Solution Structure and Backbone Dynamics of the Pleckstrin Homology Domain of the Human Protein Kinase B (PKB/Akt). Interaction with Inositol Phosphates

The programmed cell death occurs as part of normal mammalian development. The induction of developmental cell death is a highly regulated process and can be suppressed by a variety of extracellular stimuli. Recently, the ability of trophic factors to promote survival have been attributed, at least in part, to the phosphatidylinositide 3'-OH kinase (PI3K)/Protein Kinase B (PKB, also named Akt) cascade. Several targets of the PI3K/PKB signaling pathway have been identified that may underlie the ability of this regulatory cascade to promote cell survival. PKB possesses a N-terminal Pleckstrin Homology (PH) domain that binds specifically and with high affinity to PtIns(3,4,5)P(3) and PtIns(3,4)P(2), the PI3K second messengers. PKB is then recruited to the plasma membrane by virtue of its interaction with 3'-OH phosphatidylinositides and activated. Recent evidence indicates that PKB is active in various types of human cancer; constitutive PKB signaling activation is believed to promote proliferation and increased cell survival, thereby contributing to cancer progression. Thus, it has been shown that induction of PKB activity is augmented by the TCL1/MTCP1 oncoproteins through a physical association requiring the PKB PH domain. Here we present the three-dimensional solution structure of the PH domain of the human protein PKB (isoform beta). PKBbeta-PH is an electrostatically polarized molecule that adopts the same fold and topology as other PH-domains, consisting of a beta-sandwich of seven strands capped on one top by an alpha-helix. The opposite face presents three variable loops that appear poorly defined in the NMR structure. Measurements of (15)N spin relaxation times and heteronuclear (15)N[(1)H]NOEs showed that this poor definition is due to intrinsic flexibility, involving complex motions on different time scales. Chemical shift mapping studies correctly defined the binding site of Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4) (the head group of PtIns(3,4,5)P(3)), as was previously proposed from a crystallographic study. More interestingly, these studies allowed us to define a putative alternative low-affinity binding site for Ins(1,4,5)P(3). The binding of this sugar to PKBbeta-PH might also involve non-specific association that could explain the stabilization of the protein in solution in the presence of Ins(1,4,5)P(3).     

Lipid function in plant cell polarity

The establishment and maintenance of cell polarity play pivotal roles during plant development. During the past five years, proteins that are required for different aspects of plant cell polarity have been identified. However, the functions of lipids and their interactions with proteins that mediate polarity remained largely unaddressed. Recent genetic studies have discovered cell and tissue polarity mutants that have defects in sterol composition, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins, glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis and phospholipid signalling. Analyses of the affected gene products have provided a first glance at the roles of lipids in cell polarity signalling, as well as in the trafficking and anchoring of polar proteins.     

Alterations in brain metabolism induced by chronic morphine treatment: NMR studies in rat CNS

High-resolution (500 MHz) multiresonance/multinuclear proton (¹H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to detect metabolic changes and cellular injury in the rat brain stem and spinal cord following chronic morphine treatment. Compensatory changes were observed in glycine, glutamate, and inositols in the brain stem, but not the spinal cord, of chronic morphine-treated rats. In spinal cord, increases were detected in lactate and N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), suggesting that there is anaerobic glycolysis, plasma membrane damage, and altered pH preferentially in the spinal cord of chronic morphine-treated rats.     

Insulin improves postischemic recovery of function through PI3K in isolated working rat heart

Insulin improves contractile function after ischemia, but does not increase glucose uptake in the isolated working rat heart. We tested the hypothesis that the positive inotropic effect of insulin is independent of the signaling pathway responsible for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. We inhibited this pathway at the level of phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) with wortmannin. Hearts were perfused for 70 min at physiological workload with Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing [2-³H] glucose (5 mM, 0.05 Ci/ml) and oleate (0.4 mM, 1% BSA) in the presence (WM, n = 5) or absence (control, n = 7) of wortmannin (WM, 3 mol/L). After 20 min, hearts were subjected to 15 min of total global ischemia followed by 35 min of reperfusion. Insulin (1 mU/ml) was added at the beginning of reperfusion (WM + insulin n = 8, insulin n = 8). Cardiac power before ischemia was 8.1 ± 0.7 mW. Recovery of contractile function after ischemia was significantly increased in the presence of insulin (73.5 ± 8.9% vs. 38.5 ± 6.7%, p < 0.01). The addition of wortmannin completely abolished the effect of insulin on recovery (32.6 ± 6.4%). Glucose uptake was 1.84 ± 0.32 mol/min/g dry before ischemia and was slightly elevated during reperfusion (2.68 ± 0.35 mol/min/g dry, n.s.). Insulin did not affect postischemic glucose uptake. In the presence of wortmannin, glucose uptake was lowest during reperfusion (n.s.). The results suggest that PI3K is involved in the insulin-induced improvement in postischemic recovery of contractile function. This effect of insulin is independent of its effect on glucose uptake.     

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP(+)) is an essential regulator of T-lymphocyte Ca(2+)-signaling

Microinjection of human Jurkat T-lymphocytes with nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP(+)) dose-dependently stimulated intracellular Ca(2+)-signaling. At a concentration of 10 nM NAADP(+) evoked repetitive and long-lasting Ca(2+)-oscillations of low amplitude, whereas at 50 and 100 nM, a rapid and high initial Ca(2+)-peak followed by trains of smaller Ca(2+)-oscillations was observed. Higher concentrations of NAADP(+) (1 and 10 microM) gradually reduced the initial Ca(2+)-peak, and a complete self-inactivation of Ca(2+)-signals was seen at 100 microM. The effect of NAADP(+) was specific as it was not observed with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. Both inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate- and cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose-mediated Ca(2+)-signaling were efficiently inhibited by coinjection of a self-inactivating concentration of NAADP(+). Most importantly, microinjection of a self-inactivating concentration of NAADP(+) completely abolished subsequent stimulation of Ca(2+)-signaling via the T cell receptor/CD3 complex, indicating that a functional NAADP(+) Ca(2+)-release system is essential for T-lymphocyte Ca(2+)-signaling.     

Intracellular Ca(2+) and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II mediate acute potentiation of neurotransmitter release by neurotrophin-3

Neurotrophins have been shown to acutely modulate synaptic transmission in a variety of systems, but the underlying signaling mechanisms remain unclear. Here we provide evidence for an unusual mechanism that mediates synaptic potentiation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) induced by neurotrophin-3 (NT3), using Xenopus nerve-muscle co-culture. Unlike brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which requires Ca(2+) influx for its acute effect, NT3 rapidly enhances spontaneous transmitter release at the developing NMJ even when Ca(2+) influx is completely blocked, suggesting that the NT3 effect is independent of extracellular Ca(2+). Depletion of intracellular Ca(2+) stores, or blockade of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) or ryanodine receptors, prevents the NT3-induced synaptic potentiation. Blockade of IP3 receptors can not prevent BDNF-induced potentiation, suggesting that BDNF and NT3 use different mechanisms to potentiate transmitter release. Inhibition of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) completely blocks the acute effect of NT3. Furthermore, the NT3-induced potentiation requires a continuous activation of CaMKII, because application of the CaMKII inhibitor KN62 reverses the previously established NT3 effect. Thus, NT3 potentiates neurotransmitter secretion by stimulating Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores through IP3 and/or ryanodine receptors, leading to an activation of CaMKII.     

S-adenosyl-l-methionine inhibits phosphoinositide metabolism in the rat brain synaptosomal suspensions

S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) has been reported to affect events linked to noradrenergic neurotransmission. In the present work, we studied the effect of AdoMet on norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated inositol phosphate production in³H-inositol-labelled crude synaptosomal suspensions of rat brain. AdoMet (50–1000 M) decreased both the synthesis of labelled polyphosphoinositide (30–50%) and the release of inositol mono- and bisphosphate (40–50%). The AdoMet effect was not dependent on NE concentration (10–1000 M), suggesting that the inhibition of inositol phosphate release was not the result of a modification of the norepinephrine binding to its receptor sites. S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (AdoHcy) (1 mM) an inhibitor of methyltransferase activities, partially inhibited (70%) the AdoMet (0.1 mM) effect, indicating that the methylation processes cannot explain all the effects observed. We conclude that, in addition to previously reported effects of AdoMet on NE transport, AdoMet may reduce NE-linked intracellular signalling.     

Functional importance of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in galanin-induced microglial migration

Galanin (GAL) is a neuropeptide which is up-regulated following neuronal axotomy or inflammation. One subtype of GAL receptor (GalR2) is reported to be expressed in the brain's immune cell population, microglia. In the present study, we investigated the effect of GAL on microglial migration and compared the mechanism with that of bradykinin (BK). GAL significantly increased the migration of rat cultured microglia at 0.1 pM. The GAL-induced signal cascade was partly similar to that induced by BK. It was not dependent on G(i/o) protein but involved activation of protein kinase C, phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels. However, reverse-mode activation of the Na(+) /Ca(2+) -exchanger 1 was not involved in GAL-induced microglial migration, unlike BK-induced migration. Likewise, nominally-free extracellular Ca(2+) inhibited BK-induced migration but not GAL-induced migration. An inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor antagonist significantly inhibited GAL-induced migration. GAL-induced Ca(2+) signaling did not induce nitric oxide synthase expression, but up-regulated class II major histocompatibility complex expression. These results indicate that activation of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor and increase in intracellular Ca(2+) are important for GAL-induced migration and immunoreactivity in microglia. The differences in down-stream signal transduction induced by GAL and BK suggest that GAL and BK may control distinct microglial functions under pathological conditions.     

白念珠菌肌醇多磷酸激酶Kcs1的功能

【目的】鉴定白念珠菌肌醇多磷酸激酶Kcs1蛋白,并探索Kcs1在该病原菌细胞自噬、菌丝发育及致病过程中的功能。【方法】采用二步PCR介导的同源重组方法,构建白念珠菌KCS1基因缺失菌株kcs1Δ/Δ及回补菌株KCS1c;采用氮饥饿敏感性测定及GFP-Atg8自噬报告系统,测定KCS1缺失对白念珠菌自噬过程的影响;采用菌丝诱导培养,测定KCS1缺失对白念珠菌菌丝发育能力的影响;采用巨噬细胞模型及小鼠系统性感染模型,分析KCS1缺失对白念珠菌感染宿主能力的影响。【结果】KCS1缺失造成白念珠菌氮饥饿耐受能力降低,氮饥饿条件下自噬相关蛋白Atg8的降解及转运水平下降,菌丝发育变缓,对巨噬细胞耐受及损伤能力减弱,但不影响菌株的小鼠系统性感染能力。【结论】白念珠菌肌醇多磷酸激酶Kcs1在细胞自噬、菌丝发育、与巨噬细胞相互作用等方面发挥重要作用。