Identification of phosphorylation sites on extracellular corneal epithelial cell maspin

Identification of a putative nuclear localization signal in the tumor suppressor maspin sheds light on its nuclear import regulation

The tumor suppressor activity of maspin (mammary serine protease inhibitor) has been associated with its nuclear localization. In this study we explore the regulation of maspin nuclear translocation. An in vitro nuclear import assay suggested that maspin can passively enter the nucleus. However, in silico analysis identified a putative maspin nuclear localization signal (NLS), which was able to mediate the nuclear translocation of a chimeric protein containing this NLS fused to five green fluorescent protein molecules in tandem (5GFP). Dominant‐negative Ran‐GTPase mutants RanQ69L or RanT24N suppressed this process. Unexpectedly, the full‐length maspin fused to 5GFP failed to enter the nucleus. As maspin's putative NLS is partially hidden in its three‐dimensional structure, we suggest that maspin nuclear transport could be conformationally regulated. Our results suggest that maspin nuclear translocation involves both passive and active mechanisms.

Post-translational modifications and their applications in eye research (Review)

Gene expression is the process by which genetic information is used for the synthesis of a functional gene product, and ultimately regulates cell function. The increase of biological complexity from genome to proteome is vast, and the post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins contribute to this complexity. The study of protein expression and PTMs has attracted attention in the post‑genomic era. Due to the limited capability of conventional biochemical techniques in the past, large‑scale PTM studies were technically challenging. The introduction of effective protein separation methods, specific PTM purification strategies and advanced mass spectrometers has enabled the global profiling of PTMs and the identification of a targeted PTM within the proteome. The present review provides an overview of current proteomic technologies being applied in eye research, with a particular focus on studies of PTMs in ocular tissues and ocular diseases.

The Opportunity of Precision Medicine for Breast Cancer With Context-Sensitive Tumor Suppressor Maspin

To improve the precision of molecular diagnosis and to develop and guide targeted therapies of breast cancer, it is essential to determine the mechanisms that underlie the specific tumor phenotypes. To this end, the application of a snapshot of gene expression profile for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis is fundamentally challenged since the tissue-based data are derived from heterogonous cell types and are not likely to reflect the dynamics of context-dependent tumor progression and drug sensitivity. The intricate network of epithelial differentiation program can be concertedly controlled by tumor suppressor maspin, a homologue of clade B serine protease inhibitors (serpin), through its multifaceted molecular interactions in multiple subcellular localizations. Unlike most other serpins that are expressed in multiple cell types, maspin is epithelial specific and has distinct roles in luminal and myoepithelial cells. Endogenously expressed maspin has been found in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and detected on the surface of cell membrane. It is also secreted free and as an exosomal cargo protein. Research in the field has led to the identification of the maspin targets and maspin-associated molecules, as well as the structural determinants of its suppressive functions. The current review discusses the possibility for maspin to serve as a cell type-specific and context-sensitive marker to improve the precision of breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis. These advancements further suggest a new window of opportunity for designing novel maspin-based chemotherapeutic agents with improved anti-cancer potency. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1639-1647, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sucrose Nonfermenting-Related Kinase Enzyme-Mediated Rho-Associated Kinase Signaling is Responsible for Cardiac Function

BACKGROUND

Cardiac metabolism is critical for the functioning of the heart, and disturbance in this homeostasis is likely to influence cardiac disorders or cardiomyopathy. Our laboratory has previously shown that SNRK (sucrose nonfermenting related kinase) enzyme, which belongs to the AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase) family, was essential for cardiac metabolism in mammals. Snrk global homozygous knockout (KO) mice die at postnatal day 0, and conditional deletion of Snrk in cardiomyocytes (Snrk cmcKO) leads to cardiac failure and death by 8 to 10 months.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed additional cardiac functional studies using echocardiography and identified further cardiac functional deficits in Snrk cmcKO mice. Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics analysis identified key metabolic pathway deficits in SNRK knockdown cardiomyocytes in vitro. Specifically, metabolites involved in lipid metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation are altered, and perturbations in these pathways can result in cardiac function deficits and heart failure. A phosphopeptide-based proteomic screen identified ROCK (Rho-associated kinase) as a putative substrate for SNRK, and mass spec-based fragment analysis confirmed key amino acid residues on ROCK that are phosphorylated by SNRK. Western blot analysis on heart lysates from Snrk cmcKO adult mice and SNRK knockdown cardiomyocytes showed increased ROCK activity. In addition, in vivo inhibition of ROCK partially rescued the in vivo Snrk cmcKO cardiac function deficits.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our data suggest that SNRK in cardiomyocytes is responsible for maintaining cardiac metabolic homeostasis, which is mediated in part by ROCK, and alteration of this homeostasis influences cardiac function in the adult heart.

EGFR Signaling Regulates Maspin/SerpinB5 Phosphorylation and Nuclear Localization in Mammary Epithelial Cells

Maspin (SerpinB5) is a non-inhibitory serpin (serine protease inhibitor) with very diverse biological activities including regulation of cell adhesion, migration, death, control of gene expression and oxidative stress response. Initially described as a tumor and metastasis suppressor, clinical data brought controversies to the field, as some studies reported no correlation between SerpinB5 expression and prognosis value. These data underscore the importance of understanding SerpinB5 function in a normal physiological context and the molecular mechanism involved. Several SerpinB5 phosphoforms have been detected in different cell lines, but the signaling pathways involved and the biological significance of this post-translational modification in vivo remains to be explored. In this study we investigated SerpinB5 expression, subcellular localization and phosphorylation in different stages of the mouse mammary gland development and the signaling pathway involved. Here we show that SerpinB5 is first detected in late pregnancy, reaches its highest levels in lactation and remains at constant levels during post-lactational regression (involution). Using high resolution isoelectric focusing followed but immunoblot, we found at least 8 different phosphoforms of SerpinB5 during lactation, which decreases steadily at the onset of involution. In order to investigate the signaling pathway involved in SerpinB5 phosphorylation, we took advantage of the non-transformed MCF-10A model system, as we have previously observed SerpinB5 phosphorylation in these cells. We detected basal levels of SerpinB5 phosphorylation in serum- and growth factor-starved cells, which is due to amphiregulin autocrine activity on MCF-10A cells. EGF and TGF alpha, two other EGFR ligands, promote important SerpinB5 phosphorylation. Interestingly, EGF treatment is followed by SerpinB5 nuclear accumulation. Altogether, these data indicate that SerpinB5 expression and phosphorylation are developmentally regulated. In vitro analyses indicate that SerpinB5 phosphorylation is regulated by EGFR ligands, but EGF appears to be the only able to induce SerpinB5 nuclear localization.

Role of Protease-Inhibitors in Ocular Diseases

It has been demonstrated that the balance between proteases and protease-inhibitors system plays a key role in maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis. Indeed, its alteration has been involved in many ocular and systemic diseases. In particular, research has focused on keratoconus, corneal wounds and ulcers, keratitis, endophthalmitis, age-related macular degeneration, Sorsby fundus dystrophy, loss of nerve cells and photoreceptors during optic neuritis both in vivo and in vitro models. Protease-inhibitors have been extensively studied, rather than proteases, because they may represent a therapeutic approach for some ocular diseases. The protease-inhibitors mainly involved in the onset of the above-mentioned ocular pathologies are: α2-macroglobulin, α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI), metalloproteinase inhibitor (TIMP), maspin, SERPINA3K, SERPINB13, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), and calpeptin. This review is focused on the several characteristics of dysregulation of this system and, particularly, on a possible role of proteases and protease-inhibitors in molecular remodeling that may lead to some ocular diseases. Recently, researchers have even hypothesized a possible therapeutic effect of the protease-inhibitors in the treatment of injured eye in animal models.

Maspin: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Maspin, a non-inhibitory member of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily, has been characterized as a tumor suppressor gene in multiple cancer types. Among the established anti-tumor effects of Maspin are the inhibition of cancer cell invasion, attachment to extracellular matrices, increased sensitivity to apoptosis, and inhibition of angiogenesis. However, while significant experimental data support the role of Maspin as a tumor suppressor, clinical data regarding the prognostic implications of Maspin expression have led to conflicting results. This highlights the need for a better understanding of the context dependencies of Maspin in normal biology and how these are perturbed in the context of cancer. In this review, we outline the regulation and roles of Maspin in normal and developmental biology while discussing novel evidence and emerging theories related to its functions in cancer. We provide insight into the immense therapeutic potential of Maspin and the challenges related to its successful clinical translation.

Tyrosine phosphorylation plays a role in increasing maspin protein levels and its cytoplasmic accumulation

Maspin is a tumor suppressor with many biological activities, multiple ligands and different subcellular localizations. Its underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. We hypothesized that phosphorylation might regulate maspin localization and function. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with different focusing power followed by Western blot we identified four different maspin forms with the same molecular weight (42 kDa), but different isoelectric points. Three of these forms were sensitive to acidic phosphatase treatment, suggesting that they are phosphorylated. Sodium peroxidovanadate treatment, a protein-tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, resulted in a rapid increase in maspin protein levels and cytoplasmic accumulation. These data show that there are three different maspin tyrosine phosphoforms. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphatases increased maspin protein levels and leads to its cytoplasmic accumulation.