The PKA-CREB1 axis regulates coronavirus proliferation by viral helicase nsp13 association.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has posed a worldwide threat in the past 3 years. Although it has been widely and intensively investigated, the mechanism underlying the coronavirus-host interaction requires further elucidation, which may contribute to the development of new antiviral strategies. Here, we demonstrated that the host cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB1) interacts with the non-structural protein 13 (nsp13) of SARS-CoV-2, a conserved helicase for coronavirus replication, both in cells and in lung tissues subjected to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The ATPase and helicase activity of viral nsp13 were shown to be potentiated by CREB1 association, as well as by Protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated CREB1 activation. SARS-CoV-2 replication is significantly suppressed by PKA Cα, cAMP-activated protein kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PRKACA), and CREB1 knockdown or inhibition. Consistently, the CREB1 inhibitor 666-15 has shown significant antiviral effects against both the WIV04 strain and the Omicron strain of the SARS-CoV-2. Our findings indicate that the PKA-CREB1 signaling axis may serve as a novel therapeutic target against coronavirus infection. IMPORTANCE: In this study, we provide solid evidence that host transcription factor cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB1) interacts directly with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) helicase non-structural protein 13 (nsp13) and potentiate its ATPase and helicase activity. And by live SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, the inhibition of CREB1 dramatically impairs SARS-CoV-2 replication in vivo. Notably, the IC50 of CREB1 inhibitor 666-15 is comparable to that of remdesivir. These results may extend to all highly pathogenic coronaviruses due to the conserved nsp13 sequences in the virus.

GalNAc-conjugated siRNA targeting the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion junction in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) is a rare liver cancer caused by a dominant recurrent fusion of the heat shock protein (DNAJB1) and the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PRKACA). Current therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation have limited efficacy, and new treatment options are needed urgently. We have previously shown that FLC tumors are dependent on the fusion kinase DNAJB1::PRKACA, making the oncokinase an ideal drug target. mRNA degrading modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) provide an opportunity to specifically target the fusion junction. Here, we identify a potent and specific siRNA that inhibits DNAJB1::PRKACA expression. We found expression of the asialoglycoprotein receptor in FLC to be maintained at sufficient levels to effectively deliver siRNA conjugated to the GalNAc ligand. We observe productive uptake and siRNA activity in FLC patient-derived xenografts (PDX) models in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of DNAJB1::PRKACA results in durable growth inhibition of FLC PDX in vivo with no detectable toxicities. Our results suggest that this approach could be a treatment option for FLC patients.

Phoenixin-20 ameliorates Sevoflurane inhalation-induced post-operative cognitive dysfunction in rats via activation of the PKA/CREB signaling.

Post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication after surgery due to the usage of anesthetics, such as Sevoflurane, which severely impacts the life quality of patients. Currently, the pathogenesis of Sevoflurane-induced POCD has not been fully elucidated but is reportedly involved with oxidative stress (OS) injury and aggravated inflammation. Phoenixin-20 (PNX-20) is a PNX peptide consisting of 20 amino acids with promising inhibitory effects on OS and inflammation. Herein, we proposed to explore the potential protective function of PNX-20 on Sevoflurane inhalation-induced POCD in rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with 100 ng/g PNX-20 for 7 days with or without pre-inhalation with 2.2% Sevoflurane. Markedly increased escape latency and decreased time in the target quadrant in the Morris water maze (MWM) test, and aggravated pathological changes and apoptosis in the hippocampus tissue were observed in Sevoflurane-treated rats, which were markedly attenuated by PNX-20. Furthermore, the aggravated inflammation and OS in the hippocampus observed in Sevoflurane-treated rats were notably abolished by PNX-20. Moreover, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), protein kinase A (PKA), and phospho-cAMP response element binding protein/cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB/CREB) levels were markedly decreased in Sevoflurane-treated rats, which were memorably increased by PNX-20. Our results indicated that PNX-20 ameliorated Sevoflurane inhalation-induced POCD in rats via the activation of PKA/CREB signaling, which might supply a new treatment approach for POCD.

Oncogenic Addiction of Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma to the Fusion Kinase DNAJB1-PRKACA.

PURPOSE: Gene fusions are drivers of many pediatric tumors. In fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC), a fusion of DNAJB1 and PRKACA is the dominant recurrent mutation. Expression of the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion gene in mice results in a tumor that recapitulates FLC. However, it is not known whether transient expression of DNAJB1-PRKACA is sufficient only to trigger tumor formation or whether ongoing expression is necessary for maintenance and progression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We screened short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) tiled over the fusion junction and identified several potent and specific candidates in vitro and two independent FLC patient-derived xenografts (PDX). RESULTS: We show that continued DNAJB1-PRKACA expression is not only required for continued tumor growth, but additionally its inhibition results in cell death. Inhibition of DNAJB1-PRKACA by an inducible shRNA in cells of PDX of FLC resulted in cell death in vitro. Induction of the shRNA inhibits FLC tumors growing in mice with no effect on xenografts from a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line engineered to express DNAJB1-PRKACA. CONCLUSIONS: Our results validate DNAJB1-PRKACA as the oncogene in FLC and demonstrate both a continued requirement for the oncogene for tumor growth as well as an oncogenic addiction that can be exploited for targeted therapies. We anticipate our approach will be useful for investigations of other fusion genes in pediatric cancers and spur development of precision therapies.

miR-200a-3p Regulates PRKACB and Participates in Aluminium-Induced Tau Phosphorylation in PC12 Cells.

Aluminium (Al) is an environmental neurotoxin that humans are widely exposed to, but the molecular mechanism of its toxic effects is not fully understood. Many studies have shown that exposure to Al can cause abnormal phosphorylation of the tau protein that is believed as one of pathological features of Alzheimer's disease. Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) may be involved in the pathological processes of neurodegenerative diseases and are potential regulatory factors for related target genes. Phosphorylation at Ser-133 of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is one of the major pathways of CREB activation, and phosphorylation at this site is controlled by protein kinase A (PKA). The catalytic subunit of PKA, cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit beta (PRKACB), phosphorylates CREB. The target gene prediction software TargetScan showed that PRKACB was one of the target mRNAs of miR-200a-3p. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether miR-200a-3p regulates the PKA/CREB pathway by targeting PRKACB and leads to abnormal phosphorylation of the tau protein in nerve cells. The results showed that Al exposure increased the expression level of miR-200a-3p, and miR-200a-3p increased the expression of targeted downregulated PRKACB, and then decreased the PKA/CREB signalling pathway activity, leading to abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau.

Vascular and Liver Homeostasis in Juvenile Mice Require Endothelial Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase A.

During vascular development, endothelial cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) regulates angiogenesis by controlling the number of tip cells, and PKA inhibition leads to excessive angiogenesis. Whether this role of endothelial PKA is restricted to embryonic and neonatal development or is also required for vascular homeostasis later on is unknown. Here, we show that perinatal (postnatal days P1-P3) of later (P28-P32) inhibition of endothelial PKA using dominant-negative PKA expressed under the control of endothelial-specific Cdh5-CreERT2 recombinase (dnPKAiEC mice) leads to severe subcutaneous edema, hypoalbuminemia, hypoglycemia and premature death. These changes were accompanied by the local hypersprouting of blood vessels in fat pads and the secondary enlargement of subcutaneous lymphatic vessels. Most noticeably, endothelial PKA inhibition caused a dramatic disorganization of the liver vasculature. Hepatic changes correlated with decreased gluconeogenesis, while liver albumin production seems to be unaffected and hypoalbuminemia is rather a result of increased leakage into the interstitium. Interestingly, the expression of dnPKA only in lymphatics using Prox1-CreERT2 produced no phenotype. Likewise, the mosaic expression in only endothelial subpopulations using Vegfr3-CreERT2 was insufficient to induce edema or hypoglycemia. Increased expression of the tip cell marker ESM1 indicated that the inhibition of PKA induced an angiogenic response in the liver, although tissue derived pro- and anti-angiogenic factors were unchanged. These data indicate that endothelial PKA is a gatekeeper of endothelial cell activation not only in development but also in adult homeostasis, preventing the aberrant reactivation of the angiogenic program.

Investigation of -PRKACA/-PRKACB fusion genes in oncocytic tumors of the pancreatobiliary and other systems.

Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms (IOPNs) of the pancreatobiliary system are tumors comprising oncocytic cells, in which three types of fusion genes involving -PRKACA/-PRKACB were recently identified. IOPNs infrequently combine with other histological subtypes of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNBs). This study aimed to confirm the sensitivity/specificity of the fusion genes for IOPNs and to examine their significance in other oncocytic lesions. An RT-PCR, followed by DNA sequencing, was undertaken to examine the fusions in 18 histologically diagnosed IOPNs, including four combined IOPNs. Moreover, in two IOPN cases, invasive carcinomatous lesions were separately examined on their fusion status. Oncocytic thyroidal (n = 10), renal (n = 10), and salivary gland (n = 3) lesions and IPMNs (n = 9)/IPNBs (n = 4) with focal oncocytic changes were examined as controls. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using PRKACA break-apart probes was conducted for the combined IOPN cases. Target sequencing of KRAS exon2/3 and GNAS exon 8/9 was performed for IOPN cases. Fusions were detected in all IOPN cases including invasive lesions/none of the control cases. The fusion event was confirmed also in non-IOPN component in one of the four combined cases. Regarding mutation events, 5.6%/0% of IOPNs were KRAS-mt/GNAS-mt, respectively, and both components of combined IOPNs were all KRAS-wt/GNAS-wt. In conclusion, our study confirmed the sensitivity and specificity of these fusions for IOPNs. Here, we analyzed the roles of these fusion genes in combined IOPNs, proposing the possibility of IOPN development via IPMNs/IPNBs. Further studies with more combined cases are warranted.

Novel protein kinase cAMP-Activated Catalytic Subunit Alpha (PRKACA) inhibitor shows anti-tumor activity in a fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma model.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC) is known as a highly aggressive liver cancer that typically affects young adults without virus infection. Since this type of cancer does not respond to chemotherapy, surgery is the only known effective therapeutic option. Most FL-HCC patients express the fusion gene DNAJB1-PRKACA, which has been recognized as the signature of FL-HCC. It has also been reported that PRKACA kinase activity is essential for its oncogenic activity, suggesting that PRKACA kinase inhibition could be considered as an useful therapeutic target. In this study, we established an evaluation system for PRKACA kinase inhibitors and synthesized DS89002333, a novel PRKACA inhibitor. DS89002333 showed potent PRKACA inhibitory activity and inhibited fusion protein-dependent cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, this compound showed anti-tumor activity in an FL-HCC patient-derived xenograft model expressing the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion gene. Our data suggest that DS89002333 could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for FL-HCC.

DNAJB1-PRKACA in HEK293T cells induces LINC00473 overexpression that depends on PKA signaling.

Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a primary liver cancer that most commonly arises in adolescents and young adults in a background of normal liver tissue and has a poor prognosis due to lack of effective chemotherapeutic agents. The DNAJB1-PRKACA gene fusion (DP) has been reported in the majority of FLC tumors; however, its oncogenic mechanisms remain unclear. Given the paucity of cellular models, in particular FLC tumor cell lines, we hypothesized that engineering the DP fusion gene in HEK293T cells would provide insight into the cellular effects of the fusion gene. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to engineer HEK293T clones expressing DP fusion gene (HEK-DP) and performed transcriptomic, proteomic, and mitochondrial studies to characterize this cellular model. Proteomic analysis of DP interacting partners identified mitochondrial proteins as well as proteins in other subcellular compartments. HEK-DP cells demonstrated significantly elevated mitochondrial fission, which suggests a role for DP in altering mitochondrial dynamics. Transcriptomic analysis of HEK-DP cells revealed a significant increase in LINC00473 expression, similar to what has been observed in primary FLC samples. LINC00473 overexpression was reversible with siRNA targeting of PRKACA as well as pharmacologic targeting of PKA and Hsp40 in HEK-DP cells. Therefore, our model suggests that LINC00473 is a candidate marker for DP activity.

Bupleurum chinense DC improves CUMS-induced depressive symptoms in rats through upregulation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB signalling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bupleurum chinense DC. (B. chinense) is the dried root of B. chinense, belonging to the Umbelliferae family. B. chinense has been reported since ancient times for its effect of soothing the liver and relieving depression. Additionally, its important role in treating depression, depressed mood disorders and anti-inflammation has been proven in previous studies. However, its specific mechanism of action remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: The key targets and metabolites of the antidepressant effect of B. chinense were investigated based on the cAMP signalling pathway. The study examined the mechanism for the antidepressant effect of B. chinense by target prediction, analysis of related metabolites and potential metabolic pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A network pharmacology approach was used to predict the antidepressant targets and pathways of B. chinense. A depression rat model was established through the CUMS (chronic unpredictable mild stress) procedure. The depression model was assessed by body weight, sugar-water preference, water maze and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indicators (5hydroxytryptamine, etc.). The key metabolic pathways were screened by correlations between metabolites and key targets. Finally, a quantitative analysis of key targets and metabolites was experimentally validated. RESULTS: B. chinense significantly ameliorated the reduction in body weight, sugar-water preference rate and cognitive performance in the water maze experiment in rats with depression induced by CUMS. ELISA, Western blotting (WB) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays showed that B. chinense significantly improves the expression of protein kinase cyclic adenylic acid (cAMP)-activated catalytic subunit alpha (PRKACA), cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) and cAMP activation in the rat brain induced by CUMS. According to metabolic pathway analysis, B. chinense shows an antidepressant effect primarily by regulating the cAMP metabolic pathway. CONCLUSION: B. chinense upregulated PRKACA and CREB expression and the level of the key metabolite cAMP in the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway while reducing the inflammatory response to depression treatment. These new findings support future research on the antidepressant effects of B. chinense.

Expressing MLH1 in HCT116 cells increases cellular resistance to radiation by activating the PRKAC.

Mut L homolog-1 (MLH1) is a key DNA mismatch repair protein which participates in the sensitivity to DNA damaging agents. However, its role in the radiosensitivity of tumor cells is less well characterized. In this study, we investigated the role of MLH1 in cellular responses to ionizing radiation (IR) and explored the signaling molecules involved. The isogenic pair of MLH1 proficient (MLH1+) and deficient (MLH1-) human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells was exposed to IR for 24 h at the dose of 3 cGy. The clonogenic survival was examined by the colony formation assay. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed with flow cytometry. Changes in the protein level of MLH1, DNA damage marker γH2AX, and protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PRKAC), a common target for anti-tumor drugs, were examined with Western blotting. The results showed that the HCT116 (MLH1+) cells demonstrated increased radio-resistance with increased S population, decreased G2 population, a low level of γH2AX, a reduced ratio of phosphorylated PRKACαß to total PRKAC, and an elevated level of total PRKAC and phosphorylated PRKACßII following IR compared with the HCT116 (MLH1-) cells. Importantly, silencing PRKAC in HCT116 (MLH1+) cells increased the cellular radiosensitivity. In conclusion, MLH1 may increase cellular resistance to IR by activating PRKAC. Our finding is the first to demonstrate the important role of PRKAC in MLH1-mediated radiosensitivity, suggesting that PRKAC has potential as a biomarker and a therapeutic target for increasing radio-sensitization.

Protein modifications throughout the lung cancer proteome unravel the cancer-specific regulation of glycolysis.

Glycolytic reprogramming is a typical feature of cancer. However, the cancer-specific modulation of glycolytic enzymes requires systematic elucidation. Here, we report a range of dysregulated modifications in association with a family of enzymes specifically related to the glycolysis pathway by systematic identification of delta masses at the proteomic scale in human non-small-cell lung cancer. The most significant modification is the delta mass of 79.967 Da at serine 58 (Ser58) of triosephosphate isomerase (TPI), which is confirmed to be phosphorylation. Blocking TPI Ser58 phosphorylation dramatically inhibits glycolysis, cancer growth, and metastasis. The protein kinase PRKACA directly phosphorylates TPI Ser58, thereby enhancing TPI enzymatic activity and glycolysis. The upregulation of TPI Ser58 phosphorylation is detected in various human tumor specimens and correlates with poor survival. Therefore, our study identifies a number of cancer-specific protein modifications spanned on glycolytic enzymes and unravels the significance of TPI Ser58 phosphorylation in glycolysis and lung cancer development.

The 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 is an essential upstream activator of protein kinase A in malaria parasites.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signalling is essential for the proliferation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria blood stage parasites. The mechanisms regulating the activity of the catalytic subunit PfPKAc, however, are only partially understood, and PfPKAc function has not been investigated in gametocytes, the sexual blood stage forms that are essential for malaria transmission. By studying a conditional PfPKAc knockdown (cKD) mutant, we confirm the essential role for PfPKAc in erythrocyte invasion by merozoites and show that PfPKAc is involved in regulating gametocyte deformability. We furthermore demonstrate that overexpression of PfPKAc is lethal and kills parasites at the early phase of schizogony. Strikingly, whole genome sequencing (WGS) of parasite mutants selected to tolerate increased PfPKAc expression levels identified missense mutations exclusively in the gene encoding the parasite orthologue of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PfPDK1). Using targeted mutagenesis, we demonstrate that PfPDK1 is required to activate PfPKAc and that T189 in the PfPKAc activation loop is the crucial target residue in this process. In summary, our results corroborate the importance of tight regulation of PfPKA signalling for parasite survival and imply that PfPDK1 acts as a crucial upstream regulator in this pathway and potential new drug target.

Clinical and Molecular Characteristics of PRKACA L206R Mutant Cortisol-Producing Adenomas in Korean Patients.

BACKGROUND: An activating mutation (c.617A>C/p.Lys206Arg, L206R) in protein kinase cAMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha (PRKACA) has been reported in 35% to 65% of cases of cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs). We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and transcriptome analysis between PRKACA L206R mutants and wild-type CPAs in Korea. METHODS: We included 57 subjects with CPAs who underwent adrenalectomy at Seoul National University Hospital. Sanger sequencing for PRKACA was conducted in 57 CPA tumor tissues. RNA sequencing was performed in 13 fresh-frozen tumor tissues. RESULTS: The prevalence of the PRKACA L206R mutation was 51% (29/57). The mean age of the study subjects was 42±12 years, and 87.7% (50/57) of the patients were female. Subjects with PRKACA L206R mutant CPAs showed smaller adenoma size (3.3±0.7 cm vs. 3.8±1.2 cm, P=0.059) and lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels (218±180 ng/mL vs. 1,511±3,307 ng/mL, P=0.001) than those with PRKACA wild-type CPAs. Transcriptome profiling identified 244 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PRKACA L206R mutant (n=8) and wild-type CPAs (n=5), including five upregulated and 239 downregulated genes in PRKACA L206R mutant CPAs (|fold change| ≥2, P<0.05). Among the upstream regulators of DEGs, CTNNB1 was the most significant transcription regulator. In several pathway analyses, the Wnt signaling pathway was downregulated and the steroid biosynthesis pathway was upregulated in PRKACA mutants. Protein-protein interaction analysis also showed that PRKACA downregulates Wnt signaling and upregulates steroid biosynthesis. CONCLUSION: The PRKACA L206R mutation in CPAs causes high hormonal activity with a limited proliferative capacity, as supported by transcriptome profiling.

Integrated Phosphoproteomics for Identifying Substrates of Human Protein Kinase A (PRKACA) and Its Oncogenic Mutant DNAJB1-PRKACA.

The DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion is the signature genetic event of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC), a rare but lethal liver cancer that primarily affects adolescents and young adults. A deletion fuses the first exon of the HSP40 gene (DNAJB1), with exons 2-10 of protein kinase A (PRKACA), producing the chimeric kinase DNAJB1-PKAca (J-PKAca). The HSP40 portion's scaffolding/chaperone function has been implicated in redirecting substrate recognition to upregulate oncogenic pathways, but the direct substrates of this fusion are not fully known. We integrated cell-based and in vitro phosphoproteomics to identify substrates targeted directly by PKA and J-PKAca, comparing phosphoproteome profiles from cells with in vitro rephosphorylation of peptides and proteins from lysates using recombinant enzymes. We identified a subset of phosphorylation sites in both cell-based and in vitro experiments, as well as altered pathways and proteins consistent with observations from related studies. We also treated cells with PKA inhibitors that function by two different mechanisms (rpcAMPs and PKI) and examined phosphoproteome profiles, finding some substrates that persisted in the presence of inhibitors and revealing differences between WT and chimera. Overall, these results provide potential insights into J-PKAca's oncogenic activity in a complex cellular system and may provide candidate targets for therapeutic follow-up.

PKA Cß: a forgotten catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase opens new windows for PKA signaling and disease pathologies.

3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) dependent protein kinase or protein kinase A (PKA) has served as a prototype for the large family of protein kinases that are crucially important for signal transduction in eukaryotic cells. The PKA catalytic subunits are encoded by the two major genes PRKACA and PRKACB, respectively. The PRKACA gene encodes two known splice variants, the ubiquitously expressed Cα1 and the sperm-specifically expressed Cα2. In contrast, the PRKACB gene encodes several splice variants expressed in a highly cell and tissue-specific manner. The Cß proteins are called Cß1, Cß2, Cß3, Cß4 and so-called abc variants of Cß3 and Cß4. Whereas Cß1 is ubiquitously expressed, Cß2 is enriched in immune cells and the Cß3, Cß4 and their abc variants are solely expressed in neuronal cells. All Cα and Cß splice variants share a kinase-conserved catalytic core and a C-terminal tail encoded by exons 2 through 10 in the PRKACA and PRKACB genes, respectively. All Cα and Cß splice variants with the exception of Cα1 and Cß1 are hyper-variable at the N-terminus. Here, we will discuss how the PRKACA and PRKACB genes have developed as paralogs that encode distinct and functionally non-redundant proteins. The fact that Cα and Cß splice variant mutations are associated with numerous diseases further opens new windows for PKA-induced disease pathologies.

Smoothened transduces Hedgehog signals via activity-dependent sequestration of PKA catalytic subunits.

The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is essential for organ development, homeostasis, and regeneration. Dysfunction of this cascade drives several cancers. To control expression of pathway target genes, the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) Smoothened (SMO) activates glioma-associated (GLI) transcription factors via an unknown mechanism. Here, we show that, rather than conforming to traditional GPCR signaling paradigms, SMO activates GLI by binding and sequestering protein kinase A (PKA) catalytic subunits at the membrane. This sequestration, triggered by GPCR kinase (GRK)-mediated phosphorylation of SMO intracellular domains, prevents PKA from phosphorylating soluble substrates, releasing GLI from PKA-mediated inhibition. Our work provides a mechanism directly linking Hh signal transduction at the membrane to GLI transcription in the nucleus. This process is more fundamentally similar between species than prevailing hypotheses suggest. The mechanism described here may apply broadly to other GPCR- and PKA-containing cascades in diverse areas of biology.

Defective internal allosteric network imparts dysfunctional ATP/substrate-binding cooperativity in oncogenic chimera of protein kinase A.

An aberrant fusion of the DNAJB1 and PRKACA genes generates a chimeric protein kinase (PKA-CDNAJB1) in which the J-domain of the heat shock protein 40 is fused to the catalytic α subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA-C). Deceivingly, this chimeric construct appears to be fully functional, as it phosphorylates canonical substrates, forms holoenzymes, responds to cAMP activation, and recognizes the endogenous inhibitor PKI. Nonetheless, PKA-CDNAJB1 has been recognized as the primary driver of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma and is implicated in other neoplasms for which the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here we determined the chimera's allosteric response to nucleotide and pseudo-substrate binding. We found that the fusion of the dynamic J-domain to PKA-C disrupts the internal allosteric network, causing dramatic attenuation of the nucleotide/PKI binding cooperativity. Our findings suggest that the reduced allosteric cooperativity exhibited by PKA-CDNAJB1 alters specific recognitions and interactions between substrates and regulatory partners contributing to dysregulation.

Phosphorylation and Dephosphorylation of Tau Protein by the Catalytic Subunit of PKA, as Probed by Electrophoretic Mobility Retard.

BACKGROUND: Tau is a microtubule associated protein that regulates the stability of microtubules and the microtubule-dependent axonal transport. Its hyperphosphorylated form is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies and the major component of the paired helical filaments that form the abnormal proteinaceous tangles found in these neurodegenerative diseases. It is generally accepted that the phosphorylation extent of tau is the result of an equilibrium in the activity of protein kinases and phosphatases. Disruption of the balance between both types of enzyme activities has been assumed to be at the origin of tau hyperphosphorylation and the subsequent toxicity and progress of the disease. OBJECTIVE: We explore the possibility that, beside the phosphatase action on phosphorylated tau, the catalytic subunit of PKA catalyzes both tau phosphorylation and also tau dephosphorylation, depending on the ATP/ADP ratio. METHODS: We use the shift in the relative electrophoretic mobility suffered by different phosphorylated forms of tau, as a sensor of the catalytic action of the enzyme. RESULTS: The results are in agreement with the long-known thermodynamic reversibility of the phosphorylation reaction (ATP + Protein = ADP+Phospho-Protein) catalyzed by PKA and many other protein kinases. CONCLUSION: The results contribute to put the compartmentalized energy state of the neuron and the mitochondrial-functions disruption upstream of tau-related pathologies.

A glycolysis-related gene expression signature in predicting recurrence of breast cancer.

Metabolic change is the hallmark of cancer. In the present study, we aimed to develop a glycolysis-related gene signature to predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Gene expression profiles and clinical data of breast cancer patients were obtained from the GEO database. A four-gene based signature (ALDH2, PRKACB, STMN1 and ZNF292) was developed to separate patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. Patients in the low-risk group had significantly better prognosis than those in the high-risk group. Time-dependent ROC analysis demonstrated that the glycolysis-related gene signature had excellent prognostic accuracy. We further confirmed the expression of the four prognostic genes in breast cancer and paracancerous tissue samples using qRT-PCR analysis. Expression level of PRKACB was higher in paracancerous tissues, while STMN1 and ZNF292 were overexpressed in tumor samples, no significant difference was observed in ALDH2 expression level. Global proteome data of 105 TCGA breast cancer samples obtained from the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) were used to evaluate the prognostic value in protein levels. Consistently, high expression level of PRKACB protein was associated with favorable prognosis, while high ZNF292 and STMN1 protein expression levels indicated poor prognosis. The glycolysis-related gene signature might provide an effective prognostic predictor and a new insight for individualize management of breast cancer patients.