Differential expression of mRNAs for protein kinase inhibitor isoforms in mouse brain

Protein Kinase A as a Promising Target for Heart Failure Drug Development

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by impaired ability of the heart to fill or eject blood. HF is rather prevalent and it represents the foremost reason of hospitalization in the United States. The costs linked to HF overrun those of all other causes of disabilities, and death in the United States and all over the developed as well as the developing countries which amplify the supreme significance of its prevention. Protein kinase (PK) A plays multiple roles in heart functions including, contraction, metabolism, ion fluxes, and gene transcription. Altered PKA activity is likely to cause the progression to cardiomyopathy and HF. Thus, this review is intended to focus on the roles of PKA and PKA-mediated signal transduction in the healthy heart as well as during the development of HF. Furthermore, the impact of cardiac PKA inhibition/activation will be highlighted to identify PKA as a potential target for the HF drug development.

The design and delivery of a PKA inhibitory polypeptide to treat SCA1

Spinocerebellar ataxia-1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily targets Purkinje cells (PCs) of the cerebellum. The exact mechanism of PC degeneration is unknown, however, it is widely believed that mutant ataxin-1 becomes toxic because of the phosphorylation of its serine 776 (S776) residue by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). Therefore, to directly modulate mutant ATXN1 S776 phosphorylation and aggregation, we designed a therapeutic polypeptide to inhibit PKA. This polypeptide comprised of a thermally responsive elastin-like peptide (ELP) carrier, which increases peptide half-life, a PKA inhibitory peptide (PKI), and a cell-penetrating peptide (Synb1). We observed that our therapeutic polypeptide, Synb1-ELP-PKI, inhibited PKA activity at concentrations similar to the PKI peptide. Additionally, Synb1-ELP-PKI significantly suppressed mutant ATXN1 S776 phosphorylation and intranuclear inclusion formation in cell culture. Further, Synb1-ELP-PKI treatment improved SCA1 PC morphology in cerebellar slice cultures. Furthermore, the Synb1-ELP peptide carrier crossed the blood-brain barrier and localized to the cerebellum via the i.p. or intranasal route. Here, we show the intranasal delivery of ELP-based peptides to the brain as a novel delivery strategy. We also demonstrate that our therapeutic polypeptide has a great potential to target the neurotoxic S776 phosphorylation pathway in the SCA1 disease.

Downregulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor gamma is required for BMP-2-induced osteoblastic differentiation

Osteoblasts, normally derived from undifferentiated mesenchymal precursor cells, acquire their characteristic phenotypes when induced by various regulatory factors, one of which is bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Our recent studies suggest that expression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor G (PKIG) is down-regulated as human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) undergo BMP-2-induced osteoblastic differentiation. This raises our hypothesis that the PKA pathway is involved in osteogenesis. In this report, we demonstrated that PKIG in human MSCs and its murine homologue PKA inhibitor gamma (PKIgamma) in murine pre-myoblast C2C12 cells were down-regulated when these cells were treated with BMP-2. On the contrary, the PKA activity of C2C12 cells was increased upon BMP-2 treatment. Overexpression of PKIgamma in C2C12 cells was shown to repress mRNA expression of early osteoblastic markers osterix and type I collagen while inhibiting the PKA activity. This correlated with decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Furthermore, inhibition of the PKA activity using its specific inhibitor KT5720 was found to have the similar effect, whereas 8-Br-cAMP, a specific PKA activator, accelerated BMP-2-induced ALP activities. Finally, this study showed that BMP-2 treatment promoted activities of transcription regulatory elements including cAMP response element (CRE) and activating protein-1 (AP1). This effect of BMP-2 was diminished in PKIgamma-overexpressed C2C12 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that the activation of the PKA pathway may be one of key BMP-2-activated signaling events that lead to osteogenesis and that downregulation of PKIgamma may be prerequisite for the PKA activation during the osteoblastic differentiation of precursor cells.

Protein kinase inhibitor peptide (PKI): a family of endogenous neuropeptides that modulate neuronal cAMP-dependent protein kinase function

Signal transduction cascades involving cAMP-dependent protein kinase are highly conserved among a wide variety of organisms. Given the universal nature of this enzyme it is not surprising that cAMP-dependent protein kinase plays a critical role in numerous cellular processes. This is particularly evident in the nervous system where cAMP-dependent protein kinase is involved in neurotransmitter release, gene transcription, and synaptic plasticity. Protein kinase inhibitor peptide (PKI) is an endogenous thermostable peptide that modulates cAMP-dependent protein kinase function. PKI contains two distinct functional domains within its amino acid sequence that allow it to: (1) potently and specifically inhibit the activity of the free catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and (2) export the free catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase from the nucleus. Three distinct PKI isoforms (PKIalpha, PKIbeta, PKIgamma) have been identified and each isoform is expressed in the brain. PKI modulates neuronal synaptic activity, while PKI also is involved in morphogenesis and symmetrical left-right axis formation. In addition, PKI also plays a role in regulating gene expression induced by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Future studies should identify novel physiological functions for endogenous PKI both in the nervous system and throughout the body. Most interesting will be the determination whether functional differences exist between individual PKI isoforms which is an intriguing possibility since these isoforms exhibit: (1) cell-type specific tissue expression patterns, (2) different potencies for the inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity, and (3) expression patterns that are hormonally, developmentally and cell-cycle regulated. Finally, synthetic peptide analogs of endogenous PKI will continue to be invaluable tools that are used to elucidate the role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in a variety of cellular processes throughout the nervous system and the rest of the body.

The role of an endogenous PKA inhibitor, PKIalpha, in organizing left-right axis formation

Protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) is an endogenous inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). We have found that the alpha-isoform of PKI (PKIalpha) is asymmetrically expressed along the left-right (L-R) axis in chick embryos. At stage 6, PKIalpha is expressed on the right side of the node, and this asymmetric expression continues until stage 7+. After stage 8, PKIalpha expression returns symmetric. Treatment of embryos with antisense PKIalpha oligonucleotides increased the incidence of reversed heart looping. Antisense oligonucleotides also induced ectopic expression of the left-specific genes Nodal and Pitx2, and suppressed the expression of the right-specific gene SnR in the right lateral plate mesoderm. Similarly, treatment with PKA activators forskolin and Sp-cAMPs resulted in both reversed heart looping and bilateral expression of NODAL: Ectopic activin induced PKIalpha on the left side of the node, while ectopic Shh and anti-Shh antibody had no effect on PKIalpha expression. Taken together, these data suggest that PKIalpha induced by an activin-like molecule, through the inhibition of PKA activity, suppresses the Nodal-Pitx2 pathway on the right side of the body.

Reproductive function in protein kinase inhibitor-deficient mice

The protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) family includes three genes encoding small, heat-stable inhibitors of the cyclic AMP-dependent kinase PKA. Each PKI isoform contains a PKA inhibitory domain and a nuclear export domain, enabling PKI to both inhibit PKA and remove it from the nucleus. The PKIbeta isoform, also known as testis PKI, is highly expressed in germ cells of the testis and is found at more modest levels in other tissues. In order to investigate its physiological role, we have generated PKIbeta knockout mice by gene targeting. These mice exhibit a partial loss of PKI activity in testis but remain fertile with normal testis development and function. PKIbeta knockout females also reproduce normally. The PKIbeta mutants were crossed with our previously derived PKIalpha mutants to obtain double-knockout mice. Remarkably, these mice are also viable and fertile with no obvious physiological defects in either males or females.

Deficient gene expression in protein kinase inhibitor alpha Null mutant mice

Protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) is a potent endogenous inhibitor of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA). It functions by binding the free catalytic (C) subunit with a high affinity and is also known to export nuclear C subunit to the cytoplasm. The significance of these actions with respect to PKI's physiological role is not well understood. To address this, we have generated by homologous recombination mutant mice that are deficient in PKIalpha, one of the three isoforms of PKI. The mice completely lack PKI activity in skeletal muscle and, surprisingly, show decreased basal and isoproterenol-induced gene expression in muscle. Further examination revealed reduced levels of the phosphorylated (active) form of the transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) in the knockouts. This phenomenon stems, at least in part, from lower basal PKA activity levels in the mutants, arising from a compensatory increase in the level of the RIalpha subunit of PKA. The deficit in gene induction, however, is not easily explained by current models of PKI function and suggests that PKI may play an as yet undescribed role in PKA signaling.

Corticotropin-releasing factor and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide activate gene transcription through the cAMP signaling pathway in a catecholaminergic immortalized neuron

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) are neuropeptides displaying a variety of short-term effects in the nervous system. It is shown here in transfection experiments of an immortalized noradrenergic locus coeruleus-like cell line that both CRF and VIP also trigger a signaling cascade capable of activating gene transcription. To elucidate the signaling pathway leading to transcriptional induction, cells were transfected with an inhibitor for cAMP-dependent protein kinase, targeted to the nucleus via a nuclear-localization signal. Transcriptional induction of a reporter gene by CRF and VIP was blocked in these cells, indicating that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase is required for transducing CRF and VIP generated signals into the nucleus. Additionally, transfection experiments with a reporter gene containing cAMP response elements in its regulatory region demonstrate that CRF and VIP receptor activation induce transcription through this genetic regulatory element. We conclude that long-term effects of CRF and VIP in neurons are likely to be mediated by the transcriptional regulation of CRF and VIP-responsive genes via the cAMP signaling pathway.

Phosphorylation-dependent inhibition of protein phosphatase-1 by G-substrate. A Purkinje cell substrate of the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase

G-substrate, a specific substrate of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase, has previously been localized to the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. We report here the isolation from mouse brain of a cDNA encoding G-substrate. This cDNA was used to localize G-substrate mRNA expression, as well as to produce recombinant protein for the characterization of G-substrate phosphatase inhibitory activity. Brain and eye were the only tissues in which a G-substrate transcript was detected. Within the brain, G-substrate transcripts were restricted almost entirely to the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, although transcripts were also detected at low levels in the paraventricular region of the hypothalamus and the pons/medulla. Like the native protein, the recombinant protein was preferentially phosphorylated by cGMP-dependent protein kinase (Km = 0.2 microM) over cAMP-dependent protein kinase (Km = 2.0 microM). Phospho-G-substrate inhibited the catalytic subunit of native protein phosphatase-1 with an IC50 of 131 +/- 27 nM. Dephospho-G-substrate was not found to be inhibitory. Both dephospho- and phospho-G-substrate were weak inhibitors of native protein phosphatase-2A1, which dephosphorylated G-substrate 20 times faster than the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase-1. G-substrate potentiated the action of cAMP-dependent protein kinase on a cAMP-regulated luciferase reporter construct, consistent with an inhibition of cellular phosphatases in vivo. These results provide the first demonstration that G-substrate inhibits protein phosphatase-1 and suggest a novel mechanism by which cGMP-dependent protein kinase I can regulate the activity of the type 1 protein phosphatases.

Cyclic AMP signaling and gene regulation

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger produced in cells in response to hormones and nutrients. The production of cAMP is dependent upon the actions of many different proteins that affect its synthesis and degradation. An important function of cAMP is to activate the phosphorylating enzyme, protein kinase A. The key roles of cAMP and protein kinase A in the phosphorylation and regulation of enzyme substrates involved in intermediary metabolism are well known. A newly discovered role for protein kinase A is in the phosphorylation and activation of transcription factors that are critical for the control of the transcription of genes in response to elevated levels of cAMP.

Characterization of PKIgamma, a novel isoform of the protein kinase inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Attempts to understand the physiological roles of the protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) proteins have been hampered by a lack of knowledge concerning the molecular heterogeneity of the PKI family. The PKIgamma cDNA sequence determined here predicted an open reading frame of 75 amino acids, showing 35% identity to PKIalpha and 30% identity to PKIbeta1. Residues important for the high affinity of PKIalpha and PKIbeta1 as well as nuclear export of the catalytic (C) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were found to be conserved in PKIgamma. Northern blot analysis showed that a 1.3-kilobase PKIgamma message is widely expressed, with highest levels in heart, skeletal muscle, and testis. RNase protection analysis revealed that in most tissues examined PKIgamma is expressed at levels equal to or higher than the other known PKI isoforms and that in several mouse-derived cell lines, PKIgamma is the predominant PKI message. Partial purification of PKI activities from mouse heart by DEAE ion exchange chromatography resolved two major inhibitory peaks, and isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies raised against recombinant PKIalpha and PKIgamma identified these inhibitory activities to be PKIalpha and PKIgamma. A comparison of inhibitory potencies of PKIalpha and PKIgamma expressed in Escherichia coli revealed that PKIgamma was a potent competitive inhibitor of Calpha phosphotransferase activity in vitro (Ki = 0.44 nM) but is 6-fold less potent than PKIalpha (Ki = 0.073 nM). Like PKIalpha, PKIgamma was capable of blocking the nuclear accumulation of Flag-tagged C subunit in transiently transfected mammalian cells. Finally, the murine PKIgamma gene was found to overlap the murine adenosine deaminase gene on mouse chromosome 2. These results demonstrate that PKIgamma is a novel, functional PKI isoform that accounts for the previously observed discrepancy between PKI activity and PKI mRNA levels in several mammalian tissues.