Purification and characterization of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinases

Nuclear Phosphoinositides as Key Determinants of Nuclear Functions

Polyphosphoinositides (PPIns) are signalling messengers representing less than five per cent of the total phospholipid concentration within the cell. Despite their low concentration, these lipids are critical regulators of various cellular processes, including cell cycle, differentiation, gene transcription, apoptosis and motility. PPIns are generated by the phosphorylation of the inositol head group of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns). Different pools of PPIns are found at distinct subcellular compartments, which are regulated by an array of kinases, phosphatases and phospholipases. Six of the seven PPIns species have been found in the nucleus, including the nuclear envelope, the nucleoplasm and the nucleolus. The identification and characterisation of PPIns interactor and effector proteins in the nucleus have led to increasing interest in the role of PPIns in nuclear signalling. However, the regulation and functions of PPIns in the nucleus are complex and are still being elucidated. This review summarises our current understanding of the localisation, biogenesis and physiological functions of the different PPIns species in the nucleus.

Signaling roles of phosphoinositides in the retina

The field of phosphoinositide signaling has expanded significantly in recent years. Phosphoinositides (also known as phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs) are universal signaling molecules that directly interact with membrane proteins or with cytosolic proteins containing domains that directly bind phosphoinositides and are recruited to cell membranes. Through the activities of phosphoinositide kinases and phosphoinositide phosphatases, seven distinct phosphoinositide lipid molecules are formed from the parent molecule, phosphatidylinositol. PIP signals regulate a wide range of cellular functions, including cytoskeletal assembly, membrane budding and fusion, ciliogenesis, vesicular transport, and signal transduction. Given the many excellent reviews on phosphoinositide kinases, phosphoinositide phosphatases, and PIPs in general, in this review, we discuss recent studies and advances in PIP lipid signaling in the retina. We specifically focus on PIP lipids from vertebrate (e.g., bovine, rat, mouse, toad, and zebrafish) and invertebrate (e.g., Drosophila, horseshoe crab, and squid) retinas. We also discuss the importance of PIPs revealed from animal models and human diseases, and methods to study PIP levels both in vitro and in vivo. We propose that future studies should investigate the function and mechanism of activation of PIP-modifying enzymes/phosphatases and further unravel PIP regulation and function in the different cell types of the retina.

PIP4K and the role of nuclear phosphoinositides in tumour suppression

Phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate (PtdIns5P)-4-kinases (PIP4Ks) are stress-regulated lipid kinases that phosphorylate PtdIns5P to generate PtdIns(4,5)P₂. There are three isoforms of PIP4Ks: PIP4K2A, 2B and 2C, which localise to different subcellular compartments with the PIP4K2B isoform being localised predominantly in the nucleus. Suppression of PIP4K expression selectively prevents tumour cell growth in vitro and prevents tumour development in mice that have lost the tumour suppressor p53. p53 is lost or mutated in over 70% of all human tumours. These studies suggest that inhibition of PIP4K signalling constitutes a novel anti-cancer therapeutic target. In this review we will discuss the role of PIP4K in tumour suppression and speculate on how PIP4K modulates nuclear phosphoinositides (PPIns) and how this might impact on nuclear functions to regulate cell growth. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Phosphoinositides.

Phosphoinositides: tiny lipids with giant impact on cell regulation

Phosphoinositides (PIs) make up only a small fraction of cellular phospholipids, yet they control almost all aspects of a cell's life and death. These lipids gained tremendous research interest as plasma membrane signaling molecules when discovered in the 1970s and 1980s. Research in the last 15 years has added a wide range of biological processes regulated by PIs, turning these lipids into one of the most universal signaling entities in eukaryotic cells. PIs control organelle biology by regulating vesicular trafficking, but they also modulate lipid distribution and metabolism via their close relationship with lipid transfer proteins. PIs regulate ion channels, pumps, and transporters and control both endocytic and exocytic processes. The nuclear phosphoinositides have grown from being an epiphenomenon to a research area of its own. As expected from such pleiotropic regulators, derangements of phosphoinositide metabolism are responsible for a number of human diseases ranging from rare genetic disorders to the most common ones such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Moreover, it is increasingly evident that a number of infectious agents hijack the PI regulatory systems of host cells for their intracellular movements, replication, and assembly. As a result, PI converting enzymes began to be noticed by pharmaceutical companies as potential therapeutic targets. This review is an attempt to give an overview of this enormous research field focusing on major developments in diverse areas of basic science linked to cellular physiology and disease.

PtdIns5P and Pin1 in oxidative stress signaling

Oxidative signaling is important in cellular health, involved in aging and contributes to the development of several diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration and diabetes. Correct management of reactive oxygen species (ROS) prevents oxidative stress within cells and is imperative for cellular wellbeing. A key pathway that is regulated by oxidative stress is the activation of proline-directed stress kinases (p38, JNK). Phosphorylation induced by these kinases is often translated into cellular outcome through the recruitment of the prolyl-isomerase Pin1. Pin1 binds to phosphorylated substrates using its WW-domain and can induce conformational changes in the target protein through its prolyl-isomerase activity. We show that exposure of cells to UV irradiation or hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), induces the synthesis of the phosphoinositide second messenger PtdIns5P in part by inducing the interaction between phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate 4-kinase (PIP4K) enzymes that remove PtdIns5P, with Pin1. In response to H₂O₂ exposure, Murine Embryonic Fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from Pin1⁻/⁻ mice showed increased cell viability and an increased abundance of PtdIns5P compared to wild-type MEFs. Decreasing the levels of PtdIns5P in Pin1⁻/⁻ MEFs decreased both their viability in response to H₂O₂ exposure and the expression of genes required for cellular ROS management. The decrease in the expression of these genes manifested itself in the increased accumulation of cellular ROS. These data strongly argue that PtdIns5P acts as a stress-induced second messenger that can calibrate how cells manage ROS.

Regulation of type II phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase by tyrosine phosphorylation in bovine rod outer segments

Type II phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase (PIPKII) is an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI-4,5-P(2)) from phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate (PI-5-P). In this study, we demonstrate the presence of PIPKII alpha in bovine photoreceptor rod outer segments (ROS) and the involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation in the regulation of its activity. PIPKII activity in bovine ROS was verified by the preferential conversion of synthetic dipalmitoyl PI-5-P to PI-4,5-P(2), lack of effect of phosphatidic acid, inhibition by heparin, immunoreaction with an anti-PIPKII alpha antibody on Western blots, and immunocytochemical localization in bovine and rat ROS by anti-PIPKII alpha. Immunoprecipitates of bovine ROS with the anti-PIPKII alpha antibody possessed PIPK enzymatic activity and preferentially used PI-5-P as substrate for PI-4,5-P(2) biosynthesis. The activity of PIPKII was greatly increased under conditions favoring tyrosine phosphorylation in ROS, and PIPKII activity was immunoprecipitated with anti-phosphotyrosine (anti-PY) antibodies from tyrosine phosphorylated ROS. Preincubation of ROS with tyrosine kinase inhibitors almost abolished the kinase activity in the anti-PY immunoprecipitates. Immunoblot analysis showed that PIPKII alpha was present in anti-PY immunoprecipitates from phosphorylated ROS but not from nonphosphorylated controls. We conclude that PIPKII alpha is present in ROS and that its activity is regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation.

Regulation of type IIalpha phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase localisation by the protein kinase CK2

Inositol lipid synthesis is regulated by several distinct families of enzymes [1]. Members of one of these families, the type II phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIP kinases), are 4-kinases and are thought to catalyse a minor route of synthesis of the multifunctional phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) from the inositide PI(5)P [2]. Here, we demonstrate the partial purification of a protein kinase that phosphorylates the type IIalpha PIP kinase at a single site unique to that isoform - Ser304. This kinase was identified as protein kinase CK2 (formerly casein kinase 2). Mutation of Ser304 to aspartate to mimic its phosphorylation had no effect on PIP kinase activity, but promoted both redistribution of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged enzyme in HeLa cells from the cytosol to the plasma membrane, and membrane ruffling. This effect was mimicked by mutation of Ser304 to alanine, although not to threonine, suggesting a mechanism involving the unmasking of a latent membrane localisation sequence in response to phosphorylation.

Regulation of PtdIns4P 5-kinase C by thrombin-stimulated changes in its phosphorylation state in human platelets

PtdIns(4,5)P2 production by the enzyme PtdIns4P 5-kinase C (PIPkin C) was examined in thrombin-stimulated human platelets. Thrombin caused a rapid, transient 2-3-fold increase in PIPkin activity and a transient net dephosphorylation of the enzyme. PIPkin C was phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues in unstimulated platelets; no evidence for tyrosine phosphorylation was found. The phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid promoted PIPkin C hyperphosphorylation and a concomitant marked inhibition of its activity in immunoprecipitates. Activity was restored by treatment with alkaline phosphatase, suggesting the existence of an inhibitory phosphorylation site. In support of this idea, alkaline phosphatase treatment of PIPkin C immunoprecipitated from unstimulated platelets caused a modest (1.6-fold) but significant activation of the enzyme. However, alkaline phosphatase treatment of PIPkin C immunoprecipitated from thrombin-stimulated platelets caused a decrease in activity to approximately the same levels, suggesting that the phosphorylation of PIPkin C also contributes to the observed stimulation. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping of immunoprecipitated PIPkin C revealed that the enzyme is multiply phosphorylated and that, whereas some phosphopeptides are indeed lost on stimulation, consistent with the net dephosphorylation of the enzyme, at least two novel sites become phosphorylated. This suggests that thrombin causes complex changes in the phosphorylation state of PIPkin C, one consequence of which is its activation.

In vitro and in vivo inhibitory actions of morin on rat brain phosphatidylinositolphosphate kinase activity

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate occupies a central role in signal transduction and in cellular transformation. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate is produced by the enzymatic phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate by phosphatidylinositolphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.1.68). Inhibition of this enzyme might conceivably lowers the cellular pool of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate, thus constituting a feasible control point in regulating signal transduction and cellular transformation. Morin, a plant flavonoid, was demonstrated to exhibit in vitro inhibitory action on phosphatidylinositolphosphate kinase extracted from rat brain. This inhibition of enzymatic activity was found to be dose-dependent, with an IC50 value of approximately 10 microM morin. Lineweaver-Burk transformation of the inhibition data indicates that inhibition was competitive with respect to ATP. The Ki was calculated to be 5.15 x 10(-6) M. Inhibition was uncompetitive with respect to phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate. The Ki was determined to be 0.94 x 10(-5) M. Administration of morin to rats led to a decrease in phosphatidylinositolphosphate kinase activity in brain extracts. This in vivo action of morin was found to be dose-dependent and time-dependent. These effects of morin on rat brain phosphatidylinositolphosphate kinase activity are discussed in relation to the other reported biological actions of this flavonoid.

Metabolism and possible compartmentalization of inositol lipids in isolated rat-liver nuclei

(1) The removal of the nuclear envelope from isolated rat-liver nuclei by washing with Triton X-100 (TX-100) was assessed by electron microscopy. All the envelope was removed by 0.04% (w/v) TX-100. (2) After this removal, phosphorylation of inositol lipids and diacylglycerol (DAG) from [gamma-32P]ATP still occurs, despite the near complete absence of detectable (by mass assay) DAG and PtdIns. This suggests that the majority of these two lipids in nuclei are present in the nuclear membrane, but the small amounts remaining after extraction, defined as intranuclear, are available for phosphorylation by lipid kinases (36% for DAG and 24% for PtdIns respectively, when expressed as a percentage of incorporation of intact nuclei). (3) PtdIns(4,5)P2 did not follow the same pattern as PtdIns and DAG; after removal of the nuclear membrane, 40% of the mass of this lipid was left in the nucleus. Moreover, a similar amount of PtdIns(4,5)P2 was also resistant to extraction with even higher concentrations of detergent, suggesting that PtdIns(4,5)P2 has a discrete intranuclear location, probably bound to nuclear proteins. (4) Addition of exogenous substrates, PtdIns, PtdIns(4)P and DAG, to membrane-depleted nuclei resulted in reconstitution of the majority of lipid phosphorylations from [gamma-32P]ATP (70%, 90% and 94% of intact nuclei respectively), suggesting a predominantly intranuclear location for the respective kinases. (5) Nuclei also showed phosphomonoesterase and phosphatidic acid hydrolase activity; dephosphorylation of pre-radiolabelled PtdIns(4)P, PtdIns(4,5)P2 and phosphatidic acid was observed when [gamma-32P]ATP was removed. However, some of the radioactivity was apparently resistant to these enzymes, suggesting the existence of multiple pools of these lipids. (6) Addition of excess non-radiolabelled ATP to nuclei pre-labelled with [gamma-32P]ATP resulted in an initial increase in the label in PtdIns(4,5)P2, implying a precursor-product relationship between the radiolabelled pools of PtdIns(4)P and PtdIns(4,5)P2. This was confirmed by analysis of the incorporation of 32P into the 4'-phosphate group of PtdIns(4)P and the individual 4'- and 5'-phosphate groups of PtdIns(4,5)P2. The data from these experiments also indicated that PtdIns(4,5)P2 can be produced from a pre-existing pool of PtdIns(4)P, as well as de novo from PtdIns. (7) Taken together our data suggest that isolated rat-liver nuclei have an intranuclear inositol lipid metabolism mechanism utilizing enzymes and substrates equivalent to those found in cytosol and plasma membrane, and that there may be some, but not complete, compartmentalization of the components of the nuclear inositol cycle.

A novel interaction between the juxtamembrane region of the p55 tumor necrosis factor receptor and phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) binding to its receptors leads to a diversity of biological responses. The actions of TNF are the result of the interaction of cytoplasmic proteins that bind directly to the intracellular domains of the two TNF receptors, p55 and p75. Here we report a novel interaction between the juxtamembrane region of the p55 TNF receptor and a newly discovered 47-kDa isoform of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K), a member of the enzyme family that generates the key signaling messenger, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The interaction was found to be specific for the p55 TNF receptor and was not observed with the p75 TNF receptor, the Fas antigen, or the p75 neurotrophin receptor, which are other members of the TNF receptor superfamily. In vitro experiments using recombinant fusion proteins verify the authenticity of the interaction between the p55 receptor and PIP5KIIbeta, a new isoform of PIP5K, but not the previously identified 53-kDa PIP5KIIalpha. Treatment of HeLa cells with TNF-alpha resulted in an increased PIP5K activity. These results indicate that phosphatidylinositol turnover may be linked to stimulation of the p55 TNF receptor and suggest that a subset of TNF responses may result from the direct association of PIP5KIIbeta with the p55 TNF receptor.

Aggregation-dependent, integrin-mediated increases in cytoskeletally associated PtdInsP2 (4,5) levels in human platelets are controlled by translocation of PtdIns 4-P 5-kinase C to the cytoskeleton

Thrombin-stimulated aggregation of human platelets promotes an increase in the phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns 4-P) 5-kinase (PIPkin) activity in the cytoskeleton. This phenomenon is associated with translocation of PIPkin isoform C to the cytoskeleton and with an increase in the amount of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PtdInsP2) bound to the cytoskeletal pellet. All three of these effects are prevented if the platelets are not stirred or if RGD-containing peptides are present, demonstrating that they require integrin activation. All three are also abolished by pretreatment with okadaic acid, which also prevents the aggregation-dependent translocation of pp60(c-src) to the cytoskeleton. The results point to the existence of a cytoskeletally associated PtdInsP2 pool under the control of integrin-mediated signals that act via PIPkin C and suggest that a common, okadaic acid-sensitive mechanism may underlie the aggregation-dependent translocation of certain signalling molecules to the platelet cytoskeleton.

Phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase: purification and inhibition studies

A membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase has been purified approximately 110,000-fold from sheep brains. The purification procedure involves: sodium chloride (1M) extraction of the membrane, 20-40% ammonium sulfate fractionation, phosphocellulose (P-11) chromatography, a second phosphocellulose chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, heparin Sepharose chromatography, HPLC SP(SO3- polymer)-cation exchange chromatography, and HPLC gel filtration. The purified enzyme exhibited a final specific activity of 1750 nmole/min/mg of protein. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be approximately 60 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 130 kDa by HPLC gel filtration. Kinetic measurements showed that the apparent Km value of phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase for the utilization of ATP is 43 microM. The 2'(3')-0-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) derivative of ATP was found to be an inhibitor of the enzyme. The mode of inhibition is competitive, with a Ki value of 55 microM.

The phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase family

The existence of a PIP5K family of enzymes has been suggested by Western blotting and purification of numerous PIP5Ks from various tissues and cell types. The erythrocyte has at least two PIP5Ks, named PIP5KI and PIP5KII, while the brain appears to have even more isoforms. The cloning of the first PIP5K, the PIP5KII alpha, is just the beginning of the molecular classification of this protein family. The PIP5KII alpha sequence has shown that these enzymes lack obvious homology to protein, sugar and other lipid kinases. The identification of two S. cerevisiae homologues, Mss4p and Fab1p, confirms that this family of kinases is widely distributed in eukaryotes. Not surprisingly, cloning experiments have identified additional isoforms. By cloning additional isoforms, insights into the structure and functions of this family of enzymes will be gained. One reason for a large family of PIP5Ks is that many forms of regulation and cellular functions have been ascribed to PIP5Ks, as summarized in Figure 10. Some of these functional links result from PtdIns[4,5]P2 being required for a given process, but the direct involvement of specific PIP5Ks is not well defined. Which PIP5K isoforms are regulated by a specific mechanism or are involved in a cellular process often is not clear. For example, which PIP5Ks produce PtdIns[4,5]P2 that is hydrolyzed by PLC or phosphorylated by the PI 3-kinase is not known. A few exceptions are PIP5KII not being able to phosphorylate PtdIns[4,5]P2 in native membranes, and PIP5KIs being stimulated by PtdA, required for secretion, and possibly regulated by G proteins of the Rho subfamily. The multiplicity of regulation and functions of each PIP5K isoform remains to be elucidated. Another factor governing the number of isoforms may be presence of multiple pools of polyphosphoinositides and the localizing of PIP5K function within cells. The polyphosphoinositides appear to be compartmentalized within cells and each pool appears to be sensitive to specific signals. These polyphosphoinositide pools may include those in the plasma membrane that are used by PLC, nuclear pools that appear to turn over separately from cytoplasmic pools and a small pool at sites of vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane. Each pool may be controlled by a specific PIP5K isoform. This would explain the diversity of PIP5K cellular roles. Another possibility is that the PIP5Ks are localized to certain areas of the cell by being part of a protein or proteolipid complex. Furthermore, the presence of PITP or PLC in the complex would potentially impart specificity and speed on the use of PtdIns[4]P and PtdIns[4,5]P2 because these lipids could be channeled quickly from one enzyme to the next. The concept of localized complexes containing particular PIP5K isoforms that control the composition of different polyphosphoinositide pools will likely be important as the family of PIP5K isoforms grows.

A phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase gene family in Dictyostelium discoideum: biological roles of putative mammalian p110 and yeast Vps34p PI 3-kinase homologs during growth and development

Three groups of phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinases convert PI into PI(3)phosphate, PI(4)phosphate, PI(4,5) bisphosphate, and PI(3,4,5)trisphosphate. These phosphoinositides have been shown to function in vesicle-mediated protein sorting, and they serve as second-messenger signaling molecules for regulating cell growth. To further elucidate the mechanism of regulation and function of phosphoinositides, we cloned genes encoding five putative PI kinases from Dictyostelium discoideum. Database analysis indicates that D. discoideum PIK1 (DdPIK1), -2, and -3 are most closely related to the mammalian p110 PI 3-kinase, DdPIK5 is closest to the yeast Vps34p PI 3-kinase, and DdPIK4 is most homologous to PI 4-kinases. Together with other known PI kinases, a superfamily of PI kinase genes has been defined, with all of the encoded proteins sharing a common highly conserved catalytic core domain. DdPIK1, -2, and -3 may have redundant functions because disruption of any single gene had no effect on D. discoideum growth or development. However, strains in which both of the two most highly related genes, DdPIK1 and DdPIK2, were disrupted showed both growth and developmental defects, while double knockouts of DdPIK1 and DdPIK3 and DdPIK2 and DdPIK3 appear to be lethal. The delta Ddpik1 delta Ddpik2 null cells were smaller than wild-type cells and grew slowly both in association with bacteria and in axenic medium when attached to petri plates but were unable to grow in suspension in axenic medium. When delta Ddpik1 delta Ddpik2 null cells were plated for multicellular development, they formed aggregates having multiple tips and produced abnormal fruiting bodies. Antisense expression of DdPIK5 (a putative homolog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae VPS34) led to a defect in the growth of D. discoideum cells on bacterial lawns and abnormal development. DdPIK5 complemented the temperature-sensitive growth defect of a Schizosaccharomyces pombe delta Svps34 mutant strain, suggesting DdPIK5 encodes a functional homolog of yeast Vps34p. These observations indicate that in D. discoideum, different PI kinases regulate distinct cellular processes, including cell growth, development, and protein trafficking.

The cloning and sequence of the C isoform of PtdIns4P 5-kinase

In this study we describe the purification and sequencing of the C isoform of platelet PtdIns4P 5-kinase. Subsequently a cDNA was isolated from a human circulating-leucocyte library, which when sequenced was shown to contain all of the peptides identified in the purified protein. In addition, expression of this cDNA in bacteria led to the production of a protein which was recognized by specific monoclonal antibodies raised to the bovine brain enzyme [Brooksbank, Hutchings, Butcher, Irvine and Divecha (1993) Biochem. J. 291, 77-82] and also led to the appearance of PtdIns4P 5-kinase activity in the bacterial lysates. Interestingly, the cDNA showed no similarity to any of the previously cloned inositide kinases. A search of the DNA databases showed that two proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae shared close similarity to this enzyme, one of which, the mss4 gene product, has been implicated in the yeast inositol lipid pathway. These data suggest that the PtdIns4P 5-kinases are a new family of inositide kinases unrelated to the previously cloned phosphoinositide 3/4-kinases.

Rho family GTPases bind to phosphoinositide kinases

Rho family GTPases appear to play an important role in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, but the mechanism of regulation is unknown. Since phosphoinositide 3-kinase and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate have also been implicated in actin reorganization, we investigated the possibility that Rho family members interact with phosphoinositide kinases. We found that both GTP- and GDP-bound Rac1 associate with phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase in vitro and in vivo. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase also bound to Rac1 and Cdc42Hs, and these interactions were GTP-dependent. Stimulation of Swiss 3T3 cells with platelet-derived growth factor induced the association of PI 3-kinase with Rac in immunoprecipitates. PI 3-kinase activity was also detected in Cdc42 immunoprecipitates from COS7 cells. These results suggest that phosphoinositide kinases are involved in Rho family signal transduction pathways and raise the possibility that the effects of Rho family members on the actin cytoskeleton are mediated in part by phosphoinositide kinases.

Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein dictates the rate of inositol trisphosphate production by promoting the synthesis of PIP2

BACKGROUND

Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PI-TP), which has the ability to transfer phosphatidylinositol (PI) from one membrane compartment to another, is required in the inositol lipid signalling pathway through phospholipase C-beta (PLC-beta) that is regulated by GTP-binding protein(s) in response to extracellular signals. Here, we test the hypothesis that the principal role of PI-TP is to couple sites of lipid hydrolysis to sites of synthesis, and so to replenish depleted substrate for PLC-beta.

RESULTS

We have designed an experimental protocol that takes advantage of the different rates of release of endogenous PI-TP and PLC-beta from HL60 cells permeabilized with streptolysin O. We have examined the kinetics of stimulated inositol lipid hydrolysis in cells depleted of PI-TP, but not of endogenous PLC-beta, in the presence and absence of exogenous PI-TP. Linear time-courses were observed in the absence of any added protein, and the rate was accelerated by PI-TP using either guanosine 5'[gamma-thio]-triphosphate (GTP gamma S) or the receptor-directed agonist fMetLeuPhe as activators. In addition, depletion from the cells of both PI-TP and PLC-beta isoforms by extended permeabilization (40 minutes) allowed us to control the levels of PLC-beta present in the cells. Once again, PI-TP increased the rates of reactions. To identify whether the role of PI-TP was to make available the substrate phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) for the PLC, we examined the synthesis of PIP2 in cells depleted of PI-TP. We found that PI-TP was essential for the synthesis of PIP2.

CONCLUSIONS

The predicted function of PI-TP in inositol lipid signalling is the provision of substrate for PLC-beta from intracellular sites where PI is synthesized. We propose that PI-TP is in fact a co-factor in inositol lipid signalling and acts by interacting with the inositol lipid kinases. We hypothesize that the preferred substrate for PLC-beta is not the lipid that is resident in the membrane but that provided through PI-TP.

Homologous and heterologous regulation of receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis

Signal transduction at a diverse range of pharmacologically distinct receptors is effected by the enhanced turnover of inositol phospholipids, with the attendant formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. Although considerable progress has been made in recent years towards the identification and characterization of the individual components of this pathway, much less is known of mechanisms that may underlie its regulation. In this review, evidence is presented for the potential regulation of inositol lipid turnover at the level of receptor, phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and substrate availability in response to either homologous or heterologous stimuli. Available data indicate that the extent of receptor-stimulated inositol lipid hydrolysis is regulated by multiple mechanisms that operate at different levels of the signal transduction pathway.

Specific binding sites for inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate are located predominantly in the plasma membranes of human platelets

In the present study we describe the characterization and localization of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4-binding sites in human platelet membranes. Specific binding sites for Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 have been identified on mixed, plasma and intracellular membranes from neuraminidase-treated platelets using highly purified carrier-free [32P]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. The displacement of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 from these sites by Ins(1,4,5)P3 and InsP6 occurs at greater than two orders of magnitude higher concentrations and with Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 at about 40-fold higher concentrations than with Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. The membranes were further separated by free-flow electrophoresis into plasma and intracellular membranes. The Ins(1,3,4,5)P4-binding sites separated with plasma membranes, and showed similar affinities and specificities as mixed membranes, whereas Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding sites were predominantly in the intracellular membranes. These results suggest a predominantly plasma membrane location for putative Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 receptors in human platelets.

Activation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate supply by agonists and non-hydrolysable GTP analogues

PtdIns(4,5)P2 serves as a precursor of a diverse family of signalling molecules, including diacylglycerol (and hence phosphatidic acid), Ins(1,4,5)P3 [and hence Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3. The production of these messengers can be activated by agonists, and therefore the rate of utilization of PtdIns(4,5)P2 can vary dramatically. Although cells can only meet these large changes in demand for PtdIns(4,5)P2 by increasing its synthesis and/or by continuously cycling it at a rate that exceeds its potential consumption (avoiding the need for a co-ordinated activation mechanism), no satisfactory explanation for how this is achieved in agonist-stimulated cells has yet been provided. We show here that, in streptolysin-O-permeabilized neutrophils, N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), platelet-activating factor (PAF) and non-hydrolysable GTP analogues can cause large activations of PtdIns4P 5-kinase, suggesting that cells can accommodate agonist-activated rates of consumption of PtdIns(4,5)P2 without having to sustain continuous, comparably rapid and energetically expensive 'futile cycling' reactions.

Identification of a new 80 k isoform of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase from bovine brain

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase is associated with bovine brain microsomes to an extent of approximately 65% of the total cellular enzyme activity. This membrane-associated kinase activity can be solubilized with Triton X-114. Following polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS the enzyme can be renaturated from gel slices in the presence of desoxycholate and Triton X-100. Catalytic activity appears at an apparent molecular weight of 80 k. Analysis of the reaction product formed by the 80 k protein reveals the existence of a 5-phosphotransferase, identifying the 80 k polypeptide as a new phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase isoform.

Monoclonal antibodies to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase: distribution and intracellular localization of the C isoform

We have raised a panel of monoclonal antibodies to PtdIns4P 5-kinase C purified from bovine brain [Divecha, Brooksbank and Irvine (1992) Biochem. J. 288, 637-642]. This panel includes antibodies which specifically recognize PtdIns4P 5-kinase C both in a native catalytically active condition, and/or when presented on Western blots. Some of the former antibodies will also inhibit PtdIns4P 5-kinase C activity. We have used the blotting antibodies to study the bovine tissue distribution of PtdIns4P 5-kinase C and its distribution in mammalian species. We have also studied its localization in Jurkat cells and found it to be predominantly bound to membranes, with only a minority localized to the cytoskeleton. Neither PtdIns4P 5-kinase activity nor PtdIns4P 5-kinase C, as detected by Western blotting, were increased in the cytoskeleton after stimulation of Jurkat cells with OKT3. These antibodies should prove to be extremely useful tools with which to study the regulation of PtdIns4P 5-kinase C.

Phosphoinositide signalling enzymes in rat liver nuclei: phosphoinositidase C isoform beta 1 is specifically, but not predominantly, located in the nucleus

The presence of phosphoinositide-mobilizing enzymes has been investigated in purified rat liver nuclei by radiolabelling and by probing with antibodies. A Ca(2+)-activated phosphoinositidase C (PIC) is present and was shown immunologically to be the beta 1 isoform. No gamma- or delta-PIC was found. However, only 5% of the total beta 1-PIC isoform is nuclear, with the majority being cytosolic. G alpha q and G alpha 11, the suggested physiological activators of beta 1-PIC, were not present. A PtdIns4P 5-kinase is also present, which immunologically is shown to be the C isoform. All of these nuclear inositide enzymes still remained after the removal of the nuclear envelope with Triton X-100, consistent with the concept of an intranuclear inositide cycle [Divecha, Banfic and Irvine (1991) EMBO. J. 10, 3207-3214].