Paula B. Deming

The human decatenation checkpoint

Chromatid catenation is actively monitored in human cells, with progression from G2 to mitosis being inhibited when chromatids are insufficiently decatenated. Mitotic delay was quantified in normal and checkpoint-deficient human cells during treatment with ICRF-193, a topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitor that prevents chromatid decatenation without producing topoisomerase-associated DNA strand breaks. Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) cells, defective in DNA damage checkpoints, showed normal mitotic delay when treated with ICRF-193. The mitotic delay in response to ICRF-193 was ablated in human fibroblasts expressing an ataxia telangiectasia mutated- and rad3-related (ATR) kinase-inactive ATR allele (ATRki). BRCA1-mutant HCC1937 cells also displayed a defect in ICRF-193-induced mitotic delay, which was corrected by expression of wild-type BRCA1. Phosphorylations of hCds1 or Chk1 and inhibition of Cdk1 kinase activity, which are elements of checkpoints associated with DNA damage or replication, did not occur during ICRF-193-induced mitotic delay. Over-expression of cyclin B1 containing a dominant nuclear localization signal, and inhibition of Crm1-mediated nuclear export, reversed ICRF-193-induced mitotic delay. In combination, these results imply that ATR and BRCA1 enforce the decatenation G2 checkpoint, which may act to exclude cyclin B1/Cdk1 complexes from the nucleus. Moreover, induction of ATRki produced a 10-fold increase in chromosomal aberrations, further emphasizing the vital role for ATR in genetic stability.

Oxidation state governs structural transitions in peroxiredoxin II that correlate with cell cycle arrest and recovery.

Inactivation of eukaryotic 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (Prxs) by hyperoxidation has been proposed to promote accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for redox-dependent signaling events. We examined the oxidation and oligomeric states of PrxI and -II in epithelial cells during mitogenic signaling and in response to fluxes of H2O2. During normal mitogenic signaling, hyperoxidation of PrxI and -II was not detected. In contrast, H2O2-dependent cell cycle arrest was correlated with hyperoxidation of PrxII, which resulted in quantitative recruitment of ∼66- and ∼140-kD PrxII complexes into large filamentous oligomers. Expression of cyclin D1 and cell proliferation did not resume until PrxII-SO2H was reduced and native PrxII complexes were regenerated. Ectopic expression of PrxI or -II increased Prx-SO2H levels in response to oxidant exposure and failed to protect cells from arrest. We propose a model in which Prxs function as peroxide dosimeters in subcellular processes that involve redox cycling, with hyperoxidation controlling structural transitions that alert cells of perturbations in peroxide homeostasis.

Protein Kinase A Regulates 3-Phosphatidylinositide Dynamics during Platelet-derived Growth Factor-induced Membrane Ruffling and Chemotaxis

Spatial regulation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is required for chemotaxis in fibroblasts; however, the mechanism(s) by which PKA regulates the cell migration machinery remain largely unknown. Here we report that one function of PKA during platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced chemotaxis was to promote membrane ruffling by regulating phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) dynamics. Inhibition of PKA activity dramatically altered membrane dynamics and attenuated formation of peripheral membrane ruffles in response to PDGF. PKA inhibition also significantly decreased the number and size of PIP3-rich membrane ruffles in response to uniform stimulation and to gradients of PDGF. This ruffling defect was quantified using a newly developed method, based on computer vision edge-detection algorithms. PKA inhibition caused a marked attenuation in the bulk accumulation of PIP3 following PDGF stimulation, without effects on PI3-kinase (PI3K) activity. The deficits in PIP3 dynamics correlated with a significant inhibition of growth factor-induced membrane recruitment of endogenous Akt and Rac activation in PKA-inhibited cells. Simultaneous inhibition of PKA and Rac had an additive inhibitory effect on growth factor-induced ruffling dynamics. Conversely, the expression of a constitutively active Rac allele was able to rescue the defect in membrane ruffling and restore the localization of a fluorescent PIP3 marker to membrane ruffles in PKA-inhibited cells, even in the absence of PI3K activity. These data demonstrate that, like Rac, PKA contributes to PIP3 and membrane dynamics independently of direct regulation of PI3K activity and suggest that modulation of PIP3/3-phosphatidylinositol (3-PI) lipids represents a major target for PKA in the regulation of PDGF-induced chemotactic events.

Mitochondria, Cell Death, and B Cell Tolerance

To prevent autoimmunity, it is critical that tolerance mechanisms block autoantibody production from self-reactive B cells. B cell tolerance is maintained through mechanisms that can reversibly or irreversibly silence autoreactive B cells. Of these mechanisms, those that lead to B cell death offer the most reliable form of tolerance to prevent autoimmunity. In many cases, death of autoreactive B cells is regulated by the cell intrinsic, or mitochondrial pathway of cell death. The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, Bak, Bax, and Bim have been shown to be required for disruption of mitochondria and intrinsic cell death of self-reactive B cells whereas the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1 can prevent cell death by interfering with the action of Bax and Bak. Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL have also been shown to regulate the autophagic cell death pathway that may also play a role in B cell tolerance. Even after mitochondrial disruption, mechanisms exist that may impede activation of caspases and death of autoreactive B cells. Together, understanding of cell death mechanisms and how they may affect B cell tolerance has made significant recent advances and it is now important to incorporate alternate and post-mitochondrial cell death mechanisms into B cell tolerance models.

ATM Requirement in Gene Expression Responses to Ionizing Radiation in Human Lymphoblasts and Fibroblasts

The heritable disorder ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is caused by mutations in the AT-mutated (ATM) gene with manifestations that include predisposition to lymphoproliferative cancers and hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR). We investigated gene expression changes in response to IR in human lymphoblasts and fibroblasts from seven normal and seven AT-affected individuals. Both cell types displayed ATM-dependent gene expression changes after IR, with some responses shared and some responses varying with cell type and dose. Interestingly, after 5 Gy IR, lymphoblasts displayed ATM-independent responses not seen in the fibroblasts at this dose, which likely reflect signaling through ATM-related kinases, e.g., ATR, in the absence of ATM function. (Mol Cancer Res 2006;4(3):197–207)

Degradation of ATM-Independent Decatenation Checkpoint Function in Human Cells is Secondary to Inactivation of p53 and Correlated with Chromosomal Destabilization

DNA topoisomerase II is required in the cell cycle to decatenate intertwined daughter chromatids prior to mitosis. To study the mechanisms that cells use to accomplish timely chromatid decatenation, the activity of a catenation-responsive checkpoint was monitored in human skin fibroblasts with inherited or acquired defects in the DNA damage G2 checkpoint. G2 delay was quantified shortly after a brief incubation with ICRF-193, which blocks the ability of topoisomerase II to decatenate chromatids, or treatment with ionizing radiation (IR), which damages DNA. Both treatments induced G2 delay in normal human fibroblasts. Ataxia telangiectasia fibroblasts with defective G2 checkpoint response to IR displayed normal G2 delay after treatment with ICRF-193, demonstrating that ATM kinase was not required for signaling when chromatid decatenation was blocked. The G2 delay induced by ICRF-193 was reversed by caffeine, indicating that active checkpoint signaling was involved. ICRF-193-induced G2 delay also was independent of p53 function, being evident in cells expressing HPV16E6 to inactivate p53. However, as fibroblasts expressing HPV16E6 aged in culture, they lost the ability to delay entry to mitosis, both after DNA damage and when decatenation was blocked. This age-related loss of G2 delay in response to ICRF-193 and IR in E6-expressing cells was blocked by induction of telomerase. Expression of telomerase also prevented chromosomal destabilization in aging E6-expressing cells. These observations lead to a new model of genetic instability, in which attenuation of G2 decatenatory checkpoint function permits cells to enter mitosis with insufficiently decatenated chromatids, leading to aneuploidy and polyploidy. Key Words: Checkpoints, DNA damage, Decatenation, Topoisomerase II, ICRF-193, Radiation

Direct modulation of the protein kinase a catalytic subunit α by growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases

The cyclic‐AMP‐dependent protein kinase A (PKA) regulates processes such as cell proliferation and migration following activation of growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), yet the signaling mechanisms that link PKA with growth factor receptors remain largely undefined. Here we report that RTKs can directly modulate the function of the catalytic subunit of PKA (PKA‐C) through post‐translational modification. In vitro kinase assays revealed that both the epidermal growth factor and platelet derived growth factor receptors (EGFR and PDGFR, respectively) tyrosine phosphorylate PKA‐C. Mass spectrometry identified tyrosine 330 (Y330) as a receptor‐mediated phosphorylation site and mutation of Y330 to phenylalanine (Y330F) all but abolished the RTK‐mediated phosphorylation of PKA‐C in vitro. Y330 resides within a conserved region at the C‐terminal tail of PKA‐C that allosterically regulates enzymatic activity. Therefore, the effect of phosphorylation at Y330 on the activity of PKA‐C was investigated. The Km for a peptide substrate was markedly decreased when PKA‐C subunits were tyrosine phosphorylated by the receptors as compared to un‐phosphorylated controls. Importantly, tyrosine‐phosphorylated PKA‐C subunits were detected in cells stimulated with EGF, PDGF, and Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and in fibroblasts undergoing PDGF‐mediated chemotaxis. These results demonstrate a direct, functional interaction between RTKs and PKA‐C and identify tyrosine phosphorylation as a novel mechanism for regulating PKA activity. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 39–48, 2012.

Anchoring of Protein Kinase A by ERM (Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin) Proteins Is Required for Proper Netrin Signaling through DCC (Deleted in Colorectal Cancer)

Background: Netrin-1 can either attract or repel neuronal growth cones. Results: The ezrin/radixin/moesin proteins mediate interaction between protein kinase A (PKA) and deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC, a netrin receptor), which controls growth cone tropism. Conclusion: Localized PKA signaling governs axon guidance behavior toward netrin. Significance: This interaction provides insight into the signals governing axon pathfinding, neural development, and potentially other DCC-related functions. Netrin-1, acting through its principal receptor DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer), serves as an axon guidance cue during neural development and also contributes to vascular morphogenesis, epithelial migration, and the pathogenesis of some tumors. Several lines of evidence suggest that netrin-DCC signaling can regulate and be regulated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, PKA, although the molecular details of this relationship are poorly understood. Specificity in PKA signaling is often achieved through differential subcellular localization of the enzyme by interaction with protein kinase A anchoring proteins (AKAPs). Here, we show that AKAP function is required for DCC-mediated activation of PKA and phosphorylation of cytoskeletal regulatory proteins of the Mena/VASP (vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein) family. Moreover, we show that DCC and PKA physically interact and that this association is mediated by the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family of plasma membrane-actin cytoskeleton cross-linking proteins. Silencing of ERM protein expression inhibits DCC-PKA interaction, DCC-mediated PKA activation, and phosphorylation of Mena/VASP proteins as well as growth cone morphology and neurite outgrowth. Finally, although expression of wild-type radixin partially rescued growth cone morphology and tropism toward netrin in ERM-knockdown cells, expression of an AKAP-deficient mutant of radixin did not fully rescue growth cone morphology and switched netrin tropism from attraction to repulsion. These data support a model in which ERM-mediated anchoring of PKA activity to DCC is required for proper netrin/DCC-mediated signaling.

Novel Autophosphorylation Sites of Src Family Kinases Regulate Kinase Activity and SH2 Domain Binding Capacity

Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) are critical players in normal and aberrant biological processes. While phosphorylation importantly regulates SFKs at two known tyrosines, large‐scale phosphoproteomics have revealed four additional tyrosines commonly phosphorylated in SFKs. We found these novel tyrosines to be autophosphorylation sites. Mimicking phosphorylation at the C‐terminal site to the activation loop decreased Fyn activity. Phosphomimetics and direct phosphorylation at the three SH2 domain sites increased Fyn activity while reducing phosphotyrosine‐dependent interactions. While 68% of human SH2 domains exhibit conservation of at least one of these tyrosines, few have been found phosphorylated except when found in cis to a kinase domain.

Fyn Regulates Binding Partners of Cyclic-AMP Dependent Protein Kinase A

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) is a serine/threonine kinase involved in many fundamental cellular processes, including migration and proliferation. Recently, we found that the Src family kinase Fyn phosphorylates the catalytic subunit of PKA (PKA-C) at Y69, thereby increasing PKA kinase activity. We also showed that Fyn induced the phosphorylation of cellular proteins within the PKA preferred target motif. This led to the hypothesis that Fyn could affect proteins in complex with PKA. To test this, we employed a quantitative mass spectrometry approach to identify Fyn-dependent binding partners in complex with PKA-C. We found Fyn enhanced the binding of PKA-C to several cytoskeletal regulators that localize to the centrosome and Golgi apparatus. Three of these Fyn-induced PKA interactors, AKAP9, PDE4DIP, and CDK5RAP2, were validated biochemically and were shown to exist in complex with Fyn and PKA in a glioblastoma cell line. Intriguingly, the complexes formed between PKA-C and these known AKAPs were dependent upon Fyn catalytic activity and expression levels. In addition, we identified Fyn-regulated phosphorylation sites on proteins in complex with PKA-C. We also identified and biochemically validated a novel PKA-C interactor, LARP4, which complexed with PKA in the absence of Fyn. These results demonstrate the ability of Fyn to influence the docking of PKA to specific cellular scaffolds and suggest that Fyn may affect the downstream substrates targeted by PKA.