The RdeA-RegA system, a eukaryotic phospho-relay controlling cAMP breakdown

Human phosphodiesterase 8A splice variants: cloning, gene organization, and tissue distribution

We have cloned cDNAs representing five full-length human phosphodiesterase (PDE) 8A splice variants (PDE8As 1-5) from testis and T cells. PDE8A1 encodes a hydrophilic protein of 829 amino acids, containing an N-terminal REC domain, a PAS domain, and a C-terminal catalytic domain. PDE8A2 encodes a protein of 783 amino acids, identical to PDE8A1 but lacking the PAS domain. PDE8A3 encodes a shorter protein equivalent to the C-terminal 449 amino acids of PDE8A1, containing the catalytic but not the REC and PAS domains. PDE8A4 and PDE8A5, though different from each other at the nucleotide level, encode an identical protein equivalent to the C-terminal 582 amino acids of PDE8A1, including half of the PAS domain. The PDE8A gene is revealed to contain 23 exons, and its exon-intron boundaries have been defined. In addition, we have mapped a common transcription initiation site, and further determined the upstream 5'-flanking sequence of 1740 bp containing the putative promoter. Compared to PDE8A1, PDE8As 2-5 appear to be expressed in much lower abundance. Among various tissues and organs, PDE8A1 and PDE8A2 are expressed at various levels.

Propagating chemoattractant waves coordinate periodic cell movement inDictyosteliumslugs

Migration and behaviour of Dictyostelium slugs results from coordinated movement of its constituent cells. It has been proposed that cell movement is controlled by propagating waves of cAMP as during aggregation and in the mound. We report the existence of optical density waves in slugs; they are initiated in the tip and propagate backwards. The waves reflect periodic cell movement and are mediated by cAMP, as injection of cAMP or cAMP phosphodiesterase disrupts wave propagation and results in effects on cell movement and, therefore, slug migration. Inhibiting the function of the cAMP receptor cAR1 blocks wave propagation, showing that the signal is mediated by cAR1. Wave initiation is strictly dependent on the tip; in decapitated slugs no new waves are initiated and slug movement stops until a new tip regenerates. Isolated tips continue to migrate while producing waves. We conclude from these observations that the tip acts as a pacemaker for cAMP waves that coordinate cell movement in slugs.Movies available on-line

Crystal structure of the CheA histidine phosphotransfer domain that mediates response regulator phosphorylation in bacterial chemotaxis

The x-ray crystal structure of the P1 or H domain of the Salmonella CheA protein has been solved at 2.1-A resolution. The structure is composed of an up-down up-down four-helix bundle that is typical of histidine phosphotransfer or HPt domains such as Escherichia coli ArcB(C) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ypd1. Loop regions and additional structural features distinguish all three proteins. The CheA domain has an additional C-terminal helix that lies over the surface formed by the C and D helices. The phosphoaccepting His-48 is located at a solvent-exposed position in the middle of the B helix where it is surrounded by several residues that are characteristic of other HPt domains. Mutagenesis studies indicate that conserved glutamate and lysine residues that are part of a hydrogen-bond network with His-48 are essential for the ATP-dependent phosphorylation reaction but not for the phosphotransfer reaction with CheY. These results suggest that the CheA-P1 domain may serve as a good model for understanding the general function of HPt domains in complex two-component phosphorelay systems.

Regulated protein degradation controls PKA function and cell-type differentiation in Dictyostelium

Cullins function as scaffolds that, along with F-box/WD40-repeat-containing proteins, mediate the ubiquitination of proteins to target them for degradation by the proteasome. We have identified a cullin CulA that is required at several stages during Dictyostelium development. culA null cells are defective in inducing cell-type-specific gene expression and exhibit defects during aggregation, including reduced chemotaxis. PKA is an important regulator of Dictyostelium development. The levels of intracellular cAMP and PKA activity are controlled by the rate of synthesis of cAMP and its degradation by the cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase RegA. We show that overexpression of the PKA catalytic subunit (PKAcat) rescues many of the culA null defects and those of cells lacking FbxA/ChtA, a previously described F-box/WD40-repeat-containing protein, suggesting CulA and FbxA proteins are involved in regulating PKA function. Whereas RegA protein levels drop as the multicellular organism forms in the wild-type strain, they remain high in culA null and fbxA null cells. Although PKA can suppress the culA and fbxA null developmental phenotypes, it does not suppress the altered RegA degradation, suggesting that PKA lies downstream of RegA, CulA, and FbxA. Finally, we show that CulA, FbxA, and RegA are found in a complex in vivo, and formation of this complex is dependent on the MAP kinase ERK2, which is also required for PKA function. We propose that CulA and FbxA regulate multicellular development by targeting RegA for degradation via a pathway that requires ERK2 function, leading to an increase in cAMP and PKA activity.

Glucose-induced pathways for actin tyrosine dephosphorylation during Dictyostelium spore germination

In the presence of germination signals, dormant spores of Dictyostelium discoideum rapidly germinate to start a new life cycle. Previously we have shown that half of the actin molecules in spores are maintained in a tyrosine-phosphorylated state, and a decline of the actin phosphorylation levels is a prerequisite for spore swelling. In this study, we have established d-glucose as a trigger molecule for the actin dephosphorylation. Present in a nutrient germination medium, d-glucose both may act as a trigger molecule and/or may serve as a substrate within a pathway for actin dephosphorylation depending upon spore age. However, the glucose-induced actin dephosphorylation was insufficient for spores to swell. Other factors in the nutrient medium were required for complete germination of young spores aged 1 to 5 days. In contrast, dispersion in nonnutrient buffer was necessary and sufficient for a decline of actin phosphorylation levels and even the emergence of amoebae in older spores (6 days and beyond). Moreover, the dephosphorylation pathway in the older spores was independent of energy production. We propose that the diversification of the actin dephosphorylation pathway may enable spores to increase their probability of germination upon spore aging.

Osmotic stress response in Dictyostelium is mediated by cAMP

DokA, a homolog of bacterial hybrid histidine kinases, is essential for hyperosmotic stress resistance in Dictyostelium: We show that a transient intracellular cAMP signal, dependent on the presence of DokA, is generated in response to an osmotic shock. This variation of cAMP levels contributes to survival under hypertonic conditions. In contrast to the low cAMP levels observed in dokA(-) strains, overexpression of the receiver domain of DokA causes an increase in cAMP levels, resulting in a rapidly developing phenotype. We present biochemical and cell biological data indicating that the DokA receiver domain is a dominant-negative regulator of a phosphorelay, which controls the intracellular cAMP phosphodiesterase RegA. The activity of the DokA receiver domain depends on a conserved aspartate, mutation of which reverses the developmental phenotype, as well as the deregulation of cAMP metabolism.

Eukaryotic signal transduction via histidine-aspartate phosphorelay

Transmembrane signal transduction is a feature common to all eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. We now understand that a subset of the signalling mechanisms used by eukaryotes and prokaryotes are not just similar in principle, but actually use homologous proteins. These are the histidine-aspartate phosphorelays, signalling systems of eubacterial origin, now known to be widespread in eukaryotes outside the animal kingdom. Genome projects are revealing that His-Asp phosphorelays are present as multigene families in lower eukaryotes and in plants. A major challenge is to understand how these ‘novel’ signal transduction systems form integrated networks with the more familiar signalling mechanisms also present in eukaryotic cells. Already, phosphorelays have been characterised that regulate MAP kinase cascades and the cAMP/PKA pathway. The probable absence of His-Asp phosphorelays from animals has generated interest in their potential as targets for anti-microbial therapy, including antifungals. Recent findings suggest that this approach holds promise.

The control of chemotactic cell movement during Dictyostelium morphogenesis

Differential cell movement is an important mechanism in the development and morphogenesis of many organisms. In many cases there are indications that chemotaxis is a key mechanism controlling differential cell movement. This can be particularly well studied in the starvation-induced multicellular development of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. Upon starvation, up to 10(5) individual amoebae aggregate to form a fruiting body The cells aggregate by chemotaxis in response to propagating waves of cAMP, initiated by an aggregation centre. During their chemotactic aggregation the cells start to differentiate into prestalk and prespore cells, precursors to the stalk and spores that form the fruiting body. These cells enter the aggregate in a random order but then sort out to form a simple axial pattern in the slug. Our experiments strongly suggest that the multicellular aggregates (mounds) and slugs are also organized by propagating cAMP waves and, furthermore, that cell-type-specific differences in signalling and chemotaxis result in cell sorting, slug formation and movement.

Signal transduction: response regulators on and off

High resolution structures of the active phosphorylated forms of two-component response regulators have recently been reported. The results provide a basis for understanding how metabolic energy is coupled to signal transduction in cellular regulatory networks.

Two-component and phosphorelay signal transduction

Two-component and phosphorelay signal transduction systems are the major means by which bacteria recognize and respond to a variety of environmental stimuli. Recent results have implicated these systems in the regulation of a variety of essential processes including cell-cycle progression, pathogenicity, and developmental pathways. Elucidation of the structures of the interacting domains is leading to an understanding of the mechanisms of molecular recognition and phosphotransfer in these systems.