Zengqiang Yuan

AKT1/PKBα Kinase Is Frequently Elevated in Human Cancers and Its Constitutive Activation Is Required for Oncogenic Transformation in NIH3T3 Cells

Extensive studies have demonstrated that the Akt/AKT1 pathway is essential for cell survival and inhibition of apoptosis; however, alterations of Akt/AKT1 in human primary tumors have not been well documented. In this report, significantly increased AKT1 kinase activity was detected in primary carcinomas of prostate (16 of 30), breast (19 of 50), and ovary (11 of 28). The results were confirmed by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining analyses with phospho-Ser473 Akt antibody. The majority of AKT1-activated tumors are high grade and stage III/lV (13 of 16 prostate, 15 of 19 breast, and 8 of 11 ovarian carcinomas). Previous studies showed that wild-type AKT1 was unable to transform NIH3T3 cells. To demonstrate the biological significance of AKT1 activation in human cancer, constitutively activated AKT1 (Myr-Akt) was introduced into NIH3T3 cells. Overexpression of Myr-Akt in the stably transfected cells resulted in malignant phenotype, as determined by growth in soft agar and tumor formation in nude mice. These data indicate that AKT1 kinase, which is frequently activated in human cancer, is a determinant in oncogenesis and a potential target for cancer intervention.

AKT2 Inhibition of Cisplatin-induced JNK/p38 and Bax Activation by Phosphorylation of ASK1 IMPLICATION OF AKT2 IN CHEMORESISTANCE

Cisplatin and its analogues have been widely used for treatment of human cancer. However, most patients eventually develop resistance to treatment through a mechanism that remains obscure. Previously, we found that AKT2 is frequently overexpressed and/or activated in human ovarian and breast cancers. Here we demonstrate that constitutively active AKT2 renders cisplatin-sensitive A2780S ovarian cancer cells resistant to cisplatin, whereas phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor or dominant negative AKT2 sensitizes A2780S and cisplatin-resistant A2780CP cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis through regulation of the ASK1/JNK/p38 pathway. AKT2 interacts with and phosphorylates ASK1 at Ser-83 resulting in inhibition of its kinase activity. Accordingly, activated AKT2 blocked signaling down-stream of ASK1, including activation of JNK and p38 and the conversion of Bax to its active conformation. Expression of nonphosphorylatable ASK1-S83A overrode the AKT2-inhibited JNK/p38 activity and Bax conformational changes, whereas phosphomimic ASK1-S83D inhibited the effects of cisplatin on JNK/p38 and Bax. Cisplatin-induced Bax conformation change was inhibited by inhibitors or dominant negative forms of JNK and p38. In conclusion, our data indicate that AKT2 inhibits cisplatin-induced JNK/p38 and Bax activation through phosphorylation of ASK1 and thus, plays an important role in chemoresistance. Further, regulation of the ASK1/JNK/p38/Bax pathway by AKT2 provides a new mechanism contributing to its antiapoptotic effects.

Advances of AKT pathway in human oncogenesis and as a target for anti-cancer drug discovery.

AKT (also known as PKB) plays a central role in a variety of cellular processes including cell growth, motility and survival in both normal and tumor cells. The AKT pathway is also instrumental in epithelial mesenchymal transitions (EMT) and angiogenesis during tumorigenesis. AKT functions as a cardinal nodal point for transducing extracellular (growth factors including insulin, IGF-1 and EGF ) and intracellular (such as mutated/activated receptor tyrosine kinases, PTEN, Ras and Src) signals. It is positively regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and inhibited by phosphatase PTEN. Deregulation of the PI3K/PTEN/AKT pathway is one of the most common altered pathways in human malignancy. In the past few years, significant advances have been made in the understanding of AKT signaling in human oncogenesis and the development of small molecule inhibitor of AKT pathway. Here, we will discuss the regulation and function of AKT as well as targeting AKT for anti-cancer drug discovery.

Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Akt Inhibits MST1-Mediated Pro-apoptotic Signaling through Phosphorylation of Threonine 120

The protein kinase mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) is a mammalian homologue of the Drosophila hippo and plays a critical role in regulation of programmed cell death. MST1 exerts pro-apoptotic function through cleavage, autophosphorylation-Thr(183) and subsequent translocation to the nucleus where it phosphorylates a number of molecules, including LATS1/2, FOXO, JNK, and histone H2B. Here, we show that the cleavage of MST1 is inhibited by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Akt interacts with MST1 and phosphorylates a highly conserved residue threonine 120 of MST1, which leads to inhibition of its kinase activity and nuclear translocation as well as the autophosphorylation of Thr(183). Phospho-MST1-Thr(120) failed to activate downstream targets FOXO3a and JNK. Further, inverse correlation between pMST1-Thr(120) and pMST1-Thr(183) was observed in human ovarian tumors. These findings indicate that the phosphorylation of MST1-Thr(120) by Akt could be a major mechanism of regulation of the Hippo/MST1 pathway by cell survival signaling.The protein kinase mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) is a mammalian homologue of the Drosophila hippo and plays a critical role in regulation of programmed cell death. MST1 exerts pro-apoptotic function through cleavage, autophosphorylation-Thr183 and subsequent translocation to the nucleus where it phosphorylates a number of molecules, including LATS1/2, FOXO, JNK, and histone H2B. Here, we show that the cleavage of MST1 is inhibited by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Akt interacts with MST1 and phosphorylates a highly conserved residue threonine 120 of MST1, which leads to inhibition of its kinase activity and nuclear translocation as well as the autophosphorylation of Thr183. Phospho-MST1-Thr120 failed to activate downstream targets FOXO3a and JNK. Further, inverse correlation between pMST1-Thr120 and pMST1-Thr183 was observed in human ovarian tumors. These findings indicate that the phosphorylation of MST1-Thr120 by Akt could be a major mechanism of regulation of the Hippo/MST1 pathway by cell survival signaling.

MST1 promotes apoptosis through regulating Sirt1-dependent p53 deacetylation.

Mammalian Sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) protein kinase plays an important role in the apoptosis induced by a variety of stresses. The MST1 is a serine/threonine kinase that is activated upon apoptotic stimulation, which in turn activates its downstream targets, JNK/p38, histone H2B and FOXO. It has been reported that overexpression of MST1 initiates apoptosis by activating p53. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying MST1-p53 signaling during apoptosis are unclear. Here, we report that MST1 promotes genotoxic agent-induced apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner. We found that MST1 increases p53 acetylation and transactivation by inhibiting the deacetylation of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) and its interaction with p53 and that Sirt1 can be phosphorylated by MST1 leading to the inhibition of Sirt1 activity. Collectively, these findings define a novel regulatory mechanism involving the phosphorylation of Sirt1 by MST1 kinase which leads to p53 activation, with implications for our understanding of signaling mechanisms during DNA damage-induced apoptosis.

c-Jun N-terminal Kinase Enhances MST1-mediated Pro-apoptotic Signaling through Phosphorylation at Serine 82

Protein kinases play an important role in the maintenance of homeostasis between cell survival and apoptosis. Deregulation of these kinases leads to various pathological manifestations, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The MST1 encodes a serine/threonine kinase that is activated upon apoptotic stimulation, which in turn phosphorylates its downstream targets, Histone H2B and FOXO. However, the upstream regulators of MST1 kinase have been poorly studied. In this study, we report that JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) phosphorylates MST1 at serine 82, which leads to the enhancement of MST1 activation. Accordingly, the activation of MST1 phosphorylates FOXO3 at serine 207 and promotes cell death. The inhibition of JNK kinase per se attenuates MST1 activity and nuclear translocation as well as MST1-induced apoptosis. We also find the S82A (serine mutated to alanine) diminishes MST1 activation and its effect on the FOXO transcription activity. Collectively, these findings define the novel feedback regulation of MST1 kinase activation by its putative substrate, JNK, with implication for our understanding of the signaling mechanism during cell death.

Inhibition of JNK by cellular stress- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced AKT2 through activation of the NF kappa B pathway in human epithelial Cells

Previous studies have demonstrated that AKT1 and AKT3 are activated by heat shock and oxidative stress via both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent and -independent pathways. However, the activation and role of AKT2 in the stress response have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we show that AKT2 in epithelial cells is activated by UV-C irradiation, heat shock, and hyperosmolarity as well as by tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) through a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathway. The activation of AKT2 inhibits UV- and TNFα-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 activities that have been shown to be required for stress- and TNFα-induced programmed cell death. Moreover, AKT2 interacts with and phosphorylates IκB kinase α. The phosphorylation of IκB kinase α and activation of NFκB mediates AKT2 inhibition of JNK but not p38. Furthermore, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor or dominant negative AKT2 significantly enhances UV- and TNFα-induced apoptosis, whereas expression of constitutively active AKT2 inhibits programmed cell death in response to UV and TNFα stimulation with an accompanying decreased JNK and p38 activity. These results indicate that activated AKT2 protects epithelial cells from stress- and TNFα-induced apoptosis by inhibition of stress kinases and provide the first evidence that AKT inhibits stress kinase JNK through activation of the NFκB pathway.

PHF20 is an effector protein of p53 double lysine methylation that stabilizes and activates p53.

PHF20 is a multidomain protein and subunit of a lysine acetyltransferase complex that acetylates histone H4 and p53 but whose function is unclear. Using biochemical, biophysical and cellular approaches, we determined that PHF20 is a direct regulator of p53. A Tudor domain in PHF20 recognized p53 dimethylated at Lys370 or Lys382 and a homodimeric form of this Tudor domain could associate with the two dimethylated sites on p53 with enhanced affinity, indicating a multivalent interaction. Association with PHF20 promotes stabilization and activation of p53 by diminishing Mdm2-mediated p53 ubiquitylation and degradation. PHF20 contributes to upregulation of p53 in response to DNA damage, and ectopic expression of PHF20 in different cell lines leads to phenotypic changes that are hallmarks of p53 activation. Overall our work establishes that PHF20 functions as an effector of p53 methylation that stabilizes and activates p53.

Regulation of Proapoptotic Mammalian ste20–Like Kinase MST2 by the IGF1-Akt Pathway

Background Hippo, a Drosophila serine/threonine kinase, promotes apoptosis and restricts cell growth and proliferation. Its mammalian homolog MST2 has been shown to play similar role and be regulated by Raf-1 via a kinase-independent mechanism and by RASSF family proteins through forming complex with MST2. However, regulation of MST2 by cell survival signal remains largely unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings Using immunoblotting, in vitro kinase and in vivo labeling assays, we show that IGF1 inhibits MST2 cleavage and activation induced by DNA damage through the phosphatidylinosotol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Akt phosphorylates a highly conserved threonine-117 residue of MST2 in vitro and in vivo, which leads to inhibition of MST2 cleavage, nuclear translocation, autophosphorylation-Thr180 and kinase activity. As a result, MST2 proapoptotic and growth arrest function was significantly reduced. Further, inverse correlation between pMST2-T117/pAkt and pMST2-T180 was observed in human breast tumors. Conclusions/Significance Our findings demonstrate for the first time that extracellular cell survival signal IGF1 regulates MST2 and that Akt is a key upstream regulator of MST2.

ArgBP2γ Interacts with Akt and p21-activated Kinase-1 and Promotes Cell Survival

Akt/protein kinase B is a major cell survival pathway through phosphorylation of proapoptotic proteins Bad and Bax and of additional apoptotic pathways linked to Forkhead proteins glycogen synthase kinase-3β and ASK1. To further explore the mechanism by which Akt regulates cell survival, we identified an Akt interaction protein by yeast two-hybrid screening. It is highly homologous to ARG-binding protein 2 (ArgBP2) with splicing exon 8 of the coding region of the ArgBP2. As two splicing isoforms (ArgBP2α and -β) of ArgBP2 have been identified (Wang, B., Golemis, E. A., and Kruh, G. D. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 17542–17550), it was named ArgBP2γ. ArgBP2γ contains four Akt phosphorylation consensus sites, a SoHo motif, and three Src homology (SH) 3 domains and binds to C-terminal proline-rich motifs of Akt through its first and second SH3 domains. It also interacts with p21-activated protein kinase (PAK1) via its first and third SH3 domains, indicating the SH3 domains of ArgBP2γ as docking sites for Akt and PAK1. Akt phosphorylates ArgBP2γ in vitro and in vivo. Expression of ArgBP2γ induces PAK1 activity and overrides apoptosis induced by ectopic expression of Bad or DNA damage. Nonphosphorylatable ArgBP2γ-4A and SH3 domain-truncated mutant ArgBP2γ inhibit Akt-induced PAK1 activation and reduce Akt and PAK1 phosphorylation of Bad and antiapoptotic function. These data indicate that ArgBP2γ is a physiological substrate of Akt, functions as an adaptor for Akt and PAK1, and plays a role in Akt/PAK1 cell survival pathway.