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Hu B, Moiseev D, Schena I, Faezov B, Dunbrack R, Chernoff J, Li J. PAK2 is necessary for myelination in the peripheral nervous system. Brain 2024; 147:1809-1821. [PMID: 38079473 PMCID: PMC11068108 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Myelination enables electrical impulses to propagate on axons at the highest speed, encoding essential life functions. The Rho family GTPases, RAC1 and CDC42, have been shown to critically regulate Schwann cell myelination. P21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) is an effector of RAC1/CDC42, but its specific role in myelination remains undetermined. We produced a Schwann cell-specific knockout mouse of Pak2 (scPak2-/-) to evaluate PAK2's role in myelination. Deletion of Pak2, specifically in mouse Schwann cells, resulted in severe hypomyelination, slowed nerve conduction velocity and behaviour dysfunctions in the scPak2-/- peripheral nerve. Many Schwann cells in scPak2-/- sciatic nerves were arrested at the stage of axonal sorting. These abnormalities were rescued by reintroducing Pak2, but not the kinase-dead mutation of Pak2, via lentivirus delivery to scPak2-/- Schwann cells in vivo. Moreover, ablation of Pak2 in Schwann cells blocked the promyelinating effect driven by neuregulin-1, prion protein and inactivated RAC1/CDC42. Conversely, the ablation of Pak2 in neurons exhibited no phenotype. Such PAK2 activity can also be either enhanced or inhibited by different myelin lipids. We have identified a novel promyelinating factor, PAK2, that acts as a critical convergence point for multiple promyelinating signalling pathways. The promyelination by PAK2 is Schwann cell-autonomous. Myelin lipids, identified as inhibitors or activators of PAK2, may be utilized to develop therapies for repairing abnormal myelin in peripheral neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Hu
- Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Daniel Moiseev
- Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Isabella Schena
- Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bulat Faezov
- Cancer Biology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
- Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Roland Dunbrack
- Cancer Biology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Jonathan Chernoff
- Cancer Biology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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2
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Balakrishnan R, Garcia PA, Veluthakal R, Huss JM, Hoolachan JM, Thurmond DC. Toward Ameliorating Insulin Resistance: Targeting a Novel PAK1 Signaling Pathway Required for Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Function. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1658. [PMID: 37759961 PMCID: PMC10525748 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12091658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) is required for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells. However, whether PAK1 regulates skeletal muscle mitochondrial function, which is a central determinant of insulin sensitivity, is unknown. Here, the effect of modulating PAK1 levels (knockdown via siRNA, overexpression via adenoviral transduction, and/or inhibition of activation via IPA3) on mitochondrial function was assessed in normal and/or insulin-resistant rat L6.GLUT4myc and human muscle (LHCN-M2) myotubes. Human type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-diabetic (ND) skeletal muscle samples were also used for validation of the identified signaling elements. PAK1 depletion in myotubes decreased mitochondrial copy number, respiration, altered mitochondrial structure, downregulated PGC1α (a core regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism) and PGC1α activators, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2). PAK1 enrichment in insulin-resistant myotubes improved mitochondrial function and rescued PGC1α expression levels. Activated PAK1 was localized to the cytoplasm, and PAK1 enrichment concurrent with p38MAPK inhibition did not increase PGC1α levels. PAK1 inhibition and enrichment also modified nuclear phosphorylated-ATF2 levels. T2D human samples showed a deficit for PGC1α, and PAK1 depletion in LHCN-M2 cells led to reduced mitochondrial respiration. Overall, the results suggest that PAK1 regulates muscle mitochondrial function upstream of the p38MAPK/ATF2/PGC1α-axis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Balakrishnan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (R.B.); (R.V.)
| | - Pablo A. Garcia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (R.B.); (R.V.)
| | - Rajakrishnan Veluthakal
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (R.B.); (R.V.)
| | - Janice M. Huss
- School of Medicine, Washington University, 660 S Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA;
| | - Joseph M. Hoolachan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (R.B.); (R.V.)
| | - Debbie C. Thurmond
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (R.B.); (R.V.)
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3
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Huang M, Zhang J, Li M, Cao H, Zhu Q, Yang D. PAK1 contributes to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by regulating the blood-brain barrier integrity. iScience 2023; 26:107333. [PMID: 37529106 PMCID: PMC10387573 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and significant contributors to disability. Gaining a thorough comprehension of the underlying pathogenic processes is essential for stroke treatment and prevention. In this study, we investigated the role of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) in stroke by using oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (tMCAO/R) models. We reported that focal ischemia and reperfusion affect the PAK1 expression and activity levels. We further demonstrated that PAK1 is responsible for the endothelial hyperpermeability that occurs in the early stages of ischemia and reperfusion. Additionally, inhibition of PAK1 was discovered to alleviate blood-brain barrier disruption and protect against brain injury induced by tMCAO/R. Mechanistically, we provide the evidence that PAK1 regulates the formation of stress fibers and expression of surface junctional proteins. Together, our findings reveal a pathogenic function of PAK1 in stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Jinshun Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Mengwei Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Haowei Cao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Qiuju Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Dejun Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
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4
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Rak M, Tesch R, Berger LM, Shevchenko E, Raab M, Tjaden A, Zhubi R, Balourdas DI, Joerger AC, Poso A, Krämer A, Elson L, Lučić A, Kronenberger T, Hanke T, Strebhardt K, Sanhaji M, Knapp S. Shifting the selectivity of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-one inhibitors towards the salt-inducible kinase (SIK) subfamily. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 254:115347. [PMID: 37094449 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Salt-inducible kinases 1-3 (SIK1-3) are key regulators of the LKB1-AMPK pathway and play an important role in cellular homeostasis. Dysregulation of any of the three isoforms has been associated with tumorigenesis in liver, breast, and ovarian cancers. We have recently developed the dual pan-SIK/group I p21-activated kinase (PAK) chemical probe MRIA9. However, inhibition of p21-activated kinases has been associated with cardiotoxicity in vivo, which complicates the use of MRIA9 as a tool compound. Here, we present a structure-based approach involving the back-pocket and gatekeeper residues, for narrowing the selectivity of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-one-based inhibitors towards SIK kinases, eliminating PAK activity. Optimization was guided by high-resolution crystal structure analysis and computational methods, resulting in a pan-SIK inhibitor, MR22, which no longer exhibited activity on STE group kinases and displayed excellent selectivity in a representative kinase panel. MR22-dependent SIK inhibition led to centrosome dissociation and subsequent cell-cycle arrest in ovarian cancer cells, as observed with MRIA9, conclusively linking these phenotypic effects to SIK inhibition. Taken together, MR22 represents a valuable tool compound for studying SIK kinase function in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Rak
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Roberta Tesch
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Lena M Berger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Shevchenko
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery (TüCAD2), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen, 72076, Germany; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, Kuopio, 70210, Finland
| | - Monika Raab
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main, 60590, Germany
| | - Amelie Tjaden
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Rezart Zhubi
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Dimitrios-Ilias Balourdas
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Andreas C Joerger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Antti Poso
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery (TüCAD2), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen, 72076, Germany; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, Kuopio, 70210, Finland
| | - Andreas Krämer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; German Translational Cancer Network (DKTK) and Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Lewis Elson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Aleksandar Lučić
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery (TüCAD2), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen, 72076, Germany; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, Kuopio, 70210, Finland
| | - Thomas Hanke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Klaus Strebhardt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main, 60590, Germany
| | - Mourad Sanhaji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main, 60590, Germany
| | - Stefan Knapp
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany; German Translational Cancer Network (DKTK) and Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany.
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5
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PAK2 is essential for chromosome alignment in metaphase I oocytes. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:150. [PMID: 36813765 PMCID: PMC9947007 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05585-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
As a highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase, p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) participates in diverse biologic events. However, its roles in mouse oocyte meiotic maturation remain unclear. The present study revealed that mouse oocytes depleted of Pak2 were unable to completely progress through meiosis and that a majority were arrested at metaphase I. Pak2 depletion thus prompted MI arrest and induced meiotic chromosome alignment defects in mouse oocytes, in part due to a reduction in polo-like kinase (PLK1). We demonstrated that PAK2's interaction with PLK1 protected it from degradation by APC/CCdh1, and that it promoted meiotic progression and bipolar spindle formation. Our data collectively display critical functions for PAK2 in meiotic progression and chromosome alignment in mouse oocytes.
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6
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Diab AM, Wigerius M, Quinn DP, Qi J, Shahin I, Paffile J, Krueger K, Karten B, Krueger SR, Fawcett JP. NCK1 Modulates Neuronal Actin Dynamics and Promotes Dendritic Spine, Synapse, and Memory Formation. J Neurosci 2023; 43:885-901. [PMID: 36535770 PMCID: PMC9908320 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0495-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory formation and maintenance is a dynamic process involving the modulation of the actin cytoskeleton at synapses. Understanding the signaling pathways that contribute to actin modulation is important for our understanding of synapse formation and function, as well as learning and memory. Here, we focused on the importance of the actin regulator, noncatalytic region of tyrosine kinase adaptor protein 1 (NCK1), in hippocampal dependent behaviors and development. We report that male mice lacking NCK1 have impairments in both short-term and working memory, as well as spatial learning. Additionally, we report sex differences in memory impairment showing that female mice deficient in NCK1 fail at reversal learning in a spatial learning task. We find that NCK1 is expressed in postmitotic neurons but is dispensable for neuronal proliferation and migration in the developing hippocampus. Morphologically, NCK1 is not necessary for overall neuronal dendrite development. However, neurons lacking NCK1 have lower dendritic spine and synapse densities in vitro and in vivo EM analysis reveal increased postsynaptic density (PSD) thickness in the hippocampal CA1 region of NCK1-deficient mice. Mechanistically, we find the turnover of actin-filaments in dendritic spines is accelerated in neurons that lack NCK1. Together, these findings suggest that NCK1 contributes to hippocampal-dependent memory by stabilizing actin dynamics and dendritic spine formation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Understanding the molecular signaling pathways that contribute to memory formation, maintenance, and elimination will lead to a better understanding of the genetic influences on cognition and cognitive disorders and will direct future therapeutics. Here, we report that the noncatalytic region of tyrosine kinase adaptor protein 1 (NCK1) adaptor protein modulates actin-filament turnover in hippocampal dendritic spines. Mice lacking NCK1 show sex-dependent deficits in hippocampal memory formation tasks, have altered postsynaptic densities, and reduced synaptic density. Together, our work implicates NCK1 in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics and normal synapse development which is essential for memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios M Diab
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Michael Wigerius
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Dylan P Quinn
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jiansong Qi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Ibrahim Shahin
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Julia Paffile
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Kavita Krueger
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Barbara Karten
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Stefan R Krueger
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - James P Fawcett
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
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7
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Chow HY, Karchugina S, Groendyke BJ, Toenjes S, Hatcher J, Donovan KA, Fischer ES, Abalakov G, Faezov B, Dunbrack R, Gray NS, Chernoff J. Development and Utility of a PAK1-Selective Degrader. J Med Chem 2022; 65:15627-15641. [PMID: 36416208 PMCID: PMC10029980 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of PAK1, a druggable kinase, is common in several malignancies, and inhibition of PAK1 by small molecules has been shown to impede the growth and survival of such cells. Potent inhibitors of PAKs 1-3 have been described, but clinical development has been hindered by recent findings that PAK2 function is required for normal cardiovascular function in adult mice. A unique allosteric PAK1-selective inhibitor, NVS-PAK1-1, provides a potential path forward, but has modest potency. Here, we report the development of BJG-05-039, a PAK1-selective degrader consisting of NVS-PAK1-1 conjugated to lenalidomide, a recruiter of the E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate adaptor Cereblon. BJG-05-039 induced selective degradation of PAK1 and displayed enhanced anti-proliferative effects relative to its parent compound in PAK1-dependent, but not PAK2-dependent, cell lines. Our findings suggest that selective PAK1 degradation may confer more potent pharmacological effects compared with catalytic inhibition and highlight the potential advantages of PAK1-targeted degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi-Yee Chow
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China 610041
| | | | - Brian J. Groendyke
- Department of Cancer Biology; Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215
- Current address: Blueprint Medicines, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Sean Toenjes
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - John Hatcher
- Department of Cancer Biology; Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Katherine A. Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology; Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Eric S. Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology; Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | | | - Bulat Faezov
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation, 420008
| | | | - Nathanael S. Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Chem-H and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
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8
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Li Y, Lu Q, Xie C, Yu Y, Zhang A. Recent advances on development of p21-activated kinase 4 inhibitors as anti-tumor agents. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:956220. [PMID: 36105226 PMCID: PMC9465411 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.956220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is a member of the PAKs family. It is overexpressed in multiple tumor tissues. Pharmacological inhibition of PAK4 attenuates proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. Recent studies revealed that inhibition of PAK4 sensitizes immunotherapy which has been extensively exploited as a new strategy to treat cancer. In the past few years, a large number of PAK4 inhibitors have been reported. Of note, the allosteric inhibitor KPT-9274 has been tested in phase Ⅰ clinic trials. Herein, we provide an update on recent research progress on the PAK4 mediated signaling pathway and highlight the development of the PAK4 small molecular inhibitors in recent 5 years. Meanwhile, challenges, limitations, and future developmental directions will be discussed as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Pharm-X Center, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Lu
- Pharm-X Center, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenghu Xie
- Pharm-X Center, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiming Yu
- Pharm-X Center, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ao Zhang
- Pharm-X Center, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ao Zhang,
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9
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Omelchenko T. Cellular protrusions in 3D: Orchestrating early mouse embryogenesis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 129:63-74. [PMID: 35577698 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cellular protrusions generated by the actin cytoskeleton are central to the process of building the body of the embryo. Problems with cellular protrusions underlie human diseases and syndromes, including implantation defects and pregnancy loss, congenital birth defects, and cancer. Cells use protrusive activity together with actin-myosin contractility to create an ordered body shape of the embryo. Here, I review how actin-rich protrusions are used by two major morphological cell types, epithelial and mesenchymal cells, during collective cell migration to sculpt the mouse embryo body. Pre-gastrulation epithelial collective migration of the anterior visceral endoderm is essential for establishing the anterior-posterior body axis. Gastrulation mesenchymal collective migration of the mesoderm wings is crucial for body elongation, and somite and heart formation. Analysis of mouse mutants with disrupted cellular protrusions revealed the key role of protrusions in embryonic morphogenesis and embryo survival. Recent technical approaches have allowed examination of the mechanisms that control cell and tissue movements in vivo in the complex 3D microenvironment of living mouse embryos. Advancing our understanding of protrusion-driven morphogenesis should provide novel insights into human developmental disorders and cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Omelchenko
- Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York 10065, USA.
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10
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p21-Activated kinases as promising therapeutic targets in hematological malignancies. Leukemia 2022; 36:315-326. [PMID: 34697424 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01451-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The p21-Activated Kinases (PAKs) are a family of six serine/threonine kinases that were originally identified as downstream effectors of the Rho GTPases Cdc42 and Rac. Since the first PAK was discovered in 1994, studies have revealed their fundamental and biological importance in the development of physiological systems. Within the cell, PAKs also play significant roles in regulating essential cellular processes such as cytoskeletal dynamics, gene expression, cell survival, and cell cycle progression. These processes are often deregulated in numerous cancers when different PAKs are overexpressed or amplified at the chromosomal level. Furthermore, PAKs modulate multiple oncogenic signaling pathways which facilitate apoptosis escape, uncontrolled proliferation, and drug resistance. There is growing insight into the critical roles of PAKs in regulating steady-state hematopoiesis, including the properties of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), and the initiation and progression of hematological malignancies. This review will focus on the most recent studies that provide experimental evidence showing how specific PAKs regulate the properties of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and drug-resistant cells to initiate and maintain hematological malignancies. The current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which the PAKs operate in specific human leukemia or lymphomas will be discussed. From a translational point of view, PAKs have been suggested to be critical therapeutic targets and potential prognosis markers; thus, this review will also discuss current therapeutic strategies against hematological malignancies using existing small-molecule PAK inhibitors, as well as promising combination treatments, to sensitize drug-resistant cells to conventional therapies. The challenges of toxicity and non-specific targeting associated with some PAK inhibitors, as well as how future approaches for PAK inhibition to overcome these limitations, will also be addressed.
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11
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Zeng J, Liu N, Yang Y, Cheng Y, Li Y, Guo X, Luo Q, Zhu L, Guan H, Song B, Sun X. Pak2 reduction induces a failure of early embryonic development in mice. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2021; 19:181. [PMID: 34879863 PMCID: PMC8656077 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-021-00865-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The quality of the early embryo is vital to embryonic development and implantation. As a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase, p21-activated kinase 2 (Pak2) participates in diverse biologic processes, especially in cytoskeleton remodeling and cell apoptosis. In mice, Pak2 knock out and endothelial depletion of Pak2 showed embryonic lethality. However, the role of Pak2 in preimplantation embryos remains unelucidated. METHODS In the present work, Pak2 was reduced using a specific small interfering RNA in early mouse embryos, validating the unique roles of Pak2 in spindle assembly and DNA repair during mice early embryonic development. We also employed immunoblotting, immunostaining, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and image quantification analyses to test the Pak2 knockdown on the embryonic development progression, spindle assembly, chromosome alignment, oxidative stress, DNA lesions and blastocyst cell apoptosis. Areas in chromatin with γH2AX were detected by immunofluorescence microscopy and serve as a biomarker of DNA damages. RESULTS We found that Pak2 knockdown significantly reduced blastocyst formation of early embryos. In addition, Pak2 reduction led to dramatically increased abnormal spindle assembly and chromosomal aberrations in the embryos. We noted the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with Pak2 knockdown in embryos. In response to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), the histone protein H2AX is specifically phosphorylated at serine139 to generate γH2AX, which is used to quantitative DSBs. In this research, Pak2 knockdown also resulted in the accumulation of phosphorylated γH2AX, indicative of increased embryonic DNA damage. Commensurate with this, a significantly augmented rate of blastocyst cell apoptosis was detected in Pak2-KD embryos compared to their controls. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our data suggest that Pak2 may serve as an important regulator of spindle assembly and DNA repair, and thus participate in the development of early mouse embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Zeng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Nengqing Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yinghong Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuanshuai Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoxia Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qian Luo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lifen Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongmei Guan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Bing Song
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaofang Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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12
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Wang Y, Guo F. Group I PAKs in myelin formation and repair of the central nervous system: what, when, and how. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:615-639. [PMID: 34811887 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are a family of cell division control protein 42/ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Cdc42/Rac1)-activated serine/threonine kinases. Group I PAKs (PAK1-3) have distinct activation mechanisms from group II PAKs (PAK4-6) and are the focus of this review. In transformed cancer cells, PAKs regulate a variety of cellular processes and molecular pathways which are also important for myelin formation and repair in the central nervous system (CNS). De novo mutations in group I PAKs are frequently seen in children with neurodevelopmental defects and white matter anomalies. Group I PAKs regulate virtually every aspect of neuronal development and function. Yet their functions in CNS myelination and remyelination remain incompletely defined. Herein, we highlight the current understanding of PAKs in regulating cellular and molecular pathways and discuss the status of PAK-regulated pathways in oligodendrocyte development. We point out outstanding questions and future directions in the research field of group I PAKs and oligodendrocyte development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shriners Hospitals for Children/School of Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine (IPRM), University of California, Davis, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, U.S.A
| | - Fuzheng Guo
- Department of Neurology, Shriners Hospitals for Children/School of Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine (IPRM), University of California, Davis, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, U.S.A
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13
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Dufies O, Doye A, Courjon J, Torre C, Michel G, Loubatier C, Jacquel A, Chaintreuil P, Majoor A, Guinamard RR, Gallerand A, Saavedra PHV, Verhoeyen E, Rey A, Marchetti S, Ruimy R, Czerucka D, Lamkanfi M, Py BF, Munro P, Visvikis O, Boyer L. Escherichia coli Rho GTPase-activating toxin CNF1 mediates NLRP3 inflammasome activation via p21-activated kinases-1/2 during bacteraemia in mice. Nat Microbiol 2021; 6:401-412. [PMID: 33432150 PMCID: PMC7116836 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-00832-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Inflammasomes are signalling platforms that are assembled in response to infection or sterile inflammation by cytosolic pattern recognition receptors. The consequent inflammasome-triggered caspase-1 activation is critical for the host defence against pathogens. During infection, NLRP3, which is a pattern recognition receptor that is also known as cryopyrin, triggers the assembly of the inflammasome-activating caspase-1 through the recruitment of ASC and Nek7. The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is tightly controlled both transcriptionally and post-translationally. Despite the importance of the NLRP3 inflammasome regulation in autoinflammatory and infectious diseases, little is known about the mechanism controlling the activation of NLRP3 and the upstream signalling that regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. We have previously shown that the Rho-GTPase-activating toxin from Escherichia coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 (CNF1) activates caspase-1, but the upstream mechanism is unclear. Here, we provide evidence of the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in sensing the activity of bacterial toxins and virulence factors that activate host Rho GTPases. We demonstrate that this activation relies on the monitoring of the toxin's activity on the Rho GTPase Rac2. We also show that the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by a signalling cascade that involves the p21-activated kinases 1 and 2 (Pak1/2) and the Pak1-mediated phosphorylation of Thr 659 of NLRP3, which is necessary for the NLRP3-Nek7 interaction, inflammasome activation and IL-1β cytokine maturation. Furthermore, inhibition of the Pak-NLRP3 axis decreases the bacterial clearance of CNF1-expressing UTI89 E. coli during bacteraemia in mice. Taken together, our results establish that Pak1 and Pak2 are critical regulators of the NLRP3 inflammasome and reveal the role of the Pak-NLRP3 signalling axis in vivo during bacteraemia in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne Doye
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, Nice, France
| | - Johan Courjon
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, Nice, France
- Université Côte d'Azur, CHU Nice, Nice, France
| | - Cédric Torre
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, Nice, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Pedro H V Saavedra
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Els Verhoeyen
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, Nice, France
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Amaury Rey
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Raymond Ruimy
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, Nice, France
- Université Côte d'Azur, CHU Nice, Nice, France
| | - Dorota Czerucka
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Monaco
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Nice, France
| | - Mohamed Lamkanfi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bénédicte F Py
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | | | - Laurent Boyer
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, Nice, France.
- LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Nice, France.
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14
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PAK1 Positively Regulates Oligodendrocyte Morphology and Myelination. J Neurosci 2021; 41:1864-1877. [PMID: 33478987 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0229-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The actin cytoskeleton is crucial for oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination. Here we show that p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), a well-known actin regulator, promotes oligodendrocyte morphologic change and myelin production in the CNS. A combination of in vitro and in vivo models demonstrated that PAK1 is expressed throughout the oligodendrocyte lineage with highest expression in differentiated oligodendrocytes. Inhibiting PAK1 early in oligodendrocyte development decreased oligodendrocyte morphologic complexity and altered F-actin spreading at the tips of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell processes. Constitutively activating AKT in oligodendrocytes in male and female mice, which leads to excessive myelin wrapping, increased PAK1 expression, suggesting an impact of PAK1 during active myelin wrapping. Furthermore, constitutively activating PAK1 in oligodendrocytes in zebrafish led to an increase in myelin internode length while inhibiting PAK1 during active myelination decreased internode length. As myelin parameters influence conduction velocity, these data suggest that PAK1 may influence communication within the CNS. These data support a model in which PAK1 is a positive regulator of CNS myelination.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Myelin is a critical component of the CNS that provides metabolic support to neurons and also facilitates communication between cells in the CNS. Recent data demonstrate that actin dynamics drives myelin wrapping, but how actin is regulated during myelin wrapping is unknown. The authors investigate the role of the cytoskeletal modulator PAK1 during differentiation and myelination by oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the CNS. They demonstrate that PAK1 promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination by modulating the cytoskeleton and thereby internode length, thus playing a critical role in the function of the CNS.
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15
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Peng X, Lai KS, She P, Kang J, Wang T, Li G, Zhou Y, Sun J, Jin D, Xu X, Liao L, Liu J, Lee E, Poss KD, Zhong TP. Induction of Wnt signaling antagonists and p21-activated kinase enhances cardiomyocyte proliferation during zebrafish heart regeneration. J Mol Cell Biol 2020; 13:41-58. [PMID: 33582796 PMCID: PMC8035995 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjaa046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart regeneration occurs by dedifferentiation and proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes (CMs). However, the signaling mechanisms by which injury induces CM renewal remain incompletely understood. Here, we find that cardiac injury in zebrafish induces expression of the secreted Wnt inhibitors, including Dickkopf 1 (Dkk1), Dkk3, secreted Frizzled-related protein 1 (sFrp1), and sFrp2, in cardiac tissue adjacent to injury sites. Experimental blocking of Wnt activity via Dkk1 overexpression enhances CM proliferation and heart regeneration, whereas ectopic activation of Wnt8 signaling blunts injury-induced CM dedifferentiation and proliferation. Although Wnt signaling is dampened upon injury, the cytoplasmic β-catenin is unexpectedly increased at disarrayed CM sarcomeres in myocardial wound edges. Our analyses indicated that p21-activated kinase 2 (Pak2) is induced at regenerating CMs, where it phosphorylates cytoplasmic β-catenin at Ser 675 and increases its stability at disassembled sarcomeres. Myocardial-specific induction of the phospho-mimetic β-catenin (S675E) enhances CM dedifferentiation and sarcomere disassembly in response to injury. Conversely, inactivation of Pak2 kinase activity reduces the Ser 675-phosphorylated β-catenin (pS675-β-catenin) and attenuates CM sarcomere disorganization and dedifferentiation. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that coordination of Wnt signaling inhibition and Pak2/pS675-β-catenin signaling enhances zebrafish heart regeneration by supporting CM dedifferentiation and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangwen Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhong Shan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, East China Normal University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Kaa Seng Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhong Shan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, East China Normal University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Peilu She
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, East China Normal University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Junsu Kang
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Tingting Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, East China Normal University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Guobao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhong Shan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yating Zhou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, East China Normal University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jianjian Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, East China Normal University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Daqing Jin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, East China Normal University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xiaolei Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Lujian Liao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, East China Normal University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ethan Lee
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Kenneth D Poss
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Tao P Zhong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, East China Normal University School of Life Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
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16
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Okumura K, Saito M, Yoshizawa Y, Ito Y, Isogai E, Araki K, Wakabayashi Y. Pak1 maintains epidermal stem cells by regulating Langerhans cells and is required for skin carcinogenesis. Oncogene 2020; 39:4756-4769. [PMID: 32427988 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1323-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Pak1 (serine/threonine p21-activated kinases) was previously reported to have oncogenic activity in several cancers. However, its roles in the cancer microenvironment are poorly understood. We demonstrated that Pak1 expression in Langerhans cells (LCs) is essential for the maintenance of epidermal stem cells and skin tumor development. We found that PAK1 is localized in LCs by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the number of LCs significantly decreased in MSM/Ms Pak1 homozygous knockout mice (MSM/Ms-Pak1-/-). F1 hybrid (FVB/N×MSM/Ms) Pak1 heterozygous knockout mice (F1-Pak1+/-) had increased numbers of Th17 cells in the skin. Therefore, Pak1 knockdown cells were prepared using LC-derived XS52 cells (XS52-Pak1KD) and co-cultured with keratinocyte-derived C5N cells. As a result, XS52-Pak1KD cell supernatants promoted C5N cell proliferation. We then carried out DMBA/TPA skin carcinogenesis experiments using F1-Pak1+/- mice. Of note, F1-Pak1+/- mice exhibited stronger resistance to skin tumors than control mice. F1-Pak1+/- mice had fewer epidermal stem cells in the skin bulge. Our study suggested that Pak1 regulates the epidermal stem cell number by changing the properties of LCs and functions in skin carcinogenesis. We clarified a novel role of Pak1 in regulating LCs as a potential therapeutic target in skin immune disease and carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Okumura
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, 666-2 Nitonacho Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan
| | - Megumi Saito
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, 666-2 Nitonacho Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yoshizawa
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, 666-2 Nitonacho Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan
| | - Yuki Ito
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, 666-2 Nitonacho Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan
| | - Eriko Isogai
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, 666-2 Nitonacho Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan
| | - Kimi Araki
- Division of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, 2-2-1 Honjo Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Yuichi Wakabayashi
- Department of Carcinogenesis Research, Division of Experimental Animal Research, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, 666-2 Nitonacho Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8717, Japan.
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17
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Rabieifar P, Zhuang T, Costa TDF, Zhao M, Strömblad S. Normal mammary gland development after MMTV-Cre mediated conditional PAK4 gene depletion. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14436. [PMID: 31594963 PMCID: PMC6783434 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50819-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are serine/threonine kinases functioning as downstream effectors of the small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42. Members of the PAK family are overexpressed in human breast cancer, but their role in mammary gland development is not fully explored. Here we examined the functional role of PAK4 in mammary gland development by creating a mouse model of MMTV-Cre driven conditional PAK4 gene depletion in the mammary gland. The PAK4 conditional knock-out mice were born healthy, with no observed developmental deficits. Mammary gland whole-mounts revealed no defects in ductal formation or elongation of the mammary tree through the fat pad. PAK4 gene depletion also did not alter proliferation and invasion of the mammary epithelium in young virgin mice. Moreover, adult mice gave birth to healthy pups with normal body weight upon weaning. This implies that MMTV-Cre induced gene depletion of PAK4 in mice does not impair normal mammary gland development and thereby provides an in vivo model that can be explored for examination of the potential function of PAK4 in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Rabieifar
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ting Zhuang
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province, P.R. China
| | - Tânia D F Costa
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Miao Zhao
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Neuro-Oncology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Staffan Strömblad
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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18
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Shamloo B, Usluer S. p21 in Cancer Research. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11081178. [PMID: 31416295 PMCID: PMC6721478 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
p21 functions as a cell cycle inhibitor and anti-proliferative effector in normal cells, and is dysregulated in some cancers. Earlier observations on p21 knockout models emphasized the role of this protein in cell cycle arrest under the p53 transcription factor activity. Although tumor-suppressor function of p21 is the most studied aspect of this protein in cancer, the role of p21 in phenotypic plasticity and its oncogenic/anti-apoptotic function, depending on p21 subcellular localization and p53 status, have been under scrutiny recently. Basic science and translational studies use precision gene editing to manipulate p21 itself, and proteins that interact with it; these studies have led to regulatory/functional/drug sensitivity discoveries as well as therapeutic approaches in cancer field. In this review, we will focus on targeting p21 in cancer research and its potential in providing novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Shamloo
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Sinem Usluer
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
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19
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Kernohan KD, McBride A, Hartley T, Rojas SK, Dyment DA, Boycott KM, Dyack S. p21 protein-activated kinase 1 is associated with severe regressive autism, and epilepsy. Clin Genet 2019; 96:449-455. [PMID: 31392718 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The p21-activated kinase (PAK) family of proteins function as key effectors of RHO family GTPases in mammalian cells to regulate many pathways including Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and Wnt/β-catenin, amongst others. Here we report an individual with a novel autosomal dominant disorder characterized by severe regressive autism, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Exome sequencing of the proband and her parents revealed a de novo variant in the PAK1 gene ([NM_001128620] c.362C>T/p.Pro121Leu). Studies in patient cells showed a clear effect on PAK1 protein function, including altered phosphorylation of targets (JNK and ERK), decreased abundance of β-catenin, and concomitant altered expression downstream of these key regulators. Our findings add PAK1 to the list of PAK proteins and kinases which when mutated cause rare genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin D Kernohan
- Newborn Screening Ontario, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arran McBride
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Taila Hartley
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samantha K Rojas
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David A Dyment
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kym M Boycott
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah Dyack
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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20
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Boscher C, Gaonac'h-Lovejoy V, Delisle C, Gratton JP. Polarization and sprouting of endothelial cells by angiopoietin-1 require PAK2 and paxillin-dependent Cdc42 activation. Mol Biol Cell 2019; 30:2227-2239. [PMID: 31141452 PMCID: PMC6743454 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e18-08-0486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Binding of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) to its receptor Tie2 on endothelial cells (ECs) promotes vessel barrier integrity and angiogenesis. Here, we identify PAK2 and paxillin as critical targets of Ang-1 responsible for EC migration, polarization, and sprouting. We found that Ang-1 increases PAK2-dependent paxillin phosphorylation and remodeling of focal adhesions and that PAK2 and paxillin are required for EC polarization, migration, and angiogenic sprouting in response to Ang-1. Our findings show that Ang-1 triggers Cdc42 activation at the leading edges of migrating ECs, which is dependent on PAK2 and paxillin expression. We also established that the polarity protein Par3 interacts with Cdc42 in response to Ang-1 in a PAK2- and paxillin-dependent manner. Par3 is recruited at the leading edges of migrating cells and in focal adhesion, where it forms a signaling complex with PAK2 and paxillin in response to Ang-1. These results show that Ang-1 triggers EC polarization and angiogenic sprouting through PAK2-dependent paxillin activation and remodeling of focal adhesions, which are necessary for local activation of Cdc42 and the associated polarity complex. We have shown that PAK2 controls a signaling pathway important for angiogenic sprouting that links focal adhesions to polarity signaling in ECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Boscher
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Vanda Gaonac'h-Lovejoy
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Chantal Delisle
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Gratton
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
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21
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Chung EY, Mai Y, Shah UA, Wei Y, Ishida E, Kataoka K, Ren X, Pradhan K, Bartholdy B, Wei X, Zou Y, Zhang J, Ogawa S, Steidl U, Zang X, Verma A, Janakiram M, Ye BH. PAK Kinase Inhibition Has Therapeutic Activity in Novel Preclinical Models of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:3589-3601. [PMID: 30862694 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-3033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate therapeutic activity of PAK inhibition in ATLL and to characterize the role of PAK isoforms in cell proliferation, survival, and adhesion of ATLL cells in preclinical models. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Frequency and prognostic impact of PAK2 amplification were evaluated in an ATLL cohort of 370 cases. Novel long-term cultures and in vivo xenograft models were developed using primary ATLL cells from North American patients. Two PAK inhibitors were used to block PAK kinase activity pharmacologically. siRNA-based gene silencing approach was used to genetically knockdown (KD) PAK1 and PAK2 in ATLL cell lines. RESULTS PAK1/2/4 are the three most abundantly expressed PAK family members in ATLL. PAK2 amplifications are seen in 24% of ATLLs and are associated with worse prognosis in a large patient cohort. The pan-PAK inhibitor PF-3758309 (PF) has strong in vitro and in vivo activity in a variety of ATLL preclinical models. These activities of PF are likely attributed to its ability to target several PAK isoforms simultaneously because genetic silencing of either PAK1 or PAK2 produced more modest effects. PAK2 plays a major role in CADM1-mediated stromal interaction, which is an important step in systemic dissemination of the disease. This finding is consistent with the observation that PAK2 amplification is more frequent in aggressive ATLLs and correlates with inferior outcome. CONCLUSIONS PAK2, a gene frequently amplified in ATLL, facilitates CADM1-mediated stromal interaction and promotes survival of ATLL cells. Taken together, PAK inhibition may hold significant promise as a targeted therapy for aggressive ATLLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Y Chung
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Yun Mai
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Urvi A Shah
- Department of Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Yongqiang Wei
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.,Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Elise Ishida
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Keisuke Kataoka
- Division of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Xiaoxin Ren
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Kith Pradhan
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Boris Bartholdy
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Xiaolei Wei
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.,Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiyu Zou
- Department of Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Jinghang Zhang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Seishi Ogawa
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ulrich Steidl
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Xingxing Zang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Amit Verma
- Department of Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Murali Janakiram
- Department of Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - B Hilda Ye
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
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22
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Joseph GA, Hung M, Goel AJ, Hong M, Rieder MK, Beckmann ND, Serasinghe MN, Chipuk JE, Devarakonda PM, Goldhamer DJ, Aldana-Hernandez P, Curtis J, Jacobs RL, Krauss RS. Late-onset megaconial myopathy in mice lacking group I Paks. Skelet Muscle 2019; 9:5. [PMID: 30791960 PMCID: PMC6383276 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-019-0191-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group I Paks are serine/threonine kinases that function as major effectors of the small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42, and they regulate cytoskeletal dynamics, cell polarity, and transcription. We previously demonstrated that Pak1 and Pak2 function redundantly to promote skeletal myoblast differentiation during postnatal development and regeneration in mice. However, the roles of Pak1 and Pak2 in adult muscle homeostasis are unknown. Choline kinase β (Chk β) is important for adult muscle homeostasis, as autosomal recessive mutations in CHKβ are associated with two human muscle diseases, megaconial congenital muscular dystrophy and proximal myopathy with focal depletion of mitochondria. METHODS We analyzed mice conditionally lacking Pak1 and Pak2 in the skeletal muscle lineage (double knockout (dKO) mice) over 1 year of age. Muscle integrity in dKO mice was assessed with histological stains, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and western blotting. Assays for mitochondrial respiratory complex function were performed, as was mass spectrometric quantification of products of choline kinase. Mice and cultured myoblasts deficient for choline kinase β (Chk β) were analyzed for Pak1/2 phosphorylation. RESULTS dKO mice developed an age-related myopathy. By 10 months of age, dKO mouse muscles displayed centrally-nucleated myofibers, fibrosis, and signs of degeneration. Disease severity occurred in a rostrocaudal gradient, hindlimbs more strongly affected than forelimbs. A distinctive feature of this myopathy was elongated and branched intermyofibrillar (megaconial) mitochondria, accompanied by focal mitochondrial depletion in the central region of the fiber. dKO muscles showed reduced mitochondrial respiratory complex I and II activity. These phenotypes resemble those of rmd mice, which lack Chkβ and are a model for human diseases associated with CHKβ deficiency. Pak1/2 and Chkβ activities were not interdependent in mouse skeletal muscle, suggesting a more complex relationship in regulation of mitochondria and muscle homeostasis. CONCLUSIONS Conditional loss of Pak1 and Pak2 in mice resulted in an age-dependent myopathy with similarity to mice and humans with CHKβ deficiency. Protein kinases are major regulators of most biological processes but few have been implicated in muscle maintenance or disease. Pak1/Pak2 dKO mice offer new insights into these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle A Joseph
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Present address: Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 181 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Margaret Hung
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Aviva J Goel
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Mingi Hong
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Marysia-Kolbe Rieder
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Noam D Beckmann
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Madhavika N Serasinghe
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Jerry E Chipuk
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Parvathi M Devarakonda
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - David J Goldhamer
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Paulina Aldana-Hernandez
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Jonathan Curtis
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - René L Jacobs
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Robert S Krauss
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA. .,Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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23
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Choi J, Pease DR, Chen S, Zhang B, Phee H. P21-activated kinase 2 is essential in maintenance of peripheral Foxp3 + regulatory T cells. Immunology 2018; 154:309-321. [PMID: 29297928 PMCID: PMC5980155 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The p21‐activated kinase 2 (Pak2), an effector molecule of the Rho family GTPases Rac and Cdc42, regulates diverse functions of T cells. Previously, we showed that Pak2 is required for development and maturation of T cells in the thymus, including thymus‐derived regulatory T (Treg) cells. However, whether Pak2 is required for the functions of various subsets of peripheral T cells, such as naive CD4 and helper T‐cell subsets including Foxp3+ Treg cells, is unknown. To determine the role of Pak2 in CD4 T cells in the periphery, we generated inducible Pak2 knockout (KO) mice, in which Pak2 was deleted in CD4 T cells acutely by administration of tamoxifen. Temporal deletion of Pak2 greatly reduced the number of Foxp3+ Treg cells, while minimally affecting the homeostasis of naive CD4 T cells. Pak2 was required for proliferation and Foxp3 expression of Foxp3+ Treg cells upon T‐cell receptor and interleukin‐2 stimulation, differentiation of in vitro induced Treg cells, and activation of naive CD4 T cells. Together, Pak2 is essential in maintaining the peripheral Treg cell pool by providing proliferation and maintenance signals to Foxp3+ Treg cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyong Choi
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David Randall Pease
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Siqi Chen
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hyewon Phee
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Amgen Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
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24
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Group-I PAKs-mediated phosphorylation of HACE1 at serine 385 regulates its oligomerization state and Rac1 ubiquitination. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1410. [PMID: 29362425 PMCID: PMC5780496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19471-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of Rac1 by HACE1-mediated ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation is emerging as an essential element in the maintenance of cell homeostasis. However, how the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of HACE1 is regulated remains undetermined. Using a proteomic approach, we identified serine 385 as a target of group-I PAK kinases downstream Rac1 activation by CNF1 toxin from pathogenic E. coli. Moreover, cell treatment with VEGF also promotes Ser-385 phosphorylation of HACE1. We have established in vitro that HACE1 is a direct target of PAK1 kinase activity. Mechanistically, we found that the phospho-mimetic mutant HACE1(S385E), as opposed to HACE1(S385A), displays a lower capacity to ubiquitinate Rac1 in cells. Concomitantly, phosphorylation of Ser-385 plays a pivotal role in controlling the oligomerization state of HACE1. Finally, Ser-385 phosphorylated form of HACE1 localizes in the cytosol away from its target Rac1. Together, our data point to a feedback inhibition of HACE1 ubiquitination activity on Rac1 by group-I PAK kinases.
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25
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Hao C, Zhao F, Song H, Guo J, Li X, Jiang X, Huan R, Song S, Zhang Q, Wang R, Wang K, Pang Y, Liu T, Lu T, Huang W, Wang J, Lin B, He Z, Li H, Li F, Zhao D, Cheng M. Structure-Based Design of 6-Chloro-4-aminoquinazoline-2-carboxamide Derivatives as Potent and Selective p21-Activated Kinase 4 (PAK4) Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2017; 61:265-285. [PMID: 29190083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we report the discovery and characterization of a novel class of PAK4 inhibitors with a quinazoline scaffold. Based on the shape and chemical composition of the ATP-binding pocket of PAKs, we chose a 2,4-diaminoquinazoline series of inhibitors as a starting point. Guided by X-ray crystallography and a structure-based drug design (SBDD) approach, a series of novel 4-aminoquinazoline-2-carboxamide PAK4 inhibitors were designed and synthesized. The inhibitors' selectivity, therapeutic potency, and pharmaceutical properties were optimized. One of the best compounds, 31 (CZh226), showed remarkable PAK4 selectivity (346-fold vs PAK1) and favorable kinase selectivity profile. Moreover, this compound potently inhibited the migration and invasion of A549 tumor cells by regulating the PAK4-directed downstream signaling pathways in vitro. Taken together, these data support the further development of 31 as a lead compound for PAK4-targeted anticancer drug discovery and as a valuable research probe for the further biological investigation of group II PAKs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenzhou Hao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Fan Zhao
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hongyan Song
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) , 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore 138634
| | - Jing Guo
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University , Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Xiaolin Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Ran Huan
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University , Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Shuai Song
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Qiaoling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Ruifeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yu Pang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Tongchao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Tianqi Lu
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University , Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Wanxu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Bin Lin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Zhonggui He
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Haitao Li
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education, China Medical University , Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Dongmei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University , Shenyang 110016, China
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26
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Zhao M, Spiess M, Johansson HJ, Olofsson H, Hu J, Lehtiö J, Strömblad S. Identification of the PAK4 interactome reveals PAK4 phosphorylation of N-WASP and promotion of Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization. Oncotarget 2017; 8:77061-77074. [PMID: 29100370 PMCID: PMC5652764 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell motility and F-actin remodeling, but the PAK4 interactome has not been systematically analyzed. Here, we comprehensively characterized the human PAK4 interactome by iTRAQ quantitative mass spectrometry of PAK4-immunoprecipitations. Consistent with its multiple reported functions, the PAK4 interactome was enriched in diverse protein networks, including the 14-3-3, proteasome, replication fork, CCT and Arp2/3 complexes. Because PAK4 co-immunoprecipitated most subunits of the Arp2/3 complex, we hypothesized that PAK4 may play a role in Arp2/3 dependent actin regulation. Indeed, we found that PAK4 interacts with and phosphorylates the nucleation promoting factor N-WASP at Ser484/Ser485 and promotes Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization in vitro. Also, PAK4 ablation in vivo reduced N-WASP Ser484/Ser485 phosphorylation and altered the cellular balance between G- and F-actin as well as the actin organization. By presenting the PAK4 interactome, we here provide a powerful resource for further investigations and as proof of principle, we also indicate a novel mechanism by which PAK4 regulates actin cytoskeleton remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Zhao
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthias Spiess
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henrik J Johansson
- Cancer Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helene Olofsson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jianjiang Hu
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Janne Lehtiö
- Cancer Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Staffan Strömblad
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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27
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Pdx1-Cre-driven conditional gene depletion suggests PAK4 as dispensable for mouse pancreas development. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7031. [PMID: 28765528 PMCID: PMC5539201 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07322-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Constitutive depletion of p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) in the mouse causes embryonic lethality associated with heart and brain defects. Given that conventional gene depletion of PAK1 or PAK3 caused functional deficits in the mouse pancreas, while gene depletion of PAK5 or PAK6 did not, we asked if PAK4 might have a functional role in pancreas development. We therefore introduced conditional, Pdx1-Cre-mediated, pancreatic PAK4 gene depletion in the mouse, verified by loss of PAK4 protein expression in the pancreas. PAK4 knock-out (KO) mice were born at Mendelian ratios in both genders. Further, morphological and immunohistochemical examinations and quantifications indicated that exocrine, endocrine and ductal compartments retained the normal proportions and distributions upon PAK4 gene depletion. In addition, body weight records and a glucose tolerance test revealed no differences between WT and PAK4 KO mice. Together, this suggests that PAK4 is dispensable for mouse pancreas development. This will facilitate future use of our Pdx1-Cre-driven conditional PAK4 KO mouse model for testing in vivo potential functions of PAK4 in pancreatic disease models such as for pancreatitis and different pancreatic cancer forms.
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28
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Yeo D, Phillips P, Baldwin GS, He H, Nikfarjam M. Inhibition of group 1 p21-activated kinases suppresses pancreatic stellate cell activation and increases survival of mice with pancreatic cancer. Int J Cancer 2017; 140:2101-2111. [PMID: 28109008 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal of all solid tumors. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are primarily responsible for the fibrosis that constitutes the stroma and p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) may have a role in signalling pathways involving PSCs. This study aimed to examine the role of PAK1 in PSCs and in the interaction of PSCs with pancreatic cancer cells. Human PSCs were isolated using the modified outgrowth method. The effect of inhibiting PAK1 with group 1 PAK inhibitor, FRAX597, on cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro was measured by thymidine incorporation and annexin V assays, respectively. The effect of depleting host PAK1 on the survival of mice with pancreatic Pan02 cell tumors was evaluated using PAK1 knockout (KO) mice. PAK1 was expressed in isolated PSCs. FRAX597 reduced the activation of PSCs, inhibited PSC proliferation, and increased PSC apoptosis at least in partial by inhibiting PAK1 activity. The decreased expression and activity of PAK1 in PAK1 KO mice tumors was associated with an increased mouse survival. These results implicate PAK1 as a regulator of PSC activation, proliferation and apoptosis. Targeting stromal PAK1 could increase therapeutic response and survival of patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannel Yeo
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne. Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Phoebe Phillips
- Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research Group, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Graham S Baldwin
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne. Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hong He
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne. Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mehrdad Nikfarjam
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne. Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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29
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Group I Paks Promote Skeletal Myoblast Differentiation In Vivo and In Vitro. Mol Cell Biol 2017; 37:MCB.00222-16. [PMID: 27920252 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00222-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal myogenesis is regulated by signal transduction, but the factors and mechanisms involved are not well understood. The group I Paks Pak1 and Pak2 are related protein kinases and direct effectors of Cdc42 and Rac1. Group I Paks are ubiquitously expressed and specifically required for myoblast fusion in Drosophila We report that both Pak1 and Pak2 are activated during mammalian myoblast differentiation. One pathway of activation is initiated by N-cadherin ligation and involves the cadherin coreceptor Cdo with its downstream effector, Cdc42. Individual genetic deletion of Pak1 and Pak2 in mice has no overt effect on skeletal muscle development or regeneration. However, combined muscle-specific deletion of Pak1 and Pak2 results in reduced muscle mass and a higher proportion of myofibers with a smaller cross-sectional area. This phenotype is exacerbated after repair to acute injury. Furthermore, primary myoblasts lacking Pak1 and Pak2 display delayed expression of myogenic differentiation markers and myotube formation. These results identify Pak1 and Pak2 as redundant regulators of myoblast differentiation in vitro and in vivo and as components of the promyogenic Ncad/Cdo/Cdc42 signaling pathway.
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Kumar R, Sanawar R, Li X, Li F. Structure, biochemistry, and biology of PAK kinases. Gene 2016; 605:20-31. [PMID: 28007610 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PAKs, p21-activated kinases, play central roles and act as converging junctions for discrete signals elicited on the cell surface and for a number of intracellular signaling cascades. PAKs phosphorylate a vast number of substrates and act by remodeling cytoskeleton, employing scaffolding, and relocating to distinct subcellular compartments. PAKs affect wide range of processes that are crucial to the cell from regulation of cell motility, survival, redox, metabolism, cell cycle, proliferation, transformation, stress, inflammation, to gene expression. Understandably, their dysregulation disrupts cellular homeostasis and severely impacts key cell functions, and many of those are implicated in a number of human diseases including cancers, neurological disorders, and cardiac disorders. Here we provide an overview of the members of the PAK family and their current status. We give special emphasis to PAK1 and PAK4, the prototypes of groups I and II, for their profound roles in cancer, the nervous system, and the heart. We also highlight other family members. We provide our perspective on the current advancements, their growing importance as strategic therapeutic targets, and our vision on the future of PAKs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA; Cancer Biology Program, Rajiv Gandhi Center of Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India.
| | - Rahul Sanawar
- Cancer Biology Program, Rajiv Gandhi Center of Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, India
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Chinese Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Chinese Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China.
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Expression of p21-activated kinases 1 and 3 is altered in the brain of subjects with depression. Neuroscience 2016; 333:331-44. [PMID: 27474226 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) of group I are the main effectors for the small Rho GTPases, critically involved in neurodevelopment, plasticity and maturation of the nervous system. Moreover, the neuronal complexity controlled by PAK1/PAK3 signaling determines the postnatal brain size and synaptic properties. Stress induces alterations at the level of structural and functional synaptic plasticity accompanied by reductions in size and activity of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). These abnormalities are likely to contribute to the pathology of depression and, in part, reflect impaired cytoskeleton remodeling pointing to the role of Rho GTPase signaling. Thus, the present study assessed the expression of the group I PAKs and their activators in the brain of depressed subjects. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), mRNA levels and coexpression of the group I PAKs: PAK1, PAK2, and PAK3 as well as of their activators: RAC1, CDC42 and ARHGEF7 were examined in postmortem samples from the PFC (n=25) and the hippocampus (n=23) of subjects with depression and compared to control subjects (PFC n=24; hippocampus n=21). Results demonstrated that mRNA levels of PAK1 and PAK3, are significantly reduced in the brain of depressed subjects, with PAK1 being reduced in the PFC and PAK3 in the hippocampus. No differences were observed for the ubiquitously expressed PAK2. Following analysis of gene coexpression demonstrated disruption of coordinated gene expression in the brain of subjects with depression. Abnormalities in mRNA expression of PAK1 and PAK3 as well as their altered coexpression patterns were detected in the brain of subjects with depression.
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Xia S, Zhou Z, Leung C, Zhu Y, Pan X, Qi J, Morena M, Hill MN, Xie W, Jia Z. p21-activated kinase 1 restricts tonic endocannabinoid signaling in the hippocampus. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27296803 PMCID: PMC4907698 DOI: 10.7554/elife.14653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
PAK1 inhibitors are known to markedly improve social and cognitive function in several animal models of brain disorders, including autism, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We show here that disruption of PAK1 in mice suppresses inhibitory neurotransmission through an increase in tonic, but not phasic, secretion of endocannabinoids (eCB). Consistently, we found elevated levels of anandamide (AEA), but not 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) following PAK1 disruption. This increased tonic AEA signaling is mediated by reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and COX-2 inhibitors recapitulate the effect of PAK1 deletion on GABAergic transmission in a CB1 receptor-dependent manner. These results establish a novel signaling process whereby PAK1 upregulates COX-2, reduces AEA and restricts tonic eCB-mediated processes. Because PAK1 and eCB are both critically involved in many other organ systems in addition to the brain, our findings may provide a unified mechanism by which PAK1 regulates these systems and their dysfunctions including cancers, inflammations and allergies. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.14653.001 Brain cells communicate by sending chemical signals that activate or excite neighbouring cells. However, too much signalling can be harmful. As such the brain has systems in place to inhibit brain signals, and healthy brain activity relies striking a proper balance between excitation and inhibition. In some brain mental health conditions, like autism or schizophrenia, the balance is skewed which has an impact on the brain’s activity. A chemical produced by brain cells called endocannabinoid helps maintain the appropriate balance in brain excitation and inhibition. Endocannabinoid is similar to a chemical found in cannabis, but little is known about how it works and which proteins interact with endocannabinoid. A family of proteins called p21-activated kinases (PAKs) has been implicated in autism and other disorders like Huntingtin disease and Alzheimer disease, but it is not fully understood how these proteins interact with endocannabinoid. Now, Xia, Zhou et al. show that one member of this protein family called PAK1 plays a key role in controlling endocannabinoid activity. The experiments showed that mice genetically engineered to lack the PAK1 protein have higher levels of endocannabinoids and, as a consequence, the chemical signals that inhibit brain cells are affected more. The experiments also revealed that PAK1 does not interact directly with endocannabinoids. Instead PAK1 boosts levels of another protein called COX-2 and reduces levels of a molecule called anandamide, which together restrict endocannabinoid’s inhibitory effects. Scientists are currently interested in developing drugs that target the endocannabinoids and their regulators in the brain as a way to treat anxiety, pain and sleep problems. Drugs that block PAK1 are already being studied. Future studies are needed to determine if such PAK1-targeting drugs could be useful for restoring excitatory and inhibitory balance in brain diseases or for treating other diseases involving the PAK proteins. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.14653.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuting Xia
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zikai Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Celeste Leung
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yuehua Zhu
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xingxiu Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junxia Qi
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Maria Morena
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Canada.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Wei Xie
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Jiangsu Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Institute of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhengping Jia
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Rudolph J, Murray LJ, Ndubaku CO, O’Brien T, Blackwood E, Wang W, Aliagas I, Gazzard L, Crawford JJ, Drobnick J, Lee W, Zhao X, Hoeflich KP, Favor DA, Dong P, Zhang H, Heise CE, Oh A, Ong CC, La H, Chakravarty P, Chan C, Jakubiak D, Epler J, Ramaswamy S, Vega R, Cain G, Diaz D, Zhong Y. Chemically Diverse Group I p21-Activated Kinase (PAK) Inhibitors Impart Acute Cardiovascular Toxicity with a Narrow Therapeutic Window. J Med Chem 2016; 59:5520-41. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David A. Favor
- Shanghai Chempartner Inc., 998
Halei Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ping Dong
- Shanghai Chempartner Inc., 998
Halei Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China
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Leung C, Jia Z. Mouse Genetic Models of Human Brain Disorders. Front Genet 2016; 7:40. [PMID: 27047540 PMCID: PMC4803727 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2016.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past three decades, genetic manipulations in mice have been used in neuroscience as a major approach to investigate the in vivo function of genes and their alterations. In particular, gene targeting techniques using embryonic stem cells have revolutionized the field of mammalian genetics and have been at the forefront in the generation of numerous mouse models of human brain disorders. In this review, we will first examine childhood developmental disorders such as autism, intellectual disability, Fragile X syndrome, and Williams-Beuren syndrome. We will then explore psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and lastly, neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. We will outline the creation of these mouse models that range from single gene deletions, subtle point mutations to multi-gene manipulations, and discuss the key behavioral phenotypes of these mice. Ultimately, the analysis of the models outlined in this review will enhance our understanding of the in vivo role and underlying mechanisms of disease-related genes in both normal brain function and brain disorders, and provide potential therapeutic targets and strategies to prevent and treat these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Leung
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, TorontoON, Canada; Program in Physiology, University of Toronto, TorontoON, Canada
| | - Zhengping Jia
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, TorontoON, Canada; Program in Physiology, University of Toronto, TorontoON, Canada
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35
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Rudolph J, Crawford JJ, Hoeflich KP, Wang W. Inhibitors of p21-activated kinases (PAKs). J Med Chem 2014; 58:111-29. [PMID: 25415869 DOI: 10.1021/jm501613q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The p21-activated kinase (PAK) family of serine/threonine protein kinases plays important roles in cytoskeletal organization, cellular morphogenesis, and survival, and members of this family have been implicated in many diseases including cancer, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders. Owing to their large and flexible ATP binding cleft, PAKs, particularly group I PAKs (PAK1, -2, and -3), are difficult to drug; hence, few PAK inhibitors with satisfactory kinase selectivity and druglike properties have been reported to date. Examples are a recently discovered group II PAK (PAK4, -5, -6) selective inhibitor series based on a benzimidazole core, a group I PAK selective series based on a pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-7-one core, and an allosteric dibenzodiazepine PAK1 inhibitor series. Only one compound, an aminopyrazole based pan-PAK inhibitor, entered clinical trials but did not progress beyond phase I trials. Clinical proof of concept for pan-group I, pan-group II, or PAK isoform selective inhibition has yet to be demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Rudolph
- Discovery Chemistry, and ‡Structural Biology, Genentech , 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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Elsherif L, Ozler M, Zayed MA, Shen JH, Chernoff J, Faber JE, Parise LV. Potential compensation among group I PAK members in hindlimb ischemia and wound healing. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112239. [PMID: 25379771 PMCID: PMC4224450 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
PAKs are serine/threonine kinases that regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and cell migration. PAK1 is activated by binding to the small EF hand protein, CIB1, or to the Rho GTPases Rac1 or Cdc42. The role of PAK1 in angiogenesis was established based only on in vitro studies and its role in angiogenesis in vivo has never been examined. Here we tested the hypothesis that PAK1 is an essential regulator of ischemic neovascularization (arteriogenesis and angiogenesis) and wound healing using a global PAK1 knockout mouse. Neovascularization was assessed using unilateral hindlimb ischemia. We found that plantar perfusion, limb use and appearance were not significantly different between 6-8 week old PAK1-/- and PAK1+/+ mice throughout the 21-day period following hindlimb ischemia; however a slightly delayed healing was observed in 16 week old PAK1-/- mice. In addition, the wound healing rate, as assessed with an ear punch assay, was unchanged in PAK1-/- mice. Surprisingly, however, we observed a notable increase in PAK2 expression and phosphorylation in ischemic gastrocnemius tissue from PAK1-/- but not PAK1+/+ mice. Furthermore, we observed higher levels of activated ERK2, but not AKT, in ischemic and non-ischemic muscle of PAK1-/- mice upon hindlimb ischemic injury. A group I PAK inhibitor, IPA3, significantly inhibited endothelial cell sprouting from aortic rings in both PAK1-/- and PAK1+/+ mice, implying that PAK2 is a potential contributor to this process. Taken together, our data indicate that while PAK1 has the potential to contribute to neovascularization and wound healing, PAK2 may functionally compensate when PAK1 is deficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Elsherif
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Mehmet Ozler
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Mohamed A. Zayed
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Jessica H. Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Chernoff
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - James E. Faber
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Leslie V. Parise
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
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Field J, Manser E. The PAKs come of age: Celebrating 18 years of discovery. CELLULAR LOGISTICS 2014; 2:54-58. [PMID: 23125949 PMCID: PMC3485743 DOI: 10.4161/cl.22084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinases are versatile signaling molecules that are involved in the regulation most physiological responses. The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) can be activated directly by the small GTPases Rac and Cdc42 and are among the best characterized downstream effectors of these Rho proteins. The structure, substrate specificity and functional role of PAKS are evolutionarily conserved from protozoa to mammals. Vertebrate PAKs are particularly important for cytoskeletal remodeling and focal adhesion assembly, thereby contributing to dynamic processes such as cell migration and synaptic plasticity. This issue of Cellular Logistics focuses on the PAK family of kinases, with ten reviews written by researchers currently working in the field. Here in this introductory overview we highlight some of the most interesting recent discoveries regarding PAK biochemistry and biology. The reviews in this issue cover a range of topics including the atomic structures of PAK1 and PAK4, their role in animals as assessed by knockout studies, and how PAKs are likely to contribute to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The promise remains that PAK inhibitors will emerge that validate current pre-clinical studies suggesting that blocking PAK activity will positively contribute to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Field
- Department of Pharmacology; Perelman School of Medicine; University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, PA USA
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Remarkable reductions of PAKs in the brain tissues of scrapie-infected rodent possibly linked closely with neuron loss. Med Microbiol Immunol 2014; 203:291-302. [PMID: 24870058 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-014-0342-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are irreversible progressive neurodegenerative diseases characterized in the brain by PrP(Sc) deposits, neuronal degeneration, gliosis and by cognitive, behavioral and physical impairments, leading to severe incapacity and inevitable death. Proteins of the p21-activated kinase (PAK) family are noted for roles in gene transcription, cytoskeletal dynamics, cell cycle progression and survival signaling. In the present study, we aimed to identify the potential roles of PAKs during prion infection, utilizing the brains of scrapie agent-infected hamsters. Western blots and immunohistochemical assays showed that brain levels of PAK3 and PAK1, as well as their upstream activator Rac/cdc42 and downstream substrate Raf1, were remarkably reduced at terminal stage. Double-stained immunofluorescent assay demonstrated that PAK3 was expressed mainly in neurons. Dynamic analyses of the brain samples collected at the different time points during the incubation period illustrated successive decreases of PAK3, PAK1 and Raf1, especially phosphor Raf1, which correlated well with neuron loss. Rac/cdc42 in the brain tissues increased at early stage and reached to the top at mid-late stage, but diminished at final stage. Unlike the alteration of PAKs in vivo, PAK3 and PAK1, as well as Rac/cdc42 and Raf1 in the prion-infected cell line SMB-S15 remained unchanged compared with those of its normal cell line SMB-PS. Our data here indicate that the functions of PAKs and their associated signaling pathways are seriously affected in the brains of prion disease, which appear to associate closely with the extensive neuron loss.
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Phee H, Au-Yeung BB, Pryshchep O, O'Hagan KL, Fairbairn SG, Radu M, Kosoff R, Mollenauer M, Cheng D, Chernoff J, Weiss A. Pak2 is required for actin cytoskeleton remodeling, TCR signaling, and normal thymocyte development and maturation. eLife 2014; 3:e02270. [PMID: 24843022 PMCID: PMC4017645 DOI: 10.7554/elife.02270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms that govern thymocyte development and maturation are incompletely understood. The P21-activated kinase 2 (Pak2) is an effector for the Rho family GTPases Rac and Cdc42 that regulate actin cytoskeletal remodeling, but its role in the immune system remains poorly understood. In this study, we show that T-cell specific deletion of Pak2 gene in mice resulted in severe T cell lymphopenia accompanied by marked defects in development, maturation, and egress of thymocytes. Pak2 was required for pre-TCR β-selection and positive selection. Surprisingly, Pak2 deficiency in CD4 single positive thymocytes prevented functional maturation and reduced expression of S1P1 and KLF2. Mechanistically, Pak2 is required for actin cytoskeletal remodeling triggered by TCR. Failure to induce proper actin cytoskeletal remodeling impaired PLCγ1 and Erk1/2 signaling in the absence of Pak2, uncovering the critical function of Pak2 as an essential regulator that governs the actin cytoskeleton-dependent signaling to ensure normal thymocyte development and maturation. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02270.001 T cells are a key element of the immune system. There are many different types of T cells, and they all have their origins in hematopoietic stem cells that are found in the bone marrow. These stem cells leave the bone marrow and circulate in the body until they reach an organ called the thymus, where they become early thymic progenitor cells. These progenitor cells then undergo a process called differentiation to become specific types of T cells, which mature in the thymus before moving to the blood. Although various molecules and mechanisms are known to be involved in the development of T cells, many details of this process are not understood. One group of molecules that has been implicated in the differentiation of T cells is the p21-activated kinases. Kinases are proteins that activate or deactivate other proteins by adding phosphate groups to specific amino acids. Pak2 adds phosphorylate groups to various proteins that are involved in the reorganization of an important structure inside the cell called the cytoskeleton. A kinase called Pak2 has an important role in the reorganization of the cytoskeleton, and since this reorganization is involved in almost all aspects of T cell biology, it seems plausible that Pak2 is also involved in the development of T cells. However, it has not been possible to test this idea because deleting the gene for Pak2 in mice results in their death. Now, Phee et al. have overcome this problem by performing experiments in which the gene for Pak2 was only deleted in T cells. These mice had significantly fewer mature T cells than healthy mice. In particular, the absence of Pak2 in thymocytes (the cells that become T cells) prevented them from maturing into T cells, and also prevented them from producing a receptor protein that is needed for mature T cells to leave the thymus. This work implies that disruption of the Pak2-mediated signaling pathway that regulates the cytoskeleton may weaken the immune system in humans. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02270.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyewon Phee
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Byron B Au-Yeung
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Olga Pryshchep
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Kyle Leonard O'Hagan
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Stephanie Grace Fairbairn
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Maria Radu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Rachelle Kosoff
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Marianne Mollenauer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Debra Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Jonathan Chernoff
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Arthur Weiss
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
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The art of the deal in myofilament modulation of function. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2014; 72:238-40. [PMID: 24732213 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2014.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Abstract
p21-Activated protein kinases (PAKs) are centrally involved in a plethora of cellular processes and functions. Their function as effectors of small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 has been extensively studied during the past two decades, particularly in the realms of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and hence tumorigenesis, as well as cytoskeletal remodeling and related cellular events in health and disease. In recent years, a large number of studies have shed light onto the fundamental role of group I PAKs, most notably PAK1, in metabolic homeostasis. In skeletal muscle, PAK1 was shown to mediate the function of insulin on stimulating GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake, while in pancreatic β-cells, PAK1 participates in insulin granule localization and vesicle release. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PAK1 mediates the cross talk between insulin and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways and hence regulates gut proglucagon gene expression and the production of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The utilization of chemical inhibitors of PAK and the characterization of Pak1(-/-) mice enabled us to gain mechanistic insights as well as to assess the overall contribution of PAKs in metabolic homeostasis. This review summarizes our current understanding of PAKs, with an emphasis on the emerging roles of PAK1 in glucose homeostasis.
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Abstract
The p21 activated kinases (Paks) are well known effector proteins for the Rho GTPases Cdc42 and Rac. The Paks contain 6 members, which fall into 2 families of proteins. The first family consists of Paks 1, 2, and 3, and the second consists of Paks 4, 5, and 6. While some of the Paks are ubiquitously expressed, others have more restrictive tissue specificity. All of them are found in the nervous system. Studies using cell culture, transgenic mice, and knockout mice, have revealed important roles for the Paks in cytoskeletal organization and in many aspects of cell growth and development. This review discusses the basic structures of the Paks, and their roles in cell growth, development, and in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chetan K Rane
- Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research; Department of Chemical Biology; Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy; Rutgers The State University of New Jersey; Piscataway, NJ USA
| | - Audrey Minden
- Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research; Department of Chemical Biology; Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy; Rutgers The State University of New Jersey; Piscataway, NJ USA
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Moreno-Layseca P, Streuli CH. Signalling pathways linking integrins with cell cycle progression. Matrix Biol 2014; 34:144-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2013.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Revised: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Itakura A, Aslan JE, Kusanto BT, Phillips KG, Porter JE, Newton PK, Nan X, Insall RH, Chernoff J, McCarty OJT. p21-Activated kinase (PAK) regulates cytoskeletal reorganization and directional migration in human neutrophils. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73063. [PMID: 24019894 PMCID: PMC3760889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils serve as a first line of defense in innate immunity owing in part to their ability to rapidly migrate towards chemotactic factors derived from invading pathogens. As a migratory function, neutrophil chemotaxis is regulated by the Rho family of small GTPases. However, the mechanisms by which Rho GTPases orchestrate cytoskeletal dynamics in migrating neutrophils remain ill-defined. In this study, we characterized the role of p21-activated kinase (PAK) downstream of Rho GTPases in cytoskeletal remodeling and chemotactic processes of human neutrophils. We found that PAK activation occurred upon stimulation of neutrophils with f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), and PAK accumulated at the actin-rich leading edge of stimulated neutrophils, suggesting a role for PAK in Rac-dependent actin remodeling. Treatment with the pharmacological PAK inhibitor, PF3758309, abrogated the integrity of RhoA-mediated actomyosin contractility and surface adhesion. Moreover, inhibition of PAK activity impaired neutrophil morphological polarization and directional migration under a gradient of fMLP, and was associated with dysregulated Ca(2+) signaling. These results suggest that PAK serves as an important effector of Rho-family GTPases in neutrophil cytoskeletal reorganization, and plays a key role in driving efficient directional migration of human neutrophils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asako Itakura
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Joseph E. Aslan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Branden T. Kusanto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Kevin G. Phillips
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Juliana E. Porter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Paul K. Newton
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Xiaolin Nan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Robert H. Insall
- CRUK Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Chernoff
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Owen J. T. McCarty
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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Role of p21-activated kinases in cardiovascular development and function. Cell Mol Life Sci 2013; 70:4223-8. [PMID: 23640572 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1347-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
p21-activated kinases (Paks) are a group of six serine/threonine kinases (Pak1-6) that are involved in a variety of biological processes. Recently, Paks, more specifically Pak1, -2, and -4, have been shown to play important roles in cardiovascular development and function in a range of model organisms including zebrafish and mice. These functions include proper morphogenesis and conductance of the heart, cardiac contractility, and development and integrity of the vasculature. The mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully known, but they likely differ among the various Pak isoforms and include both kinase-dependent and -independent functions. In this review, we discuss aspects of Pak function relevant to cardiovascular biology as well as potential therapeutic implications of small-molecule Pak inhibitors in cardiovascular disease.
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Rudolph J, Crawford JJ, Hoeflich KP, Chernoff J. p21-Activated Kinase Inhibitors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 34 Pt. B:157-80. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-420146-0.00007-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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