Inhibition of cdc2 activation by INH/PP2A

Greatwall-phosphorylated Endosulfine is both an inhibitor and a substrate of PP2A-B55 heterotrimers

During M phase, Endosulfine (Endos) family proteins are phosphorylated by Greatwall kinase (Gwl), and the resultant pEndos inhibits the phosphatase PP2A-B55, which would otherwise prematurely reverse many CDK-driven phosphorylations. We show here that PP2A-B55 is the enzyme responsible for dephosphorylating pEndos during M phase exit. The kinetic parameters for PP2A-B55's action on pEndos are orders of magnitude lower than those for CDK-phosphorylated substrates, suggesting a simple model for PP2A-B55 regulation that we call inhibition by unfair competition. As the name suggests, during M phase PP2A-B55's attention is diverted to pEndos, which binds much more avidly and is dephosphorylated more slowly than other substrates. When Gwl is inactivated during the M phase-to-interphase transition, the dynamic balance changes: pEndos dephosphorylated by PP2A-B55 cannot be replaced, so the phosphatase can refocus its attention on CDK-phosphorylated substrates. This mechanism explains simultaneously how PP2A-B55 and Gwl together regulate pEndos, and how pEndos controls PP2A-B55. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01695.001.

The Greatwall-PP2A axis in cell cycle control

Cell cycle progression is largely controlled by reversible protein phosphorylation mediated by cyclically activated kinases and phosphatases. It has long been known that cyclin B-Cdk1 activation triggers mitotic entry, and the enzymatic network controlling its activation and inactivation has been well characterized. Much more recently protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) together with its B55 regulatory subunit has been recognized as the major activity dephosphorylating Cdk1 targets. Moreover, PP2A-B55 activity is high in late M phase and interphase, but low at mitotic entry. A series of discoveries in the fly and frog model systems have uncovered the molecular mechanism mediating this regulation. The Greatwall (Gwl) kinase activates endosulfines, which become specific inhibitors of PP2A-B55. Cdk1-dependent activation of Gwl at mitotic entry leads to PP2A-B55 downregulation, which synergizes with Cdk1 activation to promote the phosphorylated states of several mitotic substrates. Much less is known on the mechanisms inactivating Gwl and endosulfines at mitotic exit. Recent reports show the importance of spatiotemporal regulation of Gwl, endosulfines, and PP2A-B55 for cell cycle progression. The various systems and cell types differ in their dependence on the Gwl-PP2A axis for cell cycle progression. Moreover, this pathway also regulates gene expression in yeast, and this function could be conserved in metazoans.

MicroRNA-320 induces neurite outgrowth by targeting ARPP-19

MicroRNAs are important in the development, functioning, and pathophysiology of the central nervous system. Here, we show that increasing the levels of microRNA-320 (miR-320) for 3 days markedly increases neurite length, and at 4 days, reduces the total cell number in Neuro-2A cells. In-silico analysis of possible miR-320 targets identified cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein-19 kDa (ARPP-19) and semaphorin 3a as potential targets that could be involved. ARPP-19 was validated by showing reduced mRNA and protein levels when miR-320 was overexpressed, whereas miR-320 had no effect on semaphorin 3a expression. ARPP-19 is known to inhibit protein phosphatase-2A activity, which inhibits mitosis and induces neurite outgrowth, making this the likely mechanism. Thus, increased levels of miR-320 lead to decreased levels of ARPP-19, increased neurite length, and fewer total cells. These data suggest that miR-320 could play a role in neuronal development and might be a target to enhance neuronal regeneration following injury.

A quantitative model for cyclin-dependent kinase control of the cell cycle: revisited

The eukaryotic cell division cycle encompasses an ordered series of events. Chromosomal DNA is replicated during S phase of the cell cycle before being distributed to daughter cells in mitosis. Both S phase and mitosis in turn consist of an intricately ordered sequence of molecular events. How cell cycle ordering is achieved, to promote healthy cell proliferation and avert insults on genomic integrity, has been a theme of Paul Nurse's research. To explain a key aspect of cell cycle ordering, sequential S phase and mitosis, Stern & Nurse proposed 'A quantitative model for cdc2 control of S phase and mitosis in fission yeast'. In this model, S phase and mitosis are ordered by their dependence on increasing levels of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) activity. Alternative mechanisms for ordering have been proposed that rely on checkpoint controls or on sequential waves of cyclins with distinct substrate specificities. Here, we review these ideas in the light of experimental evidence that has meanwhile accumulated. Quantitative Cdk control emerges as the basis for cell cycle ordering, fine-tuned by cyclin specificity and checkpoints. We propose a molecular explanation for quantitative Cdk control, based on thresholds imposed by Cdk-counteracting phosphatases, and discuss its implications.

PP2A holoenzymes negatively and positively regulate cell cycle progression by dephosphorylating pocket proteins and multiple CDK substrates

Cell cycle progression is negatively regulated by the retinoblastoma family of pocket proteins and CDK inhibitors (CKIs). In contrast, CDKs promote progression through multiple phases of the cell cycle. One prominent way by which CDKs promote cell cycle progression is by inactivation of pocket proteins via hyperphosphorylation. Reactivation of pocket proteins to halt cell cycle progression requires dephosphorylation of multiple CDK-phosphorylated sites and is accomplished by PP2A and PP1 serine/threonine protein phosphatases. The same phosphatases are also implicated in dephosphorylation of multiple CDK substrates as cells exit mitosis and reenter the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This review is primarily focused on the role of PP2A and PP1 in the activation of pocket proteins during the cell cycle and in response to signaling cues that trigger cell cycle exit. Other functions of PP2A during the cell cycle will be discussed in brief, as comprehensive reviews on this topic have been published recently (De Wulf et al., 2009; Wurzenberger and Gerlich, 2011).

Phosphatases: providing safe passage through mitotic exit

The mitosis-to-interphase transition involves dramatic cellular reorganization from a state that supports chromosome segregation to a state that complies with all functions of an interphase cell. This process, termed mitotic exit, depends on the removal of mitotic phosphorylations from a broad range of substrates. Mitotic exit regulation involves inactivation of mitotic kinases and activation of counteracting protein phosphatases. The key mitotic exit phosphatase in budding yeast, Cdc14, is now well understood. By contrast, in animal cells, it is now emerging that mitotic exit relies on distinct regulatory networks, including the protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A.

Participation of MAPK, PKA and PP2A in the regulation of MPF activity in Bufo arenarum oocytes

The objectives of the present paper were to study the involvement and possible interactions of both cAMP-PKA and protein phosphatases in Bufo arenarum oocyte maturation and to determine if these pathways are independent or not of the MAP kinase (MAPK) cascade. Our results indicated that the inhibition of PKA by treatment with H-89, an inhibitor of the catalytic subunit of PKA, was capable of inducing GVBD in a dose-dependent manner by a pathway in which Cdc25 phosphatase but not the MAPK cascade is involved. The injection of 50 nl of H-89 10 μM produced GVBD percentages similar to those obtained with treatment with progesterone. In addition, the assays with okadaic acid (OA), a PP2A inhibitor, significantly enhanced the percentage of oocytes that resumed meiosis by a signal transducing pathway in which the activation of the MEK–MAPK pathway is necessary, but in which Cdc25 phosphatase was not involved. Treatment with H-89, was able to overcome the inhibitory effect of PKA on GVBD; however, the inhibition of Cdc25 activity with NaVO3 was able to overcome the induction of GVBD by H-89. Although the connections between PKA and other signalling molecules that regulate oocytes maturation are still unclear, our results suggest that phosphatase Cdc25 may be the direct substrate of PKA. In Xenopus oocytes it was proposed that PP2A, a major Ser/Thr phosphatase present, is a negative regulator of Cdc2 activation. However, in Bufo arenarum oocytes, inhibition of Cdc25 with NaVO3 did not inhibit OA-induced maturation, suggesting that the target of PP2A was not the Cdc25 phosphatase. MAPK activation has been reported to be essential in Xenopus oocytes GVBD. In B. arenarum oocytes we demonstrated that the inhibition of MAPK by PD 98059 prevented the activation of MPF induced by OA, suggesting that the activation of the MAPK cascade produced an inhibition of Myt1 and, in consequence, the activation of MPF without participation of the Cdc25 phosphatase. Our results suggest that in incompetent oocytes of B. arenarum two signal transduction pathways may be involved in the control of MPF activation: (1) the inhibition of phosphatase 2A that through the MEK–MAPK pathway regulates the activity of the Myt1; and (2) the inhibition of AMPc–PKA, which affects the activity of the Cdc25 phosphatase.

Live-cell imaging RNAi screen identifies PP2A-B55alpha and importin-beta1 as key mitotic exit regulators in human cells

When vertebrate cells exit mitosis various cellular structures are re-organized to build functional interphase cells. This depends on Cdk1 (cyclin dependent kinase 1) inactivation and subsequent dephosphorylation of its substrates. Members of the protein phosphatase 1 and 2A (PP1 and PP2A) families can dephosphorylate Cdk1 substrates in biochemical extracts during mitotic exit, but how this relates to postmitotic reassembly of interphase structures in intact cells is not known. Here, we use a live-cell imaging assay and RNAi knockdown to screen a genome-wide library of protein phosphatases for mitotic exit functions in human cells. We identify a trimeric PP2A-B55alpha complex as a key factor in mitotic spindle breakdown and postmitotic reassembly of the nuclear envelope, Golgi apparatus and decondensed chromatin. Using a chemically induced mitotic exit assay, we find that PP2A-B55alpha functions downstream of Cdk1 inactivation. PP2A-B55alpha isolated from mitotic cells had reduced phosphatase activity towards the Cdk1 substrate, histone H1, and was hyper-phosphorylated on all subunits. Mitotic PP2A complexes co-purified with the nuclear transport factor importin-beta1, and RNAi depletion of importin-beta1 delayed mitotic exit synergistically with PP2A-B55alpha. This demonstrates that PP2A-B55alpha and importin-beta1 cooperate in the regulation of postmitotic assembly mechanisms in human cells.

Regulated protein kinases and phosphatases in cell cycle decisions

Many aspects of cell physiology are controlled by protein kinases and phosphatases, which together determine the phosphorylation state of targeted substrates. Some of these target proteins are themselves kinases or phosphatases or other components of a regulatory network characterized by feedback and feed-forward loops. In this review we describe some common regulatory motifs involving kinases, phosphatases, and their substrates, focusing particularly on bistable switches involved in cellular decision processes. These general principles are applied to cell cycle transitions, with special emphasis on the roles of regulated phosphatases in orchestrating progression from one phase to the next of the DNA replication-division cycle.

Putting one step before the other: distinct activation pathways for Cdk1 and Cdk2 bring order to the mammalian cell cycle

Eukaryotic cell division is controlled by the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Cdk1 and Cdk2, which function at different stages of the mammalian cell cycle, both require cyclin-binding and phosphorylation of the activation (T-) loop for full activity, but differ with respect to the order in which the two steps occur in vivo. To form stable complexes with either of its partners-cyclins A and B-Cdk1 must be phosphorylated on its T-loop, but that phosphorylation in turn depends on the presence of cyclin. Cdk2 can follow a kinetically distinct path to activation in which T-loop phosphorylation precedes cyclin-binding, and thereby out-compete the more abundant Cdk1 for limiting amounts of cyclin A. Mathematical modeling suggests this could be a principal basis for the temporal ordering of CDK activation during S phase, which may dictate the sequence in which replication origins fire. Still to be determined are how: (1) the activation machinery discriminates between closely related CDKs, and (2) coordination of the cell cycle is affected when this mechanism of pathway insulation breaks down.

The M phase kinase Greatwall (Gwl) promotes inactivation of PP2A/B55delta, a phosphatase directed against CDK phosphosites

We have previously shown that Greatwall kinase (Gwl) is required for M phase entry and maintenance in Xenopus egg extracts. Here, we demonstrate that Gwl plays a crucial role in a novel biochemical pathway that inactivates, specifically during M phase, "antimitotic" phosphatases directed against phosphorylations catalyzed by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). A major component of this phosphatase activity is heterotrimeric PP2A containing the B55delta regulatory subunit. Gwl is activated during M phase by Cdk1/cyclin B (MPF), but once activated, Gwl promotes PP2A/B55delta inhibition with no further requirement for MPF. In the absence of Gwl, PP2A/B55delta remains active even when MPF levels are high. The removal of PP2A/B55delta corrects the inability of Gwl-depleted extracts to enter M phase. These findings support the hypothesis that M phase requires not only high levels of MPF function, but also the suppression, through a Gwl-dependent mechanism, of phosphatase(s) that would otherwise remove MPF-driven phosphorylations.

Adiponectin-activated AMPK stimulates dephosphorylation of AKT through protein phosphatase 2A activation

Low serum levels of adiponectin are a high risk factor for various types of cancer. Although adiponectin inhibits proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, we show that adiponectin-activated AMPK reduces the invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells by stimulating dephosphorylation of AKT by increasing protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity. Among the various regulatory B56 subunits, B56gamma was directly phosphorylated by AMPK at Ser(298) and Ser(336), leading to an increase of PP2A activity through dephosphorylation of PP2Ac at Tyr(307). We also show that both the blood levels of adiponectin and the tissue levels of PP2A activity were decreased in breast cancer patients and that the direct administration of adiponectin into tumor tissues stimulates PP2A activity. Taken together, these findings show that adiponectin, derived from adipocytes, negatively regulates the invasiveness of breast cancer cells by activating the tumor suppressor PP2A.

An integrated mechanobiochemical feedback mechanism describes chromosome motility from prometaphase to anaphase in mitosis

During mitosis, chromosomes undergo a series of movements while being end-on attached to the kinetochore microtubules (KMTs) from spindle poles. The mechanism underlying such movements and their physiological functions remains elusive. We describe a mechanobiochemical feedback model of chromosome motility. The key ingredient is a feedback mechanism between the local chemical reactions that control the dynamics of KMTs and the mechanical state of the chromosome via tension-sensitive proteins localized at the kinetochores. This model can recapitulate all of the essential and distinct features of chromosome motilities from prometaphase to anaphase in a coherent manner. We further show that this feedback mechanism provides robust and precise means of guiding the chromosome to the cell equator regardless of the initial conditions and uncertainty in velocity. Predictions of our model can be tested experimentally.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a drugable tumor suppressor in Ph1(+) leukemias

Protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) is one of the major cellular serine-threonine phosphatases and is involved in the regulation of cell homeostasis through the negative regulation of signaling pathways initiated by protein kinases. As several cancers are characterized by the aberrant activity of oncogenic kinases, it was not surprising that a phosphatase like PP2A has progressively been considered as a potential tumor suppressor. Indeed, multiple solid tumors (e.g. melanomas, colorectal carcinomas, lung and breast cancers) present with genetic and/or functional inactivation of different PP2A subunits and, therefore, loss of PP2A phosphatase activity towards certain substrates. Likewise, impaired PP2A phosphatase activity has been linked to B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Philadelphia-chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia and blast crisis chronic myelogenous leukemia. Remarkably, drugs such as forskolin, 1,9-dideoxy-forskolin and FTY720 which lead to PP2A activation effectively antagonize leukemogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo models of these cancers. Thus, PP2A is now in the spotlight as a highly promising drugable target for the development of a new series of anticancer agents potentially capable of overcoming drug-resistance induced in patients by continuous exposure to kinase inhibitor monotherapy. Herein, we review current knowledge of PP2A biology and function with particular emphasis on its tumor suppressor activity and possible therapeutic implications in cancer.

Roles of Greatwall kinase in the regulation of cdc25 phosphatase

We previously reported that immunodepletion of Greatwall kinase prevents Xenopus egg extracts from entering or maintaining M phase due to the accumulation of inhibitory phosphorylations on Thr14 and Tyr15 of Cdc2. M phase-promoting factor (MPF) in turn activates Greatwall, implying that Greatwall participates in an MPF autoregulatory loop. We show here that activated Greatwall both accelerates the mitotic G2/M transition in cycling egg extracts and induces meiotic maturation in G2-arrested Xenopus oocytes in the absence of progesterone. Activated Greatwall can induce phosphorylations of Cdc25 in the absence of the activity of Cdc2, Plx1 (Xenopus Polo-like kinase) or mitogen-activated protein kinase, or in the presence of an activator of protein kinase A that normally blocks mitotic entry. The effects of active Greatwall mimic in many respects those associated with addition of the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (OA); moreover, OA allows cycling extracts to enter M phase in the absence of Greatwall. Taken together, these findings support a model in which Greatwall negatively regulates a crucial phosphatase that inhibits Cdc25 activation and M phase induction.

A mechanobiochemical mechanism for monooriented chromosome oscillation in mitosis

During mitosis, the condensed chromosomes undergo a series of spectacular oscillations after they are captured in an end-on manner by kinetochore microtubules (KMT) emanating from the spindle poles. Such oscillations are commonly attributed to tug-of-war-like mechanisms, where the mechanical force imbalance alone drives the chromosome movement. However, a large portion of the force imbalance upon the chromosome is absorbed by the kinetochore and may not drive chromosome movement directly. Mounting evidence suggests that such resistance by the kinetochores regulates the chemical reactions of KMT plus-end growth and shrinkage, which have been shown as the determinant of the chromosome antipoleward (AP) and poleward movements. Here we incorporate this important regulatory feature, propose a mechanobiochemical feedback mechanism, and apply it to the monooriented chromosome oscillation, the early stage of the series of observed chromosome oscillations. In this model, the mechanical movement of the chromosome and the local biochemical reactions at the attached kinetochore region form a feedback loop that drives the oscillation. The force imbalance exerted on the chromosomes provides a bias (via mechanically sensitive proteins) on the local biochemical reactions controlling the KMT plus-end dynamics, and the movement of the chromosome in turn changes the forces exerted on it through the experimentally supported gradient in AP force. The proposed feedback mechanism can generate oscillatory behavior that depends on the topology of the feedback loop but is largely independent of the detailed molecular mechanism. We suggest potential molecular players, whose perturbation may allow direct experimental tests of the model.

Leucine carboxyl methyltransferase-1 is necessary for normal progression through mitosis in mammalian cells

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a multifunctional phosphatase that plays important roles in many cellular processes including regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. Because PP2A is involved in so many diverse processes, it is highly regulated by both non-covalent and covalent mechanisms that are still being defined. In this study we have investigated the importance of leucine carboxyl methyltransferase-1 (LCMT-1) for PP2A methylation and cell function. We show that reduction of LCMT-1 protein levels by small hairpin RNAs causes up to a 70% reduction in PP2A methylation in HeLa cells, indicating that LCMT-1 is the major mammalian PP2A methyltransferase. In addition, LCMT-1 knockdown reduced the formation of PP2A heterotrimers containing the Balpha regulatory subunit and, in a subset of the cells, induced apoptosis, characterized by caspase activation, nuclear condensation/fragmentation, and membrane blebbing. Knockdown of the PP2A Balpha regulatory subunit induced a similar amount of apoptosis, suggesting that LCMT-1 induces apoptosis in part by disrupting the formation of PP2A(BalphaAC) heterotrimers. Treatment with a pan-caspase inhibitor partially rescued cells from apoptosis induced by LCMT-1 or Balpha knockdown. LCMT-1 knockdown cells and Balpha knockdown cells were more sensitive to the spindle-targeting drug nocodazole, suggesting that LCMT-1 and Balpha are important for spindle checkpoint. Treatment of LCMT-1 and Balpha knockdown cells with thymidine dramatically reduced cell death, presumably by blocking progression through mitosis. Consistent with these results, homozygous gene trap knock-out of LCMT-1 in mice resulted in embryonic lethality. Collectively, our results indicate that LCMT-1 is important for normal progression through mitosis and cell survival and is essential for embryonic development in mice.

Requirements for Cdk7 in the assembly of Cdk1/cyclin B and activation of Cdk2 revealed by chemical genetics in human cells

Cell division is controlled by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). In metazoans, S phase onset coincides with activation of Cdk2, whereas Cdk1 triggers mitosis. Both Cdk1 and -2 require cyclin binding and T loop phosphorylation for full activity. The only known CDK-activating kinase (CAK) in metazoans is Cdk7, which is also part of the transcription machinery. To test the requirements for Cdk7 in vivo, we replaced wild-type Cdk7 with a version sensitive to bulky ATP analogs in human cancer cells. Selective inhibition of Cdk7 in G1 prevents activation (but not formation) of Cdk2/cyclin complexes and delays S phase. Inhibiting Cdk7 in G2 blocks entry to mitosis and disrupts Cdk1/cyclin B complex assembly, indicating that the two steps of Cdk1 activation-cyclin binding and T loop phosphorylation-are mutually dependent. Therefore, by combining chemical genetics and homologous gene replacement in somatic cells, we reveal different modes of CDK activation by Cdk7 at two distinct execution points in the cell cycle.

Protein kinase C-mediated down-regulation of cyclin D1 involves activation of the translational repressor 4E-BP1 via a phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt-independent, protein phosphatase 2A-dependent mechanism in intestinal epithelial cells

We reported previously that protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha), a negative regulator of cell growth in the intestinal epithelium, inhibits cyclin D1 translation by inducing hypophosphorylation/activation of the translational repressor 4E-BP1. The current study explores the molecular mechanisms underlying PKC/PKCalpha-induced activation of 4E-BP1 in IEC-18 nontransformed rat ileal crypt cells. PKC signaling is shown to promote dephosphorylation of Thr(45) and Ser(64) on 4E-BP1, residues directly involved in its association with eIF4E. Consistent with the known role of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR pathway in regulation of 4E-BP1, PKC signaling transiently inhibited PI3K activity and Akt phosphorylation in IEC-18 cells. However, PKC/PKCalpha-induced activation of 4E-BP1 was not prevented by constitutively active mutants of PI3K or Akt, indicating that blockade of PI3K/Akt signaling is not the primary effector of 4E-BP1 activation. This idea is supported by the fact that PKC activation did not alter S6 kinase activity in these cells. Further analysis indicated that PKC-mediated 4E-BP1 hypophosphorylation is dependent on the activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). PKC signaling induced an approximately 2-fold increase in PP2A activity, and phosphatase inhibition blocked the effects of PKC agonists on 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and cyclin D1 expression. H(2)O(2) and ceramide, two naturally occurring PKCalpha agonists that promote growth arrest in intestinal cells, activate 4E-BP1 in PKC/PKCalpha-dependent manner, supporting the physiological significance of the findings. Together, our studies indicate that activation of PP2A is an important mechanism underlying PKC/PKCalpha-induced inhibition of cap-dependent translation and growth suppression in intestinal epithelial cells.

Expression and function of protein phosphatase PP2A in malignant testicular germ cell tumours

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) represent the most common malignancy in young males. We reported previously that two prototype members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, the MAPK ERK kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), are inactive in malignant testicular germ cells and become active after drug stimulation, leading to apoptosis of tumour cells. In this study, we asked whether the protein phosphatase PP2A, a known inhibitor of the MEK-ERK pathway, participates in the proliferation and/or apoptosis of primary TGCT (n = 48) as well as two TGCT cell lines (NTERA and NCCIT). Quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, western blot analyses and phosphatase assay indicate that primary TGCT as well as TGCT cell lines express PP2A and that PP2A is active in TGCT cell lines. The inhibition of PP2A by application of two PP2A inhibitors, cantharidic acid (CA) and okadaic acid (OA), results in a significant increase in caspase-3-mediated apoptosis of TGCT cell lines. Thereby, PP2A inhibition was accompanied by phosphorylation and activation of MEK and ERK. Functional assays using the MEK inhibitor PD98059 demonstrated that the phosphorylation of MEK and ERK was required for the induction of caspase-3-mediated apoptosis of malignant germ cells. Thus, our data suggest that inhibition of PP2A mediates its apoptosis-inducing effect on TGCT through activation of the MEK-ERK signalling pathway that leads to caspase-3-mediated apoptosis of tumour cells. In addition our results support previous observations that PP2A exerts an anti-apoptotic effect on malignant tumour cells.

Fusion of the tumor-suppressor gene CHEK2 and the gene for the regulatory subunit B of protein phosphatase 2 PPP2R2A in childhood teratoma

We characterized the molecular genetic consequences of a balanced chromosome translocation t(8;22)(p21;q12), which occurred as the sole cytogenetic aberration in short-term cultured cells from an intrathoracic mature teratoma in a 15-year-old girl. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction disclosed that t(8;22) resulted in the fusion of the genes PPP2R2A and CHEK2, with an inserted fragment belonging to class I endogenous retrovirus-related sequences at the junction. Sequencing of the two genes did not reveal any additional mutation. None of the three detected PPP2R2A/CHEK2 fusion transcripts resulted in an in-frame PPP2R2A/CHEK2 chimerical open reading frame; however, in all of them, the known open reading frame of CHEK2 was preserved. Thus, promoter swapping leading to deregulated CHEK2 expression would be the most likely oncogenic mechanism. Whereas inactivating mutations of CHEK2 previously have been described in a variety of sporadic tumors and in inherited cancer-predisposing syndromes, PPP2R2A, encoding a regulatory subunit of the multimeric enzyme phosphatase 2, has not been directly implicated in tumorigenesis. Our findings suggest that deregulation of CHEK2 and/or PPP2R2A is of pathogenetic importance in at least a subset of germ cell tumors.

Downregulation of protein phosphatase 2A activity in HeLa cells at the G2-mitosis transition and unscheduled reactivation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)

In the cell cycle the transition from G2 phase to cell division (M) is strictly controlled by protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation reactions effected by several protein kinases and phosphatases. Although much indirect and direct evidence point to a key role of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) at the G2/M transition, the control of the enzyme activity prior to and after the transition are not fully clarified. Using synchronized HeLa cells we determined the PP2A activity (i.e. the increment sensitive to inhibition by 2nM okadaic acid) in immunoprecipitates obtained with antibodies raised against a conserved peptide sequence (residues 169-182, Ab(169/182)) of the PP2A catalytic subunit (PP2A C). Two different substrates were offered: the phospho-peptide KR(p)TIRR and histone H1 phosphorylated by means of the cyclin-dependent protein kinase p34(cdc2). The results indicate that in HeLa cells the specific activity of PP2A towards both substrates goes through a minimum in late G2 phase and stays low until metaphase. Treatment of G2 cells with TPA (10(-7) M) caused a reactivation of the downregulated PP2A activity within 20 min, i.e. the same time frame within which TPA was shown earlier to block HeLa cells at the transition from G2 to mitosis [Kinzel et al., 1988. Cancer Res. 48, 1759-1762]. Activation of PP2A was also induced by TPA in mitotic cells. The low activity of PP2A in mitotic cells was accompanied by a strong reaction of mitotic PP2A C with anti-P-Tyr antibodies in Western blots, which was reversed by treatment of mitotic cells with TPA. The results suggest that the activity of cellular PP2A requires downregulation for the transition from G2 phase to mitosis. Unscheduled reactivation of PP2A induced by TPA in late G2 phase appears to inhibit the progress into mitosis.

Differential regulation of Cdc2 and Aurora-A in Xenopus oocytes: a crucial role of phosphatase 2A

The success of cell division relies on the activation of its master regulator Cdc2-cyclin B, and many other kinases controlling cellular organization, such as Aurora-A. Most of these kinase activities are regulated by phosphorylation. Despite numerous studies showing that okadaic acid-sensitive phosphatases regulate both Cdc2 and Aurora-A activation, their identity has not yet been established in Xenopus oocytes and the importance of their regulation has not been evaluated. Using an oocyte cell-free system, we demonstrate that PP2A depletion is sufficient to lead to Cdc2 activation, whereas Aurora-A activation depends on Cdc2 activity. The activity level of PP1 does not affect Cdc2 kinase activation promoted by PP2A removal. PP1 inhibition is also not sufficient to lead to Aurora-A activation in the absence of active Cdc2. We therefore conclude that in Xenopus oocytes, PP2A is the key phosphatase that negatively regulates Cdc2 activation. Once this negative regulator is removed, endogenous kinases are able to turn on the activator Cdc2 system without any additional stimulation. In contrast, Aurora-A activation is indirectly controlled by Cdc2 activity independently of either PP2A or PP1. This strongly suggests that in Xenopus oocytes, Aurora-A activation is mainly controlled by the specific stimulation of kinases under the control of Cdc2 and not by downregulation of phosphatase.

Modeling regulatory networks at Virginia Tech

The life of a cell is governed by the physicochemical properties of a complex network of interacting macromolecules (primarily genes and proteins). Hence, a full scientific understanding of and rational engineering approach to cell physiology require accurate mathematical models of the spatial and temporal dynamics of these macromolecular assemblies, especially the networks involved in integrating signals and regulating cellular responses. The Virginia Tech Consortium is involved in three specific goals of DARPA's computational biology program (Bio-COMP): to create effective software tools for modeling gene-protein-metabolite networks, to employ these tools in creating a new generation of realistic models, and to test and refine these models by well-conceived experimental studies. The special emphasis of this group is to understand the mechanisms of cell cycle control in eukaryotes (yeast cells and frog eggs). The software tools developed at Virginia Tech are designed to meet general requirements of modeling regulatory networks and are collected in a problem-solving environment called JigCell.

The Tap42-protein phosphatase type 2A catalytic subunit complex is required for cell cycle-dependent distribution of actin in yeast

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Tor proteins mediate a wide spectrum of growth-related cellular processes in response to nutrients. The pleiotropic role of the Tor proteins is mediated, at least in part, by type 2A protein phosphatases (PP2A) and 2A-like protein phosphatases. Tor-mediated signaling activity promotes the interaction of phosphatase-interacting protein Tap42 with PP2A and 2A-like protein phosphatases. The distinct complexes formed between Tap42 and different phosphatases mediate various cellular events and modulate phosphorylation levels of many downstream factors in the Tor pathway in a Tor-dependent and rapamycin-sensitive manner. In this study, we demonstrate that the interaction between Tap42 and the catalytic subunits of PP2A (PP2Ac) is required for cell cycle-dependent distribution of actin. We show that mutations in PP2Ac and Tap42 that perturb the interaction cause random distribution of actin during the cell cycle and that overexpression of the Rho2 GTPase suppresses the actin defects associated with the mutants. Our findings suggest that the Tap42-PP2Ac complex regulates the actin cytoskeleton via a Rho GTPase-dependent mechanism. In addition, we provide evidence that PP2A activity plays a negative role in controlling the actin cytoskeleton and, possibly, in regulation of the G(2)/M transition of the cell cycle.

Protein phosphatases in plants

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of a protein often serve as an "on-and-off" switch in the regulation of cellular activities. Recent studies demonstrate the involvement of protein phosphorylation in almost all signaling pathways in plants. A significant portion of the sequenced Arabidopsis genome encodes protein kinases and protein phosphatases that catalyze reversible phosphorylation. For optimal regulation, kinases and phosphatases must strike a balance in any given cell. Only a very small fraction of the thousands of protein kinases and phosphatases in plants has been studied experimentally. Nevertheless, the available results have demonstrated critical functions for these enzymes in plant growth and development. While serine/threonine phosphorylation is widely accepted as a predominant modification of plant proteins, the function of tyrosine phosphorylation, desptie its overwhelming importance in animal systems, had been largely neglected until recently when tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) were characterized from plants. This review focuses on the structure, regulation, and function of protein phosphatases in higher plants.

Identification and characterization of B"-subunits of protein phosphatase 2 A in Xenopus laevis oocytes and adult tissues

Protein phosphatase 2A is a phosphoserine/threonine phosphatase implicated in many cellular processes. The core enzyme comprises a catalytic and a PR65/A-subunit. The substrate specificity and subcellular localization are determined by a third regulatory B-subunit (PR55/B, PR61/B' and PR72/130/B"). To identify the proteins of the B" family in Xenopus laevis oocytes, a prophase Xenopus oocyte cDNA library was screened using human PR130 cDNA as a probe. Three different classes of cDNAs were isolated. One class is very similar to human PR130 and is probably the Xenopus orthologue of PR130 (XPR130). A second class of clones (XN73) is identical to the N-terminal part of XPR130 but ends a few amino acids downstream of the putative splicing site of PR130. To investigate how this occurs, the genomic structure of the human PR130 gene was determined. This novel protein does not act as a PP2A subunit but might compete with the function of PR130. The third set of clones (XPR70) is very similar to human PR48 but has an N-terminal extension. Further analysis of the human EST-database and the human PR48 gene structure, revealed that the human PR48 clone published is incomplete. The Xenopus orthologue of PR48 encodes a protein of 70 kDa which like the XPR130, interacts with the A-subunit in GST pull-down assays. XPR70 is ubiquitously expressed in adult tissues and oocytes whereas expression of XPR130 is very low in brain and oocytes. Expression of XN73 mainly parallels XPR130 with the exception of the brain.

The dynamics of cell cycle regulation

Major events of the cell cycle--DNA synthesis, mitosis and cell division-are regulated by a complex network of protein interactions that control the activities of cyclin-dependent kinases. The network can be modeled by a set of nonlinear differential equations and its behavior predicted by numerical simulation. Computer simulations are necessary for detailed quantitative comparisons between theory and experiment, but they give little insight into the qualitative dynamics of the control system and how molecular interactions determine the fundamental physiological properties of cell replication. To that end, bifurcation diagrams are a useful analytical tool, providing new views of the dynamical organization of the cell cycle, the role of checkpoints in assuring the integrity of the genome, and the abnormal regulation of cell cycle events in mutants. These claims are demonstrated by an analysis of cell cycle regulation in fission yeast.

Role of serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A in cancer

The serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) appears to be critically involved in cellular growth control and potentially in the development of cancer. A few studies indicated that this enzyme might actually exert tumor suppressive function. However, other findings demonstrated the requirement for PP2A in cell growth and survival, which is not a characteristic of a typical tumor suppressor. This apparent discrepancy might be due to the fact that PP2A is a multitask enzyme system, rather than a single enzyme. Its individual subunits are encoded by a heterogeneous group of genes which give rise to a multitude of different PP2A holoenzyme complexes. Thus, the puzzling observation that PP2A exerts inhibitory, as well as stimulatory, effects on cell growth could be due to the activity of different PP2A complexes with distinct subcellular location and divers substrate specificity. At the same time, this abundance of PP2A components provides a large target for mutations that might derail proper enzyme function and could contribute to the process of tumorigenesis. So far, however, it has not been unequivocally established whether such mutations, examples of which have indeed been found in human cancer cells, result in the activation of an oncogenic function or rather in the inactivation of the presumed tumor suppressive role of PP2A. Therefore, the general opinion of PP2A as being a tumor suppressor needs to be viewed with caution.

HIV-1 Vpr induces cell cycle G2 arrest in fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) through a pathway involving regulatory and catalytic subunits of PP2A and acting on both Wee1 and Cdc25

Viral protein R (Vpr) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 induces G2 arrest in cells from distantly related eukaryotes including human and fission yeast through inhibitory phosphorylation of tyrosine 15 (Tyr15) on Cdc2. Since the DNA damage and DNA replication checkpoints also induce G2 arrest through phosphorylation of Tyr15, it seemed possible that Vpr induces G2 arrest through the checkpoint pathways. However, Vpr does not use either the early or the late checkpoint genes that are required for G2 arrest in response to DNA damage or inhibition of DNA synthesis indicating that Vpr induces G2 arrest by an alternative pathway. It was found that protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) plays an important role in the induction of G2 arrest by Vpr since mutations in genes coding for a regulatory or catalytic subunit of PP2A reduce Vpr-induced G2 arrest. Vpr was also found to upregulate PP2A, supporting a model in which Vpr activates the PP2A holoenzyme to induce G2 arrest. PP2A is known to interact genetically in fission yeast with the Wee1 kinase and Cdc25 phosphatase that act on Tyr15 of Cdc2. Both Wee1 and Cdc25 play a role in Vpr-induced G2 arrest since a wee1 deletion reduces Vpr-induced G2 arrest and a direct in vivo assay shows that Vpr inhibits Cdc25. Additional support for both Wee1 and Cdc25 playing a role in Vpr-induced G2 arrest comes from a genetic screen, which identified genes whose overexpression affects Vpr-induced G2 arrest. For this genetic screen, a strain was constructed in which cell killing by Vpr was nearly eliminated while the effect of Vpr on the cell cycle was clearly indicated by an increase in cell length. Overexpression of the wos2 gene, an inhibitor of Wee1, suppresses Vpr-induced G2 arrest while overexpression of rad25, an inhibitor of Cdc25, enhances Vpr-induced G2 arrest. These two genes may be part of the uncharacterized pathway for Vpr-induced G2 arrest in which Vpr upregulates PP2A to activate Wee1 and inhibit Cdc25.

Tumor suppression and potentiation by manipulation of pp32 expression

Alternative use of genes of the closely-related pp32 family is a common occurrence in human prostate cancer. pp32r1 and pp32r2, the oncogenic members of the pp32 family, are expressed in prostatic adenocarcinoma, while adjacent benign prostate continues to express pp32. This study focuses upon the role of pp32 in tumor suppression. We demonstrate that antisense inhibition of pp32 in NIH3T3 cells leads to a variety of phenotypic changes associated with transformation including reduced serum dependence and loss of contact inhibition. NIH3T3 cells with antisense-inhibited pp32 are not tumorigenic, but are markedly more susceptible to oncogenic stimuli such as ras. In contrast, constitutive expression of pp32 abolishes ras mediated transformation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. These data demonstrate, from the functional aspect, that pp32 acts as a tumor suppressor. Furthermore, inactivation of pp32 function through alternative gene use may be a critical event in tumor evolution and progression.

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

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

The activation of MAP kinase and p34cdc2/cyclin B during the meiotic maturation of Xenopus oocytes

G2-arrested Xenopus oocytes are induced to enter M-phase of meiosis by progesterone stimulation. This process, known as meiotic maturation, requires the activation of p34cdc2/cyclin B complexes (pre-MPF) which is brought about by the prior translation of specific maternal mRNAs stored in the oocyte. One of these mRNAs encodes for the protein kinase Mos which has an essential role in oocyte maturation, most likely due to its ability to activate MAP kinase (MAPK). Here we review our current knowledge on the Mos/MAPK signalling pathway and a recently found connection between MAPK-activated p90rsk and the p34cdc2 inhibitory kinase Myt1. We also discuss a pathway that involves the protein kinase Plx1 and leads to the activation of the phosphatase Cdc25, as well as other regulators of p34cdc2/cyclin B activity which may have a role in oocyte maturation.

Phosphorylation-dependent prolyl isomerization: a novel cell cycle regulatory mechanism

Protein phosphorylation by proline-directed protein kinases plays an essential role in triggering a programmed set of cell cycle events. We have recently isolated an essential and conserved mitotic regulator, Pin1. Pin1 is a phosphorylation-dependent prolyl isomerase that specifically isomerizes the phosphorylated serine/threonine-proline bond. Pin1 also binds and regulates the function of a conserved set of mitosis-specific phosphoproteins. These results suggest phosphorylation-dependent prolyl isomerization to be a novel cell cycle regulatory mechanism. This new post-translational regulation may allow the general increase in protein phosphorylation to be converted into the organised and programmed set of structural modifications that occur during mitosis. In addition, since inhibition of Pin1 induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis, Pin1 may be a potential new drug target.

Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK1 during meiotic progression of mouse pachytene spermatocytes

Okadaic acid (OA) causes meiotic progression and chromosome condensation in cultured pachytene spermatocytes and an increase in maturation promoting factor (cyclin B1/cdc2 kinase) activity, as evaluated by H1 phosphorylative activity in anti-cyclin B1 immunoprecipitates. OA also induces a strong increase of phosphorylative activity toward the mitogen-activated protein kinase substrate myelin basic protein (MBP). Immunoprecipitation experiments with anti-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) or anti-ERK2 antibodies followed by MBP kinase assays, and direct in-gel kinase assays for MBP, show that p44/ERK1 but not p42/ERK2 is stimulated in OA-treated spermatocytes. OA treatment stimulates phosphorylation of ERK1, but not of ERK2, on a tyrosine residue involved in activation of the enzyme. ERK1 immunoprecipitated from extracts of OA-stimulated spermatocytes induces a stimulation of H1 kinase activity in extracts from control pachytene spermatocytes, whereas immunoprecipitated ERK2 is uneffective. We also show that natural G(2)/M transition in spermatocytes is associated to intracellular redistribution of ERKs, and their association with microtubules of the metaphase spindle. Preincubation of cultured pachytene spermatocytes with PD98059 (a selective inhibitor of ERK-activating kinases MEK1/2) completely blocks the ability of OA to induce chromosome condensation and progression to meiotic metaphases. These results suggest that ERK1 is specifically activated during G(2)/M transition in mouse spermatocytes, that it contributes to the mechanisms of maturation promoting factor activation, and that it is essential for chromosome condensation associated with progression to meiotic metaphases.

Distinct roles for PP1 and PP2A in phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. PP2a regulates the activities of G(1) cyclin-dependent kinases

The function of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) in controlling the G(1) to S transition is regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation on serine and threonine residues. While the roles of cyclin-dependent kinases in phosphorylating and inactivating pRB have been characterized in detail, the roles of protein phosphatases in regulating the G(1)/S transition are not as well understood. We used cell-permeable inhibitors of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A to assess the contributions of these phosphatases in regulating cyclin-dependent kinase activity and pRB phosphorylation. Treating asynchronously growing Balb/c 3T3 cells with PP2A-selective concentrations of either okadaic acid or calyculin A caused a time- and dose-dependent decrease in pRB phosphorylation. Okadaic acid and calyculin A had no effect on pRB phosphatase activity even though PP2A was completely inhibited. The decrease in pRB phosphorylation correlated with inhibitor-induced suppression of G(1) cyclin-dependent kinases including CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6. The inhibitors also caused decreases in the levels of cyclin D2 and cyclin E, and induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1). The decrease in cyclin-dependent kinase activities were not dependent on induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors since CDK inhibition still occurred in the presence of actinomycin D or cycloheximide. In contrast, selective inhibition of protein phosphatase 1 with tautomycin inhibited pRB phosphatase activity and maintained pRB in a highly phosphorylated state. The results show that protein phosphatase 1 and protein phosphatase 2A, or 2A-like phosphatases, play distinct roles in regulating pRB function. Protein phosphatase 1 is associated with the direct dephosphorylation of pRB while protein phosphatase 2A is involved in pathways regulating G(1) cyclin-dependent kinase activity.

Phosphatase 2A and polo kinase, two antagonistic regulators of cdc25 activation and MPF auto-amplification

The auto-catalytic activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdc2 or MPF (M-phase promoting factor) is an irreversible process responsible for the entry into M phase. In Xenopus oocyte, a positive feed-back loop between Cdc2 kinase and its activating phosphatase Cdc25 allows the abrupt activation of MPF and the entry into the first meiotic division. We have studied the Cdc2/Cdc25 feed-back loop using cell-free systems derived from Xenopus prophase-arrested oocyte. Our findings support the following two-step model for MPF amplification: during the first step, Cdc25 acquires a basal catalytic activity resulting in a linear activation of Cdc2 kinase. In turn Cdc2 partially phosphorylates Cdc25 but no amplification takes place; under this condition Plx1 kinase and its activating kinase, Plkk1 are activated. However, their activity is not required for the partial phosphorylation of Cdc25. This first step occurs independently of PP2A or Suc1/Cks-dependent Cdc25/Cdc2 association. On the contrary, the second step involves the full phosphorylation and activation of Cdc25 and the initiation of the amplification loop. It depends both on PP2A inhibition and Plx1 kinase activity. Suc1-dependent Cdc25/Cdc2 interaction is required for this process.

A new member of the alpha4-related molecule (alpha4-b) that binds to the protein phosphatase 2A is expressed selectively in the brain and testis

A murine alpha4, identified in lymphocytes, binds to protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). We found another murine alpha4-related gene (named alpha4-b) expressed selectively in the brain and testis. The alpha4-b transcript is expressed in the brain and testis, but is not detected in the spleen, thymus, bone marrow, liver, kidney, lung, heart or muscle. In-situ RNA hybridization analysis suggested that alpha4-b is expressed in most neuronal cells in the brain, but it is not expressed in the glial cells. The alpha4-b cDNA encodes a putative protein that is highly homologous (66% identity in amino-acid sequence) to the alpha4 molecule. The alpha4-b protein associates with the catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2Ac), suggesting that the alpha4-b protein is involved in the regulation of phosphatase activity in neuronal cells.

Vimentin dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase 2A is modulated by the targeting subunit B55

The intermediate filament protein vimentin is a major phosphoprotein in mammalian fibroblasts, and reversible phosphorylation plays a key role in its dynamic rearrangement. Selective inhibition of type 2A but not type 1 protein phosphatases led to hyperphosphorylation and concomitant disassembly of vimentin, characterized by a collapse into bundles around the nucleus. We have analyzed the potential role of one of the major protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) regulatory subunits, B55, in vimentin dephosphorylation. In mammalian fibroblasts, B55 protein was distributed ubiquitously throughout the cytoplasm with a fraction associated to vimentin. Specific depletion of B55 in living cells by antisense B55 RNA was accompanied by disassembly and increased phosphorylation of vimentin, as when type 2A phosphatases were inhibited using okadaic acid. The presence of B55 was a prerequisite for PP2A to efficiently dephosphorylate vimentin in vitro or to induce filament reassembly in situ. Both biochemical fractionation and immunofluorescence analysis of detergent-extracted cells revealed that fractions of PP2Ac, PR65, and B55 were tightly associated with vimentin. Furthermore, vimentin-associated PP2A catalytic subunit was displaced in B55-depleted cells. Taken together these data show that, in mammalian fibroblasts, the intermediate filament protein vimentin is dephosphorylated by PP2A, an event targeted by B55.

Protein phosphatase 2A is expressed in response to colony-stimulating factor 1 in macrophages and is required for cell cycle progression independently of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase activity

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) is required for the development of monocytes/macrophages from progenitor cells and for the survival and activation of mature macrophages. The receptor for CSF-1 is the product of the c-fms proto-oncogene, which, on binding ligand, can stimulate a mitogenic response in the appropriate cells. To investigate which genes are regulated in response to CSF-1-stimulation in murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMM), we employed mRNA differential display reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR to identify cDNA species induced by CSF-1. Both Northern and Western blot analyses confirmed the increased expression of one of the cDNA species identified as coding for the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), an observation not previously reported during the response to a growth factor. To determine the significance of the increased expression of PP2A in response to CSF-1, the PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid (OA) was added to CSF-1-treated BMM and found to inhibit DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Further analysis with flow cytometry in the presence of OA led to the novel conclusion that PP2A activity is critical for CSF-1-driven BMM cell cycle progression in both early G1 and S phases. Surprisingly, in the light of previous studies with other cells, the PP2A-dependent proliferation could be dissociated from activation by extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in macrophages because OA did not affect either the basal or CSF-1-induced ERK activity in BMM. Two-dimensional SDS/PAGE analysis of lysates of 32P-labelled BMM, which had been treated with CSF-1 in the presence or absence of OA, identified candidate substrates for PP2A.

Differential distribution of protein phosphatase 2A in human breast carcinoma cell lines and its relation to estrogen receptor status

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) acts as a growth suppressor and is negatively influenced by oncogenic signals. We determined its activity in various human breast carcinoma (HBC) cell types to understand its relationship to estrogen receptor (ER) expression as well as to the distribution of protein kinase C (PKC), an opposing enzyme. PP2A activity was measured using a preferred substrate, histone H1 phosphorylated by PKC. PP2A activity was higher in both the soluble and nuclear fractions of ER-positive cell lines (MCF-7, T47D and ZR-75-1) than in the ER-negative cell lines (MDA-MB-231, Hs578T and BT-20). PP2A multiple forms (2A0, 2A1, 2A2), separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and immunoblot analysis of PP2A catalytic subunit, also showed similar differences in these two HBC cell types. In all cases, PP2A distribution was inversely correlated with the PKC activity profile. Moreover, PP2A activity in MCF-7 cells maintained in estrogen-depleted medium was low. Nonetheless, it was induced by a prolonged treatment with 17beta-estradiol, this induction being blocked by the antiestrogens, tamoxifen and ICI-182,780. Studies in both MCF-7 transfectants stably overexpressing ras and MDA-MB-231 transfectants stably expressing ER, suggested that a low PP2A distribution in ER-negative HBC cell types may be related to tumor progression rather than the loss of ER. Conceivably, the presence of high PP2A along with low PKC in ER-positive HBC cell types may be related to the restricted cell growth associated with the retention of a certain degree of differentiation or hormonal control. Conversely, the presence of low PP2A along with high PKC in ER-negative cell types may be related to hormone-independent enhanced cell growth.

Protein phosphatase 2A is required for the initiation of chromosomal DNA replication

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is an abundant, multifunctional serine/threonine-specific phosphatase that stimulates simian virus 40 DNA replication. The question as to whether chromosomal DNA replication also depends on PP2A was addressed by using a cell-free replication system derived from Xenopus laevis eggs. Immunodepletion of PP2A from Xenopus egg extract resulted in strong inhibition of DNA replication. PP2A was required for the initiation of replication but not for the elongation of previously engaged replication forks. Therefore, the initiation of chromosomal DNA replication depends not only on phosphorylation by protein kinases but also on dephosphorylation by PP2A.

Entry into mitosis without Cdc2 kinase activation

Mouse FT210 cells at 39 degreesC cannot enter mitosis but arrest in G2 phase, because they lack Cdc2 kinase activity as a result of a temperature-sensitive lesion in the cdc2 gene. Incubation of arrested cells with the protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor okadaic acid induces morphologically normal chromosome condensation. We now show that okadaic acid also induces two other landmark events of early mitosis, nuclear lamina depolymerization and centrosome separation, in the absence of Cdc2 kinase activity. Okadaic acid-induced entry into mitosis is accompanied by partial activation of Cdc25C and may be prevented by tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors and by the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine, suggesting that Cdc25C and kinases distinct from Cdc2 are required for these mitotic events. Using in-gel assays, we show that a 45-kDa protein kinase normally activated at mitosis is also activated by okadaic acid independently of Cdc2 kinase. The 45-kDa kinase can utilize GTP, is stimulated by spermine and is inhibited by heparin. These properties are characteristic of the kinase CK2, but immunoprecipitation studies indicate that it is not CK2. The data underline the importance of a tyrosine phosphatase, possibly Cdc25C, and of kinases other than Cdc2 in the structural changes the cell undergoes at mitosis, and indicate that entry into mitosis involves the activation of multiple kinases working in concert with Cdc2 kinase.