Fertilization of sea urchin eggs is accompanied by 40 S ribosomal subunit phosphorylation

Coordinate regulation of ribosome biogenesis and function by the ribosomal protein S6 kinase, a key mediator of mTOR function

Current understanding of the mechanisms by which cell growth is regulated lags significantly behind our knowledge of the complex processes controlling cell cycle progression. Recent studies suggest that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a key regulator of cell growth via the regulation of protein synthesis. The key mTOR effectors of cell growth are eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP-1) and the ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K). Here we will review the current models for mTOR dependent regulation of ribosome function and biogenesis as well as its role in coordinating growth factor and nutrient signaling to facilitate homeostasis of cell growth and proliferation. We will place particular emphasis on the role of S6K1 signaling and will highlight the points of cross talk with other key growth control pathways. Finally, we will discuss the impact of S6K signaling and the consequent feedback regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway on disease processes including cancer.

Cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of the 77 kDa echinoderm microtubule-associated protein (EMAP) in vivo and association with the p34cdc2 kinase

The most abundant microtubule-associated protein in sea urchin eggs and embryos is the 77 kDa echinoderm microtubule-associated protein (EMAP). EMAP localizes to the mitotic spindle as well as the interphase microtubule array and is a likely target for a cell cycle-activated kinase. To determine if EMAP is phosphorylated in vivo, sea urchin eggs and embryos were metabolically labeled with 32PO4 and a monospecific antiserum was used to immunoprecipitate EMAP from 32P-labeled eggs and embryos. In this study, we demonstrate that the 77 kDa EMAP is phosphorylated in vivo by two distinct mechanisms. In the unfertilized egg, EMAP is constitutively phosphorylated on at least five serine residues. During the first cleavage division following fertilization, EMAP is phosphorylated with a cell cycle-dependent time course. As the embryo enters mitosis, EMAP phosphorylation increases, and as the embryo exits mitosis, phosphorylation decreases. During mitosis, EMAP is phosphorylated on 10 serine residues and two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping reveals a mitosis-specific site of phosphorylation. At all stages of the cell cycle, a 33 kDa polypeptide copurifies with the 77 kDa EMAP, regardless of phosphorylation state. Antibodies against the cdc2 kinase were used to demonstrate that the 33 kDa polypeptide is the p34cdc2 kinase. The p34cdc2 kinase copurifies with the mitotic apparatus and immunostaining indicates that the p34cdc2 kinase is concentrated at the spindle poles. Models for the interaction of the p34cdc2 kinase and the 77 kDa EMAP are presented.

S6 phosphorylation and the p70s6k/p85s6k

Activation of cell growth leads to the multiple phosphorylation of 40S ribosomal protein S6. The kinase responsible for controling this event is termed p70s6k/p85s6k. Both isoforms of the kinase are derived from a common gene activated by a complex set of phosphorylation events; each resides in a unique cellular compartment: the p70s6k in the cytoplasm and the p85s6k in the nucleus. Although p70s6k/p85s6k represent the first mitogen-activated serine/threonine kinase described, the signaling pathway leading to activation of both isoforms remains obscure. Recent studies have shown that this pathway is distinct from that of p21ras and the p42mapk/p44mapk, and that bifurcation of these pathways takes place at the level of the receptor. Experiments with point mutants of the PDGF receptor and inhibitors of phosphatidyl-inositol-3-OH kinase have implicated the latter molecule in this signaling event, but more recent findings suggest an alternative route may be employed. The p70s6k signaling pathway can also be ablated by the immunosuppressant rapamycin, which blocks p70s6k activation and S6 phosphorylation without affecting the other kinases whose activation is triggered by mitogen treatment. In parallel, rapamycin suppresses the translation of a family of mRNAs that contain a polypyrimidine tract at their 5' transcriptional start site. The implication is that this event is mediated by the phosphorylated form of S6 that may either (1) directly interact with the polypyrimidine tract or (2) alter the affinity of the 40S ribosome mRNA binding site for polypyrimidine tract mRNAs, or (3) recognize proteins that directly bind to the polypyrimidine tract.

In vivo protein phosphorylation and labeling of ATP in sea urchin eggs loaded with 32PO4 via electroporation

Protein phosphorylation was examined in sea urchin eggs in which the ATP was labeled with 32P over a brief period of time using reversible electrical poration to gain access to the cytoplasm. Unfertilized eggs from two species, Lytechinus pictus and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, were electrically permeabilized and incubated in the presence of [32P]H3PO4, under conditions allowing label uptake. After a 5-min loading period the eggs were resealed and the fate of the label was monitored. The label had equilibrated with the cellular ATP pool within the 13-min period required for loading and resealing the eggs. Furthermore, this equilibrium was maintained for at least 2 hr beyond the loading period in either unfertilized or fertilized eggs (i.e., the specific activity of ATP was the same for fertilized and unfertilized eggs). We also examined the position of the label within the ATP and found that 40-45% of the label isolated with the ATP was in the gamma phosphate of ATP and hence was immediately available for protein phosphorylation. The label was maintained in this position in the ATP for at least 2 hr following the loading period and was not affected by fertilization (determined for L. pictus only). The phosphoprotein banding pattern was determined by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography at various time points following the loading period. There was a continuous increase of label incorporated into protein over time; however, the banding pattern did not change. This pattern was not affected by fertilization. Furthermore, inhibition of protein synthesis (with emetine) had no effect on this phosphoprotein banding pattern. Although the loading period was brief there was sufficient incorporation of label into protein during this time to obscure potential regulatory phosphorylation events.

TPA stimulates S6 phosphorylation but not protein synthesis in Ehrlich cells

Increased phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 has been extensively correlated with an increased rate of protein synthesis. We report here that under two separate conditions in Ehrlich cells an increase in the level of S6 phosphorylation does not result in any increase in the rate of protein synthesis. 1) In glutamine-deprived cells TPA stimulates S6 phosphorylation but has no effect on the rate of protein synthesis, 2) In cells deprived of serum growth factors, addition of serum stimulates both S6 phosphorylation and protein synthesis while TPA stimulates only S6 phosphorylation. These results show that increased phosphorylation of S6 is not sufficient to cause increased rates of protein synthesis, and suggest that additional factors may play a more direct role.

Mitogen-responsive S6 kinase

Many cell lines respond to mitogenic stimuli (serum, growth factors) with rapid phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6 at several serine sites. We have tried to identify the protein kinase(s) mediating this effect of growth stimuli. Examining post-DEAE chromatography fractions of S49 kin- cell extracts, we could detect a highly active effector-independent S6 kinase with specificity for serine residues. The study was extended to the presumably homologous human enzyme, using HeLa S3 cells as model system. Activity yields increased up to sevenfold when exhausted HeLa cells were supplied with fresh medium plus serum. The enzyme uses ATP, not GTP, as cosubstrate, 40-S or 80-S (reassociated from subunits) ribosomal particles being substrate. The optimal K+ concentration, measured at 3 mM Mg2+, is 35 mM. Under optimized assay conditions S6 phosphorylation proceeded faster in vitro than it appeared to do in vivo. The apparent Mr of the enzyme, as estimated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, is 56,000 (determination in the presence of 200 mM KCl in 25 mM phosphate buffer). Tighter binding to DEAE-Sephacel and higher specificity for S6 distinguishes this enzyme from the following S6-phosphorylating protein kinases: protein kinase C, protease-activated kinase II, histone-4 phosphotransferase and an enzyme with the properties of casein kinase I. In published summaries of observations shown here and in a follow-up study with chick embryo fibroblasts, the enzyme(s) has been referred to as mitogen-responsive S6 kinase(s) [Martini, O. H. W. and Lawen, A. (1985) in Hormones and cell regulation (Dumont, J. E., Hamprecht, B. and Nunez, J., eds) vol. 9, pp. 411-412, Elsevier Company, North-Holland, Amsterdam; Lawen, A. and Martini, O. H. W. (1985) FEBS Lett. 185, 272-276].

Egg jelly induces the phosphorylation of histone H3 in spermatozoa of the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata

When spermatozoa of Arbacia punctulata are labeled with 32P and treated with soluble egg jelly, radiolabel is incorporated into histone H3. The time course of labeling correlates with the period of chromatin decondensation of sperm pronuclei in eggs. Phosphorylation is on serine and may result from increased turnover of phosphate on H3. The macromolecular fraction of egg jelly (and not the peptide fraction) is the inducer of H3 phosphorylation. The reaction is dependent on external Ca2+ and is induced by monensin and A23187. H3 phosphorylation is not induced by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX and relatively high (250 microM) concentrations of the protein kinase inhibitor H8 are needed to block the reaction, suggesting that it is cAMP independent. A surprising finding is that merely diluting the cells into Na+ free media is the most effective method to induce the radiolabeling of H3. These results are in contrast to findings on the egg jelly induced phosphorylation of histone H1 in S. purpuratus spermatozoa. These species differences must reflect the great evolutionary divergence between these two sea urchin species in the mechanism of regulation of the phosphorylation of nuclear proteins during fertilization.

225-Kilodalton phosphoprotein associated with mitotic centrosomes in sea urchin eggs

Protein phosphorylation during development of sea urchin eggs from fertilization to first cleavage was examined by labeling cells with specific antiphosphoprotein antibodies. Indirect immunofluorescence staining with monoclonal antithiophosphoprotein antibody (Gerhart et al.: Cytobios 43:335-347, 1985) has revealed that nuclei as well as centrosomes, kinetochores, and midbodies were specifically thiophosphorylated in developing eggs incubated with adenosine 5'-O (3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP-gamma-S). The phosphorylation reaction required Mg2+ but was not dependent on cAMP or calmodulin in detergent-extracted models. Centrosomes were purified by fractionation of isolated mitotic spindles with 0.5 M KCl extraction. The thiophosphoproteins were retained in the purified centrosomes and the antibody recognized a major 225-Kd polypeptide on immunoblots. In an independent preparation, a monoclonal antiphosphoprotein antibody (CHO3) was found also to react with mitotic poles and stained a 225-Kd polypeptide, confirming the centrosome specificity of this protein. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the 225-Kd thiophosphoprotein was found at mitotic poles associated with granules to which mitotic microtubules were directly attached. Unlike centrosomes in permeabilized eggs, those in isolated spindles could not be thiophosphorylated, possibly due to inactivation or loss of either phosphorylation enzymes or cofactors, or both, during isolation. The immunofluorescence labeling of thiophosphate could be inhibited by ATP and AMP.PNP in a concentration-dependent manner. Exogenous ATP could abolish thiophosphate-staining more effectively when added with phosphatase inhibitors, suggesting a dynamic state in which centrosomal proteins are being phosphorylated and dephosphorylated in rapid succession by the action of protein kinase(s) and phosphatase(s).

Activation of myelin basic protein kinases during echinoderm oocyte maturation and egg fertilization

At least five activated protein kinases were detectable in soluble extracts from maturing as compared to immature sea star oocytes. These kinases could be distinguished on the basis of the time courses of their activation following exposure of the oocytes to 1-methyladenine, their substrate specificities, and their chromatographic properties on DEAE-Sephacel and Sephacryl S-200. A histone H1 kinase (HH1K) (Mr 110,000) underwent maximal activation near the time of 1-methyladenine-induced germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). When myelin basic protein (MBP) was used as a substrate, HH1K and two additional kinases (MBPK-I and MBPK-II) were detectable. MBPK-II (Mr 110,000) was fully activated at the time of GVBD, whereas peak activation of MBPK-I (Mr 45,000) occurred after this event. Two "ribosomal protein S6 kinases" (S6K-I and S6K-II) could be detected with a synthetic peptide (RRLSSLRA), which was patterned after a major phosphorylation site in S6. The two S6 kinases (Mr 110,000 for both) underwent activation post-GVBD. HH1K and S6K-I coeluted from DEAE-Sephacel at a conductivity of 5.5-6.0 mmho, whereas MBPK-I, MBPK-II, and S6K-II coeluted from this resin in a second peak at a conductivity = 10-11 mmho. The HH1K and MBPK-II activities both declined prior to the emission of the first polar body (i.e., meiotic cell division), but the MBPK-I, S6K-I, and S6K-II activities remained elevated during this time. The activities of these kinases were also examined during the early cell divisions in sea urchin embryos. Within 5 min after fertilization, the high level of MBPK-I activity in sea urchin eggs rapidly declined. However, along with the HH1K and MBPK-II activities, the MBPK-I activity was transiently increased prior to each cell division. No appreciable postfertilization changes in the S6K-I and S6K-II activities were apparent during the first three cycles of cell division.

S6 phosphorylation is regulated at multiple levels in Xenopus laevis oocytes

It is known that the 40s ribosomal protein S6 undergoes a dramatic increase in its level of phosphorylation during Xenopus oocyte meiotic maturation in response to progesterone stimulation. During prophase arrest, the majority of S6 has 0 moles phosphate per mole protein; this increases to 4-5 moles phosphate per mole protein by the time of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Our in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the accumulation of phosphate on S6 is the net result of a 4-5-fold increase in S6 kinase activity and a 30-50% decrease in the rate of dephosphorylation and/or turnover of phosphate groups on S6 in maturing oocytes. In addition, the level of phosphorylation of S6 on 80s monosomes injected into non-hormone-stimulated oocytes was unexpectedly high. This indicates that the S6 kinase/phosphatase ratio in prophase arrested oocytes is higher than anticipated from previous studies. This observation implies that the majority of the oocyte ribosomes may be sequestered from any S6 kinase during meiotic prophase. Furthermore, these observations suggest that a portion of the increased accumulation of phosphate on S6 may be the result of increased accessibility of the ribosomes to S6 kinase during oocyte meiotic maturation.

Differential regulation of S6 phosphorylation by insulin and epidermal growth factor in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells: insulin activation of type 1 phosphatase

Insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) induce distinct kinetics of S6 kinase activation and S6 phosphorylation in Swiss 3T3 cells. Both events are differentially regulated by specific phosphatases. The major S6 phosphatase in cell extracts was identified as a type 1 enzyme by its chromatographic properties, its sensitivity to inhibitor 2, and its substrate specificity. This enzyme is different from the major S6 kinase phosphatase, which is a type 2A enzyme. Insulin at physiological concentrations causes up to a 2-fold activation of a type 1 S6 phosphatase, whereas at higher concentrations this effect is significantly diminished. EGF alone has little effect on this enzyme, and with both agents together the total phosphatase activity remains basal. The results are consistent with the phosphorylation state of S6 observed in vivo and suggest a role of phosphatase type 1 in the regulation of protein synthesis.

Phosphorylation of ribosomal proteins during meiotic maturation and following activation in starfish oocytes: its relationship with changes of intracellular pH

An increased phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 has been shown to be correlated with an increase of intracellular pH (pHi) and with stimulation of protein synthesis in many systems. In this research changes in ribosome phosphorylation following hormone-induced meiotic maturation and fertilization or activation by ionophore A23187 were investigated in starfish oocytes. The hormone was found to stimulate, even in the absence of external Na+, the phosphorylation on serine residues of an Mr 31,000 protein identified as S6, as well as that of an acidic Mr 47,000 protein, presumably S1, on threonine residues. Phosphorylation of ribosomes was an early consequence of hormonal stimulation and did not decrease after completion of meiotic maturation. Fertilization or activation by ionophore of prophase-arrested oocytes also stimulated ribosome phosphorylation. Only S6 was labeled in this case, but to a lesser extent than upon hormone-induced meiotic maturation. Changes in pHi were monitored with ion-specific microelectrodes throughout meiotic maturation and following either fertilization or activation. The pHi did not change before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) following hormone addition, but it increased before first polar body emission. It also increased following fertilization or activation by ionophore or the microinjection of Ca-EGTA. In all cases, alkalinization did not depend on activation of an amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger. Microinjection of an alkaline Hepes buffer or external application of ammonia, both of which increased pHi, prevented unfertilized oocytes from arresting after formation of the female pronucleus and induced chromosome cycling. Phosphorylation of S6 was still observed following fertilization or induction of maturation when pHi was decreased by external application of acetate, a treatment which suppressed the emission of polar bodies. Protein synthesis increased in prophase-arrested oocytes after fertilization or activation. It also increased after ammonia addition, although this treatment did not stimulate S6 phosphorylation.

Identification and characterization of a mitogen-activated S6 kinase

Treatment of Swiss mouse 3T3 cells with epidermal growth factor, orthovanadate, or serum results in the activation of a kinase that phosphorylates protein S6 of the 40S ribosomal subunit in vitro. This kinase is eluted as a single peak of activity from either a Mono Q anion-exchange column at 0.34 M NaCl or a Mono S cation-exchange column at 0.20 M NaCl. Treatment of the peak fraction from the Mono S column with phosphatase 2A completely abolishes the activity of the enzyme. The kinase appears to be distinct from protein kinase C, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and two protease-activated kinases, PAK II and H4P. The kinase has been purified to apparent homogeneity and migrates as a single band at Mr 70,000 in NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels. The kinase exhibits the ability to autophosphorylate, and this activity directly parallels S6 phosphorylation activity on the final step of purification. In vitro, the kinase incorporates up to 5 mol of phosphate into S6, and the tryptic phosphopeptide maps obtained are equivalent to those from S6 phosphorylated in vivo. Most important, treatment of the purified kinase with phosphatase 2A results in complete inactivation of the enzyme, arguing that the activity of the kinase is directly controlled by phosphorylation.

Effect of heat shock on S6 phosphorylation during the development of Blastocladiella emersonii

Changes in phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 during heat shock, induction of thermotolerance and recovery from heat shock at different stages of Blastocladiella emersonii development were investigated. Independently of the initial state of S6 phosphorylation (maximal or intermediate), a rapid and complete dephosphorylation of S6 is induced by heat shock and S6 remains unphosphorylated during the acquired thermotolerance. During recovery from heat shock rephosphorylation of S6 occurs always to the levels characteristic of that particular stage, coincidently with the turn off of heat shock protein synthesis.

Phosphorylation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae equivalent of ribosomal protein S6 has no detectable effect on growth

The phosphorylation of mammalian ribosomal protein S6 is affected by a variety of agents, including growth factors and tumor promoters, as well as by expressed oncogenes. Its potential role in the regulation of protein synthesis has been the object of much study. We have developed strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which the phosphorylatable serines of the equivalent ribosomal protein (S10) were converted to alanines by site-directed mutagenesis. The S10 of such cells is not phosphorylated. Comparison of these cells with the parental cells, whose genomes differ by only six nucleotides, revealed no differences in the lag phase or logarithmic phase of a growth cycle, in growth on different carbon sources, in sporulation, or in sensitivity to heat shock. We conclude that in S. cerevisiae the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S10 may play no role in regulating the synthesis of proteins. This conclusion leads one to ask whether certain protein phosphorylations are simply the adventitious, if easily observable, result of the imperfect specificity of one or another protein kinase.

Estrogen stimulates growth of mammary tumor cells ZR-75 without activation of S6 kinase and S6 phosphorylation. Difference from epidermal growth factor and alpha-transforming growth-factor-induced proliferation

Growth of the human mammary tumor cell line ZR-75-1 is stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and alpha-type transforming growth factor (alpha TGF), as well as by estradiol (E2). The role of activation of S6 kinase and S6 phosphorylation in the EGF(alpha TGF)-induced and E2-induced growth was investigated. Maximal effects on growth are observed at 10 nM EGF or alpha TGF. EGF as well as alpha TGF treatment of serum-starved cells leads to rapid activation of S6 kinase; the activity is increased about tenfold after 30 min of EGF treatment and declines with the time reaching about 25% of the maximal activity after 2 h of EGF treatment. Similar to the growth response, S6 kinase is activated at lower doses of EGF than alpha TGF and shows a maximal response at 10 nM for both growth factors. In contrast to this finding the incubation of serum-starved cells with E2 over a concentration range between 1 pM and 10 nM and times from 30 min to 4 h does not lead to increased S6 kinase activity. On investigating whether this lack of response to E2 is due to desensitization of the system by induction of alpha TGF it was found that preincubation of cells with alpha TGF for 2-6 h desensitizes them to reactivation of S6 kinase by alpha TGF, whereas preincubation with E2 does not. When S6 phosphorylation is monitored over times from 1 h to 6 h, it is observed that EGF leads to increased S6 phosphorylation, whereas E2 does not. The rate of onset of protein synthesis in the first 2 h of stimulation, when EGF-induced S6 phosphorylation is maximal, is more rapid with EGF than with E2. The results suggest that different pathway are involved in E2-induced and EGF(alpha TGF)-induced proliferation.

Phosphorylation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae equivalent of ribosomal protein S6 has no detectable effect on growth

The phosphorylation of mammalian ribosomal protein S6 is affected by a variety of agents, including growth factors and tumor promoters, as well as by expressed oncogenes. Its potential role in the regulation of protein synthesis has been the object of much study. We have developed strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which the phosphorylatable serines of the equivalent ribosomal protein (S10) were converted to alanines by site-directed mutagenesis. The S10 of such cells is not phosphorylated. Comparison of these cells with the parental cells, whose genomes differ by only six nucleotides, revealed no differences in the lag phase or logarithmic phase of a growth cycle, in growth on different carbon sources, in sporulation, or in sensitivity to heat shock. We conclude that in S. cerevisiae the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S10 may play no role in regulating the synthesis of proteins. This conclusion leads one to ask whether certain protein phosphorylations are simply the adventitious, if easily observable, result of the imperfect specificity of one or another protein kinase.

Are highly phosphorylated 40-S subunits preferentially utilized during protein synthesis in a cell-free system from HeLa cells?

It has been concluded from circumstantial evidence obtained with HeLa cells in vivo that the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 increases the affinity of 40S particles for mRNP [Duncan, R. and McConkey, E. H. (1982) Eur. J. Biochem. 123, 535-538; Thomas, G., Martin-Pérez, J., Siegmann, M. and Otto, A.M. (1982) Cell 30, 235-242]. This conclusion needs to be tested in vitro in a reinitiating cell-free translation system from growth-competent cells. We have prepared such a system from HeLa cells and have compared the capacity of homologous 40S subunits of various degrees of phosphorylation to enter the existing polysome pool. The 40S subunits' degree of phosphorylation was manipulated by exposing aliquots of growth-stimulated HeLa cells to hyperthermia (see accompanying paper). 40S subunits from heat-shocked and control cells, despite differences in S6 phosphorylation level as verified by two-dimensional electrophoresis, did not differ with respect to their recruitment into the existing polysome fraction. Owing to the reinitiation activity of the translation system, assay times could be kept sufficiently short, to avoid any serious interference by the S6 phosphatase activities of the system. Our results suggest that increased S6 phosphorylation by itself is not sufficient to accelerate the participation of 40S subunits in protein synthesis.

Regulation of ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation in heat-shocked HeLa cells

Decreases in energy charge, ribosomal protein phosphorylation and rate of protein synthesis are well-documented facets of the cellular response to hyperthermia in non-vertebrates. We have tried to reproduce this response pattern in 32P-labelled HeLa cells in order to investigate the hypothetical causal relationship between these effects. In HeLa cells shifted from 36 degrees C to 42 degrees C, dephosphorylation of S6 and inhibition of protein synthesis, owing to a decreased initiation rate, were observed, but could not have been mediated by changes in the cells' general energy charge since the ATP and GTP levels were not reduced. In addition, we found that the hyperthermic translation block developed faster than the overall dephosphorylation of S6, showing that S6 dephosphorylation cannot be responsible for the translation block unless site-specific effects play a critical role.

Cyclic nucleotide content and protein phosphorylation during maturation of Spisula oocytes

Cyclic nucleotide levels in the oocytes of the surf clam Spisula solidissima were measured during germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) induced by fertilization. The level of cAMP and cGMP in untreated oocytes was 8.23 +/- 0.95 and 4.89 +/- 0.39 pmol/10(6) oocytes. The ratio of cAMP to cGMP ranged from 1.5 to 2.0. The cAMP level in Spisula oocytes fluctuated after fertilization and before GVBD. The cGMP level showed minimal fluctuation, with a tendency to decrease initially followed by a subsequent rise to the basal level in a nonsynchronous manner. These changes were not statistically significant. There was a general increase in protein phosphorylation during the period after fertilization and before GVBD. The greatest increase occurred with proteins of estimated molecular weights of 52, 18, and 12 kD, analyzed by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography.

Intracellular pH controls growth factor-induced ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation and protein synthesis in the G0----G1 transition of fibroblasts

Mitogen-induced intracellular alkalinization mediated by activation of a Na+/H+ antiporter is a common feature of eukaryotic cells stimulated to divide. A Chinese hamster fibroblast mutant (PS120) lacking Na+/H+ antiport activity (Pouysségur et al., Proc natl acad sci US 81 (1984) 4833) [42] possesses an intracellular pH (pHi) 0.2-0.3 units lower than the wild type (CCL39) and requires a more alkaline pHout (pHo) for growth. Here, we show that serum-stimulated ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation, protein synthesis activation and DNA synthesis re-initiation are pH-regulated events that display a similar threshold pHo value (6.60) in CCL39 cells. pH-Dependencies for initiation of all three events are shifted toward higher pHo values in the mutant PS120, indicating that growth factor-induced alkalinization has a permissive effect on the pleiotypic response. However, cytoplasmic alkalinization per se is insufficient to trigger S6 phosphorylation, polysome formation, and subsequent DNA synthesis. Transient exposure to a non-permissive pHo (6.5) inhibits both the rate of leucine incorporation into proteins and the progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. In contrast, cells committed to DNA synthesis are unaltered by the acidic pHo. These observations suggest that pHi by controlling the rate of protein synthesis play a determinant role in the control of cell division.

Protein tyrosine kinase activity of eggs of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus: the regulation of its increase after fertilization

Protein tyrosine kinase activity in eggs of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, increased two- to fourfold as early as several min after fertilization at 8-10 degrees C. Artificial activation of eggs with the divalent cation ionophore, A23187, or with butyric acid induced the increase in enzyme activity. The transfer of eggs to seawater containing either no Na+ or 50 mM Na+ and 10(-4) M amiloride immediately after fertilization did not block the increases in enzyme activity. When eggs were activated with seawater containing NH4OH, enzyme activity did not increase at 1 hr after activation, although the increased activity was detected at 3 hr after activation. Increased enzyme activity also was observed in enucleated egg fragments activated with butyric acid. Puromycin and emetine, inhibitors of protein synthesis, also did not inhibit the initial increases of enzyme activity after fertilization. These results demonstrated that the increased protein tyrosine kinase activity observed after fertilization of S. purpuratus eggs can be initiated independent of various other known events such as fusion with sperm cells and protein and DNA synthesis.

The specific phosphorylation of a 40S ribosomal protein in growth-arrested tetrahymena is induced by sodium

In the past few years, in vivo phosphorylation of ribosomal proteins has been the subject of extensive studies and the results have shown that reversible phosphorylation of small subunit ribosomal protein S6, ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells, is apparently related to regulation of protein synthesis initiation. Thus the level of protein synthesis under various conditions is correlated with the level of S6 phosphorylation. In exponentially growing Tetrahymena, however, such phosphorylation does not occur, but when these cells are transferred to starvation buffers, the rate of protein synthesis is drastically reduced and a 40S ribosomal protein analogous to S6 of higher eukaryotic cells is fully and rapidly phosphorylated in all the ribosomes. We have studied the conditions which lead to this phosphorylation in growth-arrested Tetrahymena, in order to understand the physiological significance of this process. Our results show that there is no obvious correlation between this phosphorylation and starvation. Moreover, it is not a developmentally regulated process related to the conjugation cycle, but a modification induced by the presence of sodium ions or high concentration of Tris in the starvation buffer. The physiological significance of this process is discussed in terms of accumulation of negative charge density probably required for initiation of protein synthesis in the growth-arrested cells starving in Na+-containing buffers.

Regulation of amphibian oocyte maturation

Xenopus oocyte maturation is a model system for studying the control of cell proliferation and the regulation of the cell cycle. Addition of progesterone or insulin to oocytes releases a G2 block and stimulates progression through meiosis to an unfertilized egg. The release of the G2 block is a consequence of a decrease in cAMP mediated entirely or in part by an inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The mechanism of cyclase inhibition involves a membrane steroid receptor controlling the rate of guanine nucleotide exchange. Subsequent events include an increase in intracellular pH and the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6. The latter event may play a role in translational control of maturation. Late events in maturation involve the appearance of the maturation-promoting factor (MPF), a cytoplasmic protein responsible for causing nuclear envelope breakdown, chromosome condensation, and spindle formation. MPF oscillates in meiotic and mitotic cell cycles. The events caused by MPF can now be obtained in crude extracts with retention of cell cycle control by calcium, providing a framework for rapid progress in characterizing MPF and its regulation.

The phosphorylation of eukaryotic ribosomal protein S6 by protein kinase C

Purified Ca2+-dependent and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) from bovine brain catalysed the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 when incubated with 40S ribosomal subunits from rat liver or from hamster fibroblasts. The phosphorylation was dependent on Ca2+ and phospholipid, and occurred under ionic conditions similar to those which support protein biosynthesis in vitro. Protein kinase C phosphorylated at least three sites on ribosomal protein S6 when incubated with unphosphorylated ribosomes, and increased the extent of phosphorylation of ribosomes previously phosphorylated predominantly on two sites by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase, converting some molecules to the tetraphosphorylated or pentaphosphorylated form. This indicates that protein kinase C can phosphorylate sites on ribosomal protein S6 other than those phosphorylated by the cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase, and this conclusion was confirmed by analysis of tryptic phosphopeptides. These results strengthen the possibility that protein kinase C might be involved in catalysing the multisite phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in certain circumstances in vivo.

The hierarchy of requirements for an elevated intracellular pH during early development of sea urchin embryos

The intracellular pH (pHi) rises 0.3-0.5 units after fertilization of sea urchin eggs, and this and previous work show this pHi change is necessary for initiating the developmental processes leading to cell division. The experiments described here reveal that while the elevated pHi is permanently required for a normal early development, lowering pHi of embryos after fertilization affects different processes to different extents. Protein synthesis gradually becomes less sensitive to pHi. Karyokinesis proceeds to completion under a low pHi, but is retarded, while cytokinesis is always impaired. These results indicate a hierarchy of requirements for high pHi during early development of sea urchin embryos, with protein synthesis, karyokinesis, and cytokinesis showing, respectively, increasing requirements for an elevated pHi.

Increased intracellular pH is not necessary for ribosomal protein s6 phosphorylation, increased protein synthesis, or germinal vesicle breakdown in Xenopus oocytes

An increase in intracellular pH (pHi) and ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation during Xenopus oocyte maturation has been reported by several laboratories. In this paper, the question of whether the pHi increase is necessary to induce S6 phosphorylation, an increase in protein synthesis, or germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was assessed using sodium-free medium and the putative Na/H exchange blocker amiloride. Sodium-free medium decreased basal pHi by 0.3 unit and prevented increases in pHi in response to both insulin and progesterone, but S6 phosphorylation occurred normally with both hormones. GVBD occurred normally in sodium-free medium in response to progesterone, but the effect of insulin was reduced by 60%. In sodium-containing medium, amiloride inhibited GVBD and prevented insulin or progesterone-induced increases in pHi but the hormone-induced increase in S6 phosphorylation was unaffected. In the absence of sodium, amiloride inhibited GVBD but did not affect pHi, indicating that amiloride inhibits GVBD by a pHi-independent mechanism. Both progesterone and insulin increased protein synthesis in oocytes by 35%, and amiloride inhibited basal protein synthesis but not the increase with hormone. In the presence of cholera toxin, protein synthesis increases with insulin were inhibited but increased S6 phosphorylation was unaffected. Priming of animals with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin prior to oocyte isolation reduced the time required for progesterone-induced GVBD, and increased the synchrony of GVBD of the population. Priming also increased oocyte basal pHi and basal protein synthesis as well as the magnitude of the increase in protein synthesis with progesterone but had no effect on S6 phosphorylation. The results indicate that in Xenopus oocytes increased pHi is not necessary for increased S6 phosphorylation, increased protein synthesis, or GVBD in response to insulin or progesterone nor is increased S6 phosphorylation sufficient for GVBD or increased protein synthesis.

Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of major phosphoproteins of the sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata

Phosphoproteins of hatched blastulae, gastrulae, and pluteus larvae of the sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata, were labeled in vivo with [32P]O4 and analysed by 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. At least 60 phosphoproteins were resolved. Some of these showed different relative intensities of labeling at the embryonic periods monitored. Some embryonic phosphoproteins were characterized by cell fractionation and by comparing autoradiograms with Coomassie-blue staining patterns and [35S]methionine labeling patterns. Neither actin nor tubulin phosphorylation was detected. No differences in phosphorylation were detected in dissociated and partially reassociated blastula cells relative to each other and to intact embryonic controls.

Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 on serine after microinjection of the Abelson murine leukemia virus tyrosine-specific protein kinase into Xenopus oocytes

Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts is dependent on the presence of serum, but after transformation of these cells by Abelson murine leukemia virus (Ab-MuLV), S6 remained highly phosphorylated on serine residues either in the absence or the presence of serum. To investigate whether S6 phosphorylation in this system was a consequence of the action of the Ab-MuLV tyrosine-specific protein kinase, purified Ab-MuLV kinase made in Escherichia coli was microinjected into Xenopus oocytes and was observed to cause a 7- to 15-fold increase in the phosphorylation of S6 on serine residues. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps of S6 phosphorylated in Ab-MuLV-transformed NIH cells in the absence of serum were identical to those of S6 isolated from normal cells grown in the presence of serum. In addition, S6 from oocytes injected with Ab-MuLV kinase yielded an S6 phosphopeptide map indistinguishable from that of serum-stimulated NIH 3T3 cells, whereas S6 from control oocytes lacked several phosphopeptides. Ab-MuLV kinase did not phosphorylate S6 directly in vitro, and microinjection of a mutant Ab-MuLV protein lacking kinase activity had no effect. These results indicate that the Ab-MuLV kinase interacts with a cellular pathway to enhance S6 phosphorylation by directly or indirectly activating an S6 protein kinase and/or inactivating an S6 protein phosphatase.

The role of multiply phosphorylated S6 in ribosome degradation

Rat liver ribosomes, prepared 1-24 h after intraperitoneal cortisol injection, contain multiple phosphorylated S6 consisting of four distinct derivatives in addition to the original non-phosphorylated S6. 25 h following the hormone injection the extent of S6 phosphorylation, as judged by its electrophoretic pattern in two-dimensional gels, resembles that of untreated rats. Ribosomal subunits with gradually increased degree of S6 phosphorylation, isolated at different time intervals after cortisol injection, exhibit polyphenylalanine polymerization levels inversely proportional to the extent of S6 phosphorylation. In addition, they show an elevated misincorporation of leucine in a poly(U)-programmed in vitro system. The lower amount of polyphenylalanine synthesized by multiple phosphorylated ribosomes in vitro is likely due to an enhanced susceptibility of nascent polypeptide chains synthesized in the in vitro system to proteinases present in the pH 5 and S-100 fractions. Liver polysomes derived from cortisol-treated animals lose their highly phosphorylated derivatives when exposed to S-100 enzymes. The loss can be prevented by concomitant action of proteinase and RNAase inhibitors (phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and heparin) but not by an inhibitor of phosphatase (sodium fluoride). In the absence of RNAase and proteinase inhibitors only degradation of old 40 S subunits can be demonstrated. 25 h after the cortisol treatment degradation of liver ribosomes occurs simultaneously with S6 dephosphorylation and is preceded by polysomal breakdown.

Regulation of tyrosine-specific kinase activity at fertilization

The sea urchin egg contains a protein kinase which phosphorylates tyrosine residues of endogenous membrane proteins as well as synthetic peptide substrates. Fertilization results in an increase in tyrosine kinase activity which first becomes apparent 20-30 min postinsemination and continues throughout the early cleavage stages. This effect can be duplicated by treating unfertilized eggs with the calcium ionophore A23187. The kinase activity begins to increase about 20 min after addition of the ionophore and continues to increase for at least 1 hr. Both the time course and the extent of kinase activity in ionophore treated eggs closely resemble the effects of fertilization. The concentration of ionophore necessary to induce the increase in enzyme activity (2-5 microM) is also effective in inducing the cortical reaction. Neither A23187 nor calcium has a significant effect on the kinase activity of egg homogenates solubilized in NP40, suggesting that the ionophore affects tyrosine phosphorylation indirectly, possibly acting through other calcium-sensitive enzymes.

The effect of insulin on intracellular ph and ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation in oocytes of Xenopus laevis

Both insulin and progesterone are capable of stimulating germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) of large, Stage VI oocytes of Xenopus laevis. Numerous studies have shown an increase in intracellular pH (pHi) and ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation prior to GVBD in oocytes treated with progesterone. In this study the effect of insulin and progesterone on pHi and S6 phosphorylation was compared. Both hormones increased pHi and S6 phosphorylation to similar levels and the time course of pHi change was the same for both hormones. Half-maximal effects of insulin were observed at 7 X 10(-8) M concentrations. In the presence of 1 nM cholera toxin, the ability of progesterone to induce these two responses was inhibited while the action of insulin was unaffected. However, GVBD induced by either hormone was blocked by cholera toxin. In small, Stage IV oocytes that do not undergo GVBD in response to either progesterone or insulin, a partial increase in pHi without S6 phosphorylation occurred in response to progesterone but both events occurred in response to insulin. These results suggest that the inability of Stage IV oocytes to undergo GVBD in response to hormone is not due to a failure to increase pHi or phosphorylate S6. The results in this paper also indicate that these events are regulated differently by insulin and progesterone in Xenopus oocytes.

Dephosphorylation of S6 and expression of the heat shock response in Drosophila melanogaster

A basic ribosomal phosphoprotein of 30,000 molecular weight was rapidly dephosphorylated in cultured Drosophila melanogaster cells heat shocked at 37 degrees C. The protein was associated with the 40S ribosomal subunit and had an electrophoretic mobility similar to that of purified rat liver protein S6 on basic two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels as well as a similar partial proteolysis peptide map. In logarithmically growing cultures, this D. melanogaster S6 protein appeared to have a single phosphorylated species consisting of 30 to 40% of the total cellular S6. Thus, the nearly complete dephosphorylation of this protein observed in heat shock involves a large fraction of the cellular S6. The significance of this dephosphorylation in the expression of the heat shock response was investigated by examining the phosphorylation status of S6 in recovery from heat shock and in response to chemical inducers of the heat shock response. During recovery from a 30-min heat shock, the recovery of normal protein synthesis was almost complete in 2 to 4 hr, whereas there was no significant rephosphorylation of S6 for 8 h. Two chemical inducers of the heat shock response, canavanine and sodium arsenite, induced the synthesis of heat shock proteins in D. melanogaster cells. Sodium arsenite also caused an inhibition of normal protein synthesis similar to that observed in heat shock. Neither agent, however, caused significant dephosphorylation of S6. These results suggest that the dephosphorylation of S6, although invariably observed in heat-shocked cells, may in some cases be dissociated from both the induction of heat shock protein synthesis and the turnoff of normal protein synthesis which occur in a heat shock response.

EGF, PGF2 alpha and insulin induce the phosphorylation of identical S6 peptides in swiss mouse 3T3 cells: effect of cAMP on early sites of phosphorylation

Epidermal growth factor (10(-9)M), prostaglandin (8.5 X 10(-7)M), F2 alpha, and insulin (10(-9)M), each of which only leads to a partial phosphorylation of 40S ribosomal protein S6, generate the same first eight phosphopeptides induced by 10% serum, suggesting all three activate a common regulatory pathway for the phosphorylation of S6. Added together, they induce almost maximal S6 phosphorylation and a phosphopeptide pattern nearly equivalent to that of serum. Unlike the agents above, 8-Br-cAMP or PGE1 has no significant effect on protein synthesis, but does induce a small increase in S6 phosphorylation. Surprisingly, the three peptides that become phosphorylated are identical with insulin-induced phosphopeptides 10b, 11, and 9, based on either comigration, limited acid hydrolysis, or V8 protease digestion. Incubation of 40S subunits with cAMP-dependent protein kinase induces the phosphorylation of these same three phosphopeptides. The in vitro and in vivo studies described here raise the possibility that cAMP could, in part, be responsible for mediating the phosphorylation of S6 during the mitogenic response.

The regulation of ribosomal protein S-6 phosphorylation in Xenopus oocytes: a potential role for intracellular pH

The intracellular pH of full-grown Xenopus oocytes increases from 7.2 to 7.6 in response to progesterone stimulation. Phosphorylation of the 40 S ribosomal protein S-6 increases six- to eightfold in these stimulated cells and this phosphorylation coincides with the intracellular alkalization. This is followed by a two- to threefold increase in the protein synthetic rate. Progesterone-treated cells cultured in choline chloride substituted Na-free medium fail to alkalize and S-6 is not phosphorylated. Weak bases, such as trimethylamine, methylamine, and procaine, artificially alkalize the cell cytoplasm and stimulate S-6 phosphorylation in medium containing or lacking sodium. The methylxanthine theophylline, suppresses S-6 phosphorylation and inhibits protein synthesis. This inhibition does not appear to involve cAMP. Rather, theophylline acidifies the oocyte cytoplasm. Thus, S-6 phosphorylation appears to be regulated by the intracellular pH of the cell. In addition, the level of protein synthesis in the oocyte seems to be correlated with the level of S-6 phosphorylation.

Studies of the kinetics and ionic requirements for the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 after fertilization of Arbacia punctulata eggs

Fertilization of the eggs of the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata is followed by the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6. The increase in phosphorylation starts at the same time that protein synthesis begins to increase, and leads to the appearance of mono-, di-, and triphosphorylated S6 derivatives. Essentially all the S6 is phosphorylated by first cleavage. This phosphorylation requires the occurrence of both the normal Ca2+ transient and the consequent Na+-H+ exchange. Protein synthesis can be partially activated by an increase in intracellular pH brought about by weak bases, but this neither causes S6 phosphorylation, nor the inactivation of the specific S6 phosphatase present in unfertilized Arbacia eggs.

Modification of ribosomal proteins in sea urchin eggs following fertilization

Analysis of the ribosomal proteins in sea urchin eggs by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed postfertilization changes in the proteins of both the small and the large subunits. Five egg-ribosomal proteins (S7, S16, S19, L19, L31) appeared to undergo rapid changes to the corresponding embryo-specific proteins. These changes were completed within 30 min after fertilization, and identical electrophoretic patterns were observed among the different developmental stages of embryos. One of the five proteins, S7, showed an increase in the phosphorylated form. The remainder showed qualitative shifts to the corresponding embryo-specific proteins; however, peptide map analyses revealed the existence of common structural units between the corresponding proteins. These modifications were observed in the three species of sea urchin studied (Pseudocentrotus depressus, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus and Anthocidaris crassispina), except in the case of one protein (L31). Purification of ribosomes by different procedures based on high-salt treatment gave the same results with respect to the egg-specific and embryo-specific proteins.

Dephosphorylation of S6 and expression of the heat shock response in Drosophila melanogaster

A basic ribosomal phosphoprotein of 30,000 molecular weight was rapidly dephosphorylated in cultured Drosophila melanogaster cells heat shocked at 37 degrees C. The protein was associated with the 40S ribosomal subunit and had an electrophoretic mobility similar to that of purified rat liver protein S6 on basic two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels as well as a similar partial proteolysis peptide map. In logarithmically growing cultures, this D. melanogaster S6 protein appeared to have a single phosphorylated species consisting of 30 to 40% of the total cellular S6. Thus, the nearly complete dephosphorylation of this protein observed in heat shock involves a large fraction of the cellular S6. The significance of this dephosphorylation in the expression of the heat shock response was investigated by examining the phosphorylation status of S6 in recovery from heat shock and in response to chemical inducers of the heat shock response. During recovery from a 30-min heat shock, the recovery of normal protein synthesis was almost complete in 2 to 4 hr, whereas there was no significant rephosphorylation of S6 for 8 h. Two chemical inducers of the heat shock response, canavanine and sodium arsenite, induced the synthesis of heat shock proteins in D. melanogaster cells. Sodium arsenite also caused an inhibition of normal protein synthesis similar to that observed in heat shock. Neither agent, however, caused significant dephosphorylation of S6. These results suggest that the dephosphorylation of S6, although invariably observed in heat-shocked cells, may in some cases be dissociated from both the induction of heat shock protein synthesis and the turnoff of normal protein synthesis which occur in a heat shock response.