Activation of myelin protein kinase by diacylglycerol and 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

Interleukin-2 receptors and interleukin-2-mediated signaling in myelin: activation of diacylglycerol kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Myelin was previously shown to possess neurotransmitter and cytokine receptors that trigger well-defined signaling mechanisms within the multilamellar structure. The present study reveals the presence of an interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor in isolated mouse CNS myelin that responds to recombinant mouse IL-2 by activating diacylglycerol kinase (DAGK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K); additional evidence suggests participation by protein tyrosine kinase. Activation of myelin DAGK by IL-2 occurred in brain stem tissue mince and was blocked by chelerythrin chloride, indicating an essential role for myelin-localized protein kinase C. Two inhibitors of PI3K, wortmannin and LY294002, blocked endogenous PI3K as well as that enhanced by IL-2. Activation of PI3K by IL-2 was also blocked by tyrphostin A25, a selective inhibitor of PTK, suggesting activation of the latter by IL-2 is upstream to PI3K activation. This reaction resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of a protein tentatively identified as the p85 subunit of PI3K. Developmental changes were noted in that receptor density and signaling activity were robust during the period of rapid myelination and declined rapidly thereafter.

Phosphorylation of myelin protein: recent advances

Since it was first described 25 years ago, phosphorylation has come to be recognized as a widespread and dynamic post-translation modification of myelin proteins. In this review, the phosphorylation characteristics of myelin basic protein, protein zero (P0), myelin-associated glycoprotein and 2'3' cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase are summarized. Emphasis is placed on recent advances in our knowledge concerning the protein kinases involved and the sites of phosphorylation in the amino acid sequences, where known. The possible roles of myelin protein phosphorylation in modulating myelin structure, the process of myelin assembly and mediation of signal transduction events are discussed.

Protein kinase C in rat brain myelin

It has been suggested that phosphorylation of myelin basic protein (MBP) in CNS is catalyzed by protein kinase C (PKC). In order to demonstrate that PKC in the myelin phosphorylates MBP, PKC was partially purified from rat CNS myelin by solubilization with Triton X-100 followed by a DEAE-cellulose column. MBP and histone III-S were phosphorylated in the presence of Ca2+ and phospholipid by rat myelin PKC. High voltage electrophoresis revealed that the phosphoamino acids in MBP by this kinase was serine residue, which is known to be the amino acid phosphorylated by PKC. The activity of PKC extracted from myelin was inhibited by the addition of psychosine to the incubation mixture. To confirm the presence of PKC molecule and to identify the isoform of PKC in the myelin, the solubilized myelin fraction was applied on SDS-PAGE, transferred to a nitrocellulose sheet and stained with anti-PKC monoclonal antibodies. Rat CNS myelin contained the PKC of about 80 kDa (intact PKC), and no proteolytic fragments were observed. PKC isozymes in myelin were type II and III. A developmental study from 14 to 42 postnatal days showed that PKC activity in CNS myelin seemed to parallel the deposition of myelin protein.

Vestibular Compensation Affects Endogenous Phosphorylation of Frog Brain Proteins

The effect of unilateral labyrinthectomy followed by the process of vestibular compensation on the incorporation of radioactive phosphate into frog brain proteins was investigated. Phosphoproteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. The present data show that unilateral labyrinthectomy affects the incorporation of 32P into various frog brain proteins. In particular, the phosphorylation of a 20-kDa protein appeared enhanced during early stages of vestibular compensation (4-12 days). This 20-kDa protein was shown to be immunologically related to myelin basic protein and its phosphorylation was regulated by an endogenous calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. These data might indicate that in addition to neuronal components, components of glial origin are also involved in biochemical events that lead to functional recovery after neuronal lesions.

Phosphoinositide breakdown in isolated myelin is stimulated by GTP analogues and calcium

Purified myelin from rat brainstem, prelabeled in vivo by intracerebral injection of [3H]myoinositol, showed enhanced breakdown of phosphoinositides on treatment with 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp-(NH)p] and Ca2+. Concentration variation of the former in the presence of Ca2+ showed a dose-dependent release of inositol 1,4-bisphosphate (IP2) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), while inositol 1-phosphate (IP) release was erratic. Concentration-dependent release of IP2 and IP3 was also observed with Ca2+ as the variable in the presence of Gpp(NH)p. Carbachol, when present, did not enhance the stimulatory effect of Gpp(NH)p alone. Addition of diphosphoglycerate during incubation enhanced IP3 at the expense of IP2, suggesting the presence of IP3 phosphatase in myelin.

Accumulation of galactosylsphingosine (psychosine) does not interfere with phosphorylation and methylation of myelin basic protein in the twitcher mouse

In attempts to elucidate mechanisms of demyelination in the twitcher mouse (Twi), phosphorylation and methylation of myelin basic protein (MBP) were examined in the brainstem and spinal cord of this species. Phosphorylation of MBP in isolated myelin by an endogenous kinase and an exogenous [32P]ATP was not impaired and protein kinase C activity in the brain cytosol was not reduced. When the methylation of an arginine residue of MBP was examined in slices of the brainstem and spinal cord, using [3H]methionine as a donor of the methyl groups, no difference was found between Twi and the controls. Radioactivity of the [3H] methionine residue of MBP of Twi was also similar to that of the controls. Thus, accumulation of psychosine in Twi does not interfere with the activity of endogenous kinase, methylation of MBP, and the synthesis and transport of MBP into myelin membrane.

Tumor promoters accentuate phosphorylation of PO: evidence for the presence of protein kinase C in purified PNS myelin

The effects of carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride and chloroform on phosphorylation of PO was examined. The results of the dose response curve revealed that carbon tetrachloride (0.67%), methylene chloride (2%) and chloroform (1%) induced phosphorylation of PO by approximately 4, 6, and 12-fold, respectively. PO was found to be phosphorylated on the serine residue, and the phosphorylation of the serine residue was markedly increased when PO was phosphorylated in the presence of these compounds. Since tumor promoters, carbon tetrachloride and chloroform, have been shown to activate protein kinase C in platelets it is postulated that the increased phosphorylation of PO may result from the activation of myelin associated protein kinase C. The presence of phospholipid sensitive Ca2+-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) in in purified nerve myelin was demonstrated by increased phosphorylation of PO in the presence of Ca2+ and phosphatidylserine.

Relationship of ATP turnover, polyphosphoinositide metabolism, and protein phosphorylation in sciatic nerve and derived peripheral myelin subfractions from normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats

Sciatic nerve from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats has previously been shown to incorporate more 32P into phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and the principal myelin proteins than normal nerve. In the present study, labeling of ATP and PIP2 was compared. Using nerve segments, [gamma-32P]ATP specific activity reached a plateau after incubation for 4 h with [32P]orthophosphate, whereas the specific activity of [32P]PIP2 rose much more slowly and was still increasing after 8 h. The rate of disappearance of radioactivity from prelabeled ATP was biphasic, with 75% being lost within 30 min and the remainder declining much more slowly for several hours thereafter. In contrast, no decrease in prelabeled PIP2 radioactivity could be detected for up to 4 h. The kinetics of ATP metabolism were not appreciably different for normal and diabetic nerve. However, after incubation with [32P]orthophosphate for 2 h, the specific activity of PIP2 was 50-120% higher in diabetic nerve. This phenomenon, therefore, cannot be ascribed to altered specific activity of the ATP precursor pool. Greater labeling of PIP2 in 32P-labeled diabetic nerve was present in purified myelin isolated using a simple discontinuous sucrose density gradient, but not in a "nonmyelin" fraction. When nerve homogenate was fractionated on a more complex gradient, three myelin-enriched subfractions were obtained which were heterogeneous as judged by morphological appearance, protein profile, and lipid metabolic activity. The proportion of total lipid radioactivity accounted for by PIP2 was elevated in all the subfractions relative to the homogenate. As compared to myelin subfractions from normal nerve, an increased percentage of 32P in PIP2 was obtained only in the major myelin subfraction from diabetic nerve. The phosphorylation of P0 relative to the other myelin proteins was also enhanced in this subfraction in nerve from diabetic animals.

The regional and subcellular distribution of calcium activated neutral proteinase (CANP) in the bovine central nervous system

Calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) activity was determined in subcellular fractions and in different regions of bovine brain. The CANP specific activity in spinal cord and corpus callosum, areas rich in myelin, were almost six-fold greater than cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Treatment of whole homogenate and myelin with 0.1% Triton X-100 increased the CANP activity by tenfold. Subcellular fractions were prepared from bovine brain gray and white matter. Most of the CANP activity (70%) was in the primary particulate fractions P1 (nuclear), P2 (mitochondrial) and P3 (microsomal). On subfractionation of each particulate fraction, the majority of the activity (greater than 50%) was recovered in the myelin-enriched fractions (P1A, P2A, P3A) which separate at the interphase of 0.32 M- and 0.85 M-sucrose. The distribution of activity was P2A greater than P1A greater than P3A. Further purification of myelin (of P2A) increased the specific activity over homogenate by more than three-fold. The same myelin fractions contained the highest proportion (60%) and specific activity (five-fold increase) of CNPase. The enzyme activity in different regions of brain and in subcellular fractions was increased by 20-39% after the inhibitor was removed. Electron microscopic study confirmed that the myelin fractions were highly purified. The cytosolic fraction contained 20-30% of the total homogenate CANP activity. Other fractions contained low enzyme activity. CANP was identified in the purified myelin fraction by electroimmublot-technique. It is concluded that the bulk of CANP in CNS is tightly bound to the membrane, may be masked or hidden and is intimately associated with the myelin sheath.

Detection and partial biochemical characterization of a novel 57,500 dalton protein in rat brain myelin

Using a monoclonal antibody (P6C3) derived from mice immunized with partially delipidated rat myelin, we detected a single 57.5 kDa protein species (BT57.5) positioned between alpha- and beta-tubulin on nitrocellulose containing electrophoretically separated rat brain myelin proteins. The kinetics of incorporation of 14C-labeled BT57.5 and myelin basic protein into myelin was similar in rats injected intracranially with [14C]amino acids to radioactively label these proteins. Immunoblotting of the separated proteins of the myelinlike fraction of rat brain with the anti-BT57.5 monoclonal antibody occasionally revealed a faint band corresponding to BT57.5 but consistently showed a more prominent protein band that migrated slightly ahead of BT57.5. When the myelin and myelinlike fraction were isolated from rats injected with [14C] amino acids, labeling of the prominent anti-BT57.5 binding protein in the myelinlike fraction preceded that of BT57.5 in myelin, reaching a peak of labeling and then decreasing before BT57.5 reached its peak level. Thus, the prominent anti-BT57.5 protein in the myelinlike fraction might be a metabolic precursor of BT57.5 in myelin or the myelinlike fraction is simply turning over more rapidly and is distinct from the myelin fraction. BT57.5 was detectable in rat, mouse, guinea pig, bovine, and human CNS myelin but not rabbit and was detectable in the peripheral nervous system only in myelin of rats and humans. Finally, in extensively purified myelin, BT57.5 appeared to copurify with myelin basic protein, suggesting that BT57.5 is a constituent of myelin rather than an artifact arising during brain homogenization procedures.

Calcium-activated neutral proteinase in rat brain myelin and subcellular fractions

The activity of calcium-activated neutral proteinase (mM CANP) was determined in subcellular fractions of rat brain. The CANP activity in whole homogenate and its membrane fractions including myelin was increased ten-fold following treatment with Triton X-100. The majority of the activity (60%) was in the primary particulate fractions P1 (nuclear), P2 (mitochondrial), and P3 (microsomal). Following subfractionation of each particulate fraction, most of the activity (50%) was found in the myelin-enriched fractions (P1A, P2A, and P3A) and separated at the interface of 0.32-0.85 M sucrose. Only 20-30% of the total homogenate activity was in cytosol. The enrichment in the myelin fractions resembled that for 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNPase) activity. Immunoblotting revealed that the CANP was mainly in myelin and cytosol. In addition to the presence of 72-76 Kd and 80 Kd bands, there were faint high-molecular-weight CANP bands ranging from 110-150 Kd and lower-molecular-weight forms in the region of 30-50 Kd in both purified myelin and cytosol. These studies suggested that CANP is present in myelin and cytosol and that it exists in the brain in membrane-bound and soluble forms.

Stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis in myelin by muscarinic agonist and potassium

Slices of rat brainstem that had been prelabeled by in vivo injection of [3H]inositol were stimulated with carbachol in the presence of lithium and changes measured in the radioactivity of inositol lipids and water-soluble inositol phosphates. For the latter, significant increases were seen for inositol mono- and bisphosphate but not inositol trisphosphate. Analysis of whole tissue phosphoinositides revealed significantly reduced radioactivity in phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, whereas myelin showed decreases in those as well as phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. These effects were blocked by atropine. Stimulation of the tissue slices with elevated K+ resulted in increased formation of inositol phosphate and decreased radioactivity in phosphatidylinositol. The effect was not blocked by atropine and in the presence of this agent, which reduced background reaction, all 3 phosphoinositides showed significant K+-induced loss of label. Elevated K+ and carbachol thus function through different mechanisms in this system. Carbachol is believed to affect myelin phosphoinositides through direct interaction with muscarinic receptors which were recently shown to be present in this membrane.

Distribution of calcium activated neutral proteinase (mM CANP) in myelin and cytosolic fractions in bovine brain white matter

The activity of calcium-activated neutral proteinase (mM CANP) was determined in homogenate, myelin and supernatant of bovine brain corpus callosum. The enzyme activity in homogenate and myelin was increased eleven and thirteen-fold respectively by Triton X-100. Myelin prepared by the method of Norton and Poduslo as well as by a modified method, was shown to contain most (more than 50%) of homogenate mM CANP activity. The specific activity was highest in myelin, and increased almost three times more than the homogenate. Supernatant only contained 17% of enzyme activity. It is concluded from these studies that mM CANP is tightly bound to the membrane and predominantly associated with the myelin sheath.

Chloroform markedly stimulates the phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins

We have investigated the effect of chloroform on the phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins because tumor-promoting agents such as phorbol esters and chloroform are known to enhance the activity of protein kinase C. We report that the presence of chloroform, at a concentration known to enhance protein kinase C activity, stimulated the phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins 15-17 fold over control conditions. The phosphorylation of a 50 kiloDalton myelin protein was also stimulated but to a lesser extent. The concentration of chloroform required for the maximal phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins and the 50 kiloDalton protein was approximately 2% (v/v).