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B Ducommun

Publications and source records attributed to B Ducommun.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Characterization of an active GST-human Cdc2 fusion protein kinase expressed in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe: a new approach to the study of cell cycle control proteins.

Characterization of cdk (cyclin dependent kinases) substrates and studies of their regulation require purified enzymatic complexes of cdc2-related catalytic and cyclin regulatory subunits. We produced human Cdc2 kinase in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST). The GST-human Cdc2p fusion protein was active in vivo since it rescued a temperature-sensitive allele of cdc2. The fusion protein was purified using a one-step chromatography procedure with glutathione-Sepharose and exhibited a catalytic activity in vitro. Yeast cyclin B and suc1 were found in association with GST-Cdc2. A 17-fold stimulation of GST-Cdc2 kinase activity was obtained by incubation of recombinant human cyclin A with the S. pombe cellular extract prior to affinity purification. This indicates that cyclin concentration is limiting in this overexpression system. These findings describe a fast and easy production of active recombinant human Cdc2 kinase in yeast that can be used for biochemical studies.

CDC2 Protein Kinase↗
PubMed1991

cdc2 phosphorylation is required for its interaction with cyclin.

Activation of the cdc2 protein kinase at different stages of the cell cycle is regulated by post-translational modifications and interactions with cyclins. We show that in vitro translated human cdc2 binds very poorly to A and B cyclins, unless it has been preincubated with a Xenopus egg extract. This results in the phosphorylation of cdc2 which allows binding to cyclins. The replacement of Thr161, a residue conserved and phosphorylated in other protein kinases, with valine inhibits cdc2 association with A and B cyclins. In addition, mutations in the amino-terminus of cdc2 and within the conserved 'PSTAIR' region strongly inhibit binding. The Thr161Val mutation causes a lethal phenotype in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, while replacement of Thr161 with glutamic acid, potentially mimicking phosphorylation, causes uncoordination of mitosis and multiple cytokinesis. These results suggest that a threonine phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle is involved in regulating cdc2 function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Mutations at sites involved in Suc1 binding inactivate Cdc2.

suc1+ encodes an essential cell cycle regulator of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Its product, a 13-kDa protein, interacts with the Cdc2 protein kinase. Both positive and negative effects on cell cycle progression have been attributed to Suc1. To date, the exact mechanisms and the physiological role of the interaction between Suc1 and Cdc2 remain unclear. Here we have studied the molecular basis of this association. We show that Cdc2 can bind Suc1 or its mammalian homolog directly in the absence of any additional protein component. Using an alanine scanning mutagenesis method, we analyzed the interaction between Cdc2 and Suc1. We show that the integrity of several domains on the Cdc2 protein, including sites directly involved in catalytic activity, is required for binding to Suc1. Furthermore, Cdc2 mutant proteins unable to bind Suc1 (but able to bind cyclins) are nonfunctional when overexpressed in S. pombe, indicating that a specific interaction with Suc1 is required for Cdc2 function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

From growth to cell cycle control.

How does a quiescent cell decide to re-enter the cell cycle and start replicating its DNA? What controls cell proliferation? These are fundamental questions that have to be solved in order to understand the mechanisms of oncogenesis. Some recent data have provided clues about how signal transduction pathways may be connected to the cell cycle. A protein kinase cascade starting from the membrane growth factor receptor is thought to be involved in transducing extracellular stimuli to the master switches of the cell cycle control machinery. The recently identified extracellular-signal regulated kinases (ERKs) appear to play an important role in this pathway. Expression of cyclins, which are regulatory subunits of the universal cell cycle oscillator cdc2, may also be controlled through this kinase cascade. The products of tumor suppressor genes Rb and p53 also play an important role in regulating cell proliferation by interfering with the cell cycle pathway. Here, I will review and discuss the importance of these different new results.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Distinct nuclear and spindle pole body population of cyclin-cdc2 in fission yeast.

Cyclins, as subunits of the protein kinase encoded by the cdc2 gene are major controlling elements of the eukaryotic cell cycle. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has a B-type cyclin, which is a nuclear protein encoded by the cdc13 gene. Here we demonstrate the presence of two spatially distinct cdc13 cyclin populations in the nucleus of S. pombe, one of which is associated with the mitotic spindle poles. Both populations colocalize with the product of the cdc2 gene (p34cdc2). Treatment of cells with the antimicrotubule drug thiabendazole prevents cyclin degradation and blocks the tyrosine dephosphorylation and activation of cdc2. These results suggest a key regulatory role of the cdc2-cyclin complex in the initiation of mitotic spindle formation and also that mitotic microtubule function is required for cdc2 activation.

CDC2 Protein Kinase↗
PubMed1990

Direct activation of cdc2 with phosphatase: identification of p13suc1-sensitive and insensitive steps.

In Xenopus oocytes, activation of MPF during prophase-metaphase transition is associated with the tyrosine dephosphorylation of the cdc2 protein. In vivo and in cell-free extracts kinase activation can be inhibited by excess p13suc1, a subunit of the protein kinase. Here we have demonstrated that affinity-purified cdc2 from Xenopus prophase oocytes may be activated in vitro by exposure to potato acid phosphatase. In vitro, excess p13 does not inhibit tyrosine dephosphorylation of prophase cdc2, but nonetheless binds and prevents the activation of the enzyme. By contrast, fully activated enzyme from metaphase Xenopus eggs is insensitive to excess p13. These observations define a p13-sensitive state in the activation of fully active cdc2 that follows tyrosine dephosphorylation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A versatile microtiter assay for the universal cdc2 cell cycle regulator.

A microassay for p34cdc2 based on the high affinity association between cdc2 and Schizosaccharomyces pombe p13suc1 has been developed. p13 purified from Escherichia coli was immobilized on microtiter plates and cellular lysate was incubated in the wells to allow the binding of cdc2 and its associated proteins. p34cdc2 was assayed either as a histone kinase or by immunological methods. The method was optimized for S. pombe cell extracts but can also be applied to other organisms such as Xenopus oocytes or HeLa cells. This rapid assay allows the specific determination of p34cdc2 histone H1 kinase activity in a very large number of samples.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Fission yeast cdc25 is a cell-cycle regulated protein.

Fission yeast cell division is initiated by the cdc2/cdc13-cyclin protein kinase which in its catalytically active state comprises the mitotic inducer. During interphase the cdc2/cyclin complex is assembled in an inactive state that requires cdc25+ gene function for M-phase activation. The cdc25+ product, a 76 kd phosphoprotein, is shown to oscillate in abundance during the cell cycle, reaching a peak at G2/M, and to be sensitive to nitrogen starvation. The level of cdc25 is subject to feedback regulation involving both cdc25 and cdc2.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of tubulin synthesis during the cell cycle in the synchronous plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum.

Regulation of alpha- and beta-tubulin isotype synthesis during the cell cycle has been studied in the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum, by subjecting synchronous plasmodia to temperature shifts and pharmacological perturbations. Temperature shifts interfered with the regulation of tubulin synthesis. Inhibition of DNA synthesis prevents tubulin degradation after completion of the cell cycle (Ducommun and Wright, Eur. J. Cell Biol., 50:48-55, 1989) but did not perturb the initiation of tubulin synthesis. The constant increase of tubulin synthesis in the presence of tubulin-sequestering drugs and the decrease of tubulin synthesis during a treatment with aphidicolin in late G2 phase suggest the existence of an autoregulatory mechanism of tubulin synthesis. Moreover, the microtubule poison methyl benzimidazole carbamate dissociated synthesis of the alpha 1-tubulin isotype from the generally strictly coordinated synthesis of all tubulin isotypes during the transient interruption of mitosis. These observations show that a microtubular poison can perturb regulation of the synthesis of specific isotubulins.

Aphidicolin↗
PubMed1990

Cell cycle regulation of p34cdc2 kinase activity in Physarum polycephalum.

The regulation of the mitotic histone H1 kinase activity has been analyzed during the naturally synchronous cell cycle of Physarum polycephalum plasmodia. The universal binding property of the p13suc1 Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene product was used to precipitate and assay the cdc2 histone H1 kinase activity. The kinase activity peaks at the beginning of metaphase and its decline, which requires protein synthesis, appears to be an early event during the metaphase process. Microtubular poisons, temperature shifts and DNA synthesis inhibitors were used to perturb cell cycle regulatory pathways and characterize their effects on cdc2 kinase activation. Our results suggest that the full activation of the mitotic kinase requires at least two successive triggering signals involving microtubular components and DNA synthesis.

Aphidicolin↗
PubMed1989

Variation of tubulin half-life during the cell cycle in the synchronous plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum.

The half-life of tubulin has been studied during the cell cycle of the myxomycete Physarum, using a specific quantitative immunological method. In asynchronous microplasmodial and amoebal cultures the apparent half-life of tubulin was greater than 15 h. In contrast, in the naturally synchronous plasmodia, in which tubulin exhibits a cyclic synthesis, we have shown for the first time that tubulin half-life was not constant through the cell cycle. There was no tubulin degradation before mitosis, while tubulin half-life was reduced to about 1 h during the postmitotic period. Such a variation of stability through the cell cycle has not been observed in the case of thymidine kinase, another protein showing a cyclic synthesis in Physarum plasmodia. The decrease of tubulin half-life that occurred during the S-phase immediately following mitosis (no G1-phase in Physarum) was independent of the increase of growth temperature between 22 and 32 degrees C, in contrast with the half-life of thymidine kinase which decreased in the same conditions. Tubulin did not completely disappear after mitosis. A 20% residual amount of tubulin persisted from late S-phase to early G2-phase. We have shown that tubulin degradation was not modified by actinomycin D or cycloheximide but was prevented when DNA synthesis was inhibited by fluorodeoxyuridine and hydroxyurea. In contrast, inhibition of S-phase did not modify the half-life of thymidine kinase. These results indicate that: 1) during the cell cycle, the pool of tubulin is regulated not only at the transcriptional and translational levels but also by a cell cycle-dependent degradative process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cycloheximide↗
PubMed1988

Microtubule cytoskeleton and morphogenesis in the amoebae of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum.

The amoebae of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum are of interest in order to analyze the morphogenesis of the microtubule and microfilament cytoskeleton during cell cycle and flagellation. The amoebal interphase microtubule cytoskeleton consists of 2 distinct levels of organization, which correspond to different physiological roles. The first level is composed of the 2 kinetosomes or centrioles and their associated structures. The anterior kinetosomes forming the anterior and posterior flagella are morphologically distinguishable. Each centriole plays a role in the morphogenesis of its associated satellites and specific microtubule arrays. The 2 distinct centrioles correspond to the 2 successive maturation stages of the pro-centrioles which are built during prophase. The second level of organization consists of a prominent microtubule organizing center (mtoc 1) to which the anterior centriole is attached at least during interphase. The mtoc plays a role in the formation of the mitotic pole. These observations based on ultrastructural and physiological analyses of the amoebal cytoskeleton are now being extended to the biochemical level. The complex formed by the 2 centrioles and the mtoc 1 has been purified without modifying the microtubule-nucleating activity of the mtoc 1. Several microtubule-associated proteins have been characterized by their ability to bind taxol-stabilized microtubules. Their functions (e.g., microtubule assembly, protection of microtubules against dilution or cold treatment, phosphorylating and ATPase activities) are under investigation. These biochemical approaches could allow in vitro analysis of the morphogenesis of the amoebal microtubule cytoskeleton.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of CDC2 from etoposide-treated cells as substrate to assay CDC25 phosphatase activity.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) regulate the key transition of the cell cycle in all organisms. In response to Etoposide (VP-16) induced DNA damage, cells undergo a G2-phase arrest resulting in the accumulation of inactive CDK1 (CDC2) kinase complexes. Here we report that upon Etoposide treatment CDC2 is phosphorylated on tyrosine 15 and is dephosphorylated and activated in vitro by recombinant CDC25 phosphatase. We also show that inactive CDC2 kinase from Etoposide-treated cells can be used as a substrate in a sensitive two-step assay of CDC25 phosphatase. This assay, which is very simple to set-up, is based on the monitoring of CDC2 kinase activity after CDC25-dependent dephosphorylation. It provides the possibility to use a highly physiological substrate in antimitotic drugs screening.

CDC2 Protein Kinase↗