Enhanced dephosphorylation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase by oxidation and thiol modification

The catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is phosphorylated at threonine 197 and serine 338. Phosphorylation of threonine 197, located in the activation loop, is required for coordinating the active site conformation and optimal enzymatic activity. However, this phosphorylation has not been widely appreciated as a regulatory site because of the apparent constitutive nature of the phosphorylation and the general resistance of the kinase to phosphatase treatment. We demonstrate here that the observed resistance of the catalytic subunit to dephosphorylation is due, in part, to the presence of the highly nucleophilic cysteine 199 located proximal to the phosphate on threonine 197. Experiments performed in vitro demonstrated that mutation (cysteine 199 to alanine), oxidation, such as by glutathionylation or internal disulfide bond formation, or alkylation of the C-subunit enhanced its ability to be dephosphorylated. Furthermore, rephosphorylation of reduced C-subunit by PDK1 created a cycle whereby the inactive kinase could be reactivated. To demonstrate that thiol modification of PKA can lead to enhanced dephosphorylation in vivo, PC12 cells were treated with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Such treatment resulted in complete PKA inactivation and dephosphorylation of threonine 197. This effect of NEM was contingent upon prior treatment of the cells with PKA activators, demonstrating the resistance of the holoenzyme to thiol alkylation-mediated dephosphorylation. Our results also demonstrated that NEM treatment of PC12 cells enhanced the dephosphorylation of the protein kinase Calpha activation loop, suggesting a common mechanism of regulation among members of the AGC family of kinases.     

Flavonoid modulation of protein kinase C activation

The flavonoid quercetin exhibited a biphasic effect on calcium and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) activity from rat brain and pig thyroid. At a low concentration (10(-7) M) quercetin stimulated the enzyme activity whereas at higher concentrations quercetin was inhibitory. By contrast the synthetic penta-0-ethylquercetin stimulated protein kinase C activity in a dose-dependent manner. When fresly dispersed pig thyroid cells were treated with penta-0-ethylquercetin or 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a 50% decrease of the cytosolic protein kinase C activity was observed. These results suggest that the lipophilicity as well as other structural determinants may be crucial for the ability of flavonoids to regulate (inhibit or activate) the enzyme activity.     

Substrate-specific stimulation of protein kinase C by polyvalent anion

The activity of protein kinase C (PKC) toward arginine-rich substrates was greatly stimulated by sulfate and phosphate, but not by monovalent anions. This stimulation did not require phospholipid, calcium, or diacylglycerol, and appeared to mimic the stimulation by phospholipid. Anionic proteins such as bovine serum albumin also promoted PKC activity toward certain substrates that were characterized by either high arginine or high lysine content. The mechanism of both of these stimulations appeared to be related to formation of a substrate-PKC complex which is essential to phosphorylation by PKC. Polyvalent anions bind the cationic substrate and, together with PKC, form an aggregate which allows phosphorylation. Potential physiological relevance of this stimulation is discussed.     

Dual modulation of protein kinase C activity by sphingosine.

Sphingosine is one of a number of cationic amphiphiles that inhibit the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) in commonly used assay conditions. This inhibition occurs only at high concentrations of this amphiphile. In the presence of excess negative charge from oleic acid, the addition of sphingosine surprisingly leads to activation of PKC. The results are explicable in terms of the dual role of charge and lipid phase propensity. When the positive charge on sphingosine is compensated by the negative charge on oleic acid, sphingosine, a hexagonal phase promoting amphiphile, becomes an activator of PKC. This does not occur with a bilayer stabilizing cationic amphiphile, N,N,N-Trimethyl-N'-cholesteryl amido-ethyl ammonium which is an inhibitor of PKC at all mol fractions, as well as in the presence of oleic acid. The results indicate that effects of sphingosine on more complex biological systems should be interpreted with caution because of this dual role of the amphiphile.     

Neuromodulation of Na+ channel slow inactivation via cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C

Neurotransmitters modulate sodium channel availability through activation of G protein-coupled receptors, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), and protein kinase C (PKC). Voltage-dependent slow inactivation also controls sodium channel availability, synaptic integration, and neuronal firing. Here we show by analysis of sodium channel mutants that neuromodulation via PKA and PKC enhances intrinsic slow inactivation of sodium channels, making them unavailable for activation. Mutations in the S6 segment in domain III (N1466A,D) either enhance or block slow inactivation, implicating S6 segments in the molecular pathway for slow inactivation. Modulation of N1466A channels by PKC or PKA is increased, whereas modulation of N1466D is nearly completely blocked. These results demonstrate that neuromodulation by PKA and PKC is caused by their enhancement of intrinsic slow inactivation gating. Modulation of slow inactivation by neurotransmitters acting through G protein-coupled receptors, PKA, and PKC is a flexible mechanism of cellular plasticity controlling the firing behavior of central neurons.     

Isothiocyanates sensitize the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs via modulation of protein kinase C and telomerase in cervical cancer cells

We determined effects of the vasopeptidase inhibitor (VPI) omapatrilat and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)R) blocker (ARB) candesartan in rats during healing between day-2 and day-21 after reperfused myocardial infarction (RMI) on left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function, and regional matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-3, inducible-nitric-oxide-synthase (iNOS), oxidant-generating myeloperoxidase (MPO), and cytokines tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, and transforming-growth-factor (TGF)-beta(1), and collagens. Compared to RMI-placebo, both agents reversed adverse LV remodeling and systolic and diastolic dysfunction, improved collagen remodeling, and normalized MMP-9 (activity, protein, and mRNA), TIMP-3 (protein and mRNA), and iNOS, MPO, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and TGF-beta(1) proteins, and improved MMP-9/TIMP-3 balance and IL-10 levels in previously ischemic zones. The results suggest that modulation of matrix proteases, oxidants, cytokines, and NOSs with omapatrilat and candesartan contribute to reversal of adverse collagen and LV remodeling and attenuation of LV dysfunction during healing after RMI.     

Proteomic approaches to the characterization of protein thiol modification

Protein cysteine residues are central to redox signaling and to protection against oxidative damage through their interactions with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and electrophiles. Although there is considerable evidence for a functional role for cysteine modifications, the identity and physiological significance of most protein thiol alterations are unknown. One way to identify candidate proteins involved in these processes is to utilize the proteomic methodologies that have been developed in recent years for the identification of proteins that undergo cysteine modification in response to redox signals or oxidative damage. These tools have proven effective in uncovering novel protein targets of redox modification and are important first steps that allow for a better understanding of how reactive molecules may contribute to signaling and damage. Here, we discuss a number of these approaches and their application to the identification of a variety of cysteine-centered redox modifications.     

Kinetics of inactivation of creatine kinase during modification of its thiol groups

Kinetics of inactivation and modification of the reactive thiol groups of creatine kinase by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) or iodoacetamide have been compared, the former by following the substrate reaction in presence of the inactivator [Wang, Z.-X., & Tsou, C.-L. (1987) J. Theor. Biol. 127, 253]. The microscopic constants for the reaction of the inactivators with the free enzyme and with the enzyme-substrate complexes were determined. From the results obtained it appears that with respect to ATP both inactivators are noncompetitive whereas for creatine iodoacetamide is competitive but DTNB is not. The formation of the ternary complex protects against the inactivation by both DTNB and iodoacetamide. The inactivation kinetics is monophasic with both inactivators, but under similar conditions, the modification reactions in the presence of the transition-state analogue of creatine-ADP-Mg2+-nitrate show biphasic kinetics as also reported by Price and Hunter [Price, N.C., & Hunter, M.G. (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 445, 364]. If the reactive ternary complex and the enzyme complexed with the transition-state analogue react in the same way with these reagents, the modification of one fast-reacting thiol group for each enzyme molecule leads to complete inactivation, indicating that the enzyme has to be in the dimeric state to be active.     

Partitioning-defective protein 6 regulates insulin-dependent glycogen synthesis via atypical protein kinase C

The atypical isoforms of protein kinase C (aPKCs) play an important role in insulin signaling and are involved in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in different cell systems. On the other hand, aPKCs also are able to negatively regulate important proteins for insulin signaling, like phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase B/Akt. To find aPKC-interacting proteins that may promote positive or negative activities of aPKCs, a yeast two-hybrid screen was performed. Partitioning-defective protein 6 (Par6) was detected in human cDNA libraries of different adult insulin-sensitive tissues. Although Par6 is known as an aPKC-interacting protein during development, no role for Par6 in insulin signaling has been reported so far. We therefore studied the effects of Par6 overexpression in C2C12 murine myoblasts. In these cells, Par6 associated constitutively with endogenous aPKCs, and the expression level as well as the activity of aPKCs were increased. Insulin-dependent association of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with insulin receptor substrate 1 was hampered and the phosphorylation of Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha/beta was significantly impaired after stimulation with insulin or with platelet-derived growth factor. Consequently, insulin-dependent glycogen synthesis was down-regulated (1.44 vs. 2.24 fold, P < 0.01). We therefore suggest that Par6 acts as a negative regulator of the insulin signal.     

Phosphorylation and up-regulation of diacylglycerol kinase gamma via its interaction with protein kinase C gamma

Diacylglycerol (DAG) acts as an allosteric activator of protein kinase C (PKC) and is converted to phosphatidic acid by DAG kinase (DGK). Therefore, DGK is thought to be a negative regulator of PKC activation. Here we show molecular mechanisms of functional coupling of the two kinases. gammaPKC directly associated with DGKgamma through its accessory domain (AD), depending on Ca2+ as well as phosphatidylserine/diolein in vitro. Mass spectrometric analysis and mutation studies revealed that gammaPKC phosphorylated Ser-776 and Ser-779 in the AD of DGKgamma. The phosphorylation by gammaPKC resulted in activation of DGKgamma because a DGKgamma mutant in which Ser-776 and Ser-779 were substituted with glutamic acid to mimic phosphorylation exhibited significantly higher activity compared with wild type DGKgamma and an unphosphorylatable DGKgamma mutant. Importantly, the interaction of the two kinases and the phosphorylation of DGKgamma by gammaPKC could be confirmed in vivo, and overexpression of the AD of DGKgamma inhibited re-translocation of gammaPKC. These results demonstrate that localization and activation of the functionally correlated kinases, gammaPKC and DGKgamma, are spatio-temporally orchestrated by their direct association and phosphorylation, contributing to subtype-specific regulation of DGKgamma and DAG signaling.     

Mechanical pressure-induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in epithelial cells via Src and protein kinase C

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of lentiviral transduction on primary murine B cells. Studying B cell activities in vivo or using them for tolerance induction requires that the cells remain unaltered in their biological behavior except for expression of the transgene. As we show here, murine B cells can efficiently be transduced by lentiviral, VSV-G-pseudotyped vectors without the necessity of prior activation. Culture with LPS gave enhanced transduction efficiencies but led to the upregulation of CD86 and proliferation of the cells. Transduction of naive B cells by lentiviral vectors was dependent on multiplicity of infection and did not lead to a concomitant activation. Furthermore, the transduced cells could be used for studies in the NOD mouse system without altering the onset of diabetes. We conclude that lentiviral gene transfer into naive B cells is a powerful tool for manipulation of B cells for therapeutic applications.     

Glucocorticoid stimulation of amnion cell prostaglandin synthesis: suppression by protein kinase C inhibitors and independence of phorbol ester-sensitive protein kinase C.

Glucocorticoids stimulate the prostaglandin E2 production of confluent amnion cell cultures, but have no stimulatory effect on the PGE2 output of freshly isolated human amnion cells. Since protein phosphorylation may modify the responsiveness of target cells to steroids, and activators of protein kinase C (PKC), as well as corticosteroids, promote amnion cell PGE2 output by stimulating the synthesis of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS), we investigated the possibility that PKC is involved in the glucocorticoid-induction of PGE2 synthesis in cultured amnion cells. The dexamethasone-induced PGE2 output of arachidonate-stimulated cells was blocked by the protein kinase inhibitors staurosporine, K-252a, H7, HA1004, and sphinganine, in a manner consistent with their effect on PKC. However, dexamethasone increased the PGE2 production of cultures treated with maximally effective concentrations of the PKC-activator compound TPA. Moreover, dexamethasone stimulated PGE2 synthesis in cultures which were desensitized to TPA-stimulation by prolonged phorbol ester treatment. Concentration-dependence studies showed that staurosporine completely (greater than 95%) blocked glucocorticoid-provoked PGE2 synthesis at concentrations which did not inhibit TPA-stimulated prostaglandin output, and that K-252a inhibited the effect of TPA by more than 95% at concentrations which decreased the effect of dexamethasone only moderately (approximately 40%). Dibutyryl cyclic AMP had no influence on the basal- or dexamethasone-stimulated PGE2 production, and on the staurosporine inhibition of the steroid effect. These results show that glucocorticoids and phorbol esters control amnion PGE2 production by separate regulatory mechanisms. It is suggested that the response of human amnion cells to glucocorticoids is modulated by protein kinase(s) other than phorbol ester-sensitive PKC and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Requirement of protein kinase C zeta for stimulation of protein synthesis by insulin.

The ability of insulin to stimulate protein synthesis and cellular growth is mediated through the insulin receptor (IR), which phosphorylates Tyr residues in the insulin receptor substrate-signaling proteins (IRS-1 and IRS-2), Gab-1, and Shc. These phosphorylated substrates directly bind and activate enzymes such as phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor for p21Ras (GRB-2/SOS), which are in turn required for insulin-stimulated protein synthesis, cell cycle progression, and prevention of apoptosis. We have now shown that one or more members of the atypical protein kinase C group, as exemplified by the zeta isoform (PKC zeta), are downstream of IRS-1 and P13K and mediate the effect of insulin on general protein synthesis. Ectopic expression of constitutively activated PKC zeta eliminates the requirement of IRS-1 for general protein synthesis but not for insulin-stimulated activation of 70-kDa S6 kinase (p70S6K), synthesis of growth-regulated proteins (e.g., c-Myc), or mitogenesis. The fact that PKC zeta stimulates general protein synthesis but not activation of p70S6K indicates that PKC zeta activation does not involve the proto-oncogene Akt, which is also activated by PI3K. Yet insulin is still required for the stimulation of general protein synthesis in the presence of constitutively active PKC zeta and in the absence of IRS-1, suggesting a requirement for the convergence of the IRS-1/PI3K/PKC zeta pathway with one or more additional pathways emanating from the IR, e.g., Shc/SOS/p21Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase. Thus, PI3K appears to represent a bifurcation in the insulin signaling pathway, one branch leading through PKC zeta to general protein synthesis and one, through Akt and the target of rapamycin (mTOR), to growth-regulated protein synthesis and cell cycle progression.     

Protamine induces autophosphorylation of protein kinase C: stimulation of protein kinase C-mediated protamine phosphorylation by histone.

Protein kinase C (PKC), a protein phosphorylating enzyme, is characterized by its need for an acidic phospholipid and for activators such as Ca2+ and diacylglycerol. The substrate commonly used in experiments with PKC is a basic protein, histone III-S, which needs the activators mentioned. However, protamine, a natural basic substrate for PKC, does not require the presence of cofactor/activator. We report here that protamine can induce the autophosphorylation of PKC in the absence of any PKC-cofactor or activator; this may represent a possible mechanism of cofactor-independent phosphorylation of this protein. It was investigated if protamine itself can act as a PKC-activator and stimulate histone phosphorylation in the manner of Ca2+ and phospholipids. Experiments however showed that protamine is not a general effector of PKC. On the contrary, histone stimulated PKC-mediated protamine phosphorylation and protamine-induced PKC-autophosphorylation. Histone alone did not induce PKC-autophosphorylation. Kinetic studies suggest that histone increases the maximal velocity (Vmax) of protamine kinase activity of PKC without affecting the affinity (Km). Other polycationic proteins such as polyarginine serine and polyarginine tyrosine were not found to influence PKC-mediated protamine phosphorylation, indicating that the observed effects are specific to histone, and are not general for all polycationic proteins. These results suggest that histone can modulate the protamine kinase activity of PKC by stimulating protamine-induced PKC-autophosphorylation.     

Synergy between zinc and phorbol ester in translocation of protein kinase C to cytoskeleton

Protein kinase C was measured in the cytoskeletal fraction of lymphocytes, platelets and HL60 cells, by specific binding of [3H]phorbol dibutyrate and by immunoblotting with antibody to a consensus sequence in the regulatory domain of alpha-, beta- and gamma-isozymes of protein kinase C. Treatment of cells for 40 min with a combination of zinc (2-50 microM), zinc ionophore pyrithione and unlabelled phorbol dibutyrate (200 nM) caused up to a ten-fold increase in cytoskeletal protein kinase C and a corresponding decrease in other cellular compartments. Omission of any of the reagents resulted in much less or no translocation. These effects were inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline, which chelates zinc, and were not seen with calcium. Increase in cytoskeletal protein kinase C persisted for several hours and appeared to involve attachment of the enzyme to actin microfilaments. We propose that zinc, like calcium, regulates the distribution of PKC in cells. However, unlike calcium which controls the binding of PKC to the lipid component on cell membranes, zinc controls the distribution of PKC to membrane cytoskeleton, possibly actin.     

Phosphorylation and functional modification of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV by cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaM-kinase IV), a neuronal calmodulin-dependent multifunctional protein kinase, undergoes autophosphorylation in response to Ca2+ and calmodulin, resulting in activation of the enzyme (Frangakis et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 11309-11316). In contrast, the enzyme was phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, leading to a decrease in the enzyme activity. Thus, the results suggest differential regulation of CaM-kinase IV by two representative second messengers, Ca2+ and cAMP.     

Characterization of a novel zinc binding site of protein kinase C inhibitor-1

The zinc-binding properties of an endogenous protein inhibitor of protein kinase C was studied. Equilibrium gel penetration revealed that 1 mol of this protein binds 0.97 mol of zinc with a dissociation constant of 4.3 microM. The site of zinc-binding, MVVNEGSDGGQSVYHVHLHVLGGR, was identified by a multi-step process consisting of tryptic digestion, fragment isolation, transfer to nitrocellulose, and hybridization with 65ZnCl2. Binding of 65ZnCl2 to selected synthetic fragments further localized the site of interaction to the sequence QSVYHVHLHVL. This region contains 3 closely positioned histidine residues and represents a novel zinc-binding site.     

Selective modulation of band 4.1 binding to erythrocyte membranes by protein kinase C

We have studied the effects of band 4.1 phosphorylation on its association with red cell inside-out vesicles stripped of all peripheral proteins. Band 4.1 bound to these vesicles in a saturable manner, and binding was characterized by a linear Scatchard plot with an apparent Kd of 1-2 x 10(-7) M. Phosphorylation of band 4.1 by purified protein kinase C reduced its ability to bind to membranes, resulting in a reduction in the apparent binding capacity of the membrane by 60-70% but little or no change in the apparent Kd of binding. By contrast, phosphorylation of band 4.1 by cAMP-dependent kinase had no effect on membrane binding. Digestion of the stripped inside-out vesicles with trypsin cleaved 100% of the cytoplasmic domain of band 3 but had little or no effect on glycophorin. Binding of band 4.1 to these digested vesicles was reduced by 70%. Phosphorylation of band 4.1 by protein kinase C had no effect on its binding to the digested vesicles, suggesting that the cytoplasmic domain of band 3 contained the phosphorylation-sensitive binding sites. This was confirmed by direct measurement of band 4.1 binding to the purified cytoplasmic domain of band 3. Phosphorylation of band 4.1 by protein kinase C reduced its binding to the purified 43-kDa domain by as much as 90%, while phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent kinase was without effect. These results show a selective effect of protein kinase C phosphorylation on the binding of band 4.1 to one of its membrane receptors, band 3, and suggest a mechanism whereby one of the key red cell-skeletal membrane associations may be modulated.     

Long-term modulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ signals by protein kinase C isozymes

The modulation of Ca2+ signaling patterns during repetitive stimulations represents an important mechanism for integrating through time the inputs received by a cell. By either overexpressing the isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) or inhibiting them with specific blockers, we investigated the role of this family of proteins in regulating the dynamic interplay of the intracellular Ca2+ pools. The effects of the different isoforms spanned from the reduction of ER Ca2+ release (PKCalpha) to the increase or reduction of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake (PKCzeta and PKCbeta/PKCdelta, respectively). This PKC-dependent regulatory mechanism underlies the process of mitochondrial Ca2+ desensitization, which in turn modulates cellular responses (e.g., insulin secretion). These results demonstrate that organelle Ca2+ homeostasis (and in particular mitochondrial processing of Ca2+ signals) is tuned through the wide molecular repertoire of intracellular Ca2+ transducers.     

Interleukin 2 modulation of adenylate cyclase. Potential role of protein kinase C

Interleukin 2 (IL 2) stimulated DNA synthesis of murine T lymphocytes (CT6) in a concentration-dependent manner, over a range of 1-1000 units/ml. This proliferative effect of IL 2 was attenuated by simultaneous exposure to prostaglandin E2 (PGE)2. In intact cells, IL 2 inhibited both basal and PGE2-stimulated cAMP production; the amount of cAMP generated was dependent upon the relative concentrations of IL 2 and PGE2. The effect of IL 2 on CT6 cell proliferation and cAMP production was mimicked by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which, like IL 2, causes a translocation and activation of protein kinase C. While PGE2 stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in membrane preparations, neither IL 2 nor TPA inhibited either basal or stimulated membrane adenylate cyclase activity. However, when CT6 cells were pretreated with IL 2 or TPA and membranes incubated with calcium and ATP, both basal and PGE2-and NaF-stimulated membrane adenylate cyclase activity was inhibited. This inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity was also observed if membranes from untreated cells were incubated with protein kinase C purified from CT6 lymphocytes in the presence of calcium and ATP. The data suggest that the decreased cAMP production which accompanies CT6 cell proliferation results from an inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity mediated by protein kinase C and that these two distinct protein phosphorylating systems interact to modulate the physiological response to IL 2.