Extracellular matrix-mediated signaling by dentin phosphophoryn involves activation of the Smad pathway independent of bone morphogenetic protein

Cells have ingenious mechanisms for interpreting complex signals from their external microenvironment. Previously, we have shown that phosphophoryn (PP) regulates the expression of bone/dentin marker genes via the integrin/MAPK signaling pathway (Jadlowiec, J., Koch, H., Zhang, X., Campbell, P. G., Seyedain, M., and Sfeir, C. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 53323-53330). We hypothesize that other signaling pathways important for mineralized tissue morphogenesis such as the Smad pathway could be involved in PP signaling. We determined activation of the Smad pathway in human adult mesenchymal stem cells following treatment with recombinant PP (rPP). We observed that PP enhanced phosphorylation of Smad1 within 30 min and Smad1 translocation to the nucleus within 1 h. PP up-regulated the expression of Smad1 target genes, Smad6, Dlx5, and Runx2. The timing of PP activation of Smad1 implies this is a direct effect; however, we also investigated the possible involvement of bone morphogenetic proteins in PP stimulation of the Smad pathway. PP was shown to up-regulate Bmp-2 gene expression 12 h post-treatment with PP, which is much later than initial detection of Smad1 phosphorylation at 30 min. Furthermore, addition of Noggin did not block Smad1 phosphorylation by PP. We propose that PP could signal via the Smad pathway by either directly stimulating the phosphorylation of Smad1 via integrins or other mechanisms. These might include integrin/bone morphogenetic protein receptor interactions or involvement of PP with other growth factors leading to the modulation of intracellular signaling. It is noteworthy that a non-transforming growth factor-beta family member activates the Smad pathway. The role of PP in regulating the Smad pathway raises very interesting questions regarding the role of PP during bone and tooth development.     

Mutations in protein-binding hot-spots on the hub protein Smad3 differentially affect its protein interactions and Smad3-regulated gene expression

Background

Hub proteins are connected through binding interactions to many other proteins. Smad3, a mediator of signal transduction induced by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), serves as a hub protein for over 50 protein-protein interactions. Different cellular responses mediated by Smad3 are the product of cell-type and context dependent Smad3-nucleated protein complexes acting in concert. Our hypothesis is that perturbation of this spectrum of protein complexes by mutation of single protein-binding hot-spots on Smad3 will have distinct consequences on Smad3-mediated responses.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We mutated 28 amino acids on the surface of the Smad3 MH2 domain and identified 22 Smad3 variants with reduced binding to subsets of 17 Smad3-binding proteins including Smad4, SARA, Ski, Smurf2 and SIP1. Mutations defective in binding to Smad4, e.g., D408H, or defective in nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, e.g., W406A, were compromised in modulating the expression levels of a Smad3-dependent reporter gene or six endogenous Smad3-responsive genes: Mmp9, IL11, Tnfaip6, Fermt1, Olfm2 and Wnt11. However, the Smad3 mutants Y226A, Y297A, W326A, K341A, and E267A had distinct differences on TGF-β signaling. For example, K341A and Y226A both reduced the Smad3-mediated activation of the reporter gene by ∼50% but K341A only reduced the TGF-β inducibilty of Olfm2 in contrast to Y226A which reduced the TGF-β inducibility of all six endogenous genes as severely as the W406A mutation. E267A had increased protein binding but reduced TGF-β inducibility because it caused higher basal levels of expression. Y297A had increased TGF-β inducibility because it caused lower Smad3-induced basal levels of gene expression.

Conclusions/Significance

Mutations in protein binding hot-spots on Smad3 reduced the binding to different subsets of interacting proteins and caused a range of quantitative changes in the expression of genes induced by Smad3. This approach should be useful for unraveling which Smad3 protein complexes are critical for specific biological responses.     

Spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis involves caspase 3-mediated activation of protein kinase C-delta

Neutrophils are short-lived leukocytes that die by apoptosis. Whereas stress-induced apoptosis is mediated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway (Frasch, S. C., Nick, J. A., Fadok, V. A., Bratton, D. L., Worthen, G. S., and Henson, P. M. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 8389-8397), signals regulating spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis have not been fully determined. In this study we found increased activation of protein kinase C (PKC)-beta and -delta in neutrophils undergoing spontaneous apoptosis, but we show that only activation of PKC-delta was directly involved in the induction of apoptosis. PKC-delta can be proteolytically activated by caspase 3. We detected the 40-kDa caspase-generated fragment of PKC-delta in apoptotic neutrophils and showed that the caspase 3 inhibitor Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone prevented generation of the 40-kDa PKC-delta fragment and delayed neutrophil apoptosis. In a cell-free system, removal of PKC-delta by immunoprecipitation reduced DNA fragmentation, whereas loss of PKC-alpha, -beta, or -zeta had no significant effect. Rottlerin and LY379196 inhibit PKC-delta and PKC-beta, respectively. Only Rottlerin was able to delay neutrophil apoptosis. Inhibitors of MAP-ERK kinase 1 (PD98059) or p38 MAP kinase (SB202190) had no effect on neutrophil apoptosis, and activation of p42/44 and p38 MAP kinase did not increase in apoptotic neutrophils. We conclude that spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis involves activation of PKC-delta but is MAP kinase-independent.     

Identification and characterization of arginase II as a chondrocyte phenotype-specific gene

We have previously shown that activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-1 and -2 (ERK1/2) causes chondrocyte dedifferentiation, which contributes to the destruction of arthritic cartilage. In the present study, we identified genes involved in the ERK1/2 regulation of chondrocyte dedifferentiation. Several genes were identified by subtractive hybridization, and, of these, arginase II was selected for further functional characterization. Similar to the pattern of type II collagen expression, which is a hallmark of chondrocyte differentiation, arginase II expression was increased during chondrogenesis of mesenchymal cells. The high expression level of arginase II was decreased during dedifferentiation of chondrocytes, whereas its expression was restored during redifferentiation of the dedifferentiated chondrocytes. Inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling in chondrocytes enhanced type II collagen expression with a concomitant increase in expression and activity of arginase II. However, ectopic expression of arginase II or inhibition of its activity did not affect chondrocyte differentiation. The results collectively indicate that expression of arginase II is specific to the chondrocyte phenotype, although the expression of arginase II alone is not sufficient for articular chondrocytes to maintain a differentiated phenotype.     

Involvement of lysosomal degradation in VEGF-C-induced down-regulation of VEGFR-3

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C-induced down-regulation of VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3 is important in lymphangiogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that VEGF-C, -D, and -C156S, but not VEGF-A, down-regulate VEGFR-3. VEGF-C stimulates VEGFR-3 tyrosyl phosphorylation and transient phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases in lymphatic endothelial cells. VEGF-C-induced down-regulation of VEGFR-3 was blocked by a VEGF-C trap, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and leupeptin, pepstatin, and E64 (LPE), but was unaffected by Notch 1 activator and γ-secretase inhibitors. Our findings indicate that VEGF-C down-regulates VEGFR-3 in lymphatic endothelial cells through VEGFR-3 kinase activation and, in part, via lysosomal degradation.     

Latent membrane protein 1 of Epstein-Barr virus inhibits as well as stimulates gene expression

The latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) functionally resembles a constitutively active, CD40-like receptor and contributes to the maintenance of proliferation of EBV-infected primary human B lymphocytes. LMP-1 is targeted to the plasma membrane, where it binds TRAF, TRADD, and JAK molecules to activate NF-kappaB-, AP-1-, and STAT-dependent pathways as does CD40. Yet LMP-1 appears to lack a ligand to regulate its signaling. We have found that LMP-1, when expressed at physiologic levels, inhibits gene expression detectably. Higher levels of LMP-1 expression eventually inhibit both the steady-state level of RNA produced from a BamHI C promoter reporter and general cellular protein synthesis. These findings indicate that LMP-1 can limit its signaling and that this control is manifest at two levels. The domain of LMP-1 that binds TRAF, TRADD, and JAK/STAT molecules is not required for this regulation. A derivative of LMP-1 that contains only its amino-terminal and membrane-spanning domains is sufficient to inhibit reporter activity when the reporter genes are expressed from the BamHI C and LMP-1 promoters. This same derivative of LMP-1 in parallel assays is sufficient to inhibit wild-type LMP-1's stimulation of NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression. We suggest that LMP-1 encodes stimulatory and inhibitory activities; the latter could limit signaling in the apparent absence of ligand-dependent down-regulation.     

Magnesium ion-dependent activation of the RecA protein involves the C terminus

Optimal conditions for RecA protein-mediated DNA strand exchange include 6-8 mm Mg(2+) in excess of that required to form complexes with ATP. We provide evidence that the free magnesium ion is required to mediate a conformational change in the RecA protein C terminus that activates RecA-mediated DNA strand exchange. In particular, a "closed" (low Mg(2+)) conformation of a RecA nucleoprotein filament restricts DNA pairing by incoming duplex DNA, although single-stranded overhangs at the ends of a duplex allow limited DNA pairing to occur. The addition of excess Mg(2+) results in an "open" conformation, which can promote efficient DNA pairing and strand exchange regardless of DNA end structure. The removal of 17 amino acid residues at the Escherichia coli RecA C terminus eliminates a measurable requirement for excess Mg(2+) and permits efficient DNA pairing and exchange similar to that seen with the wild-type protein at high Mg(2+) levels. Thus, the RecA C terminus imposes the need for the high magnesium ion concentrations requisite in RecA reactions in vitro. We propose that the C terminus acts as a regulatory switch, modulating the access of double-stranded DNA to the presynaptic filament and thereby inhibiting homologous DNA pairing and strand exchange at low magnesium ion concentrations.     

Cell-type-specific activation of PAK2 by transforming growth factor beta independent of Smad2 and Smad3

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) causes growth arrest in epithelial cells and proliferation and morphological transformation in fibroblasts. Despite the ability of TGF-beta to induce various cellular phenotypes, few discernible differences in TGF-beta signaling between cell types have been reported, with the only well-characterized pathway (the Smad cascade) seemingly under identical control. We determined that TGF-beta receptor signaling activates the STE20 homolog PAK2 in mammalian cells. PAK2 activation occurs in fibroblast but not epithelial cell cultures and is independent of Smad2 and/or Smad3. Furthermore, we show that TGF-beta-stimulated PAK2 activity is regulated by Rac1 and Cdc42 and dominant negative PAK2 or morpholino antisense oligonucleotides to PAK2 prevent the morphological alteration observed following TGF-beta addition. Thus, PAK2 represents a novel Smad-independent pathway that differentiates TGF-beta signaling in fibroblast (growth-stimulated) and epithelial cell (growth-inhibited) cultures.     

Csk-binding protein mediates sequential enzymatic down-regulation and degradation of Lyn in erythropoietin-stimulated cells

We have shown previously that the Src family kinase Lyn is involved in differentiation signals emanating from activated erythropoietin (Epo) receptors. The importance of Lyn to red cell maturation has been highlighted by Lyn-/- mice developing anemia. Here we show that Lyn interacts with C-terminal Src kinase-binding protein (Cbp), an adaptor protein that recruits negative regulators C-terminal Src kinase (Csk)/Csk-like protein-tyrosine kinase (Ctk). Lyn phosphorylated Cbp on several tyrosine residues, including Tyr314, which recruited Csk/Ctk to suppress Lyn kinase activity. Intriguingly, phosphorylated Tyr314 also bound suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), another well characterized negative regulator of cell signaling, resulting in elevated ubiquitination, and degradation of Lyn. In Epo-responsive primary cells and cell lines, Lyn rapidly phosphorylated Cbp, suppressing Lyn kinase activity via Csk/Ctk within minutes of Epo stimulation; hours later, SOCS1 bound to Cbp and was involved in the ubiquitination and turnover of Lyn protein. Thus, a single phosphotyrosine residue on Cbp coordinates a two-phase process involving distinct negative regulatory pathways to inactivate, then degrade, Lyn.     

Carbon export from arbuscular mycorrhizal roots involves the translocation of carbohydrate as well as lipid

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi take up photosynthetically fixed carbon from plant roots and translocate it to their external mycelium. Previous experiments have shown that fungal lipid synthesized from carbohydrate in the root is one form of exported carbon. In this study, an analysis of the labeling in storage and structural carbohydrates after (13)C(1) glucose was provided to AM roots shows that this is not the only pathway for the flow of carbon from the intraradical to the extraradical mycelium (ERM). Labeling patterns in glycogen, chitin, and trehalose during the development of the symbiosis are consistent with a significant flux of exported glycogen. The identification, among expressed genes, of putative sequences for glycogen synthase, glycogen branching enzyme, chitin synthase, and for the first enzyme in chitin synthesis (glutamine fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase) is reported. The results of quantifying glycogen synthase gene expression within mycorrhizal roots, germinating spores, and ERM are consistent with labeling observations using (13)C-labeled acetate and glycerol, both of which indicate that glycogen is synthesized by the fungus in germinating spores and during symbiosis. Implications of the labeling analyses and gene sequences for the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism are discussed, and a 4-fold role for glycogen in the AM symbiosis is proposed: sequestration of hexose taken from the host, long-term storage in spores, translocation from intraradical mycelium to ERM, and buffering of intracellular hexose levels throughout the life cycle.