scholarly journals Deletion of the regulatory domain of protein kinase C alpha exposes regions in the hinge and catalytic domains that mediate nuclear targeting.

1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 863-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
G James ◽  
E Olson

Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family are characterized by an NH2-terminal regulatory domain containing binding sites for calcium, phosphatidylserine, and diacylglycerol (or tumor-promoting phorbol esters), a small central hinge region and a COOH-terminal catalytic domain. We have constructed fusion proteins in which the regulatory domain of PKC alpha was removed and replaced by a 19-amino acid leader sequence containing a myristoylation consensus or by the same sequence in which the amino-terminal glycine was changed to alanine to prevent myristoylation. The goal was to generate constitutively active mutants of PKC that were either membrane bound, due to their myristoylation, or cytoplasmic. Western blotting of fractions from COS cells transfected with plasmids encoding wild-type and mutant proteins revealed that PKC alpha resided entirely in a Triton X-100 soluble (TS) fraction, whereas both the myristoylated and nonmyristoylated mutants were associated primarily with the nuclear envelope fraction. A similar mutant that lacked the 19 amino acid leader sequence was also found almost entirely in the nuclear envelope, as was a truncation mutant containing only the regulatory domain, hinge region, and a small portion of the catalytic domain. However, an additional truncation mutant consisting of only the regulatory domain plus the first one-third of the hinge region was almost entirely in the TS fraction. A nonmyristoylated fusion protein containing only the catalytic domain was also found in the nuclear envelope. Immunostaining of cells transfected with these constructs revealed that both the myristoylated and nonmyristoylated mutants were localized in nuclei, whereas wild-type PKC alpha was primarily cytoplasmic and perinuclear. Phorbol dibutyrate treatment of PKC alpha-transfected cells resulted in increased perinuclear and nuclear staining. The results are consistent with a model in which activation of PKC, by phorbol esters or by deletion of the regulatory domain, exposes regions in the hinge and catalytic domains that interact with a PKC "receptor" present in the nuclear envelope, and may explain the ability of wild-type PKC to be translocated to the nucleus under certain conditions.

1991 ◽  
Vol 276 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Pears ◽  
D Schaap ◽  
P J Parker

Protein kinase C (PKC) consists of a family of closely related enzymes that can be divided into two subfamilies (alpha, beta and gamma and delta, epsilon and zeta) on the basis of primary sequence. Functional differences have also been described; thus PKC-alpha, PKC-beta and PKC-gamma readily phosphorylate histone IIIS in vitro, whereas PKC-epsilon will not employ this substrate efficiently. We have previously demonstrated, however, that proteolytic cleavage of PKC-epsilon generates a constitutive kinase activity that is an efficient histone IIIS kinase [Schaap, Hsuan, Totty & Parker (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 191, 431-435]. In order to investigate the structural basis for this switch in specificity, we have constructed a chimaeric protein containing the regulatory domain of PKC-epsilon fused to the catalytic domain of PKC-gamma. When this is expressed in COS1 cells the chimaeric kinase shows a substrate-specificity similar to that of PKC-epsilon rather than to that of PKC-gamma. This demonstrates a role for the regulatory domain in substrate selection of PKC-epsilon.


2000 ◽  
Vol 351 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele T. YIP-SCHNEIDER ◽  
Wenyan MIAO ◽  
Amy LIN ◽  
Darlene S. BARNARD ◽  
Guri TZIVION ◽  
...  

The Raf-1 kinase domain is kept in an inactive state by the N-terminal regulatory domain. Activation of the kinase domain occurs following release from the N-terminal repression and possible catalytic upregulation. To distinguish the regulatory mechanisms that directly influence the catalytic activity of the enzyme from those which act through the inhibitory domain, the catalytic domain of Raf-1 (CR3) was expressed in COS-7 cells. The role of phosphorylation in the direct regulation of this domain was determined by substituting non-phosphorylatable amino acids for known serine and tyrosine phosphorylation sites. The intrinsic activity of each mutant protein was determined as well as stimulation by v-Src and phorbol esters. Both v-Src and phorbol esters were potent activators of CR3, requiring the serine 338/339 (p21-activated protein kinase, Pak) and tyrosine 340/341 (Src) phosphorylation sites for full stimulation of CR3. In contrast, loss of the serine 497/499 protein kinase C phosphorylation sites had little effect on CR3 activation by either v-Src or phorbol esters. Loss of serine 621, a 14-3-3 adaptor-protein-binding site, prevented activation of CR3 by v-Src or phorbol esters and partially decreased the high basal activity of the kinase fragment. When co-expressed in COS-7 cells, 14-3-3 associated strongly with full-length Raf-1, weakly with wild-type CR3 and not at all with the A621 and D621 CR3 mutants. The role of 14-3-3 in maintaining the activity of the catalytic domain of Raf-1 was investigated further by performing peptide-competition studies with wild-type CR3, wild-type CR3 and v-Src or constitutively active CR3 (CR3[YY340/341DD]). In each case, incubation of the proteins with a phosphoserine-621 Raf-1 peptide, which we show displaced Raf-1 and CR3[YY340/341DD] from 14-3-3, was found to substantially reduce catalytic activity. Taken together, our results support a model of Raf regulation in which the activity of the Raf-1 catalytic domain is directly upregulated by phosphorylation, following relief of inhibition by the N-terminal regulatory domain upon Ras-GTP binding. Moreover, the presence of serine 621 in the free catalytic fragment is required for full CR3 activation by stimulatory factors, and the continuous presence of 14-3-3 at this site is necessary for retaining activity once the kinase is activated.


1992 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobutaka Minami ◽  
Eiichi Tani ◽  
Yukio Maeda ◽  
Ikuya Yamaura ◽  
Masahiro Fukami

✓ Vasospasm was produced in adult mongrel dogs by a two-hemorrhage method, and the spastic basilar arteries were exposed via the transclival route on Day 7. Tonic contraction was produced in the normal canine basilar arteries by a local application of KCl or serotonin after transclival exposure. The exposed spastic and tonic basilar arteries then received a topical application of the following: 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine (H-7), a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C acting at the catalytic domain; calphostin C, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C acting at the regulatory domain; or calpeptin, a selective inhibitor of calpain. Both spastic and tonic basilar arteries were effectively dilated by H-7. Calphostin C caused only slight dilation of spastic basilar arteries but moderate dilation of tonic basilar arteries. Dilation in response to calpeptin was remarkable in the spastic basilar arteries but slight in the tonic basilar arteries. The doses of calphostin C and calpeptin required to obtain maximum effect were markedly lower in the tonic model than in the spastic model. The spastic and tonic models had a similar dose-dependent response to H-7 but quite a different response to calphostin C or calpeptin, suggesting a difference in the function of protein kinase C and calpain in the two models. Furthermore, the effect of calphostin C on the reversal of vasospasm was increased significantly after topical treatment with calpeptin. It is suggested that the majority of the catalytic domain of protein kinase C is dissociated from the regulatory domain, probably by a limited proteolysis with calpain, and is markedly activated in vasospasm.


1992 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 1049-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Eldar ◽  
E Livneh

Cell lines stably overexpressing protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha were previously described by us. These cell lines were generated by the introduction of the full length cDNA coding for PKC-alpha into Swiss/3T3 cells. Here we show that activation of PKC-alpha by phorbol-esters induced in these cells specific phosphorylation of two cellular proteins p90 and p52. Phosphorylation of p80 (MARCKS protein), previously identified as a substrate for PKC, was also enhanced. Phosphorylated p90 and p52 proteins were associated with particulate membrane-enriched fractions and were extractable with the use of nonionic detergents. Time course analysis of phorbol-ester induced phosphorylation of p90 and p52 revealed maximal stimulation of phosphorylation after 15-30 min. Phosphamino acid analysis showed that phosphorylation of p90 and p52 occurred mainly on serine residues. Phosphorylation of p52 was also on threonine residues. Whereas, phorbol ester activation induced phosphorylation of both p90 and p52, the mitogens platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) enhanced phosphorylation of p90, but not p52. Thus, our studies showed the involvement of PKC-alpha in the regulation of p90 and p52 phosphorylation and provided direct evidence for the role of PKC-alpha in cellular signaling by PDGF and FGF. Moreover, the fact that phosphorylation of p52 was specific to phorbol ester activation may suggest its involvement in tumor promotion. Characterization of p90 and p52 will enable us to reveal the phosphorylation cascade activated downstream to PKC-alpha and to determine their role in mitogenic signaling and tumor promotion.


1989 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 685-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
K L Leach ◽  
E A Powers ◽  
V A Ruff ◽  
S Jaken ◽  
S Kaufmann

We have examined the immunocytochemical localization of protein kinase C (PKC) in NIH 3T3 cells using mAbs that recognize Type 3 PKC. In control cells, the immunofluorescent staining was similar with mAbs directed to either the catalytic or the regulatory domain of PKC. Type 3 PKC localized in a diffuse cytoplasmic pattern, while the nuclei were apparently unstained. Cytoskeletal components also were Treatment of the cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) resulted in a redistribution of PKC with a specific increase in nuclear PKC. Compared to control cells, the staining with the anticatalytic domain mAbs changed markedly, covering the entire cell surface. In contrast, the staining by the antiregulatory domain mAb did not cover the cell surface and the nuclei remained unstained; these results suggest that PKC activation leads to a conformational change of the regulatory domain such that the epitope recognized by the antiregulatory domain mAb is not readily accessible. We have demonstrated by three criteria that PMA treatment specifically increased PKC in the nucleus: (a) immunofluorescent staining in isolated nuclei increased; (b) Western blots showed that our mAbs detected only one protein, the 82-kD PKC, whose level increased in nuclear lysates from PMA-treated cells; and (c) PKC activity increased in nuclear lysates. In fractionation studies we demonstrated that PKC specifically localized to the nuclear envelope fraction. These results demonstrate that PMA activation leads to a rapid redistribution of Type 3 PKC to the nuclear envelope, and suggests that this isozyme may play a role in mediating PKC-induced changes in gene expression.


1995 ◽  
Vol 312 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Tabuse ◽  
T Sano ◽  
K Nishiwaki ◽  
J Miwa

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans displays developmental and behavioural sensitivity to tumour-promoting phorbol esters. This sensitivity involves the gene tpa-1, which encodes two protein kinase C isoforms, TPA-1A and TPA-1B. Here we report the molecular nature of the sensitivity in this animal. Characterization of transposon Tc1-induced phorbol ester-resistant mutants has revealed that Tc1 was inserted in a region encoding the kinase domain, resulting in the loss of tpa-1 products. Introduction of a genomic DNA containing the entire wild-type tpa-1 locus into a Tc1-inserted mutant restored the sensitivity to tumour promoters, and tpa-1 products were also produced. These results suggest that the function of wild-type TPA-1 is necessary and sufficient for tumour promoters to cause developmental and behavioural sensitivity in C. elegans.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (2) ◽  
pp. C457-C463 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Smith ◽  
H. Porzig ◽  
H. W. Lee ◽  
J. B. Smith

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCE) contributes to Ca2+ reabsorption by connecting tubules of the nephron. A line of renal epithelial cells from monkey kidney (LLC-MK2) was used to investigate the regulation of NCE expression. After the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), NCE activity decreased exponentially by 75% in 48 h (half time approximately 19 h). PMA decreased NCE mRNA by 85% in 24 h. The decrease in NCE transcript preceded the downregulation of NCE activity. NCE protein was quantified with a monoclonal antibody to cardiac NCE. PMA decreased the binding of 3H-labeled antibody to cell sonicates by 40% in 24 h. Immunoblots show that PMA produced a marked and extended increase in membrane-associated PKC-alpha, although PMA depleted total PKC-alpha by 65% in 24 h. In vivo 32P labeling of myristolated alanine-rich C kinase substrate, a specific PKC substrate, confirmed that PMA produced a rapid and extended activation of PKC. 4 alpha-PMA, a stereoisomer of PMA that neither binds nor activates PKC, had no effect on NCE activity or transcript. These findings indicate that activation of PKC with phorbol esters downregulates NCE mRNA, protein, and activity in renal epithelial cells.


1992 ◽  
Vol 285 (2) ◽  
pp. 673-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
N van den Berghe ◽  
A B Vaandrager ◽  
A G M Bot ◽  
P J Parker ◽  
H R de Jonge

The involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of intestinal ion secretion was studied in polarized monolayers of the HT29cl.19A human colon carcinoma cell line. Carbachol, phorbol esters [PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) and PDB (phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate)] and 8-bromo cyclic AMP (8-Br-cAMP) induced Cl secretion, as measured by a rise in the short-circuit current (ISC). The electrical response to carbachol coincided with a transient translocation of PKC alpha from the soluble to the particulate fraction. The carbachol-, PDB- and 8-Br-cAMP-induced ISC responses were inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with PMA (0.5 microM) for 2 h, a time period in which PKC alpha, beta 1 and gamma levels were not changed. As shown by 86Rb+ and 125I- efflux studies, the main targets for this inhibition were basolateral K+ transporters rather than apical Cl- channels. Prolonged exposure to PMA (24 h) led to a 60% recovery of the 8-Br-cAMP response, but not of the carbachol- or PDB-provoked secretion. As shown by immunoblotting with PKC-isoenzyme-specific antisera, the recovery of the 8-Br-cAMP response coincided with the down-regulation of PKC alpha, whereas the levels of PKC beta 1 and gamma were unmodified. These results suggest that PKC alpha, but not PKC beta 1 or gamma, is involved in both acute stimulation and chronic inhibition of ion secretion in the HT29cl.19A colonic cell line.


1989 ◽  
Vol 86 (17) ◽  
pp. 6758-6762 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Gopalakrishna ◽  
W B Anderson

The susceptibility of purified protein kinase C to oxidative inactivation by H2O2 was found to be increased by Ca2+ either alone at a high (5 mM) concentration or at a low (approximately 50 microM) concentration along with phosphatidylserine and diacylglycerol and by tumor-promoting phorbol esters even in the absence of Ca2+. This suggested that the membrane-bound and/or catalytically active form of protein kinase C is relatively more susceptible to oxidative inactivation. Although both the regulatory and catalytic domains of protein kinase C were susceptible to oxidative inactivation, a selective modification of the regulatory domain was obtained under mild oxidative conditions by protecting the catalytic site with ATP/Mg2+. Under these conditions there was a loss of both phorbol ester binding and Ca2+/phospholipid-stimulated kinase activity. However, this modified form of enzyme exhibited an increase in Ca2+/phospholipid-independent kinase activity. This suggests that selective oxidative modification of the regulatory domain may negate the requirement for Ca2+ and lipids for activation. Treatment of intact C6 glioma or B16 melanoma cells with H2O2 resulted in a time- and temperature-dependent decrease in Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C activity along with a concomitant transient increase in an oxidatively modified isoform of protein kinase C that exhibited activity in the absence of Ca2+ and phospholipids. Since protein kinase C can initially be activated by mild oxidative modification and subsequently inactivated by further oxidation, this dual activation-inactivation of protein kinase C in response to H2O2 suggests an effective on/off signal mechanism to influence cellular events.


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