Tomohito Fujimoto

Identification and Characterization of Wolframin, the Product of the Wolfram Syndrome Gene (WFS1), as a Novel Calmodulin-Binding Protein

To search for calmodulin (CaM) targets, we performed affinity chromatography purification of a rat brain extract using CaM fused with GST as the affinity ligand. Proteomic analysis was then carried out to identify CaM-binding proteins. In addition to identifying 36 known CaM-binding proteins, including CaM kinases, calcineurin, nNOS, the IP(3) receptor, and Ca(2+)-ATPase, we identified an ER transmembrane protein, wolframin [the product of the Wolfram syndrome gene (WFS1)] as interacting. A CaM overlay and an immunoprecipitation assay revealed that wolframin is capable of binding the Ca(2+)/CaM complex in vitro and in transfected cells. Surface plasmon resonance analysis and zero-length cross-linking showed that the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain (residues 2-285) of wolframin binds to an equimolar unit of CaM in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner with a K(D) for CaM of 0.15 muM. Various truncation and deletion mutants showed that the Ca(2+)/CaM binding region in wolframin is located from Glu90 to Trp186. Furthermore, we demonstrated that three mutations (Ala127Thr, Ala134Thr, and Arg178Pro) associated with Wolfram syndrome completely abolished CaM binding of wolframin. This observation may indicate that CaM binding is important for wolframin function and that impairment of this interaction by mutation contributes to the pathology seen in Wolfram syndrome.

Identification and characterization of PRG-1 as a neuronal calmodulin-binding protein

Intracellular Ca2+-dependent cellular responses are often mediated by the ubiquitous protein CaM (calmodulin), which, upon binding Ca2+, can interact with and alter the function of numerous proteins. In the present study, using a newly developed functional proteomic screen of rat brain extracts, we identified PRG-1 (plasticity-related gene-1) as a novel CaM target. A CaM-overlay and an immunoprecipitation assay revealed that PRG-1 is capable of binding the Ca2+/CaM complex in vitro and in transfected cells. Surface plasmon resonance and zero-length cross-linking showed that the C-terminal putative cytoplasmic domain (residues 466-766) of PRG-1 binds equimolar amounts of CaM in a Ca2+-dependent manner, with a relatively high affinity (a Kd value for Ca2+/CaM of 8 nM). Various PRG-1 mutants indicated that the Ca2+/CaM-binding region of PRG-1 is located between residues Ser554 and Gln588, and that Trp559 and Ile578 potentially anchor PRG-1 to CaM. This is supported by pronounced changes in the fluorescence emission spectrum of Trp559 in the PRG-1 peptide (residues 554-588) upon binding to Ca2+/CaM, showing the stoichiometrical binding of the PRG-1 peptide with Ca2+/CaM. Immunoblot analyses revealed that the PRG-1 protein is abundant in brain, but is weakly expressed in the testes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PRG-1 is highly expressed in forebrain structures and in the cerebellar cortex. Furthermore, PRG-1 localizes at the postsynaptic compartment of excitatory synapses and dendritic shafts of hippocampal neurons, but is not present in presynaptic nerve terminals. The combined observations suggest that PRG-1 may be involved in postsynaptic functions regulated by intracellular Ca2+-signalling.

Differential AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Recognition Mechanism of Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase Kinase Isoforms

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) is a known activating kinase for AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In vitro, CaMKKβ phosphorylates Thr172 in the AMPKα subunit more efficiently than CaMKKα, with a lower Km (∼2 μm) for AMPK, whereas the CaMKIα phosphorylation efficiencies by both CaMKKs are indistinguishable. Here we found that subdomain VIII of CaMKK is involved in the discrimination of AMPK as a native substrate by measuring the activities of various CaMKKα/CaMKKβ chimera mutants. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis revealed that Leu358 in CaMKKβ/Ile322 in CaMKKα confer, at least in part, a distinct recognition of AMPK but not of CaMKIα.

Oxidative Stress Impairs the Stimulatory Effect of S100 Proteins on Protein Phosphatase 5 Activity

Oxidative stress is the consequence of an imbalance between the production of harmful reactive oxygen species and the cellular antioxidant system for neutralization, and it activates multiple intracellular signaling pathways, including apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1). Protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) is a serine/threonine phosphatase involved in oxidative stress responses. Previously, we reported that S100 proteins activate PP5 in a calcium-dependent manner. S100 proteins belong to a family of small EF-hand calcium-binding proteins involved in many processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and inflammation. Therefore, we investigated the effects of oxidative stress on S100 proteins, their interaction with PP5, and PP5 enzyme activity. Recombinant S100A2 was easily air-oxidized or Cu-oxidized, and oxidized S100A2 formed cross-linked dimers and higher molecular-mass complexes. The binding of oxidized S100A2 to PP5 was reduced, resulting in decreased PP5 activation in vitro. Oxidation also impaired S100A1, S100A6, S100B, and S100P to activate PP5, although the low dose of oxidized S100 proteins still activated PP5. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced S100A2 oxidation in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Huh-7) cells. Furthermore, H2O2 reduced the binding of S100A2 to PP5 and decreased PP5 activation in HaCaT and Huh-7 cells. Importantly, even the low dose of S100A2 achieved by knocking down increased dephosphorylation of ASK1 and reduced caspase 3/7 activity in Huh-7 cells treated with H2O2. These results indicate that oxidative stress impairs the ability of S100 proteins to bind and activate PP5, which in turn modulates the ASK1-mediated signaling cascades involved in apoptosis.

Oxidized S100A4 inhibits the activation of protein phosphatase 5 through S100A1 in MKN‑45 gastric carcinoma cells

S100 proteins bind to numerous target proteins, as well as other S100 proteins and activate signaling cascades. S100 proteins can be modified by various post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, methylation and acetylation. In addition, oxidation is important for modulating their activities. Previous studies have shown that S100A1 interacts with S100A4 in vitro and in vivo. Due to this potential cross‑talk among the S100 proteins, the aim of the present study was to examine whether S100A4 modulates the activity of S100A1. S100A4 was readily oxidized and formed disulfide-linked dimers and oligomers. Although non-oxidized S100A4 bound to protein phosphatase 5 (PP5), the Cu-oxidized S100A4 failed to bind PP5. Instead, the Cu-oxidized S100A4 directly interacted with S100A1 and prevented PP5 activation. Hydrogen peroxide induced S100A4 oxidation in MKN-45 gastric adenocarcinoma cells and decreased S100A1‑PP5 interaction, resulted in the inhibition of PP5 activation by S100A1. These data indicate that oxidized S100A4 regulates PP5 activity in a unique manner under oxidative stress conditions.

Ca2+/S100 proteins regulate HCV virus NS5A–FKBP8/FKBP38 interaction and HCV virus RNA replication

FKBP8/FKBP38 is a unique FK506‐binding protein with a C‐terminal membrane anchor and localizes at the outer membranes of mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. Similar to some immunophilins, such as FKBP51, FKBP52 and Cyclophilin 40, FKBP8/FKBP38 contain a putative Calmodulin‐binding domain and a tetratricopeptide‐repeat (TPR) domain for the binding of Hsp90. Both Hsp90 and the non‐structural protein 5A (NS5A) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) interact specifically with FKBP8/FKBP38 through its TPR domain, and the ternary complex formation plays a critical role in HCV RNA replication. The goal of this study is to evaluate that the host factor inhibits the ternary complex formation and the replication of HCV in vitro and in vivo.

In vitro substrate phosphorylation by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase using guanosine-5′-triphosphate as a phosphate donor

BackgroundCa2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK) phosphorylates and activates particular downstream protein kinases — including CaMKI, CaMKIV, and AMPK— to stimulate multiple Ca2+-signal transduction pathways. To identify previously unidentified CaMKK substrates, we used various nucleotides as phosphate donors to develop and characterize an in vitro phosphorylation assay for CaMKK.ResultsHere, we found that the recombinant CaMKK isoforms were capable of utilizing Mg-GTP as a phosphate donor to phosphorylate the Thr residue in the activation-loop of CaMKIα (Thr177) and of AMPK (Thr172) in vitro. Kinetic analysis indicated that the Km values of CaMKK isoforms for GTP (400-500 μM) were significantly higher than those for ATP (~15 μM), and a 2- to 4-fold decrease in Vmax was observed with GTP. We also confirmed that an ATP competitive CaMKK inhibitor, STO-609, also competes with GTP to inhibit the activities of CaMKK isoforms. In addition, to detect enhanced CaMKI phosphorylation in brain extracts with Mg-GTP and recombinant CaMKKs, we found potential CaMKK substrates of ~45 kDa and ~35 kDa whose Ca2+/CaM-induced phosphorylation was inhibited by STO-609.ConclusionsThese results indicated that screens that use STO-609 as a CaMKK inhibitor and Mg-GTP as a CaMKK-dependent phosphate donor might be useful to identify previously unidentified downstream target substrates of CaMKK.