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Kazanietz MG, Cooke M. Protein kinase C signaling "in" and "to" the nucleus: Master kinases in transcriptional regulation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105692. [PMID: 38301892 PMCID: PMC10907189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
PKC is a multifunctional family of Ser-Thr kinases widely implicated in the regulation of fundamental cellular functions, including proliferation, polarity, motility, and differentiation. Notwithstanding their primary cytoplasmic localization and stringent activation by cell surface receptors, PKC isozymes impel prominent nuclear signaling ultimately impacting gene expression. While transcriptional regulation may be wielded by nuclear PKCs, it most often relies on cytoplasmic phosphorylation events that result in nuclear shuttling of PKC downstream effectors, including transcription factors. As expected from the unique coupling of PKC isozymes to signaling effector pathways, glaring disparities in gene activation/repression are observed upon targeting individual PKC family members. Notably, specific PKCs control the expression and activation of transcription factors implicated in cell cycle/mitogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and immune function. Additionally, PKCs isozymes tightly regulate transcription factors involved in stepwise differentiation of pluripotent stem cells toward specific epithelial, mesenchymal, and hematopoietic cell lineages. Aberrant PKC expression and/or activation in pathological conditions, such as in cancer, leads to profound alterations in gene expression, leading to an extensive rewiring of transcriptional networks associated with mitogenesis, invasiveness, stemness, and tumor microenvironment dysregulation. In this review, we outline the current understanding of PKC signaling "in" and "to" the nucleus, with significant focus on established paradigms of PKC-mediated transcriptional control. Dissecting these complexities would allow the identification of relevant molecular targets implicated in a wide spectrum of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo G Kazanietz
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Mariana Cooke
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Deschênes-Simard X, Malleshaiah M, Ferbeyre G. Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases: One Pathway, Multiple Fates. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:95. [PMID: 38201521 PMCID: PMC10778234 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted aspects of ERK signaling and the intricate mechanisms underlying distinct cellular fates. ERK1 and ERK2 (ERK) govern proliferation, transformation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, differentiation, senescence, or cell death, contingent upon activation strength, duration, and context. The biochemical mechanisms underlying these outcomes are inadequately understood, shaped by signaling feedback and the spatial localization of ERK activation. Generally, ERK activation aligns with the Goldilocks principle in cell fate determination. Inadequate or excessive ERK activity hinders cell proliferation, while balanced activation promotes both cell proliferation and survival. Unraveling the intricacies of how the degree of ERK activation dictates cell fate requires deciphering mechanisms encompassing protein stability, transcription factors downstream of ERK, and the chromatin landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Deschênes-Simard
- Montreal University Hospital Center (CHUM), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
| | - Mohan Malleshaiah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Gerardo Ferbeyre
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montréal, QC H2W 1R7, Canada
- Montreal Cancer Institute, CR-CHUM, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
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Silnitsky S, Rubin SJS, Zerihun M, Qvit N. An Update on Protein Kinases as Therapeutic Targets-Part I: Protein Kinase C Activation and Its Role in Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17600. [PMID: 38139428 PMCID: PMC10743896 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein kinases are one of the most significant drug targets in the human proteome, historically harnessed for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and a growing number of other conditions, including autoimmune and inflammatory processes. Since the approval of the first kinase inhibitors in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the field has grown exponentially, comprising 98 approved therapeutics to date, 37 of which were approved between 2016 and 2021. While many of these small-molecule protein kinase inhibitors that interact orthosterically with the protein kinase ATP binding pocket have been massively successful for oncological indications, their poor selectively for protein kinase isozymes have limited them due to toxicities in their application to other disease spaces. Thus, recent attention has turned to the use of alternative allosteric binding mechanisms and improved drug platforms such as modified peptides to design protein kinase modulators with enhanced selectivity and other pharmacological properties. Herein we review the role of different protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in cancer and cardiovascular disease, with particular attention to PKC-family inhibitors. We discuss translational examples and carefully consider the advantages and limitations of each compound (Part I). We also discuss the recent advances in the field of protein kinase modulators, leverage molecular docking to model inhibitor-kinase interactions, and propose mechanisms of action that will aid in the design of next-generation protein kinase modulators (Part II).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shmuel Silnitsky
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Henrietta Szold St. 8, Safed 1311502, Israel; (S.S.); (M.Z.)
| | - Samuel J. S. Rubin
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| | - Mulate Zerihun
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Henrietta Szold St. 8, Safed 1311502, Israel; (S.S.); (M.Z.)
| | - Nir Qvit
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Henrietta Szold St. 8, Safed 1311502, Israel; (S.S.); (M.Z.)
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Gao J, Cao B, Zhao R, Li H, Xu Q, Wei B. Critical Signaling Transduction Pathways and Intestinal Barrier: Implications for Pathophysiology and Therapeutics. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1216. [PMID: 37765024 PMCID: PMC10537644 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestinal barrier is a sum of the functions and structures consisting of the intestinal mucosal epithelium, mucus, intestinal flora, secretory immunoglobulins, and digestive juices. It is the first-line defense mechanism that resists nonspecific infections with powerful functions that include physical, endocrine, and immune defenses. Health and physiological homeostasis are greatly dependent on the sturdiness of the intestinal barrier shield, whose dysfunction can contribute to the progression of numerous types of intestinal diseases. Disorders of internal homeostasis may also induce barrier impairment and form vicious cycles during the response to diseases. Therefore, the identification of the underlying mechanisms involved in intestinal barrier function and the development of effective drugs targeting its damage have become popular research topics. Evidence has shown that multiple signaling pathways and corresponding critical molecules are extensively involved in the regulation of the barrier pathophysiological state. Ectopic expression or activation of signaling pathways plays an essential role in the process of shield destruction. Although some drugs, such as molecular or signaling inhibitors, are currently used for the treatment of intestinal diseases, their efficacy cannot meet current medical requirements. In this review, we summarize the current achievements in research on the relationships between the intestinal barrier and signaling pathways. The limitations and future perspectives are also discussed to provide new horizons for targeted therapies for restoring intestinal barrier function that have translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwang Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China; (J.G.); (R.Z.); (H.L.); (Q.X.)
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China;
| | - Bo Cao
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China;
| | - Ruiyang Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China; (J.G.); (R.Z.); (H.L.); (Q.X.)
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China;
| | - Hanghang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China; (J.G.); (R.Z.); (H.L.); (Q.X.)
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China;
| | - Qixuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China; (J.G.); (R.Z.); (H.L.); (Q.X.)
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China;
| | - Bo Wei
- Department of General Surgery, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China; (J.G.); (R.Z.); (H.L.); (Q.X.)
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Li X, Kaur N, Albahrani M, Karpf AR, Black AR, Black JD. Crosstalk between protein kinase C α and transforming growth factor β signaling mediated by Runx2 in intestinal epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:103017. [PMID: 36791912 PMCID: PMC10036670 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.103017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tight coordination of growth regulatory signaling is required for intestinal epithelial homeostasis. Protein kinase C α (PKCα) and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) are negative regulators of proliferation with tumor suppressor properties in the intestine. Here, we identify novel crosstalk between PKCα and TGFβ signaling. RNA-Seq analysis of nontransformed intestinal crypt-like cells and colorectal cancer cells identified TGFβ receptor 1 (TGFβR1) as a target of PKCα signaling. RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis confirmed that PKCα positively regulates TGFβR1 mRNA and protein expression in these cells. Effects on TGFβR1 were dependent on Ras-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK) signaling. Nascent RNA and promoter-reporter analysis indicated that PKCα induces TGFβR1 transcription, and Runx2 was identified as an essential mediator of the effect. PKCα promoted ERK-mediated activating phosphorylation of Runx2, which preceded transcriptional activation of the TGFβR1 gene and induction of Runx2 expression. Thus, we have identified a novel PKCα→ERK→Runx2→TGFβR1 signaling axis. In further support of a link between PKCα and TGFβ signaling, PKCα knockdown reduced the ability of TGFβ to induce SMAD2 phosphorylation and cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of TGFβR1 decreased PKCα-induced upregulation of p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 in intestinal cells. The physiological relevance of these findings is also supported by The Cancer Genome Atlas data showing correlation between PKCα, Runx2, and TGFβR1 mRNA expression in human colorectal cancer. PKCα also regulated TGFβR1 in endometrial cancer cells, and PKCα, Runx2, and TGFβR1 expression correlates in uterine tumors, indicating that crosstalk between PKCα and TGFβ signaling may be a common mechanism in diverse epithelial tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Li
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Navneet Kaur
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Mustafa Albahrani
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Adam R Karpf
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Adrian R Black
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Jennifer D Black
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
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Black JD, Affandi T, Black AR, Reyland ME. PKCα and PKCδ: Friends and Rivals. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102194. [PMID: 35760100 PMCID: PMC9352922 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PKC comprises a large family of serine/threonine kinases that share a requirement for allosteric activation by lipids. While PKC isoforms have significant homology, functional divergence is evident among subfamilies and between individual PKC isoforms within a subfamily. Here, we highlight these differences by comparing the regulation and function of representative PKC isoforms from the conventional (PKCα) and novel (PKCδ) subfamilies. We discuss how unique structural features of PKCα and PKCδ underlie differences in activation and highlight the similar, divergent, and even opposing biological functions of these kinases. We also consider how PKCα and PKCδ can contribute to pathophysiological conditions and discuss challenges to targeting these kinases therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Black
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
| | - Trisiani Affandi
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
| | - Adrian R Black
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Mary E Reyland
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
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