scholarly journals Photosensitive tyrosine analogues unravel site-dependent phosphorylation in TrkA initiated MAPK/ERK signaling

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Zhao ◽  
Jia Shi ◽  
Guohua Yu ◽  
Dali Li ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractTyrosine kinase A (TrkA) is a membrane receptor which, upon ligand binding, activates several pathways including MAPK/ERK signaling, implicated in a spectrum of human pathologies; thus, TrkA is an emerging therapeutic target in treatment of neuronal diseases and cancer. However, mechanistic insights into TrKA signaling are lacking due to lack of site-dependent phosphorylation control. Here we engineer two light-sensitive tyrosine analogues, namely p-azido-L-phenylalanine (AzF) and the caged-tyrosine (ONB), through amber codon suppression to optically manipulate the phosphorylation state of individual intracellular tyrosines in TrkA. We identify TrkA-AzF and ONB mutants, which can activate the ERK pathway in the absence of NGF ligand binding through light control. Our results not only reveal how TrkA site-dependent phosphorylation controls the defined signaling process, but also extend the genetic code expansion technology to enable regulation of receptor-type kinase activation by optical control at the precision of a single phosphorylation site. It paves the way for comprehensive analysis of kinase-associated pathways as well as screening of compounds intervening in a site-directed phosphorylation pathway for targeted therapy.

2018 ◽  
Vol 151 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duilio M. Potenza ◽  
Radoslav Janicek ◽  
Miguel Fernandez-Tenorio ◽  
Emmanuel Camors ◽  
Roberto Ramos-Mondragón ◽  
...  

During physical exercise or stress, the sympathetic system stimulates cardiac contractility via β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) activation, resulting in protein kinase A (PKA)–mediated phosphorylation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor RyR2. PKA-dependent “hyperphosphorylation” of the RyR2 channel has been proposed as a major impairment that contributes to progression of heart failure. However, the sites of PKA phosphorylation and their phosphorylation status in cardiac diseases are not well defined. Among the known RyR2 phosphorylation sites, serine 2030 (S2030) remains highly controversial as a site of functional impact. We examined the contribution of RyR2-S2030 to Ca2+ signaling and excitation–contraction coupling (ECC) in a transgenic mouse with an ablated RyR2-S2030 phosphorylation site (RyR2-S2030A+/+). We assessed ECC gain by using whole-cell patch–clamp recordings and confocal Ca2+ imaging during β-ARs stimulation with isoproterenol (Iso) and consistent SR Ca2+ loading and L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) triggering. Under these conditions, ECC gain is diminished in mutant compared with WT cardiomyocytes. Resting Ca2+ spark frequency (CaSpF) with Iso is also reduced by mutation of S2030. In permeabilized cells, when SR Ca2+ pump activity is kept constant (using 2D12 antibody against phospholamban), cAMP does not change CaSpF in S2030A+/+ myocytes. Using Ca2+ spark recovery analysis, we found that mutant RyR Ca2+ sensitivity is not enhanced by Iso application, contrary to WT RyRs. Furthermore, ablation of RyR2-S2030 prevents acceleration of Ca2+ waves and increases latency to the first spontaneous Ca2+ release after a train of stimulations during Iso treatment. Together, these results suggest that phosphorylation at S2030 may represent an important step in the modulation of RyR2 activity during β-adrenergic stimulation and a potential target for the development of new antiarrhythmic drugs.


2022 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. e202101301
Author(s):  
Ralph T Böttcher ◽  
Nico Strohmeyer ◽  
Jonas Aretz ◽  
Reinhard Fässler

Integrins require an activation step before ligand binding and signaling that is mediated by talin and kindlin binding to the β integrin cytosolic domain (β-tail). Conflicting reports exist about the contribution of phosphorylation of a conserved threonine motif in the β1-tail (β1-pT788/pT789) to integrin activation. We show that widely used and commercially available antibodies against β1-pT788/pT789 integrin do not detect specific β1-pT788/pT789 integrin signals in immunoblots of several human and mouse cell lysates but bind bi-phosphorylated threonine residues in numerous proteins, which were identified by mass spectrometry experiments. Furthermore, we found that fibroblasts and epithelial cells expressing the phospho-mimicking β1-TT788/789DD integrin failed to activate β1 integrins and displayed reduced integrin ligand binding, adhesion initiation and cell spreading. These cellular defects are specifically caused by the inability of kindlin to bind β1-tail polypeptides carrying a phosphorylated threonine motif or phospho-mimicking TT788/789DD substitutions. Our findings indicate that the double-threonine motif in β1-class integrins is not a major phosphorylation site but if phosphorylated would curb integrin function.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor M. Courtney ◽  
Alexander Deiters

Abstract Protein phosphatases are involved in embryonic development, metabolic homeostasis, stress response, cell cycle transitions, and many other essential biological mechanisms. Unlike kinases, protein phosphatases remain understudied and less characterized. Traditional genetic and biochemical methods have contributed significantly to our understanding; however, these methodologies lack precise and acute spatiotemporal control. Here, we report the development of a light-activated protein phosphatase, the dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6 or MKP3). Through genetic code expansion, MKP3 is placed under optical control via two different approaches: (i) incorporation of a caged cysteine into the active site for controlling catalytic activity and (ii) incorporation of a caged lysine into the kinase interaction motif for controlling the protein-protein interaction between the phosphatase and its substrate. Both strategies are expected to be applicable to the engineering of a wide range of light-activated phosphatases. Applying the optogenetically controlled MKP3 in conjunction with live cell reporters, we discover that ERK nuclear translocation is regulated in a graded manner in response to increasing MKP3 activity.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 7593-7602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy M. Delaney ◽  
John A. Printen ◽  
Huifen Chen ◽  
Eric B. Fauman ◽  
David T. Dudley

ABSTRACT Utilizing a genetic screen in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we identified a novel autoactivation region in mammalian MEK1 that is involved in binding the specific MEK inhibitor, PD 184352. The genetic screen is possible due to the homology between components of the yeast pheromone response pathway and the eukaryotic Raf-MEK-ERK signaling cascade. Using the FUS1::HIS3 reporter as a functional readout for activation of a reconstituted Raf-MEK-ERK signaling cascade, randomly mutagenized MEK variants that were insensitive to PD 184352 were obtained. Seven single-base-change mutations were identified, five of which mapped to kinase subdomains III and IV of MEK. Of the seven variants, only one, a leucine-to-proline substitution at amino acid 115 (Leu115Pro), was completely insensitive to PD 184352 in vitro (50% inhibitory concentration >10 μM). However, all seven mutants displayed strikingly high basal activity compared to wild-type MEK. Overexpression of the MEK variants in HEK293T cells resulted in an increase in mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation, a finding consistent with the elevated basal activity of these constructs. Further, treatment with PD 184352 failed to inhibit Leu115Pro-stimulated MAP kinase activation in HEK293T cells, whereas all other variants had some reduction in phospho-MAP kinase levels. By using cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (1CDK) as a template, an MEK homology model was generated, with five of the seven identified residues clustered together, forming a potential hydrophobic binding pocket for PD 184352. Additionally, the model allowed identification of other potential residues that would interact with the inhibitor. Directed mutation of these residues supported this region's involvement with inhibitor binding.


FEBS Letters ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 312 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 259-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Begonia Y. Ho ◽  
Andreas Karschin ◽  
Theresa Branchek ◽  
Norman Davidson ◽  
Henry A. Lester

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Qi Yang ◽  
Jingxian Chen ◽  
Ling Wu ◽  
Tianzhuo Yao ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Schönrock ◽  
Elisa Heinzelmann ◽  
Bianca Steffl ◽  
Ashwin Narayanan ◽  
Damir Krunic ◽  
...  

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive tumor that frequently exhibits gain of chromosome 7, loss of chromosome 10 and aberrantly activated receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways. Here, we identify mesenchyme homeobox 2 (MEOX2) on chromosome 7 with increased expression in GBM as a salient oncogenic transcription factor. Specifically, we show that MEOX2 overexpression leads to increased ERK phosphorylation, and we identify a phosphorylation site on MEOX2 that regulates its transcriptional activity by altering its subnuclear localization. We show that MEOX2 overexpression can lead to increased growth in GBM implantation models and cooperates with loss of p53 and PTEN in cerebral organoid models of human malignant gliomas to induce cell proliferation. Furthermore, using high-throughput genomics, we identify transcriptional target genes of MEOX2 in patient-derived GBM tumorsphere models and a fresh frozen GBM tumor. These analyses show that MEOX2 activates several oncogenic pathways involved in MAPK signaling and extracellular matrix organization. Furthermore, MEOX2 binds to oncogenic ETS factors and known glioma oncogenes such as FABP7. In total, we reveal a novel role for MEOX2 in GBM initiation and progression and demonstrate that MEOX2 can enhance ERK signaling through a feed-forward mechanism.Significance StatementGlioblastoma (GBM) harbors gain of chromosome 7 as an early driver event. In this study, we show that mesenchyme homeobox 2 (MEOX2), an aberrantly upregulated transcription factor on chromosome 7, is an oncogene in human glioblastoma. In contrast to GBM, MEOX2 expression is very low in normal brain. We show that MEOX2 cooperates with p53 and PTEN loss to promote tumor initiation in cerebral organoid models. In addition, we identify direct and indirect molecular targets of MEOX2 and demonstrate its role in activating the ERK signaling cascade. These findings identify a novel oncogene in GBM and highlight the transcriptional networks hijacked by these tumors to activate signaling pathways central to GBM biology.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (1) ◽  
pp. E81-E92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Thibonnier ◽  
Christine L. Plesnicher ◽  
Karim Berrada ◽  
Liliana Berti-Mattera

We studied the role played by the intracellular COOH-terminal region of the human arginine vasopressin (AVP) V1-vascular receptor (V1R) in ligand binding, trafficking, and mitogenic signal transduction in Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with the human AVP receptor cDNA clones that we had isolated previously. Truncations, mutations, or chimeric alterations of the V1R COOH terminus did not alter ligand binding, but agonist-induced V1R internalization and recycling were reduced in the absence of the proximal region of the V1R COOH terminus. Coupling to phospholipase C was altered as a function of the COOH-terminal length. Deletion of the proximal portion of the V1R COOH terminus or its replacement by the V2-renal receptor COOH terminus prevented AVP stimulation of DNA synthesis and progression through the cell cycle. Mutation of a kinase consensus motif in the proximal region of the V1R COOH terminus also abolished the mitogenic response. Thus the V1R cytoplasmic COOH terminus is not involved in ligand specificity but is instrumental in receptor trafficking and facilitates the interaction between the intracellular loops of the receptor, G protein, and phospholipase C. It is absolutely required for transmission of the mitogenic action of AVP, probably via a specific kinase phosphorylation site.


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