Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel dual-specificity phosphatase18 gene from human fetal brain

Dual-specificity phosphatase 18 modulates the SUMOylation and aggregation of Ataxin-1

We previously reported that SUMOylation promotes the aggregation of ataxin-1 and JNK is involved in the process. Here we show that dual-specificity phosphatase 18 (DUSP18), a member of protein tyrosine phosphatases, exerts the opposite effects on ataxin-1. DUSP18 associated with ataxin-1 and suppressed JNK activated by ataxin-1. Interestingly DUSP18, but not the other DUSPs interacting with ataxin-1, caused the mobility shift of ataxin-1. De-phosphorylation by DUSP18 was initially suspected as a cause for such an effect; however, the phosphorylation of ataxin-1 was unchanged. Instead DUSP18 inhibited SUMOylation and reduced ataxin-1 aggregation. The catalytic mutant of DUSP18 failed to reduce the SUMOylation and aggregation of ataxin-1 indicating that the phosphatase activity is indispensable for the effects. Moreover, DUSP18 disrupted the co-localization of ataxin-1 with the PML component Sp100. These results together implicate that JNK and DUSP18 reciprocally modulate the SUMOylation, which plays a regulatory role in the aggregation of ataxin-1.

Critical Roles of Dual-Specificity Phosphatases in Neuronal Proteostasis and Neurological Diseases

Protein homeostasis or proteostasis is a fundamental cellular property that encompasses the dynamic balancing of processes in the proteostasis network (PN). Such processes include protein synthesis, folding, and degradation in both non-stressed and stressful conditions. The role of the PN in neurodegenerative disease is well-documented, where it is known to respond to changes in protein folding states or toxic gain-of-function protein aggregation. Dual-specificity phosphatases have recently emerged as important participants in maintaining balance within the PN, acting through modulation of cellular signaling pathways that are involved in neurodegeneration. In this review, we will summarize recent findings describing the roles of dual-specificity phosphatases in neurodegeneration and offer perspectives on future therapeutic directions.

Dual-specificity phosphatases: critical regulators with diverse cellular targets

DUSPs (dual-specificity phosphatases) are a heterogeneous group of protein phosphatases that can dephosphorylate both phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine/phosphothreonine residues within the one substrate. DUSPs have been implicated as major modulators of critical signalling pathways that are dysregulated in various diseases. DUSPs can be divided into six subgroups on the basis of sequence similarity that include slingshots, PRLs (phosphatases of regenerating liver), Cdc14 phosphatases (Cdc is cell division cycle), PTENs (phosphatase and tensin homologues deleted on chromosome 10), myotubularins, MKPs (mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatases) and atypical DUSPs. Of these subgroups, a great deal of research has focused on the characterization of the MKPs. As their name suggests, MKPs dephosphorylate MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) proteins ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase), JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and p38 with specificity distinct from that of individual MKP proteins. Atypical DUSPs are mostly of low-molecular-mass and lack the N-terminal CH2 (Cdc25 homology 2) domain common to MKPs. The discovery of most atypical DUSPs has occurred in the last 6 years, which has initiated a large amount of interest in their role and regulation. In the past, atypical DUSPs have generally been grouped together with the MKPs and characterized for their role in MAPK signalling cascades. Indeed, some have been shown to dephosphorylate MAPKs. The current literature hints at the potential of the atypical DUSPs as important signalling regulators, but is crowded with conflicting reports. The present review provides an overview of the DUSP family before focusing on atypical DUSPs, emerging as a group of proteins with vastly diverse substrate specificity and function.

Microarray analysis of female- and larval-specific gene expression in the horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae)

The horn fly, Haematobia irritans L., is an obligate blood-feeding parasite of cattle, and control of this pest is a continuing problem because the fly is becoming resistant to pesticides. Dominant conditional lethal gene systems are being studied as population control technologies against agricultural pests. One of the components of these systems is a female-specific gene promoter that drives expression of a lethality-inducing gene. To identify candidate genes to supply this promoter, microarrays were designed from a horn fly expressed sequence tag (EST) database and probed to identify female-specific and larval-specific gene expression. Analysis of dye swap experiments found 432 and 417 transcripts whose expression levels were higher or lower in adult female flies, respectively, compared with adult male flies. Additionally, 419 and 871 transcripts were identified whose expression levels were higher or lower in first-instar larvae compared with adult flies, respectively. Three transcripts were expressed more highly in adult females flies compared with adult males and also higher in the first-instar larval lifestage compared with adult flies. One of these transcripts, a putative nanos ortholog, has a high female-to-male expression ratio, a moderate expression level in first-instar larvae, and has been well characterized in Drosophila. melanogaster (Meigen). In conclusion, we used microarray technology, verified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and massively parallel pyrosequencing, to study life stage- and sex-specific gene expression in the horn fly and identified three gene candidates for detailed evaluation as a gene promoter source for the development of a female-specific conditional lethality system.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/MAP kinase phosphatase regulation: roles in cell growth, death, and cancer

Mitogen-activated protein kinase dual-specificity phosphatase-1 (also called MKP-1, DUSP1, ERP, CL100, HVH1, PTPN10, and 3CH134) is a member of the threonine-tyrosine dual-specificity phosphatases, one of more than 100 protein tyrosine phosphatases. It was first identified approximately 20 years ago, and since that time extensive investigations into both mkp-1 mRNA and protein regulation and function in different cells, tissues, and organs have been conducted. However, no general review on the topic of MKP-1 exists. As the subject matter pertaining to MKP-1 encompasses many branches of the biomedical field, we focus on the role of this protein in cancer development and progression, highlighting the potential role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. Section II of this article elucidates the MAPK family cross-talk. Section III reviews the structure of the mkp-1 encoding gene, and the known mechanisms regulating the expression and activity of the protein. Section IV is an overview of the MAPK-specific dual-specificity phosphatases and their role in cancer. In sections V and VI, mkp-1 mRNA and protein are examined in relation to cancer biology, therapeutics, and clinical studies, including a discussion of the potential role of the MAPK family. We conclude by proposing an integrated scheme for MKP-1 and MAPK in cancer.

Dual specificity phosphatases 18 and 21 target to opposing sides of the mitochondrial inner membrane

Although large-scale approaches have identified numerous mitochondrial phosphoproteins, little is known about the mitochondrial kinases and phosphatases that regulate these phosphoproteins. Here, we identify two members of the atypical dual specificity phosphatases (DSP), DSP18 and DSP21, that are localized in mitochondria. Although DSP18 is widely expressed in several mammalian tissues, DSP21 is selectively expressed in the testes. We demonstrate that DSP18 and DSP21 are targeted to mitochondria by cryptic internal localization signals. Subfractionation of mitochondria demonstrated that DSP18 is located in the intermembrane space as a peripheral membrane protein of the inner membrane. In contrast, subfractionation of rat testis mitochondria revealed DSP21 is localized to the matrix as a peripheral membrane protein of the inner membrane. Moreover, we demonstrate that a previously reported substrate for DSP18, the stress-activated protein kinase, does not localize to mitochondria in several different tissues, making it an unlikely substrate for DSP18. Finally, we show that induction of apoptosis by treatment with staurosporine causes translocation of DSP18 from the intermembrane space into the cytosol similar to other apoptogenic factors such as cytochrome c. This work rigorously demonstrates the unique location of two highly similar DSPs on opposing sides of the mitochondrial inner membrane.

A novel phosphatase family, structurally related to dual-specificity phosphatases, that displays unique amino acid sequence and substrate specificity

Members of the superfamily of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) share the presence of an evolutionarily conserved PTP catalytic domain. Among them, the dual-specificity phosphatases (DSPs) constitute a diverse group of enzymes in terms of substrate specificity, including nonprotein substrates. In recent years, an increasing number of novel DSPs, whose functions and biological substrates are not well defined, have been discovered in a variety of organisms. In this study, we define the structural and functional properties of evolutionarily related atypical DSPs from different phyla. Sets of conserved motifs were defined that (i) uniquely segregated mammalian atypical DSPs from closely related enzymes and (ii) exclusively characterised a novel family of atypical DSPs present in plants, fungi, and kinetoplastids [plant and fungi atypical (PFA)-DSPs]; despite having different sequence "fingerprints," the PTP tertiary structure of PFA-DSPs is conserved. Analysis of the catalytic properties of PFA-DSPs suggests the existence of a unique substrate specificity for these enzymes. Our findings predict characteristic functional motifs for the diverse members of the DSP families of PTPs and provide insights into the functional properties of DSPs of unknown function.

The dual specificity phosphatase transcriptome of the murine thymus

Properly regulated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity is critical for normal thymocyte development. MAP kinases are activated by phosphorylation of tyrosine and threonine, and dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) can inactivate MAP kinases by dephosphorylating both tyrosine and threonine. However, a role for DUSPs in thymocyte development has not been described. In this study, we have defined the subset of DUSP genes expressed in the murine thymus, and how their expression varies in different thymocyte subsets. Of the murine DUSP genes screened that could potentially dephosphorylate MAP kinases, we found 10 transcribed in the thymus. Seven of these 10 thymic DUSPs are true MAP kinase phosphatases based on the presence of a MAP kinase binding domain and demonstrated phosphatase activity against MAP kinases. Six of the seven thymic MAP kinase phosphatases have been shown to dephosphorylate extracellular regulated kinase (ERK). Quantitative PCR analysis of thymocyte populations isolated from different developmental stages revealed significant changes in DUSP expression as thymocytes progressed through development. Specifically, DUSPs 1, 4, and 5 significantly increase in expression as cells go from small, resting CD4/CD8 double positive cells to the CD4 single positive stage. Additionally, in vitro experiments showed that DUSPs could respond to TCR signaling, as anti-CD3 stimulation of thymocytes transiently increased transcription of six of the 10 thymic DUSP genes within 30 min. Notably, the ERK-specific phosphatase DUSP5 was upregulated 43-fold within 30 min, and returned to baseline within 24 h. Overall, we have identified a subset of DUSPs that could potentially regulate ERK activation in response to TCR signals in thymocytes.

Characterization of a novel low-molecular-mass dual-specificity phosphatase-3 (LDP-3) that enhances activation of JNK and p38

We have isolated a mouse cDNA for a novel dual-specificity phosphatase designated LDP-3 (low-molecular-mass dual-specificity phosphatase 3). The 450 bp open reading frame encodes a protein of 150 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 16 kDa. Northern blot and reverse transcription-PCR analyses show that LDP-3 transcripts are expressed in almost all mouse tissues examined. In vitro analyses using several substrates and inhibitors indicate that LDP-3 possesses intrinsic dual-specificity phosphatase activity. When expressed in mammalian cells, LDP-3 protein is localized mainly to the apical submembrane area. Forced expression of LDP-3 does not alter activation of ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase), but rather enhances activation of JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and p38 and their respective upstream kinases MKK4 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4) and MKK6 in cells treated with 0.4 M sorbitol. By screening with a variety of stimuli, we found that LDP-3 specifically enhances the osmotic stress-induced activation of JNK and p38.