Phosphorylation of SV40 large T antigen at threonine residues results in conversion to a lower apparent molecular weight form

Controlled nuclear import of the transcription factor NTL6 reveals a cytoplasmic role of SnRK2.8 in the drought-stress response

Controlled proteolytic activation of membrane-anchored transcription factors provides an adaptation strategy that guarantees rapid transcriptional responses to abrupt environmental stresses in both animals and plants. NTL6 is a plant-specific NAC [NAM/ATAF1/2/CUC2] transcription factor that is expressed as a dormant plasma membrane-associated form in Arabidopsis. Proteolytic processing of NTL6 is triggered by abiotic stresses and ABA (abscisic acid). In the present study, we show that NTL6 is linked directly with SnRK (Snf1-related protein kinase) 2.8-mediated signalling in inducing a drought-resistance response. SnRK2.8 phosphorylates NTL6 primarily at Thr142. NTL6 phosphorylation by SnRK2.8 is required for its nuclear import. Accordingly, a mutant NTL6 protein, in which Thr142 was mutated to an alanine, was poorly phosphorylated and failed to enter the nucleus. In accordance with the role of SnRK2.8 in drought-stress signalling, transgenic plants overproducing either NTL6 or its active form 6ΔC (35S:NTL6 and 35S:6ΔC) exhibited enhanced resistance to water-deficit conditions such as those overproducing SnRK2.8 (35S:SnRK2.8). In contrast, NTL6 RNAi (RNA interference) plants were susceptible to dehydration as observed in the SnRK2.8-deficient snrk2.8-1 mutant. Furthermore, the dehydration-resistant phenotype of 35S:NTL6 transgenic plants was compromised in 35S:NTL6 X snrk2.8-1 plants. These observations indicate that SnRK2.8-mediated protein phosphorylation, in addition to a proteolytic processing event, is important for NTL6 function in inducing a drought-resistance response.

Post-translational regulation of the Drosophila circadian clock requires protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)

Phosphorylation is an important timekeeping mechanism in the circadian clock that has been closely studied at the level of the kinases involved but may also be tightly controlled by phosphatase action. Here we demonstrate a role for protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) in the regulation of the major timekeeping molecules in the Drosophila clock, TIMELESS (TIM) and PERIOD (PER). Flies with reduced PP1 activity exhibit a lengthened circadian period, reduced amplitude of behavioral rhythms, and an altered response to light that suggests a defect in the rising phase of clock protein expression. On a molecular level, PP1 directly dephosphorylates TIM and stabilizes it in both S2R(+) cells and clock neurons. However, PP1 does not act in a simple antagonistic manner to SHAGGY (SGG), the kinase that phosphorylates TIM, because the behavioral phenotypes produced by inhibiting PP1 in flies are different from those achieved by overexpressing SGG. PP1 also acts on PER, and TIM regulates the control of PER by PP1, although it does not affect PP2A action on PER. We propose a modified model for post-translational regulation of the Drosophila clock, in which PP1 is critical for the rhythmic abundance of TIM/PER while PP2A also regulates the nuclear translocation of TIM/PER.

POLO kinase regulates the Drosophila centromere cohesion protein MEI-S332

Accurate segregation of chromosomes is critical to ensure that each daughter cell receives the full genetic complement. Maintenance of cohesion between sister chromatids, especially at centromeres, is required to segregate chromosomes precisely during mitosis and meiosis. The Drosophila protein MEI-S332, the founding member of a conserved protein family, is essential in meiosis for maintaining cohesion at centromeres until sister chromatids separate at the metaphase II/anaphase II transition. MEI-S332 localizes onto centromeres in prometaphase of mitosis or meiosis I, remaining until sister chromatids segregate. We elucidated a mechanism for controlling release of MEI-S332 from centromeres via phosphorylation by POLO kinase. We demonstrate that POLO antagonizes MEI-S332 cohesive function and that full POLO activity is needed to remove MEI-S332 from centromeres, yet this delocalization is not required for sister chromatid separation. POLO phosphorylates MEI-S332 in vitro, POLO and MEI-S332 bind each other, and mutation of POLO binding sites prevents MEI-S332 dissociation from centromeres.

The U69 gene of human herpesvirus 6 encodes a protein kinase which can confer ganciclovir sensitivity to baculoviruses

The protein encoded by the U69 open reading frame (ORF) of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been predicted to be a protein kinase. To investigate its functional properties, we have expressed the U69 ORFs from both HHV-6 variants, A and B, by using recombinant baculoviruses (BV6AU69 and BV6BU69). Nickel agarose and antibody affinity chromatography was used to purify the proteins to homogeneity and when incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP, both U69 proteins became phosphorylated on predominantly serine residues. These data strongly suggest that U69 is a protein kinase which autophosphorylates. The phosphorylation reaction was optimal at physiological pH and low NaCl concentrations. It required the presence of Mg2+ or Mn2+, and Mg2+ was able to support phosphorylation over a wider range of concentrations than Mn2+. Both ATP and GTP could donate phosphate in the protein kinase assay and the former was more efficient. U69 was capable of phosphorylating histone and casein (serine/threonine kinase substrates) but not enolase (a tyrosine kinase substrate). For the autophosphorylation reaction, the Michaelis constants for ATP of baculovirus-expressed HHV-6A and HHV-6B U69 were calculated to be 44 and 11 microM, respectively. U69 is a homologue of the UL97 gene encoded by human cytomegalovirus which has been shown to phosphorylate the antiviral drug ganciclovir (GCV). We analyzed whether the U69 ORF alone was capable of conferring GCV sensitivity on baculoviruses BV6AU69 and BV6BU69. In plaque reduction experiments, these baculoviruses displayed a GCV-sensitive phenotype compared to a control baculovirus (BVLacZ). The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of BV6AU69 and BV6BU69 were calculated to be 0.35 and 0.26 mM, respectively, whereas the control baculovirus had an IC50 of >1.4 mM. This shows that the U69 gene product is the only one required to confer GCV sensitivity on baculovirus.

The human cytomegalovirus UL97 protein is phosphorylated and a component of virions

The expression of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL97 open reading frame in infected or transfected cells in the presence of the antiherpes compound ganciclovir (GCV) results in the intracellular phosphorylation of GCV. There are conventional kinase domains within the UL97-encoded protein (pUL97). However, the role of pUL97 in the HCMV replication cycle, and the mechanism by which it causes phosphorylation of GCV, are currently unknown. Herein, the biosynthesis and biogenesis of pUL97 was studied in HCMV-infected cells. pUL97 is expressed with early-late kinetics and is posttranslationally modified by phosphorylation. This phosphorylation occurs within 1 hr after synthesis, affects the electrophoretic mobility of pUL97, and is independent of the presence of other HCMV proteins. pUL97 was localized to the nucleus of infected cells and found in the HCMV virions. Thus, pUL97 is a virion phosphoprotein, and a likely tegument component.