Generation and characterization of p38beta (MAPK11) gene-targeted mice.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are activated primarily in response to inflammatory cytokines and cellular stress, and inhibitors which target the p38alpha and p38beta MAPKs have shown potential for the treatment of inflammatory disease. Here we report the generation and initial characterization of a knockout of the p38beta (MAPK11) gene. p38beta-/- mice were viable and exhibited no apparent health problems. The expression and activation of p38alpha, ERK1/2, and JNK in response to cellular stress was normal in embryonic fibroblasts from p38beta-/- mice, as was the activation of p38-activated kinases MAPKAP-K2 and MSK1. The transcription of p38-dependent immediate-early genes was also not affected by the knockout of p38beta, suggesting that p38alpha is the predominant isoform involved in these processes. The p38beta-/- mice also showed normal T-cell development. Lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production was also normal in the p38beta-/- mice. As p38 is activated by tumor necrosis factor, the p38beta-/- mice were crossed onto a TNFDeltaARE mouse line. These mice overexpress tumor necrosis factor, which results in development symptoms similar to rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. The progression of these diseases was not however moderated by knockout of p38beta. Together these results suggest that p38alpha, and not p38beta, is the major p38 isoform involved in the immune response and that it would not be necessary to retain activity against p38beta during the development of p38 inhibitors.

Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake does not require p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in adipose tissue or skeletal muscle.

It has been proposed that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) isoforms sensitive to the pyridinylimidazole compounds SB 203580 and SB 202190 may participate in the acute insulin-dependent activation of glucose transporters recruited to the plasma membrane of adipocytes and skeletal muscle. Here, we explore whether these kinases support the insulin stimulation of glucose uptake in these tissues by investigating the effects of a genetic loss in p38beta and that of the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580. Glucose uptake in adipocytes and soleus muscle was stimulated by insulin by up to fourfold irrespective of whether tissues were isolated from wild-type or p38beta-null mice. Consistent with this finding, mice lacking p38beta exhibited normal glucose tolerance, insulinemia, and glycemia compared with their wild-type counterparts. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was not inhibited by SB 203580 when adipocytes were preincubated with the drug at a cytocrit of 50%, but intriguingly, uptake was suppressed (by 35%) when the cytocrit was reduced by one-half. Despite the activation of glucose uptake at the higher cytocrit, insulin failed to induce any detectable activation of p38 MAPK, whereas p38 signaling was robustly activated by anisomycin in a SB 203580-sensitive manner. Although insulin also failed to induce any detectable activation of p38 MAPK in muscle, insulin-dependent glucose uptake was reduced by SB 203580 (approximately 44%) in muscle of both wild-type and p38beta-null mice. Our results indicate that p38beta is not required for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes or muscle. Moreover, given that insulin fails to promote any significant activation of p38 MAPK in these tissues and the finding that sensitivity of glucose uptake, but not that of the kinase, to SB 203580 can be influenced by cytocrit, we suggest that p38 signaling is unlikely to participate in any putative activation of transporters recruited to the cell surface by insulin and that SB 203580 suppresses insulin-stimulated glucose transport by a mechanism unrelated to its inhibitory effect on p38 MAPK.

MSKs are required for the transcription of the nuclear orphan receptors Nur77, Nurr1 and Nor1 downstream of MAPK signalling.

MSK (mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase) 1 and MSK2 are kinases activated downstream of either the ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) 1/2 or p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathways in vivo and are required for the phosphorylation of CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) and histone H3. Here we show that the MSKs are involved in regulating the transcription of the immediate early gene Nur77. Stimulation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts with PMA, EGF (epidermal growth factor), TNF (tumour necrosis factor) or anisomycin resulted in induction of the Nur77 mRNA. The induction of Nur77 by TNF and anisomycin was abolished in MSK1/2 double-knockout cells, whereas induction was significantly reduced in response to PMA or EGF. The MSK responsive elements were mapped to two AP (activator protein)-1-like elements in the Nur77 promoter. The induction of Nur77 was also blocked by A-CREB, suggesting that MSKs control Nur77 transcription by phosphorylating CREB bound to the two AP-1-like elements. Consistent with the decrease in Nur77 mRNA levels in the MSK1/2-knockout cells, it was also found that MSKs were required for the induction of Nur77 protein by PMA and TNF. MSKs were also found to be required for the transcription of two genes related to Nur77, Nurr1 and Nor1, which were also transcribed in a CREB- or ATF1 (activating transcription factor-1)-dependent manner. Downstream of anisomycin signalling, a second ERK-dependent pathway, independent of MSK and CREB, was also required for the transcription of Nurr1 and Nor1.

Survivin dynamics increases at centromeres during G2/M phase transition and is regulated by microtubule-attachment and Aurora B kinase activity.

The inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin is implicated in two key biological events: in the control of cell proliferation and in the regulation of cell lifespan. Although the details of mitotic roles of survivin are unclear, the protein appears to modulate microtubule function and might participate in regulating the spindle checkpoint. Survivin physically associates with Aurora B, a serine-threonine kinase involved in microtubule attachment to centromeres and regulation of chromosome segregation. Here we have examined the dynamics and localization of a survivin-GFP chimera using high-resolution fluorescence microscopy and photobleaching. Survivin forms a bi-partite structure at the inner centromere that undergoes significant stretching during mitosis. Photobleaching experiments revealed marked changes in rates of survivin turnover at centromeres. These were regulated by stage of the cell cycle, microtubule attachment, and Aurora B kinase activity. We hypothesize that changes in the turnover of survivin at centromeres influence the stability of kinetochore-microtubule attachment and signaling of the spindle checkpoint.

Caspase-mediated cleavage of the feline calicivirus capsid protein.

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is responsible for an acute upper respiratory tract disease in cats. The FCV capsid protein is synthesized as a precursor (76 kDa) that is post-translationally processed into the mature 62 kDa capsid protein by removal of the N-terminal 124 amino acids. Our previous studies have also detected a 40 kDa protein, related to the FCV capsid protein, produced during infection. Here we demonstrate that cleavage of the FCV capsid protein, during infection of cells in culture, was prevented by caspase inhibitors. In addition, caspase-2, -3 and -7 were activated during FCV infection, as shown by pro-form processing, an increase in N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-7-amido-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin cleavage activity and in situ poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Caspase activation coincided with the induction of apoptosis and capsid cleavage to the 40 kDa fragment. An in vitro cleavage assay, using recombinant human caspases and in vitro-derived FCV capsid protein, revealed that caspase-2, and to a lesser extent caspase-6, cleaved the capsid protein to generate a 40 kDa fragment. Taken together, these results suggest that FCV triggers apoptosis within infected cells and that caspase-induced capsid cleavage occurs concomitantly with apoptosis. The possible role of capsid cleavage in the pathogenesis of FCV infection is discussed.

Rapid microtubule-independent dynamics of Cdc20 at kinetochores and centrosomes in mammalian cells.

Cdc20 is a substrate adaptor and activator of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), the E3 ubiquitin ligase whose activity is required for anaphase onset and exit from mitosis. A green fluorescent protein derivative, Cdc20-GFP, bound to centrosomes throughout the cell cycle and to kinetochores from late prophase to late telophase. We mapped distinct domains of Cdc20 that are required for association with kinetochores and centrosomes. FRAP measurements revealed extremely rapid dynamics at the kinetochores (t1/2 = 5.1 s) and spindle poles (t1/2 = 4.7 s). This rapid turnover is independent of microtubules. Rapid transit of Cdc20 through kinetochores may ensure that spindle checkpoint signaling at unattached/relaxed kinetochores can continuously inhibit APC/CCdc20 targeting of anaphase inhibitors (securins) throughout the cell until all the chromosomes are properly attached to the mitotic spindle.