Cell cycle arrest induced by ectopic expression of p27 is not sufficient to promote oligodendrocyte differentiation

Oligodendrocyte differentiation is accompanied by dramatic changes in gene expression as well as cell cycle arrest. To determine whether cell cycle arrest is sufficient to induce the changes in cell phenotype associated with differentiation, we inhibited oligodendrocyte precursor proliferation in vitro by overexpressing p27, a cyclin kinase inhibitor, using a recombinant adenovirus. Ectopic expression of p27 efficiently inhibited oligodendrocyte precursor cell division, even in the presence of exogenous mitogens, by blocking the activity of the cyclin‐dependent kinase, cdk2. Although the cells had stopped dividing, they did not express galactocerebroside (GalC) or myelin basic protein (MBP), changes associated with oligodendrocyte differentiation, suggesting that they had not differentiated. After removal of exogenous mitogens, however, adenovirus‐expressing oligodendrocyte precursors differentiated with a temporal profile similar to that of control, uninfected oligodendrocytes, as indicated by expression of GalC and MBP. We conclude that cell cycle arrest is not sufficient to induce differentiation of dividing oligodendrocyte precursors, and that modulation of additional, as yet unknown, signaling pathways is required for this to occur. J. Cell. Biochem. 76:270–279, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

p27 is regulated independently of Skp2 in the absence of Cdk2

Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) is dispensable for mitotic cell cycle progression and Cdk2 knockout mice are viable due to the compensatory functions of other Cdks. In order to assess the role of Cdk2 under limiting conditions, we used Skp2 knockout mice that exhibit increased levels of Cdk inhibitor, p27^Kip1, which is able to inhibit Cdk2 and Cdk1. Knockdown of Cdk2 abrogated proliferation of Skp2^−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts, encouraging us to generate Cdk2^−/−Skp2^−/− double knockout mice. Cdk2^−/−Skp2^−/− double knockout mice are viable and display similar phenotypes as Cdk2^−/− and Skp2^−/− mice. Unexpectedly, fibroblasts generated from Cdk2^−/−Skp2^−/− double knockout mice proliferated at normal rates. The increased stability of p27 observed in Skp2^−/− MEFs was not observed in Cdk2^−/−Skp2^−/− double knockout fibroblasts indicating that in the absence of Cdk2, p27 is regulated by Skp2-independent mechanisms. Ablation of other ubiquitin ligases for p27 such as KPC1, DDB1, and Pirh2 did not restore stability of p27 in Cdk2^−/−Skp2^−/− MEFs. Our findings point towards novel and alternate pathways for p27 regulation.     

Retinoic acid- and bone morphogenetic protein 4-induced apoptosis in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells requires p27

During development, many cells are specifically eliminated. Therefore, programmed cell death must be understood to fully elucidate embryogenesis. Retinoic acid (RA) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4 induce rapidly dividing P19 embryonal carcinoma cells to undergo apoptosis. RA alone minimally induces apoptosis, while BMP4 alone induces none. RA and BMP4 exposure also elevates the number of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Because many cell cycle proteins control both proliferation and apoptosis, we determined the role of these proteins in inducing apoptosis. Although the mRNA levels of cyclins D1 and D2 are reduced in cells undergoing apoptosis, the protein levels are not. In contrast, RA and BMP4 induce the Cdk inhibitor p27. This protein binds Cdk4 in RA- and BMP4-treated cells and inhibits Cdk4-dependent kinase activity. We used p27 antisense oligonucleotides to rescue the P19 cells from RA and BMP4 apoptosis thus proving that p27 is necessary. The Cdk4 substrate, retinoblastoma (Rb) protein, is also induced in apoptotic cells. Consistent with the decreased kinase activity of the apoptotic cells, this Rb protein is hypophosphorylated and presumably active. These data support the hypothesis that RA and BMP4 together induce the p27 protein leading to Rb activation and ultimately apoptosis.     

Cdc6 protein activates p27KIP1-bound Cdk2 protein only after the bound p27 protein undergoes C-terminal phosphorylation

In mammalian cells Cdk2 activity during the G(1)-S transition is mainly controlled by p27(KIP1). Although the amount and subcellular localization of p27 influence Cdk2 activity, how Cdk2 activity is regulated during this phase transition still remains virtually unknown. Here we report an entirely new mechanism for this regulation. Cdc6 the AAA+ ATPase, known to assemble prereplicative complexes on chromosomal replication origins and activate p21(CIP1)-bound Cdk2, also activated p27-bound Cdk2 in its ATPase and cyclin binding motif-dependent manner but only after the p27 bound to the Cdk2 was phosphorylated at the C terminus. ROCK, which mediates a signal for cell anchorage to the extracellular matrix and activates the mTORC1 cascade as well as controls cytoskeleton assembly, was partly responsible for C-terminal phosphorylation of the p27. In vitro reconstitution demonstrated ROCK (Rho-associated kinase)-mediated phosphorylation of Cdk2-bound p27 at the C terminus and subsequent activation of the Cdk2 by Cdc6.     

Accumulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27/Kip1 and the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation.

Many types of vertebrate precursor cells divide a limited number of times before they stop and terminally differentiate. In no case is it known what causes them to stop dividing. We have been studying this problem in the proliferating precursor cells that give rise to postmitotic oligodendrocytes, the cells that make myelin in the central nervous system. We show here that two components of the cell cycle control system, cyclin D1 and the Cdc2 kinase, are present in the proliferating precursor cells but not in differentiated oligodendrocytes, suggesting that the control system is dismantled in the oligodendrocytes. More importantly, we show that the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27 progressively accumulates in the precursor cells as they proliferate and is present at high levels in oligodendrocytes. Our findings are consistent with the possibility that the accumulation of p27 is part of both the intrinsic counting mechanism that determines when precursor cell proliferation stops and differentiation begins and the effector mechanism that arrests the cell cycle when the counting mechanism indicates it is time. The recent findings of others that p27-deficient mice have an increased number of cells in all of the organs examined suggest that this function of p27 is not restricted to the oligodendrocyte cell lineage.     

Complex mechanisms underlying impaired activation of Cdk4 and Cdk2 in replicative senescence: roles of p16, p21, and cyclin D1

Numerous changes in gene expression are known to occur during replicative senescence, including changes in genes involved in the cell cycle control. In the present study, we have found a severe impairment in the activation of Cdk2 and Cdk4 in response to mitogens in senescent human fibroblasts and determined the molecular basis for this. Although Cdk4 protein was constitutively expressed in senescent cells at the same level as in early-passage young cells, it was found to be complexed with a distinct set of Cdk inhibitors. Cdk4 derived from early passage quiescent cells was effectively activated by incubation with cyclin D1 and Cdk-activating kinase (CAK) in vitro, whereas Cdk4 from senescent cells was not. Cdk2 protein was dramatically decreased in senescent cells and complexed primarily with cyclin D1 and p21. This cyclin D1-bound Cdk2 was not activated by CAK either in vivo or in vitro, implicating cyclin D1 as an inhibitor of Cdk2 activation. Thus, one of the underlying molecular events involved in replicative senescence is the impaired activation of Cdk4 and Cdk2 due to increased binding of p16 to Cdk4 and increased association of Cdk2 with cyclin D1 and p21.     

Cdk5/p35激酶与肌动蛋白细胞骨架结合关系的鉴定

Cdk5,一种多功能的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,其活性只有通过结合其神经特异性调节亚基才能被激活.p35是Cdk5的两个主要调节亚基之一.尽管Cdk5/p35激酶可以调控神经细胞中肌动蛋白细胞骨架的动态变化,但直到目前为止Cdk5/p35激酶与肌动蛋白细胞骨架的结合关系仍不是很清楚.现利用几种不同的方法对两者的结合关系进行了初步鉴定.目前的试验结果表明在鼠脑组织中肌动蛋白细胞骨架是Cdk5/p35超大蛋白复合体的一个组分,p35可以直接结合纤维状肌动蛋白,这说明在鼠脑组织或神经细胞中Cdk5很有可能是通过p35结合到肌动蛋白细胞骨架上并进一步调控肌动蛋白细胞骨架的动态活动的.     

Peptides derived from Cdk5 activator p35, specifically inhibit deregulated activity of Cdk5

Normal Cdk5 activity, conferred mainly by association with its primary activator p35, is critical for normal function of the cell and must be tightly regulated. During neurotoxicity, p35 is cleaved to form p25, which becomes a potent and mislocalized hyperactivator of Cdk5, resulting in a deregulation of Cdk5 activity. p25 levels have been found to be elevated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain and overexpression of p25 in a transgenic mouse results in the formation of phosphorylated tau, neurofibrillary tangles and cognitive deficits that are pathological hallmarks of AD. p25/Cdk5 also hyperphosphorylates neurofilament proteins that constitute pathological hallmarks found in Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The selective targeting of p25/Cdk5 activity without affecting p35/Cdk5 activity has been unsuccessful. In this review we detail our recent studies of selective p25/Cdk5 inhibition without affecting p35/Cdk5 or mitotic Cdk activities. We found that a further truncation of p25 to yield a Cdk5 inhibitory peptide (CIP) can specifically inhibit p25/Cdk5 activity in transfected HEK cells and primary cortical neurons. CIP was able to reduce tau hyperphosphorylation and neuronal death induced caused by p25/Cdk5 and further studies with CIP may develop a specific Cdk5 inhibition strategy in the treatment of neurodegeneration.     

Basic helix-loop-helix proteins and the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation

An intracellular timer in oligodendrocyte precursor cells is thought to help control the timing of their differentiation. We show here that the expression of the Hes5 and Mash1 genes, which encode neural-specific bHLH proteins, decrease and increase, respectively, in these cells with a time course expected if the proteins are part of the timer. We show that enforced expression of Hes5 in purified precursor cells strongly inhibits the normal increase in the thyroid hormone receptor protein TR(&bgr;)1, which is thought to be part of the timing mechanism; it also strongly inhibits the differentiation induced by either mitogen withdrawal or thyroid hormone treatment. Enforced expression of Mash1, by contrast, somewhat accelerates the increase in TR(beta)1 protein. These findings suggest that Hes5 and Mash1 may be part of the cell-intrinsic timer in the precursor cells.     

Molecular basis for Cdk1‐regulated timing of Mis18 complex assembly and CENP‐A deposition

The centromere, a chromosomal locus that acts as a microtubule attachment site, is epigenetically specified by the enrichment of CENP‐A nucleosomes. Centromere maintenance during the cell cycle requires HJURP‐mediated CENP‐A deposition, a process regulated by the Mis18 complex (Mis18α/Mis18β/Mis18BP1). Spatial and temporal regulation of Mis18 complex assembly is crucial for its centromere association and function. Here, we provide the molecular basis for the assembly and regulation of the Mis18 complex. We show that the N‐terminal region of Mis18BP1 spanning amino acid residues 20–130 directly interacts with Mis18α/β to form the Mis18 complex. Within Mis18α/β, the Mis18α MeDiY domain can directly interact with Mis18BP1. Mis18α/β forms a hetero‐hexamer with 4 Mis18α and 2 Mis18β. However, only two copies of Mis18BP1 interact with Mis18α/β to form a hetero‐octameric assembly, highlighting the role of Mis18 oligomerization in limiting the number of Mis18BP1 within the Mis18 complex. Furthermore, we demonstrate the involvement of consensus Cdk1 phosphorylation sites on Mis18 complex assembly and thus provide a rationale for cell cycle‐regulated timing of Mis18 assembly and CENP‐A deposition.     

细胞周期抑制蛋白p27的研究进展

p27基因位于人类染色体12p13,其编码的蛋白对cyclinsCDKs具有广泛的抑制活性,是细胞周期调控的抑制蛋白。它以化学剂量的方式调节细胞周期的进程,参与细胞的生长、分化等过程。对p27基因的发现、基因结构、对细胞周期和细胞分化的调控机制以及与肿瘤的关系作一介绍。     

The Expression of Cdk5, p35, p39, and Cdk5 Kinase Activity in Developing, Adult, and Aged Rat Brains

The expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and its regulatory subunits, p35 and p39, was investigated in rat brain from embryonic day 12 (E12) to postnatal 18 months (18M). The Cdk5 protein levels increased from E12 to postnatal day 7 (P7) and remained at this level until 18M. The Cdk5 kinase activity and the levels of both p35 mRNA and protein were low at E12, became prominent at E18-P14 but then decreased in the adult and aged rat brains of 3M to 18M. In comparison, the expression pattern of p39 appeared to have an inverse relationship to that of Cdk5 and p35. In regional distribution studies, p35 protein levels and Cdk5 kinase activity were significantly higher in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, but lower in the cerebellum and striatum. These results suggested that Cdk5, p35 and p39 might have region-specific and developmental stage-specific functions in rat brain.     

DNA损伤反应中细胞周期检查点蛋白p27~(Kip1)表达及其调控机制

为了研究DNA损伤反应中p2 7Kip1的表达及其调控机制 ,应用免疫印迹的实验结果表明 :10Gy 60 Coγ射线照射后 3h ,HeLa细胞中p2 7Kip1蛋白水平开始下降并持续到 2 4h ,进而失去它对CDKs的抑制功能 .Northern印迹结果显示 ,电离辐射 (IR)对p2 7Kip1mRNA表达水平无明显影响 ,说明电离辐射诱导p2 7Kip1表达水平的降低主要与蛋白质降解相关 ,但其具体的调控机制还不清楚 .已知在G1—S期p2 7Kip1蛋白的降低主要依赖细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2激酶将其磷酸化后的泛素化蛋白酶体途径 (ubiquitin proteasomepathway) .酶动力学研究结果揭示 :电离辐射后细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2激酶活性增高 ,12h细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2激酶活性达到最大 .当在照前用细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2抑制剂olomoucine (10 μmol L)抑制细胞周期蛋白E Cdk2激酶活性时 ,p2 7Kip1蛋白表达水平增加 .此外 ,还观察到电离辐射可诱导p2 7Kip1泛素化水平的增高 ,而在使用蛋白酶体抑制剂MG 132 (5 μmol L)处理HeLa细胞后 ,可抑制辐射诱导p2 7Kip1蛋白水平的下调 .研究结果提示 :泛素化蛋白酶体途径参与了辐射诱导P2 7Kip1蛋白表达下调的降解机制 .     

CyclinE和p27蛋白在骨肉瘤中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨CyclinE和p27在骨肉瘤中表达及临床意义。方法检测108例骨肉瘤石蜡包埋组织中CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平,统计分析其与患者临床病理因素和预后之间的关系。结果骨肉瘤组织中CyclinE的阳性率为68．52％,p27的阳性率为26．85％;CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平与骨肉瘤病理分级、软组织浸润、远处转移、Enneking分期及患者整体生存期有关（P〈0．05）;CyclinE蛋白阳性组骨肉瘤患者5年存活率显著低于阴性组;而p27蛋白阳性组患者5年存活率显著高于阴性组（P〈0．05）。Cox多因素分析提示软组织浸润及远处转移状态、病理分级、Enneking外科分期、CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平是影响骨肉瘤患者预后的独立危险因素（P〈0．05）。结论CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平是判断骨肉瘤患者预后的新指标,联合检测CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平对骨肉瘤的进展、预后判断有重要意义。     

p18INK4c and p27KIP1 are required for cell cycle arrest of differentiated myotubes

Myogenic differentiation is characterized by permanent and irreversible cell cycle withdrawal and increased resistance to apoptosis. These functions correlate with changes in expression and activity of several cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, including p18, p21, and p27. In this study, we examined the requirements for p18, p21, and p27 in initiating growth arrest in multinucleated myotubes under differentiation conditions and in maintaining terminal arrest upon restimulation of differentiated myotubes with mitogenic signals. Under differentiation conditions, only p27(-/-) or p18(-/-)p27(-/-) myotubes are capable of reentering the cell cycle and synthesizing DNA at a very low frequency. Escape from cell cycle arrest was significantly greater in p18(-/-)p27(-/-) myotubes than in p27(-/-) myotubes. Stimulation of differentiated cultures with a mitogen-rich growth medium enhances p18(-/-)p27(-/-) myotube proliferation to encompass approximately half of the nuclei. p18(-/-)p21(-/-) and p21(-/-)p27(-/-) myotubes remain terminally arrested. Nuclei within individual restimulated p18(-/-)p27(-/-) myotubes can be found in all phases of the cell cycle, and a myotube can be multiphasic without any obvious deleterious effects. Increasing the time of differentiation or serum stimulation of p18(-/-)p27(-/-) myotubes neither increases the proliferation index of the myotube nuclei, nor does it alter the percentage of nuclei in each of the cell cycle phases. During the first 24 h of serum stimulation, the p18(-/-)p27(-/-) myotube nuclei that escape G0 arrest will rearrest in either S or G2 phase, without either mitosis or endoreplication. Apoptosis is increased in restimulated p18(-/-)p27(-/-) myotube nuclei, but is not specific for any cell cycle phase. These results suggest a collaborative role for p18 and p27 in initiating and maintaining G0 arrest during myogenic differentiation. While p18 and p27 appear to be essential in initiating G0 arrest in a proportion of postmitotic myotube nuclei, there must be another cell cycle inhibitor protein that functions with p18 and p27 in maintaining terminal arrest. We propose that the combined rate-limiting expressions of p18, p27, and this other inhibitor determine whether the myotube nuclei will remain postmitotic, or reenter the cell cycle, and if the nuclei escape G0 arrest, in which phase of the cell cycle the nuclei will ultimately rearrest.     

Simultaneous knockdown of p18INK4C, p27Kip1 and MAD1 via RNA interference results in the expansion of long-term culture-initiating cells of murine bone marrow cells in vitro

A combination of extrinsic hematopoietic growth regulators, such as stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin (IL)-3 and IL-6, can induce division of quiescent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but it usually impairs HSCs' self-renewal ability. However, intrinsic negative cell cycle regulators, such as p18^INK4c (p18) p27^Kip1 (p27) and MAD1, can regulate the self-renewal of HSCs. It is unknown whether the removal of some extrinsic regulators and the knockdown of intrinsic negative cell cycle regulators via RNA interference (RNAi) induce ex vivo expansion of the HSCs. To address this question, a lentiviral vector-based RNAi tool was developed to produce two copies of small RNA that target multiple genes to knockdown the intrinsic negative cell cycle regulators pl8, p27 and MAD1. Colony-forming cells, long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) and engraftment assays were used to evaluate the effects of extrinsic and intrinsic regulators. Results showed that the medium with only SCF, but without IL-3 and IL-6, could maintain the sca-1⁺c-kit⁺ bone marrow cells with high LTC-IC frequency and low cell division. However, when the sca-1⁺c-kit⁺ bone marrow cells were cultured in a medium with only SCF and simultaneously knocked down the expression of pl8, p27 and MAD1 via the lentiviral vector-based RNAi, the cells exhibited both high LTC-IC frequency and high cell division, though engraftment failed. Thus, the simultaneous knockdown of pl8, p27 and MAD1 with a medium of only SCF can induce LTC-IC expansion despite the loss of engraftment ability.