Matrix valency regulates integrin-mediated lymphoid adhesion via Syk kinase.

Lymphocytes accumulate within the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tumor, wound, or inflammatory tissues. These tissues are largely comprised of polymerized adhesion proteins such as fibrin and fibronectin or their fragments. Nonactivated lymphoid cells attach preferentially to polymerized ECM proteins yet are unable to attach to monomeric forms or fragments of these proteins without previous activation. This adhesion event depends on the appropriate spacing of integrin adhesion sites. Adhesion of nonactivated lymphoid cells to polymeric ECM components results in activation of the antigen receptor-associated Syk kinase that accumulates in adhesion-promoting podosomes. In fact, activation of Syk by antigen or agonists, as well as expression of an activated Syk mutant in lymphoid cells, facilitates their adhesion to monomeric ECM proteins or their fragments. These results reveal a cooperative interaction between signals emanating from integrins and antigen receptors that can serve to regulate stable lymphoid cell adhesion and retention within a remodeling ECM.

Mechanisms of p34cdc2 regulation.

The kinase activity of human p34cdc2 is negatively regulated by phosphorylation at Thr-14 and Tyr-15. These residues lie within the putative nucleotide binding domain of p34cdc2. It has been proposed that phosphorylation within this motif ablates the binding of ATP to the active site of p34cdc2, thereby inhibiting p34cdc2 kinase activity (K. Gould and P. Nurse, Nature [London] 342:39-44, 1989). To understand the mechanism of this inactivation, various forms of p34cdc2 were tested for the ability to bind nucleotide. The active site of p34cdc2 was specifically modified by the MgATP analog 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA). The apparent Km for modification of wild-type, monomeric p34cdc2 was 148 microM FSBA and was not significantly affected by association with cyclin B. Tyrosine-phosphorylated p34cdc2 was modified by FSBA with a slightly higher Km (241 microM FSBA). FSBA modification of both tyrosine-phosphorylated and unphosphorylated p34cdc2 was competitively inhibited by ATP, and half-maximal inhibition in each case occurred at approximately 250 microM ATP. In addition to being negatively regulated by phosphorylation, the kinase activity of p34cdc2 was positively regulated by the cyclin-dependent phosphorylation of Thr-161. Mutation of p34cdc2 at Thr-161 resulted in the formation of an enzymatically inactive p34cdc2/cyclin B complex both in vivo and in vitro. However, mutation of Thr-161 did not significantly affect the ability of p34cdc2 to bind nucleotide (FSBA). Taken together, these results indicate that inhibition of p34cdc2 kinase activity by phosphorylation of Tyr-15 (within the putative ATP binding domain) or by mutation of Thr-161 involves a mechanism other than inhibition of nucleotide binding. We propose instead that the defect resides at the level of catalysis.

Hierarchy of protein tyrosine kinases in interleukin-2 (IL-2) signaling: activation of syk depends on Jak3; however, neither Syk nor Lck is required for IL-2-mediated STAT activation.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) activates several different families of tyrosine kinases, but precisely how these kinases interact is not completely understood. We therefore investigated the functional relationships among Jak3, Lck, and Syk in IL-2 signaling. We first observed that in the absence of Jak3, both Lck and Syk had the capacity to phosphorylate Stat3 and Stat5a. However, neither supported IL-2-induced STAT activation, nor did dominant negative alleles of these kinases inhibit. Moreover, pharmacological abrogation of Lck activity did not inhibit IL-2-mediated phosphorylation of Jak3 and Stat5a. Importantly, ligand-dependent Syk activation was dependent on the presence of catalytically active Jak3, whereas Lck activation was not. Interestingly, Syk functioned as a direct substrate of Jak1 but not Jak3. Additionally, Jak3 phosphorylated Jak1, whereas the reverse was not the case. Taken together, our data support a model in which Lck functions in parallel with Jak3, while Syk functions as a downstream element of Jaks in IL-2 signaling. Jak3 may regulate Syk catalytic activity indirectly via Jak1. However, IL-2-mediated Jak3/Stat activation is not dependent on Lck or Syk. While the essential roles of Jak1 and Jak3 in signaling by gammac-utilizing cytokines are clear, it will be important to dissect the exact contributions of Lck and Syk in mediating the effects of IL-2 and related cytokines.

Induction of a substrate for casein kinase II during lymphocyte mitogenesis.

Particulate fractions prepared from concanavalin A-activated murine T lymphocytes contain an endogenous protein kinase that phosphorylates an endogenous protein substrate of Mr 112 000. The phosphorylation of 112 kDa protein is greatly reduced or absent in unstimulated T cells. Phosphoamino acid analysis indicates that 112 kDa protein is labeled on a serine. Add-back experiments using purified protein kinases indicate that 112 kDa protein serves as a substrate for casein kinase II. Phosphorylation of 112 kDa protein by the endogenous kinase is inhibited by heparin, a known casein kinase II inhibitor. The site or sites modified by the endogenous kinase and exogenous casein kinase II appear identical by peptide-mapping experiments. A time-course of the appearance of phosphorylated 112 kDa protein following stimulation with concanavalin A, measured in the presence or absence of added casein kinase II, suggests that 112 kDa protein is induced in activated T cells. Subcellular localization studies suggest that 112 kDa protein is a nuclear protein. Silver-binding and purification studies suggest that 112 kDa protein is of the nucleolar organizing region.

Properties of a tyrosine protein kinase from calf thymus. Response to ionic strength and divalent cations.

A tyrosine protein kinase activity has been partially purified from calf thymus using the phosphorylation of the tyrosine-containing peptide angiotensin I as an assay. Detergent extracts of calf thymus possessed only low levels of specific peptide phosphorylating activity when assayed at low ionic strength. The inclusion of NaCl at a concentration of 2 M stimulated endogenous tyrosine protein kinase activity, while the activity of other endogenous kinases was inhibited. This sensitivity to NaCl was retained following partial purification of the enzyme. The phosphorylation of other substrates such as casein or the R-R-SRC peptide (Arg-Arg-Leu-Ile-Glu-Asp-Ala-Glu-Tyr-Ala-Ala-Arg-Gly) by the tyrosine protein kinase was less sensitive to NaCl. Phosphorylation of the PK-1 peptide (Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Gly) by the purified catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was inhibited by NaCl. The effect of NaCl on angiotensin I phosphorylation could be mimicked by KCl or sodium acetate. The principal effect of NaCl was to increase the Vmax of the enzyme for the phosphorylation of angiotensin I. At low ionic strength, Mn2+ and Co2+ were the preferred required divalent cations. At elevated NaCl concentrations Mg2+ was preferred, with half-maximal activation occurring at 35 mM Mg2+. By conducting peptide phosphorylation assays in the presence of elevated levels of Mg2+ and NaCl, tyrosine protein kinase activity can readily be detected in extracts from cell lines that express low levels of the enzyme.

Posttranslational acylation of the transferrin receptor in LSTRA cells with myristate, palmitate and stearate: evidence for distinct acyltransferases.

When incubated with [3H]myristate or [3H]palmitate, LSTRA cells, a murine T cell line, incorporated radiolabel into a protein of 95 kDa as analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This dually acylated protein was identified as the transferrin receptor by immunoprecipitation with a monoclonal anti-transferrin receptor antibody. Acylation of the transferrin receptor was posttranslational and occurred via ester or thioester linkages. Analysis of radiolabeled transferrin receptor protein from [3H]myristate-labeled cells by acid hydrolysis followed by thin layer chromatography revealed the exclusive presence of [3H]myristate. Labeled transferrin receptor protein from [3H]palmitate-labeled cells contained predominantly [3H]stearate and smaller amounts of [3H]palmitate. This is in contrast to the protein-tyrosine kinase p56lck, which in [3H]palmitate-treated LSTRA cells, incorporated primarily [3H]palmitate. An analog of myristic acid, 5-nonanyloxyfuran-2-carboxylic acid, inhibited the incorporation of [3H]myristate, but not [3H]palmitate or [3H]stearate into transferrin receptor protein, suggesting that these acylation events are distinct. These studies indicate that the murine transferrin receptor is acylated posttranslationally with myristate, palmitate and stearate and suggest that more than one acyltransferase activity is responsible for its acylation.

Identification of the major sites of autophosphorylation of the murine protein-tyrosine kinase Syk.

The protein tyrosine kinase p72syk (Syk) is expressed in a variety of hematopoietic cell types, including B cells, thymocytes, mast cells and others. Both the activity and phosphotyrosine content of this enzyme increase in these cells in response to engagement of the appropriate cell surface receptors. Herein, we describe the cloning of murine Syk and its expression in Sf9 cells as a catalytically active protein. Full-length Syk and a catalytically active 42.5 kDa carboxyl terminal fragment were also expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins. Comparative reverse phase HPLC and 40% alkaline gel analysis of tryptic digests of phosphorylated Syk demonstrated that all of the major sites of autophosphorylation were also present in GST-Syk and all but one were contained in the 42.5 kDa fragment. The sites of autophosphorylation were identified using a combination of Edman sequencing and mass spectrometric analysis. Ten sites were identified. One site is located in the amino terminal half of the molecule between the two tandem Src homology 2 (SH2) domains. Five sites are located in the hinge region located between the carboxyl terminal SH2 domain and the kinase domain. Two sites lie in the kinase domain within the catalytic loop and two near the extreme carboxyl terminus. Sequences of phosphorylation sites located within the hinge region predict that Syk serves as a docking site for other SH2 domain-containing proteins. Consistent with this prediction, autophosphorylated Syk efficiently binds the carboxyl terminal SH2 domain of phospholipase C-gamma 1.

Synthesis and protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity of polyhydroxylated stilbene analogues of piceatannol.

A series of hydroxylated trans-stilbenes related to the antileukemic natural product trans-3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene (piceatannol) (1) has been prepared and tested for inhibition of the lymphoid cell lineage-specific protein-tyrosine kinase p56lck, which plays an important role in lymphocyte proliferation and immune function. A number of the analogues displayed enhanced enzyme inhibitory activity relative to the natural product. Reduction of the double bond bridging the two aromatic rings and benzylation of the phenolic hydroxyl groups was found to decrease activity significantly. The most potent compounds in the series proved to be trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene, trans-3,3',5-trihydroxystilbene, and trans-3,4,4'-trihydroxystilbene.

Synthesis and biochemical evaluation of a series of aminoflavones as potential inhibitors of protein-tyrosine kinases p56lck, EGFr, and p60v-src.

A series of nitroflavones, 8a-p, and their corresponding aminoflavone hydrochloride salts, 10a-p, was synthesized. The preparation of nitroflavones 8b-i,o,p began with commercially available o-hydroxyacetophenones 2b-f which were converted to o-hydroxynitroacetophenones 3a-h via a variety of nitration methods, followed by condensation with nitrobenzoyl chlorides and cyclization under acidic condition. The nitroflavones 8aj-n were prepared by nitration of the corresponding flavones 7a-e. These new compounds were evaluated for their abilities to inhibit the in vitro protein-tyrosine kinase activities of p56lck, EGFr, and p60v-src, and all of the active compounds were amino-substituted flavones. None of the nitroflavones inhibited the enzymes. The most active substance in this series against p56lck was compound 10j, which had an IC50 of 18 microM. When tested versus EGFr, compounds 10a,m displayed IC50's of 8.7 and 7.8 microM, respectively. Against p60v-src, 10a,m showed IC50 values of 28.8 and 38.4 microM, respectively.

Synthesis and protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitory activities of flavonoid analogues.

Treatment of o-hydroxyacetophenones 2a-e with excess lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide followed by dialkyl carbonates gave alkyl 3-(2-hydroxyaryl)-3-oxopropanoates 3a-e. The latter substances were transformed through the reaction of their magnesium chelates with benzoyl chlorides into a series of 3-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-arylflavones, which were subsequently elaborated into a variety of flavonoids. These compounds were tested for their abilities to inhibit the in vitro protein-tyrosine kinase activity of p56lck, an enzyme which is thought to play a key role in mediating signal transduction from the CD4 receptor during lymphocyte activation. All of the active compounds had either an amino or a hydroxyl substituent at the 4'-position of the 2-aryl ring. The most active substance prepared in this study is compound 17c, which is approximately 1 order of magnitude more potent than the natural product quercetin (1). Compound 17c was a competitive inhibitor of p56lck with respect to ATP and was highly selective for the inhibition of protein-tyrosine over protein-serine/threonine kinases.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of lavendustin A analogues that inhibit EGFR and Syk tyrosine kinases, as well as tubulin polymerization.

A series of N-alkylamide analogues of the lavendustin A pharmacophore were synthesized and tested for inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein tyrosine kinase and the nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase Syk. Although several compounds in the series were effective inhibitors of both kinases, it seemed questionable whether their inhibitory effects on these kinases were responsible for the cytotoxic properties observed in a variety of human cancer cell cultures. Accordingly, a COMPARE analysis of the cytotoxicity profile of the most cytotoxic member of the series was performed, and the results indicated that its cytotoxicity profile was similar to that of antitubulin agents. This mechanism of action was supported by demonstrating that most compounds in the series were moderately effective as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. This suggests that the lavendustin A analogues reported here, as well as some of the previously reported lavendustin A analogues, may be acting as cytotoxic agents by a mechanism involving the inhibition of tubulin polymerization.

Phosphorylation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase subunits.

The cAMP-dependent protein kinases comprise two enzyme forms designated as type I and type II. The type II enzyme can catalyze an autophosphorylation reaction whereby phosphate is transferred from ATP to one seryl residue on each regulatory subunit monomer. Since this reaction can occur in the absence of cAMP-induced enzyme dissociation, it has been used as a probe to identify one site of interaction between the catalytic subunit (C) and the type II regulatory subunit (R11). The type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase does not catalyze an analogous reaction; however, if cGMP-dependent protein kinase is substituted for C, the type I regulatory subunit (R1) becomes phosphorylated. The effects of cyclic nucleotides on this reaction, coupled with the ability of R1 to serve as an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase suggest that this phosphorylation also occurs within an important functional domain on R1. A comparison of the autophosphorylation site on R11 with the cGMP-dependent protein kinase catalyzed phosphorylation site on R1 indicates that each modification takes place within a similar proteolytically sensitive region. On each subunit, this sensitive "hinge" region lies distal to the functional domain responsible for regulatory subunit dimerization and proximal to that responsible for cAMP binding. Phosphorylation of the "hinge" region decreases the affinity of each regulatory subunit for C, although the magnitude of this change appears greater for R1 than for R11. Phosphorylation of R1 also reduces the stoichiometry of cAMP binding from two to one mole of cAMP bound per mole of R1 monomer. These results suggest that the "hinge" regions of both R1 and R11 form part of the interaction site between the regulatory subunit and C; and, in the case of R1, it also forms a portion of one of two cAMP-binding sites. The amino acid sequence surrounding the phosphorylated serine of each regulatory subunit has been determined: R11: D-R-R-V-S(P)-V R1: R-R-R-R-G-A-I-S(P)-A It is thought that the number and position of the basic amino acid residues proximal to the modified serine may be responsible, in part, for determining the susceptibility of each site to phosphorylation by cAMP or cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Both R1 and R11 exist as phosphoproteins in vivo. Dephosphorylation of purified "native" phospho-R1 is without effect on the ability of R1 to interact with either C or cAMP. The site phosphorylated in vivo is therefore distinct from that modified in vitro by cGMP-dependent protein kinase. In addition to the autophosphorylation site, R11 possesses a second, less enzymatically reactive, phosphorylation site that is modified in vivo. Dephosphorylation of this site is also without apparent effect on the functional properties of R11. The kinases responsible for catalyzing the phosphorylation of R1 and the cryptic site on R11 and the role that these modifications play in modulating kinase activity are currently unknown but are under active investigation.

Synthesis of myristoyl CoA analogues and myristoyl peptides as inhibitors of myristoyl CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase.

To develop inhibitors of myristoyl CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase (NMT), a series of myristoyl coenzyme A analogues and myristoyl peptides were synthesized, including S-(2-oxopentadecyl)-CoA (1), S-(2-hydroxypentadecyl)-CoA (2), S-(2-oxopentadecyl)-pantetheine (3), Myr-N-Gly-(L)-Phe (4), Myr-N-Gly-(L)-Tyr (5), and Myr-N-Gly-(L)-Asn-Ala- Ala-Ser-Ala-Arg-(NH2) (6). Biological evaluation of these compounds in an in vitro NMT enzyme assay revealed that the nonhydrolyzable acyl CoA analogue 1 was the most potent inhibitor [inhibitor dissociation constant (Ki) = 24 nM]. A preliminary structure-activity relationship study showed that the adenosine moiety and the 2-keto group in this nonhydrolyzable analogue were necessary for inhibitory activity. A possible mechanism for the inhibition of NMT by 1 was proposed, in which 1 might block the reaction at the stage of an acyl-CoA-NMT-peptide complex. Product analogues such as the myristoylated peptides 4-6 were poor inhibitors of NMT.

Oncogene signal transduction inhibitors from medicinal plants.

Signal transduction is believed to be altered by cellular oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes during the transformation of normal cells into malignant cells. This proposition offers an attractive target for oncogene-based anticancer drug discovery from natural sources. Protein kinases encoded or modulated by oncogenes were used to prescreen the potential antitumor activity of medicinal plants. Protein-tyrosine kinase-directed fractionation and separation of the crude extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum and Koelreuteria henryi have led to the isolation of three different classes of protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, anthraquinone, stilbene and flavonoid. The anthraquinone inhibitor, emodin, displayed highly selective activities against src-Her-2/neu and ras-oncogenes.

The protein-tyrosine kinase Syk interacts with TRAF-interacting protein TRIP in breast epithelial cells.

The nonreceptor, protein-tyrosine kinase Syk is a suppressor of breast cancer progression whose expression is inversely correlated with the invasive behavior of cancer cells. In contrast, Syk has a positive function in murine mammary tumor virus-mediated tumorigenesis. A yeast two-hybrid screen using a library from human mammary gland identified tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor-interacting protein (TRIP) as an Syk-binding partner. This interaction is mediated by the C-terminal region of TRIP and is enhanced by the treatment of cells with TNF and the tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk. Syk and TRIP have opposing functions in TNF-signaling pathways. Syk enhances the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB by TNF and this is antagonized by TRIP. The overexpression of TRIP sensitizes cells to TNF-induced apoptosis, an effect that can be reversed by the coexpression of Syk.

Use of a GTP photoaffinity probe to resolve aspects of the mechanism of tubulin polymerization.

8-Azidoguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-N3GTP) was used in a photoactivatable probe to examine the role of GTP in microtubule assembly. 8-N3GTP was able to substitute for GTP in the promotion of tubulin polymerization and was hydrolyzed at 37 degrees C in the presence or absence of colchicine or calcium. Photolysis of the analog in the presence of microtubular protein resulted in its covalent incorporation onto a GTP-specific site of the beta monomer. The efficiency of this incorporation was different when 8-N3GDP (which does not affect polymerization) was used in place of 8-N3GTP, implying a different orientation of the nucleoside diphosphate within the receptor site. During microtubule assembly, 8-N3GTP was hydrolyzed in situ at the tubulin-GTP exchangeable site in a process that was dependent upon polymerization. The use of [beta, gamma-32P]8-N3GTP and [gamma-32P]8-N3GTP indicated that this hydrolysis occurred concurrently with polymerization and that only nucleoside diphosphate remained bound to the polymerized tubulin.

Studies on the phosphorylation of the type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

The regulatory subunit of the type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase (RI) can be separated into multiple forms on isoelectric focusing gels. RI from bovine skeletal muscle gives rise to bands at pI = 5.57 and 5.45. Phosphate determinations indicate that the more acidic band contains protein-bound phosphate. RI from rat skeletal muscle can be separated into three bands of pI = 5.57, 5.45, and 5.35. The two acidic forms comigrate with labeled RI isolated from rat soleus muscles that were incubated with [32P]orthophosphate. RI from bovine muscle is isolated mainly in the unphosphorylated state while that from rat muscle is primarily phosphorylated. At lest 4 mol of phosphate can be incorporated into each RI dimer following extensive phosphorylation by cGMP-dependent protein kinase in vitro. Two phosphopeptides are observed on polyacrylamide gels following partial proteolysis of in vitro phosphorylated rat RI. One of these peptides is also observed following proteolysis of rat RI phosphorylated in intact soleus muscles.