H. Peter Reusch

Roles of Gβγ in membrane recruitment and activation of p110γ/p101 phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ

Receptor-regulated class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) phosphorylate the membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns)-4,5-P2 to PtdIns-3,4,5-P3. This, in turn, recruits and activates cytosolic effectors with PtdIns-3,4,5-P3–binding pleckstrin homology (PH) domains, thereby controlling important cellular functions such as proliferation, survival, or chemotaxis. The class IB p110γ/p101 PI3Kγ is activated by Gβγ on stimulation of G protein–coupled receptors. It is currently unknown whether in living cells Gβγ acts as a membrane anchor or an allosteric activator of PI3Kγ, and which role its noncatalytic p101 subunit plays in its activation by Gβγ. Using GFP-tagged PI3Kγ subunits expressed in HEK cells, we show that Gβγ recruits the enzyme from the cytosol to the membrane by interaction with its p101 subunit. Accordingly, p101 was found to be required for G protein–mediated activation of PI3Kγ in living cells, as assessed by use of GFP-tagged PtdIns-3,4,5-P3–binding PH domains. Furthermore, membrane-targeted p110γ displayed basal enzymatic activity, but was further stimulated by Gβγ, even in the absence of p101. Therefore, we conclude that in vivo, Gβγ activates PI3Kγ by a mechanism assigning specific roles for both PI3Kγ subunits, i.e., membrane recruitment is mediated via the noncatalytic p101 subunit, and direct stimulation of Gβγ with p110γ contributes to activation of PI3Kγ.

Ca2+-controlled competitive diacylglycerol binding of protein kinase C isoenzymes in living cells.

The cellular decoding of receptor-induced signaling is based in part on the spatiotemporal activation pattern of PKC isoforms. Because classical and novel PKC isoforms contain diacylglycerol (DAG)-binding C1 domains, they may compete for DAG binding. We reasoned that a Ca2+-induced membrane association of classical PKCs may accelerate the DAG binding and thereby prevent translocation of novel PKCs. Simultaneous imaging of fluorescent PKC fusion proteins revealed that during receptor stimulation, PKCα accumulated in the plasma membrane with a diffusion-limited kinetic, whereas translocation of PKCɛ was delayed and attenuated. In BAPTA-loaded cells, however, a selective translocation of PKCɛ, but not of coexpressed PKCα, was evident. A membrane-permeable DAG analogue displayed a higher binding affinity for PKCɛ than for PKCα. Subsequent photolysis of caged Ca2+ immediately recruited PKCα to the membrane, and DAG-bound PKCɛ was displaced. At low expression levels of PKCɛ, PKCα concentration dependently prevented the PKCɛ translocation with half-maximal effects at equimolar coexpression. Furthermore, translocation of endogenous PKCs in vascular smooth muscle cells corroborated the model that a competition between PKC isoforms for DAG binding occurs at native expression levels. We conclude that Ca2+-controlled competitive DAG binding contributes to the selective recruitment of PKC isoforms after receptor activation.

Soluble Adenylyl Cyclase Controls Mitochondria-dependent Apoptosis in Coronary Endothelial Cells

The cAMP signaling pathway plays an essential role in modulating the apoptotic response to various stress stimuli. Until now, it was attributed exclusively to the activity of the G-protein-responsive transmembrane adenylyl cyclase. In addition to transmembrane AC, mammalian cells possess a second source of cAMP, the ubiquitously expressed soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC). However, the role of this cyclase in apoptosis was unknown. A mitochondrial localization of this cyclase has recently been demonstrated, which led us to the hypothesis that sAC may play a role in apoptosis through modulation of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. To prove this hypothesis, apoptosis was induced by simulated in vitro ischemia or by acidosis, which is an important component of ischemia. Suppression of sAC activity with the selective inhibitor KH7 or sAC knockdown by small interfering RNA transfection abolished endothelial apoptosis. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition or knockdown of protein kinase A, an important cAMP target, demonstrated a significant anti-apoptotic effect. Analysis of the underlying mechanisms revealed (i) the translocation of sAC to mitochondria under acidic stress and (ii) activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, i.e. cytochrome c release and caspase-9 cleavage. sAC inhibition or knockdown abolished the activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Analysis of mitochondrial co-localization of Bcl-2 family proteins demonstrated sAC- and protein kinase A-dependent translocation of Bax to mitochondria. Taken together, these results suggest the important role of sAC in modulating the mitochondria-dependent pathway of apoptosis in endothelial cells.

Type 10 soluble adenylyl cyclase is overexpressed in prostate carcinoma and controls proliferation of prostate cancer cells

Background: Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) may be an alternative intracellular localized source of cAMP controlling proliferation. Results: sAC is overexpressed in prostate carcinoma, and inhibition of sAC leads to cell cycle arrest. Conclusion: sAC controls proliferation of prostate carcinoma cells. Significance: sAC represents a novel pathway promoting proliferation in cancer cells and is a promising target for prostate cancer treatment. cAMP signaling plays an essential role in modulating the proliferation of different cell types, including cancer cells. Until now, the regulation of this pathway was restricted to the transmembrane class of adenylyl cyclases. In this study, significant overexpression of soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), an alternative source of cAMP, was found in human prostate carcinoma, and therefore, the contribution of this cyclase was investigated in the prostate carcinoma cell lines LNCaP and PC3. Suppression of sAC activity by treatment with the sAC-specific inhibitor KH7 or by sAC-specific knockdown mediated by siRNA or shRNA transfection prevented the proliferation of prostate carcinoma cells, led to lactate dehydrogenase release, and induced apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis revealed a significant rise in the G2 phase population 12 h after sAC inhibition, which was accompanied by the down-regulation of cyclin B1 and CDK1. sAC-dependent regulation of proliferation involves the EPAC/Rap1/B-Raf signaling pathway. In contrast, protein kinase A does not play a role. In conclusion, this study suggests a novel sAC-dependent signaling pathway that controls the proliferation of prostate carcinoma cells.

N-Terminal Proteolysis of the Endothelin B Receptor Abolishes Its Ability to Induce EGF Receptor Transactivation and Contractile Protein Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Objective—The extracellular N terminus of the endothelin B (ETB) receptor is cleaved by a metalloprotease in an agonist-dependent manner, but the physiological role of this N-terminal proteolysis is not known. In this study, we aimed to determine the functional role of the ETB receptor and of its N-terminal cleavage in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods and Results—VSMCs expressing either the full-length ETB receptor or an N-terminally truncated ETB receptor (corresponding to the N-terminally cleaved receptor) were analyzed for ligand-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and expression of contractile proteins. In VSMCs expressing the full-length ETB receptor, IRL1620 (an ETB-selective agonist) induced a biphasic extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation and increased expression of contractile proteins (smooth muscle myosin-1 [SM-1]/SM-2, SM22α, and α-actin). Interestingly, the second phase of ERK1/2 activation required metalloprotease activity, epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor transactivation, and predominantly activation of Gi proteins. In contrast, in VSMCs expressing N-terminally truncated ETB receptors, IRL1620 did not elicit EGF transactivation and failed to increase contractile protein expression. Conclusions—This study is the first to show that stimulation of full-length ETB receptors promotes expression of contractile proteins and may thus participate in the differentiation of VSMCs.

The Transactivated Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Recruits Pyk2 to Regulate Src Kinase Activity

G protein-coupled receptors such as proteinase-activated receptor 1 induce phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases through multiple pathways including transactivation of receptor tyrosine kinases. In vascular smooth muscle cells, both matrix-metalloproteinase-dependent extracellular shedding of membrane-bound epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor ligands and activation of the nonreceptor tyrosine kinases Pyk2 and Src contributed to the thrombin-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Surprisingly, disruption of the HB-EGF-mediated extracellular mode of EGF receptor transactivation also prevented the phosphorylation of the nonreceptor tyrosine kinases Pyk2 and Src, locating these kinases downstream of the transactivated EGF receptor. The ionomycin-induced Pyk2 phosphorylation was partially sensitive to AG1478, heparin, or the matrix-metalloproteinase inhibitor BB2116, and the ionomycin-induced EGF receptor phosphorylation was almost completely blocked by these inhibitors of extracellular transactivation. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed that, upon thrombin stimulation, a signaling complex consisting of Pyk2 and Src assembles at the EGF receptor. Reconstitution of the signaling molecules in HEK293 or vascular smooth muscle cells and subsequent determination of the EGF-induced Src kinase activity applying fluorescent sensor proteins demonstrated that a Ca2+-independent mode of Pyk2 activation is critical for the activation of Src downstream of the EGF receptor.

Endothelin A and Endothelin B Receptors Differ in Their Ability to Stimulate ERK1/2 Activation

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) acts on two different G protein–coupled receptors, namely the endothelin A (ETA) and the endothelin B (ETB) receptors. Both receptor subtypes show differences in their tissue expression and signal transduction. In the present study, we compared the ability of ETA and ETB receptors to stimulate extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). In addition, we analyzed the role of the extracellular N terminus for ERK1/2 activation, because the ETB receptor undergoes an agonist-dependent N-terminal proteolysis. ET-1 stimulation of HEK293 cells stably expressing the ETA receptor induced a monophasic, but sustained ERK1/2 activation, whereas the ETB receptor showed a biphasic ERK1/2 activation. A truncated mutant ETB receptor, lacking the proteolytically cleaved N terminus (Δ2-64 ETB) revealed only a monophasic and transient ERK1/2 activation. Treatment of HEK293 Δ2-64 ETB cell clones with ET-1 and a synthetic NT27-64 peptide, corresponding to the N-terminally cleaved fragment of the ETB receptor and ET-1, did not restore the biphasic activation of ERK1/2. A chimeric ETB receptor in which the N terminus was replaced by the N terminus of the ETA receptor elicited biphasic ERK1/2 activation. The presented data suggest that an intact N terminus of the ETB receptor is necessary for the second phase of ERK1/2 activation. However, it appears that the length of the N terminus rather than a specific sequence motif is required for biphasic ERK1/2 activation.

REQUIREMENT OF AN INTERMEDIATE GENE EXPRESSION FOR BIPHASIC ERK1/2 ACTIVATION IN THROMBIN-STIMULATED VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

The expression of contractile proteins in vascular smooth muscle cells is controlled by still poorly defined mechanisms. A thrombin-inducible expression of smooth muscle-specific α-actin and myosin heavy chain requires transactivation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and a biphasic activation of ERK1/2. Here we demonstrate that the sustained second phase of ERK1/2 phosphorylation requires de novo RNA and protein synthesis. Depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D or disruption of transit between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus by brefeldin A prevented the second phase of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. We thus conclude that synthesis and trafficking of a plasma membrane-resident protein may be critical intermediates. Analysis of the expression of protease-activated receptor 1, heparin-binding EGF (HB-EGF), and the EGF receptor revealed that pro-HB-EGF is significantly up-regulated upon thrombin stimulation. The kinetic of HB-EGF expression closely matched that of the second phase of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Because inhibition of matrix metalloproteases or of the EGF receptor strongly attenuated the late phase of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, the second phase of ERK1/2 activation is primarily relayed by shedding of EGF receptor ligands. The small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of HB-EGF expression confirmed an important role of HB-EGF expression in triggering the second phase of ERK1/2 activation. Confocal imaging of a yellow fluorescent protein-tagged HB-EGF construct demonstrates the rapid plasma membrane integration of the newly synthesized protein. These data imply that the hormonal control of contractile protein expression relies on an intermediate HB-EGF expression to sustain the signaling strength within the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade.