation paralleled loss of plasma membrane PIP3. PNT1a, P4E6 and PC3, but not PNT2 or LNCaP, expressed SHIP2. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of SHIP2 expression markedly slowed PKB inactivation in response to LY294002 in PC3 but not in other SHIP2-positive cells, whereas knockdown of PTEN expression in PNT2, PNT1a and P4E6 resulted in higher steady-state levels of PKB phosphorylation and slowed, but did not prevent, LY294002-induced PKB inactivation. Thus SHIP2 substitutes for PTEN in the acute regulation of PKB in PC3 cells but not other prostate cell lines, where PTEN may share this role with further PIP3-degrading mechanisms.     

SH3YL1 regulates dorsal ruffle formation by a novel phosphoinositide-binding domain

Reversible interactions between cytosolic proteins and membrane lipids such as phosphoinositides play important roles in membrane morphogenesis driven by actin polymerization. In this paper, we identify a novel lipid-binding module, which we call the SYLF domain (after the SH3YL1, Ysc84p/Lsb4p, Lsb3p, and plant FYVE proteins that contain it), that is highly conserved from bacteria to mammals. SH3YL1 (SH3 domain containing Ysc84-like 1) strongly bound to phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P(3)) and several D5-phosphorylated phosphoinositides through its SYLF domain and was localized to circular dorsal ruffles induced by platelet-derived growth factor stimulation. Interestingly, SHIP2 (the PI(3,4,5)P(3) 5-phosphatase, src-homology 2-containing inositol-5-phosphatase 2) was identified as a binding partner of SH3YL1, and knockdown of these proteins significantly suppressed dorsal ruffle formation. Phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P(2)), which is mainly synthesized from PI(3,4,5)P(3) by the action of SHIP2, was enriched in dorsal ruffles, and PI(3,4)P(2) synthesis strongly correlated with formation of the circular membrane structure. These results provide new insight into the molecular mechanism of dorsal ruffle formation and its regulation by phosphoinositide metabolism.     

A tumor suppressor homolog,AtPTEN1, is essential for pollen development in Arabidopsis

Although it is well known that Tyr phosphatases play a critical role in signal transduction in animal cells, little is understood of the functional significance of Tyr phosphatases in higher plants. Here, we describe the functional analysis of an Arabidopsis gene (AtPTEN1) that encodes a Tyr phosphatase closely related to PTEN, a tumor suppressor in animals. The recombinant AtPTEN1 protein, like its homologs in animals, is an active phosphatase that dephosphorylates phosphotyrosine and phosphatidylinositol substrates. RNA gel blot analysis and examination of promoter-reporter constructs in transgenic Arabidopsis plants revealed that the AtPTEN1 gene is expressed exclusively in pollen grains during the late stage of development. Suppression of AtPTEN1 gene expression by RNA interference caused pollen cell death after mitosis. We conclude that AtPTEN1 is a pollen-specific phosphatase and is essential for pollen development.     

SHIP2 overexpression strongly reduces the proliferation rate of K562 erythroleukemia cell line

SHIP2 belongs to the inositol 5-phosphatase family and is characterized by a phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P(3)) 5-phosphatase activity. Evidence based on mice lacking the SHIP2 gene has demonstrated its predominant role in the control of insulin sensitivity. However, SHIP2 expression in both hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells suggests additional functions. SHIP2 was previously identified in chronic myelogenous progenitor cells, in which its constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation was reported by Wisniewski et al., [Blood 93 (1999) 2707-2720]. Here, we further investigated the function of SHIP2 in this hematopoietic and malignant context. A detailed analysis of the substrate specificity of SHIP2 indicated that this phosphatase is primarily directed towards PI(3,4,5)P(3) both in vitro and in K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells. The SHIP2-mediated decrease in PI(3,4,5)P(3) levels and increase in phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate (PI(3,4)P(2)) was accompanied by a reduction of cell proliferation, characterized by an accumulation of the cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Thus, in addition to its role in the control of insulin sensitivity, SHIP2 may also play a role in cell proliferation, at least in chronic myelogenous progenitor cells.     

SopB promotes phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate formation on Salmonella vacuoles by recruiting Rab5 and Vps34

Salmonella colonizes a vacuolar niche in host cells during infection. Maturation of the Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) involves the formation of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) on its outer leaflet. SopB, a bacterial virulence factor with phosphoinositide phosphatase activity, was proposed to generate PI(3)P by dephosphorylating PI(3,4)P2, PI(3,5)P2, and PI(3,4,5)P3. Here, we examine the mechanism of PI(3)P formation during Salmonella infection. SopB is required to form PI(3,4)P2/PI(3,4,5)P3 at invasion ruffles and PI(3)P on nascent SCVs. However, we uncouple these events experimentally and reveal that SopB does not dephosphorylate PI(3,4)P2/PI(3,4,5)P3 to produce PI(3)P. Instead, the phosphatase activity of SopB is required for Rab5 recruitment to the SCV. Vps34, a PI3-kinase that associates with active Rab5, is responsible for PI(3)P formation on SCVs. Therefore, SopB mediates PI(3)P production on the SCV indirectly through recruitment of Rab5 and its effector Vps34. These findings reveal a link between phosphoinositide phosphatase activity and the recruitment of Rab5 to phagosomes.