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Bjorklund GR, Rees KP, Balasubramanian K, Hewitt LT, Nishimura K, Newbern JM. Hyperactivation of MEK1 in cortical glutamatergic neurons results in projection axon deficits and aberrant motor learning. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050570. [PMID: 38826084 PMCID: PMC11247507 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2, encoded by Mapk3 and Mapk1, respectively) signaling is linked to multiple neurodevelopmental diseases, especially the RASopathies, which typically exhibit ERK1/2 hyperactivation in neurons and non-neuronal cells. To better understand how excitatory neuron-autonomous ERK1/2 activity regulates forebrain development, we conditionally expressed a hyperactive MEK1 (MAP2K1) mutant, MEK1S217/221E, in cortical excitatory neurons of mice. MEK1S217/221E expression led to persistent hyperactivation of ERK1/2 in cortical axons, but not in soma/nuclei. We noted reduced axonal arborization in multiple target domains in mutant mice and reduced the levels of the activity-dependent protein ARC. These changes did not lead to deficits in voluntary locomotion or accelerating rotarod performance. However, skilled motor learning in a single-pellet retrieval task was significantly diminished in these MEK1S217/221E mutants. Restriction of MEK1S217/221E expression to layer V cortical neurons recapitulated axonal outgrowth deficits but did not affect motor learning. These results suggest that cortical excitatory neuron-autonomous hyperactivation of MEK1 is sufficient to drive deficits in axon outgrowth, which coincide with reduced ARC expression, and deficits in skilled motor learning. Our data indicate that neuron-autonomous decreases in long-range axonal outgrowth may be a key aspect of neuropathogenesis in RASopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- George R. Bjorklund
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Katherina P. Rees
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | | | - Lauren T. Hewitt
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Kenji Nishimura
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Jason M. Newbern
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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2
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Zhan X, Asmara H, Pfaffinger P, Turner RW. Calcium-Dependent Regulation of Neuronal Excitability Is Rescued in Fragile X Syndrome by a Tat-Conjugated N-Terminal Fragment of FMRP. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0136242024. [PMID: 38664011 PMCID: PMC11112635 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0136-24.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) arises from the loss of fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP) needed for normal neuronal excitability and circuit functions. Recent work revealed that FMRP contributes to mossy fiber long-term potentiation by adjusting the Kv4 A-type current availability through interactions with a Cav3-Kv4 ion channel complex, yet the mechanism has not yet been defined. In this study using wild-type and Fmr1 knock-out (KO) tsA-201 cells and cerebellar sections from male Fmr1 KO mice, we show that FMRP associates with all subunits of the Cav3.1-Kv4.3-KChIP3 complex and is critical to enabling calcium-dependent shifts in Kv4.3 inactivation to modulate the A-type current. Specifically, upon depolarization Cav3 calcium influx activates dual-specific phosphatase 1/6 (DUSP1/6) to deactivate ERK1/2 (ERK) and lower phosphorylation of Kv4.3, a signaling pathway that does not function in Fmr1 KO cells. In Fmr1 KO mouse tissue slices, cerebellar granule cells exhibit a hyperexcitable response to membrane depolarizations. Either incubating Fmr1 KO cells or in vivo administration of a tat-conjugated FMRP N-terminus fragment (FMRP-N-tat) rescued Cav3-Kv4 function and granule cell excitability, with a decrease in the level of DUSP6. Together these data reveal a Cav3-activated DUSP signaling pathway critical to the function of a FMRP-Cav3-Kv4 complex that is misregulated in Fmr1 KO conditions. Moreover, FMRP-N-tat restores function of this complex to rescue calcium-dependent control of neuronal excitability as a potential therapeutic approach to alleviating the symptoms of FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Zhan
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Hadhimulya Asmara
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Paul Pfaffinger
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Ray W Turner
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
- Department Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
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3
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Rahman SMT, Zhou W, Deiters A, Haugh JM. Dissection of MKK6 and p38 Signaling Using Light-Activated Protein Kinases. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300551. [PMID: 37856284 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Stress-activated signaling pathways orchestrate cellular behaviors and fates. Studying the precise role(s) of stress-activated protein kinases is challenging, because stress conditions induce adaptation and impose selection pressure. To meet this challenge, we have applied an optogenetic system with a single plasmid to express light-activated p38α or its upstream activator, MKK6, in conjunction with live-cell fluorescence microscopy. In starved cells, decaging of constitutively active p38α or MKK6 by brief exposure to UV light elicits rapid p38-mediated signaling, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and apoptosis with different kinetics. In parallel, light activation of p38α also suppresses autophagosome formation, similarly to stimulation with growth factors that activate PI3K/Akt/mTORC1 signaling. Active MKK6 negatively regulates serum-induced ERK activity, which is p38-independent as previously reported. Here, we reproduce that result with the one plasmid system and show that although decaging active p38α does not reduce basal ERK activity in our cells, it can block growth factor-stimulated ERK signaling in serum-starved cells. These results clarify the roles of MKK6 and p38α in dynamic signaling programs, which act in concert to actuate apoptotic death while suppressing cell survival mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shah Md Toufiqur Rahman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7905, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Wenyuan Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Alexander Deiters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Jason M Haugh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7905, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
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4
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Martin-Salgado M, Ochoa-Echeverría A, Mérida I. Diacylglycerol kinases: A look into the future of immunotherapy. Adv Biol Regul 2024; 91:100999. [PMID: 37949728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2023.100999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Cancer still represents the second leading cause of death right after cardiovascular diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer provoked around 10 million deaths in 2020, with lung and colon tumors accounting for the deadliest forms of cancer. As tumor cells become resistant to traditional therapeutic approaches, immunotherapy has emerged as a novel strategy for tumor control. T lymphocytes are key players in immune responses against tumors. Immunosurveillance allows identification, targeting and later killing of cancerous cells. Nevertheless, tumors evolve through different strategies to evade the immune response and spread in a process called metastasis. The ineffectiveness of traditional strategies to control tumor growth and expansion has led to novel approaches considering modulation of T cell activation and effector functions. Program death receptor 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) showed promising results in the early 90s and nowadays are still being exploited together with other drugs for several cancer types. Other negative regulators of T cell activation are diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) a family of enzymes that catalyze the conversion of diacylglycerol (DAG) into phosphatidic acid (PA). In T cells, DGKα and DGKζ limit the PLCγ/Ras/ERK axis thus attenuating DAG mediated signaling and T cell effector functions. Upregulation of either of both isoforms results in impaired Ras activation and anergy induction, whereas germline knockdown mice showed enhanced antitumor properties and more effective immune responses against pathogens. Here we review the mechanisms used by DGKs to ameliorate T cell activation and how inhibition could be used to reinvigorate T cell functions in cancer context. A better knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved upon T cell activation will help to improve current therapies with DAG promoting agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Martin-Salgado
- Department of Immunology and Oncology. National Centre for Biotechnology. Spanish Research Council (CNB-CSIC), Spain
| | - Ane Ochoa-Echeverría
- Department of Immunology and Oncology. National Centre for Biotechnology. Spanish Research Council (CNB-CSIC), Spain
| | - Isabel Mérida
- Department of Immunology and Oncology. National Centre for Biotechnology. Spanish Research Council (CNB-CSIC), Spain.
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5
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Hamdin CD, Wu ML, Chen CM, Ho YC, Jiang WC, Gung PY, Ho HH, Chuang HC, Tan TH, Yet SF. Dual-Specificity Phosphatase 6 Deficiency Attenuates Arterial-Injury-Induced Intimal Hyperplasia in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17136. [PMID: 38138967 PMCID: PMC10742470 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In response to injury, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of the arterial wall dedifferentiate into a proliferative and migratory phenotype, leading to intimal hyperplasia. The ERK1/2 pathway participates in cellular proliferation and migration, while dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6, also named MKP3) can dephosphorylate activated ERK1/2. We showed that DUSP6 was expressed in low baseline levels in normal arteries; however, arterial injury significantly increased DUSP6 levels in the vessel wall. Compared with wild-type mice, Dusp6-deficient mice had smaller neointima. In vitro, IL-1β induced DUSP6 expression and increased VSMC proliferation and migration. Lack of DUSP6 reduced IL-1β-induced VSMC proliferation and migration. DUSP6 deficiency did not affect IL-1β-stimulated ERK1/2 activation. Instead, ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 prevented DUSP6 induction by IL-1β, indicating that ERK1/2 functions upstream of DUSP6 to regulate DUSP6 expression in VSMCs rather than downstream as a DUSP6 substrate. IL-1β decreased the levels of cell cycle inhibitor p27 and cell-cell adhesion molecule N-cadherin in VSMCs, whereas lack of DUSP6 maintained their high levels, revealing novel functions of DUSP6 in regulating these two molecules. Taken together, our results indicate that lack of DUSP6 attenuated neointima formation following arterial injury by reducing VSMC proliferation and migration, which were likely mediated via maintaining p27 and N-cadherin levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candra D. Hamdin
- Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350401, Taiwan; (C.D.H.); (P.-Y.G.); (H.-H.H.)
- National Health Research Institutes and Department of Life Sciences, National Central University Joint Ph.D. Program in Biomedicine, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 320317, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Ling Wu
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (M.-L.W.); (Y.-C.H.)
| | - Chen-Mei Chen
- Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350401, Taiwan; (C.D.H.); (P.-Y.G.); (H.-H.H.)
| | - Yen-Chun Ho
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (M.-L.W.); (Y.-C.H.)
| | - Wei-Cheng Jiang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan;
| | - Pei-Yu Gung
- Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350401, Taiwan; (C.D.H.); (P.-Y.G.); (H.-H.H.)
| | - Hua-Hui Ho
- Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350401, Taiwan; (C.D.H.); (P.-Y.G.); (H.-H.H.)
| | - Huai-Chia Chuang
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350401, Taiwan; (H.-C.C.); (T.-H.T.)
| | - Tse-Hua Tan
- Immunology Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350401, Taiwan; (H.-C.C.); (T.-H.T.)
| | - Shaw-Fang Yet
- Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350401, Taiwan; (C.D.H.); (P.-Y.G.); (H.-H.H.)
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 404328, Taiwan
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6
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Using the Culex pipiens sperm proteome to identify elements essential for mosquito reproduction. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280013. [PMID: 36795667 PMCID: PMC9934393 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mature sperm from Culex pipiens were isolated and analyzed by mass spectrometry to generate a mature sperm proteome dataset. In this study, we highlight subsets of proteins related to flagellar structure and sperm motility and compare the identified protein components to previous studies examining essential functions of sperm. The proteome includes 1700 unique protein IDs, including a number of uncharacterized proteins. Here we discuss those proteins that may contribute to the unusual structure of the Culex sperm flagellum, as well as potential regulators of calcium mobilization and phosphorylation pathways that regulate motility. This database will prove useful for understanding the mechanisms that activate and maintain sperm motility as well as identify potential molecular targets for mosquito population control.
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7
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Han F, Chen Y, Zhu Y, Huang Z. Antigen receptor structure and signaling. Adv Immunol 2023; 157:1-28. [PMID: 37061286 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
The key to mounting an immune response is that the host cells must be coordinated to generate an appropriate immune response against the pathogenic invaders. Antigen receptors recognize specific molecular structures and recruit adaptors through their effector domains, triggering trans-membrane transduction signaling pathway to exert immune response. The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and B cell antigen receptor (BCR) are the primary determinant of immune responses to antigens. Their structure determines the mode of signaling and signal transduction determines cell fate, leading to changes at the molecular and cellular level. Studies of antigen receptor structure and signaling revealed the basis of immune response triggering, providing clues to antigen receptor priming and a foundation for the rational design of immunotherapies. In recent years, the increased research on the structure of antigen receptors has greatly contributed to the understanding of immune response, different immune-related diseases and even tumors. In this review, we describe in detail the current view and advances of the antigen structure and signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Han
- HIT Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Chen
- HIT Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Yuwei Zhu
- HIT Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Zhiwei Huang
- HIT Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.
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8
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Sladeček S, Radaszkiewicz KA, Bőhmová M, Gybeľ T, Radaszkiewicz TW, Pacherník J. Dual specificity phosphatase 7 drives the formation of cardiac mesoderm in mouse embryonic stem cells. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275860. [PMID: 36227898 PMCID: PMC9560500 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dual specificity phosphatase 7 (DUSP7) is a protein belonging to a broad group of phosphatases that can dephosphorylate phosphoserine/phosphothreonine as well as phosphotyrosine residues within the same substrate. DUSP7 has been linked to the negative regulation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), and in particular to the regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). MAPKs play an important role in embryonic development, where their duration, magnitude, and spatiotemporal activity must be strictly controlled by other proteins, among others by DUSPs. In this study, we focused on the effect of DUSP7 depletion on the in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. We showed that even though DUSP7 knock-out ES cells do retain some of their basic characteristics, when it comes to differentiation, they preferentially differentiate towards neural cells, while the formation of early cardiac mesoderm is repressed. Therefore, our data indicate that DUSP7 is necessary for the correct formation of neuroectoderm and cardiac mesoderm during the in vitro differentiation of ES cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislava Sladeček
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Martina Bőhmová
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Gybeľ
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Jiří Pacherník
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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9
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Friend or foe? Unraveling the complex roles of protein tyrosine phosphatases in cardiac disease and development. Cell Signal 2022; 93:110297. [PMID: 35259455 PMCID: PMC9038168 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Regulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation is critical for most, if not all, fundamental cellular processes. However, we still do not fully understand the complex and tissue-specific roles of protein tyrosine phosphatases in the normal heart or in cardiac pathology. This review compares and contrasts the various roles of protein tyrosine phosphatases known to date in the context of cardiac disease and development. In particular, it will be considered how specific protein tyrosine phosphatases control cardiac hypertrophy and cardiomyocyte contractility, how protein tyrosine phosphatases contribute to or ameliorate injury induced by ischaemia / reperfusion or hypoxia / reoxygenation, and how protein tyrosine phosphatases are involved in normal heart development and congenital heart disease. This review delves into the newest developments and current challenges in the field, and highlights knowledge gaps and emerging opportunities for future research.
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10
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T cell receptor (TCR) signaling in health and disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:412. [PMID: 34897277 PMCID: PMC8666445 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00823-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Interaction of the T cell receptor (TCR) with an MHC-antigenic peptide complex results in changes at the molecular and cellular levels in T cells. The outside environmental cues are translated into various signal transduction pathways within the cell, which mediate the activation of various genes with the help of specific transcription factors. These signaling networks propagate with the help of various effector enzymes, such as kinases, phosphatases, and phospholipases. Integration of these disparate signal transduction pathways is done with the help of adaptor proteins that are non-enzymatic in function and that serve as a scaffold for various protein-protein interactions. This process aids in connecting the proximal to distal signaling pathways, thereby contributing to the full activation of T cells. This review provides a comprehensive snapshot of the various molecules involved in regulating T cell receptor signaling, covering both enzymes and adaptors, and will discuss their role in human disease.
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11
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Guo X, Ramirez I, Garcia YA, Velasquez EF, Gholkar AA, Cohn W, Whitelegge JP, Tofig B, Damoiseaux R, Torres JZ. DUSP7 regulates the activity of ERK2 to promote proper chromosome alignment during cell division. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100676. [PMID: 33865857 PMCID: PMC8131738 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cell division is a highly regulated process that relies on the accurate capture and movement of chromosomes to the metaphase plate. Errors in the fidelity of chromosome congression and alignment can lead to improper chromosome segregation, which is correlated with aneuploidy and tumorigenesis. These processes are known to be regulated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) in other species, but the role of ERK2 in mitosis in mammals remains unclear. Here, we have identified the dual-specificity phosphatase 7 (DUSP7), known to display selectivity for ERK2, as important in regulating chromosome alignment. During mitosis, DUSP7 bound to ERK2 and regulated the abundance of active phospho-ERK2 through its phosphatase activity. Overexpression of DUSP7, but not catalytically inactive mutants, led to a decrease in the levels of phospho-ERK2 and mitotic chromosome misalignment, while knockdown of DUSP7 also led to defective chromosome congression that resulted in a prolonged mitosis. Consistently, knockdown or chemical inhibition of ERK2 or chemical inhibition of the MEK kinase that phosphorylates ERK2 led to chromosome alignment defects. Our results support a model wherein MEK-mediated phosphorylation and DUSP7-mediated dephosphorylation regulate the levels of active phospho-ERK2 to promote proper cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Guo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ivan Ramirez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yenni A Garcia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Erick F Velasquez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ankur A Gholkar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Whitaker Cohn
- Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Julian P Whitelegge
- Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Bobby Tofig
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Robert Damoiseaux
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jorge Z Torres
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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12
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Recent insights of T cell receptor-mediated signaling pathways for T cell activation and development. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:750-761. [PMID: 32439954 PMCID: PMC7272404 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-0435-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell activation requires extracellular stimulatory signals that are mainly mediated by T cell receptor (TCR) complexes. The TCR recognizes antigens on major histocompatibility complex molecules with the cooperation of CD4 or CD8 coreceptors. After recognition, TCR-induced signaling cascades that propagate signals via various molecules and second messengers are induced. Consequently, many features of T cell-mediated immune responses are determined by these intracellular signaling cascades. Furthermore, differences in the magnitude of TCR signaling direct T cells toward distinct effector linages. Therefore, stringent regulation of T cell activation is crucial for T cell homeostasis and proper immune responses. Dysregulation of TCR signaling can result in anergy or autoimmunity. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the pathways that govern how the TCR complex transmits signals into cells and the roles of effector molecules that are involved in these pathways.
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13
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Tomasovic A, Brand T, Schanbacher C, Kramer S, Hümmert MW, Godoy P, Schmidt-Heck W, Nordbeck P, Ludwig J, Homann S, Wiegering A, Shaykhutdinov T, Kratz C, Knüchel R, Müller-Hermelink HK, Rosenwald A, Frey N, Eichler J, Dobrev D, El-Armouche A, Hengstler JG, Müller OJ, Hinrichs K, Cuello F, Zernecke A, Lorenz K. Interference with ERK-dimerization at the nucleocytosolic interface targets pathological ERK1/2 signaling without cardiotoxic side-effects. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1733. [PMID: 32265441 PMCID: PMC7138859 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) is linked to several diseases including heart failure, genetic syndromes and cancer. Inhibition of ERK1/2, however, can cause severe cardiac side-effects, precluding its wide therapeutic application. ERKT188-autophosphorylation was identified to cause pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Here we report that interference with ERK-dimerization, a prerequisite for ERKT188-phosphorylation, minimizes cardiac hypertrophy without inducing cardiac adverse effects: an ERK-dimerization inhibitory peptide (EDI) prevents ERKT188-phosphorylation, nuclear ERK1/2-signaling and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, protecting from pressure-overload-induced heart failure in mice whilst preserving ERK1/2-activity and cytosolic survival signaling. We also examine this alternative ERK1/2-targeting strategy in cancer: indeed, ERKT188-phosphorylation is strongly upregulated in cancer and EDI efficiently suppresses cancer cell proliferation without causing cardiotoxicity. This powerful cardio-safe strategy of interfering with ERK-dimerization thus combats pathological ERK1/2-signaling in heart and cancer, and may potentially expand therapeutic options for ERK1/2-related diseases, such as heart failure and genetic syndromes. Drugs targeting dysregulated ERK1/2 signaling can cause severe cardiac side effects, precluding their wide therapeutic application. Here, a new and cardio-safe targeting strategy is presented that interferes with ERK dimerization to prevent pathological ERK1/2 signaling in the heart and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Tomasovic
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Theresa Brand
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Constanze Schanbacher
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sofia Kramer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin W Hümmert
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Patricio Godoy
- IfADo-Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University Dortmund, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schmidt-Heck
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology -Hans Knoell Institute-, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Peter Nordbeck
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Ludwig
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susanne Homann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Armin Wiegering
- Department of General, Visceral, Transplant, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Timur Shaykhutdinov
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Kratz
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ruth Knüchel
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Rosenwald
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Norbert Frey
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jutta Eichler
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Ali El-Armouche
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- IfADo-Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University Dortmund, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Oliver J Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Kiel, Germany
| | - Karsten Hinrichs
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friederike Cuello
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alma Zernecke
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Lorenz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078, Würzburg, Germany. .,Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., 44139, Dortmund, Germany. .,Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, 97078, Würzburg, Germany.
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14
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Shan W, Han F, Xu Y, Shi Y. Stathmin Regulates Spatiotemporal Variation in the Memory Loop in Single-Prolonged Stress Rats. J Mol Neurosci 2020; 70:576-589. [PMID: 31933182 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-019-01459-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is closely related to brain structures of the memory loop such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The fear gene stathmin plays an important role in regulating fear memory. However, whether the fear gene stathmin is related to fear memory loop anomalies caused by PTSD is unclear. A single-prolonged stress (SPS) rat model of PTSD was constructed. Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: the control group, SPS 1-day group, SPS 4-day group, SPS 7-day group, and SPS 14-day group. Then, we measured the protein and mRNA expression of stathmin, p-stathmin (Ser16, Ser25, Ser38, and Ser63), β-tubulin, and MAP-1B in the hippocampus, amygdala, and mPFC in the 5 groups by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR. The expression of the stathmin protein in the hippocampus, mPFC, and amygdala of the rat memory loop decreased gradually in the SPS 1-day group, the SPS 4-day group, and the SPS 7-day group, in which it was the lowest, and then increased. The trend of the expression of stathmin mRNA in the three areas of the memory loop was consistent with the trend of the expression of the stathmin protein. The trend of the protein expression of p-stathmin (Ser25 and Ser38) was opposite of that of stathmin; it reached a peak on the 7th day, and then decreased in the hippocampus. The protein expression of p-stathmin (Ser63) showed the same trend in the mPFC. The protein and mRNA expression of β-tubulin and MAP-1B was consistent with that of p-stathmin; it reached a peak on the 7th day, and then decreased in the rat hippocampus, mPFC, and amygdala. Stathmin in the memory loop, especially in the hippocampus, regulates microtubule structure through its phosphorylation at Ser25 and Ser38 and thereby participates in the mediation of fear memory abnormalities in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shan
- PTSD Laboratory, Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, 77, Puhe Road, Shengbei New District, Shenyang, 110001, People's Republic of China.,Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Han
- PTSD Laboratory, Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, 77, Puhe Road, Shengbei New District, Shenyang, 110001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhao Xu
- PTSD Laboratory, Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, 77, Puhe Road, Shengbei New District, Shenyang, 110001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuxiu Shi
- PTSD Laboratory, Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical Sciences College, China Medical University, 77, Puhe Road, Shengbei New District, Shenyang, 110001, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Courtney TM, Horst TJ, Hankinson CP, Deiters A. Synthesis and application of light-switchable arylazopyrazole rapamycin analogs. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 17:8348-8353. [PMID: 31469140 DOI: 10.1039/c9ob01719d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Rapamycin-induced dimerization of FKBP and FRB has been utilized as a tool for co-localizing two proteins of interest in numerous applications. Due to the tight binding interaction of rapamycin with FKBP and FRB, the ternary complex formation is essentially irreversible. Since biological processes occur in a highly dynamic fashion with cycles of protein association and dissociation to generate a cellular response, it is useful to have chemical tools that function in a similar manner. We have developed arylazopyrazole-modified rapamycin analogs which undergo a configurational change upon light exposure and we observed enhanced ternary complex formation for the cis-isomer over the trans-isomer for one of the analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor M Courtney
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Trevor J Horst
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Chasity P Hankinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Alexander Deiters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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16
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Ferguson BS, Nam H, Morrison RF. Dual-specificity phosphatases regulate mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in adipocytes in response to inflammatory stress. Cell Signal 2019; 53:234-245. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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17
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Trial J, Cieslik KA. Changes in cardiac resident fibroblast physiology and phenotype in aging. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2018; 315:H745-H755. [PMID: 29906228 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00237.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The cardiac fibroblast plays a central role in tissue homeostasis and in repair after injury. With aging, dysregulated cardiac fibroblasts have a reduced capacity to activate a canonical transforming growth factor-β-Smad pathway and differentiate poorly into contractile myofibroblasts. That results in the formation of an insufficient scar after myocardial infarction. In contrast, in the uninjured aged heart, fibroblasts are activated and acquire a profibrotic phenotype that leads to interstitial fibrosis, ventricular stiffness, and diastolic dysfunction, all conditions that may lead to heart failure. There is an apparent paradox in aging, wherein reparative fibrosis is impaired but interstitial, adverse fibrosis is augmented. This could be explained by analyzing the effectiveness of signaling pathways in resident fibroblasts from young versus aged hearts. Whereas defective signaling by transforming growth factor-β leads to insufficient scar formation by myofibroblasts, enhanced activation of the ERK1/2 pathway may be responsible for interstitial fibrosis mediated by activated fibroblasts. Listen to this article's corresponding podcast at https://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/fibroblast-phenotypic-changes-in-the-aging-heart/ .
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Affiliation(s)
- JoAnn Trial
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas
| | - Katarzyna A Cieslik
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas
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18
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Molecular Mechanisms of Prophase I Meiotic Arrest Maintenance and Meiotic Resumption in Mammalian Oocytes. Reprod Sci 2018; 26:1519-1537. [DOI: 10.1177/1933719118765974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mechanisms of meiotic prophase I arrest maintenance (germinal vesicle [GV] stage) and meiotic resumption (germinal vesicle breakdown [GVBD] stage) in mammalian oocytes seem to be very complicated. These processes are regulated via multiple molecular cascades at transcriptional, translational, and posttranslational levels, and many of them are interrelated. There are many molecular cascades of meiosis maintaining and meiotic resumption in oocyte which are orchestrated by multiple molecules produced by pituitary gland and follicular cells. Furthermore, many of these molecular cascades are duplicated, thus ensuring the stability of the entire system. Understanding mechanisms of oocyte maturation is essential to assess the oocyte status, develop effective protocols of oocyte in vitro maturation, and design novel contraceptive drugs. Mechanisms of meiotic arrest maintenance at prophase I and meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes are covered in the present article.
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19
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Li S, Mbong EF, John DT, Terasaka T, Li D, Lawson MA. Induction of Stress Signaling In Vitro and Suppression of Gonadotropin Secretion by Free Fatty Acids in Female Mouse Gonadotropes. Endocrinology 2018; 159:1074-1087. [PMID: 29315384 PMCID: PMC5793794 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
An emerging body of evidence supports the concept that the pituitary is a site for integration of multiple physiological and metabolic signals that inform and modulate endocrine pathways. Multiple endocrine mediators of energy balance and adiposity are known to impinge on the neuroendocrine axis regulating reproduction. Observations in humans show that obesity is correlated with decreased gonadotropin secretion, and studies have also suggested that pituitary sensitivity to stimulation by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is decreased in obese individuals. Free fatty acids are a potential mediator of adiposity and energy balance, but their impact as an endocrine modulator of pituitary function has not been closely examined. We evaluated the impact of free fatty acids on a pituitary gonadotrope cell line and in primary pituitary cultures of female mice. We show that increasing physiologically relevant doses of the monounsaturated ω-9 fatty acid oleate induces cellular stress and increases production of reactive oxygen species in a mouse gonadotrope cell line. In contrast, the unsaturated ω-3 α-linolenic and ω-6 linoleic fatty acids do not have this effect. Additionally, oleate can activate immediate-early gene expression independent of GnRH stimulation but has a negative impact on GnRH induction and expression of the gonadotropin subunit gene Lhb. Further, oleate suppresses gonadotropin secretion in response to pulsatile stimulation by GnRH. These results indicate that free fatty acids can directly alter gonadotropin gene expression and secretion in response to GnRH and may provide a link between energy sensing and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Dongguan Eighth People’s Hospital, Dongguan 523000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ekaette F. Mbong
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Denise T. John
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Tomohiro Terasaka
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Danmei Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Mark A. Lawson
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
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20
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Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) acts via G-protein coupled receptors on pituitary gonadotropes. These are Gq-coupled receptors that mediate acute effects of GnRH on the exocytotic secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as the chronic regulation of their synthesis. FSH and LH control steroidogenesis and gametogenesis in the gonads so GnRH mediates control of reproduction by the central nervous system. GnRH is secreted in short pulses and the effects of GnRH on its target cells are dependent on the dynamics of these pulses. Here we provide a brief overview of the signaling network activated by GnRH with emphasis on the use of high content imaging for their examination. We also describe computational approaches that we have used to simulate GnRH signaling in order to explore dynamics, noise, and information transfer in this system.
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21
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The Phosphatase Dusp7 Drives Meiotic Resumption and Chromosome Alignment in Mouse Oocytes. Cell Rep 2017; 17:1426-1437. [PMID: 27783954 PMCID: PMC5215830 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian oocytes are stored in the ovary, where they are arrested in prophase for prolonged periods. The mechanisms that abrogate the prophase arrest in mammalian oocytes and reinitiate meiosis are not well understood. Here, we identify and characterize an essential pathway for the resumption of meiosis that relies on the protein phosphatase DUSP7. DUSP7-depleted oocytes either fail to resume meiosis or resume meiosis with a significant delay. In the absence of DUSP7, Cdk1/CycB activity drops below the critical level required to reinitiate meiosis, precluding or delaying nuclear envelope breakdown. Our data suggest that DUSP7 drives meiotic resumption by dephosphorylating and thereby inactivating cPKC isoforms. In addition to controlling meiotic resumption, DUSP7 has a second function in chromosome segregation: DUSP7-depleted oocytes that enter meiosis show severe chromosome alignment defects and progress into anaphase prematurely. Altogether, these findings establish the phosphatase DUSP7 as an essential regulator of multiple steps in oocyte meiosis.
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22
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Buffet C, Hecale-Perlemoine K, Bricaire L, Dumont F, Baudry C, Tissier F, Bertherat J, Cochand-Priollet B, Raffin-Sanson ML, Cormier F, Groussin L. DUSP5 and DUSP6, two ERK specific phosphatases, are markers of a higher MAPK signaling activation in BRAF mutated thyroid cancers. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184861. [PMID: 28910386 PMCID: PMC5599027 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Molecular alterations of the MAPK pathway are frequently observed in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). It leads to a constitutive activation of the signalling pathway through an increase in MEK and ERK phosphorylation. ERK is negatively feedback-regulated by Dual Specificity Phosphatases (DUSPs), especially two ERK-specific DUSPs, DUSP5 (nuclear) and DUSP6 (cytosolic). These negative MAPK regulators may play a role in thyroid carcinogenesis. Methods MAPK pathway activation was analyzed in 11 human thyroid cancer cell lines. Both phosphatases were studied in three PCCL3 rat thyroid cell lines that express doxycycline inducible PTC oncogenes (RET/PTC3, H-RASV12 or BRAFV600E). Expression levels of DUSP5 and DUSP6 were quantified in 39 human PTCs. The functional role of DUSP5 and DUSP6 was investigated through their silencing in two human BRAFV600E carcinoma cell lines. Results BRAFV600E human thyroid cancer cell lines expressed higher phospho-MEK levels but not higher phospho-ERK levels. DUSP5 and DUSP6 are specifically induced by the MEK-ERK pathway in the three PTC oncogenes inducible thyroid cell lines. This negative feedback loop explains the tight regulation of p-ERK levels. DUSP5 and DUSP6 mRNA are overexpressed in human PTCs, especially in BRAFV600E mutated PTCs. DUSP5 and/or DUSP6 siRNA inactivation did not affect proliferation in two BRAFV600E mutated cell lines, which may be explained by a compensatory increase in other phosphatases. In the light of this, we observed a marked DUSP6 upregulation upon DUSP5 inactivation. Despite this, DUSP5 and DUSP6 positively control cell migration and invasion. Conclusions Our results are in favor of a stronger activation of the MAPK pathway in BRAFV600E PTCs. DUSP5 and DUSP6 have pro-tumorigenic properties in two BRAFV600E PTC cell line models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Buffet
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Karine Hecale-Perlemoine
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Léopoldine Bricaire
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Florent Dumont
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Camille Baudry
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Frédérique Tissier
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
- Department of Pathology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Bertherat
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
- Department of Endocrinology, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Françoise Cormier
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Lionel Groussin
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- CNRS, UMR8104, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
- Department of Endocrinology, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France
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23
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Kutty RG, Talipov MR, Bongard RD, Lipinski RAJ, Sweeney NL, Sem DS, Rathore R, Ramchandran R. Dual Specificity Phosphatase 5-Substrate Interaction: A Mechanistic Perspective. Compr Physiol 2017; 7:1449-1461. [PMID: 28915331 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c170007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian genome contains approximately 200 phosphatases that are responsible for catalytically removing phosphate groups from proteins. In this review, we discuss dual specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5). DUSP5 belongs to the dual specificity phosphatase (DUSP) family, so named after the family members' abilities to remove phosphate groups from serine/threonine and tyrosine residues. We provide a comparison of DUSP5's structure to other DUSPs and, using molecular modeling studies, provide an explanation for DUSP5's mechanistic interaction and specificity toward phospho-extracellular regulated kinase, its only known substrate. We also discuss new insights from molecular modeling studies that will influence our current thinking of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Finally, we discuss the lessons learned from identifying small molecules that target DUSP5, which might benefit targeting efforts for other phosphatases. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 7:1449-1461, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raman G Kutty
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Translational and Biomedical Research Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Marat R Talipov
- New Mexico State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
| | - Robert D Bongard
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Concordia University of Wisconsin, Mequon, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Rachel A Jones Lipinski
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Translational and Biomedical Research Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Noreena L Sweeney
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Concordia University of Wisconsin, Mequon, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Daniel S Sem
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Concordia University of Wisconsin, Mequon, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Rajendra Rathore
- Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ramani Ramchandran
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Translational and Biomedical Research Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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24
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Wilson MZ, Ravindran PT, Lim WA, Toettcher JE. Tracing Information Flow from Erk to Target Gene Induction Reveals Mechanisms of Dynamic and Combinatorial Control. Mol Cell 2017; 67:757-769.e5. [PMID: 28826673 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Cell signaling networks coordinate specific patterns of protein expression in response to external cues, yet the logic by which signaling pathway activity determines the eventual abundance of target proteins is complex and poorly understood. Here, we describe an approach for simultaneously controlling the Ras/Erk pathway and monitoring a target gene's transcription and protein accumulation in single live cells. We apply our approach to dissect how Erk activity is decoded by immediate early genes (IEGs). We find that IEG transcription decodes Erk dynamics through a shared band-pass filtering circuit; repeated Erk pulses transcribe IEGs more efficiently than sustained Erk inputs. However, despite highly similar transcriptional responses, each IEG exhibits dramatically different protein-level accumulation, demonstrating a high degree of post-transcriptional regulation by combinations of multiple pathways. Our results demonstrate that the Ras/Erk pathway is decoded by both dynamic filters and logic gates to shape target gene responses in a context-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell Z Wilson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Pavithran T Ravindran
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Wendell A Lim
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jared E Toettcher
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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25
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Huang L, Litjens NHR, Kannegieter NM, Klepper M, Baan CC, Betjes MGH. pERK-dependent defective TCR-mediated activation of CD4 + T cells in end-stage renal disease patients. IMMUNITY & AGEING 2017. [PMID: 28642802 PMCID: PMC5477144 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-017-0096-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Background Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have an impaired immune response with a prematurely aged T-cell system. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38, regulate diverse cellular programs by transferring extracellular signals into an intracellular response. T cell receptor (TCR)-induced phosphorylation of ERK (pERK) may show an age-associated decline, which can be reversed by inhibiting dual specific phosphatase (DUSP) 6, a cytoplasmic phosphatase with substrate specificity to dephosphorylate pERK. The aim of this study was to assess whether ESRD affects TCR-mediated signaling and explore possibilities for intervening in ESRD-associated defective T-cell mediated immunity. Results An age-associated decline in TCR-induced pERK-levels was observed in the different CD4+ (P < 0.05), but not CD8+, T-cell subsets from healthy individuals (HI). Interestingly, pERK-levels of CD4+ T-cell subsets from young ESRD patients were in between young and elderly HI. A differentiation-associated decline in TCR-induced ERK and p38 phosphorylation was observed in T cells, although TCR-induced p38 phosphorylation was not significantly affected by age and/or ESRD. Frequencies of TCR-induced CD69-expressing CD4+ T cells declined with age and were positively associated with pERK. In addition, an age-associated tendency of increased expression of DUSP6 was observed in CD4+ T cells of HI and DUSP6 expression in young ESRD patients was similar to old HI. Inhibition of DUSP6 significantly increased TCR-induced pERK-levels of CD4+ T cells in young and elderly ESRD patients, and elderly HI. Conclusions TCR-mediated phosphorylation of ERK is affected in young ESRD patients consistent with the concept of premature immunological T cell ageing. Inhibition of DUSP6 specific for pERK might be a potential intervention enhancing T-cell mediated immunity in ESRD patients. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12979-017-0096-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nicolle H R Litjens
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nynke M Kannegieter
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mariska Klepper
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carla C Baan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michiel G H Betjes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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26
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Gene Expression Profiles of Human Phosphotyrosine Phosphatases Consequent to Th1 Polarisation and Effector Function. J Immunol Res 2017; 2017:8701042. [PMID: 28393080 PMCID: PMC5368384 DOI: 10.1155/2017/8701042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphotyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) constitute a complex family of enzymes that control the balance of intracellular phosphorylation levels to allow cell responses while avoiding the development of diseases. Despite the relevance of CD4 T cell polarisation and effector function in human autoimmune diseases, the expression profile of PTPs during T helper polarisation and restimulation at inflammatory sites has not been assessed. Here, a systematic analysis of the expression profile of PTPs has been carried out during Th1-polarising conditions and upon PKC activation and intracellular raise of Ca2+ in effector cells. Changes in gene expression levels suggest a previously nonnoted regulatory role of several PTPs in Th1 polarisation and effector function. A substantial change in the spatial compartmentalisation of ERK during T cell responses is proposed based on changes in the dose of cytoplasmic and nuclear MAPK phosphatases. Our study also suggests a regulatory role of autoimmune-related PTPs in controlling T helper polarisation in humans. We expect that those PTPs that regulate T helper polarisation will constitute potential targets for intervening CD4 T cell immune responses in order to generate new therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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27
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Abstract
The extraction of statistically meaningful quantitative information from microscopy images is increasingly important for modern biological research. Obtaining accurate, quantitative information from biological specimens, however, is a complex process that requires optimization of several parameters. One must consider the number of probes, fluorescent channels required, type of plate to be used, number of fields to be acquired and optimal resolution for image acquisition. The extraction of information from images is dependent on and can be aided greatly by careful consideration of the factors involved in the image acquisition process. I summarize here the general principles behind the imaging and software technology that is used to quantify images and highlight particular issues of concern for critically applying image quantitation techniques for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Gokhale
- a Department of Biomedical Science , University of Sheffield , Western Bank, Sheffield , United Kingdom
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28
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Garner KL, Voliotis M, Alobaid H, Perrett RM, Pham T, Tsaneva-Atanasova K, McArdle CA. Information Transfer via Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptors to ERK and NFAT: Sensing GnRH and Sensing Dynamics. J Endocr Soc 2017; 1:260-277. [PMID: 29264483 PMCID: PMC5686700 DOI: 10.1210/js.2016-1096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Information theoretic approaches can be used to quantify information transfer via cell signaling networks. In this study, we do so for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) in large numbers of individual fixed LβT2 and HeLa cells. Information transfer, measured by mutual information between GnRH and ERK or NFAT, was <1 bit (despite 3-bit system inputs). It was increased by sensing both ERK and NFAT, but the increase was <50%. In live cells, information transfer via GnRH receptors to NFAT was also <1 bit and was increased by consideration of response trajectory, but the increase was <10%. GnRH secretion is pulsatile, so we explored information gained by sensing a second pulse, developing a model of GnRH signaling to NFAT with variability introduced by allowing effectors to fluctuate. Simulations revealed that when cell–cell variability reflects rapidly fluctuating effector levels, additional information is gained by sensing two GnRH pulses, but where it is due to slowly fluctuating effectors, responses in one pulse are predictive of those in another, so little information is gained from sensing both. Wet laboratory experiments revealed that the latter scenario holds true for GnRH signaling; within the timescale of our experiments (1 to 2 hours), cell–cell variability in the NFAT pathway remains relatively constant, so trajectories are reproducible from pulse to pulse. Accordingly, joint sensing, sensing of response trajectories, and sensing of repeated pulses can all increase information transfer via GnRH receptors, but in each case the increase is small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn L Garner
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS1 3NY, United Kingdom
| | - Margaritis Voliotis
- EPSRC Centre for Predictive Modelling in Healthcare, and.,Department of Mathematics, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, United Kingdom; and
| | - Hussah Alobaid
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS1 3NY, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca M Perrett
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS1 3NY, United Kingdom
| | - Thanh Pham
- Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412
| | - Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
- EPSRC Centre for Predictive Modelling in Healthcare, and.,Department of Mathematics, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, United Kingdom; and
| | - Craig A McArdle
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS1 3NY, United Kingdom
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29
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Pope GR, Tilve S, McArdle CA, Lolait SJ, O'Carroll AM. Agonist-induced internalization and desensitization of the apelin receptor. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2016; 437:108-119. [PMID: 27492965 PMCID: PMC5062952 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Apelin acts via the G protein-coupled apelin receptor (APJ) to mediate effects on cardiovascular and fluid homeostasis. G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) trafficking has an important role in the regulation of receptor signalling pathways and cellular functions, however in the case of APJ the mechanisms and proteins involved in apelin-induced trafficking are not well understood. We generated a stable HEK-293 cell line expressing N-terminus HA-tagged mouse (m) APJ, and used a semi-automated imaging protocol to quantitate APJ trafficking and ERK1/2 activation following stimulation with [Pyr1]apelin-13. The mechanisms of [Pyr1]apelin-13-induced internalization and desensitization were explored using dominant-negative mutant (DNM) cDNA constructs of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), β-arrestin1, EPS15 and dynamin. The di-phosphorylated ERK1/2 (ppERK1/2) response to [Pyr1]apelin-13 desensitized during sustained stimulation, due to upstream APJ-specific adaptive changes. Furthermore, [Pyr1]apelin-13 stimulation caused internalization of mAPJ via clathrin coated vesicles (CCVs) and also caused a rapid reduction in cell surface and whole cell HA-mAPJ. Our data suggest that upon continuous agonist exposure GRK2-mediated phosphorylation targets APJ to CCVs that are internalized from the cell surface in a β-arrestin1-independent, EPS15- and dynamin-dependent manner. Internalization does not appear to contribute to the desensitization of APJ-mediated ppERK1/2 activation in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- George R Pope
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Sharada Tilve
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Craig A McArdle
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Stephen J Lolait
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Anne-Marie O'Carroll
- Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK.
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30
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Rubinstein BY, Mattingly HH, Berezhkovskii AM, Shvartsman SY. Long-term dynamics of multisite phosphorylation. Mol Biol Cell 2016; 27:2331-40. [PMID: 27226482 PMCID: PMC4945148 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e16-03-0137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A systematic framework for exploring the long-term dynamics of a reaction network is applied to a minimal model of ERK regulation that distinguishes both monophosphorylated forms and allows for nonzero enzyme processivity. Bistability and oscillations can be observed at high levels of processivity. Multisite phosphorylation cycles are ubiquitous in cell regulation systems and are studied at multiple levels of complexity, from molecules to organisms, with the ultimate goal of establishing predictive understanding of the effects of genetic and pharmacological perturbations of protein phosphorylation in vivo. Achieving this goal is essentially impossible without mathematical models, which provide a systematic framework for exploring dynamic interactions of multiple network components. Most of the models studied to date do not discriminate between the distinct partially phosphorylated forms and focus on two limiting reaction regimes, distributive and processive, which differ in the number of enzyme–substrate binding events needed for complete phosphorylation or dephosphorylation. Here we use a minimal model of extracellular signal-related kinase regulation to explore the dynamics of a reaction network that includes all essential phosphorylation forms and arbitrary levels of reaction processivity. In addition to bistability, which has been studied extensively in distributive mechanisms, this network can generate periodic oscillations. Both bistability and oscillations can be realized at high levels of reaction processivity. Our work provides a general framework for systematic analysis of dynamics in multisite phosphorylation systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry H Mattingly
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Alexander M Berezhkovskii
- Mathematical and Statistical Computing Laboratory, Division of Computational Bioscience, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Stanislav Y Shvartsman
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
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31
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Ma B, Shi R, Yang S, Zhou L, Qu N, Liao T, Wang Y, Wang Y, Ji Q. DUSP4/MKP2 overexpression is associated with BRAF(V600E) mutation and aggressive behavior of papillary thyroid cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2016; 9:2255-63. [PMID: 27143921 PMCID: PMC4844429 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s103554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The study was performed to retrospectively analyze the correlation of dual specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) expression with clinicopathological variables and BRAF(V600E) mutation to better characterize the potential role of DUSP4 as a biomarker in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Patients (n=120) who underwent surgery for PTC at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) were enrolled in this study, and a validation cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was identified to confirm the preliminary findings in our study. We investigated DUSP4 expression at the mRNA level in PTC tissues and adjacent normal tissues using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). BRAF(V600E) mutation analysis was also performed in PTC tissues using Sanger sequencing. Initially, we compared PTC tissues with paired normal tissues in DUSP4 expression using Student's t-test, and then analyzed the correlation of DUSP4 with clinicopathological variables and BRAF(V600E) mutation in PTC using Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, χ (2), and Fisher's exact tests. Human-derived thyroid cell lines were also used to verify our findings. DUSP4 was significantly overexpressed in PTC tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues (P<0.001). High DUSP4 expression showed a significant association with lymph node metastasis and extrathyroidal extension in both FUSCC and TCGA cohorts, and DUSP4 overexpression was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in multivariate analysis. Additionally, DUSP4 expression was associated with BRAF(V600E) mutation in both the cohorts (FUSCC: P=0.002, TCGA: P<0.001) and PTC cell lines (P=0.023). In conclusion, DUSP4 was identified as a potential biomarker for aggressive behavior in PTC, and its overexpression was BRAF(V600E) mutation-related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Ma
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongliang Shi
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of General Surgery, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuwen Yang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Zhou
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Qu
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Liao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yulong Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinghai Ji
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Minhang Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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32
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Garner KL, Perrett RM, Voliotis M, Bowsher C, Pope GR, Pham T, Caunt CJ, Tsaneva-Atanasova K, McArdle CA. Information Transfer in Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH) Signaling: EXTRACELLULAR SIGNAL-REGULATED KINASE (ERK)-MEDIATED FEEDBACK LOOPS CONTROL HORMONE SENSING. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:2246-59. [PMID: 26644469 PMCID: PMC4732208 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.686964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell signaling pathways are noisy communication channels, and statistical measures derived from information theory can be used to quantify the information they transfer. Here we use single cell signaling measures to calculate mutual information as a measure of information transfer via gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors (GnRHR) to extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT). This revealed mutual information values <1 bit, implying that individual GnRH-responsive cells cannot unambiguously differentiate even two equally probable input concentrations. Addressing possible mechanisms for mitigation of information loss, we focused on the ERK pathway and developed a stochastic activation model incorporating negative feedback and constitutive activity. Model simulations revealed interplay between fast (min) and slow (min-h) negative feedback loops with maximal information transfer at intermediate feedback levels. Consistent with this, experiments revealed that reducing negative feedback (by expressing catalytically inactive ERK2) and increasing negative feedback (by Egr1-driven expression of dual-specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5)) both reduced information transfer from GnRHR to ERK. It was also reduced by blocking protein synthesis (to prevent GnRH from increasing DUSP expression) but did not differ for different GnRHRs that do or do not undergo rapid homologous desensitization. Thus, the first statistical measures of information transfer via these receptors reveals that individual cells are unreliable sensors of GnRH concentration and that this reliability is maximal at intermediate levels of ERK-mediated negative feedback but is not influenced by receptor desensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn L Garner
- From the Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS1 3NY, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca M Perrett
- From the Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS1 3NY, United Kingdom
| | - Margaritis Voliotis
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, United Kingdom
| | - Clive Bowsher
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, United Kingdom
| | - George R Pope
- From the Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS1 3NY, United Kingdom
| | - Thanh Pham
- Texas A and M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412
| | - Christopher J Caunt
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom, and
| | - Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
- Department of Mathematics, College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QF, United Kingdom
| | - Craig A McArdle
- From the Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS1 3NY, United Kingdom,
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33
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Sipieter F, Cappe B, Gonzalez Pisfil M, Spriet C, Bodart JF, Cailliau-Maggio K, Vandenabeele P, Héliot L, Riquet FB. Novel Reporter for Faithful Monitoring of ERK2 Dynamics in Living Cells and Model Organisms. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140924. [PMID: 26517832 PMCID: PMC4627772 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncoupling of ERK1/2 phosphorylation from subcellular localization is essential towards the understanding of molecular mechanisms that control ERK1/2-mediated cell-fate decision. ERK1/2 non-catalytic functions and discoveries of new specific anchors responsible of the subcellular compartmentalization of ERK1/2 signaling pathway have been proposed as regulation mechanisms for which dynamic monitoring of ERK1/2 localization is necessary. However, studying the spatiotemporal features of ERK2, for instance, in different cellular processes in living cells and tissues requires a tool that can faithfully report on its subcellular distribution. We developed a novel molecular tool, ERK2-LOC, based on the T2A-mediated coexpression of strictly equimolar levels of eGFP-ERK2 and MEK1, to faithfully visualize ERK2 localization patterns. MEK1 and eGFP-ERK2 were expressed reliably and functionally both in vitro and in single living cells. We then assessed the subcellular distribution and mobility of ERK2-LOC using fluorescence microscopy in non-stimulated conditions and after activation/inhibition of the MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Finally, we used our coexpression system in Xenopus laevis embryos during the early stages of development. This is the first report on MEK1/ERK2 T2A-mediated coexpression in living embryos, and we show that there is a strong correlation between the spatiotemporal subcellular distribution of ERK2-LOC and the phosphorylation patterns of ERK1/2. Our approach can be used to study the spatiotemporal localization of ERK2 and its dynamics in a variety of processes in living cells and embryonic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Sipieter
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Equipe Biophotonique Cellulaire Fonctionnelle, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules (PhLAM), CNRS-UMR 8523, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
- Regulation of Signal Division Team, Structural and Functional Glycobiology Unit (UGSF), CNRS-UMR 8576, Lille 1 University, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
- Groupement de Recherche Microscopie Imagerie du Vivant, GDR2588 MIV-CNRS, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Benjamin Cappe
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Groupement de Recherche Microscopie Imagerie du Vivant, GDR2588 MIV-CNRS, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Mariano Gonzalez Pisfil
- Equipe Biophotonique Cellulaire Fonctionnelle, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules (PhLAM), CNRS-UMR 8523, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
- Groupement de Recherche Microscopie Imagerie du Vivant, GDR2588 MIV-CNRS, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Corentin Spriet
- TISBio, Structural and Functional Glycobiology Unit (UGSF), CNRS-UMR 8576, FR3688, Lille 1 University, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Jean-François Bodart
- Regulation of Signal Division Team, Structural and Functional Glycobiology Unit (UGSF), CNRS-UMR 8576, Lille 1 University, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Katia Cailliau-Maggio
- Regulation of Signal Division Team, Structural and Functional Glycobiology Unit (UGSF), CNRS-UMR 8576, Lille 1 University, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Peter Vandenabeele
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Methusalem Program, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laurent Héliot
- Equipe Biophotonique Cellulaire Fonctionnelle, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules (PhLAM), CNRS-UMR 8523, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
- Groupement de Recherche Microscopie Imagerie du Vivant, GDR2588 MIV-CNRS, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Franck B. Riquet
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Molecular Signaling and Cell Death Unit, Inflammation Research Center (IRC), VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Structural and Functional Glycobiology Unit (UGSF), CNRS-UMR 8576, Lille 1 University, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
- Groupement de Recherche Microscopie Imagerie du Vivant, GDR2588 MIV-CNRS, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
- * E-mail:
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34
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Neumann TS, Span EA, Kalous KS, Bongard R, Gastonguay A, Lepley MA, Kutty RG, Nayak J, Bohl C, Lange RG, Sarker MI, Talipov MR, Rathore R, Ramchandran R, Sem DS. Identification of inhibitors that target dual-specificity phosphatase 5 provide new insights into the binding requirements for the two phosphate pockets. BMC BIOCHEMISTRY 2015; 16:19. [PMID: 26286528 PMCID: PMC4545774 DOI: 10.1186/s12858-015-0048-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dual-specificity phosphatase-5 (DUSP5) plays a central role in vascular development and disease. We present a p-nitrophenol phosphate (pNPP) based enzymatic assay to screen for inhibitors of the phosphatase domain of DUSP5. METHODS pNPP is a mimic of the phosphorylated tyrosine on the ERK2 substrate (pERK2) and binds the DUSP5 phosphatase domain with a Km of 7.6 ± 0.4 mM. Docking followed by inhibitor verification using the pNPP assay identified a series of polysulfonated aromatic inhibitors that occupy the DUSP5 active site in the region that is likely occupied by the dual-phosphorylated ERK2 substrate tripeptide (pThr-Glu-pTyr). Secondary assays were performed with full length DUSP5 with ERK2 as substrate. RESULTS The most potent inhibitor has a naphthalene trisulfonate (NTS) core. A search for similar compounds in a drug database identified suramin, a dimerized form of NTS. While suramin appears to be a potent and competitive inhibitor (25 ± 5 μM), binding to the DUSP5 phosphatase domain more tightly than the monomeric ligands of which it is comprised, it also aggregates. Further ligand-based screening, based on a pharmacophore derived from the 7 Å separation of sulfonates on inhibitors and on sulfates present in the DUSP5 crystal structure, identified a disulfonated and phenolic naphthalene inhibitor (CSD (3) _2320) with IC₅₀ of 33 μM that is similar to NTS and does not aggregate. CONCLUSIONS The new DUSP5 inhibitors we identify in this study typically have sulfonates 7 Å apart, likely positioning them where the two phosphates of the substrate peptide (pThr-Glu-pTyr) bind, with one inhibitor also positioning a phenolic hydroxyl where the water nucleophile may reside. Polysulfonated aromatic compounds do not commonly appear in drugs and have a tendency to aggregate. One FDA-approved polysulfonated drug, suramin, inhibits DUSP5 and also aggregates. Docking and modeling studies presented herein identify polysulfonated aromatic inhibitors that do not aggregate, and provide insights to guide future design of mimics of the dual-phosphate loops of the ERK substrates for DUSPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terrence S Neumann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Wesleyan University, 1201 Wesleyan Ave., Fort Worth, TX, 76105, USA.
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and School of Pharmacy, Concordia University of Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097, USA.
| | - Elise A Span
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and School of Pharmacy, Concordia University of Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097, USA.
| | - Kelsey S Kalous
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and School of Pharmacy, Concordia University of Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097, USA.
| | - Robert Bongard
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and School of Pharmacy, Concordia University of Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097, USA.
| | - Adam Gastonguay
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Research Institute (CRI) Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Translational and Biomedical Research Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Michael A Lepley
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Research Institute (CRI) Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Translational and Biomedical Research Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Raman G Kutty
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Research Institute (CRI) Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Translational and Biomedical Research Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Jaladhi Nayak
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Research Institute (CRI) Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Translational and Biomedical Research Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Chris Bohl
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and School of Pharmacy, Concordia University of Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097, USA
| | - Rachel G Lange
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and School of Pharmacy, Concordia University of Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097, USA
| | - Majher I Sarker
- Department of Chemistry, Wehr Chemistry Building, P.O. Box 1881, 535 N. 14th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA.
| | - Marat R Talipov
- Department of Chemistry, Wehr Chemistry Building, P.O. Box 1881, 535 N. 14th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA.
| | - Rajendra Rathore
- Department of Chemistry, Wehr Chemistry Building, P.O. Box 1881, 535 N. 14th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA.
| | - Ramani Ramchandran
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Research Institute (CRI) Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Translational and Biomedical Research Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Daniel S Sem
- Center for Structure-based Drug Design and Development, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and School of Pharmacy, Concordia University of Wisconsin, 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53097, USA.
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Nagashima T, Inoue N, Yumoto N, Saeki Y, Magi S, Volinsky N, Sorkin A, Kholodenko BN, Okada-Hatakeyama M. Feedforward regulation of mRNA stability by prolonged extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity. FEBS J 2015; 282:613-29. [PMID: 25491268 PMCID: PMC4334673 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) plays a central role in signal transduction networks and cell fate decisions. Sustained ERK activation induces cell differentiation, whereas transient ERK results in the proliferation of several types of cells. Sustained ERK activity stabilizes the proteins of early-response gene products. However, the effect of ERK activity duration on mRNA stability is unknown. We analyzed the quantitative relationship between the duration of four ERK activity kinetics and the mRNA expression profile in growth factor-treated cells. Time-course transcriptome analysis revealed that the cells with prolonged ERK activity generally showed sustained mRNA expression of late response genes but not early or mid genes. Selected late response genes decayed more rapidly in the presence of a specific ERK inhibitor than a general transcription inhibitor and the decay rate was not related to the number of AU-rich elements. Our results suggest that sustained ERK activity plays an important role in the lifespan of the mRNA encoded by late response genes, in addition to the previously demonstrated role in protein stabilization of early-response genes, including transcription factors regulating the transcription of mid and late genes. This double-positive regulation of ligand-induced genes, also termed feedforward regulation, is critical in cell fate decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Nagashima
- Laboratory for Integrated Cellular Systems, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
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Protein expression, characterization and activity comparisons of wild type and mutant DUSP5 proteins. BMC BIOCHEMISTRY 2014; 15:27. [PMID: 25519881 PMCID: PMC4299175 DOI: 10.1186/s12858-014-0027-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway is critical for cellular signaling, and proteins such as phosphatases that regulate this pathway are important for normal tissue development. Based on our previous work on dual specificity phosphatase-5 (DUSP5), and its role in embryonic vascular development and disease, we hypothesized that mutations in DUSP5 will affect its function. Results In this study, we tested this hypothesis by generating full-length glutathione-S-transferase-tagged DUSP5 and serine 147 proline mutant (S147P) proteins from bacteria. Light scattering analysis, circular dichroism, enzymatic assays and molecular modeling approaches have been performed to extensively characterize the protein form and function. We demonstrate that both proteins are active and, interestingly, the S147P protein is hypoactive as compared to the DUSP5 WT protein in two distinct biochemical substrate assays. Furthermore, due to the novel positioning of the S147P mutation, we utilize computational modeling to reconstruct full-length DUSP5 and S147P to predict a possible mechanism for the reduced activity of S147P. Conclusion Taken together, this is the first evidence of the generation and characterization of an active, full-length, mutant DUSP5 protein which will facilitate future structure-function and drug development-based studies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12858-014-0027-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Thompson IR, Kaiser UB. GnRH pulse frequency-dependent differential regulation of LH and FSH gene expression. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 385:28-35. [PMID: 24056171 PMCID: PMC3947649 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Revised: 09/10/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The pituitary gonadotropin hormones, FSH and LH, are essential for fertility. Containing an identical α-subunit (CGA), they are comprised of unique β-subunits, FSHβ and LHβ, respectively. These two hormones are regulated by the hypothalamic decapeptide, GnRH, which is released in a pulsatile manner from GnRH neurons located in the hypothalamus. Varying frequencies of pulsatile GnRH stimulate distinct signaling pathways and transcriptional machinery after binding to the receptor, GnRHR, on the cell surface of anterior pituitary gonadotropes. This ligand-receptor binding and activation orchestrates the synthesis and release of FSH and LH, in synergy with other effectors of gonadotropin production, such as activin, inhibin and steroids. Current research efforts aim to discover the mechanisms responsible for the decoding of the GnRH pulse signal by the gonadotrope. Modulating the response to GnRH has the potential to lead to new therapies for patients with altered gonadotropin secretion, such as those with hypothalamic amenorrhea or polycystic ovarian syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain R Thompson
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Ursula B Kaiser
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
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Perrett RM, Voliotis M, Armstrong SP, Fowkes RC, Pope GR, Tsaneva-Atanasova K, McArdle CA. Pulsatile hormonal signaling to extracellular signal-regulated kinase: exploring system sensitivity to gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse frequency and width. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:7873-83. [PMID: 24482225 PMCID: PMC3953298 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.532473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is secreted in brief pulses that stimulate synthesis and secretion of pituitary gonadotropin hormones and thereby mediate control of reproduction. It acts via G-protein-coupled receptors to stimulate effectors, including ERK. Information could be encoded in GnRH pulse frequency, width, amplitude, or other features of pulse shape, but the relative importance of these features is unknown. Here we examine this using automated fluorescence microscopy and mathematical modeling, focusing on ERK signaling. The simplest scenario is one in which the system is linear, and response dynamics are relatively fast (compared with the signal dynamics). In this case integrated system output (ERK activation or ERK-driven transcription) will be roughly proportional to integrated input, but we find that this is not the case. Notably, we find that relatively slow response kinetics lead to ERK activity beyond the GnRH pulse, and this reduces sensitivity to pulse width. More generally, we show that the slowing of response kinetics through the signaling cascade creates a system that is robust to pulse width. We, therefore, show how various levels of response kinetics synergize to dictate system sensitivity to different features of pulsatile hormone input. We reveal the mathematical and biochemical basis of a dynamic GnRH signaling system that is robust to changes in pulse amplitude and width but is sensitive to changes in receptor occupancy and frequency, precisely the features that are tightly regulated and exploited to exert physiological control in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Perrett
- From the Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS1 3NY, United Kingdom
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Do MHT, Kim T, He F, Dave H, Intriago RE, Astorga UA, Jain S, Lawson MA. Polyribosome and ribonucleoprotein complex redistribution of mRNA induced by GnRH involves both EIF2AK3 and MAPK signaling. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 382:346-357. [PMID: 24161835 PMCID: PMC4042833 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2013] [Revised: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulates synthesis and secretion of the glycoprotein gonadotropic hormones and activates the unfolded protein response, which causes a transient reduction of endoplasmic reticulum-associated mRNA translation. Hormone-treated cell extracts were fractionated to resolve mRNA in active polyribosomes from mRNA in inactive complexes. Quantitative real-time PCR and expression array analysis were used to determine hormone-induced redistribution of mRNAs between fractions and individual mRNAs were found to be redistributed differentially. Among the affected mRNAs relevant to gonadotropin synthesis, the luteinizing hormone subunit genes Lhb and Cga were enriched in the ribonucleoprotein pool. The MAP kinase phosphatase Dusp1 was enriched in the polyribosome pool. Enrichment of Dusp1 mRNA in the polyribosome pool was independent of the unfolded protein response, sensitive to ERK inhibition, and dependent on the 3'untranslated region. The results show that GnRH exerts translational control to modulate physiologically relevant gene expression through two distinct signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh-Ha T Do
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Taeshin Kim
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Feng He
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Hiral Dave
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Rachel E Intriago
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Uriah A Astorga
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Sonia Jain
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Mark A Lawson
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.
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Molnar C, de Celis JF. Tay bridge is a negative regulator of EGFR signalling and interacts with Erk and Mkp3 in the Drosophila melanogaster wing. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003982. [PMID: 24348264 PMCID: PMC3861119 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of Extracellular regulated kinase (Erk) activity is a key aspect of signalling by pathways activated by extracellular ligands acting through tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptors. In this process, participate proteins with kinase activity that phosphorylate and activate Erk, as well as different phosphatases that inactivate Erk by de-phosphorylation. The state of Erk phosphorylation affects not only its activity, but also its subcellular localization, defining the repertoire of Erk target proteins, and consequently, the cellular response to Erk. In this work, we characterise Tay bridge as a novel component of the EGFR/Erk signalling pathway. Tay bridge is a large nuclear protein with a domain of homology with human AUTS2, and was previously identified due to the neuronal phenotypes displayed by loss-of-function mutations. We show that Tay bridge antagonizes EGFR signalling in the Drosophila melanogaster wing disc and other tissues, and that the protein interacts with both Erk and Mkp3. We suggest that Tay bridge constitutes a novel element involved in the regulation of Erk activity, acting as a nuclear docking for Erk that retains this protein in an inactive form in the nucleus. Extracellular regulated kinases (Erk) mediate signalling by pathways activated by tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptors. The level of activated Erk depends on a highly regulated balance between cytoplasmic kinases and nuclear/cytoplasmic phosphatases, which determine the state of Erk phosphorylation. This affects Erk activity and its subcellular localization, defining the repertoire of Erk targets, and consequently, the cellular response to Erk. In this work, we use a genetic approach to characterise the gene tay bridge as a novel component of the EGFR/Erk signalling pathway. Tay bridge has a domain of homology with human AUTS2, and was previously identified due to the neuronal phenotypes displayed by loss-of-function mutations. We show that Tay bridge antagonizes EGFR signalling in the Drosophila melanogaster wing disc and other tissues, and that the protein interacts with both Erk and Mkp3. We suggest that Tay bridge constitutes a novel element involved in the regulation of Erk activity, acting as a nuclear docking for Erk that retains this protein in an inactive form in the nucleus. These results could provide important insights into the clinical consequences of AUTS2 mutations in humans, which are related to behavioural perturbations including autism, mental retardation, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and alcohol drinking behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Molnar
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa,” CSIC and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose F. de Celis
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa,” CSIC and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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41
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Stochastic ERK Activation Induced by Noise and Cell-to-Cell Propagation Regulates Cell Density-Dependent Proliferation. Mol Cell 2013; 52:529-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2013.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Revised: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Pseudophosphatase STYX modulates cell-fate decisions and cell migration by spatiotemporal regulation of ERK1/2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:E2934-43. [PMID: 23847209 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1301985110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine/threonine/tyrosine-interacting protein (STYX) is a catalytically inactive member of the dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) family. Whereas the role of DUSPs in cellular signaling is well explored, the function of STYX is still unknown. Here, we identify STYX as a spatial regulator of ERK signaling. We used predictive-model simulation to test several hypotheses for possible modes of STYX action. We show that STYX localizes to the nucleus, competes with nuclear DUSP4 for binding to ERK, and acts as a nuclear anchor that regulates ERK nuclear export. Depletion of STYX increases ERK activity in both cytosol and nucleus. Importantly, depletion of STYX causes an ERK-dependent fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus and inhibits Golgi polarization and directional cell migration. Finally, we show that overexpression of STYX reduces ERK1/2 activation, thereby blocking PC12 cell differentiation. Overall, our results identify STYX as an important regulator of ERK1/2 signaling critical for cell migration and PC12 cell differentiation.
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43
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Perrett RM, Fowkes RC, Caunt CJ, Tsaneva-Atanasova K, Bowsher CG, McArdle CA. Signaling to extracellular signal-regulated kinase from ErbB1 kinase and protein kinase C: feedback, heterogeneity, and gating. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:21001-21014. [PMID: 23754287 PMCID: PMC3774369 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.455345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Many extracellular signals act via the Raf/MEK/ERK cascade in which kinetics, cell-cell variability, and sensitivity of the ERK response can all influence cell fate. Here we used automated microscopy to explore the effects of ERK-mediated negative feedback on these attributes in cells expressing endogenous ERK or ERK2-GFP reporters. We studied acute rather than chronic stimulation with either epidermal growth factor (ErbB1 activation) or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PKC activation). In unstimulated cells, ERK-mediated negative feedback reduced the population-average and cell-cell variability of the level of activated ppERK and increased its robustness to changes in ERK expression. In stimulated cells, negative feedback (evident between 5 min and 4 h) also reduced average levels and variability of phosphorylated ERK (ppERK) without altering the “gradedness” or sensitivity of the response. Binning cells according to total ERK expression revealed, strikingly, that maximal ppERK responses initially occur at submaximal ERK levels and that this non-monotonic relationship changes to an increasing, monotonic one within 15 min. These phenomena occur in HeLa cells and MCF7 breast cancer cells and in the presence and absence of ERK-mediated negative feedback. They were best modeled assuming distributive (rather than processive) activation. Thus, we have uncovered a novel, time-dependent change in the relationship between total ERK and ppERK levels that persists without negative feedback. This change makes acute response kinetics dependent on ERK level and provides a “gating” or control mechanism in which the interplay between stimulus duration and the distribution of ERK expression across cells could modulate the proportion of cells that respond to stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Perrett
- From the Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Whitson Street, Bristol BS13NY, United Kingdom
| | - Robert C Fowkes
- Endocrine Signaling Group, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College St., London NW10TU, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Caunt
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA27AY, United Kingdom
| | - Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
- Bristol Centre for Applied Nonlinear Mathematics, Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol BS81TR, United Kingdom, and
| | - Clive G Bowsher
- School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol BS81TW, United Kingdom
| | - Craig A McArdle
- From the Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Whitson Street, Bristol BS13NY, United Kingdom,.
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44
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Wickramasekera NT, Gebremedhin D, Carver KA, Vakeel P, Ramchandran R, Schuett A, Harder DR. Role of dual-specificity protein phosphatase-5 in modulating the myogenic response in rat cerebral arteries. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2012; 114:252-61. [PMID: 23172031 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01026.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study examined the role of the dual-specificity protein phosphatase-5 (DUSP-5) in the pressure-induced myogenic responses of organ-cultured cerebral arterial segments. In these studies, we initially compared freshly isolated and organ-cultured cerebral arterial segments with respect to responses to step increases in intravascular pressure, vasodilator and vasoconstrictor stimuli, activities of the large-conductance arterial Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (K(Ca)) single-channel current, and stable protein expression of DUSP-5 enzyme. The results demonstrate maintained pressure-dependent myogenic vasoconstriction, DUSP-5 protein expression, endothelium-dependent and -independent dilations, agonist-induced constriction, and unitary K(Ca) channel conductance in organ-cultured cerebral arterial segments similar to that in freshly isolated cerebral arteries. Furthermore, using a permeabilization transfection technique in organ-cultured cerebral arterial segments, gene-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) induced knockdown of DUSP-5 mRNA and protein, which were associated with enhanced pressure-dependent cerebral arterial myogenic constriction and increased phosphorylation of PKC-βII. In addition, siRNA knockdown of DUSP-5 reduced levels of phosphorylated ROCK and ERK1 with no change in the level of phosphorylated ERK2. Pharmacological inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation significantly attenuated pressure-induced myogenic constriction in cerebral arteries. The findings within the present studies illustrate that DUSP-5, native in cerebral arterial muscle cells, appears to regulate signaling of pressure-dependent myogenic cerebral arterial constriction, which is crucial for the maintenance of constant cerebral blood flow to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadi T Wickramasekera
- Department of Physiology and Cardiovascular Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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45
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Gorentla BK, Zhong XP. T cell Receptor Signal Transduction in T lymphocytes. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL & CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 2012:5. [PMID: 23946894 PMCID: PMC3740441 DOI: 10.4172/2155-9899.s12-005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The T cell receptor (TCR) recognizes self or foreign antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Engagement of the TCR triggers the formation of multi-molecular signalosomes that lead to the generation of second messengers and subsequent activation of multiple distal signaling cascades, such as the Ca+2-calcineurin-NFAT, RasGRP1-Ras-Erk1/2, PKCθ-IKK-NFκB, and TSC1/2-mTOR pathways. These signaling cascades control many aspects of T cell biology. Mechanisms have been evolved to fine-tune TCR signaling to maintain T cell homeostasis and self-tolerance, and to properly mount effective responses to microbial infection. Defects or deregulation of TCR signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balachandra K Gorentla
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, Gurgaon, 122016, India
| | - Xiao-Ping Zhong
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Abstract
Dual-specificity MAP kinase phosphatases (MKPs) provide a complex negative regulatory network that acts to shape the duration, magnitude and spatiotemporal profile of MAP kinase activities in response to both physiological and pathological stimuli. Individual MKPs may exhibit either exquisite specificity towards a single mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) isoform or be able to regulate multiple MAPK pathways in a single cell or tissue. They can act as negative feedback regulators of MAPK activity, but can also provide mechanisms of crosstalk between distinct MAPK pathways and between MAPK signalling and other intracellular signalling modules. In this review, we explore the current state of knowledge with respect to the regulation of MKP expression levels and activities, the mechanisms by which individual MKPs recognize and interact with different MAPK isoforms and their role in the spatiotemporal regulation of MAPK signalling.
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47
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Ras and Rap1 govern spatiotemporal dynamic of activated ERK in pituitary living cells. Cell Signal 2012; 24:2237-48. [PMID: 22940095 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2012.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 08/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK is a conserved signalling pathway involved in the control of fundamental cellular processes. Despite extensive research, how this pathway can process a myriad of diverse extracellular inputs into substrate specificity to determine biological outcomes is not fully understood. It has been established that the ERK1/2 pathway is an integrative point in the control of the pituitary function exerted by various extracellular signals. In addition we previously established that the GTPases Ras and Rap1 play a key role in the regulation of ERK1/2-dependent prolactin transcription by EGF or the cAMP-dependent neuropeptide VIP. In this report, using the FRET-based biosensor of ERK activity (EKAR) in the pituitary GH4C1 cell line, we show that both EGF and VIP tightly control the spatiotemporal dynamic of activated ERK with different magnitude and duration. Importantly, we provide the first evidence of a differential control of cytoplasmic and nuclear pools of activated ERK by the GTPases Ras and Rap1. Ras is required for nuclear magnitude and duration of EGF-dependent ERK activation, whereas it is required for both VIP-activated cytoplasmic and nuclear ERK pools. Rap1 is exclusively involved in VIP-activated ERK nuclear pool. Moreover, consistent with the control of the nuclear pool of activated ERK by the GTPases, we observe the same differential role of Ras and Rap1 on ERK nuclear translocation triggered by EGF or VIP. Together these findings identify Ras and Rap1 as determinant partners in shaping nuclear and cytoplasmic ERK kinetics in response to EGF and VIP, which in turn should control pituitary secretion.
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Pont JNA, McArdle CA, López Bernal A. Oxytocin-stimulated NFAT transcriptional activation in human myometrial cells. Mol Endocrinol 2012; 26:1743-56. [PMID: 22902539 PMCID: PMC3507519 DOI: 10.1210/me.2012-1057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) is a peptide hormone that binds the OXT receptor on myometrial cells, initiating an intracellular signaling cascade, resulting in accumulation of intracellular calcium and smooth muscle contraction. In other systems, an elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) stimulates nuclear translocation of the transcription factor, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), which is transcriptionally active in arterial and ileal smooth muscle. Here we have investigated the role of NFAT in the mechanism of action of OXT. Human myometrial cells expressed all five NFAT isoforms (NFATC1-C4 and -5). Myometrial cells were transduced with a recombinant adenovirus expressing a NFATC1-EFP reporter, and a semi-automated imaging system was used to monitor effects of OXT on reporter localization in live cells. OXT induced a concentration-dependent nuclear translocation of NFATC1-EFP in a reversible manner, which was inhibited by OXT antagonists and calcineurin inhibitors. Pulsatile stimulation with OXT caused intermittent, pulse-frequency-dependent, nuclear translocation of NFATC1-EFP, which was more efficient than sustained stimulation. OXT induced nuclear translocation of endogenous NFAT that was transcriptionally active, because OXT stimulated activity of a NFAT-response element-luciferase reporter and induced calcineurin-NFAT dependent expression of RGS2, RCAN1, and PTGS2 (COX2) mRNA. Furthermore, OXT-dependent transcription was dependent on protein neosynthesis; cycloheximide abolished RGS2 transcription but augmented RCAN1 and COX2 transcriptional readouts. This study identifies a novel signaling mechanism within the myometrium, whereby calcineurin-NFAT signaling mediates OXT-induced transcriptional activity. Furthermore, we show NFATC1-EFP is responsive to pulses of OXT, a mechanism by which myometrial cells could decode OXT pulse frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason N A Pont
- Bristol University, School of Clinical Sciences, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, United Kingdom.
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Caunt CJ, Perett RM, Fowkes RC, McArdle CA. Mechanisms of GnRH-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase nuclear localization. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40077. [PMID: 22808094 PMCID: PMC3395631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 06/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors (GnRHR) mediate activation and nuclear translocation of the extracellular signal regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK) by phosphorylation on the TEY motif. This is necessary for GnRH to initiate transcriptional programmes controlling fertility, but mechanisms that govern ERK targeting are unclear. Using automated microscopy to explore ERK regulation in single cells, we find that GnRHR activation induces marked redistribution of ERK to the nucleus and that this effect can be uncoupled from the level of TEY phosphorylation of ERK. Thus, 5 min stimulation with 100 nM GnRH increased phospho-ERK levels (from 89 ± 34 to 555 ± 45 arbitrary fluorescence units) and increased the nuclear:cytoplasmic (N:C) ERK ratio (from 1.36 ± 0.06 to 2.16 ± 0.05) in the whole cell population, but it also significantly increased N:C ERK in cells binned according to phospho-ERK levels. This phosphorylation unattributable component of the ERK translocation response occurs at a broad range of GnRHR expression levels, in the presence of tyrosine phosphatase and protein synthesis inhibitors, and in ERK mutants unable to undergo catalytic activation. It also occurred in mutants incapable of binding the DEF (docking site for ERK, F/Y-X-F/Y-P) domains found in many ERK binding partners. It was however, reduced by MEK or PKC inhibition and by mutations preventing TEY phosphorylation or that abrogate ERK binding to D (docking) domain partners. We therefore show that TEY phosphorylation of ERK is necessary, but not sufficient for the full nuclear localization response. We further show that this "phosphorylation unattributable" component of GnRH-mediated ERK nuclear translocation requires both PKC activity and association with partner proteins via the D-domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Caunt
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca M. Perett
- School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Robert C. Fowkes
- Endocrine Signaling Group, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Craig A. McArdle
- School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Li Z, Fei T, Zhang J, Zhu G, Wang L, Lu D, Chi X, Teng Y, Hou N, Yang X, Zhang H, Han JDJ, Chen YG. BMP4 Signaling Acts via dual-specificity phosphatase 9 to control ERK activity in mouse embryonic stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 2012; 10:171-82. [PMID: 22305567 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2011.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Revised: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Extrinsic BMP and LIF signaling collaboratively maintain mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency, whereas appropriate ERK activity is essential for ESC fate commitment. However, how the extrinsic signals restrain appropriate ERK activity remains elusive. Here, we show that, whereas LIF sustains relatively high ERK activity, BMP4 can steadily attenuate ERK activity by upregulating ERK-specific dual-specificity phosphatase 9 (DUSP9). This upregulation requires Smad1/5 and Smad4 and specifically occurs to DUSP9, but not other DUSPs, and only in ESCs. Through DUSP9-mediated inhibition of ERK activity, BMP signaling reinforces the self-renewal status of mouse ESCs together with LIF. Upon LIF withdrawal, ESCs spontaneously undergo neural differentiation, during which process DUSP9 can partially mediate BMP inhibition on neural commitment. Collectively, our findings identify DUSP9 as a critical mediator of BMP signaling to control appropriate ERK activity critical for ESC fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwei Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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