Basal and hydrogen peroxide stimulated sites of phosphorylation in heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C1/C2

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a recently recognized second messenger, which regulates mammalian cell proliferation and migration. The biochemical mechanisms by which mammalian cells sense and respond to low concentrations of H2O2 are poorly understood. Recently, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C1/C2 (hnRNP-C1/C2) was found to be rapidly phosphorylated in response to the application of low concentrations of H2O2 to human endothelial cells. Here, using tandem mass spectrometry, four sites of phosphorylation are identified in hnRNP-C1/C2, all of which are in the acidic C-terminal domain of the protein. Under resting conditions, the protein is phosphorylated at S247 and S286. In response to low concentrations of H2O2, there is increased phosphorylation at S240 and at one of the four contiguous serine residues from S225-S228. Studies using a recombinant acidic C-terminal domain of hnRNP-C overexpressed in Escherichia coli demonstrate that protein kinase CK2 phosphorylates hnRNP-C1/C2 at S247, while protein kinase A and several protein kinase C isoforms fail to phosphorylate the isolated domain. These findings demonstrate that the acidic C-terminal domain of hnRNP-C1/C2 serves as the site for both basal and stimulated phosphorylation, indicating that this domain may play an important role in the regulation of mRNA binding by hnRNP-C1/C2.     

Protein kinase CK1alpha regulates mRNA binding by heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C in response to physiologic levels of hydrogen peroxide

At low concentrations, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is a positive endogenous regulator of mammalian cell proliferation and survival; however, the signal transduction pathways involved in these processes are poorly understood. In primary human endothelial cells, low concentrations of H(2)O(2) stimulated the rapid phosphorylation of the acidic C-terminal domain (ACD) of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNP-C), a nuclear restricted pre-mRNA-binding protein, at Ser(240) and at Ser(225)-Ser(228). A kinase activity was identified in mouse liver that phosphorylates the ACD of hnRNP-C at Ser(240) and at two sites at Ser(225)-Ser(228). The kinase was purified and identified by tandem mass spectrometry as protein kinase CK1alpha (formerly casein kinase 1alpha). Protein kinase CK1alpha immunoprecipitated from primary human endothelial cell nuclei also phosphorylated the ACD of hnRNP-C at these positions. Pretreatment of endothelial cells with the protein kinase CK1-specific inhibitor IC261 prevented the H(2)O(2)-stimulated phosphorylation of hnRNP-C. Utilizing phosphoserine-mimicking Ser-to-Glu point mutations, the effects of phosphorylation on hnRNP-C function were investigated by quantitative equilibrium fluorescence RNA binding analyses. Wild-type hnRNP-C1 and hnRNP-C1 modified at the basal sites of phosphorylation (S247E and S286E) both avidly bound RNA with similar binding constants. In contrast, hnRNP-C1 that was also modified at the CK1alpha phosphorylation sites exhibited a 14-500-fold decrease in binding affinity, demonstrating that CK1alpha-mediated phosphorylation modulates the mRNA binding ability of hnRNP-C.     

Cell cycle-regulated phosphorylation of the pre-mRNA-binding (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein) C proteins.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) complexes, the structures that contain heterogeneous nuclear RNA and its associated proteins, constitute one of the most abundant components of the eukaryotic nucleus. hnRNPs appear to play important roles in the processing, and possibly also in the transport, of mRNA. hnRNP C proteins (C1, M(r) of 41,000; C2, M(r) of 43,000 [by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis]) are among the most abundant pre-mRNA-binding proteins, and they bind tenaciously to sequences relevant to pre-mRNA processing, including the polypyrimidine stretch of introns (when it is uridine rich). C proteins are found in the nucleus during the interphase, but during mitosis they disperse throughout the cell. They have been shown previously to be phosphorylated in vivo, and they can be phosphorylated in vitro by a casein kinase type II. We have identified and partially purified at least two additional C protein kinases. One of these, termed Cs kinase, caused a distinct mobility shift of C proteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These phosphorylated C proteins, the Cs proteins, were the prevalent forms of C proteins during mitosis, and Cs kinase activity was also increased in extracts prepared from mitotic cells. Thus, hnRNP C proteins undergo cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation by a cell cycle-regulated protein kinase. Cs kinase activity appears to be distinct from the well-characterized mitosis-specific histone H1 kinase activity. Several additional hnRNP proteins are also phosphorylated during mitosis and are thus also potential substrates for Cs kinase. These novel phosphorylations may be important in regulating the assembly and disassembly of hnRNP complexes and in the function or cellular localization of RNA-binding proteins.     

The diverse involvement of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K in mitochondrial response to insulin

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K protein) is an RNA/DNA-binding protein that acts in several compartments, including mitochondria. It integrates cellular signaling cascades with multiple processes of gene expression mechanisms. Our studies demonstrate that: (1) insulin activates the import of hnRNP K protein into mitochondria in vitro and in vivo; (2) overexpression of hnRNP K protein modulates insulin-activated mitochondrial gene expression; and (3) insulin treatment stimulates binding of hnRNP K protein to mitochondrial DNA. Based on these and our previously reported results we conclude that hnRNP K protein may be a mediator of mitochondrial response to insulin.     

Monoclonal antibody characterization of the C proteins of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes in vertebrate cells

The C proteins (C1 and C2) are major constituents of the 40S subparticle of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes (hnRNPs) (Beyer, A.L., M.E. Christensen, B.W. Walker, and W.M. LeStourgeon, 1977, Cell, 11:127-138) and are two of the most prominent proteins that become cross-linked by ultraviolet light to heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) in vivo. Studies are described here on the characterization of the C proteins in vertebrate cells using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies to genuine RNP proteins, including the C proteins, were obtained by immunizing mice with purified complexes of poly(A)+ hnRNA and poly(A)+ mRNA with their contacting proteins in vivo obtained by ultraviolet cross-linking the complexes in intact cells (Dreyfuss, G., Y.D. Choi, and S.A. Adam, 1984, Mol. Cell. Biol., 4:1104-1114). One of the monoclonal antibodies identified the C proteins in widely divergent species ranging from human to lizard. In all species examined, there were two C proteins in the molecular weight range of from 39,000 to 42,000 for C1, and from 40,000 to 45,000 for C2. The two C proteins were found to be highly related to each other; they were recognized by the same monoclonal antibodies and antibodies raised against purified C1 reacted also with C2. In avian, rodent, and human cells the C proteins were phosphorylated and were in contact with hnRNA in vivo. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that the C proteins are segregated to the nucleus. Within the nucleus the C proteins were not found in nucleoli and were not associated with chromatin as seen in cells in prophase. These findings demonstrate that C proteins with similar characteristics to those in humans are ubiquitous components of hnRNPs in vertebrates.     

Mutational analysis of a heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 response element for RNA trafficking

Cytoplasmic transport and localization of mRNA has been reported for a range of oocytes and somatic cells. The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2 response element (A2RE) is a 21-nucleotide segment of the myelin basic protein mRNA that is necessary and sufficient for cytoplasmic transport of this message in oligodendrocytes. The predominant A2RE-binding protein in rat brain has previously been identified as hnRNP A2. Here we report that an 11-nucleotide subsegment of the A2RE (A2RE11) was as effective as the full-length A2RE in binding hnRNP A2 and mediating transport of heterologous RNA in oligodendrocytes. Point mutations of the A2RE11 that eliminated binding to hnRNP A2 also markedly reduced the ability of these oligoribonucleotides to support RNA transport. Oligodendrocytes treated with antisense oligonucleotides directed against the translation start site of hnRNP A2 had reduced levels of this protein and disrupted transport of microinjected myelin basic protein RNA. Several A2RE-like sequences from localized neuronal RNAs also bound hnRNP A2 and promoted RNA transport in oligodendrocytes. These data demonstrate the specificity of A2RE recognition by hnRNP A2, provide direct evidence for the involvement of hnRNP A2 in cytoplasmic RNA transport, and suggest that this protein may interact with a wide variety of localized messages that possess A2RE-like sequences.     

A discrete 3' region of U6 small nuclear RNA modulates the phosphorylation cycle of the C1 heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle protein.

The C heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein particle (hnRNP) protein bind to nascent pre-mRNA and may participate in assembly of the early prespliceosome. Ser/Thr phosphorylation of the C1 hnRNP protein in HeLa nuclear extracts regulates its binding to pre-mRNA (S. H. Mayrand, P. Dwen, and T. Pederson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:7764-7768, 1993). We have now further investigated the phosphorylation cycle of the C1 hnRNP protein, with emphasis on its regulation. Pretreatment of nuclear extracts with micrococcal nuclease eliminated the phosphorylation of C1 hnRNP protein, but pretreatment with DNase did not, suggesting a dependence on RNA. Oligodeoxynucleotide-targeted RNase H cleavage of U1, U2, and U4 small nuclear RNAs did not affect the phosphorylation of C1 hnRNP protein. However, cleavage of nucleotides 78 to 95, but not other regions, of U6 small nuclear RNA resulted in an inhibition of the dephosphorylation step of the C1 hnRNP protein phosphorylation cycle. This inhibition was as pronounced as that seen with the serine/threonine protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. C1 hnRNP protein dephosphorylation could be completely restored by the addition of intact U6 RNA. Add-back experiments with mutant RNAs further delineated the minimal region essential for C1 protein dephosphorylation as residing in nucleotides 85 to 92 of U6 RNA. These results illuminate a hitherto unanticipated function of U6 RNA: the modulation of a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle of C1 hnRNP protein that influences the binding affinity of this protein for pre-mRNA. This newly revealed function of U6 RNA is likely to play a very early role in the prespliceosome assembly pathway, prior to U6 RNA's entry into the mature spliceosome's active center.     

Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 bind to human T-cell leukemia virus type 2 RNA regulatory elements.

Efficient expression of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) and human immunodeficiency virus structural proteins requires Rx and Rev proteins, respectively. Decreased expression of Gag and Env appears to be due, in part, to intragenic RNA sequences, termed cis-acting repressive sequences (CRS), and may be mediated by binding of specific cellular factors. We demonstrated previously that two cellular proteins, p60CRS and p40CRS, interact with HTLV type 2.5' long terminal repeat CRS RNA and that the interaction of both proteins with CRS RNA correlates with function (A. C. Black, C. T. Ruland, J. Luo, A. Bakker, J. K. Fraser, and J. D. Rosenblatt, Virology 200:29-41, 1994). By radioimmunoprecipitation of HeLa nuclear proteins UV cross-linked to CRS RNAs with murine monoclonal antibodies, we now show that p40CRS is heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 and p60CRS is polypyrimidine tract-binding protein or hnRNP I. These immunoprecipitation results were confirmed by an immunobinding assay with hnRNP I and hnRNP AI antibodies and by cross-competition electrophoretic mobility shift experiments. In addition, we mapped a putative hnRNP A1 binding site in U5 RNA and demonstrated that p40CRS (hnRNP A1) binding to that site correlates with CRS function. Since both hnRNP I and hnRNP A1 have been shown to influence splicing and potentially other steps in RNA processing, the binding of both hnRNP I and hnRNP A1 to HTLV RNA regulatory elements may alter retrovirus RNA processing and may be involved in regulation by Rex.     

Atherogenic levels of low-density lipoprotein increase hydrogen peroxide generation in cultured human endothelial cells: Possible mechanism of heightened endocytosis

Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) exposed to atherogenic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels have augmented reactive oxygen species generation. Confluent EC were incubated with 30–330 mg/dl LDL cholesterol and cellular hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) generation measured. EC incubated with 30 and 90 mg/dl LDL cholesterol showed similar low level H₂O₂ production. In contrast, EC exposed to 180 and 330 mg/dl LDL cholesterol have a marked, dose-related elevation in H₂O₂ generation. Subsequent studies have explored if direct EC exposure to H₂O₂ promotes cellular functional changes similar to those induced by high LDL levels (> 160 mg/dl cholesterol). Confluent EC were incubated with 0.1–10 mM H₂O₂ for 30 minutes and endocytosis measured and cytoskeletal structure examined. H₂O₂ exposure (0.5 and 1 mM) promoted heightened EC endocytosis, which similarly occurs with high LDL exposure. Likewise, cytoskeletal examination of EC perturbed with 1 mM H₂O₂ reveals structural remodeling with a marked increase in stress fibers, which similarly happens with high LDL levels. The above observations that high LDL levels cause increased EC H₂O₂ production, and direct H₂O₂ exposure promotes cellular functional changes similar to those induced by high LDL concentrations, suggest a modulatory role for reactive oxygen species. Thus LDL-induced reactive oxygen species generation may contribute mechanistically to endothelial perturbation, which has been hypothesized to be a major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Actin re-distribution in response to hydrogen peroxide in airway epithelial cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) disrupt the barrier function of airway epithelial cells through a mechanism that appears to involve remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. Similarly, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) has been shown to protect against ROS-induced loss of barrier function through a mechanism that may also involve the actin cytoskeleton. To further determine the role of the actin cytoskeleton in ROS-induced barrier injury, we quantified the relative amount of total actin associated with the cytoskeleton following exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and pretreatment with KGF. We also determined the role of the actin-myosin contractile mechanism in the process by quantifying the relative amount of myosin heavy chain (MHC) associated with the cytoskeleton. While the transepithelial resistance (TER) of a monolayer of airway epithelial cells (Calu-3) decreased after 2 h of continuous exposure to 0.5 mM H(2)O(2), actin and MHC, both dissociated from the cytoskeleton within 15 min of H(2)O(2) exposure. The TER of the monolayers remained depressed although both actin and myosin returned to the cytoskeleton by 4 h after the initiation of H(2)O(2) exposure. Filamentous actin (f-actin) staining suggested that the re-associating actin took the form of short fibers associated with cortical actin rather than long stress fibers. Furthermore, pretreatment with KGF prevented the loss of actin and MHC from the actin cytoskeleton but did not prevent the decrease in TER. These studies suggest that actin disassembly from the cytoskeleton is important in the loss of barrier function, but that it is not the overall amount of actin that is associated with the cytoskeleton that is important, rather it is the contribution this actin makes to the architectural cohesiveness of the cell that contributes to the barrier function.     

Cytogenetic response to 1,2-dicarbonyls and hydrogen peroxide in Chinese hamster ovary AUXB1 cells and human peripheral lymphocytes

Mutagenic 1,2-dicarbonyls have been reported to occur in coffee and other beverages and in various foods. We have measured the induction of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and endoreduplicated cells (ERCs) to determine the genotoxicity of various 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) AUXB1 cells and human peripheral lymphocytes. The 1,2-dicarbonyls glyoxal, methylglyoxal and kethoxal each induced highly significant increases in both SCEs and ERCs in AUXB1 cells. Glyoxal and kethoxal induced SCEs but not ERCs in human peripheral lymphocytes. In addition, hydrogen peroxide induced highly significant levels of SCEs and ERCs in AUXB1 cells. Bisulfite, which reacts with carbonyl groups to form addition products, significantly reduced the frequency of SCEs and the proportion of ERCs when glyoxal, methylglyoxal, kethoxal and diacetyl were administered to AUXB1 cells. In addition, bisulfite blocked the formation of ERCs, but not SCEs, induced by hydrogen peroxide. These in vitro results suggest that 1,2-dicarbonyls may play an important role in the genotoxicity of some foods and beverages.     

Dual proapoptotic and pronecrotic effect of hydrogen peroxide on human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed in culture to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), keeping them close to physiological conditions (high cell density, high serum content, H₂O₂ concentration not over 500 µM). Cell viability was assessed by flow cytometry using simultaneous staining with the fluorescent dye PO-PRO-1 to detect early apoptotic cells and DRAQ7 to detect late apoptotic and necrotic cells. The data obtained suggest that the primary mechanism of the cytotoxic response to H₂O₂ is apoptosis. The critical concentration of H₂O₂ causing death in a dense monolayer is 250 µM. Lower H₂O₂ concentrations (up to 200 µM) cause death of individual cells. The population of endothelial cell retains viability and response to calcium activating agonists does not change compared to control cells.