The structure and function of p55PIK reveal a new regulatory subunit for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Rab3B regulates ZO-1 targeting and actin organization in PC12 neuroendocrine cells

Rab3B is a monomeric GTPase that modulates norepinephrine secretion when expressed in PC12 neuroendocrine cells. In the present study we determined whether rab3B also regulates the organization of intercellular junctions, since this GTPase localizes to regions of cell contact in multiple cell types. The stable expression of rab3B, but not the closely related rab3A, led to two morphological phenotypes in PC12 cells: (i) reorganization of F-actin into long filopodia and (ii) redistribution of the junction-associated protein ZO-1. ZO-1 localization was not appreciably affected by the expression of a GTP binding mutant of rab3B (N135I) that stimulates norepinephrine secretion by PC12 cells. The apparent diversity of these rab3B phenotypes implies that this GTPase is capable of influencing cell signaling pathways that in turn modulate the cytoskeleton and junction organization. In support of this hypothesis we observed that rab3B expression also altered the profile of proteins that interact with the signaling molecule, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase). The effect of rab3B on protein interactions with PI3-kinase was reversed by inhibitors of this kinase. Furthermore, PI3-kinase inhibitors virtually abolished ZO-1 localization at the surfaces of cells that express rab3B, but not rab3A, whereas these inhibitors had no effect on rab3B-dependent norepinephrine secretion. Our results indicate that rab3B can influence junctional protein targeting and secretion by distinct mechanisms.

The c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase promotes insulin resistance during association with insulin receptor substrate-1 and phosphorylation of Ser(307)

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) inhibits insulin action, in part, through serine phosphorylation of IRS proteins; however, the phosphorylation sites that mediate the inhibition are unknown. TNFalpha promotes multipotential signal transduction cascades, including the activation of the Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK). Endogenous JNK associates with IRS-1 in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Anisomycin, a strong activator of JNK in these cells, stimulates the activity of JNK bound to IRS-1 and inhibits the insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1. Serine 307 is a major site of JNK phosphorylation in IRS-1. Mutation of serine 307 to alanine eliminates phosphorylation of IRS-1 by JNK and abrogates the inhibitory effect of TNFalpha on insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1. These results suggest that phosphorylation of serine 307 might mediate, at least partially, the inhibitory effect of proinflammatory cytokines like TNFalpha on IRS-1 function.

Structure and function of phosphatidylinositol-3,4 kinase

Activation of phosphatidylinositol (PI)-kinase is involved in the regulation of a wide array of cellular activities. The enzyme exists as a dimer, consisting of a catalytic and a regulatory subunit. Five isoforms of the regulatory subunit have been identified and classified into three groups comprising respectively 85-kDa, 55-kDa, and 50-kDa proteins. Structural differences in the N-terminal regions of the different group members contribute to defining their binding specificity, their subcellular distributions, and their capacity to activate the 110-kDa catalytic subunit. Two widely distributed isoforms of the catalytic subunit have been identified-p110alpha and p110beta. Despite the fact that they bind to the p85alpha regulatory subunit similarly, p110alpha and p110beta appear to have separate functions within cells and to be activated by different stimuli. Moreover, although p85/p110 PI-kinase almost exclusively phosphorylates the D-3 position of the inositol ring in phosphoinositides when purified PI is used as a substrate in vitro, it appears to phosphorylate the D-4 position with similar or higher efficiency in vivo. Thus, it is highly probable that p85/p110 PI-kinase transmits signals to downstream targets via both D-3- and D-4-phosphorylated phosphoinositides.

The N-terminal 34 residues of the 55 kDa regulatory subunits of phosphoinositide 3-kinase interact with tubulin

There are five regulatory subunit isoforms of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), which are classified into three groups: proteins of 85 kDa (p85alpha and p85beta), 55 kDa (p55alpha and p55gamma) and 50 kDa (p50alpha). Structural differences between the three groups reside in the N-terminus. To elucidate the unique functional role of the 55 kDa regulatory subunits, GST (glutathione S-transferase) fusion proteins containing a unique N-terminal portion consisting of a 34-amino-acid sequence of p55alpha or p55gamma (GST-p55alpha/gammaN(1-34)) were used as affinity matrices to screen rat brain cell extracts for proteins to which this portion binds specifically. A protein that bound was identified as beta-tubulin by protein sequencing. In addition, not only the beta isoform of tubulin, but also the alpha and gamma isoforms, were detected in the protein absorbed from cell lysates with GST-p55gammaN(1-34) and GST-p55alphaN(1-34) by immunoblotting. Indeed, the only regulatory subunit present in the purified microtubule assembly from rat brain was the 55 kDa isoform; neither 85 kDa nor 50 kDa subunits were detected. These results indicate endogenous binding of 55 kDa regulatory subunits of PI 3-kinase to tubulin in the brain. Finally, we measured tubulin-associated PI 3-kinase activity in CHO/IR cells overexpressing each of the five regulatory subunit isoforms. Only in cells expressing p55alpha or p55gamma was there a significant elevation of tubulin-associated PI 3-kinase activity in response to insulin. These results suggest that the p55alpha and p55gamma regulatory subunits have important roles in regulating PI 3-kinase activity, particularly for microtubules at the cell periphery.

Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase localizes to cytoplasmic lipid bodies in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and other myeloid-derived cells

Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is a key enzyme implicated in intracellular signaling of diverse cellular responses including receptor-mediated responses and neutrophil activation. Several PI3K subunits have been cloned and shown to be localized to plasma membrane receptors, the cytosol, or intracellular vesicles or caveolae. We report the localization of PI3K to a distinct intracellular site, cytoplasmic lipid bodies, in leukocytes. In U937 monocyte cells, PI3K p85 regulatory and p110β catalytic subunits were localized to lipid bodies by immunocytochemistry and/or immunoblotting and enzyme assays of subcellular fractions. In RAW murine macrophages, p55, p85, and p85β PI3K subunits were present at isolated lipid bodies. PI3K p85 was also shown to colocalize and, by co-immunoprecipitation, to be physically associated with phosphorylated Lyn kinase in lipid bodies induced to form in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These findings, therefore, indicate a novel site for PI3K compartmentalization and suggest that PI3K-mediated signaling is active within cytoplasmic lipid bodies in leukocytes.

Multiple forms of p55PIK, a regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, are generated by alternative initiation of translation

A cDNA encoding p55PIK, one of the regulatory subunits of phosphoinositide (phosphatidylinositol) 3-kinase, was cloned from a cDNA library derived from the mouse mammary epithelial cell line C57MG. The cDNA coding for full-length p55PIK was transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. Western blot analysis of p55PIK expression using a specific antibody against p55PIK revealed that multiple protein products with different molecular masses were detected in COS-7 cell extracts. Experiments presented here demonstrate that multiple forms of p55PIK detected in COS-7 cells were produced by alternative initiation of translation. We also show that at least two in-frame start codons (AUG#2 and AUG#5) in p55PIK mRNA are used in COS-7 cells for the initiation of translation of p55PIK into proteins of 54 kDa and 50 kDa respectively. p55PIK mRNA was also alternatively translated into two proteins in PC cells, a mouse teratoma cell line, indicating that the alternative initiation of translation of p55PIK is not restricted to COS-7 cells. Results from immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis showed that two forms (54 kDa and 50 kDa protein species) of p55PIK were detected in C57MG cells. Interestingly, when C57MG cells were treated with insulin, only p55PIK, but not p50PIK, bound to insulin receptor substrate-1 protein, providing evidence that different forms of p55PIKs may have specific distinct roles in signal transduction pathways.

Multiple forms of p55PIK, a regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, are generated by alternative initiation of translation

A cDNA encoding p55PIK, one of the regulatory subunits of phosphoinositide (phosphatidylinositol) 3-kinase, was cloned from a cDNA library derived from the mouse mammary epithelial cell line C57MG. The cDNA coding for full-length p55PIK was transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. Western blot analysis of p55PIK expression using a specific antibody against p55PIK revealed that multiple protein products with different molecular masses were detected in COS-7 cell extracts. Experiments presented here demonstrate that multiple forms of p55PIK detected in COS-7 cells were produced by alternative initiation of translation. We also show that at least two in-frame start codons (AUG#2 and AUG#5) in p55PIK mRNA are used in COS-7 cells for the initiation of translation of p55PIK into proteins of 54 kDa and 50 kDa respectively. p55PIK mRNA was also alternatively translated into two proteins in PC cells, a mouse teratoma cell line, indicating that the alternative initiation of translation of p55PIK is not restricted to COS-7 cells. Results from immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis showed that two forms (54 kDa and 50 kDa protein species) of p55PIK were detected in C57MG cells. Interestingly, when C57MG cells were treated with insulin, only p55PIK, but not p50PIK, bound to insulin receptor substrate-1 protein, providing evidence that different forms of p55PIKs may have specific distinct roles in signal transduction pathways.

Insulin signalling: metabolic pathways and mechanisms for specificity

Biological actions of insulin are mediated by the insulin receptor, a member of a large family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). Signal transduction by the insulin receptor follows a paradigm for RTK signalling. Many intracellular signalling molecules contain multiple modular domains that mediate protein-protein interactions and participate in the formation of signalling complexes. Phosphorylation cascades are also a prominent feature of RTK signalling. Distal pathways are difficult to dissect because branching paths emerge from downstream effectors and several upstream inputs converge upon single branch points. Thus, insulin action is determined by complicated signalling networks rather than simple linear pathways. Interestingly, many signalling molecules downstream from the insulin receptor are also activated by a plethora of RTKs. Therefore, mechanisms that generate specificity are required. In this review we discuss recent advances in the elucidation of specific metabolic insulin signalling pathways related to glucose transport, one of the most distinctive biological actions of insulin. We also present examples of potential mechanisms underlying specificity in insulin signalling including interactions between multiple branching pathways, subcellular compartmentalization, tissue-specific expression of key effectors and modulation of signal frequency and amplitude.

Characterizing the interactions between the two subunits of the p101/p110gamma phosphoinositide 3-kinase and their role in the activation of this enzyme by G beta gamma subunits

Recently, we have reported the purification and cloning of a novel G protein betagamma subunit-activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase from pig neutrophils. The enzyme comprises a p110gamma catalytic subunit and a p101 regulatory subunit. Now we have cloned the human ortholog of p101 and generated panels of p101 and p110gamma truncations and deletions and used these in in vitro and in vivo assays to determine the protein domains responsible for subunit interaction and activation by betagamma subunits. Our results suggest large areas of p101 including both N- and C-terminal portions interact with the N-terminal half of p110gamma. While modifications of the N terminus of p110gamma could modulate its intrinsic catalytic activity, binding to the N-terminal region of p101 was found to be indispensable for activation of heterodimers with Gbetagamma.

Substrate interactions in the short- and long-term regulation of renal glucose oxidation

The present study evaluated the substrate competition between fatty acids (FA) and glucose in the kidney in vivo in relation to the operation of the "glucose-FA" and "reverse glucose-FA" cycles. In fed rats, neither inhibition of adipocyte lipolysis by 5-methylpyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (MPCA) nor inhibition of mitochondrial long-chain FA oxidation by 2-tetradecylglycidate (TDG) influenced the renal ratio of free/acylated carnitine or the percentage of total renal pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) in the active (dephosphorylated) form (PDHa). The additional provision of glucose, a precursor for the synthesis of malonyl-coenzyme A (coA), did not influence renal PDHa activity or the renal ratio of free to acylated carnitine, implying that FA oxidation is maximally suppressed in the fed state. A reverse glucose-FA cycle may therefore be important in suppressing renal FA oxidation in the fed state. After 48 hours of starvation, MPCA and TDG decreased short- and long-chain acylcarnitine concentrations (40% to 50%, P < .01) and elevated the renal ratio of free/acylated carnitine (2.5-fold, P < .001, and 3.3-fold, P < .001, respectively), indicating that FA oxidation is increased after starvation. Despite suppression of renal FA oxidation, renal PDHa activity in 48-hour starved rats was only partially restored by treatment with MPCA or TDG. The additional administration of glucose did not remedy this. The failure to reverse completely the effects of prolonged starvation in suppressing PDHC activity by acute inhibition of FA oxidation suggests additional regulatory mechanisms that dampen the PDHC response to acute changes in substrate supply. Estimations of PDH kinase (PDK) activity in renal mitochondria showed a significant 1.7-fold stable increase (P < .01) after 48 hours of starvation. Analysis of PDK pyruvate sensitivity in renal mitochondria incubated with respiratory substrate (5 mmol/L 2-oxoglutarate/0.5 mmol/L L-malate) showed that the pyruvate concentration required for 50% activation was substantially decreased by starvation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis over a range of PDHC activities demonstrated that increased PDK activity was concomitant with a significant (at least P < .01) 1.8-fold increase in the protein expression of the ubiquitously expressed PDK isoform, PDK2. We hypothesize that changes in protein expression and activity of individual PDK isoforms may dictate the renal response to incoming FA lesterification v oxidation) through modulation of the relationship between glycolytic flux and PDHC activity, and thus the provision of precursor for malonyl-coA production.

The SH3 and BH domains of the p85alpha adapter subunit play a critical role in regulating class Ia phosphoinositide 3-kinase function

We have investigated the role of the SH3 and BH domains in the function of the p85alpha adapter/regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase. In these studies epitope-tagged adapter subunit constructs containing wild-type p85alpha, p85alpha lacking the SH3 domain (deltaSH3-p85alpha), or p85alpha lacking the Rac-GAP/BCR homology (BH) domain (deltaBH-p85alpha) were coexpressed with either the p110alpha or p110beta PI 3-kinase catalytic subunit in HEK293 cells. The deletion of either BH or SH3 domains had no effect on the intrinsic activity of the PI 3-kinase heterodimers. However, the ability of activated Rac to stimulate PI 3-kinase activity was only observed in heterodimers containing the p85alpha and deltaSH3-p85alpha, indicating that rac binding to the BH domain is responsible for rac-induced stimulation of class Ia PI 3-kinase. We also investigated the effect of SH3 and BH domain deletion on the ability of insulin to induce recruitment of these constructs into phosphotyrosine-containing signaling complexes. We find that p85alpha expressed alone is poorly recruited into such signaling complexes. However, when coexpressed with catalytic subunit, the p85alpha adapter subunit is recruited to an extent similar to that of endogenous p85alpha. Maximal insulin stimulation caused a similar level of recruitment of p85alpha, deltaSH3-p85alpha, and deltaBH-p85alpha to signaling complexes when these adapter subunits were coexpressed with catalytic subunit. However, there was a higher level of basal association of the deltaSH3-p85alpha and deltaBH-p85alpha with tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, meaning that the insulin-induced fold increase in recruitment was lower for these forms of the adapter. These results indicate that the N-terminal domains of p85alpha play a critical role in the way the adapter subunit responds to growth factor stimulation.

Intermolecular interactions of the p85alpha regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

The regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, p85, contains a number of well defined domains involved in protein-protein interactions, including an SH3 domain and two SH2 domains. In order to investigate in detail the nature of the interactions of these domains with each other and with other binding partners, a series of deletion and point mutants was constructed, and their binding characteristics and apparent molecular masses under native conditions were analyzed. The SH3 domain and the first proline-rich motif bound each other, and variants of p85 containing the SH3 and BH domains and the first proline-rich motif were dimeric. Analysis of the apparent molecular mass of the deletion mutants indicated that each of these domains contributed residues to the dimerization interface, and competition experiments revealed that there were intermolecular SH3 domain-proline-rich motif interactions and BH-BH domain interactions mediating dimerization of p85alpha both in vitro and in vivo. Binding of SH2 domain ligands did not affect the dimeric state of p85alpha. Recently, roles for the p85 subunit have been postulated that do not involve the catalytic subunit, and if p85 exists on its own we propose that it would be dimeric.

A p85 subunit-independent p110alpha PI 3-kinase colocalizes with p70 S6 kinase on actin stress fibers and regulates thrombin-stimulated stress fiber formation in swiss 3T3 cells

The signaling pathways linking receptor activation to actin stress fiber rearrangements during growth factor-induced cell shape change are still to be determined. Recently our laboratory demonstrated the involvement of p70 S6 kinase (p70(s6k)) activation in thrombin-induced stress fiber formation in Swiss 3T3 cells. The present work shows that thrombin-induced p70(s6k) activation is inhibited by the PI 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY-294002. These inhibitors also significantly reduced thrombin-induced stress fiber formation, demonstrating a role for PI 3-kinase activity in this process, most likely upstream of p70(s6k). Furthermore, the p110alpha form of PI 3-kinase was localized to actin stress fibers, as was previously shown for p70(s6k), as well as to a golgi-like distribution. In contrast, PI 3-kinase p110gamma colocalized with microtubules. The PI 3-kinase p85 subunit, known to be capable of association with p110alpha, was present in a predominantly golgi-like distribution with no presence on actin filaments, suggesting the existence of distinctly localized PI 3-kinase pools. Immunodepletion of p85 from cell lysates resulted in only partial depletion of p110alpha and p110alpha-associated PI 3-kinase activity, confirming the presence of a p85-free p110alpha pool located on the actin stress fibers. Our data, therefore, point to the importance of subcellular localization of PI 3-kinase in signal transduction and to a novel action of p85 subunit-independent PI 3-kinase p110alpha in the stimulation by thrombin of p70(s6k) activation and actin stress fiber formation.

Increased insulin sensitivity and hypoglycaemia in mice lacking the p85 alpha subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase

The hallmark of type 2 diabetes, the most common metabolic disorder, is a defect in insulin-stimulated glucose transport in peripheral tissues. Although a role for phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) activity in insulin-stimulated glucose transport and glucose transporter isoform 4 (Glut4) translocation has been suggested in vitro, its role in vivo and the molecular link between activation of PI3K and translocation has not yet been elucidated. To determine the role of PI3K in glucose homeostasis, we generated mice with a targeted disruption of the gene encoding the p85alpha regulatory subunit of PI3K (Pik3r1; refs 3-5). Pik3r1-/- mice showed increased insulin sensitivity and hypoglycaemia due to increased glucose transport in skeletal muscle and adipocytes. Insulin-stimulated PI3K activity associated with insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) was mediated via full-length p85 alpha in wild-type mice, but via the p50 alpha alternative splicing isoform of the same gene in Pik3r1-/- mice. This isoform switch was associated with an increase in insulin-induced generation of phosphatidylinositol(3,4,5)triphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) in Pik3r1-/- adipocytes and facilitation of Glut4 translocation from the low-density microsome (LDM) fraction to the plasma membrane (PM). This mechanism seems to be responsible for the phenotype of Pik3r1-/- mice, namely increased glucose transport and hypoglycaemia. Our work provides the first direct evidence that PI3K and its regulatory subunit have a role in glucose homeostasis in vivo.

Xid-like immunodeficiency in mice with disruption of the p85alpha subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase

Mice with a targeted gene disruption of p85alpha, a regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, had impaired B cell development at the pro-B cell stage, reduced numbers of mature B cells and peritoneal CD5+ Ly-1 B cells, reduced B cell proliferative responses, and no T cell-independent antibody production. These phenotypes are nearly identical to those of Btk-/- or xid (X-linked immunodeficiency) mice. These results provide evidence that p85alpha is functionally linked to the Btk pathway in antigen receptor-mediated signal transduction and is pivotal in B cell development and functions.

The IRS-signalling system: a network of docking proteins that mediate insulin action

New molecules discovered during the past ten years have created a rational framework to understand signalling transduction by a broad range of growth factors and cytokines, including insulin. Insulin action is initiated through the insulin receptor, a transmembrane glycoprotein with intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase activity. The tyrosine kinase mediates the insulin response through tyrosine phosphorylation of various cellular substrates, in particular the IRS-proteins. During insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, the IRS-proteins mediate a broad biological response by binding and activating various enzymes or adapter molecules. Although we are far from a complete understanding of the insulin signalling system and its failure, enough pieces of the puzzle are falling into place that mechanism-based solutions to insulin resistance encountered with type II diabetes may soon be attainable.

The IRS-signalling system: a network of docking proteins that mediate insulin action

New molecules discovered during the past ten years have created a rational framework to understand signalling transduction by a broad range of growth factors and cytokines, including insulin. Insulin action is initiated through the insulin receptor, a transmembrane glycoprotein with intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase activity. The tyrosine kinase mediates the insulin response through tyrosine phosphorylation of various cellular substrates, in particular the IRS-proteins. During insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, the IRS-proteins mediate a broad biological response by binding and activating various enzymes or adapter molecules. Although we are far from a complete understanding of the insulin signalling system and its failure, enough pieces of the puzzle are falling into place that mechanism-based solutions to insulin resistance encountered with type II diabetes may soon be attainable.

The role of PI 3-kinase in insulin action

This review focuses on the recent advances made in our understanding of the mechanism by which insulin induces the activation of PI 3-kinase(s) whose role is to generate 3-phosphoinositide lipids which are the second messenger of the insulin signalling pathway. The mechanism by which these signalling molecules induce the activation of downstream signalling pathways leading to the activation of protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt) and other kinases is also discussed. PKB is likely to be a major mediator of many of the physiological responses of a cell to insulin and likely physiological cellular targets of this enzyme are highlighted.

Structure and function of phosphoinositide 3-kinases

Phosphoinositide kinases (PI3Ks) play an important role in mitogenic signaling and cell survival, cytoskeletal remodeling, metabolic control and vesicular trafficking. Here we summarize the structure-function relationships delineating the activation process of class I PI3Ks involving various domains of adapter subunits, Ras, and interacting proteins. The resulting product, PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, targets Akt/protein kinase B (PKB), Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), phosphoinositide-dependent kinases (PDK), integrin-linked kinase (ILK), atypical protein kinases C (PKC), phospholipase Cgamma and more. Surface receptor-activated PI3Ks function in mammals, insects, nematodes and slime mold, but not yeast. While many members of the class II family have been identified and characterized biochemically, it is presently unknown how these C2-domain containing PI3Ks are activated, and which PI substrate they phosphorylate in vivo. PtdIns 3-P is produced by Vps34p/class III PI3Ks and operates via the PtdIns 3-P-binding proteins early endosomal antigen (EEA1), yeast Vac1p, Vps27p, Pip1p in lysosomal protein targeting. Besides the production of D3 phosphorylated lipids, PI3Ks have an intrinsic protein kinase activity. For trimeric GTP-binding protein-activated PI3Kgamma, protein kinase activity seems to be sufficient to trigger mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Recent disruption of PI3K genes in slime mold, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and mice further underlines the importance of PI3K signaling systems and elucidates the role of PI3K signaling in multicellular organisms.

Human phosphoinositide 3-kinase C2beta, the role of calcium and the C2 domain in enzyme activity

The cDNA for a human Class II phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase C2beta) with a C2 domain was cloned from a U937 monocyte cDNA library and the enzyme expressed in mammalian and insect cells. Like other Class II PI 3-kinases in vitro, PI 3-kinase C2beta utilizes phosphatidylinositol (PI) and PI 4-monophosphate but not PI 4, 5-biphosphate as substrates in the presence of Mg2+. Remarkably, and unlike other PI 3-kinases, the enzyme can use either Mg-ATP or Ca-ATP to generate PI 3-monophosphate. PI 3-kinase C2beta, like the Class I PI 3-kinases, but unlike PI 3-kinase C2alpha, is sensitive to low nanomolar levels of the inhibitor wortmannin. The enzyme is not regulated by the small GTP-binding protein Ras. The C2 domain of the enzyme bound anionic phospholipids such as PI and phosphatidylserine in vitro, but did not co-operatively bind Ca2+ and phospholipids. Deletion of the C2 domain increased the lipid kinase activity suggesting that it functions as a negative regulator of the catalytic domain. Although presently it is not known whether PI 3-kinase C2beta is regulated by Ca2+ in vivo, our results suggest a novel role for Ca2+ ions in phosphate transfer reactions.

Interaction of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase: effect of substitution of serine for alanine in potential IRS-1 serine phosphorylation sites

Serine and threonine phosphorylation has been shown to down-regulate insulin signaling at multiple steps, including the receptor and downstream molecules such as insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). To further address the mechanism of this regulation at the level of IRS-1, we constructed a double serine mutant of IRS-1: S662A/S731A-IRS-1. The serines 662 and 731 mutated to alanine are surrounding tyrosines Y658 and Y727, respectively. These tyrosines are comprised in YXXM motifs, which are potential binding sites for the p85alpha regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. In a first series of experiments using the yeast two-hybrid system, we show that IRS-1 interacts with p85alpha, and this interaction depends on tyrosine phosphorylation, as shown with the IRS-1 mutant F18 and 3Y-IRS-1. F18-IRS-1 contains 18 potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites mutated to phenylalanine; three of them, i.e. Y608, 628, and 658, which are potential binding sites for p85alpha, have been added back in the 3Y-IRS-1 mutant. The tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, which is required for the interaction with p85alpha, is thought to occur via endogenous yeast kinases that phosphorylate IRS-1 at least on these PI 3-kinase-binding sites. Next, we show that not only p85alpha but also p55PIK, another regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase, interacts with IRS-1 in yeast. Interestingly, for both regulatory subunits their interaction with IRS-1 is up-regulated by mutating serines 662 and 731 on IRS-1. In a previous study we found that insulin-stimulated PI 3-kinase activity was increased not only in the presence of S662A/S731A-IRS-1 but also under resting conditions compared with the activity seen with WT-IRS-1. Here we demonstrate in 293-EBNA cells overexpressing S662A/S731A-IRS-1 that insulin-stimulated protein kinase B activity is not augmented, whereas without insulin treatment, basal activity is increased compared with that in cells overexpressing wild-type IRS-1. In conclusion, we have shown that 1) potential serine phosphorylation sites on IRS-1, which are adjacent to YXXM binding motifs for PI 3-kinase, negatively regulate binding of IRS-1 to PI 3-kinase regulatory subunits; and 2) these modulations affect protein kinase B activity.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid up-regulates the expression of a novel secretogranin-II messenger ribonucleic acid in the goldfish pituitary

An RNA-arbitrarily primed PCR differential display strategy was used to identify candidate genes in the pituitary that are up-regulated by endogenously activated gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems that may also be involved in the control of reproduction. Goldfish were injected with the GABA metabolism inhibitor gamma-vinyl-GABA (GVG), known for its high efficiency to specifically increase endogenous brain and pituitary GABA levels in this species, resulting in higher levels of circulating gonadotropin-II (GTH-II). Several transcripts related to hormone secretion, signal transduction pathways, and messenger RNA (mRNA) editing were shown to be up-regulated after GVG injection. Among these transcripts we characterized an mRNA coding for the secretory vesicle protein secretogranin-II (SgII), a member of the chromogranin family, which is the precursor of a novel 34 amino acid neuropeptide, goldfish secretoneurin (SN). A semiquantitative PCR developed to measure pituitary SgII mRNA levels showed a 5-fold increase in GVG treated fish vs. control fish. Moreover, GVG treatment specifically increased SgII mRNA levels in gonadotrophs, concomitant with a decrease in GTH-II cell content. In addition, i.p. injection of synthetic goldfish SN increased GTH-II release in goldfish pretreated with the dopamine antagonist domperidone. Activation of GABAergic neurons has two effects, enhancing in vivo GTH-II release and up-regulating SgII mRNA specifically in goldfish gonadotrophs. Together with our SN bioactivity data, this suggests the existence in the pituitary of an autocrine or paracrine mechanism linked to the regulated secretory pathway in the gonadotrophs.

The pleckstrin homology and phosphotyrosine binding domains of insulin receptor substrate 1 mediate inhibition of apoptosis by insulin

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) evoke diverse biological effects through receptor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins. We investigated the elements of IRS-1 signaling that inhibit apoptosis of interleukin 3 (IL-3)-deprived 32D myeloid progenitor cells. 32D cells have few insulin receptors and no IRS proteins; therefore, insulin failed to inhibit apoptosis during IL-3 withdrawal. Insulin stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase in 32D cells expressing insulin receptors (32DIR) but failed to activate the phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI 3)-kinase cascade or to inhibit apoptosis. By contrast, insulin stimulated the PI 3-kinase cascade, inhibited apoptosis, and promoted replication of 32DIR cells expressing IRS-1. As expected, insulin did not stimulate PI 3-kinase in 32DIR cells, which expressed a truncated IRS-1 protein lacking the tail of tyrosine phosphorylation sites. However, this truncated IRS-1 protein, which retained the NH2-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) and phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains, mediated phosphorylation of PKB/akt, inhibition of apoptosis, and replication of 32DIR cells during insulin stimulation. These results suggest that a phosphotyrosine-independent mechanism mediated by the PH and PTB domains promoted antiapoptotic and growth actions of insulin. Although PI 3-kinase was not activated, its phospholipid products were required, since LY294002 inhibited these responses. Without IRS-1, a chimeric insulin receptor containing a tail of tyrosine phosphorylation sites derived from IRS-1 activated the PI 3-kinase cascade but failed to inhibit apoptosis. Thus, phosphotyrosine-independent IRS-1-linked pathways may be critical for survival and growth of IL-3-deprived 32D cells during insulin stimulation.

Late signals from the PDGF receptors leading to the activation of the p70S6-kinase are necessary for the transition from G1 to S phase in AKR-2B cells

Platelet-derived growth factor AB (PDGF-AB) has to be permanently present in the culture medium to achieve full proliferation (>90%) of AKR-2B fibroblasts. Upon removal after 1 h incubation time, only a small number of cells (<20%) entered the cell cycle. Concomitantly there was no increase in RNA- and protein-synthesis. The PDGF-receptor autophosphorylation reached a maximum after 30 min incubation with PDGF-AB. Tyrosine phosphorylation was no longer detectable after 2-4 h. The clustering of receptors into coated pits, analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence using a specific antibody against PDGF-beta-receptor, showed in contrast to autophosphorylation a biphasic kinetic. A first maximum was reached after 30 min, followed by a complete disappearance of coated pits, which regenerated in a second phase after 3 h and were long lasting. If PDGF-AB was removed after 1 h, the second phase was obliterated. The involvement of two different signalling pathways in these two phases was investigated in detail: (1) The ras-raf-MAP-kinase pathway and (2) the PI-3-kinase/p70(S6)-kinase pathway. PDGF-AB addition caused a fast (10 min) activation of MAP-kinase, which returned to background level after 1 h without any further activation later on. In contrast PDGF-AB led to a rapid (15-30 min) activation of the p70(S6)-kinase that persisted for 8-12 h just prior to the entry of the cells into S-phase. If PDGF-AB was removed after 1 h, the activation of this kinase ceased 3 h later. PDGF-AA, which is unable to promote division of AKR-2B cells, induced only a shortlasting p70(S6)-kinase activation. These observations add further evidence for the involvement of the p70(S6)-kinase pathway in the proliferation control of AKR-2B fibroblasts in the late G1 phase (4-8 h after growth factor addition). On the other hand, if the p70(S6)-kinase activation was prevented by the addition of 10 nM rapamycin, the cell division was not inhibited but only delayed by 4 h. Similar kinetics were observed when the PI-3-kinase was inhibited by 400 nM wortmannin. It is suggested that a regulatory element exists upstream of the p70(S6)-kinase and the PI-3-kinase. This regulatory element should be responsible for the transmission of late signals required for the progression through the cell cycle. This element is not involved in the immediate responses after PDGF-AB addition but must be stimulated within a second later phase of PDGF activation.

The COOH-terminal tyrosine phosphorylation sites on IRS-1 bind SHP-2 and negatively regulate insulin signaling

Activation of tyrosine kinases by numerous growth factor and cytokine receptors leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-proteins. Tyrosine-phosphorylated motifs on the IRS proteins bind to the SH2 domains in proteins that mediate downstream signals, including phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase, GRB-2, and SHP-2. We investigated the function of the two SHP-2 binding COOH-terminal tyrosines of IRS-1 by replacing them with phenylalanine (IRS-1(FCT)). IRS-1(FCT) failed to bind SHP-2 or mediate its tyrosine phosphorylation during insulin stimulation. Although several reports suggest a critical role for SHP-2 in insulin stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and cell proliferation, IRS-1(FCT) mediated these effects normally in 32D cells. Indeed, IRS-1(FCT) exhibited increased tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase binding and activation of protein synthesis in response to insulin. These results suggest that SHP-2 attentuates the phosphorylation and downstream signal transmission of IRS-1 and that the interaction of IRS-1 and SHP-2 is an important regulatory event which attenuates insulin metabolic responses.

Phosphoinositide kinases

Phosphatidylinositol, a component of eukaryotic cell membranes, is unique among phospholipids in that its head group can be phosphorylated at multiple free hydroxyls. Several phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol, collectively termed phosphoinositides, have been identified in eukaryotic cells from yeast to mammals. Phosphoinositides are involved in the regulation of diverse cellular processes, including proliferation, survival, cytoskeletal organization, vesicle trafficking, glucose transport, and platelet function. The enzymes that phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol and its derivatives are termed phosphoinositide kinases. Recent advances have challenged previous hypotheses about the substrate selectivity of different phosphoinositide kinase families. Here we re-examine the pathways of phosphoinositide synthesis and the enzymes involved.

Identification of a proline-rich sequence in the CD2 cytoplasmic domain critical for regulation of integrin-mediated adhesion and activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase

The CD2 molecule is one of several lymphocyte receptors that rapidly initiates signaling events regulating integrin-mediated cell adhesion. CD2 stimulation of resting human T cells results within minutes in an increase in beta1-integrin-mediated adhesion to fibronectin. We have utilized the HL60 cell line to map critical residues within the CD2 cytoplasmic domain involved in CD2 regulation of integrin function. A panel of CD2 cytoplasmic domain mutants was constructed and analyzed for their ability to upregulate integrin-mediated adhesion to fibronectin. Mutations in the CD2 cytoplasmic domain implicated in CD2-mediated interleukin-2 production or CD2 avidity do not affect CD2 regulation of integrin activity. A proline-rich sequence, K-G-P-P-L-P (amino acids 299 to 305), is essential for CD2-mediated regulation of beta1 integrin activity. CD2-induced increases in beta1 integrin activity could be blocked by two phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K) inhibitors or by overexpression of a dominant negative form of the p85 subunit of PI 3-K. In addition, CD2 cytoplasmic domain mutations that abrogate CD2-induced increases in integrin-mediated adhesion also ablate CD2-induced increases in PI 3-K enzymatic activity. Surprisingly, CD2 cytoplasmic domain mutations that inhibit CD2 regulation of adhesion do not affect the constitutive association of the p85 subunit of PI 3-K association with CD2. Mutation of the proline residues in the K-G-P-P-L-P motif to alanines prevented CD2-mediated activation of integrin function and PI 3-K activity but not mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity. Furthermore, the MEK inhibitor PD 098059 blocked CD2-mediated activation of MAP kinase but had no effect on CD2-induced adhesion. These studies identify a proline-rich sequence in CD2 critical for PI 3-K-dependent regulation of beta1 integrin adhesion by CD2. In addition, these studies suggest that CD2-mediated activation of MAP kinase is not involved in CD2 regulation of integrin adhesion.

Recent advances in the understanding of interleukin-2 signal transduction

Interleukin-2 is one of the critical cytokines that control the proliferation and differentiation of cells of the immune system. The present article briefly reviews the current and recently established knowledge on the intracellular signaling events that convert the initial interaction of IL-2 with its receptor into pathways leading to the various biological functions. A first step in IL-2 signaling is the activation of several protein tyrosine kinases that phosphorylate a large array of intracellular substrates including the receptor complex. Phosphorylated tyrosine residues within the receptor then serve as docking sites for multimolecular signaling complexes that initiate three major pathways: the Jak-STAT pathway controlling gene transcription, the Ras-MAPK pathway leading to cell proliferation and gene transcription as well, and the PI3-kinase pathway involved in antiapoptotic signaling and organization of the cytoskeleton. Finally, other recently identified and presumably important tyrosine kinase substrates, whose significance is not yet fully understood, are described.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase: the key switch mechanism in insulin signalling

Insulin plays a key role in regulating a wide range of cellular processes. However, until recently little was known about the signalling pathways that are involved in linking the insulin receptor with downstream responses. It is now apparent that the activation of class 1a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) is necessary and in some cases sufficient to elicit many of insulin's effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. The lipid products of PI 3-kinase act as both membrane anchors and allosteric regulators, serving to localize and activate downstream enzymes and their protein substrates. One of the major ways these lipid products of PI 3-kinase act in insulin signalling is by binding to pleckstrin homology (PH) domains of phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase (PDK) and protein kinase B (PKB) and in the process regulating the phosphorylation of PKB by PDK. Using mechanisms such as this, PI 3-kinase is able to act as a molecular switch to regulate the activity of serine/threonine-specific kinase cascades important in mediating insulin's effects on endpoint responses.

Phosphorylation of the Grb2- and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85-binding p36/38 by Syk in Lck-negative T cells

Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) in T cells involves a positive role for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity. We recently reported that over-expression of the Syk protein tyrosine kinase in the Lck-negative JCaM1 cells enabled the TCR to induce a normal activation of the Erk2 MAPK and enhanced transcription of a reporter gene driven by the nuclear factor of activated T cells and AP-1. Because this system allows us to analyse the targets for Syk in receptor-mediated signalling, we examined the role of PI3K in signalling events between the TCR-regulated Syk and the downstream activation of Erk2. We report that inhibition of PI3K by wortmannin or an inhibitory p85 construct, p85deltaiSH2, reduced the TCR-induced Syk-dependent activation of Erk2, as well as the appearance of phospho-Erk and phospho-Mek. At the same time, expression of Syk resulted in the activation-dependent phosphorylation of three proteins that bound to the src homology 2 (SH2) domains of PI3K p85. The strongest of these bands had an apparent molecular mass of 36-38 kDa on SDS gels, and it was quantitatively removed from the lysates by adsorption to a fusion protein containing the SH2 domain of Grb2. The appearance of this band was Syk dependent, and it was seen only upon triggering of the TCR complex. Thus, p36/38 was phosphorylated by Syk or a Syk-regulated kinase, and this protein may provide a link to the recruitment and activation of PI3K, as well as to the Ras-MAPK pathway, in TCR-triggered T cells.

Extracellular matrix induced by TGFbeta impairs insulin signal transduction in 3T3-L1 preadipose cells

When 3T3-L1 preadipose cells are exposed to transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), they synthesize more extracellular matrix (ECM) and resist differentiation-inducing stimuli. The mechanism by which ECM suppresses adipose cell differentiation (adipogenesis) remains unknown. Since adipogenesis is an insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-dependent process, we investigated whether TGFbeta-induced ECM inhibits insulin signaling. When preadipose cells were pretreated overnight with TGFbeta, we observed a 75% decrease in insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) compared to that in control cells. Culturing 3T3-L1 preadipose cells on fibronectin, a component of the ECM induced by TGFbeta, also inhibited insulin-dependent IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and adipogenesis, supporting a role for ECM in mediating TGFbeta's inhibitory effect on insulin signaling. Since the insulin-stimulated association of phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase with IRS-1 depends on IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, we measured the presence of the PI 3-kinase 85 kDa regulatory subunit in anti-IRS-1 immunoprecipitates. Following insulin stimulation, PI 3-kinase-IRS-1 association was reduced by 70% in TGFbeta pretreated vs. control preadipose cells. However, insulin-stimulated cellular production of PI(3,4,5)P3 was unaltered by TGFbeta pretreatment. This suggests that IRS-1-associated p85-type PI 3-kinase may represent a particular subset of total cellular PI 3-kinase that is specifically inhibited by TGFbeta. Reduction of insulin-stimulated association of IRS-1 with p85-type PI 3-kinase by TGFbeta may be one potential mechanism through which TGFbeta blocks 3T3-L1 adipose cell differentiation.

Multiple isoforms of the regulatory subunit for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) are expressed in neurons in the rat brain

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) is a heterodimeric enzyme composed of a catalytic subunit of 110 kDa and an adaptor regulatory subunit. We investigated the presence and localization of five isoforms of the regulatory subunits, p55 alpha, p55 gamma, p85 alpha, p85 beta, and p50 alpha, in the rat brain. In situ hybridization histochemistry using isoform-specific cRNA probes revealed that all five isoforms were expressed in the neurons of the brain. Interestingly, most neuronal cells including Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and pyramidal cells in the cerebrum expressed all five isoforms. Immunohistochemical staining also showed the localization of p55 alpha, p55 gamma, p85 alpha, and p50 alpha in the neuronal cells in the brain. Expression of multiple isoforms in neurons suggests that they may play important roles in signal transduction in the brain.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor-insulin receptor substrate complexes in the uterus. Altered signaling response to estradiol in the IGF-1(m/m) mouse

Some of the actions of estradiol occur through stimulation of growth factor pathways in target organs. Tyrosine-phosphorylated (Tyr(P)) insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and the insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 are found in the uterus of mice treated with estradiol. Immunoprecipitates of uterine Tyr(P) IRS-1 contained both p85, the regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, and PI 3-kinase catalytic activity. Estradiol also stimulated binding of IRS-1 and PI 3-kinase to the IGF-1R. Depletion of IRS-1 from uterine extracts reduced PI 3-kinase associated with the receptor, which suggests that binding of the enzyme to IGF-1R occurs primarily in a complex that also contains IRS-1. Following treatment with estradiol, formation of Tyr(P) IGF-1R, Tyr(P) IRS-1, and the p85.IRS-1 complex was very weak in the uterus of IGF-1(m/m) mice, which are severely deficient in IGF-1. This indicated that most, if not all, of the estradiol-stimulated Tyr phosphorylation of uterine IRS-1 originates from ligand activation of IGF-1R kinase. IRS-2 was also Tyr-phosphorylated in the normal uterus and bound more IGF-1R and p85 in response to estradiol; however, a marked decrease in levels of uterine IRS-2 occurred 12-24 h after treatment with estradiol. Since IRS-2 was present in IGF-1R precipitates and a recombinant form of IGF-1 (long R3 IGF-1) stimulated formation of Tyr(P) IRS-2, hormonal activation of this docking protein probably occurs through the IGF-1R. In summary, our findings show that estrogen activation of uterine IGF-1R kinase results in enhanced binding of p85 (PI 3-kinase) to IRS-1 and IRS-2. The formation of one or both of these complexes may be important for the potent mitogenic action of this steroid. That estradiol stimulated a decrease of IRS-2, but not of IRS-1, suggests that these docking proteins have different roles in hormone-induced signaling in the uterus.

The IRS-signalling system: a network of docking proteins that mediate insulin action

New molecules discovered during the past ten years have created a rational framework to understand signalling transduction by a broad range of growth factors and cytokines, including insulin. Insulin action is initiated through the insulin receptor, a transmembrane glycoprotein with intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase activity. The tyrosine kinase mediates the insulin response through tyrosine phosphorylation of various cellular substrates, in particular the IRS-proteins. During insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, the IRS-proteins mediate a broad biological response by binding and activating various enzymes or adapter molecules. Although we are far from a complete understanding of the insulin signalling system and its failure, enough pieces of the puzzle are falling into place that mechanism-based solutions to insulin resistance encountered with type II diabetes may soon be attainable.

Role of binding proteins to IRS-1 in insulin signalling

Insulin elicits its divergent metabolic and mitogenic effects by binding to its specific receptor, which belongs to the family of receptor tyrosine kinases. The activated insulin receptor phosphorylates the intracellular substrate IRS-1, which then binds various signalling molecules that contain SRC homology 2 domains, thereby propagating the insulin signal. Among these IRS-1-binding proteins, the Grb2-Sos complex and the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 transmit mitogenic signals through the activation of Ras, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase is implicated in the major metabolic actions of insulin. Although substantial evidence indicates the importance of IRS-1 in insulin signal transduction, the generation of IRS-1-deficient mice has revealed the existence of redundant signalling pathways.

Cloning of human p55 gamma, a regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, by a yeast two-hybrid library screen with the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor

We have used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins that interact with the intracellular domain of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGFIR). In a search of a human fetal brain library we identified a cDNA encoding a protein that is the human homologue of mouse p55PIK, a regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (hp55 gamma). The hp55 gamma protein interacts strongly with the activated IGFIR but not with the kinase-negative mutant receptor. hp55 gamma also interacts with the insulin receptor (IR) in the yeast two-hybrid system. The putative hp55 gamma protein is composed of a unique amino terminal region followed by a proline-rich motif and two Src homology 2 (SH2) domains, which are highly homologous to those in mouse p55PIK, rat p55 gamma, human p85 alpha and bovine p85 beta; it contains no SH3 domain. hp55 gamma mRNAs are expressed in most human fetal and adult tissues with particularly high abundance in adult testis. Splice variant(s) of hp55 gamma, one of which has a deletion of 36 amino acids at the amino terminus and another which has an insertion of 59 amino acids at position 256 between the SH2 domains, were also identified. A GST-hp55 gamma fusion protein interacts in vitro with both the activated IGFIR and IR derived from mammalian cells. Our findings suggest that hp55 gamma interacts with the IGFIR and IR and may be involved in PI 3-kinase activation by these receptors.

Aggregation of the human high affinity immunoglobulin G receptor (FcgammaRI) activates both tyrosine kinase and G protein-coupled phosphoinositide 3-kinase isoforms

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3-kinases) play an important role in the generation of lipid second messengers and the transduction of a myriad of biological responses. Distinct isoforms have been shown to be exclusively activated either by tyrosine kinase-coupled or G protein-coupled receptors. We show here, however, that certain nonclassical receptors can couple to both tyrosine kinase- and G protein-dependent isoforms of PI3-kinase: thus, aggregation of FcgammaRI, the human high affinity IgG receptor, on monocytes unusually leads to activation of both of these types of PI3-kinase. After aggregation of FcgammaRI, phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-triphosphate (PIP3) levels rise rapidly in interferon gamma-primed cells, reaching a peak within 30 sec. Moreover, and in contrast to the situation observed after stimulation of these cells with either insulin or ATP, which exclusively activate the tyrosine kinase- and G protein-coupled forms of PI3-kinase, respectively, PIP3 levels remain elevated up to 15 min after receptor aggregation. We show here that although the initial peak results from transient activation of the p85-dependent p110 isoform of PI-3kinase, presumably through recruitment of tyrosine kinases by the gamma chain, the later sustained rise of PIP3 results from activation of the G protein betagamma subunit-sensitive isoform, p110gamma. This finding indicates that receptors lacking an intrinsic signaling motif, such as FcgammaRI, can recruit both tyrosine kinase and G protein-coupled intracellular signaling molecules and thereby initiate cellular responses.

Regulation of the p85/p110 phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase: stabilization and inhibition of the p110alpha catalytic subunit by the p85 regulatory subunit

We propose a novel model for the regulation of the p85/pl10alpha phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase. In insect cells, the p110alpha catalytic subunit is active as a monomer but its activity is decreased by coexpression with the p85 regulatory subunit. Similarly, the lipid kinase activity of recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)-p110alpha is reduced by 65 to 85% upon in vitro reconstitution with p85. Incubation of p110alpha/p85 dimers with phosphotyrosyl peptides restored activity, but only to the level of monomeric p110alpha. These data show that the binding of phosphoproteins to the SH2 domains of p85 activates the p85/p110alpha dimers by inducing a transition from an inhibited to a disinhibited state. In contrast, monomeric p110 had little activity in HEK 293T cells, and its activity was increased 15- to 20-fold by coexpression with p85. However, this apparent requirement for p85 was eliminated by the addition of a bulky tag to the N terminus of p110alpha or by the growth of the HEK 293T cells at 30 degrees C. These nonspecific interventions mimicked the effects of p85 on p110alpha, suggesting that the regulatory subunit acts by stabilizing the overall conformation of the catalytic subunit rather than by inducing a specific activated conformation. This stabilization was directly demonstrated in metabolically labeled HEK 293T cells, in which p85 increased the half-life of p110. Furthermore, p85 protected p110 from thermal inactivation in vitro. Importantly, when we examined the effect of p85 on GST-p110alpha in mammalian cells at 30 degrees C, culture conditions that stabilize the catalytic subunit and that are similar to the conditions used for insect cells, we found that p85 inhibited p110alpha. Thus, we have experimentally distinguished two effects of p85 on p110alpha: conformational stabilization of the catalytic subunit and inhibition of its lipid kinase activity. Our data reconcile the apparent conflict between previous studies of insect versus mammalian cells and show that p110alpha is both stabilized and inhibited by dimerization with p85.

Disruption of IRS-2 causes type 2 diabetes in mice

Human type 2 diabetes is characterized by defects in both insulin action and insulin secretion. It has been difficult to identify a single molecular abnormality underlying these features. Insulin-receptor substrates (IRS proteins) may be involved in type 2 diabetes: they mediate pleiotropic signals initiated by receptors for insulin and other cytokines. Disruption of IRS-1 in mice retards growth, but diabetes does not develop because insulin secretion increases to compensate for the mild resistance to insulin. Here we show that disruption of IRS-2 impairs both peripheral insulin signalling and pancreatic beta-cell function. IRS-2-deficient mice show progressive deterioration of glucose homeostasis because of insulin resistance in the liver and skeletal muscle and a lack of beta-cell compensation for this insulin resistance. Our results indicate that dysfunction of IRS-2 may contribute to the pathophysiology of human type 2 diabetes.

Identification and characterization of a new oncogene derived from the regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase

p85/p110 phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is a heterodimer composed of a p85-regulatory and a p110-catalytic subunit, which is involved in a variety of cellular responses including cytoskeletal organization, cell survival and proliferation. We describe here the cloning and characterization of p65-PI3K, a mutant of the regulatory subunit of PI3K, which includes the initial 571 residues of the wild type p85alpha-protein linked to a region conserved in the eph tyrosine kinase receptor family. We demonstrate that this mutation, obtained from a transformed cell, unlike previously engineered mutations of the regulatory subunit, induces the constitutive activation of PI3K and contributes to cellular transformation. This report links the PI3K enzyme to mammalian tumor development for the first time.

The p85 and p110 Subunits of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-α Are Substrates, In Vitro, for a Constitutively Associated Protein Tyrosine Kinase in Platelets

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is a heterodimer lipid kinase consisting of an 85-kD subunit bound to a 110-kD catalytic subunit that also possesses intrinsic, Mn2+-dependent protein serine kinase activity capable of phosphorylating the 85-kD subunit. Here, we examine the Mn2+-dependent protein kinase activity of PI3Kα immunoprecipitated from normal resting or thrombin-stimulated platelets, and characterize p85/p110 phosphorylation, in vitro. Phosphoamino acid analysis of phosphorylated PI3Kα showed p85 and p110 were phosphorylated on serine, but in contrast to previous results, were also phosphorylated on threonine and tyrosine. Wortmannin and LY294002 inhibited p85 phosphorylation; however, p110 phosphorylation was also inhibited suggesting p110 autophosphorylation on serine/threonine. The protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, erbstatin analog, partially inhibited p85 and p110 phosphorylation but did not appear to affect PI3K lipid kinase activity. The in vitro phosphorylation of p85α or p110α derived from thrombin-stimulated platelets was no different than that of resting platelets, but we confirm that in thrombin receptor-stimulated platelets enhanced levels of p85α and PI3K lipid kinase activity were recovered in antiphosphotyrosine antibody immunoprecipitates. These results suggest PI3Kα can autophosphorylate on serine and threonine, and both p85α and p110α are substrates for a constitutively-associated protein tyrosine kinase in platelets.

The p85 and p110 Subunits of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-α Are Substrates, In Vitro, for a Constitutively Associated Protein Tyrosine Kinase in Platelets

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is a heterodimer lipid kinase consisting of an 85-kD subunit bound to a 110-kD catalytic subunit that also possesses intrinsic, Mn2+-dependent protein serine kinase activity capable of phosphorylating the 85-kD subunit. Here, we examine the Mn2+-dependent protein kinase activity of PI3Kα immunoprecipitated from normal resting or thrombin-stimulated platelets, and characterize p85/p110 phosphorylation, in vitro. Phosphoamino acid analysis of phosphorylated PI3Kα showed p85 and p110 were phosphorylated on serine, but in contrast to previous results, were also phosphorylated on threonine and tyrosine. Wortmannin and LY294002 inhibited p85 phosphorylation; however, p110 phosphorylation was also inhibited suggesting p110 autophosphorylation on serine/threonine. The protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, erbstatin analog, partially inhibited p85 and p110 phosphorylation but did not appear to affect PI3K lipid kinase activity. The in vitro phosphorylation of p85α or p110α derived from thrombin-stimulated platelets was no different than that of resting platelets, but we confirm that in thrombin receptor-stimulated platelets enhanced levels of p85α and PI3K lipid kinase activity were recovered in antiphosphotyrosine antibody immunoprecipitates. These results suggest PI3Kα can autophosphorylate on serine and threonine, and both p85α and p110α are substrates for a constitutively-associated protein tyrosine kinase in platelets.

Insulin receptor substrate 1 antisense expression in an hepatoma cell line reduces cell proliferation and induces overexpression of the Src homology 2 domain and collagen protein (SHC)

In mammalian cells, the insulin receptor substrate 1 protein (IRS-1) is a specific substrate for insulin and IGF-1 receptor tyrosine kinases which is involved in mediating metabolic and mitogenic actions of insulin and IGFs. In order to determine if IRS-1 is also essential in a chicken derived hepatoma cell line (LMH cells), IRS-1 gene has been invalidated in these cells. For this, we subcloned chicken IRS-1 gene in an antisense orientation into a mammalian expression vector driven by the cytomegalovirus early promoter. LMH cells were stably transfected with this construct or with the empty vector carrying only the neomycin resistance gene and selected for cIRS-1 expression. One subclone, C2, showed a complete repression of cIRS-1 expression at both protein and mRNA levels. Proliferation of C2 cells was dramatically reduced (54%) compared with Neo(r) cells. Furthermore this reduction was accompanied by a decrease in insulin-dependent [3H]thymidine incorporation, indicating a reduction in DNA synthesis. Insulin-dependent [U-14C]glucose incorporation into cellular lipids was also significantly reduced in C2 cell line suggesting an alteration in lipogenesis. In wild type LMH cells, SHC which is involved in Ras pathway, also served as a substrate for insulin receptor tyrosine kinase. In C2 cells, SHC expression, its association with the insulin receptor and its tyrosine phosphorylation were largely increased. Two forms of the regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase were present: p85 and p55 forms. Furthermore, C2 cells displayed increased basal phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinase activity. This report demonstrates a role for cIRS-1 in the metabolic and mitogenic actions of insulin in LMH cells. However, the overexpression of cIRS-1 antisense did not completely abolish cell proliferation. This may be explained by the exacerbation of an alternative pathway that only partly compensate for the knocking out of cIRS-1 gene: the overexpression of SHC.

Thrombospondin signaling of focal adhesion disassembly requires activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase

Thrombospondin is an extracellular matrix protein involved in modulating cell adhesion. Thrombospondin stimulates a rapid loss of focal adhesion plaques and reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. The focal adhesion labilizing activity of thrombospondin is localized to the amino-terminal domain, specifically amino acids 17-35. Use of a synthetic peptide (hep I), containing amino acids 17-35 of thrombospondin, enables us to examine the signaling mechanisms specifically involved in thrombospondin-induced disassembly of focal adhesions. We tested the hypothesis that activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase is a necessary step in the thrombospondin-induced signaling pathway regulating focal adhesion disassembly. Both wortmannin and LY294002, membrane permeable inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity, blocked hep I-induced disassembly of focal adhesions. Similarly, wortmannin inhibited hep I-mediated actin microfilament reorganization and the hep I-induced translocation of alpha-actinin from focal adhesion plaques. Hep I also stimulated phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity approximately 2-3-fold as measured in anti-phosphoinositide 3-kinase and anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates. Increased immunoreactivity for the 85-kDa regulatory subunit in anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates suggests that the p85/p110 form of phosphoinositide 3-kinase is involved in this pathway. In 32Pi-labeled cells, hep I increased levels of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate, the major product of phosphoinositide 3-kinase phosphorylation. These results suggest that thrombospondin signals the disassembly of focal adhesions and reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton by a pathway involving stimulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity.

Tandem SH2 domains confer high specificity in tyrosine kinase signaling

SH2 domain proteins transmit intracellular signals initiated by activated tyrosine kinase-linked receptors. Recent three-dimensional structures suggest mechanisms by which tandem SH2 domains might confer higher specificity than individual SH2 domains. To test this, binding studies were conducted with tandem domains from the five signaling enzymes: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85, ZAP-70, Syk, SHP-2, and phospholipase C-gamma1. Bisphosphorylated TAMs (tyrosine-based activation motifs) were derived from biologically relevant sites in platelet-derived growth factor, T cell, B cell, and high affinity IgE receptors and the receptor substrates IRS-1 (insulin receptor substrate-1) and SHPS-1/SIRP. Each tandem SH2 domain binds a distinct TAM corresponding to its appropriate biological partner with highest affinity (0.5-3.0 nM). Alternative TAMs bind the tandem SH2 domains with 1,000- to >10,000-fold lower affinity than biologically relevant TAMs. This level of specificity is significantly greater than the approximately 20-50-fold typically seen for individual SH2 domains. We conclude that high biological specificity is conferred by the simultaneous interaction of two SH2 domains in a signaling enzyme with bisphosphorylated TAMs in activated receptors and substrates.

Insulin-like growth factors require phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase to signal myogenesis: dominant negative p85 expression blocks differentiation of L6E9 muscle cells

Phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI 3)-kinases are potently inhibited by two structurally unrelated membrane-permeant reagents: wortmannin and LY294002. By using these two inhibitors we first suggested the involvement of a PI 3-kinase activity in muscle cell differentiation. However, several reports have described that these compounds are not as selective for PI 3-kinase activity as assumed. Here we show that LY294002 blocks the myogenic pathway elicited by insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and we confirm the specific involvement of PI 3-kinase in IGF-induced myogenesis by overexpressing in L6E9 myoblasts a dominant negative p85 PI 3-kinase-regulatory subunit (L6E9-delta p85). IGF-I, des(1-3)IGF-I, or IGF-II induced L6E9 skeletal muscle cell differentiation as measured by myotube formation, myogenin gene expression, and GLUT4 glucose carrier induction. The addition of LY294002 to the differentiation medium totally inhibited these IGF-induced myogenic events without altering the expression of a non-muscle-specific protein, beta1-integrin. Independent clones of L6E9 myoblasts expressing a dominant negative mutant of the p85-regulatory subunit (delta p85) showed markedly impaired glucose transport activity and formation of p85/p110 complexes in response to insulin, consistent with the inhibition of PI 3-kinase activity. IGF-induced myogenic parameters in L6E9-delta p85 cells, ie. cell fusion and myogenin gene and GLUT4 expression, were severely impaired compared with parental cells or L6E9 cells expressing wild-type p85. In all, data presented here indicate that PI 3-kinase is essential for IGF-induced muscle differentiation and that the specific PI 3-kinase subclass involved in myogenesis is the heterodimeric p85-p110 enzyme.