Akt-dependent phosphorylation of p27Kip1 promotes binding to 14-3-3 and cytoplasmic localization

FOXO transcription factor-dependent p15INK4b and p19INK4d expression

FOXO (Forkhead box O) transcription factors are involved in cell-cycle arrest or apoptosis induction by transcripting cell-cycle inhibitor p27(KIP1) or apoptosis-related genes, respectively. Akt/protein kinase B promotes cell proliferation and suppresses apoptosis, in part, by phosphorylating FOXOs. Phosphorylated FOXOs could not exhibit transcriptional activity because of their nuclear export. Here we show that p15(INK4b) and p19(INK4d) transcription is associated with FOXO-mediated G1 cell-cycle arrest. Inhibition of Akt signaling by PI3K inhibitors, a PDK1 inhibitor, or dominant-negative Akt transfection increased expression of p15(INK4b) and p19(INK4d) but not p16(INK4a) and p18(INK4c). Ectopic expression of wild type or active FOXO but not inactive form also increased p15(INK4b) and p19(INK4d) levels. FOXOs bound to promoter regions and induced transcription of these genes. No increase in the G1-arrested cell population, mediated by PI3K inhibitor LY294002, was observed in INK4b-/- or INK4d-/- murine embryonic fibroblasts. In summary, FOXOs are involved in G1 arrest caused by Akt inactivation via p15(INK4b) and p19(INK4d) transcription.

Interlinking interleukin-7

The signaling processes that maintain the homeostatic proliferation of peripheral T-cells and result in their self-renewal largely remain to be elucidated. Much focus has been placed on the anti-apoptotic function of the cytokine, interleukin-7 (IL-7), during T-cell development. But a more critical role has been ascribed to IL-7 as a mediator of peripheral T-cell maintenance. The biological effects responsive to IL-7 signaling are transduced through only a few well-known pathways. In this review we will focus on the signals transduced by IL-7 and similar cytokines, examining how proliferative signals originate from cytokine receptors, are amplified and eventually alter gene expression. In this regard we will highlight the crosstalk between pathways that promote survival, drive cell cycle progression and most importantly provide the needed energy to sustain these critical cellular activities. Though this review showcases much of what has been learned about IL-7 proliferative signaling, it also reveals the significant gaps in our knowledge about cytokine signaling in the very relevant context of peripheral T-cell homeostasis.

Involvement of Protein Kinase B/AKT in Early Development of Mouse Fertilized Eggs1

The activation of AKT (also called protein kinase B) is thought to be a critical step in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway that regulates cell growth and differentiation. In this report, we investigated the role of AKT in the regulation of mouse early embryo development. Injection of mRNA coding for a constitutively active myristoylated AKT (myr-Akt1) into one-cell stage fertilized eggs induced cell division more effectively than injection of wild-type AKT (Akt1-WT) mRNA, whereas microinjection of mRNA of kinase-deficient AKT (Akt1-KD) delayed the first mitotic division. Meanwhile, microinjection of different kinds of mRNA of AKT affected the phosphorylation status of CDC2A-Tyr15 and the activation of M-phase promoting factor (MPF). To investigate the intermediate factor between AKT and MPF, we then injected one-cell stage eggs first with Akt1-WT mRNA or myr-Akt1 mRNA and then with mRNA encoding either wild-type CDC25B (Cdc25b-WT) or a AKT-nonphosphorylatable Ser351 to Ala CDC25B mutant (Cdc25b-S351A). Cdc25b-S351A strongly inhibited the effect of AKT. Therefore, AKT causes the activation of MPF and strongly promotes the development of one-cell stage mouse fertilized eggs by inducing AKT-dependent phosphorylation of CDC25B, a member of the CDC25 phosphatase family. Our finding that CDC25B acts as a potential target of AKT provides new insight into the effect of AKT in the regulation of early development of mouse embryos.

Reelin signals through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt to control cortical development and through mTor to regulate dendritic growth

Reelin is an extracellular matrix protein with various functions during development and in the mature brain. It activates different signaling cascades in target cells, one of which is the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, which we investigated further using pathway inhibitors and in vitro brain slice and neuronal cultures. We show that the mTor (mammalian target of rapamycin)-S6K1 (S6 kinase 1) pathway is activated by Reelin and that this depends on Dab1 (Disabled-1) phosphorylation and activation of PI3K and Akt (protein kinase B). PI3K and Akt are required for the effects of Reelin on the organization of the cortical plate, but their downstream partners mTor and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) are not. On the other hand, mTor, but not GSK3beta, mediates the effects of Reelin on the growth and branching of dendrites of hippocampal neurons. In addition, PI3K fosters radial migration of cortical neurons through the intermediate zone, an effect that is independent of Reelin and Akt.

The role of stratifin in fibroblast-keratinocyte interaction

Stratifin is a member of 14-3-3 protein family, a highly conserved group of proteins constituted by seven isoforms. They are involved in numerous crucial intracellular functions such as cell cycle and apoptosis, regulation of signal transduction pathways, cellular trafficking, cell proliferation and differentiation, cell survival, and protein folding and processing, among others. At epidermal level, stratifin (also called 14-3-3 sigma) has been described as molecule with relevant functions. For instance, this isoform is a marker associated with keratinocyte differentiation. In this maturation process, the presence of dominant negative molecules of p53 induces a "stemness condition" of keratinocyte precursor cells and suppression of stratifin expression. In addition, the recently described keratinocyte-releasable form of stratifin is involved in dermal fibroblast MMP-1 over-expression through c-Fos and c-Jun activity. This effect is mediated, at least in part, by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Other MMP family members such as stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), stromelysin-2 (MMP-10), neutrophil collagenase (MMP-8), and membrane-type MMP-24 (MT5-MMP) are also up-regulated by stratifin. Within fibroproliferative disorder of skin, hypertrophic scar and keloids exhibit a high content of collagen, proteoglycans, and fibronectin. Thus, the MMP profile induced by stratifin is an interesting starting point to establish new therapeutic tools to control the process of wound healing. In this review, we will focus on site of synthesis and mode of action of stratifin in skin and wound healing.

Cyclin D2 translocates p27 out of the nucleus and promotes its degradation at the G0-G1 transition

The nuclear export and cytoplasmic degradation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 are required for effective progression of the cell cycle through the G(0)-G(1) transition. The mechanism responsible for this translocation of p27 has remained unclear, however. We now show that cyclin D2 directly links growth signaling with the nuclear export of p27 at the G(0)-G(1) transition in some cell types. The up-regulation of cyclin D2 in response to mitogenic stimulation was found to occur earlier than that of other D-type cyclins and in parallel with down-regulation of p27 at the G(0)-G(1) transition. RNA interference-mediated depletion of cyclin D2 inhibited the nuclear export of p27 and delayed its degradation at the G(0)-G(1) transition. In contrast, overexpression of cyclin D2 in G(0) phase shifted the localization of p27 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and reduced the stability of p27. Overexpression of the cyclin D2(T280A) mutant, whose export from the nucleus is impaired, prevented the translocation and degradation of p27. These results indicate that cyclin D2 translocates p27 from the nucleus into the cytoplasm for its KPC-dependent degradation at the G(0)-G(1) transition.

Proliferation and apoptosis in mammary epithelium during the rat oestrous cycle

AIM

During each oestrous cycle, the mammary gland is subject to changes in ovarian hormone levels. It responds with limited proliferation, differentiation and regression. To understand the processes resulting in these changes, particularly the regulation of cell death, we examined protein levels in mammary epithelium during the oestrous cycle of the Sprague-Dawley rat.

METHODS

Studies of serum hormone levels, vaginal smears, uterine weight and morphology, mammary gland morphology, proliferation and apoptotic indices, and protein levels during the stages of the Sprague-Dawley rat oestrous cycle were used to examine the response of mammary epithelium to the oestrous cycle.

RESULTS

Proliferation of mammary epithelium was greater in diestrus and proestrus, while apoptosis was increased in metestrus and diestrus. Growth factor-, hormone- and anchorage-mediated cell survival signalling, indicated by activation of Stat5A, FAK and Akt 1 and expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, was greater in proestrus and reduced in metestrus. In contrast, the levels of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members and proteins associated with apoptosis in mammary epithelium (TGFbeta3, pStat3) were increased during metestrus and diestrus.

CONCLUSION

Decreases in growth factor, hormone and cell attachment survival signals corresponded with increased apoptosis during the second half of the oestrous cycle. The protein levels detected during oestrus suggest parallels to apoptosis in mammary involution.

p27 Kip1 localization depends on the tumor suppressor protein tuberin

p27(Kip1) plays an important role in cell cycle regulation by inhibiting cyclin-CDK complex activity in the nucleus. p27(Kip1) is regulated by its concentration as well as by its subcellular localization. Tuberin, encoded by the tuberous sclerosis tumor suppressor gene TSC2, is a potent negative cell cycle regulator. We show herein, that tuberin induces nuclear p27 localization by inhibiting its 14-3-3-mediated cytoplasmic retention. Tuberin interferes with 14-3-3's counteracting effects on p27-mediated cell cycle arrest. Akt-mediated phosphorylation of p27, but not of tuberin, negatively regulates tuberin's potential to trigger p27 nuclear localization. In G0 cells, tuberin binds p27 triggering downregulation of p27's binding to 14-3-3 and of its cytoplasmic retention. At transition to S phase p27 is phosphorylated by Akt, tuberin/p27 complex levels are downregulated and binding of p27 to 14-3-3 increases triggering cytoplasmic retention of p27. These findings demonstrate p27 localization during the mammalian cell cycle to be under the control of the tumor suppressor tuberin.

Cytoplasmic/nuclear localization of tuberin in different cell lines

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease affecting 1 in 6000 individuals. The TSC gene products, hamartin and tuberin, form a complex, of which tuberin is assumed to be the functional component being involved in a wide variety of different cellular processes. Tuberin has been demonstrated to be localized to both, the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The cytoplasmic/nuclear localization of tuberin is known to be regulated by the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt. Akt also regulates the cytoplasmic/nuclear localization of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. In this study the localization of these two Akt-regulated proteins was analysed in different cell lines.

Cell proliferation and survival induced by Toll-like receptors is antagonized by type I IFNs

TRIF is an adaptor protein associated with the signaling by Toll-like receptor (TLR)3 and TLR4 for the induction of type I IFNs. Here, we demonstrate a mechanism by which TLR signaling controls cell proliferation and survival. We show that TLR3 and TLR4 can induce cell cycle entry via TRIF, which targets the cell cycle inhibitor p27(kip1) for relocalization, phosphorylation by cyclin/cdk complexes, and proteasome degradation. These events are antagonized by type I IFN induced by the TRIF pathway. Furthermore, in human dendritic cells treated with TLR3, TLR4, or TLR5 ligands, we demonstrate that IFN signaling modulates p27(kip1) degradation and apoptosis, identifying an immunoregulatory "switching" function of type I IFNs. These findings reveal a previously uncharacterized function of TLR signaling in cell proliferation and survival.

Deletion of the cruciform binding domain in CBP/14-3-3 displays reduced origin binding and initiation of DNA replication in budding yeast

Background

Initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication involves many protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. We have previously shown that 14-3-3 proteins bind cruciform DNA and associate with mammalian and yeast replication origins in a cell cycle dependent manner.

Results

By expressing the human 14-3-3ε, as the sole member of 14-3-3 proteins family in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we show that 14-3-3ε complements the S. cerevisiae Bmh1/Bmh2 double knockout, conserves its cruciform binding activity, and associates in vivo with the yeast replication origins ARS307. Deletion of the α5-helix, the potential cruciform binding domain of 14-3-3, decreased the cruciform binding activity of the protein as well as its association with the yeast replication origins ARS307 and ARS1. Furthermore, the mutant cells had a reduced ability to stably maintain plasmids bearing one or multiple origins.

Conclusion

14-3-3, a cruciform DNA binding protein, associates with yeast origins of replication and functions as an initiator of DNA replication, presumably through binding to cruciform DNA forming at yeast replicators.

Skp2-mediated p27(Kip1) degradation during S/G2 phase progression of adipocyte hyperplasia

p27(Kip1), an important regulator of Cdk2 activity and G1/S transition, is tightly regulated in a cell-type and condition-specific manner to integrate mitogenic and differentiation signals governing cell cycle progression. We show that p27 protein levels progressively declined from mid-G1 through late-G2 phase as density-arrested 3T3-L1 preadipocytes synchronously reentered the cell cycle during early stages of adipocyte differentiation. This dramatic fall in p27 protein accumulation was due, at least in part, to a decrease in protein stability. Specific inhibitors of the 26S proteasome were shown to completely block the decrease in p27 protein levels throughout G1, increase the abundance of ubiquitylated p27 protein, and inhibit G1/S transition resulting in G1 arrest. It is further demonstrated that p27 was phosphorylated on threonine 187 during S phase progression by Cdk2 and that phosphorylated p27 was polyubiquitylated and degraded. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Skp2 and Cks1 dramatically increased during S/G2 phase progression concomitantly with the maximal fall in p27 protein. Complete knockdown of Skp2 with RNA interference partially prevented p27 degradation equivalent to that observed with Cdk2 blockade suggesting that the SCF(Skp2) E3 ligase and other proteasome-dependent mechanisms contribute to p27 degradation during preadipocyte replication. Interestingly, Skp2-mediated p27 degradation was not essential for G1/S or S/G2 transition as preadipocytes shifted from quiescence to proliferation during adipocyte hyperplasia. Finally, evidence is presented suggesting that elevated p27 protein in the absence of Skp2 was neutralized by sequestration of p27 protein into Cyclin D1/Cdk4 complexes.

Nuclear/cytoplasmic localization of Akt activity in the cell cycle

The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt (also known as PKB) is a proto-oncogene and one of the most frequently hyperactivated kinases in human cancer. Its activation downstream of growth-factor-stimulated phosphatidylinositide-3'-OH kinase activity plays a role in the control of cell cycle, cell growth, apoptosis and cell energy metabolism. Akt phosphorylates some thousand downstream substrates, including typical cytoplasmic as well as nuclear proteins. Accordingly, it is not surprising that Akt activity can be found in both, the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Here we report the cell cycle regulation of nuclear and cytoplasmic Akt activity in mammalian cells. These data provide new insights into the regulation of Akt activity and have implications for future studies on the regulation of the wide variety of different nuclear and cytoplasmic Akt substrates.

Two Populations of p27 Use Differential Kinetics to Phosphorylate Ser-10 and Thr-187 via Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase in Response to Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Stimulation

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 regulates cell cycle progression. We investigated whether FGF-2 uses PI 3-kinase to facilitate phosphorylation of p27 on serine 10 (Ser-10) and threonine 187 (Thr-187) and whether the two phosphorylation sites were differentially regulated. FGF-2 stimulation dramatically increased p27 phosphorylation at Ser-10 and Thr-187 using differential kinetics, and the FGF-2-induced p27 phosphorylation was completely blocked at both sites by LY294002. We determined the physical and biochemical interaction of p27 with the Cdk2-cyclin E complex in response to FGF-2 stimulation. Maximal p27 binding to Cdk2-cyclin E occurred at 12 h; the maximal level of p27 phosphorylation at Thr-187 in the ternary complex was observed at 16 h; ubiquitination of the Thr-187-phosphorylated p27 (pp27Thr-187) was observed starting at 12 h and continuing up to 24 h. However, maximum p27 phosphorylation at Ser-10 occurred in the nucleus 6 h after FGF-2 stimulation; maximal export of Ser-10-phosphorylated p27 (pp27Ser-10) occurred 8 h after FGF-2 treatment, and pp27Ser-10 was simultaneously ubiquitinated. We further investigated which of the two phosphorylated p27 was involved in G(1)/S progression. LY294002 blocked 64% of the cell proliferation stimulated by FGF-2. Use of leptomycin B to block nuclear export of pp27Ser-10 greatly decreased the FGF-2-stimulated cell proliferation (44%), suggesting that phosphorylation of p27 at Ser-10 is the major mechanism for G(1)/S transition. Our results suggest that differential kinetics are observed in p27 phosphorylation at Ser-10 and Thr-187 and that pp27Thr-187 and pp27Ser-10 may represent two populations of p27 observed in the G(1) phase of the cell cycle.

Transforming growth factor-beta, estrogen, and progesterone converge on the regulation of p27Kip1 in the normal and malignant endometrium

Hormones and growth factors regulate endometrial cell growth. Disrupted transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling in primary endometrial carcinoma (ECA) cells leads to loss of TGF-beta-mediated growth inhibition, which we show herein results in lack of up-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) (p27) to arrest cells in G(1) phase of the cell cycle. Conversely, in normal primary endometrial epithelial cells (EECs), TGF-beta induces a dose-dependent increase in p27 protein, with a total 3.6-fold maximal increase at 100 pmol/L TGF-beta, which was 2-fold higher in the nuclear fraction; mRNA levels were unaffected. In addition, ECA tissue lysates show a high rate of ubiquitin-mediated degradation of p27 compared with normal secretory-phase endometrial tissue (SE) such that 4% and 89% of recombinant p27 added to the lysates remains after 3 and 20 h, respectively. These results are reflected in vivo as ECA tissue lacks p27 compared with high expression of p27 in SE (P < or = 0.001). Furthermore, we show that estrogen treatment of EECs causes mitogen-activated protein kinase-driven proteasomal degradation of p27 whereas progesterone induces a marked increase in p27 in both normal EECs and ECA cells. Therefore, these data suggest that TGF-beta induces accumulation of p27 for normal growth regulation of EECs. However, in ECA, in addition to enhanced proteasomal degradation of p27, TGF-beta cannot induce p27 levels due to dysregulated TGF-beta signaling, thereby causing 17beta-estradiol-driven p27 degradation to proceed unchecked for cell cycle progression. Thus, p27 may be a central target for growth regulation of normal endometrium and in the pathogenesis of ECA.

Identification of FAKTS as a novel 14-3-3-associated nuclear protein

Through bioinformatics and experimental approaches, we have assigned the first biochemical property to a predicted protein product in the human genome as a new 14-3-3 binding protein. 14-3-3 client proteins represent a diverse group of regulatory molecules that often function as signaling integrators in response to various environmental cues and include proteins such as Bad and Foxo. Using 14-3-3 as a probe in a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified a novel 14-3-3 binding protein with unknown function, initially designated as clone 546. Confocal microscopy revealed that clone 546 localized to the nucleus of mammalian cells. Additional studies show that the gene encoding clone 546 is expressed in many human tissues, including the thymus, as well as a number of cancer cell lines. The interaction of clone 546 with 14-3-3 was confirmed in mammalian cells. Interestingly, this interaction was markedly enhanced by the expression of activated Akt/PKB, suggesting a phosphorylation dependent event. Mutational analysis was carried out to identify Ser479 as the predominant residue that mediates the clone 546/14-3-3 association. Phosphorylation of Ser479 by AKT/PKB further supports a critical role for Akt/PKB in regulation of the clone 546/14-3-3 interaction. On the basis of these findings, we named this undefined protein FAKTS: Fourteen-three-three associated AKT Substrate.

Alpha-synuclein activates stress signaling protein kinases in THP-1 cells and microglia

Here we show that alpha-synuclein, a major constituent of Lewy bodies, induces inflammation in human microglial and human THP-1 cells. Secretions from such stimulated THP-1 cells contain increased levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. When stimulated by alpha-synuclein in combination with IFN-gamma, secretions from the cells also become toxic towards SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The A30P, E46K and A53T alpha-synuclein mutations, which induce Parkinson's disease, are more potent than normal alpha-synuclein in the induction of such cytotoxicity. To investigate the signaling mechanisms evoked, protein phosphorylation profiling was applied. At least 81 target phospho-sites were identified. Large increases were induced in the three major mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways: p38 MAP kinase, extracellular regulated protein-serine kinase (ERK)1/2 and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). Upregulation occurred within minutes following exposure to alpha-synuclein, which is consistent with a receptor-mediated effect. These findings demonstrate that alpha-synuclein acts as a potent inflammatory stimulator of microglial cells, and that inhibitors of such stimulation might be beneficial in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies.

Cyclin D1 induction of cellular migration requires p27(KIP1)

The cyclin D1 gene is amplified and overexpressed in human breast cancer, functioning as a collaborative oncogene. As the regulatory subunit of a holoenzyme phosphorylating Rb, cyclin D1 promotes cell cycle progression and a noncatalytic function has been described to sequester the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor protein p27. Cyclin D1 overexpression correlates with tumor metastasis and cyclin D1-deficient fibroblasts are defective in migration. The genetic mechanism by which cyclin D1 promotes migration and movement is poorly understood. Herein, cyclin D1 promoted cellular migration and cytokinesis of mammary epithelial cells. Cyclin D1 enhanced cellular migratory velocity. The induction of migration by cyclin D1 was abolished by mutation of K112 or deletion of NH(2)-terminal residues 46 to 90. These mutations of cyclin D1 abrogated physical interaction with p27(KIP1). Cyclin D1(-/-) cells were p27(KIP1) deficient and the defect in migration was rescued by p27(KIP1) reintroduction. Conversely, the cyclin D1 rescue of cyclin D1(-/-) cellular migration was reversed by p27(KIP1) small interfering RNA. Cyclin D1 regulated p27(KIP1) abundance at the posttranslational level, inhibiting the Skp2 promoter, Skp2 abundance, and induced p27(KIP1) phosphorylation at Ser(10). Together, these studies show cyclin D1 promotes mammary epithelial cell migration. p27(KIP1) is required for cyclin D1-mediated cellular migration.

FGF-2-mediated signal transduction during endothelial mesenchymal transformation in corneal endothelial cells

This review describes the molecular mechanism of endothelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) mediated by fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) in corneal endothelial cells. Corneal fibrosis is rarely observed in corneal endothelium/Descemet's membrane complex; but when this pathologic tissue occurs, it causes a loss of vision. Herein, we will address the cellular activities of FGF-2 and its signaling pathways during EMT. FGF-2 has 5 isoforms: 4 nuclear high molecular weight isoforms and 1 extracellular matrix (ECM) isoform. The vast majority of studies published in the field to date have described the effect of the ECM isoform that is released into the extracellular space, from which it can access plasma membrane receptors. Our discussion will focus on the ECM isoform and its receptor-mediated signal transduction.

Effects of HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir on Akt-regulated cell proliferation in breast cancer

PURPOSE

These studies were designed to determine whether ritonavir inhibits breast cancer in vitro and in vivo and, if so, how.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Ritonavir effects on breast cancer cell growth were studied in the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive lines MCF7 and T47D and in the ER-negative lines MDA-MB-436 and MDA-MB-231. Effects of ritonavir on Rb-regulated and Akt-mediated cell proliferation were studied. Ritonavir was tested for inhibition of a mammary carcinoma xenograft.

RESULTS

ER-positive estradiol-dependent lines (IC50, 12-24 micromol/L) and ER-negative (IC50, 45 micromol/L) lines exhibit ritonavir sensitivity. Ritonavir depletes ER-alpha levels notably in ER-positive lines. Ritonavir causes G1 arrest, depletes cyclin-dependent kinases 2, 4, and 6 and cyclin D1 but not cyclin E, and depletes phosphorylated Rb and Ser473 Akt. Ritonavir induces apoptosis independent of G1 arrest, inhibiting growth of cells that have passed the G1 checkpoint. Myristoyl-Akt, but not activated K-Ras, rescues ritonavir inhibition. Ritonavir inhibited a MDA-MB-231 xenograft and intratumoral Akt activity at a clinically attainable serum Cmax of 22 +/- 8 micromol/L. Because heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) substrates are depleted by ritonavir, ritonavir effects on Hsp90 were tested. Ritonavir binds Hsp90 (K(D), 7.8 micromol/L) and partially inhibits its chaperone function. Ritonavir blocks association of Hsp90 with Akt and, with sustained exposure, notably depletes Hsp90. Stably expressed Hsp90alpha short hairpin RNA also depletes Hsp90, inhibiting proliferation and sensitizing breast cancer cells to low ritonavir concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Ritonavir inhibits breast cancer growth in part by inhibiting Hsp90 substrates, including Akt. Ritonavir may be of interest for breast cancer therapeutics and its efficacy may be increased by sustained exposure or Hsp90 RNA interference.

C-terminal phosphorylation controls the stability and function of p27kip1

Entry of cells into the cell division cycle requires the coordinated activation of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) and the deactivation of cyclin kinase inhibitors. Degradation of p27kip1 is known to be a central component of this process as it allows controlled activation of cdk2-associated kinase activity. Turnover of p27 at the G1/S transition is regulated through phosphorylation at T187 and subsequent SCF(skp2)-dependent ubiquitylation. However, detailed analysis of this process revealed the existence of additional pathways that regulate the abundance of the protein in early G1 and as cells exit quiescence. Here, we report on a molecular mechanism that regulates p27 stability by phosphorylation at T198. Phosphorylation of p27 at T198 prevents ubiquitin-dependent degradation of free p27. T198 phosphorylation also controls progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle by regulating the association of p27 with cyclin-cdk complexes. Our results unveil the molecular composition of a pathway, which regulates the abundance and activity of p27kip1 during early G1. They also explain how the T187- and the T198-dependent turnover systems synergize to allow cell cycle progression in G1.

Analysis of the subcellular localization, function, and proteolytic control of the Arabidopsis cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor ICK1/KRP1

Recent studies have shown that cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors can have a tremendous impact on cell cycle progression in plants. In animals, CDK inhibitors are tightly regulated, especially by posttranslational mechanisms of which control of nuclear access and regulation of protein turnover are particularly important. Here we address the posttranslational regulation of INHIBITOR/INTERACTOR OF CDK 1 (ICK1)/KIP RELATED PROTEIN 1 (KRP1), an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) CDK inhibitor. We show that ICK1/KRP1 exerts its function in the nucleus and its presence in the nucleus is controlled by multiple nuclear localization signals as well as by nuclear export. In addition, we show that ICK1/KRP1 localizes to different subnuclear domains, i.e. in the nucleoplasm and to the chromocenters, hinting at specific actions within the nuclear compartment. Localization to the chromocenters is mediated by an N-terminal domain, in addition we find that this domain may be involved in cyclin binding. Further we demonstrate that ICK1/KRP1 is an unstable protein and degraded by the 26S proteasome in the nucleus. This degradation is mediated by at least two domains indicating the presence of at least two different pathways impinging on ICK1/KRP1 protein stability.

Akt regulates nuclear/cytoplasmic localization of tuberin

The autosomal dominantly inherited disease tuberous sclerosis (TSC) affects approximately 1 in 6000 individuals and is characterized by the development of tumors, named hamartomas, in different organs. TSC1, encoding hamartin, and TSC2, encoding tuberin are tumor suppressor genes responsible for TSC. Hamartin and tuberin form a complex, of which tuberin is assumed to be the functional component. The TSC proteins have been implicated in the control of cell cycle by activating the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 and in cell size regulation by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/p70S6K cascade. Phosphorylation of S939 and T1462 by Akt downregulates tuberin's potential to inhibit mTOR/p70S6K. Here, we show that this tuberin phosphorylation by Akt does not affect tuberin-mediated control of p27 protein amounts. This demonstrates that regulating p27 protein amounts and mTOR/p70S6K are separable functions of tuberin. Furthermore, we found that phosphorylation by Akt triggers upregulation of cytoplasmic and downregulation of nuclear tuberin. In cycling cells with high Akt activity, tuberin is predominantly localized to the cytoplasm. In arrested G0 cells with downregulated Akt activity, a significant proportion of tuberin is localized to the nucleus. Upon re-entry into the normal ongoing cell cycle, nuclear localization of tuberin is downregulated parallel to the activation of Akt. Recently, the mTOR/p70S6K cascade has been demonstrated to exist in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. We here also found that tuberin harbors the potential to regulate p70S6K activity in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. This description of functional tuberin in the cytoplasm and the nucleus together with our observation of Akt-controlled and cell cycle-regulated tuberin localization are of particular interest for a further understanding of tuberin's function as a gate keeper of the G0 cell status as well as of Akt's activity to control cell proliferation.

Synergistic Function of Smad4 and PTEN in Suppressing Forestomach Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Mouse

The genetic bases underlying esophageal tumorigenesis are poorly understood. Our previous studies have shown that coordinated deletion of the Smad4 and PTEN genes results in accelerated hair loss and skin tumor formation in mice. Herein, we exemplify that the concomitant inactivation of Smad4 and PTEN accelerates spontaneous forestomach carcinogenesis at complete penetrance during the first 2 months of age. All of the forestomach tumors were invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), which recapitulated the natural history and pathologic features of human esophageal SCCs. A small population of the SCC lesions was accompanied by adenocarcinomas at the adjacent submucosa region in the double mutant mice. The rapid progression of forestomach tumor formation in the Smad4 and PTEN double knockout mice corresponded to a dramatic increase in esophageal and forestomach epithelial proliferation. The decreased expression of p27, p21, and p16 together with the overexpression of cyclin D1 contributed cooperatively to the accelerated forestomach tumorigenesis in the double mutant mice. Our results point strongly to the crucial relevance of synergy between Smad4 and PTEN to suppress forestomach tumorigenesis through the cooperative induction of cell cycle inhibitors.

Akt1 sequentially phosphorylates p27kip1 within a conserved but non-canonical region

BACKGROUND

p27kip1 (p27) is a multifunctional protein implicated in regulation of cell cycling, signal transduction, and adhesion. Its activity is controlled in part by Phosphatylinositol-3-Kinase (PI3K)/Akt1 signaling, and disruption of this regulatory connection has been identified in human breast cancers. The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt1 directly phosphorylates p27, so identifying the modified residue(s) is essential for understanding how it regulates p27 function. Various amino acids have been suggested as potential targets, but recent attention has focused on threonine 157 (T157) because it is located in a putative Akt1 consensus site. However, T157 is not evolutionarily conserved between mouse and human. We therefore re-evaluated Akt1 phosphorylation of p27 using purified proteins and in cells.

RESULTS

Here we show purified Akt1 phosphorylates human and mouse p27 equally well. Phospho-peptide mapping indicates Akt1 targets multiple sites conserved in both species, while phospho-amino acid analysis identifies the targeted residues as serine rather than threonine. P27 deletion mutants localized these sites to the N-terminus, which contains the major p27 phosphorylation site in cells (serine 10). P27 phosphorylated by Akt1 was detected by a phospho-S10 specific antibody, confirming this serine was targeted. Akt1 failed to phosphorylate p27S10A despite evidence of a second site from mapping experiments. This surprising result suggested S10 phosphorylation might be required for targeting the second site. We tested this idea by replacing S10 with threonine, which as expected led to the appearance of phospho-threonine. Phospho-serine was still present, however, confirming Akt1 sequentially targets multiple serines in this region. We took two approaches in an attempt to explain why different residues were previously implicated. A kinetic analysis revealed a putative Akt1 binding site in the C-terminus, which may explain why mutations in this region affect p27 phosphorylation. Furthermore, commercially available recombinant Akt1 preparations exhibit striking differences in substrate specificity and site selectivity. To confirm S10 is a relevant site, we first showed that full-length wild type Akt1 purified from mammalian cells phosphorylates both human and mouse p27 on S10. Finally, we found that in cultured cells under physiologically relevant conditions such as oxidative stress or growth factor deprivation, endogenous Akt1 causes p27 accumulation by phosphorylating S10.

CONCLUSION

Identifying where Akt1 phosphorylates p27 is essential for understanding its functional implications. We found that full-length wild type Akt1--whether purified, transiently overexpressed in cells, or activated in response to cellular stress--phosphorylates p27 at S10, a noncanonical but evolutionarily conserved site known to regulate p27 activity and stability. Using recombinant Akt1 recapitulating this specificity, we showed modification of p27S10 also leads to phosphorylation of an adjacent serine. These results integrate PI3K/Akt1 signaling in response to stress with p27 regulation through its major phosphorylation site in cells, and thus identify new avenues for understanding p27 deregulation in human cancers.

Retinoic acid induces p27Kip1 nuclear accumulation by modulating its phosphorylation

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), the most biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, controls cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation depending on the cellular context. These activities point to ATRA as a candidate for cancer therapy. A pivotal effect of the molecule is the modulation of p27Kip1, a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor (CDKI). Here, we investigate the mechanisms by which ATRA regulates p27Kip1 level in LAN-5, a neuroblastoma cell line. When added to the cells, ATRA causes a rapid nuclear increase of p27Kip1, which clearly precedes growth arrest. The early buildup is not due to impairment of the CDKI degradation, in contrast to previous observations. Particularly, we did not detect the down-regulation of Skp2 and Cks1, two proteins involved in the nuclear ubiquitin-dependent p27Kip1 removal. Moreover, the morphogen does not impair the CDKI nuclear export and does not cause CDK2 relocalization. The characterization of CDKI isoforms by two-dimensional PAGE/immunoblotting showed that ATRA induces an early nuclear up-regulation of monophosphorylated p27Kip1. Immunologic studies established that this isoform corresponds to p27Kip1 phosphorylated on S10. The buildup of phospho(S10)p27Kip1 precedes the CDKI accumulation and increases its half-life. Finally, ATRA-treated nuclear LAN-5 extracts showed an enhanced capability of phosphorylating p27Kip1 on S10, thus explaining the nuclear up-regulation of the isoform. In conclusion, our data suggest a novel mechanism of ATRA antiproliferative activity, in which the morphogen rapidly up-regulates a nuclear kinase activity that phosphorylates p27Kip1 on S10. In turn, this event causes the stabilization of p27Kip1 and its accumulation in the nuclear compartment.

Applying genomics to the avian inner ear: Development of subtractive cDNA resources for exploring sensory function and hair cell regeneration

We applied a micro-cDNA-based subtraction method to identify genes expressed in the regenerating sensory epithelia (SE) of the chicken inner ear. Sensory hair cells in the avian utricle SE are in a constant state of turnover, where dying hair cells are replaced by new ones derived from supporting cells. In contrast, hair cells in the cochlea remain quiescent unless damaged. We used this difference to enrich for utricle-specific genes, using reiterative cDNA subtraction and demonstrate enrichment for utricle-specific sequences. A total of 1710 cDNA sequence reads revealed the presence of many cDNAs encoding known structural components of the SE (for example, Harmonin and beta-tectorin), proteins involved in cellular proliferation, such as P311, HIPK2, and SPALT1, among many others of unknown function. These libraries are the first of their kind and should prove useful for the discovery of candidate genes for hearing disorders, regenerative and apoptotic pathways, and novel chicken ESTs.

PI3K/Akt signaling regulates p27(kip1) expression via Skp2 in PC3 and DU145 prostate cancer cells, but is not a major factor in p27(kip1) regulation in LNCaP and PC346 cells

BACKGROUND

We compared the involvement of PI3K/PTEN/Akt signaling in the regulation of the cell-cycle regulator p27(kip1) and investigated the mechanism of PI3K/PTEN/Akt modulation of p27(kip1) in the prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, PC346, PC3, and DU145.

METHODS

PI3K/PTEN/Akt signaling was manipulated by wortmannin or specific siRNA. The effects on PI3K/Akt downstream effectors and p27(kip1) expression were monitored on RNA and protein levels.

RESULTS

PI3K/Akt inhibition in LNCaP and PC346 cells hardly affected p27(kip1) expression. As shown in LNCaP cells, p27(kip1) expression inversely correlated with Skp2 expression, but Skp2 was not regulated by Akt. Blocking PI3K/Akt signaling in PC3 cells resulted in decreased Skp2 protein expression and increased p27(kip1). Downregulation of PTEN in DU145 cells also showed PTEN/Akt-dependent regulation of Skp2 and p27(kip1).

CONCLUSIONS

In PC3 and DU145 cells, Skp2 is the main determinant in the PI3K/Akt-dependent regulation of p27(kip1). In LNCaP and PC346 cells, PI3K/Akt signaling is not a major factor in p27(kip1) regulation.

14-3-3sigma, a p53 regulator, suppresses tumor growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The 14-3-3sigma gene product, up-regulated by p53 in response to DNA damage, is involved in cell-cycle checkpoint control and is a human cancer epithelial marker down-regulated in various tumors. However, its role and function have not been established in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a tumor of epithelial origin. Recently, we found that 14-3-3sigma interacts with p53 in response to DNA damage and stabilizes the expression of p53. In addition, we also showed that overexpression of 14-3-3sigma inhibits oncogene-activated tumorigenicity. In the present study, we investigated the tumor-suppressive role of 14-3-3sigma in NPC cells. We found that there is a failure to up-regulate 14-3-3sigma in response to DNA damage in two NPC cell lines that have p53 mutation. We also found that 14-3-3sigma interacted with protein kinase B/Akt and negatively regulated the activity of Akt. Overexpression of 14-3-3sigma inhibited NPC cell growth and blocks DNA synthesis. Overexpression of 14-3-3sigma also led to inhibition of anchorage-independent growth of NPC cells. In addition, we found that 14-3-3sigma sensitized NPC cells to apoptosis induced by the chemotherapeutic agent 2-methoxyestradiol. Overexpression of 14-3-3sigma in both NPC cell lines reduced the tumor volume in nude mice, which could have significance for clinical application. These findings provide an insight into the roles of 14-3-3sigma in NPC and suggest that approaches that modulate 14-3-3sigma activity may be useful in the treatment of NPC.

Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterization of a Cell-permeable Superoxide Dismutase Targeted to Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

In clinical oncology, many trials with superoxide dismutase (SOD) have failed to demonstrate antitumor ability and in many cases even caused deleterious effects because of low tumor-targeting ability. In the current research, the Nostoc commune Fe-SOD coding sequence was amplified from genomic DNA. In addition, the single chain variable fragment (ScFv) was constructed from the cDNA of an LC-1 hybridoma cell line secreting anti-lung adenocarcinoma monoclonal antibody. After modification, the SOD and ScFv were fused and co-expressed, and the resulting fusion protein produced SOD and LC-1 antibody activity. Tracing SOD-ScFv by fluorescein isothiocyanate and superoxide anions (O2*-) in SPC-A-1 cells showed that the fusion protein could recognize and enter SPC-A-1 cells to eliminate O2*-. The lower oxidative stress resulting from the decrease in cellular O2*- delayed the cell cycle at G1 and significantly slowed SPC-A-1 cell growth in association with the dephosphorylation of the serine-threonine protein kinase Akt and expression of p27kip1. The tumor-targeting fusion protein resulting from this research overcomes two disadvantages of SODs previously used in the clinical setting, the inability to target tumor cells or permeate the cell membrane. These findings lay the groundwork for development of an efficient antitumor drug targeted by the ScFv.

14-3-3 proteins as potential oncogenes

14-3-3 proteins are a family of highly conserved cellular proteins that play key roles in the regulation of central physiological pathways. More than 200 14-3-3 target proteins have been identified, including proteins involved in mitogenic and cell survival signaling, cell cycle control and apoptotic cell death. Importantly, the involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in the regulation of various oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes points to a potential role in human cancer. The present review summarizes current findings implicating a 14-3-3 role in cancer while discussing potential mechanisms and points of action of 14-3-3 during cancer development and progression.

Subcellular targeting of p33ING1b by phosphorylation-dependent 14-3-3 binding regulates p21WAF1 expression

ING1 is a type II tumor suppressor that affects cell growth, stress signaling, apoptosis, and DNA repair by altering chromatin structure and regulating transcription. Decreased ING1 expression is seen in several human cancers, and mislocalization has been noted in diverse types of cancer cells. Aberrant targeting may, therefore, functionally inactivate ING1. Bioinformatics analysis identified a sequence between the nuclear localization sequence and plant homeodomain domains of ING1 that closely matched the binding motif of 14-3-3 proteins that target cargo proteins to specific subcellular locales. We find that the widely expressed p33(ING1b) splicing isoform of ING1 interacts with members of the 14-3-3 family of proteins and that this interaction is regulated by the phosphorylation status of ING1. 14-3-3 binding resulted in significant amounts of p33(ING1b) protein being tethered in the cytoplasm. As shown previously, ectopic expression of p33(ING1b) increased levels of the p21(Waf1) cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor upon UV-induced DNA damage. Overexpression of 14-3-3 inhibited the up-regulation of p21(Waf1) by p33(ING1b), consistent with the idea that mislocalization blocks at least one of ING1's biological activities. These data support the idea that the 14-3-3 proteins play a crucial role in regulating the activity of p33(ING1b) by directing its subcellular localization.

14-3-3 proteins in cell cycle regulation

Co-ordinated progression through the cell cycle is essential for the maintenance of genomic integrity. Several checkpoint mechanisms guarantee that the next step in cell cycle progression is only entered after error-free completion of the previous phase. Cell cycle deregulation caused by changes in 14-3-3 expression has been implicated in cancer formation. 14-3-3 proteins function at several key points in G(1)/S- and G(2)/M-transition by binding to regulatory proteins and modulating their function. In most cases, the association with 14-3-3 proteins requires a specific phosphorylation of the protein ligand and mediates cell cycle arrest. 14-3-3 binding may lead to cytoplasmic sequestration of the protein ligand but may also have other functional consequences. The 14-3-3sigma gene is induced by p53 and its product inhibits G(2)/M progression by cytoplasmatic sequestration of CDC2-cyclin B complexes. In addition, 14-3-3 proteins have been implicated in the transcriptional regulation of CDK-inhibitors as they modulate the transcription factors p53, FOXO and MIZ1. Effects of 14-3-3 proteins on cell cycle progression and the regulation of 14-3-3 activity during the cell cycle are reviewed in this chapter.

Negative cell cycle regulator 14-3-3sigma stabilizes p27 Kip1 by inhibiting the activity of PKB/Akt

The 14-3-3sigma (sigma) protein is a human cancer marker downregulated in various tumors, but its function has not been fully established. 14-3-3sigma is a negative regulator of cell cycle when overexpressed, but it is not clear whether 14-3-3sigma regulates cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) to negatively affect cell cycle progression. Protein kinase B/Akt is a crucial regulator of oncogenic signal and can phosphorylate p27(Kip1) to enhance p27(Kip1)degradation, thereby promoting cell growth. Here, we show that 14-3-3sigma-mediated cell cycle arrest concurred with p27(Kip1) upregulation and Akt inactivation. We show that 14-3-3sigma blocks Akt-mediated acceleration of p27(Kip1) turnover rate. 14-3-3sigma inhibits Akt-mediated p27(Kip1) phosphorylation that targets p27(Kip1) for nuclear export and degradation. 14-3-3sigma inhibits cell survival and tumorigenicity of Akt-activating breast cancer cell. Low expression of 14-3-3sigma in human primary breast cancers correlates with cytoplasmic location of p27(Kip1). These data provide an insight into 14-3-3sigma activity and rational cancer gene therapy by identifying 14-3-3sigma as a positive regulator of p27 and as a potential anticancer agent.

Reduction of Cytosolic p27Kip1Inhibits Cancer Cell Motility, Survival, and Tumorigenicity

We generated a p27(Kip1) mutant (p27deltaNLS) that localized exclusively in cell cytosol. Expression of p27deltaNLS in MCF7 breast cancer cells down-regulated RhoA and increased motility, survival, and Akt levels without an effect on cell cycle distribution. RNA interference of p27 in U87 glioma cells, which express p27 predominantly in the cytoplasm, inhibited motility and survival. Conversely, knockdown of p27 in COS7 cells, with >95% nuclear p27 expression, accelerated proliferation but had no effect on motility or survival. U87 cells in which p27 had been eliminated by RNA interference exhibited lower Akt levels, shorter Akt turnover, and markedly impaired tumorigenicity in vivo. These xenografts were less invasive and exhibited increased apoptosis compared with p27-expressing tumors. Expression of cytosolic p27 in primary human breast carcinomas correlated linearly with Akt content as measured by immunohistochemistry. These data suggest that cytoplasmic p27 can exert oncogenic functions by modulating Akt stability, cell survival, and tumorigenicity.

Sirt1 inhibitor, Sirtinol, induces senescence-like growth arrest with attenuated Ras-MAPK signaling in human cancer cells

The induction of senescence-like growth arrest has emerged as a putative contributor to the anticancer effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Clinical trials are underway to evaluate the efficacy of inhibitors for class I and II histone deacetylases to treat malignancies. However, a potential antiproliferative effect of inhibitor for Sirt1, which is an NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase and belongs to class III histone deacetylases, has not yet been explored. Here, we show that Sirt1 inhibitor, Sirtinol, induced senescence-like growth arrest characterized by induction of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity and increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and lung cancer H1299 cells. Sirtinol-induced senescence-like growth arrest was accompanied by impaired activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, namely, extracellular-regulated protein kinase, c-jun N-terminal kinase and p38 MAPK, in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Active Ras was reduced in Sirtinol-treated senescent cells compared with untreated cells. However, tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptors for EGF and IGF-I and Akt/PKB activation were unaltered by Sirtinol treatment. These results suggest that inhibitors for Sirt1 may have anticancer potential, and that impaired activation of Ras-MAPK pathway might take part in a senescence-like growth arrest program induced by Sirtinol.

Role of coordinated molecular alterations in the development of androgen-independent prostate cancer: an in vitro model that corroborates clinical observations

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of potential downstream targets of HER-2/neu, including the cell-cycle regulator p27, proliferation-associated protein Ki-67, apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2, and signal-transduction molecule Akt (which is associated with cell survival), as the development of androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC) in patients who are initially responsive to androgen-ablation therapy (AAT) is a significant clinical problem.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Earlier studies showed that high levels of HER-2/neu tyrosine kinase receptor expression as assessed by immunohistochemistry were significantly associated with the development of AIPC, and we hypothesised that HER-2/neu overexpression provides an alternative proliferative stimulus upon androgen depletion. We established a unique clinical model system, comprising patients who received no AAT, or who had preoperative AAT, or those with advanced tumours resistant to AAT. To test our hypothesis in vitro, we stably transfected full-length HER-2/neu cDNA in androgen-responsive LNCaP cells and examined the effects of HER-2/neu overexpression on cell proliferation, apoptosis, androgen-receptor activation, and Akt phosphorylation upon androgen deprivation by using immunohistochemistry and Western blot technique.

RESULTS

p27 expression was initially induced on exposure to AAT, and significantly decreased in AIPC (P < 0.001). There was also a significant increase in the Ki-67 index in AIPC (P = 0.001). Elevated Bcl-2 expression was closely associated with AAT (P = 0.002), suggesting that Bcl-2 expression is induced on initial exposure to AAT. Further, Bcl-2 expression was highest in hormone-resistant cancers (P < 0.001). Using the HER-2/neu transfected cell-line model, we confirmed the mechanistic basis of the clinical observations which elucidate the pathway leading to HER-2/neu-mediated androgen independence. On androgen deprivation, the HER-2/neu transfected cells had higher proliferation rates, lower G1 arrest, inhibited p27 up-regulation, a lower apoptotic index, and higher Bcl-2, prostate-specific antigen and phosphorylated Akt expression than the mock-transfected LNCaP cells.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that prostate cancer cells undergo a series of coordinated changes after exposure to AAT, which eventually result in the development of androgen independence. Further, in support of previous results, it appears that a major factor in this process is the induction of HER-2/neu overexpression, which occurs after initial exposure to AAT. HER-2/neu may contribute to the development of androgen independence through: (i) maintaining cell proliferation; (ii) inhibiting apoptosis; and/or (iii) inducing AR activation in a ligand-independent fashion. These effects may be mediated, at least in part, through activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

A pathway in quiescent cells that controls p27Kip1 stability, subcellular localization, and tumor suppression

We have created two knock-in mouse models to study the mechanisms that regulate p27 in normal cells and cause misregulation of p27 in tumors: p27(S10A), in which Ser10 is mutated to Ala; and p27(CK-), in which point mutations abrogate the ability of p27 to bind cyclins and CDKs. These two mutant alleles identify steps in a pathway that controls the proteasomal degradation of p27 uniquely in quiescent cells: Dephosphorylation of p27 on Ser10 inhibits p27 nuclear export and promotes its assembly into cyclin-CDK complexes, which is, in turn, necessary for p27 turnover. We further show that Ras-dependent lung tumorigenesis is associated with increased phosphorylation on Ser10 and cytoplasmic mislocalization of p27. Indeed, we find that p27(S10A) is refractory to Ras-induced cytoplasmic translocation and that p27(S10A) mice are tumor resistant. Thus, phosphorylation of p27 on Ser10 is an important event in the regulation of the tumor suppressor function of p27.

Protein kinase C negatively regulates Akt activity and modifies UVC-induced apoptosis in mouse keratinocytes

Skin keratinocytes are subject to frequent chemical and physical injury and have developed elaborate cell survival mechanisms to compensate. Among these, the Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) pathway protects keratinocytes from the toxic effects of ultraviolet light (UV). In contrast, the protein kinase C (PKC) family is involved in several keratinocyte death pathways. During an examination of potential interactions among these two pathways, we found that the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) activates both the PKC and the Akt signaling pathways in cultured primary mouse keratinocytes as indicated by increased phospho-PKC and phospho-Ser-473-Akt. IGF-1 also selectively induced translocation of PKCdelta and PKCepsilon from soluble to particulate fractions in mouse keratinocytes. Furthermore, the PKC-specific inhibitor, GF109203X, increased IGF-1-induced phospho-Ser-473-Akt and Akt kinase activity and enhanced IGF-1 protection from UVC-induced apoptosis. Selective activation of PKC by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) reduced phospho-Ser-473-Akt, suggesting that activation of PKC inhibits Akt activity. TPA also attenuated IGF-1 and epidermal growth factor-induced phospho-Ser-473-Akt, reduced Akt kinase activity, and blocked IGF-1 protection from UVC-induced apoptosis. The inhibition of Akt activity by TPA was reduced by inhibitors of protein phosphatase 2A, and TPA stimulated the association of phosphatase 2A with Akt. Individual PKC isoforms were overexpressed in cultured keratinocytes by transduction with adenoviral vectors or inhibited with PKC-selective inhibitors. These studies indicated that PKCdelta and PKCepsilon were selectively potent at causing dephosphorylation of Akt and modifying cell survival, whereas PKCalpha enhanced phosphorylation of Akt on Ser-473. Our results suggested that activation of PKCdelta and PKCepsilon provide a negative regulation for Akt phosphorylation and kinase activity in mouse keratinocytes and serve as modulators of cell survival pathways in response to external stimuli.

Oncogenic PI3K deregulates transcription and translation

There have long been indications of a role for PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) in cancer pathogenesis. Experimental data document a requirement for deregulation of both transcription and translation in PI3K-mediated oncogenic transformation. The recent discoveries of cancer-specific mutations in PIK3CA, the gene that encodes the catalytic subunit p110alpha of PI3K, have heightened the interest in the oncogenic potential of this lipid kinase and have made p110alpha an ideal drug target.

Pathway- and expression level-dependent effects of oncogenic N-Ras: p27(Kip1) mislocalization by the Ral-GEF pathway and Erk-mediated interference with Smad signaling

Overactivation of Ras pathways contributes to oncogenesis and metastasis of epithelial cells in several ways, including interference with cell cycle regulation via the CDK inhibitor p27(Kip1) (p27) and disruption of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) anti-proliferative activity. Here, we show that at high expression levels, constitutively active N-Ras induces cytoplasmic mislocalization of murine and human p27 via the Ral-GEF pathway and disrupts TGF-beta-mediated Smad nuclear translocation by activation of the Mek/Erk pathway. While human p27 could also be mislocalized via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, only Ral-GEF activation was effective for murine p27, which lacks the Thr157 Akt phosphorylation site of human p27. This establishes a novel role for the Ral-GEF pathway in regulating p27 localization. Interference with either Smad translocation or p27 nuclear localization was sufficient to disrupt TGF-beta growth inhibition. Moreover, expression of activated N-Ras or specific effector loop mutants at lower levels using retroviral vectors induced p27 mislocalization but did not inhibit Smad2/3 translocation, indicating that the effects on p27 localization occur at lower levels of activated Ras. These findings have important implications for the contribution of activated Ras to oncogenesis and for the conversion of TGF-beta from an inhibitory to a metastatic factor in some epithelial tumors.

Cell biology of IL-7, a key lymphotrophin

IL-7 is essential for the development and survival of T lymphocytes. This review is primarily from the perspective of the cell biology of the responding T cell. Beginning with IL-7 receptor structure and regulation, the major signaling pathways appear to be via PI3K and Stat5, although the requirement for either has yet to be verified by published knockout experiments. The proliferation pathway induced by IL-7 differs from conventional growth factors and is primarily through posttranslational regulation of p27, a Cdk inhibitor, and Cdc25a, a Cdk-activating phosphatase. The survival function of IL-7 is largely through maintaining a favorable balance of bcl-2 family members including Bcl-2 itself and Mcl-1 on the positive side, and Bax, Bad and Bim on the negative side. There are also some remarkable metabolic effects of IL-7 withdrawal. Studies of IL-7 receptor signaling have yet to turn up unique pathways, despite the unique requirement for IL-7 in T cell biology. There remain significant questions regarding IL-7 production and the major producing cells have yet to be fully characterized.

C-terminal Recognition by 14-3-3 Proteins for Surface Expression of Membrane Receptors

Diverse functions of 14-3-3 proteins are directly coupled to their ability to interact with targeted peptide substrates. RSX(pS/pT)XP and RXPhiX(pS/pT)XP are two canonical consensus binding motifs for 14-3-3 proteins representing the two common binding modes, modes I and II, between 14-3-3 and internal peptides. Using a genetic selection, we have screened a random peptide library and identified a group of C-terminal motifs, termed SWTY, capable of overriding an endoplasmic reticulum localization signal and redirecting membrane proteins to cell surface. Here we report that the C-terminal SWTY motif, although different from mode I and II consensus, binds tightly to 14-3-3 proteins with a dissociation constant (K(D)) of 0.17 microM, comparable with that of internal canonical binding peptides. We show that all residues but proline in -SWTX-COOH are compatible for the interaction and surface expression. Because SWTY-like sequences have been found in native proteins, these results support a broad significance of 14-3-3 interaction with protein C termini. The C-terminal binding consensus, mode III, represents an expansion of the repertoire of 14-3-3-targeted sequences.

Oncogenic Ras blocks transforming growth factor-beta-induced cell-cycle arrest by degradation of p27 through a MEK/Erk/SKP2-dependent pathway

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether oncogenic Ras affects transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-mediated cell-cycle arrest in hematopoietic cells and the downstream signal transduction pathway involved in the interference with TGF-beta-induced cell-cycle arrest.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two leukemic cell lines bearing N-Ras(L61) mutations; HL-60 and TF-1, and the M1 cell line with wt Ras were investigated for their response to TGF-beta. Signal transduction inhibitors, overexpression and RNA interference studies were performed to investigate the involvement of the various proteins.

RESULTS

Although TGF-beta signal transduction was not affected, G0-G1 arrest was absent in HL-60 and TF-1 cells due to the absence of p27. Overexpression of p27 restored TGF-beta-induced cell-cycle arrest, as well as interfering in Ras-mediated signaling. The farnesyl transferase inhibitor L744832 and the MEK inhibitor U0126 both restored p27 levels and cell-cycle arrest in response to TGF-beta. The absence of p27 protein is due to elevated levels of the ubiquitin ligase SKP2, which complexes with and targets p27 for degradation. RNA interference for SKP2 and treatment of these cells with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 restored p27 levels, corresponding with decreasing SKP2 levels after interfering in N-Ras signal transduction. P27, phosphorylated at threonine 187, is nuclear localized in N-Ras-containing cells. Mutation of this residue to alanine rendered p27 insensitive to degradation.

CONCLUSION

N-Ras(L61) transformed cells lack a G0-G1 arrest upon TGF-beta treatment due to absence of p27. p27 is degraded through a MapK-, and SKP2-dependent pathway. Overexpression of p27 results in restoration of cell-cycle arrest upon TGF-beta treatment.

Myxoma virus M-T5 protects infected cells from the stress of cell cycle arrest through its interaction with host cell cullin-1

The myxoma virus (MV) M-T5 gene encodes an ankyrin repeat protein that is important for virus replication in cells from several species. Insight was gained into the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of M-T5 as a host range determinant when the cell cycle regulatory protein cullin-1 (cul-1) was identified as a cellular binding partner of M-T5 and found to colocalize with the protein in both nuclear and cytosolic compartments. Consistent with this interaction, infection with wild-type MV (vMyxlac) or a deletion mutant lacking M-T5 (vMyxT5KO) differentially altered cell cycle progression in a panel of permissive and nonpermissive cells. Cells infected with vMyxlac transitioned rapidly out of the G0/G1 phase and preferentially accumulated at the G2/M checkpoint, whereas infection with vMyxT5KO impeded progression through the cell cycle, resulting in a greater percentage of cells retained at G0/G1. Levels of the cul-1 substrate, p27/Kip-1, were selectively increased in cells infected with vMyxT5KO compared to vMyxlac, concurrent with decreased phosphorylation of p27/Kip-1 at Thr187 and decreased ubiquitination. Compared to cells infected with vMyxlac, cell death was increased in vMyxT5KO-infected cells following treatment with diverse stimuli known to induce cell cycle arrest, including infection itself, serum deprivation, and exposure to proteasome inhibitors or double-stranded RNA. Moreover, infection with vMyxlac, but not vMyxT5KO, was sufficient to overcome the G0/G1 arrest induced by these stimuli. These findings suggest that M-T5 regulates cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 checkpoint, thereby protecting infected cells from diverse innate host antiviral responses normally triggered by G0/G1 cell cycle arrest.

Lipoxin A4 inhibits proliferation of human lung fibroblasts induced by connective tissue growth factor

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays an important role in pathways leading to lung fibrosis via the mitogenic action of CTGF on fibroblasts. Studies have shown that lipoxin A4 (LXA4) inhibits proliferation of renal mesangial cells induced by leukotriene D4 or platelet-derived growth factor. This study investigates the regulatory role of LXA4 on proliferation of human lung fibroblasts (HLF) induced by CTGF and mechanisms of LXA4 action. CTGF induced HLF proliferation; enhanced the expression of cyclin D1; phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K), protein kinase B (PKB), and DNA-binding activity of signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3); and inhibited expression of p27(kip1). LXA4 downregulated the CTGF-stimulated HLF proliferation and expression of cyclin D1; and phosphorylated ERK1/2, PI3-K, PKB, and DNA-binding activity of STAT3. CTGF-induced decrement in expression of p27(kip1) was ameliorated by LXA4. PI3-K or STAT blockade but not ERK1/2 blockade partially inhibited the CTGF-activated proliferation of HLF. Transfection of the human LXA4 receptor gene into HLF intensified the inhibition of LXA4 on CTGF-induced cell proliferation. These results demonstrate that CTGF induces proliferation of HLF via upregulation of PI3-K/PKB, STAT3, and cyclin D1, and downregulation of p27(kip1). LXA4 inhibits these effects of CTGF on HLF.

14-3-3 proteins are involved in the regulation of mammalian cell proliferation

The 14-3-3 proteins are a family of abundant, widely expressed acidic polypeptides. The seven isoforms interact with over 70 different proteins. 14-3-3 isoforms have been demonstrated to be involved in the control of positive as well as negative regulators of mammalian cell proliferation. Here we used the approach of inactivating 14-3-3 protein functions via overexpression of dominant negative mutants to analyse the role of 14-3-3 proteins in mammalian cell proliferation. We found 14-3-3 dominant negative mutants to downregulate the proliferation rates of HeLa cells. Overexpression of these dominant negative mutants triggers upregulation of the protein levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27, a major negative cell cycle regulator. In addition, they downregulate the protein levels of the important cell cycle promoter cyclin D1. These data provide new insights into mammalian cell proliferation control and allow a better understanding of the functions of 14-3-3 proteins.

Attenuation of cell cycle regulator p27(Kip1) expression in vertebrate epithelial cells mediated by extracellular signals in vivo and in vitro

Cell cycle arrest in potentially dividing cells is often mediated by inhibitors of G1/S-phase cyclin-dependent kinases. The cyclin E/CDK2-inhibitor p27(Kip1) has been implicated in this context in epithelial cells. We cloned and sequenced p27(Kip1) of ducklings (Anas platyrhynchos) and used an in vitro assay system to study the mechanism of p27(Kip1) downregulation in the nasal gland which precedes an increase in proliferation rate upon initial exposure of the animals to osmotic stress. Western blot studies revealed that p27(Kip1) is downregulated during 24 h of osmotic stress in ducklings with the steepest decline in protein levels between 5 and 8 h. As indicated by the results of Northern blot and semi-quantitative PCR studies, protein downregulation is not accompanied by similar changes in mRNA levels indicating that Kip1 is regulated mainly at the translational (synthesis) or posttranslational level (degradation). Using recombinant duck Kip1 protein expressed in E. coli, we showed that Kip1 is subject to polyubiquitinylation by cytosolic enzymes from nasal gland cells indicating that loss of Kip1 may be regulated, at least in part, by acceleration of protein degradation. In cultured nasal gland tissue, attenuation of Kip1 expression could be induced by activation of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor indicating that mAChR-receptor signalling may play a role in the re-entry of quiescent gland cells into the cell cycle.

Akt/protein kinase B-dependent phosphorylation and inactivation of WEE1Hu promote cell cycle progression at G2/M transition

The serine/threonine kinase Akt is known to promote cell growth by regulating the cell cycle in G1 phase through activation of cyclin/Cdk kinases and inactivation of Cdk inhibitors. However, how the G2/M phase is regulated by Akt remains unclear. Here, we show that Akt counteracts the function of WEE1Hu. Inactivation of Akt by chemotherapeutic drugs or the phosphatidylinositide-3-OH kinase inhibitor LY294002 induced G2/M arrest together with the inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc2. Because the increased Cdc2 phosphorylation was completely suppressed by wee1hu gene silencing, WEE1Hu was associated with G2/M arrest induced by Akt inactivation. Further analyses revealed that Akt directly bound to and phosphorylated WEE1Hu during the S to G2 phase. Serine-642 was identified as an Akt-dependent phosphorylation site. WEE1Hu kinase activity was not affected by serine-642 phosphorylation. We revealed that serine-642 phosphorylation promoted cytoplasmic localization of WEE1Hu. The nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation was mediated by phosphorylation-dependent WEE1Hu binding to 14-3-3theta but not 14-3-3beta or -sigma. These results indicate that Akt promotes G2/M cell cycle progression by inducing phosphorylation-dependent 14-3-3theta binding and cytoplasmic localization of WEE1Hu.