Reversible phosphorylation and mitotic control

Why Great Mitotic Inhibitors Make Poor Cancer Drugs

Chemotherapy is central to oncology, perceived to operate only on prolific cancerous tissue. Yet, many non-neoplastic tissues are more prolific compared with typical tumors. Chemotherapies achieve sufficient therapeutic windows to exert antineoplastic activity because they are prodrugs that are bioactivated in cancer-specific environments. The advent of precision medicine has obscured this concept, favoring the development of high-potency kinase inhibitors. Inhibitors of essential mitotic kinases exemplify this paradigm shift, but intolerable on-target toxicities in more prolific normal tissues have led to repeated failures in the clinic. Proliferation rates alone cannot be used to achieve cancer specificity. Here, we discuss integrating the cancer specificity of prodrugs from classical chemotherapeutics and the potency of mitotic kinase inhibitors to generate a class of high-precision cancer therapeutics.

Induction of mitotic catastrophe by PKC inhibition in Nf1-deficient cells

Mutations of tumor suppressor Nf1 gene deregulate Ras-mediated signaling, which confers the predisposition for developing benign or malignant tumors. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) was shown to be in synergy with aberrant Ras for the induction of apoptosis in various types of cancer cells. However, it has not been investigated whether loss of PKC is lethal for Nf1-deficient cells. In this study, using HMG (3-hydroxy-3-methylgutaryl, a PKC inhibitor), we demonstrate that the inhibition of PKC by HMG treatment triggered a persistently mitotic arrest, resulting in the occurrence of mitotic catastrophe in Nf1-deficient ST8814 cells. However, the introduction of the Nf1 effective domain gene into ST8814 cells abolished this mitotic crisis. In addition, HMG injection significantly attenuated the growth of the xenografted ST8814 tumors. Moreover, Chk1 was phosphorylated, accompanied with the persistent increase of cyclin B1 expression in HMG-treated ST8814 cells. The knockdown of Chk1 by the siRNA prevented the Nf1-deficient cells from undergoing HMG-mediated mitotic arrest as well as mitotic catastrophe. Thus, our data suggested that the suppression of PKC activates the Chk1-mediated mitotic exit checkpoint in Nf1-deficient cells, leading to the induction of apoptosis via mitotic catastrophe. Collectively, the study indicates that targeting PKC may be a potential option for developing new strategies to treat Nf1-deficiency-related diseases.

Serine-threonine kinases and transcription factors active in signal transduction are detected at high levels of phosphorylation during mitosis in preimplantation embryos and trophoblast stem cells

Serine-threonine kinases and transcription factors play important roles in the G1-S phase progression of the cell cycle. Assays that use quantitative fluorescence by immunocytochemical means, or that measure band strength during Western blot analysis, may have confused interpretations if the intention is to measure G1-S phase commitment of a small subpopulation of phosphorylated proteins, when a larger conversion of the same population of proteins can occur during late G2 and M phases. In mouse trophoblast stem cells (TSC), a human placental cell line (HTR), and/or mouse preimplantation embryos, 8/19 serine-threonine and tyrosine kinases, 3/8 transcription factors, and 8/14 phospho substrate and miscellaneous proteins were phosphorylated at higher levels in M phase than in interphase. Most phosphoproteins appeared to associate with the spindle complex during M phase, but one (p38MAPK) associated with the spindle pole and five (Cdx2, MEK1, 2, p27, and RSK1) associated with the DNA. Phosphorylation was detected throughout apparent metaphase, anaphase and telophase for some proteins, or for only one of these segments for others. The phosphorylation was from 2.1- to 6.2-fold higher during M phase compared with interphase. These data suggest that, when planning and interpreting quantitative data and perturbation experiments, consideration must be given to the role of serine-threonine kinases and transcription factors during decision making in M phase as well as in G1-S phase.

The human polo-like kinase, PLK, regulates cdc2/cyclin B through phosphorylation and activation of the cdc25C phosphatase

Entry into mitosis by mammalian cells is triggered by the activation of the cdc2/cyclin B holoenzyme. This is accomplished by the specific dephosphorylation of key residues by the cdc25C phosphatase. The polo-like kinases are a family of serine/threonine kinases which are also implicated in the control of mitotic events, but their exact regulatory mechanism is not known. Recently, a Xenopus homologue, PLX1, was reported to phosphorylate and activate cdc25, leading to activation of cdc2/cyclin B. Jurkat T leukemia cells were chemically arrested and used to verify that PLK protein expression and its phosphorylation state is regulated with respect to cell cycle phase (i.e., protein is undetectable at G1/S, accumulates at S phase and is modified at G2/M). Herein, we show for the first time that endogenous human PLK protein immunoprecipitated from the G2/M-arrested Jurkat cells directly phosphorylates human cdc25C. In addition, we demonstrate that recombinant human (rh) PLK also phosphorylates rhcdc25C in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Phosphorylation of endogenous cdc25C and recombinant cdc25C by PLK resulted in the activation of the phosphatase as assessed by dephosphorylation of cdc2/cyclin B. These data are the first to demonstrate that human PLK is capable of phosphorylating and positively regulating human cdc25C activity, allowing cdc25C to dephosphorylate inactive cdc2/cyclin B. As this event is required for cell cycle progression, we define at least one key regulatory mode of action for human PLK in the initiation of mitosis.

Cell cycle regulatory proteins in renal disease: role in hypertrophy, proliferation, and apoptosis

The response to glomerular and tubulointerstitial cell injury in most forms of renal disease includes changes in cell number (proliferation and apoptosis) and cell size (hypertrophy). These events typically precede and may be responsible for the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins that leads to a decrease in renal function. There is increasing evidence showing that positive (cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases) and negative (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors) cell cycle regulatory proteins have a critical role in regulating these fundamental cellular responses to immune and nonimmune forms of injury. Data now show that altering specific cell cycle proteins affects renal cell proliferation and improves renal function. Equally exciting is the expanding body of literature showing novel biological roles for cell cycle proteins in the regulation of cell hypertrophy and apoptosis. With increasing understanding of the role for cell cycle regulatory proteins in renal disease comes the hope for potential therapeutic interventions.

Complement (C5b-9) induces glomerular epithelial cell DNA synthesis but not proliferation in vitro

BACKGROUND

The C5b-9 membrane attack complex of complement is the principal mediator of injury induced experimentally by antibodies directed at glomerular cell membranes. In experimental membranous nephropathy, C5b-9 induced injury to the glomerular visceral epithelial cell (VEC) is associated with DNA synthesis, but not cytokinesis. In the current study we determined if C5b-9 increases DNA synthesis in VEC in vitro, and defined the mechanisms involved.

METHODS

Rat VEC in vitro were divided into three groups: (1) sensitized with anti-VEC antibody and exposed to sublytic concentrations of C +/PVG serum (normal complement components); (2) anti-VEC antibody and control C-/PVG serum (C6 deficient); (3) no anti-VEC antibody. DNA synthesis (BrdU staining), mitosis (mitotic figures) and cytokinesis (cell counts) were measured at 24 and 48 hours. To examine the expression of specific S-phase and M-phase cell cycle regulatory proteins and their inhibitors, immunostaining and Western blot analysis was performed for cyclin A, CDK2, p21 and p27, cyclin B and cdc2.

RESULTS

In the absence of growth factors, sublytic C5b-9 attack did not increase proliferation. In contrast, sublytic C5b-9 attack (group 1) augmented growth factor induced DNA synthesis by 50% compared to controls (groups 2 and 3; P < 0.001), and was accompanied by increased levels of cyclin A and CDK2, and a decrease in the cyclin kinase inhibitor p27 (but not p21). Sublytic C5b-9 attack reduced the expression of the M phase cell cycle proteins, cyclin B and cdc2, accompanied by reduced mitosis (mitotic figures) and cytokinesis (cell number).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that the C5b-9 augmented growth factor entry into the S phase in VEC is regulated by changes in specific cell cycle regulatory proteins. However, antibody and complement decreased the M phase cell cycle proteins, and prevented VEC mitosis and cytokinesis, suggesting a delay or arrest at the G2/M phase.

Regulation of the cell cycle at the G2/M boundary in metastatic melanoma cells by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) by blocking p34cdc2 kinase activity

12-O-Tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) inhibits the growth of most malignant melanoma cells but stimulates the growth of normal human melanocytes. We previously showed that addition of TPA inhibits the growth of the human metastatic melanoma cell line, Demel, by blocking cells at both the G1/S and G2/M cell cycle transitions (D. L. Coppock et al., 1992, Cell Growth Differ. 3, 485-494). To examine the G2/M transition, we developed a method to synchronize the cells in early S phase using Lovastatin and mevalonate, followed by treatment with hydroxyurea (HU). TPA (30 nM) was effective in blocking cells from entering mitosis and reentering G1 when added up to the end of G2. These cells arrested in G2. Examination of the levels of cyclins A and B1 demonstrated that the levels of these cyclins were not limiting for entrance into M. However, the addition of TPA blocked the increase in p34(cdc2)/cyclin B1 kinase activity. In cells treated with TPA, most p34(cdc2) was found in the slowly migrating forms on Western blots, which contained increased levels of phosphotyrosine. In addition, the level of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(Cip1/Waf1), but not of p27(Kip1), was increased. We examined the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in Demel cells using Western blots to understand which types were involved in the G2 arrest. Demel cells expressed the PKC alpha, betaI, betaII, delta, epsilon, iota/lambda, zeta, and mu isozymes. PKC eta and PKC theta were not detected. Addition of TPA did not completely down regulate any PKC isozymes over a 12-h period in these synchronized cells. PKC alpha, betaI, betaII, delta, and epsilon isozymes were translocated to the membrane fraction from the cytosolic fraction when treated with TPA. PKC delta appeared as a doublet and the addition of TPA shifted a majority to the slower migrating form. The level of PKC mu was constant; however, a slow mobility form was observed in TPA-treated cells. This reduced mobility was at least partially due to phosphorylation. Thus, the arrest of growth in G2 appears to be due to the inhibition of the p34(cdc2) kinase activity which is associated with the increased expression of p21(Cip1/Waf1) and increased phosphorylation on tyrosine of p34(cdc2). This arrest, in turn, is associated with a shift of PKC isozymes PKC alpha, PKC betaI, PKC betaII, PKC delta, PKC epsilon, and PKC mu to the membrane fraction which is induced by addition of TPA.

Role of phosphatases in lymphocyte activation

Many lymphocyte signaling pathways are regulated by protein tyrosyl phosphorylation, which is controlled by protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Substantial progress has been made in defining the functions of lymphocyte PTPs. Individual PTPs can enhance or diminish cell signaling levels. The transmembrane PTP CD45 is a key positive element in multiple lymphocyte signaling pathways in vivo. New insights into the function of individual CD45 isoforms have emerged. Anti-CD45 antibodies with potent immunosuppressant activity have been identified, suggesting that CD45 may be a propitious target for drug design. Progress has also been made in elucidating the function and targets of specific nontransmembrane PTPs, particularly those with Src homology 2 domains.