Protein phosphatase 2A inhibitors, I(1)(PP2A) and I(2)(PP2A), associate with and modify the substrate specificity of protein phosphatase 1

Akt-targeted therapy as a promising strategy to overcome drug resistance in breast cancer - A comprehensive review from chemotherapy to immunotherapy

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in women. Chemotherapy in combination with immunotherapy has been used to treat breast cancer. Atezolizumab targeting the protein programmed cell death-ligand (PD-L1) in combination with paclitaxel was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), the most incurable type of breast cancer. However, the use of such drugs is restricted by genotype and is effective only for those TNBC patients expressing PD-L1. In addition, resistance to chemotherapy with drugs such as lapatinib, geftinib, and tamoxifen can develop. In this review, we address chemoresistance in breast cancer and discuss Akt as the master regulator of drug resistance and several oncogenic mechanisms in breast cancer. Akt not only directly interacts with the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway to affect PD-L1 expression, but also has crosstalk with Notch and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways involved in cell migration and breast cancer stem cell integrity. In this review, we discuss the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on Akt activation as well as the mechanism of Akt signaling in drug resistance. Akt also has a crucial role in mitochondrial metabolism and migrates into mitochondria to remodel breast cancer cell metabolism while also functioning in responses to hypoxic conditions. The Akt inhibitors ipatasertib, capivasertib, uprosertib, and MK-2206 not only suppress cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, but may also inhibit cytokine regulation and PD-L1 expression. Ipatasertib and uprosertib are undergoing clinical investigation to treat TNBC. Inhibition of Akt and its regulators can be used to control breast cancer progression and also immunosuppression, while discovery of additional compounds that target Akt and its modulators could provide solutions to resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

SET Overexpression is Associated with Worse Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients with Primary Breast Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Tamoxifen Treatment

Adjuvant tamoxifen reduces the recurrence rate of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Previous in vitro studies have suggested that tamoxifen can affect the cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A)/protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)/phosphorylation Akt (pAkt) signaling in ER-negative breast cancer cells. In addition to CIP2A, SET nuclear proto-oncogene (SET) oncoprotein is another intrinsic inhibitor of PP2A, participating in cancer progression. In the current study, we explored the clinical significance of SET, CIP2A, PP2A, and Akt in patients with ER-positive breast cancer receiving adjuvant tamoxifen. A total of 218 primary breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen with a median follow-up of 106 months were analyzed, of which 17 (7.8%) experienced recurrence or metastasis. In an immunohistochemical (IHC) stain, SET overexpression was independently associated with worse recurrence-free survival (RFS) (hazard ratio = 3.72, 95% confidence interval 1.26–10.94, p = 0.017). In silico analysis revealed mRNA expressions of SET, PPP2CA, and AKT1 significantly correlated with worse RFS. In vitro, SET overexpression reduced tamoxifen-induced antitumor effects and drove luciferase activity in an Estrogen receptor element (ERE)-dependent manner. In conclusion, SET is a prognostic biomarker in patients with primary ER-positive breast cancer receiving adjuvant tamoxifen and may contribute to the failure of the tamoxifen treatment by modulating the ER signaling. Our study warrants further investigation into the potential role of SET in ER-positive breast cancer.

SET promotes H2Ak9 acetylation by suppressing HDAC1 in trichloroethylene-induced hepatic cytotoxicity

Trichloroethylene (TCE) was widely used as an industrial solvent which could cause severe liver damage. The histone chaperone SET have been identified as an important mediator of TCE-induced hepatic cytotoxicity in our previous study; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we found a total of 136 histone acetylation sites involved in TCE-induced hepatic cytotoxicity with the technique of Triton-acid-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (TAU-PAGE) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Importantly, 17 histone acetylation sites were revealed to be mediated by SET in TCE-induced cytotoxicity. The acetylation of histone H2AK9 (H2AK9ac) was further validated by Western-blot analysis. The data showed that TCE treatment increased the acetylation of H2AK9 in hepatic L-02 cell and decreased the one in SET-knockdown L-02 cells. Besides, levels of the histone deacetylases (HDACs, including HDAC1, HDAC2, and HDAC3) was also analyzed. Interestingly, the level of HDAC1 was aberrantly suppressed in TCE-treated L-02 cells while enhanced in SET-knockdown L-02 cells. To further explore the potential role of HDAC1 in SET-mediated hepatic cytotoxicity of TCE, we employed RNA interference (RNAi) to knockdown HDAC1 in both wide type L-02 and SET-knockdown cells. The results showed that the siRNA inhibition of HDAC1 increased the acetylation of H2AK9. Taken together, our data suggested that SET promoted the acetylation of H2AK9 via suppressing the level of HDAC1, which was involved in SET-mediated hepatic cytotoxicity of TCE.

Selection of reference genes for diurnal and developmental time-course real-time PCR expression analyses in lettuce

BACKGROUND

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis is a low cost and sensitive technique that is widely used to measure levels of gene expression. Selecting and validating appropriate reference genes for normalising target gene expression should be the first step in any expression study to avoid inaccurate results.

RESULTS

In this study, ten candidate genes were tested for their suitability for use as reference genes in diurnal and developmental timecourse experiments in lettuce. The candidate reference genes were then used to normalise the expression pattern of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene, one of key genes involved in the flowering time pathway whose expression is known to vary throughout the day and at different stages of development. Three reference genes, LsPP2A-1 (PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A-1), LsPP2AA3 (PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A REGULATORY SUBUNIT A3) and LsTIP41 (TAP42-INTERACTING PROTEIN OF 41 kDa), were the most stably expressed candidate reference genes throughout both the diurnal and developmental timecourse experiments. In the developmental experiment using just LsPP2A-1 and LsTIP41 as reference genes would be sufficient for accurate normalisation, whilst in the diurnal experiment all three reference genes, LsPP2A-1, LsPP2AA3 and LsTIP41, would be necessary. The FT expression pattern obtained demonstrates that the use of multiple and robust reference genes for RT-qPCR expression analyses results in a more accurate and reliable expression profile.

CONCLUSIONS

Reference genes suitable for use in diurnal and developmental timecourse experiments in lettuce were identified and used to produce a more accurate and reliable analysis of lsFT expression levels than previously obtained in such timecourse experiments.

ANP32B deficiency impairs proliferation and suppresses tumor progression by regulating AKT phosphorylation

The acidic leucine-rich nuclear phosphoprotein 32B (ANP32B) is reported to impact normal development, with Anp32b-knockout mice exhibiting smaller size and premature aging. However, its cellular and molecular mechanisms, especially its potential roles in tumorigenesis, remain largely unclear. Here, we utilize 'knockout' models, RNAi silencing and clinical cohorts to more closely investigate the role of this enigmatic factor in cell proliferation and cancer phenotypes. We report that, compared with Anp32b wild-type (Anp32b^+/+) littermates, a broad panel of tissues in Anp32b-deficient (Anp32b^−/−) mice are demonstrated hypoplasia. Anp32b^−/− mouse embryo fibroblast cell has a slower proliferation, even after oncogenic immortalization. ANP32B knockdown also significantly inhibits in vitro and in vivo growth of cancer cells by inducing G₁ arrest. In line with this, ANP32B protein has higher expression in malignant tissues than adjacent normal tissues from a cohort of breast cancer patients, and its expression level positively correlates with their histopathological grades. Moreover, ANP32B deficiency downregulates AKT phosphorylation, which involves its regulating effect on cell growth. Collectively, our findings suggest that ANP32B is an oncogene and a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.

Memantine Attenuates Alzheimer's Disease-Like Pathology and Cognitive Impairment

Deficiency of protein phosphatase-2A is a key event in Alzheimer’s disease. An endogenous inhibitor of protein phosphatase-2A, inhibitor-1, I₁^PP2A, which inhibits the phosphatase activity by interacting with its catalytic subunit protein phosphatase-2Ac, is known to be upregulated in Alzheimer’s disease brain. In the present study, we overexpressed I₁^PP2A by intracerebroventricular injection with adeno-associated virus vector-1-I₁^PP2A in Wistar rats. The I₁^PP2A rats showed a decrease in brain protein phosphatase-2A activity, abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau, neurodegeneration, an increase in the level of activated glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, enhanced expression of intraneuronal amyloid-beta and spatial reference memory deficit; littermates treated identically but with vector only, i.e., adeno-associated virus vector-1-enhanced GFP, served as a control. Treatment with memantine, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist which is an approved drug for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, rescued protein phosphatase-2A activity by decreasing its demethylation at Leu309 selectively and attenuated Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology and cognitive impairment in adeno-associated virus vector-1-I₁^PP2A rats. These findings provide new clues into the possible mechanism of the beneficial therapeutic effect of memantine in Alzheimer’s disease patients.

Study of Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) Activity in LPS-Induced Tolerance Using Fluorescence-Based and Immunoprecipitation-Aided Methodology

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is one of the most abundant intracellular serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) phosphatases accounting for 1% of the total cellular protein content. PP2A is comprised of a heterodimeric core enzyme and a substrate-specific regulatory subunit. Potentially, at least seventy different compositions of PP2A exist because of variable regulatory subunit binding that accounts for various activity modulating numerous cell functions. Due to the constitutive phosphatase activity present inside cells, a sensitive assay is required to detect the changes of PP2A activity under various experimental conditions. We optimized a fluorescence assay (DIFMU assay) by combining it with prior anti-PP2A immunoprecipitation to quantify PP2A-specific phosphatase activity. It is also known that prior exposure to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induces “immune tolerance” of the cells to subsequent stimulation. Herein we report that PP2A activity is upregulated in tolerized peritoneal macrophages, corresponding to decreased TNF-α secretion upon second LPS stimulation. We further examined the role of PP2A in the tolerance effect by using PP2ACα^lox/lox;lyM-Cre conditional knockout macrophages. We found that PP2A phosphatase activity cannot be further increased by tolerance. TNF-α secretion from tolerized PP2ACα^lox/lox;lyM-Cre macrophages is higher than tolerized control macrophages. Furthermore, we showed that the increased TNF-α secretion may be due to an epigenetic transcriptionally active signature on the promoter of TNF-α gene rather than regulation of the NFκB/IκB signaling pathway. These results suggest a role for increased PP2A activity in the regulation of immune tolerance.

Mechanisms of cancer cell killing by the adenovirus E4orf4 protein

During adenovirus (Ad) replication the Ad E4orf4 protein regulates progression from the early to the late phase of infection. However, when E4orf4 is expressed alone outside the context of the virus it induces a non-canonical mode of programmed cell death, which feeds into known cell death pathways such as apoptosis or necrosis, depending on the cell line tested. E4orf4-induced cell death has many interesting and unique features including a higher susceptibility of cancer cells to E4orf4-induced cell killing compared with normal cells, caspase-independence, a high degree of evolutionary conservation of the signaling pathways, a link to perturbations of the cell cycle, and involvement of two distinct cell death programs, in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. Several E4orf4-interacting proteins including its major partners, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and Src family kinases, contribute to induction of cell death. The various features of E4orf4-induced cell killing as well as studies to decipher the underlying mechanisms are described here. Many explanations for the cancer specificity of E4orf4-induced cell death have been proposed, but a full understanding of the reasons for the different susceptibility of cancer and normal cells to killing by E4orf4 will require a more detailed analysis of the complex E4orf4 signaling network. An improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in this unique mode of programmed cell death may aid in design of novel E4orf4-based cancer therapeutics.

Cytoplasmic retention of protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor 2 (I2PP2A) induces Alzheimer-like abnormal hyperphosphorylation of Tau

Abnormal hyperphosphorylation of Tau leads to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, a hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD), and related tauopathies. The phosphorylation of Tau is regulated by protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), which in turn is modulated by endogenous inhibitor 2 (I2 (PP2A)). In AD brain, I2 (PP2A) is translocated from neuronal nucleus to cytoplasm, where it inhibits PP2A activity and promotes abnormal phosphorylation of Tau. Here we describe the identification of a potential nuclear localization signal (NLS) in the C-terminal region of I2 (PP2A) containing a conserved basic motif, (179)RKR(181), which is sufficient for directing its nuclear localization. The current study further presents an inducible cell model (Tet-Off system) of AD-type abnormal hyperphosphorylation of Tau by expressing I2 (PP2A) in which the NLS was inactivated by (179)RKR(181) → AAA along with (168)KR(169) → AA mutations. In this model, the mutant NLS (mNLS)-I2 (PP2A) (I2 (PP2A)AA-AAA) was retained in the cell cytoplasm, where it physically interacted with PP2A and inhibited its activity. Inhibition of PP2A was associated with the abnormal hyperphosphorylation of Tau, which resulted in microtubule network instability and neurite outgrowth impairment. Expression of mNLS-I2 (PP2A) activated CAMKII and GSK-3β, which are Tau kinases regulated by PP2A. The immunoprecipitation experiments showed the direct interaction of I2 (PP2A) with PP2A and GSK-3β but not with CAMKII. Thus, the cell model provides insights into the nature of the potential NLS and the mechanistic relationship between I2 (PP2A)-induced inhibition of PP2A and hyperphosphorylation of Tau that can be utilized to develop drugs preventing Tau pathology.

Cracking the ANP32 whips: important functions, unequal requirement, and hints at disease implications

The acidic (leucine-rich) nuclear phosphoprotein 32 kDa (ANP32) family is composed of small, evolutionarily conserved proteins characterized by an N-terminal leucine-rich repeat domain and a C-terminal low-complexity acidic region. The mammalian family members (ANP32A, ANP32B, and ANP32E) are ascribed physiologically diverse functions including chromatin modification and remodelling, apoptotic caspase modulation, protein phosphatase inhibition, as well as regulation of intracellular transport. In addition to reviewing the widespread literature on the topic, we present a concept of the ANP32s as having a whip-like structure. We also present hypotheses that ANP32C and other intronless sequences should not currently be considered bona fide family members, that their disparate necessity in development may be due to compensatory mechanisms, that their contrasting roles in cancer are likely context-dependent, along with an underlying hypothesis that ANP32s represent an important node of physiological regulation by virtue of their diverse biochemical activities.

Induction of cancer-specific cell death by the adenovirus E4orf4 protein

The adenovirus E4orf4 protein is a multifunctional viral regulator that contributes to temporal regulation of the progression of viral infection. When expressed alone, outside the context of the virus, E4orf4 induces p53-independent cell-death in transformed cells. Oncogenic transformation of primary cells in tissue culture sensitizes them to cell killing by E4orf4, indicating that E4orf4 research may have implications for cancer therapy. It has also been reported that E4orf4 induces a caspase-independent, non-classical apoptotic pathway, which maintains crosstalk with classical caspase-dependent pathways. Furthermore, several E4orf4 activities in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm and various protein partners contribute to cell killing by this viral protein. In the following chapter I summarize the current knowledge of the unique mode of E4orf4-induced cell death and its underlying mechanisms. Although several explanations for the cancer-specificity of E4orf4-induced toxicity have been proposed, a better grasp of the mechanisms responsible for E4orf4-induced cell death is required to elucidate the differential sensitivity of normal and cancer cells to E4orf4.

Diverse functions of ceramide in cancer cell death and proliferation

Ceramide, a bioactive sphingolipid, is now at the forefront of cancer research. Classically, ceramide is thought to induce death, growth inhibition, and senescence in cancer cells. However, it is now clear that this simple picture of ceramide no longer holds true. Recent studies suggest that there are diverse functions of endogenously generated ceramides, which seem to be context dependent, regulated by subcellular/membrane localization and presence/absence of direct targets of these lipid molecules. For example, different fatty-acid chain lengths of ceramide, such as C(16)-ceramide that can be generated by ceramide synthase 6 (CerS6), have been implicated in cancer cell proliferation, whereas CerS1-generated C(18)-ceramide mediates cell death. The dichotomy of ceramides' function in cancer cells makes some of the metabolic enzymes of ceramide synthesis potential drug targets (such as Cers6) to prevent cancer growth in breast and head and neck cancers. Conversely, activation of CerS1 could be a new therapeutic option for the development of novel strategies against lung and head and neck cancers. This chapter focuses on recent discoveries about the mechanistic details of mainly de novo-generated ceramides and their signaling functions in cancer pathogenesis, and about how these mechanistic information can be translated into clinically relevant therapeutic options for the treatment of cancer.

Activation of asparaginyl endopeptidase leads to Tau hyperphosphorylation in Alzheimer disease

Neurofibrillary pathology of abnormally hyperphosphorylated Tau is a key lesion of Alzheimer disease and other tauopathies, and its density in the brain directly correlates with dementia. The phosphorylation of Tau is regulated by protein phosphatase 2A, which in turn is regulated by inhibitor 2, I2(PP2A). In acidic conditions such as generated by brain ischemia and hypoxia, especially in association with hyperglycemia as in diabetes, I2(PP2A) is cleaved by asparaginyl endopeptidase at Asn-175 into the N-terminal fragment (I2NTF) and the C-terminal fragment (I2CTF). Both I2NTF and I2CTF are known to bind to the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A and inhibit its activity. Here we show that the level of activated asparaginyl endopeptidase is significantly increased, and this enzyme and I2(PP2A) translocate, respectively, from neuronal lysosomes and nucleus to the cytoplasm where they interact and are associated with hyperphosphorylated Tau in Alzheimer disease brain. Asparaginyl endopeptidase from Alzheimer disease brain could cleave GST-I2(PP2A), except when I2(PP2A) was mutated at the cleavage site Asn-175 to Gln. Finally, an induction of acidosis by treatment with kainic acid or pH 6.0 medium activated asparaginyl endopeptidase and consequently produced the cleavage of I2(PP2A), inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A, and hyperphosphorylation of Tau, and the knockdown of asparaginyl endopeptidase with siRNA abolished this pathway in SH-SY5Y cells. These findings suggest the involvement of brain acidosis in the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer disease, and asparaginyl endopeptidase-I2(PP2A)-protein phosphatase 2A-Tau hyperphosphorylation pathway as a therapeutic target.

The carboxy-terminal fragment of inhibitor-2 of protein phosphatase-2A induces Alzheimer disease pathology and cognitive impairment

Development of rational therapeutic treatments of Alzheimer disease (AD) requires the elucidation of the etiopathogenic mechanisms of neurofibrillary degeneration and β-amyloidosis, the two hallmarks of this disease. Here we show, employing an adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1)-induced expression of the C-terminal fragment (I(2CTF)) of I(2)(PP2A), also called SET, in rat brain, decrease in protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau, and neurodegeneration; littermates treated identically but with vector only, i.e., AAV1-enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP), served as a control. Furthermore, there was an increase in the level of activated glycogen synthase kinase-3β and enhanced expression of intraneuronal Aβ in AAV1-I(2CTF) animals. Morris water maze behavioral test revealed that infection with AAV1-I(2CTF) induced spatial reference memory and memory consolidation deficits and a decrease in the brain level of pSer133-CREB. These findings suggest a novel etiopathogenic mechanism of AD, which is initiated by the cleavage of I(2)(PP2A), producing I(2CTF), and describe a novel disease-relevant nontransgenic animal model of AD.

Multiple pathways regulated by the tumor suppressor PP2A in transformation

Reversible protein phosphorylation plays a central role in regulating intracellular signaling. Dysregulation of the mechanisms that regulate phosphorylation plays a direct role in cancer initiation and maintenance. Although abundant evidence supports the role of kinase oncogenes in cancer development, recent work has illuminated the role of specific protein phosphatases in malignant transformation. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is the major serine-threonine phosphatase in mammalian cells. Inactivation of PP2A by viral oncoproteins, mutation of specific subunits or overexpression of endogenous inhibitors contributes to cell transformation by regulating specific phosphorylation events. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of how PP2A regulates mitogenic signaling pathways in cancer pathogenesis and how PP2A activity is modulated in human cancers.

Integrin alpha3beta1 interacts with I1PP2A/lanp and phosphatase PP1

Integrin alpha3beta1 is a receptor for the extracellular matrix component laminin 5. To elucidate possible signaling pathways induced by integrin alpha3beta1, we looked for proteins that interact with the cytoplasmic part of the alpha3A integrin subunit. We identified several multifunctional proteins by affinity chromatography and subsequent MALDI-TOF-MS and focused on the inhibitor 1 of serine/threonine phosphatase PP2A (I1PP2A, synonym: lanp) which also plays a role during the development of the mouse cerebellum. I1PP2A/lanp colocalizes with the alpha3A integrin subunit in differentiated PC12 cells in the cell body and in neurites as well as in Purkinje cells of mouse cerebellum. Overexpression of GFP-I1PP2A/lanp in PC12 cells leads to markedly reduced neurite length on laminin 5 after induction with nerve growth factor. By affinity chromatography the protein phosphatase PP1 can also be identified as a alpha3A/cyto-binding protein. PP1 and integrin alpha3beta1 can be pulled down by GST-I1PP2A/lanp from cell lysates of differentiated and undifferentiated PC12 cells. The phosphatase binds to the cytoplasmic membrane-proximal conserved GFFKR motif of the alpha integrin subunit, whereas I1PP2A/lanp requires a longer sequence for binding. PP1 but not PP2A is able to dephosphorylate precipitated integrin alpha3beta1 in vitro. Furthermore, PP1 releases phosphate from T1046 of phosphopeptides that mimic the phosphorylation consensus sequence in the cytoplasmic part of the alpha3A integrin subunit. These data suggest that I1PP2A/lanp forms a complex with PP1 and the alpha3A integrin subunit and might possibly regulate the phosphorylation status of integrin alpha3beta1 and/or integrin downstream targets.

Inhibitors of protein phosphatase-2A from human brain structures, immunocytological localization and activities towards dephosphorylation of the Alzheimer type hyperphosphorylated tau

Protein phosphatase (PP)-2A, which regulates the phosphorylation of tau, is regulated by two endogenous inhibitor proteins, I(1)(PP2A) and I(2)(PP2A), in mammalian tissues. Here, we report the cloning of I(1)(PP2A) and I(2)(PP2A) from human brain, and show that in PC12 cells and in I(1)(PP2A)-GFP or I(2)(PP2A)-GFP transfected NIH3T3 and human neural progenitor cells, I(1)(PP2A) is localized mostly in the cell cytoplasm and I(2)(PP2A) mostly in the nucleus. The recombinant I(1)(PP-2A) and I(2)(PP-2A) inhibit PP-2A activity towards hyperphosphorylated tau in vitro; the dephosphorylation of the hyperphosphorylated tau at specific sites is selectively inhibited. Overexpression of I(1)(PP2A) as well as I(2)(PP2A) results in tau hyperphosphorylation and degeneration of PC 12 cells.

The role of protein phosphatase-1 in the modulation of synaptic and structural plasticity

Synaptic plasticity is a phenomenon contributing to changes in the efficacy of neuronal transmission. These changes are widely believed to be a major cellular basis for learning and memory. Protein phosphorylation is a key biochemical process involved in synaptic plasticity that operates through a tight balance between the action of protein kinases and protein phosphatases (PPs). Although the majority of research in this field has concentrated primarily on protein kinases, the significant role of PPs is becoming increasingly apparent. This review examines one such phosphatase, PP1, and highlights recent advances in the understanding of its intervention in synaptic and structural plasticity and the mechanisms of learning and memory.

Functional diversity of protein phosphatase-1, a cellular economizer and reset button

The protein serine/threonine phosphatase protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) is a ubiquitous eukaryotic enzyme that regulates a variety of cellular processes through the dephosphorylation of dozens of substrates. This multifunctionality of PP1 relies on its association with a host of function-specific targetting and substrate-specifying proteins. In this review we discuss how PP1 affects the biochemistry and physiology of eukaryotic cells. The picture of PP1 that emerges from this analysis is that of a "green" enzyme that promotes the rational use of energy, the recycling of protein factors, and a reversal of the cell to a basal and/or energy-conserving state. Thus PP1 promotes a shift to the more energy-efficient fuels when nutrients are abundant and stimulates the storage of energy in the form of glycogen. PP1 also enables the relaxation of actomyosin fibers, the return to basal patterns of protein synthesis, and the recycling of transcription and splicing factors. In addition, PP1 plays a key role in the recovery from stress but promotes apoptosis when cells are damaged beyond repair. Furthermore, PP1 downregulates ion pumps and transporters in various tissues and ion channels that are involved in the excitation of neurons. Finally, PP1 promotes the exit from mitosis and maintains cells in the G1 or G2 phases of the cell cycle.

The role of serine/threonine protein phosphatases in exocytosis

Modulation of exocytosis is integral to the regulation of cellular signalling, and a variety of disorders (such as epilepsy, hypertension, diabetes and asthma) are closely associated with pathological modulation of exocytosis. Emerging evidence points to protein phosphatases as key regulators of exocytosis in many cells and, therefore, as potential targets for the design of novel therapies to treat these diseases. Diverse yet exquisite regulatory mechanisms have evolved to direct the specificity of these enzymes in controlling particular cell processes, and functionally driven studies have demonstrated differential regulation of exocytosis by individual protein phosphatases. This Review discusses the evidence for the regulation of exocytosis by protein phosphatases in three major secretory systems, (1) mast cells, in which the regulation of exocytosis of inflammatory mediators plays a major role in the respiratory response to antigens, (2) insulin-secreting cells in which regulation of exocytosis is essential for metabolic control, and (3) neurons, in which regulation of exocytosis is perhaps the most complex and is essential for effective neurotransmission.

Expression of alpha-ENaC2 is dependent on an upstream Sp1 binding motif and is modulated by protein phosphatase 1 in lung epithelial cells

The amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channel ENaC is expressed in lung epithelium and plays a pivotal role in lung fluid clearance in the newborn. Multiple splice variants of the ENaC alpha-subunit have been reported. Among them, alpha-ENaC2 accounts for a considerable portion of alpha-ENaC transcripts in human lung and kidney, possesses channel functions similar to alpha-ENaC1, and is driven by a downstream promoter. In the current study, we examine the regulation of alpha-ENaC2 transcription in lung epithelial cells. We found that transcription factors Sp1 and Sp3 activate alpha-ENaC2 transcription through a GC-rich element (Sp1-binding site) in the promoter. Because alpha-ENaC expression and Sp1 phosphorylation are both significantly up-regulated in the perinatal lung, we then examined the possible connection between Sp1/Sp3 phosphorylation and alpha-ENaC2 expression. We found that protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) dephosphorylates Sp1 and Sp3 in lung epithelial cells, reduces their binding to the alpha-ENaC2 promoter, and decreases Sp1/Sp3-mediated promoter activity. Our results suggest that Sp1 and Sp3 are essential for alpha-ENaC2 transcription in lung epithelial cells and that dephosphorylation of the Sp transcription factors by PP1 suppresses alpha-ENaC2 expression. The significance of these findings in the regulation of gene expression in perinatal lung is discussed.

Activation of the coactivator four-and-a-half-LIM-only protein FHL2 and the c-fos promoter through inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A

Previous studies have demonstrated that the serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) can modulate the transcriptional activity of several sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins. However, less is known about the effect of PP2A on the activities of general transcription factors and transcriptional coregulators. Here we describe that the activity of a general coactivator, the four-and-a-half-LIM-only protein 2 (FHL2), is regulated in a PP2A-dependent manner. Specific inhibition of PP2A by simian virus 40 (SV40) small t-antigen (st-ag) stimulated the intrinsic transcriptional activity of FHL2 more than 10-fold, while a st-ag mutant unable to bind PP2A had no effect. Overexpression of the B56 subunits alpha, beta, and gamma1 of PP2A impaired the induction of FHL2 by st-ag. FHL2 functioned as a coactivator for CREB-mediated transcription, and inactivation of PP2A further increased FHL2-induced CREB-directed transcription. Overexpression of FHL2 readily enhanced the transcription of the luciferase reporter gene driven by the c-fos promoter, and inhibition of PP2A further stimulated FHL2-induced transactivation of this promoter. These results suggest that dephosphorylation of the general coactivator FHL2 may represent a novel mechanism by which PP2A modulates the transcription of FHL2-responsive genes.

Characterization of a unique aspartate-rich protein of the SET/TAF-family in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, which inhibits protein phosphatase 2A

A search for physiological inhibitors of protein phosphatases led to the identification of a Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) cDNA that had the potential to code for an aspartate-rich protein and hence named ARP. The PfARP was virtually identical to its Plasmodium berghei counterpart in gene structure and protein sequence. The PfARP coding sequence contained two introns, and the predicted protein contained 269 amino acid residues. Its primary structure showed significant similarity to eukaryotic proteins of the SET and TAF-family that included two inhibitors of mammalian serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), namely I1(PP2A) and I2(PP2A). Like the SET and TAF proteins, it had an extremely acidic tail. The cDNA was confirmed by recombinant expression in bacteria. Native parasitic ARP was purified and was found to be highly thermostable. PfARP specifically inhibited the parasitic PP2A at nanomolar concentrations, with no effect on PP1, PP2B, PP5, or PPJ. Expression of PfARP in HeLa cells led to elevated phosphorylation of c-Jun, and activation of transcription factors AP1 and NF-kappa B. These functional properties are also characteristic of the SET/TAF-family proteins. The ARP mRNA and protein were detectable in all the erythrocytic asexual stages of the parasite, and the protein was located mainly in the parasitic cytoplasm. Thus, PfARP is a unique cytoplasmic member of the SET/TAF-family and a candidate physiological regulator of the Plasmodium PP2A.

Protein phosphatase 2A and phosphoprotein SET regulate androgen production by P450c17

Cytochrome P450c17 catalyzes 17 alpha-hydroxylation needed for cortisol synthesis and 17,20 lyase activity needed to produce sex steroids. Serine phosphorylation of P450c17 specifically increases 17,20 lyase activity, but the physiological factors regulating this effect remain unknown. Treating human adrenal NCI-H295A cells with the phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid, fostriecin, and cantharidin increased 17,20 lyase activity, suggesting involvement of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) or 4 (PP4). PP2A but not PP4 inhibited 17,20 lyase activity in microsomes from cultured cells, but neither affected 17 alpha-hydroxylation. Inhibition of 17,20 lyase activity by PP2A was concentration-dependent, could be inhibited by okadaic acid, and was restored by endogenous protein kinases. PP2A but not PP4 coimmunoprecipitated with P450c17, and suppression of PP2A by small interfering RNA increased 17,20 lyase activity. Phosphoprotein SET found in adrenals inhibited PP2A, but not PP4, and fostered 17,20 lyase activity. The identification of PP2A and SET as post-translational regulators of androgen biosynthesis suggests potential additional mechanisms contributing to adrenarche and hyperandrogenic disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome.

Protein phosphatase 1 – targeted in many directions

Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) is a major eukaryotic protein serine/threonine phosphatase that regulates an enormous variety of cellular functions through the interaction of its catalytic subunit (PP1c) with over fifty different established or putative regulatory subunits. Most of these target PP1c to specific subcellular locations and interact with a small hydrophobic groove on the surface of PP1c through a short conserved binding motif – the RVxF motif – which is often preceded by further basic residues. Weaker interactions may subsequently enhance binding and modulate PP1 activity/specificity in a variety of ways. Several putative targeting subunits do not possess an RVxF motif but nevertheless interact with the same region of PP1c. In addition, several ‘modulator’ proteins bind to PP1c but do not possess a domain targeting them to a specific location. Most are potent inhibitors of PP1c and possess at least two sites for interaction with PP1c, one of which is identical or similar to the RVxF motif.Regulation of PP1c in response to extracellular and intracellular signals occurs mostly through changes in the levels, conformation or phosphorylation status of targeting subunits. Understanding of the mode of action of PP1c complexes may facilitate development of drugs that target particular PP1c complexes and thereby modulate the phosphorylation state of a very limited subset of proteins.

Combinatorial control of protein phosphatase-1

The catalytic subunit of the type 1 Ser/Thr protein phosphatases (PP1) can interact with many different regulatory (R) subunits. These R subunits function as activity-modulators, targeting subunits and/or substrates. The specificity of the R subunits can be accounted for by their interaction with specific subsets of binding pockets on the catalytic subunit and by the presence of subcellular targeting sequences. Hormones, growth factors and metabolites control the function of PP1 holoenzymes mainly by modulating the interaction of the subunits.

Multiple interactions within the AKAP220 signaling complex contribute to protein phosphatase 1 regulation

The phosphorylation status of cellular proteins is controlled by the opposing actions of protein kinases and phosphatases. Compartmentalization of these enzymes is critical for spatial and temporal control of these phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events. We previously reported that a 220-kDa A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP220) coordinates the location of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and the type 1 protein phosphatase catalytic subunit (PP1c) (Schillace, R. V., and Scott, J. D. (1999) Curr. Biol. 9, 321-324). We now demonstrate that an AKAP220 fragment is a competitive inhibitor of PP1c activity (K(i) = 2.9 +/- 0.7 micrometer). Mapping studies and activity measurements indicate that several protein-protein interactions act synergistically to inhibit PP1. A consensus targeting motif, between residues 1195 and 1198 (Lys-Val-Gln-Phe), binds but does not affect enzyme activity, whereas determinants between residues 1711 and 1901 inhibit the phosphatase. Analysis of truncated PP1c and chimeric PP1/2A catalytic subunits suggests that AKAP220 inhibits the phosphatase in a manner distinct from all known PP1 inhibitors and toxins. Intermolecular interactions within the AKAP220 signaling complex further contribute to PP1 inhibition as addition of the PKA regulatory subunit (RII) enhances phosphatase inhibition. These experiments indicate that regulation of PP1 activity by AKAP220 involves a complex network of intra- and intermolecular interactions.

Protein phosphatase 2A: a highly regulated family of serine/threonine phosphatases implicated in cell growth and signalling

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) comprises a family of serine/threonine phosphatases, minimally containing a well conserved catalytic subunit, the activity of which is highly regulated. Regulation is accomplished mainly by members of a family of regulatory subunits, which determine the substrate specificity, (sub)cellular localization and catalytic activity of the PP2A holoenzymes. Moreover, the catalytic subunit is subject to two types of post-translational modification, phosphorylation and methylation, which are also thought to be important regulatory devices. The regulatory ability of PTPA (PTPase activator), originally identified as a protein stimulating the phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity of PP2A, will also be discussed, alongside the other regulatory inputs. The use of specific PP2A inhibitors and molecular genetics in yeast, Drosophila and mice has revealed roles for PP2A in cell cycle regulation, cell morphology and development. PP2A also plays a prominent role in the regulation of specific signal transduction cascades, as witnessed by its presence in a number of macromolecular signalling modules, where it is often found in association with other phosphatases and kinases. Additionally, PP2A interacts with a substantial number of other cellular and viral proteins, which are PP2A substrates, target PP2A to different subcellular compartments or affect enzyme activity. Finally, the de-regulation of PP2A in some specific pathologies will be touched upon.

Type 2A protein phosphatase, the complex regulator of numerous signaling pathways

Type 2A protein phosphatase (PP2A) comprises a diverse family of phosphoserine- and phosphothreonine-specific enzymes ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic cells. Common to all forms of PP2A is a catalytic subunit (PP2Ac) which can form two distinct complexes, one with a structural subunit termed PR65/A and another with an alpha4 protein. The PR65/A-PP2Ac dimer may further associate with a regulatory subunit and form a trimeric holoenzyme. To date, three distinct families of regulatory subunits, which control substrate selectivity and phosphatase activity and target PP2A holoenzymes to their substrates, have been identified. Other molecular mechanisms that regulate PP2Ac function include phosphorylation, carboxyl methylation, inhibition by intracellular protein inhibitors (I(1)(PP2A) and I(2)(PP2A)), and stimulation by ceramide. PP2A dephosphorylates many proteins in vitro, but in vivo protein kinases and transcription factors appear to represent two major sets of substrates. Several natural compounds can inhibit PP2A activity and are used to study its function. Mutations in genes encoding PR65/A subunits have been identified in several different human cancers and the PP2A inhibitor, termed fostriecin, is being tested as an anticancer drug. Thus, a more thorough understanding of PP2A structure and function may lead to the development of novel strategies against human diseases.

Brain ischemia and reperfusion: molecular mechanisms of neuronal injury

Brain ischemia and reperfusion engage multiple independently-fatal terminal pathways involving loss of membrane integrity in partitioning ions, progressive proteolysis, and inability to check these processes because of loss of general translation competence and reduced survival signal-transduction. Ischemia results in rapid loss of high-energy phosphate compounds and generalized depolarization, which induces release of glutamate and, in selectively vulnerable neurons (SVNs), opening of both voltage-dependent and glutamate-regulated calcium channels. This allows a large increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) associated with activation of mu-calpain, calcineurin, and phospholipases with consequent proteolysis of calpain substrates (including spectrin and eIF4G), activation of NOS and potentially of Bad, and accumulation of free arachidonic acid, which can induce depletion of Ca(2+) from the ER lumen. A kinase that shuts off translation initiation by phosphorylating the alpha-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF2alpha) is activated either by adenosine degradation products or depletion of ER lumenal Ca(2+). Early during reperfusion, oxidative metabolism of arachidonate causes a burst of excess oxygen radicals, iron is released from storage proteins by superoxide-mediated reduction, and NO is generated. These events result in peroxynitrite generation, inappropriate protein nitrosylation, and lipid peroxidation, which ultrastructurally appears to principally damage the plasmalemma of SVNs. The initial recovery of ATP supports very rapid eIF2alpha phosphorylation that in SVNs is prolonged and associated with a major reduction in protein synthesis. High catecholamine levels induced by the ischemic episode itself and/or drug administration down-regulate insulin secretion and induce inhibition of growth-factor receptor tyrosine kinase activity, effects associated with down-regulation of survival signal-transduction through the Ras pathway. Caspase activation occurs during the early hours of reperfusion following mitochondrial release of caspase 9 and cytochrome c. The SVNs find themselves with substantial membrane damage, calpain-mediated proteolytic degradation of eIF4G and cytoskeletal proteins, altered translation initiation mechanisms that substantially reduce total protein synthesis and impose major alterations in message selection, down-regulated survival signal-transduction, and caspase activation. This picture argues powerfully that, for therapy of brain ischemia and reperfusion, the concept of single drug intervention (which has characterized the approaches of basic research, the pharmaceutical industry, and clinical trials) cannot be effective. Although rigorous study of multi-drug protocols is very demanding, effective therapy is likely to require (1) peptide growth factors for early activation of survival-signaling pathways and recovery of translation competence, (2) inhibition of lipid peroxidation, (3) inhibition of calpain, and (4) caspase inhibition. Examination of such protocols will require not only characterization of functional and histopathologic outcome, but also study of biochemical markers of the injury processes to establish the role of each drug.