PKC delta phosphorylates p52ShcA at Ser29 to regulate ERK activation in response to H2O2.

Both PKC delta and ShcA have been implicated in cell response to oxidative stress [Y. Hu, X. Wang, L. Zeng, D.Y. Cai, K. Sabapathy, S.P. Goff, E.J. Firpo, B. Li, Mol Biol Cell., 16 (2005) 3705-3718, B. Li, X. Wang, N. Rasheed, Y. Hu, S. Boast, T. Ishii, K. Nakayama, K.I. Nakayama, S.P., Goff, Genes Dev, 18 (2004) 1824-1837, E. Migliaccio, M. Giorgio, S. Mele, G. Pelicci, P. Reboldi, P.P. Pandolfi, L. Lanfrancone, P.G. Pelicci, Nature, 402 (1999) 309-313], yet their relationship in the response has not been studied. Here we report that PKC delta interacts with ShcA and this interaction is promoted by H(2)O(2). PKC delta and ShcA are also colocalized in the cytoplasm and displayed co-translocation in response to H(2)O(2). Activated PKC delta was able to phosphorylate ShcA at Ser29, as determined by mass spectrometry. These results suggest that ShcA, p66 and p52, are substrates that interact with PKC delta. This phosphorylation is critical in H(2)O(2) induced ERK activation as reconstitution with ShcA Ser29A failed to rescue ERK activation of ShcA-/- MEFs, while ShcA could. In line with this conclusion, inhibition of PKC delta with inhibitors is able to diminish H(2)O(2) induced ERK activation in MEFs. These results suggest that the interaction between PKC delta and ShcA and the phosphorylation of ShcA at Ser29 play important roles in ERK activation in cell response to H(2)O(2).