Alternative ERK5 regulation by phosphorylation during the cell cycle.

ERK5 is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family that, after stimulation, is activated selectively by dual phosphorylation in the TEY motif by MAPK kinase 5 (MEK5). ERK5 plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation, survival, differentiation and stress response. Moreover, it is involved in G2/M progression and timely mitotic entry. ERK5 is phosphorylated during mitosis, but the molecular mechanism by which it is regulated during this phase is still unclear. Here we show that although ERK5 is phosphorylated in mitosis, this does not occur on the activation motif (TEY), but at its C-terminal half. We have identified five sites of ERK5 phosphorylation in mitosis, two of them unknown. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ERK5 phosphorylation in mitosis is not MEK5-dependent, but rather, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-dependent. Using a mutagenesis approach, we analysed the importance of the phosphorylated residues in ERK5 function; our evidence show that phosphorylation in mitosis of the residues identified inhibits ERK5 activity and regulates ERK5 shuttling from cytoplasm to the nucleus. These results reveal a previously unreported form of ERK5 regulation by phosphorylation and establish a link between CDK and ERK5 pathways during mitosis, which could be crucial for the correct progression of the cell cycle.

Phosphorylation of the discs large tumour suppressor protein controls its membrane localisation and enhances its susceptibility to HPV E6-induced degradation.

The Discs Large (Dlg) protein is intimately involved in regulating cell polarity and cell proliferation, and is targeted by the high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) E6 proteins for proteasome-mediated degradation. We show here that exposure of cells to osmotic shock induces the hyperphosphorylation of Dlg and its concomitant accumulation within the cell membrane at sites of cell contact, a process that requires an intact actin filament network. In addition, hyperphosphorylation of Dlg also renders it more susceptible to degradation induced by the HPV-18 E6 oncoprotein. Mutational analysis of Dlg identifies a region within the first 185 amino acids as being important for this, with phosphorylation on residue S158 being responsible for its enhanced targeting by the E6 oncoprotein. Using specific kinase inhibitors, we show that Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is in part responsible for this phosphorylation, and for the subsequent Dlg accumulation at sites of cell contact. These results further support the notion of a complex phosphorylation-dependent regulation of Dlg, both with respect to its precise cellular localisation and to its susceptibility to proteasome-mediated degradation.

Lithium inhibits caspase 3 activation and dephosphorylation of PKB and GSK3 induced by K+ deprivation in cerebellar granule cells.

Lithium protects cerebellar granule cells from apoptosis induced by low potassium, and also from other apoptotic stimuli. However, the precise mechanism by which this occurs is not understood. When cerebellar granule cells were switched to low potassium medium, the activation of caspase 3 was detected within 6 h, suggesting a role of caspase 3 in mediating apoptosis under conditions of low potassium. In the same conditions, lithium (5 mM) inhibited the activation of caspase 3 induced by low potassium. As lithium did not inhibit caspase 3 activity in vitro, these results suggest that this ion inhibits an upstream component that is required for caspase 3 activation. Lithium is known to inhibit a kinase termed glycogen sythase kinase 3 (GSK3), which is implicated in the survival pathway of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/PKB). Here we demonstrate that low potassium in the absence of lithium induces the dephosphorylation, and therefore the activation, of GSK3. However, when lithium was present, GSK3 remained phosphorylated at the same level as observed under conditions of high potassium. Low potassium induced the dephosphorylation and inactivation of PKB, whereas when lithium was present PKB was not dephosphorylated. Our results allow us to propose a new hypothesis about the action mechanism of lithium, this ion could inhibit a serine-threonine phosphatase induced by potassium deprivation.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4).

The Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 4 (MKK4), a member of the MAP kinase kinase family, directly phosphorylates and activates the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK), in response to cellular stresses and proinflammatory cytokines. JNK is a member of the MAP kinase family and a key component of a stress activated protein kinase signalling pathway. MKK4 mRNA is widely expressed in adult mouse tissues, but is especially abundant in skeletal muscle and brain. Mice lacking the MKK4 gene had abnormal hepatogenesis and died before embryonic day 14. However cell lines lacking MKK4 have been obtained and these exhibited defective activation of JNK and AP-1 dependent transcription activity in response to some, but not all cellular stresses. Furthermore, T lymphocytes deficient in MKK4 showed impaired IL-2 production following activation of the T cell receptor, suggesting a key role of the MKK4/JNK pathway in inflammation. The mutation of the MKK4 gene in some carcinomas indicates that it may also have a role as a tumor suppressor. Control of the MKK4 activity and expression may provide novel approaches to cancer or anti-inflammatory therapy.

Involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase homologues in the regulation of lipopolysaccharide-mediated induction of cyclo-oxygenase-2 but not nitric oxide synthase in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

In RAW 264.7 macrophages lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated the activation of p42 and p44 MAP kinases and their upstream activator mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase (MAPKK), and induced the 69-kDa isoform of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the 130-kDa isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). PD 098059, a specific inhibitor of the activation of MAPKK, prevented LPS-mediated activation of MAPKK (IC50 = 3.0 +/- 0.1 microM, n = 3) and p42/44 MAP kinases and substantially reduced the induction of COX-2 by approximately 40%-70%, but was without effect upon the induction of iNOS. In parallel, LPS also stimulated the activation of p38 MAP kinase and the MAPKAP kinase-2, a downstream target of p38 MAP kinase. SB 203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase prevented the activation of p38 MAP kinase (IC50 = 3.3 +/- 1.4 microM, n = 3) and MAPKAP kinase-2 by LPS and reduced the induction of COX-2 by approximately 50-90%, with no significant effect upon iNOS expression. These studies indicate the involvement of both the classical p42/44 MAP kinases and p38 MAP kinase in the regulation of COX-2 but not iNOS induction following exposure to LPS.

Stress-activated protein kinase-3 interacts with the PDZ domain of alpha1-syntrophin. A mechanism for specific substrate recognition.

Mechanisms for selective targeting to unique subcellular sites play an important role in determining the substrate specificities of protein kinases. Here we show that stress-activated protein kinase-3 (SAPK3, also called ERK6 and p38gamma), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family that is abundantly expressed in skeletal muscle, binds through its carboxyl-terminal sequence -KETXL to the PDZ domain of alpha1-syntrophin. SAPK3 phosphorylates alpha1-syntrophin at serine residues 193 and 201 in vitro and phosphorylation is dependent on binding to the PDZ domain of alpha1-syntrophin. In skeletal muscle SAPK3 and alpha1-syntrophin co-localize at the neuromuscular junction, and both proteins can be co-immunoprecipitated from transfected COS cell lysates. Phosphorylation of a PDZ domain-containing protein by an associated protein kinase is a novel mechanism for determining both the localization and the substrate specificity of a protein kinase.

Stress-activated protein kinase-2/p38 and a rapamycin-sensitive pathway are required for C2C12 myogenesis.

The differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts to myotubes was found to be accompanied by a strong activation of p70 S6 kinase and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family member SAPK2/p38, without significant activation of p42 MAPK and only slight activation of SAPK1/JNK and protein kinase Balpha. Consistent with these findings, SB 203580 (a specific inhibitor of SAPK2/p38) or rapamycin (which blocks the activation of p70 S6 kinase) prevented the formation of multinucleated myotubes, as well as the expression of muscle-specific proteins that included SAPK3 (another MAPK family member). PD 098059 (which prevents the activation of p42 MAPK) had no effect on myotube formation. Surprisingly, the slow activation of p70 S6 kinase during differentiation was not only prevented by rapamycin but also by SB 203580, and the activation of MAPKAP kinase-2 (an in vivo substrate of SAPK2/p38) was not only prevented by SB 203580 but also by rapamycin. In contrast, the acute activation of p70 S6 kinase in C2C12 myoblasts induced by phorbol esters was unaffected by SB 203580 and the acute activation of MAPKAP kinase-2 induced by anisomycin was unaffected by rapamycin. These results show for the first time that SAPK2/p38 plays an essential role in C2C12 cell differentiation.

Differential activation of stress-activated protein kinase kinases SKK4/MKK7 and SKK1/MKK4 by the mixed-lineage kinase-2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) kinase-1.

Overexpression of the protein kinases mixed-lineage kinase-2 (MLK2) or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase kinase-1 (MEKK1) is known to trigger the activation of stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Here we demonstrate that MLK2 activates SAPK kinase-1 (SKK1)/MAPK kinase 4 (MKK4) and SKK4/MKK7, the two known direct activators of SAPK1/JNK (both in transfection studies and in vitro). In contrast, MEKK1 activates SKK1/MKK4 more efficiently than MLK2, but barely activates SKK4/MKK7. Since SKK4/MKK7 (but not SKK1/MKK4) is activated by interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor in several cells and tissues, we suggest that MEKK1 does not mediate the activation of SKK4/MKK7 and SAPK1/JNK induced by these pro-inflammatory cytokines. MLK2 and MEKK1 also activated SKK2/MKK3 and SKK3/MKK6, the direct upstream activators of SAPK2a/p38.

Effects of the inhibition of p38/RK MAP kinase on induction of five fos and jun genes by diverse stimuli.

The ERK, JNK/SAPK and p38/RK MAP kinase subtypes are differentially activated by physiological, pharmacological and stress stimuli; all three subtypes are implicated in immediate-early (IE) gene induction by these agents. Here, we have asked whether inhibition of a single MAP kinase subtype under these conditions would generally alter induction of several IE genes in a similar way or whether this would differentially up- and down-regulate particular IE genes, an issue which bears on the question of whether individual MAP kinases are strictly targeted to specific IE genes, or whether they might catalyse phosphorylation events that affect several IE genes in the same way. SB 203580, an inhibitor of p38/RK, has been used to analyse the role of this kinase in the induction of five IE genes (c-fos, fosB, c-jun, junB and junD) under diverse conditions of stimulation. In C3H 10T1/2 cells, p38/RK and its downstream kinase MAPKAP K-2 are activated by all stimuli used with the exception of TPA. The specificity of SB 203580 as a p38/RK inhibitor in these cells is demonstrated; it does not affect ERKs or JNK/SAPKs but does result in a small increase in the activity of the upstream kinase MKK6, the principal p38/RK activator in these cells. We find that inhibition of p38/RK under these conditions produces general effects on all five IE genes as a group in three ways. First, induction of all five genes in response to okadaic acid or tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is not significantly altered by SB 203580. Second, in cells stimulated with anisomycin or U.V. radiation, SB 203580 potently inhibits all of the induced IE genes. Finally, SB 203580 enhances induction of all five IE genes in EGF-treated cells; these enhanced mRNA levels are not due to stabilisation of labile mRNA transcripts. The significance of these results to current thinking on the relationship between distinct MAP kinase subtypes and specific IE genes is discussed.

SKK4, a novel activator of stress-activated protein kinase-1 (SAPK1/JNK).

A cDNA was cloned and expressed that encodes human stress-activated protein kinase kinase-4 (SKK4), a novel MAP kinase kinase family member whose mRNA is widely expressed in human tissues. SKK4 activated SAPK1/JNK in vitro, but not SAPK2a/p38, SAPK2b/p38beta, SAPK3/ERK6 or SAPK4. It appears to be the mammalian homologue of HEP, an activator of SAPK1/JNK in Drosophila. In human epithelial KB cells SKK4 and SKK1/MKK4 (another activator of SAPK1/JNK) were both activated by stressful stimuli, but only SKK4 was activated by proinflammatory cytokines. The identification of SKK4 explains why the major SAPK1/JNK activator detected in many mammalian cell extracts is chromatographically separable from SKK1/MKK4.

Activation of the novel stress-activated protein kinase SAPK4 by cytokines and cellular stresses is mediated by SKK3 (MKK6); comparison of its substrate specificity with that of other SAP kinases.

A cDNA was cloned that encodes human stress-activated protein kinase-4 (SAPK4), a novel MAP kinase family member whose amino acid sequence is approximately 60% identical to that of the other three SAP kinases which contain a TGY motif in their activation domain. The mRNA encoding SAPK4 was found to be widely distributed in human tissues. When expressed in KB cells, SAPK4 was activated in response to cellular stresses and pro-inflammatory cytokines, in a manner similar to other SAPKs. SAPK4 was activated in vitro by SKK3 (also called MKK6) or when co-transfected with SKK3 into COS cells. SKK3 was the only activator of SAPK4 that was induced when KB cells were exposed to a cellular stress or stimulated with interleukin-1. These findings indicate that SKK3 mediates the activation of SAPK4. The substrate specificity of SAPK4 in vitro was similar to that of SAPK3. Both enzymes phosphorylated the transcription factors ATF2, Elk-1 and SAP-1 at similar rates, but were far less effective than SAPK2a (also called RK/p38) or SAPK2b (also called p38beta) in activating MAPKAP kinase-2 and MAPKAP kinase-3. Unlike SAPK1 (also called JNK), SAPK3 and SAPK4 did not phosphorylate the activation domain of c-Jun. Unlike SAPK2a and SAPK2b, SAPK4 and SAPK3 were not inhibited by the drugs SB 203580 and SB 202190. Our results suggest that cellular functions previously attributed to SAPK1 and/or SAPK2 may be mediated by SAPK3 or SAPK4.

Phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau by stress-activated protein kinases.

The paired helical filament, which comprises the major fibrous element of the neurofibrillary lesions of Alzheimer's disease, is composed of hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau. Many of the hyperphosphorylated sites in tau are serine/threonine-prolines. Here we show that the stress-activated protein (SAP) kinases SAPK1gamma (also called JNK1), SAPK2a (also called p38, RK, CSBPs, Mpk2 and Mxi2), SAPK2b (also called p38beta), SAPK3 (also called ERK6 and p38gamma) and SAPK4 phosphorylate tau at many serine/threonine-prolines, as assessed by the generation of the epitopes of phosphorylation-dependent anti-tau antibodies. Based on initial rates of phosphorylation, tau was found to be a good substrate for SAPK4 and SAPK3, a reasonable substrate for SAPK2b and a relatively poor substrate for SAPK2a and SAPK1gamma. Phosphorylation of tau by SAPK3 and SAPK4 resulted in a marked reduction in its ability to promote microtubule assembly. These findings double the number of candidate protein kinases for the hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Activation of stress-activated protein kinase-3 (SAPK3) by cytokines and cellular stresses is mediated via SAPKK3 (MKK6); comparison of the specificities of SAPK3 and SAPK2 (RK/p38).

Stress-activated protein kinase-3 (SAPK3), a recently described MAP kinase family member with a wide-spread tissue distribution, was transfected into several mammalian cell lines and shown to be activated in response to cellular stresses, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in a similar manner to SAPK1 (also termed JNK) and SAPK2 (also termed p38, RK, CSBP and Mxi2). SAPK3 and SAPK2 were activated at similar rates in vitro by SAPKK3 (also termed MKK6), and SAPKK3 was the only activator of SAPK3 that was induced when KB or 293 cells were exposed to cellular stresses or stimulated with IL-1 or TNF. Co-transfection with SAPKK3 induced SAPK3 activity and greatly enhanced activation in response to osmotic shock. These experiments indicate that SAPKK3 mediates the activation of SAPK3 in several mammalian cells. SAPK3 and SAPK2 phosphorylated a number of proteins at similar rates, including the transcription factors ATF2, Elk-1 and SAP1, but SAPK3 was far less effective than SAPK2 in activating MAPKAP kinase-2 and MAPKAP kinase-3. Unlike SAPK2, SAPK3 was not inhibited by the drug SB 203580. SAPK3 phosphorylated ATF2 at Thr69, Thr71 and Ser90, the same residues phosphorylated by SAPK1, whereas SAPK2 only phosphorylated Thr69 and Thr71. Our results suggest that cellular functions previously attributed to SAPK1 and/or SAPK2 may be mediated by SAPK3.

Purification and cDNA cloning of SAPKK3, the major activator of RK/p38 in stress- and cytokine-stimulated monocytes and epithelial cells.

Two chromatographically distinct stress-activated protein kinase kinases (SAPKKs) have been identified in several mammalian cells, termed SAPKK2 and SAPKK3, which activate the MAP kinase family member RK/p38 but not JNK/SAPK in vitro. Here we demonstrate that SAPKK2 is identical or very closely related to the MAP kinase kinase family member MKK3. However, under our assay conditions, SAPKK3 was the major activator of RK/p38 detected in extracts prepared from stress- or interleukin-1-stimulated epithelial (KB) cells, from bacterial lipopolysaccharide and tumour necrosis factor alpha-stimulated THP1 monocytes or from rabbit skeletal muscle. The activated form of SAPKK3 was purified from muscle to near homogeneity, and tryptic peptide sequences were used to clone human and murine cDNAs encoding this enzyme. Human SAPKK3 comprised 334 amino acids and was 78% identical to MKK3. The murine and human SAPKK3 were 97% identical in their amino acid sequences. We also cloned a different murine cDNA that appears to encode a SAPKK3 protein truncated at the N-terminus. SAPKK3 is identical to the recently cloned MKK6.

p38/RK is essential for stress-induced nuclear responses: JNK/SAPKs and c-Jun/ATF-2 phosphorylation are insufficient.

The ERK, JNK/SAPK and p38/RK MAP kinase subtypes (reviewed in [1]) are differentially activated in mammalian cells by various stimuli, which elicit induction of immediate-early (IE) genes, such as c-fos and c-jun (reviewed in [1-3]), as well as phosphorylation of histone H3 [4] and HMG-14 [5]. Anisomycin and UV radiation have been suggested to induce c-fos and c-jun transcription via JNK/SAPK-mediated phosphorylation of TCF (ternary complex factor), for c-fos induction [6-8], and c-Jun and/or ATF-2 for c-jun induction [9-11] [12,13]. We report here that anisomycin and ultraviolet radiation (UV) activate MAP kinase kinase-6 (MKK6) [14,15], p38/RK [16] [17,18] and MAPKAP kinase-2 (MAPKAP K-2) [17-19]. By using the p38/RK inhibitor SB 203580 [20,21], we show that activation of p38/RK and/or its downstream effectors are essential for anisomycin- and UV-stimulated c-fos/c-jun induction and histone H3/HMG-14 phosphorylation, whereas JNK/SAPK activation and phosphorylation of c-Jun and ATF-2 are insufficient for these responses.

Ca2+ uptake coupled to glycogen phosphorolysis in the glycogenolytic-sarcoplasmic reticulum complex from rat skeletal muscle.

The glycogenolytic-sarcoplasmic reticulum complex from rat skeletal muscle accumulates Ca2+ upon stimulation of glycogen phosphorolysis in the absence of added ATP. It is shown that an efficient Ca2+ uptake involves the sequential action of glycogen phosphorylase, phosphoglucomutase and hexokinase, which generate low concentrations of ATP (approximately 1-2 microM) compartmentalized in the immediate vicinity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase (the Ca2+ pump). The Ca2+ uptake supported by glycogenolysis in this subcellular structure is strongly stimulated by micromolar concentrations of AMP, showing that the glycogen phosphorylase associated with this complex is in the dephosphorylated b form. The results point out that the flux through this compartmentalized metabolic pathway should be enhanced in physiological conditions leading to increased AMP concentrations in the sarcoplasm, such as long-lasting contractions and in ischemic muscle.

The p38/RK mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway regulates interleukin-6 synthesis response to tumor necrosis factor.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine, the activities of which include effects on gene expression, cell growth and cell death. The biological signalling mechanisms which are responsible for these TNF effects remain largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that the stress-responsive p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is involved in TNF-induced cytokine expression. TNF Treatment of cell activated the p38 MAP kinase pathway, as revealed by increased phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase itself, activation of the substrate protein MAPKAP kinase-2, and culminating in the phosphorylation of the heat shock protein 27 (hsp27). Pretreatment of cells with the highly specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 completely blocked this TNF-induced activation of MAPKAP kinase-2 and hsp27 phosphorylation. Under the same conditions, SB203580 also completely inhibited TNF-induced synthesis of interleukin (IL)-6 and expression of a reporter gene that was driven by a minimal promoter containing two NF-Kappa B elements. However, neither TNF-induced DNA binding of TNF-Kappa B nor TNF-induced phosphorylation of its subunits was modulated by SB203580, suggesting that NF-Kappa B is not a direct target for the p38 MAP kinase pathway. Interestingly, TNF-induced cytotoxicity was not affected by SB203580, indicating that p38 MAP kinase might be an interesting target to interfere selectively with TNF-induced gene activation.