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Drury F, Grover M, Hintze M, Saunders J, Fasseas MK, Constantinou C, Barkoulas M. A PAX6-regulated receptor tyrosine kinase pairs with a pseudokinase to activate immune defense upon oomycete recognition in Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300587120. [PMID: 37725647 PMCID: PMC10523662 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300587120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Oomycetes were recently discovered as natural pathogens of Caenorhabditis elegans, and pathogen recognition alone was shown to be sufficient to activate a protective transcriptional program characterized by the expression of multiple chitinase-like (chil) genes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying oomycete recognition in animals remain fully unknown. We performed here a forward genetic screen to uncover regulators of chil gene induction and found several independent loss-of-function alleles of old-1 and flor-1, which encode receptor tyrosine kinases belonging to the C. elegans-specific KIN-16 family. We report that OLD-1 and FLOR-1 are both necessary for mounting the immune response and act in the epidermis. FLOR-1 is a pseudokinase that acts downstream of the active kinase OLD-1 and regulates OLD-1 levels at the plasma membrane. Interestingly, the old-1 locus is adjacent to the chil genes in the C. elegans genome, thereby revealing a genetic cluster important for oomycete resistance. Furthermore, we demonstrate that old-1 expression at the anterior side of the epidermis is regulated by the VAB-3/PAX6 transcription factor, well known for its role in visual system development in other animals. Taken together, our study reveals both conserved and species-specific factors shaping the activation and spatial characteristics of the immune response to oomycete recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Drury
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Manish Grover
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Hintze
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Saunders
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Michael K. Fasseas
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Charis Constantinou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Michalis Barkoulas
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, LondonSW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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Stroehlein AJ, Young ND, Korhonen PK, Jabbar A, Hofmann A, Sternberg PW, Gasser RB. The Haemonchus contortus kinome--a resource for fundamental molecular investigations and drug discovery. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:623. [PMID: 26644012 PMCID: PMC4672506 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1231-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protein kinases regulate a plethora of essential signalling and other biological pathways in all eukaryotic organisms, but very little is known about them in most parasitic nematodes. METHODS Here, we defined, for the first time, the entire complement of protein kinases (kinome) encoded in the barber's pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) through an integrated analysis of transcriptomic and genomic datasets using an advanced bioinformatic workflow. RESULTS We identified, curated and classified 432 kinases representing ten groups, 103 distinct families and 98 subfamilies. A comparison of the kinomes of H. contortus and Caenorhabditis elegans (a related, free-living nematode) revealed considerable variation in the numbers of casein kinases, tyrosine kinases and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases, which likely relate to differences in biology, habitat and life cycle between these worms. Moreover, a suite of kinase genes was selectively transcribed in particular developmental stages of H. contortus, indicating central roles in developmental and reproductive processes. In addition, using a ranking system, drug targets (n = 13) and associated small-molecule effectors (n = 1517) were inferred. CONCLUSIONS The H. contortus kinome will provide a useful resource for fundamental investigations of kinases and signalling pathways in this nematode, and should assist future anthelmintic discovery efforts; this is particularly important, given current drug resistance problems in parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas J Stroehlein
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Neil D Young
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Pasi K Korhonen
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Paul W Sternberg
- HHMI, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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Dissous C, Morel M, Vanderstraete M. Venus kinase receptors: prospects in signaling and biological functions of these invertebrate kinases. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2014; 5:72. [PMID: 24860549 PMCID: PMC4026697 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2014.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Venus kinase receptors (VKRs) form a family of invertebrate receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) initially discovered in the parasitic platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni. VKRs are single transmembrane receptors that contain an extracellular venus fly trap structure similar to the ligand-binding domain of G protein-coupled receptors of class C, and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain close to that of insulin receptors. VKRs are found in a large variety of invertebrates from cnidarians to echinoderms and are highly expressed in larval stages and in gonads, suggesting a role of these proteins in embryonic and larval development as well as in reproduction. VKR gene silencing could demonstrate the function of these receptors in oogenesis as well as in spermatogenesis in S. mansoni. VKRs are activated by amino acids and are highly responsive to arginine. As many other RTKs, they form dimers when activated by ligands and induce intracellular pathways involved in protein synthesis and cellular growth, such as MAPK and PI3K/Akt/S6K pathways. VKRs are not present in vertebrates or in some invertebrate species. Questions remain open about the origin of this little-known RTK family in evolution and its role in emergence and specialization of Metazoa. What is the meaning of maintenance or loss of VKR in some phyla or species in terms of development and physiological functions? The presence of VKRs in invertebrates of economical and medical importance, such as pests, vectors of pathogens, and platyhelminth parasites, and the implication of these RTKs in gametogenesis and reproduction processes are valuable reasons to consider VKRs as interesting targets in new programs for eradication/control of pests and infectious diseases, with the main advantage in the case of parasite targeting that VKR counterparts are absent from the vertebrate host kinase panel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colette Dissous
- INSERM U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Lille, France
| | - Marion Morel
- INSERM U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Lille, France
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- INSERM U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Lille, France
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Vanderstraete M, Gouignard N, Ahier A, Morel M, Vicogne J, Dissous C. The venus kinase receptor (VKR) family: structure and evolution. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:361. [PMID: 23721482 PMCID: PMC3703292 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) form a family of transmembrane proteins widely conserved in Metazoa, with key functions in cell-to-cell communication and control of multiple cellular processes. A new family of RTK named Venus Kinase Receptor (VKR) has been described in invertebrates. The VKR receptor possesses a Venus Fly Trap (VFT) extracellular module, a bilobate structure that binds small ligands to induce receptor kinase activity. VKR was shown to be highly expressed in the larval stages and gonads of several invertebrates, suggesting that it could have functions in development and/or reproduction. RESULTS Analysis of recent genomic data has allowed us to extend the presence of VKR to five bilaterian phyla (Platyhelminthes, Arthropoda, Annelida, Mollusca, Echinodermata) as well as to the Cnidaria phylum. The presence of NveVKR in the early-branching metazoan Nematostella vectensis suggested that VKR arose before the bilaterian radiation. Phylogenetic and gene structure analyses showed that the 40 receptors identified in 36 animal species grouped monophyletically, and likely evolved from a common ancestor. Multiple alignments of tyrosine kinase (TK) and VFT domains indicated their important level of conservation in all VKRs identified up to date. We showed that VKRs had inducible activity upon binding of extracellular amino-acids and molecular modeling of the VFT domain confirmed the structure of the conserved amino-acid binding site. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the presence of VKR in a large number of invertebrates, including primitive metazoans like cnidarians, but also its absence from nematodes and chordates. This little-known RTK family deserves to be further explored in order to determine its evolutionary origin, its possible interest for the emergence and specialization of Metazoa, and to understand its function in invertebrate development and/or reproductive biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Vanderstraete
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille, France
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Plowman GD, Sudarsanam S, Bingham J, Whyte D, Hunter T. The protein kinases of Caenorhabditis elegans: a model for signal transduction in multicellular organisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999; 96:13603-10. [PMID: 10570119 PMCID: PMC24111 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.24.13603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans should soon be the first multicellular organism whose complete genomic sequence has been determined. This achievement provides a unique opportunity for a comprehensive assessment of the signal transduction molecules required for the existence of a multicellular animal. Although the worm C. elegans may not much resemble humans, the molecules that regulate signal transduction in these two organisms prove to be quite similar. We focus here on the content and diversity of protein kinases present in worms, together with an assessment of other classes of proteins that regulate protein phosphorylation. By systematic analysis of the 19,099 predicted C. elegans proteins, and thorough analysis of the finished and unfinished genomic sequences, we have identified 411 full length protein kinases and 21 partial kinase fragments. We also describe 82 additional proteins that are predicted to be structurally similar to conventional protein kinases even though they share minimal primary sequence identity. Finally, the richness of phosphorylation-dependent signaling pathways in worms is further supported with the identification of 185 protein phosphatases and 128 phosphoprotein-binding domains (SH2, PTB, STYX, SBF, 14-3-3, FHA, and WW) in the worm genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- G D Plowman
- SUGEN, 230 East Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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Cutler RE, Stephens RM, Saracino MR, Morrison DK. Autoregulation of the Raf-1 serine/threonine kinase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:9214-9. [PMID: 9689060 PMCID: PMC21318 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.16.9214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/1998] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Raf-1 serine/threonine kinase is a key protein involved in the transmission of many growth and developmental signals. In this report, we show that autoinhibition mediated by the noncatalytic, N-terminal regulatory region of Raf-1 is an important mechanism regulating Raf-1 function. The inhibition of the regulatory region occurs, at least in part, through binding interactions involving the cysteine-rich domain. Events that disrupt this autoinhibition, such as mutation of the cysteine-rich domain or a mutation mimicking an activating phosphorylation event (Y340D), alleviate the repression of the regulatory region and increase Raf-1 activity. Based on the striking similarites between the autoregulation of the serine/threonine kinases protein kinase C, Byr2, and Raf-1, we propose that relief of autorepression and activation at the plasma membrane is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of kinase regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Cutler
- Molecular Basis of Carcinogenesis Laboratory, Advanced BioSciences Laboratories-Basic Research Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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Fabian JR, Vojtek AB, Cooper JA, Morrison DK. A single amino acid change in Raf-1 inhibits Ras binding and alters Raf-1 function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1994; 91:5982-6. [PMID: 8016101 PMCID: PMC44121 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.91.13.5982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ras and Raf-1 are key proteins involved in the transmission of developmental and proliferative signals generated by receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. Genetic and biochemical studies demonstrate that Raf-1 functions downstream of Ras in many signaling pathways. Although Raf-1 directly associates with GTP-bound Ras, an effect of this interaction on Raf-1 activity in vivo has not been established. To examine the biological consequence of the Ras/Raf-1 interaction in vivo, we set out to identify key residues of Raf-1 required for Ras binding. In this report, we show that a single amino acid mutation in Raf-1 (Arg89 to Leu) disrupted the interaction with Ras in vitro and in the yeast two-hybrid system. This mutation prevented Ras-mediated but not tyrosine kinase-mediated enzymatic activation of Raf-1 in the baculovirus/Sf9 expression system. Furthermore, kinase-defective Raf-1 proteins containing the Arg89-->Leu mutation were no longer dominant-inhibitory or capable of blocking Ras-mediated signal transduction in Xenopus laevis oocytes. These results demonstrate that the association of Raf-1 and Ras modulates both the kinase activity and the biological function of Raf-1 and identify Arg89 as a critical residue involved in this interaction. In addition, the finding that tyrosine kinases can stimulate the enzymatic activity of Raf-1 proteins containing a mutation at the Ras-interaction site suggests that Raf-1 can be activated by Ras-independent pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Fabian
- Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, MD 21702
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