Project description:Protein kinase B (AKT1) is a central node in a signaling pathway that regulates cell survival. The diverse pathways regulated by AKT1 are communicated in the cell via the phosphorylation of perhaps more than 100 cellular substrates. AKT1 is itself activated by phosphorylation at Thr-308 and Ser-473. Despite the fact that these phosphorylation sites are biomarkers for cancers and tumor biology, their individual roles in shaping AKT1 substrate selectivity are unknown. We recently developed a method to produce AKT1 with programmed phosphorylation at either or both of its key regulatory sites. Here, we used both defined and randomized peptide libraries to map the substrate selectivity of site-specific, singly and doubly phosphorylated AKT1 variants. To globally quantitate AKT1 substrate preferences, we synthesized three AKT1 substrate peptide libraries: one based on 84 "known" substrates and two independent and larger oriented peptide array libraries (OPALs) of ∼1011 peptides each. We found that each phospho-form of AKT1 has common and distinct substrate requirements. Compared with pAKT1T308, the addition of Ser-473 phosphorylation increased AKT1 activities on some, but not all of its substrates. This is the first report that Ser-473 phosphorylation can positively or negatively regulate kinase activity in a substrate-dependent fashion. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the OPAL-activity data effectively discriminate known AKT1 substrates from closely related kinase substrates. Our results also enabled predictions of novel AKT1 substrates that suggest new and expanded roles for AKT1 signaling in regulating cellular processes.
Project description:Kinase-catalyzed protein phosphorylation is an important post-translational modification that regulates a variety of cellular functions. Identification of the many substrates of a specific kinase is critical to fully characterize cell biology. Unfortunately, kinase-substrate interactions are often transient, which makes their identification challenging. Here, the transient kinase-substrate complex was stabilized by covalent crosslinking using γ-phosphate modified ATP analogs. Building upon prior use of an ATP-aryl azide photocrosslinking analog, we report here the creation of an ATP-benzophenone photocrosslinking analog. ATP-benzophenone displayed a higher conversion percentage but more diffuse crosslinking compared to the ATP-aryl azide analog. A docking study was also performed to rationalize the conversion and crosslinking data. In total, the photocrosslinking ATP analogs produced stable kinase-substrate complexes that are suitable for future applications characterizing cell signaling pathways.
Project description:Numerous leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 mutations identified throughout the protein are associated with Parkinson disease, however the activating G2019S kinase domain mutation is currently regarded as the most common cause of familial and sporadic forms of this disorder. Despite studies demonstrating the prominent role that its kinase activity plays in the pathobiology of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2, few substrates have been identified and only a subset of these have been linked to disease. Therefore, we utilized protein microarrays to screen over 9,000 human proteins in an unbiased radiometric assay for potential targets of the kinase. ProtoArrayM-bM-^DM-" Human Protein Microarrays v5.0 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) were used following the manufactureM-bM-^@M-^Ys protocol (ProtoArray Kinase Substrate Identification Kit). Briefly, slides were equilibrated at 4C for 15 min before blocking in 1% BSA in PBS for 1 h at 4oC with gentle shaking. Recombinant G2019S or D1994A glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-LRRK2 (970-2527) (Invitrogen) was diluted to 50nM in 20mM Tris (pH 7.5), 10mM MgCl2, 1mM EGTA, 1mM Na3VO4, 5mM beta-glycerophosphate, 2mM DTT, 0.02% polysorbate 20, and 10 mCi /mL of [gamma- 33P]ATP (33 nM final concentration) in a total volume of 120uL. Slides were overlayed with buffer alone, or buffer containing G2019S or D1994A LRRK2, then covered with a coverslip and placed in a 50 mL conical tube for 1 h at 30oC. Afterwards, slides were washed with 0.5% SDS buffer and water followed by centrifugation. Dried slides were exposed to a PhosphorImager plate (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA), and scanned on a Storm 840 (Molecular Dynamics, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) at 50 microns.
Project description:Protein phosphorylation by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) underlies key cellular processes, including sympathetic stimulation of heart cells, and potentiation of synaptic strength in neurons. Unrestrained PKA activity is pathological, and an enduring challenge is to understand how the activity of PKA catalytic subunits is directed in cells. We developed a light-activated cross-linking approach to monitor PKA subunit interactions with temporal precision in living cells. This enabled us to refute the recently proposed theory that PKA catalytic subunits remain tethered to regulatory subunits during cAMP elevation. Instead, we have identified other features of PKA signaling for reducing catalytic subunit diffusion and increasing recapture rate. Comprehensive quantitative immunoblotting of protein extracts from human embryonic kidney cells and rat organs reveals that regulatory subunits are always in large molar excess of catalytic subunits (average ∼17-fold). In the majority of organs tested, type II regulatory (RII) subunits were found to be the predominant PKA subunit. We also examined the architecture of PKA complexes containing RII subunits using cross-linking coupled to mass spectrometry. Quantitative comparison of cross-linking within a complex of RIIβ and Cβ, with or without the prototypical anchoring protein AKAP18α, revealed that the dimerization and docking domain of RIIβ is between its second cAMP binding domains. This architecture is compatible with anchored RII subunits directing the myristylated N terminus of catalytic subunits toward the membrane for release and recapture within the plane of the membrane.
Project description:Numerous leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 mutations identified throughout the protein are associated with Parkinson disease, however the activating G2019S kinase domain mutation is currently regarded as the most common cause of familial and sporadic forms of this disorder. Despite studies demonstrating the prominent role that its kinase activity plays in the pathobiology of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2, few substrates have been identified and only a subset of these have been linked to disease. Therefore, we utilized protein microarrays to screen over 9,000 human proteins in an unbiased radiometric assay for potential targets of the kinase.
Project description:Previous kinetic studies have demonstrated that the activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by cyclic AMP involves the formation of a ternary complex of cyclic AMP, the regulatory subunit (R) and the catalytic subunit (C). It is suggested that only this ternary complex breaks down to liberate the enzymically active catalytic subunit. We have performed cross-linking experiments with the holoenzyme and its dissimilar subunits in the presence of MgATP and various concentrations of cyclic AMP. Results from these cross-linking studies indicate that regulatory subunits exist as dimers in the native form. Moreover, dissociation of the holoenzyme or the reconstituted enzyme is promoted by cyclic AMP, and the effect of MgATP is to stabilize the enzyme in the tetrameric form. The success in cross-linking the regulatory and the catalytic subunits of protein kinase with the lysine-specific bifunctional cross-linking reagent dimethyl suberimidate may be attributed to the presence of a large number of lysine residues in the enzyme.
Project description:Nutritional excess and/or obesity represent well-known predisposition factors for the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, molecular links between obesity and NIDDM are only beginning to emerge. Here, we demonstrate that nutrients suppress phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase/Akt signaling via Raptor-dependent mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin)-mediated phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1). Raptor directly binds to and serves as a scaffold for mTOR-mediated phosphorylation of IRS-1 on Ser636/639. These serines lie close to the Y(632)MPM motif that is implicated in the binding of p85alpha/p110alpha PI3-kinase to IRS-1 upon insulin stimulation. Phosphomimicking mutations of these serines block insulin-stimulated activation of IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase. Knockdown of Raptor as well as activators of the LKB1/AMPK pathway, such as the widely used antidiabetic compound metformin, suppress IRS-1 Ser636/639 phosphorylation and reverse mTOR-mediated inhibition on PI3-kinase/Akt signaling. Thus, diabetes-related hyperglycemia hyperactivates the mTOR pathway and may lead to insulin resistance due to suppression of IRS-1-dependent PI3-kinase/Akt signaling.
Project description:Subcellular compartmentalization of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) by protein kinase A-anchoring proteins (AKAPs) facilitates local protein phosphorylation. However, little is known about how PKA targeting to AKAPs is regulated in the intact cell. PKA binds to an amphipathic helical region of AKAPs via an N-terminal domain of the regulatory subunit. In vitro studies showed that autophosphorylation of type II regulatory subunit (RII) can alter its affinity for AKAPs and the catalytic subunit (PKA(cat)). We now investigate whether phosphorylation of serine 96 on RII regulates PKA targeting to AKAPs, downstream substrate phosphorylation and calcium cycling in primary cultured cardiomyocytes. We demonstrated that, whereas there is basal phosphorylation of RII subunits, persistent maximal activation of PKA results in a phosphatase-dependent loss of RII phosphorylation. To investigate the functional effects of RII phosphorylation, we constructed adenoviral vectors incorporating mutants which mimic phosphorylated (RIIS96D), nonphosphorylated (RIIS96A) RII, or wild-type (WT) RII and performed adenoviral infection of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Coimmunoprecipitation showed that more AKAP15/18 was pulled down by the phosphomimic, RIIS96D, than RIIS96A. Phosphorylation of phospholamban and ryanodine receptor was significantly increased in cells expressing RIIS96D versus RIIS96A. Expression of recombinant RII constructs showed significant effects on cytosolic calcium transients. We propose a model illustrating a central role of RII phosphorylation in the regulation of local PKA activity. We conclude that RII phosphorylation regulates PKA-dependent substrate phosphorylation and may have significant implications for modulation of cardiac function.
Project description:Phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is essential for its enzymatic activity and ability to control multiple substrates inside a cell. According to the current models, control of MAPK phosphorylation is independent of its substrates, which are viewed as mere sensors of MAPK activity. Contrary to this modular view of MAPK signaling, our studies in the Drosophila embryo demonstrate that substrates can regulate the level of MAPK phosphorylation in vivo. We demonstrate that a twofold change in the gene dosage of a single substrate can induce a significant change in the phosphorylation level of MAPK and in the conversion of other substrates. Our results support a model where substrates of MAPK counteract its dephosphorylation by phosphatases. Substrate-dependent control of MAPK phosphorylation is a manifestation of a more general retroactive effect that should be intrinsic to all networks with covalent modification cycles.
Project description:The effect of wortmannin on IgG-receptor (FcgammaR)-mediated stimulation of human neutrophils was investigated. The Ca2+ influx induced by clustering of both Fcgamma receptors was inhibited by wortmannin, as was the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Wortmannin also inhibited, with the same efficacy, the accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 observed after FcgammaR stimulation, but did not affect the increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 induced by the chemotactic peptide, formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine. Because wortmannin is, in the concentrations used here, an inhibitor of PtdIns 3-kinase, these results suggested a role for PtdIns 3-kinase upstream of Ca2+ signalling, induced by FcgammaR cross-linking. Support for this notion was obtained by investigating the effect of another inhibitor of PtdIns 3-kinase, LY 294002, and by studying the kinetics of PtdIns 3-kinase activation. We found translocation of PtdIns 3-kinase to the plasma membrane and increased PtdIns 3-kinase activity in the membrane as soon as 5 s after FcgammaR cross-linking, even before the onset of the Ca2+ response. Moreover, the translocation of PtdIns 3-kinase to the plasma membrane was inhibited by co-cross-linking of either FcgammaRIIa and FcgammaRIIIb with the tyrosine phosphatase, CD45, indicating a requirement for protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the recruitment of PtdIns 3-kinase to the plasma membrane. Taken together, our results suggest a role for PtdIns 3-kinase in early signal transduction events after FcgammaR cross-linking in human neutrophils.