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J C Cavadore

Publications and source records attributed to J C Cavadore.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cyclin A potentiates maturation-promoting factor activation in the early Xenopus embryo via inhibition of the tyrosine kinase that phosphorylates cdc2.

We have produced human cyclin A in Escherichia coli and investigated how it generates H1 kistone kinase activity when added to cyclin-free extracts prepared from parthenogenetically activated Xenopus eggs. Cyclin A was found to form a major complex with cdc2, and to bind cdk2/Eg1 only poorly. No lag phase was detected between the time when cyclin A was added and the time when H1 histone kinase activity was produced in frog extracts, even in the presence of 2 mM vanadate, which blocks cdc25 activity. Essentially identical results were obtained using extracts prepared from starfish oocytes. We conclude that formation of an active cyclin A-cdc2 kinase during early development escapes an inhibitory mechanism that delays formation of an active cyclin B-cdc2 kinase. This inhibitory mechanism involves phosphorylation of cdc2 on tyrosine 15. Okadaic acid (OA) activated cyclin B-cdc2 kinase and strongly reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of cyclin B-associated cdc2, even in the presence of vanadate. 6-dimethylamino-purine, a reported inhibitor of serine-threonine kinases, suppressed OA-dependent activation of cyclin B-cdc2 complexes. This indicates that the kinase(s) which phosphorylate(s) cdc2 on inhibitory sites can be inactivated by a phosphorylation event, itself antagonized by an OA-sensitive, most likely type 2A phosphatase. We also found that cyclin B- or cyclin A-cdc2 kinases can induce or accelerate conversion of the cyclin B-cdc2 complex from an inactive into an active kinase. Cyclin B-associated cdc2 does not undergo detectable phosphorylation on tyrosine in egg extracts containing active cyclin A-cdc2 kinase, even in the presence of vanadate. We propose that the active cyclin A-cdc2 kinase generated without a lag phase from neo-synthesized cyclin A and cdc2 may cause a rapid switch in the equilibrium of cyclin B-cdc2 complexes to the tyrosine-dephosphorylated and active form of cdc2 during early development, owing to strong inhibition of the cdc2-specific tyrosine kinase(s). This may explain why early cell cycles are so rapid in many species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Cyclin A-cdc2 kinase does not trigger but delays cyclin degradation in interphase extracts of amphibian eggs.

Purified cyclin B-cdc2 kinase has been shown previously to trigger cyclin degradation in interphase frog extracts by initiating a cascade of reactions that includes cyclin ubiquitinylation and ends with proteolysis. However, cyclin A-cdc2 kinase was not assayed in these early experiments. Here we have shown that full-length recombinant human cyclin A failed to induce cyclin degradation when it was added to frog extracts free of cyclin B, although it formed an active kinase complex with Xenopus cdc2. A highly purified kinase complex containing a truncated human cyclin A and starfish cdc2 also failed to switch on the cyclin degradation pathway. In contrast, both recombinant cyclin B and highly purified cyclin B-cdc2 kinase readily triggered degradation of both cyclins B and A in frog extracts. Whilst free cyclin A had no inhibitory effect, cyclin A-cdc2 kinase delayed degradation of both cyclins A and B induced by cyclin B-cdc2 kinase. The finding that cyclin A-cdc2 kinase cannot turn on, and even delays, cyclin destruction may be essential to prevent premature inactivation of MPF (maturation-promoting factor) before complete condensation of chromosomes and formation of the metaphase spindle.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Dephosphorylation and activation of a p34cdc2/cyclin B complex in vitro by human CDC25 protein.

Oocytes arrested in the G2 phase of the cell cycle contain a p34cdc2/cyclin B complex which is kept in an inactive form by phosphorylation of its p34cdc2 subunit on tyrosine, threonine and perhaps serine residues. The phosphatase(s) involved in p34cdc2 dephosphorylation is unknown, but the product of the fission yeast cdc25+ gene, and its homologues in budding yeast and Drosophila are probably positive regulators of the transition from G2 to M phase. We have purified the inactive p34cdc2/cyclin B complex from G2-arrested starfish oocytes. Addition of the purified bacterially expressed product of the human homologue of the fission yeast cdc25+ gene (p54CDC25H) triggers p34cdc2 dephosphorylation and activates H1 histone kinase activity in this preparation. We propose that the cdc25+ gene product directly activates the p34cdc2-cyclin B complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase plays a key role in the induction of mitosis and nuclear envelope breakdown in mammalian cells.

Inhibiting cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) in mammalian fibroblasts through microinjection of a modified specific inhibitor peptide, PKi(m) or the purified inhibitor protein, PKI, resulted in rapid and pronounced chromatin condensation at all phases of the cell cycle. Together with these changes in chromatin, a marked reorganization of microtubule network occurred, accompanied in G2 cells by extensive alterations in cell shape which have many similarities to the premitotic phenotype previously observed after activation of p34cdc2 kinase, including the lack of spindle formation and the persistence of a nuclear envelope. In order to examine whether A-kinase inhibition and p34cdc2 kinase form part of the same or different inductive pathways, PKI and p34cdc2 kinase were injected together. Co-injection of both components resulted in nuclear envelope disassembly, an event not observed with injection of either component alone. This result implies that p34cdc2 and A-kinase inhibition have complementary and additive effects on the process of nuclear envelope breakdown in living fibroblasts, a conclusion further supported by our observation of a pronounced dephosphorylation of lamins A and C in cells after injection of PKi(m). Taken together, these data suggest that down-regulation of A-kinase is a distinct and essential event in the induction of mammalian cell mitosis which co-operates with the p34cdc2 pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Degradation of the proto-oncogene product p39mos is not necessary for cyclin proteolysis and exit from meiotic metaphase: requirement for a Ca(2+)-calmodulin dependent event.

Exit from M phase, which requires cyclin degradation, is prevented from occurring in unfertilized eggs of vertebrates arrested at second meiotic metaphase due to a cytostatic factor recently identified as p39mos, the product of the proto-oncogene c-mos. Calpain can destroy both p39mos and cyclin in vitro in extracts prepared from metaphase-arrested Xenopus eggs, but only when free Ca2+ concentration is raised to the millimolar range. When free Ca2+ concentration is raised for only 30 s to the micromolar range, as occurs in physiological conditions after fertilization, cyclin degradation is induced, byt p39mos is not degraded. Cyclin proteolysis at micromolar free Ca2+, is not inhibited by calpastatin, and therefore does not involve calpain. A cyclin mutant modified in the destruction box is found to be resistant at micromolar, but not millimolar free Ca2+, suggesting that the ubiquitin pathway mediates cyclin degradation at micromolar Ca2+ concentration whereas calpain is involved at the millimolar level. A synthetic peptide which binds Ca(2+)-calmodulin with high affinity suppresses cyclin degradation at micromolar but not millimolar free Ca2+, and this only when it is present in the extract during the first 30 s after raising free Ca2+ concentration. The inhibition of the cyclin degradation pathway by the Ca(2+)-calmodulin binding peptide can be overcome by adding calmodulin. These results strongly suggest that a Ca(2+)-calmodulin process is required as an early event following fertilization to release the cyclin degradation pathway from inhibition in metaphase-arrested eggs. In contrast, p39mos degradation is not required.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Casein kinase II induces c-fos expression via the serum response element pathway and p67SRF phosphorylation in living fibroblasts.

Elevation of intracellular casein kinase II (CKII) levels through microinjection of purified CKII results in the rapid and transient induction of c-fos in quiescent rat embryo fibroblasts, and activation of quiescent cells by serum is accompanied by the nuclear relocation of endogenous CKII. The induction of c-fos by CKII is inhibited by coinjection of oligonucleotides corresponding to the sequence of the serum response element (SRE) present in the c-fos promoter, indicating that competitive displacement of positive factors from the endogenous c-fos SRE prevents c-fos induction by CKII. Furthermore, the expression of c-fos induced by either CKII injection or serum activation is also inhibited by microinjection of antibodies against the 67 kDa serum response factor (p67SRF) indicating the absolute requirement of p67SRF in this process. Finally, we show the specific phosphorylation of p67SRF in vivo following microinjection of CKII into quiescent cells. Together, these data strongly support that CKII induces c-fos expression through binding/activation of the phosphorylated p67SRF at the SRE sequence.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effective intracellular inhibition of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase by microinjection of a modified form of the specific inhibitor peptide PKi in living fibroblasts.

In order to obtain a peptide retaining its biological activity following microinjection into living cells, we have modified a synthetic peptide [PKi(m)(6-24)], derived from the specific inhibitor protein of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) in two ways: (1) substitution of the arginine at position 18 for a D-arginine; (2) blockade of the side chain on the C-terminal aspartic acid by a cyclohexyl ester group. In an in vitro assay, PKi(m) has retained a specific inhibitory activity against A-kinase as assessed against six other kinases, with similar efficiency to that of the unmodified PKi(5-24) peptide. Microinjection of PKi(m) into living fibroblasts reveals its capacity to prevent the changes in cell morphology and cytoskeleton induced by drugs which activate endogenous A-kinase, whereas the original PKi peptide failed to do so. This inhibition of A-kinase in vivo by PKi(m) lasts between 4 and 6 h after injection. In light of its effective half-life, this modified peptide opens a route for the use of biologically active peptides in vivo, an approach which has been hampered until now by the exceedingly short half-life of peptides inside living cells. By providing a direct means of inhibiting A-kinase activity for sufficiently long periods to observe effects on cellular functions in living cells, PKi(m) represents a powerful tool in studying the potential role of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Okadaic acid mimics a nuclear component required for cyclin B-cdc2 kinase microinjection to drive starfish oocytes into M phase.

G2-arrested oocytes contain cdc2 kinase as an inactive cyclin B-cdc2 complex. When a small amount of highly purified and active cdc2 kinase, prepared from starfish oocytes at first meiotic metaphase, is microinjected into Xenopus oocytes, it induces activation of the inactive endogenous complex and, as a consequence, drives the recipient oocytes into M phase. In contrast, the microinjected kinase undergoes rapid inactivation in starfish oocytes, which remain arrested at G2. Endogenous cdc2 kinase becomes activated in both nucleated and enucleated starfish oocytes injected with cytoplasm taken from maturing oocytes at the time of nuclear envelope breakdown, but only cytoplasm taken from nucleated oocytes becomes able thereafter to release second recipient oocytes from G2 arrest, and thus contains M phase-promoting factor (MPF) activity. Both nucleated and enucleated starfish oocytes produce MPF activity when type 2A phosphatase is blocked by okadaic acid. If type 2A phosphatase is only partially inhibited, neither nucleated nor enucleated oocytes produce MPF activity, although both do so if purified cdc2 kinase is subsequently injected as a primer to activate the endogenous kinase. The nucleus of starfish oocytes contains an inhibitor of type 2A phosphatase, but neither active nor inactive cdc2 kinase. Microinjection of the content of a nucleus into the cytoplasm of G2-arrested starfish oocytes activates endogenous cdc2 kinase, produces MPF activity, and drives the recipient oocytes into M phase. Together, these results show that the MPF amplification loop is controlled, both positively and negatively, by cdc2 kinase and type 2A phosphatase, respectively. Activation of the MPF amplification loop in starfish requires a nuclear component to inhibit type 2A phosphatase in cytoplasm.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

p67SRF is a constitutive nuclear protein implicated in the modulation of genes required throughout the G1 period.

Indirect immunofluorescence analysis, using antibodies directed against peptide sequences outside the DNA-binding domain of the 67-kDa serum response factor (p67SRF), revealed a punctuated nuclear staining, constant throughout the cell cycle and in all different cell lines tested. p67SRF was also tightly associated with chromatin through all stages of mitosis. Inhibition of p67SRF activity in vivo, through microinjection of anti-p67SRF antibodies, specifically suppressed DNA synthesis induced after serum addition or ras microinjection, suggesting that these antibodies were effective in preventing expression of serum response element (SRE)-regulated genes. A similar inhibition was also obtained in cells injected with oligonucleotides corresponding to the DNA binding sequence for p67SRF protein, SRE. Moreover, this inhibition of DNA synthesis by anti-p67SRF or SRE injection was still observed in cells injected during late G1, well after c-fos induction. These data imply that genes regulated by p67SRF are continuously involved in the proliferation pathway throughout G1 and that p67SRF forms an integral component of mammalian cell transcriptional control.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Microinjection of a conserved peptide sequence of p34cdc2 induces a Ca2+ transient in oocytes.

The product of the yeast cell cycle control gene cdc2, and its homologs in higher eukaryotes (p34cdc2), all contain a perfectly conserved sequence of 16 amino acids that has not been found in any other protein sequence. Microinjection of this peptide triggers a specific increase in the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ that originates from intracellular stores in both starfish and Xenopus oocytes. Thus, p34cdc2 might interact through its conserved peptide domain with some component of the Ca2(+)-regulatory system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Microinjection of p34cdc2 kinase induces marked changes in cell shape, cytoskeletal organization, and chromatin structure in mammalian fibroblasts.

We have examined the effects of elevating the intracellular levels of p34cdc2 kinase by microinjection into living mammalian cells. These studies reveal rapid and dramatic changes in cell shape with cells becoming round and losing the bulk of their cell-substratum contact. Such effects were induced at all times in the cell cycle except at S phase and were fully reversible at S phase or mitosis. Similar results were obtained with the homogeneous catalytic subunit of p34cdc2 kinase or p34cdc2 kinase associated with cyclin B. These alterations were accompanied by a marked reduction in interphase microtubules without the spindle formation, actin microfilament redistribution, and premature chromatin condensation. Although these changes closely mimic the events occurring during early phases of mitosis, p34cdc2 kinase-injected cells were not induced to pass further into division. These data provide detailed evidence that p34cdc2 kinase plays a major prerequisite role in the rearrangement of cellular structures associated with mammalian cell mitosis.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1989

A 32 kDa lipocortin from human mononuclear cells appears to be identical with the placental inhibitor of blood coagulation.

A 32 kDa protein isolated from human mononuclear cells is a member of the lipocortin family, a new group of Ca2+-dependent lipid-binding proteins thought to be involved in the regulation of phospholipase A2, in exocytosis and in membrane-cytoskeleton interactions. Purification of this protein was based on its ability to associate with membrane phospholipids in a Ca2+-dependent manner and its capacity to inhibit purified phospholipase A2 from pig pancreas. Using immunological detection, we show that it is present in various cells involved in the inflammatory and coagulation processes. We present extensive amino acid data that strongly suggest that this protein is identical with a recently described inhibitor of blood coagulation, with endonexin II and with lipocortin V. Sequence alignment with other known proteins show a significant degree of homology with lipocortins I and II, the substrates of the epidermal-growth-factor receptor tyrosine kinase and the oncogene pp60src tyrosine kinase respectively, and with protein II. The possible physiological role of this 32 kDa lipocortin is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Immunocytochemical localization of myosin, tropomyosin and actin in vestibular hair cells of human fetuses and cats.

Semithin sections (1 micron) of human fetuses and young cat vestibular epithelium embedded in Epon were reacted with primary antibodies raised against myosin, tropomyosin, and actin. The results were very similar in the two species. Myosin and tropomyosin were colocalized and strictly limited to an apical superficial corona arranged in a punctiform pattern. The stereocilia and cuticular plate were unreactive to myosin and tropomyosin antibodies. Actin antibodies stained the stereocilia, cuticular plate, and a marginal ring surrounding and underlying the cuticular plate. At this level, myosin and tropomyosin were not detected. This result suggests that the circumferential actin ring has a structural role. Colocalization of myosin, tropomyosin, and actin in a superficial area around the stereocilia bundle and along the apical surface of the hair cell imply that active processes could exist at the apex of certain sensory vestibular hair cells. The specificity of myosin antibodies and their cross-reactivity with different types of myosin are discussed.

Actins↗
PubMed1989

Purification of MPF from starfish: identification as the H1 histone kinase p34cdc2 and a possible mechanism for its periodic activation.

MPF extracted from starfish oocytes copurifies with an M phase-specific H1 histone kinase encoded by a homolog of the fission yeast cell cycle control gene cdc2+. The most purified preparations contain p34cdc2 as the only major protein. Activation of the p34cdc2 kinase is correlated with appearance of the MPF activity both in vivo and in vitro. The increase in protein kinase activity is associated with p34cdc2 dephosphorylation and the decrease in protein kinase activity on leaving M phase with rephosphorylation. Microinjection of a peptide perfectly conserved in p34cdc2 from yeast to humans induces meiotic maturation, suggesting that an inhibitory component in G2 arrested oocytes interacts with this region of the p34cdc2 kinase. We propose that initiation of M phase is brought about by the dephosphorylation of p34cdc2, leading to increase in its protein kinase activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

MPF from starfish oocytes at first meiotic metaphase is a heterodimer containing one molecule of cdc2 and one molecule of cyclin B.

We have purified to near homogeneity the M-phase-specific protein kinase from starfish oocytes at first meiotic metaphase, using an improved procedure based on affinity chromatography on the immobilized yeast protein suc1. As already reported, this is identical to MPF, the cytoplasmic factor that controls entry of eukaryotic cells into M-phase. MPF is a complex formed by the stoichiometric association of a 34-kd polypeptide previously identified as cdc2 with a polypeptide that migrates with the same mobility as starfish cyclin in SDS-PAGE (apparent mol. wt 47 kd). A cDNA clone encoding starfish cyclin B has been isolated and its sequence determined. It contains a single open reading frame encoding a predicted 43 729-dalton protein. Partial microsequencing of the 47-kd polypeptide component of MPF allowed its identification as the starfish cyclin. Since the apparent mol. wt of native starfish MPF was found to be less than 100 kd, it is a heterodimer comprising one molecule of cdc2 and one molecule of cyclin B.

Amino Acid Sequence↗