Ras controls coupling of growth factor receptors and protein kinase C in the membrane to Raf-1 and B-Raf protein serine kinases in the cytosol.

A dominant negative mutant of Ras, M17 Ras, was used to study the role of Ras in receptor coupling of Raf-1 and B-Raf protein serine/threonine kinases (PSKs). We found that mutant Ras blocks serum- and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate-induced activation of Raf-1 kinase in NIH3T3 cells and Raf-1 as well as B-Raf PSK stimulation by nerve growth factor (NGF) in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Mitogen stimulation of Raf kinase was measured by determination of Raf hyperphosphorylation and activity towards exogenous substrates and both of these events were inhibited in cells expressing M17 Ras. In contrast, tyrosine phosphorylation of a direct substrate of activated tyrosine kinase receptors, phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1), was unaffected. These data indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 is not sufficient for growth induction in NIH3T3 cells and that Ras mediates signal transfer from activated membrane receptors to Raf kinases in the cytosol. As activated Raf induced differentiation in PC12 cells expressing M17 Ras we conclude that Raf kinase activation may be sufficient to account for this aspect of NGF function.     

Protein kinase C alpha trigger Ras and Raf-independent MEK/ERK activation for TPA-induced growth inhibition of human hepatoma cell HepG2

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is a well-known activator of both protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal cascade triggering a lot of effects in many non-tumor and tumor cells. We have reported activation of PKCalpha isozyme was specifically required for TPA-induced ERK (MAPK) signaling that mediated gene expressions of the CDK inhibitors p15(INK4b) and p16 (INK4a) leading to growth inhibition of hepatoma cell HepG2. We further investigated the upstream signal molecule linking PKCalpha to ERK. In the Ras activation assay, HepG2 cell exhibited substantial amount of Ras activity. Treatment of the cell with 50nM TPA for 10min slightly inhibited Ras activity by about 10-20%. Pretreatment of the cell with 10microM manumycin A, which abolish basal Ras activity, did not prevent TPA-triggered ERK phosphorylation. Immunoprecipitation coupled with kinase assay demonstrated that MEK-1 activity was strongly induced by treatment of TPA for 5-30min in HepG2. In contrast, c-Raf activity was not significantly induced by TPA within 5-15min. Consistently, Western blot of Phospho(ser-218/222)-MEK demonstrated that phosphorylation of MEK-1 was greatly induced by 50nM TPA, which can be prevented by the PKC inhibitor Bisindolylmaleimides II. Moreover, pretreatment of the MEK1/2 inhibitor, but not c-Raf inhibitor prevented the TPA-induced ERK phosphorylation, gene expression of p15(INK4b) and p16 (INK4a) and growth inhibition of HepG2. In addition, transient expression of a dominant negative Raf mutant in HepG2 did not prevent these effects of TPA. Constitutive expression of an active PKCalpha mutant in HepG2 enhanced phosphorylation of both MEK and ERK accompanied with induction of gene expression of p16(INK4a) and growth inhibition of HepG2. In contrast, Ras and Raf activity were not increased by expression of active PKCalpha. Taken together, we conclude that PKCalpha may activate MEK, independently of Raf and Ras, to trigger sustained ERK (MAPK) signaling and cell cycle arrest of HepG2 induced by TPA.     

c-Met-Akt pathway-mediated enhancement of inhibitory c-Raf phosphorylation is involved in vitamin K1 and sorafenib synergy on HCC growth inhibition

Sorafenib is an FDA-approved agent for treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but tumor shrinkage is minor. We therefore developed a strategy to combine K vitamins with sorafenib to treat HCC, and found that this combination enhanced sorafenib-induced HCC cell growth inhibition. To explore the mechanisms involved, we examined the role of Raf kinase, since both vitamins K and sorafenib were reported to inhibit tumor cell growth via Raf signaling pathway. We found that whereas lower concentration of vitamin K1 (25 μM) or sorafenib (2.5 μM) alone slightly induced c-Raf phosphorylation at both Ser-43 and Ser-259, combination vitamin K1 plus sorafenib resulted in strong c-Raf phosphorylation at these two serine residues. A Raf kinase activity assay confirmed that combination vitamin K1 plus sorafenib had a synergistic inhibitory effect on it. Since c-Raf phosphorylation at Ser-43 and Ser-259 can be regulated by either PKA or Akt kinase, we examined the effects of both vitamin K1 and sorafenib on their phosphorylation. Although vitamin K1 or sorafenib alone induced PKA phosphorylation, no enhanced phosphorylation effects on PKA were found using this combination. However, vitamin K1 enhanced sorafenib-induced c-Met phosphorylation at Tyr-1349, a DEP-1 protein phosphatase acting site, and consequently induced phosphorylation of PI3K-Akt. Both PI3K inhibitor Ly294002 as well as dominate negative Akt plasmid transfection antagonized vitamin K1 plus sorafenib actions on c-Raf phosphorylation and cell growth inhibition, suggesting that c-Met-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway mediated inhibitory c-Raf phosphorylation may play a central role in vitamin K1 plus sorafenib synergy in inhibiting HCC cell growth.     

Growth of human melanocyte cultures supported by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate is mediated through protein kinase C activation.

To investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-dependent growth of human melanocytes, we analyzed the effects of phorbol ester treatment on both PKC expression and growth control in these cells. We found that established cultures of normal melanocytes contain the PKC alpha, PKC beta, and PKC epsilon isoforms. The abilities of various phorbol ester compounds to stimulate DNA synthesis in these cultured melanocytes correlated with their known potencies for activation of PKC and tumor promotion. Dose-response studies revealed that the most effective TPA concentration for stimulation of DNA synthesis and growth of melanocytes (10 ng/ml TPA) also supported a relatively high level of PKC enzyme activity, increased membrane association of the PKC alpha and PKC epsilon isoforms, and led to a high level of phosphorylation of a major PKC substrate, the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) protein. Melanocytes incubated for 48 h with TPA at a higher concentration (100 ng/ml TPA) exhibited suboptimal TPA-stimulated DNA synthesis (28% of maximal) and decreased phosphorylation of the MARCKS substrate protein (50% of maximal). Furthermore, treatment of melanocytes with 100 ng/ml TPA for 48 h resulted in a marked decrease in total PKC enzyme activity and the loss of expression of the PKC alpha and PKC epsilon isoforms in both the cytosol and membrane-bound fractions, when examined by immunoblot analysis. These results, taken together, suggest that continuous activation of PKC by TPA, rather than the loss of PKC due to TPA-induced down-regulation, is responsible for the growth-stimulatory effects of phorbol esters on normal human melanocytes. Additionally, the conditioned medium from TPA-treated human melanocytes stimulated DNA synthesis in quiescent melanocytes and human melanoma cells, thus suggesting that activation of the PKC signaling pathway in melanocytes leads to the production of an autocrine growth factor. These findings may be relevant to the autonomous growth of malignant melanomas.     

Enhancement of anchorage-independent growth of human pancreatic carcinoma MIA PaCa-2 cells by signaling from protein kinase C to mitogen-activated protein kinase

We found that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) promoted anchorage-independent growth but did not affect anchorage-dependent growth of MIA PaCa-2 human pancreatic carcinoma cells. TPA markedly activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase in an anchorage-independent manner. Two protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, conventional PKC (cPKC) and novel PKC (nPKC), but not apical PKC, translocated from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction upon TPA treatment. To identify the PKC isoforms involved in the regulation of anchorage-independent growth, four PKC isoforms (alpha, delta, epsilon, and zeta) were forced to be expressed in MIA PaCa-2 cells with an adenovirus vector. Overexpression of nPKCdelta or nPKC epsilon activated MAPK and promoted anchorage-independent growth. Overexpression of cPKCalpha alone did not influence anchorage-independent growth but lowered the concentration of TPA that was required to enhance such growth. Expression of constitutively active MAPK kinase-1 (MEK1) also promoted anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, PKC inhibitors or an MEK inhibitor completely suppressed both TPA-induced activation of MAPK and promotion of anchorage-independent growth, but a cPKC-selective inhibitor partially suppressed TPA-induced promotion of the growth. Based on these results, we suggest that MAPK activation, mediated by certain isoforms of PKC, plays a part in oncogenic growth of MIA PaCa-2 cells. In summary, our data indicated that specific inhibitors of the cPKC and nPKC signaling pathway might be selective anti-oncogenic growth agents for some types of human pancreatic cancer.     

Recovery of gap junctional intercellular communication after phorbol ester treatment requires proteasomal degradation of protein kinase C

Reversible down-regulation of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is proposed to be an important cellular mechanism in tumor promotion. Gap junction function is modified by a variety of tumor promoters, including the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Treatment of cells with TPA results in the activation and subsequent depletion of the TPA-responsive protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. TPA-induced degradation of the PKC isoforms alpha, delta and epsilon was recently shown to occur via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In the present study we investigated the role of the proteasome in the TPA-induced modification of GJIC in IAR20 rat liver epithelial cells. TPA exposure of IAR20 cells induced hyperphosphorylation of gap junction protein connexin43 and inhibition of GJIC. Prolonged TPA treatment induced down-regulation of PKCalpha, delta and epsilon and a reduction in the total PKC activity, which was associated with recovery of GJIC. Co-treatment of IAR20 cells with TPA and the proteasomal inhibitor MG132 suppressed down-regulation of PKCalpha, delta and epsilon and caused prolonged PKC activity. Under these conditions, the recovery of GJIC was blocked. The general PKC inhibitor GF109203X reversed the effect of MG132, indicating that the prolonged TPA-induced inhibition of GJIC caused by MG132 was due to the prolonged PKC activity. These results indicate that proteasomal degradation of PKC is one mechanism by which the recovery of GJIC after TPA treatment is regulated.     

Induction of protein kinase C down-regulation by the phorbol ester TPA in a calpain/protein kinase C complex.

Using a calpain/protein kinase C (PKC) complex, we were able to reproduce, in vitro, the induction of PKC down-regulation by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) which had been previously observed in cells. We show that TPA initiates this phenomenon by promoting a calpain-dependent conversion of PKC to the Ca2+ phospholipid-independent protein kinase M (PKM), at physiological calcium concentrations. This effect of TPA was dependent upon the presence of phosphatidylserine and was observed only when PKC was the substrate for the protease, inactivation of calpain by autolysis not being modified by the presence of TPA. Moreover, PKM generated from the calpain-PKC complex was resistant to calpain, even after addition of TPA. These results suggest that TPA induces a conformational change in PKC, increasing the affinity of the kinase for calpain and consequently permitting its proteolysis for the basal level of calcium in cells.     

Phorbol ester-mediated protein phosphorylations in S49 mouse lymphoma cells

Using high-resolution 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis to separate proteins from cells labeled in vivo with either [32P]phosphate or [35S]methionine, the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was shown to stimulate phosphorylation of at least 18 proteins in a subline of S49 mouse lymphoma cells deficient in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylation of these proteins was not altered by phorbol acetate, a phorbol ester inactive in tumor promotion, and stimulation by TPA was half-maximal at less than 16 nM; therefore, these responses appeared to reflect specific interactions of TPA with high-affinity receptors. Treatment of cells with phospholipase C mimicked TPA in stimulating phosphorylation of some of these substrate proteins, thereby suggesting possible involvement of protein kinase C, the calcium-activated phospholipid-dependent protein kinase. Substrates differed in their relative responses to phospholipase C, the kinetics and concentration dependence of their phosphorylation in response to TPA, their extents of TPA-stimulated changes in phosphorylation, and their responses to tetracaine and retinal, two inhibitors of protein kinase C. Using these responses as criteria for classification, the TPA-mediated phosphorylations could be shown to fall into at least three distinct groups. The significance of these results to regulation of intracellular protein phosphorylation, to the relationship of protein kinase C and phorbol ester receptors, and to possible heterogeneity in kinases stimulable by phorbol ester tumor promoters is discussed.     

Raf激酶抑制蛋白与恶性肿瘤

Raf激酶抑制蛋白(RKIP)是磷脂酰乙醇胺结合蛋白家族的成员。RKIP在Raf、核转录因子-κB(NF-κB)及G蛋白偶联受体(GPCR)等蛋白激酶信号传导通路中起重要调节作用。RKIP参与神经发育、心脏功能、精子发生、细胞迁移及巨噬细胞分化,同时还具有丝氨酸蛋白酶活性。近年来众多资料表明,RKIP在多种恶性肿瘤中表达减弱或丢失,其在恶性肿瘤中作用机制已经成为研究的热点,该类研究将为今后肿瘤治疗提供新的靶点。     

v-Src activates both protein kinase C-dependent and independent signaling pathways in murine fibroblasts

Activating the protein-tyrosine kinase activity of v-Src rapidly induced expression of the two 'primary response' genes, TIS10 and Egr-1, in Balb/c 3T3 cells. Depleting cells of protein kinase C (PKC) by prolonged exposure to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), blocked v-Src-induced TIS10 expression, but had no effect on v-Src-induced Egr-1 gene expression. In addition, the induction of TIS10 and Egr-1 by v-Src could be distinguished using protein kinase inhibitors. Thus, v-Src induced gene expression in murine fibroblasts via two distinguishable signaling pathways: one dependent upon PKC and another that is independent of PKC. Consistent with the use of PKC-mediated signaling pathway by v-Src in murine fibroblasts, we found that activating the kinase activity of v-Src led to increased phosphorylation of a major PKC substrate. Thus, data presented here suggest that v-Src-induced transformation involves the activation of multiple signalling pathways, one of which requires PKC.     

Regulation of BAD phosphorylation at serine 112 by the Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

The function of the pro-apoptotic molecule BAD is regulated by phosphorylation of two sites, serine-112 (Ser-112) and serine-136 (Ser-136). Phosphorylation at either site results in loss of the ability of BAD to heterodimerize with the survival proteins BCL-XL or BCL-2. Phosphorylated BAD binds to 14-3-3 and is sequestered in the cytoplasm. It has been shown that phosphorylation of BAD at Ser-136 is mediated by the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt-1/PKB which is downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). The signaling process leading to phophorylation of BAD at Ser-112 has not been identified. In this study, we show that phosphorylation of the two serine residues of BAD is differentially regulated. While Ser-136 phosphorylation is concordant with activation of Akt, Ser-112 phosphorylation does not correlate with Akt activation. Instead, we demonstrate that activated Ras and Raf, which are upstream of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), stimulate selective phosphorylation of BAD at Ser-112. Furthermore, phosphorylation of Ser-112, but not Ser-136 requires activation of the MAPK pathway as the MEK inhibitor, PD 98059, blocks EGF-, as well as activated Ras- or Raf-mediated phosphorylation of BAD at Ser-112. Therefore, the PI3K-Akt and Ras-MAPK pathways converge at BAD by mediating phosphorylation of distinct serine residues.     

The M-CSF receptor substrate and interacting protein FMIP is governed in its subcellular localization by protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation, and thereby potentiates M-CSF-mediated differentiation

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF or CSF-1) and its cognate receptor, the tyrosine kinase c-fms, are essential for monocyte and macrophage development. We have recently identified an Fms-interacting protein (FMIP) that binds transiently to the cytoplasmic domain of activated Fms molecules and is phosphorylated on tyrosine by Fms tyrosine kinase. FMIP is a substrate not only for Fms but also for protein kinase C (PKC). Mutagenesis reveals that this occurs on serines 5 and 6. Adjacent to these sites is a nuclear localization signal (NLS). We show that this NLS is essential for the predominantly nuclear localization of FMIP. Generation of phosphomimetic substitutions on serine residues 5 and 6 confirms that PKC-mediated phosphorylation on this site leads to translocation of FMIP to the cytosol. Furthermore, the mutant FMIP (FMIPSS5,6AA) was detected abundantly in the nucleus even in the presence of activated PKCalpha. Wild-type FMIP and FMIPSS5,6AA inhibited M-CSF-mediated survival signaling, while FMIPSS5,6EE-expressing cells survived and differentiated into macrophages more efficiently than wild-type cells in the presence of M-CSF or TPA. We conclude M-CSF-mediated activation of PKCalpha can potentiate FMIP action to initiate survival/differentiation signaling.     

EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1通过蛋白激酶C调节Annexin Ⅰ的丝氨酸磷酸化

背景与目的:在利用磷酸化蛋白质富集结合蛋白质组学技术分析EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1(latent membrane protein 1,LMP1)调节的磷酸化蛋白质分子时,我们发现了包括Annexin Ⅰ在内的25个新的受EB病毒LMP1调节的磷酸化蛋白质分子.本实验探讨LMPl调节Annexin Ⅰ磷酸化的信号通路.方法:采用鼻咽癌细胞系CNE1和LMP1稳定表达的细胞系CNE1-LMP1,Western blot检测Annexi Ⅰ的蛋白表达水平;免疫沉淀结合Western blot检测Annexin Ⅰ的丝氨酸和酪氨酸磷酸化;激酶分析实验检测蛋白激酶C(protein kinase C,PKC)的活性.结果:LMP1对Annexin Ⅰ的蛋白表达水平没有影响,LMP1上调Annexin Ⅰ的丝氨酸磷酸化水平,而对酪氨酸磷酸化水平没有影响.在CNE1细胞中PKC的相对活性为0.97±0.05,CNE1-LMP1细胞中的PKC相对活性为1.22±0.10,CNE1与CNE1-LMP1细胞之间PKC的活性差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01,n=6),表明LMP1可以上调PKC活性.Annexin Ⅰ的丝氨酸磷酸化水平随PKC活性的变化而变化.结论:EB病毒LMP1通过PKC信号通路调节Annexin Ⅰ丝氨酸磷酸化.     

Role of PKC and MAP kinase in EGF- and TPA-induced connexin43 phosphorylation and inhibition of gap junction intercellular communication in rat liver epithelial cells

Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes. The gap junction channels are made up of connexins and the flow of polar low molecular weight molecules through these channels is inhibited by several groups of substances, such as tumour promoters and growth factors. The phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), chlordane and the growth factor epidermal growth factor (EGF) are potent inhibitors of GJIC in several cell types, including the rat liver epithelial cell line IAR6.1. The induced inhibition of communication by TPA and EGF in IAR6.1 cells is associated with hyperphosphorylation of connexin43, the connexin responsible for GJIC. Two enzyme inhibitors, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MEK kinase, and GF109203X, a selective inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), were used to study the signalling pathways involved in the effect of EGF and TPA on GJIC, with the following conclusions. The inhibition of cell communication in IAR6.1 cells by EGF is likely to be mediated by direct phosphorylation of connexin43 by MAP kinase. TPA blocks GJIC mainly by the direct action of PKC, but also partly through cross-talk with the MAP kinase pathway. Connexin43 hyperphosphorylation induced by TPA is, as for EGF, mediated through MAP kinase, while PKC seems to block GJIC either through other substrates or induces a type of connexin43 phosphorylation that causes no significant electrophoresis mobility shift.     

Neurotensin induces protein kinase C-dependent protein kinase D activation and DNA synthesis in human pancreatic carcinoma cell line PANC-1

Signal transduction pathways through protein kinase C (PKC) may play a significant role in DNA synthesis and proliferation of human pancreatic cancers. Treatment of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line PANC-1 with biologically active phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate led to striking activation of protein kinase D (PKD), a member of a novel family of serine/threonine kinases distinct from PKC isoforms. Using PANC-1 as a model system, we demonstrate that neurotensin (NT) induced a rapid and striking activation of PKD as determined by in vitro kinase assay and by in vivo phosphorylation of serines 744, 748, and 916. PKD activation induced by NT was abrogated by treatment of PANC-1 cells with PKC inhibitors GF-1 and Ro 31-8220. NT induced a rapid and transient translocation of PKD from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. Inhibiting PKC activity blocked the reverse translocation of PKD from the plasma membrane to the cytosol. Finally, we show that NT-induced DNA synthesis in PANC-1 cells is PKC-dependent. Collectively our results demonstrate, for the first time, the existence of a functional PKC/PKD signaling pathway in human ductal pancreatic carcinoma cells and suggest that PKCs mediate the mitogenic signaling process initiated by NT.     

Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is dispensable for microtubule-active drug-induced Raf-1/Bcl-2 phosphorylation and apoptosis in leukemia cells.

Raf-1 activation and Bcl-2 hyperphosphorylation following treatment with paclitaxel (Taxol) or other microtubule-active drugs is associated with mitotic arrest. Here we show that microtubule-active drugs do not activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in leukemia cells. PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, and SB202190, a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, do not abrogate Bcl-2 phosphorylation nor apoptosis. Simultaneously with PARP cleavage, paclitaxel induces cleavage of Bcl-2 protein yielding a potentially pro-apoptotic 22 kDa product. In comparison, the stimulation of Raf-1 by phorbol ester (TPA) activates the MAPK pathway, causes MAPK-dependent p21WAF1/CIP1 induction, Rb dephosphorylation and growth arrest without Bcl-2 phosphorylation or apoptosis. Like TPA, cAMP induces p21WAF1/CIP1 but does not cause Bcl-2 phosphorylation. MEKK1 and Ras, upstream activators of JNK and ERK MAPK, also fail to induce Bcl-2 hyperphosphorylation. Although Lck tyrosine kinase has been recently implicated in Raf-1 activation during mitotic arrest, microtubule-active drugs induce Raf-1/Bcl-2 hyperphosphorylation and apoptosis in a Lck-deficient Jurkat cells. Therefore, microtubule-active drugs induce apoptosis which is associated with Raf-1 and Bcl-2 phosphorylation and Bcl-2 cleavage but is independent of the MAPK pathway. In contrast, TPA-activated MAPK pathway causes p21WAF1/CIP1-dependent growth arrest without apoptosis.