Antiphosphotyrosine antibodies for studying protein phosphorylation in neural cells: Applications to brain slices and cultured cells

Effects of riluzole on N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in the rat hippocampus

Since increased tyrosine phosphorylation has been observed in response to brain ischemia, we investigated whether riluzole (an inhibitor of glutamate neurotransmission with neuroprotective properties) affects tyrosine phosphorylation stimulated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) in rat hippocampal slices. Riluzole produced an extremely potent concentration-related inhibition of NMDA (1 mM)-stimulated protein tyrosine phosphorylation (IC(50)=0.5+/-0.03 microM, mean+/-S.D.), but failed to affect that evoked by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, an activator of protein kinase C, 0.1 and 1 microM). These results suggest that inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation may contribute to the neuroprotective effects of riluzole against excitotoxic injury.

Differential regulation of proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2/cell adhesion kinase beta (PYK2/CAKbeta) and pp125(FAK) by glutamate and depolarization in rat hippocampus

The mechanisms by which stimuli that raise cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations in neurons can increase protein tyrosine phosphorylation are not known. Using rat hippocampal slices and cortical synaptosomes, we have examined the regulation of two highly related cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases, pp125 focal adhesion kinase (pp125(FAK)) and proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2/cell adhesion kinase beta (PYK2/CAKbeta). Membrane depolarization increased tyrosine phosphorylation of PYK2/CAKbeta and pp125(FAK). These effects were blocked by EGTA or by protein kinase C inhibitors (RO31-8220; GF109203X) and mimicked by ionomycin or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, in the case of pp125(FAK), or their combination in the case of PYK2/CAKbeta. Glutamate and specific agonists of ionotropic (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate and N-methyl-D-aspartate) or metabotropic (trans-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3, -dicarboxylate) glutamate receptors stimulated the phosphorylation of pp125(FAK), but not of PYK2/CAKbeta. Glutamate effects were prevented by GF109203X. Thus, in hippocampal slices, tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125(FAK) and PYK2/CAKbeta are regulated differentially by pathways involving Ca2+ and protein kinase C. pp125(FAK) and PYK2/CAKbeta may provide specific links between neuronal activity, increases in cytosolic Ca2+ and protein tyrosine phosphorylation, which may be important for neuronal survival, and synaptic plasticity.

Transduction signals induced in rat brain cortex astrocytes by the HIV-1 gp120 glycoprotein

Cultures of rat brain cortex astrocytes were exposed to 10(-10)-10(-9)M of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, gp120. No specific binding was revealed by the iodinated protein, suggesting expression of only a few sites onto the cells. In contrast, two transduction signals were rapidly induced by gp120: increased tyrosine phosphorylation of a approximately 56 kDa protein and increased [Ca2+]i. This latter effect, present in 1/3 of the investigated astrocytes, consisted in: discrete or biphasic peaks; slowly rising plateaus; and various types of oscillations. Moreover, in apparently unresponsive cells [Ca2+]i rose slowly (45 min) to double the resting levels. Rat brain cortex astrocytes thus appear highly sensitive to gp120. The induced array of signals might contribute to neurotoxicity during HIV infection.

Focal adhesion kinase in rat central nervous system

Focal adhesion kinase (pp125FAK, FAK) is a 125 kDa non-receptor tyrosine kinase enriched in focal adhesions of various cell types, where it is thought to transduce signals triggered by contact with the extracellular matrix. We have studied the expression and localization of FAK in rat CNS. Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed the presence of FAK in all regions of the adult brain and demonstrated its enrichment in specific neuronal populations of the cerebral and cerebellar cortex, as well as in the hippocampus. During development, FAK protein levels were highest around birth in cerebral cortex and caudate putamen and decreased in the adult. In situ hybridization revealed enrichment of FAK mRNA in the ventricular germinative and external layers during the last period of embryonic growth. In primary cultures FAK immunoreactivity was localized in focal adhesions in astrocytes, whereas in developing neurons the highest levels were found in growth cones and perikarya. In the growth cone, FAK immunoreactivity colocalized with actin filaments. In mature neurons FAK appeared to be distributed in the whole cytoplasm, with no enrichment in any cellular compartment. Our results demonstrate the presence of high levels of FAK in rat CNS, maximal during development but persistent in the adult. Its enrichment in growth cones suggests that it may play a role in neurite outgrowth, as well as in plasticity in the adult.

Phosphorylation of DARPP-32, a dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, by casein kinase I in vitro and in vivo

DARPP-32 (dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, M(r) = 32,000) is a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1 when it is phosphorylated on Thr-34 by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. DARPP-32 is highly enriched in some specific cell populations such as striatonigral neurons and choroid plexus epithelial cells. Here we show that recombinant rat DARPP-32 is phosphorylated by casein kinase I on seryl residues to a stoichiometry of approximately 2 mol of phosphate/mol of protein. DARPP-32 is one of the best known substrates for casein kinase I (Km = 3.4 +/- 0.3 microM), whereas the homologous phosphatase-1 inhibitor, inhibitor-1, is not. Phosphorylation of DARPP-32 by casein kinase I does not alter its ability to inhibit protein phosphatase-1. Residues phosphorylated by casein kinase I were identified as Ser-137 and Ser-189 by site-directed mutagenesis and by protein sequencing. Ser-137 and the preceding stretch of 16-18 acidic residues are conserved in DARPP-32 among all species examined, whereas Ser-189 is not. Phosphorylation of Ser-137 induces an unusual increase in DARPP-32 electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gels in the presence of SDS. In striatonigral neurons, DARPP-32 is phosphorylated on Ser-137 and the stoichiometry of phosphorylation on this residue in vivo appears to be higher in the substantia nigra (axon terminals) than in the striatum (soma and dendrites). These results indicate that casein kinase I is highly active in striatonigral neurons in which it may play important roles, including in protein phosphatase-1 modulation via phosphorylation of DARPP-32.

Depolarization and neurotransmitters increase neuronal protein tyrosine phosphorylation

In rat hippocampal slices and in neurons in primary culture, K(+)-induced depolarization increased markedly and rapidly tyrosine phosphorylation of a 110-kDa protein (pp110) and, to a lesser degree, of a 120-kDa protein (pp120), in a calcium-dependent fashion. Glutamate, 1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (an agonist of metabotropic glutamate receptors), and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (an agonist of ionotropic glutamate receptors) stimulated also tyrosine phosphorylation of pp110 and pp120. These effects were not observed in astrocytes in primary culture. In hippocampal slices tyrosine phosphorylation of pp110 and pp120 was stimulated by Ca(2+)-ionophores and by phorbol esters and antagonized by a chelator of intracellular Ca2+ and by drugs that inhibit protein kinase C. Stimulation of muscarinic and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors increased also tyrosine phosphorylation of pp110 and pp120. These results demonstrate that membrane depolarization and stimulation of neurotransmitter receptors activate a tyrosine phosphorylation pathway in neurons. This pathway involves an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and the activation of protein kinase C. It may provide a biochemical basis for some neurotrophic effects of electrical activity and neurotransmitters and may contribute to the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in long-term potentiation.