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J E Dixon

Publications and source records attributed to J E Dixon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

A single mutation converts a novel phosphotyrosine binding domain into a dual-specificity phosphatase.

Dual-specificity protein-tyrosine phosphatases (dsPTPases) have been implicated in the inactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). We have identified a novel phosphoserine/threonine/tyrosine-binding protein (STYX) that is related in amino acid sequence to dsPTPases, except for the substitution of Gly for Cys in the conserved dsPTPase catalytic loop (HCXXGXXR(S/T)). cDNA subcloning and Northern blot analysis in mouse shows poly(A+) hybridization bands of 4.6, 2.4, 1.5, and 1.2 kilobases, with highest abundance in skeletal muscle, testis, and heart. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of reverse-transcribed poly(A+) RNA revealed an alternatively spliced form of STYX containing a unique carboxyl terminus. Bacterially expressed STYX is incapable of hydrolyzing Tyr(P)-containing substrates; however, mutation of Gly120 to Cys (G120C), which structurally mimics the active site of dsPTPases, confers phosphatase activity to this molecule. STYX-G120C mutant hydrolyzes p-nitrophenyl phosphate and dephosphorylates both Tyr(P) and Thr(P) residues of peptide sequences of MAPK homologues. The kinetic parameters of dephosphorylation are similar to human dsPTPase, Vaccinia H1-related, including inhibition by vanadate. We believe this is the first example of a naturally occurring "dominant negative" phosphotyrosine/serine/threonine-binding protein which is structurally related to dsPTPases.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1995

A catalytic mechanism for the dual-specific phosphatases.

Dual-specific protein-tyrosine phosphatases have the common active-site sequence motif HCXXGXXRS(T). The role of the conserved hydroxyl was investigated by changing serine-131 to an alanine (S131A) in the dual-specific protein-tyrosine phosphatase VHR. The pH profile of the kcat/Km value for the S131A mutant is indistinguishable from that of the native enzyme. In contrast, the kcat value for S131A mutant is 100-fold lower than that for the native enzyme, and the shape of the pH profile was perturbed from bell-shaped in the native enzyme to a pH-independent curve over the pH range 4.5-9.0. This evidence, along with results from a previous study, suggests that the S131A mutation alters the rate-limiting step in the catalytic mechanism. Formation of a phosphoenzyme intermediate appears to be rate-limiting with the native enzyme, whereas in the S131A mutant breakdown of the intermediate is rate-limiting. This was confirmed by the appearance of a burst of p-nitrophenol formation when p-nitrophenyl phosphate rapidly reacted with the S131A enzyme in a stopped-flow spectrophotometer. Loss of this hydroxyl group at the active site dramatically diminished the ability of the enzyme to hydrolyze the thiol-phosphate intermediate without exerting any significant change in the steps leading to and including the formation of the intermediate. Consistent with rate-limiting intermediate formation in the native enzyme, the rate of burst in the S131A mutant was 1.5 s-1, which agrees well with the kcat value of 5 s-1 observed for native enzyme. The amplitude of the burst was stoichiometric with final enzyme concentration, and the slow linear rate (0.06 s-1) of p-nitrophenol formation after the burst was in agreement with the steady-state determined value of kcat (0.055 s-1).

Alanine↗
PubMed1995

Components of a new human protein kinase signal transduction pathway.

We have identified two components of a new protein kinase signaling cascade, MAPK/ERK kinase 5 (MEK5) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5). The MEK5 cDNA was isolated by degenerate PCR and encodes a 444-amino acid protein, which has approximately 40% identity to known MEKs. ERK5 was identified by a specific interaction with the MEK5 mutants S311A/T315A and K195M in the yeast two-hybrid system. The proteins were found to interact in an in vitro binding assay as well. ERK5 did not interact with MEK1 or MEK2. ERK5 is predicted to contain 815 amino acids and is approximately twice the size of all known ERKs. The C terminus of ERK5 has sequences which suggest that it may be targeted to the cytoskeleton. Sequences located in the N terminus of MEK5 may be important in coupling GTPase signaling molecules to the MEK5 protein kinase cascade. Both MEK5 and ERK5 are expressed in many adult tissue and are abundant in heart and skeletal muscle. A recombinant GST-ERK5 kinase domain displays autophosphorylation on Ser/Thr and Tyr residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The catalytic role of aspartic acid-92 in a human dual-specific protein-tyrosine-phosphatase.

The mechanism of catalysis for the human dual-specific (vaccinia H1-related) protein-tyrosine-phosphatase was investigated. The pH dependence of the kcat value is bell-shaped when p-nitrophenyl phosphate was employed as a model substrate. The kcat/Km pH profile rises with a slope of 2 and decreases with a slope of -1, indicating that two groups must be unprotonated and one group must be protonated for activity. An amino acid residue with an apparent pKa value of 5.5 +/- 0.2 must be unprotonated and a residue with a pKa value of 5.7 must be unprotonated for activity. The pKa value of the catalytic cysteine-124 (C124) was 5.6 +/- 0.1. The aspartic acid-92-asparagine (D92N) mutant enzyme was 100-fold less active than the native enzyme and exhibited the loss of the basic limb in the pH profiles, suggesting that in the native enzyme D92 must be protonated for activity. The D92 residue is conserved throughout the entire family of dual-specific phosphatases. Mutants glutamic acid-6-glutamine, glutamic acid-32-glutamine, aspartic acid-14-asparagine, and aspartic acid-110-asparagine had less than a 2-fold effect on the kinetic parameters when compared to native enzyme. Based upon the lack of a "burst" in rapid reaction kinetics, formation of the intermediate is rate-limiting with both native and D92N mutant enzymes. In agreement with rate-limiting formation of the intermediate, the pKa value of 5.5 for the group which must be unprotonated for activity was assigned to C124.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The purification and characterization of a human dual-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase.

An expression and purification method was developed to obtain the recombinant human dual-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) VHR in quantities suitable for both kinetic studies and crystallization. Physical characterization of the homogeneous recombinant protein verified the mass to be 20,500 +/- 100 by matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry, confirmed the anticipated NH2-terminal amino acid sequence and demonstrated that the protein exists as a monomer. Conditions were developed to obtain crystals which were suitable for x-ray structure determination. Using synthetic diphosphorylated peptides corresponding to MAP177-189 (mitogen-activated protein) kinase (DHTG-FLpTEpYVATR), an assay was devised which permitted the determination of the rate constants for dephosphorylation of the diphosphorylated peptide on threonine and tyrosine residues. The diphosphorylated peptides are preferred over the singly phosphorylated on tyrosine by 3-8-fold. The apparent second-order rate constant kcat/Km for dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine on DHTGFLpTEpYVATR was 32,000 M-1 S-1 while dephosphorylation of phosphothreonine was 14 M-1 S-1 (pH 6). The reaction of DHTGFLpTEpYVATR with VHR is ordered, with rapid dephosphorylation on tyrosine occurring first followed by slow dephosphorylation on threonine. Similar results were obtained with F(NLe)(N-Le)pTPpYVVTR, a peptide corresponding to a MAP kinase-like protein (JNK1(180-189)) which is involved in the stress response signaling pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Multiple dual specificity protein tyrosine phosphatases are expressed and regulated differentially in liver cell lines.

An emerging subclass of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) exhibits sequence identity to the vaccinia H-1 (VH-1) gene product. These VH-1-like PTPases possess the canonical HCXAGXXR(S/T) sequence common to all PTPases, but unlike other PTPases they exhibit dual catalytic activity toward phosphotyrosine and nearby phosphothreonine residues in substrate proteins. We have isolated a novel VH-1-like PTPase, hVH-3, from the human placenta and compared various aspects of its expression with previously isolated members of this subfamily. The mammalian members of this subfamily including hVH-3 commonly localize to the nucleus and exhibit catalytic activity toward phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase. However, while the expression of some VH-1-like PTPases is extremely transient and independent of protein synthesis, hVH-3 expression is sustained over 3 h after being cell stimulated. Tissue-specific expression of hVH-3 is also distinct from other VH-1-like PTPases. Although VH-1-like PTPases have overlapping substrate specificity, there are differences in their mRNA regulation, response to extracellular stimuli, and tissue-specific expression, suggesting they serve specific roles in cellular function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

hVH-5: a protein tyrosine phosphatase abundant in brain that inactivates mitogen-activated protein kinase.

A novel protein tyrosine phosphatase [homologue of vaccinia virus H1 phosphatase gene clone 5 (hVH-5)] was cloned; it shared sequence similarity with a subset of protein tyrosine phosphatases that regulate mitogen-activated protein kinase. The catalytic region of hVH-5 was expressed as a fusion protein and was shown to hydrolyze p-nitrophenylphosphate and inactivate mitogen-activated protein kinase, thus proving that hVH-5 possessed phosphatase activity. A unique proline-rich region distinguished hVH-5 from other closely related protein tyrosine phosphatases. Another feature that distinguished hVH-5 from related phosphatases was that hVH-5 was expressed predominantly in the adult brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. In addition, in situ hybridization histochemistry of mouse embryo revealed high levels of expression and a wide distribution in the central and peripheral nervous system. Some specific areas of abundant hVH-5 expression included the olfactory bulb, retina, layers of the cerebral cortex, and cranial and spinal ganglia. hVH-5 was induced in PC12 cells upon nerve growth factor and insulin treatment in a manner characteristic of an immediate-early gene, suggesting a possible role in the signal transduction cascade.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The Cys(X)5Arg catalytic motif in phosphoester hydrolysis.

The Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) was identified in the genus of bacteria responsible for the plague or the Black Death and was shown to be essential for pathogenesis. The three-dimensional structure of the catalytic domain of the Yersinia PTPase has been solved, and this information along with a detailed kinetic analysis has led to a better understanding of the catalytic mechanism of the PTPase. Mutational and chemical modification experiments have established that an invariant Cys residue (Cys403) is directly involved in formation of a covalent phosphoenzyme intermediate. We have shown that Arg409 plays a critical role in PTPase action and that the Cys(X)5Arg active site motif forms a phosphate-binding loop which appears to represent the essential features necessary for catalysis by the PTPases, the dual specific phosphatases, and the low molecular weight acid phosphatases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Identification of a hormonally regulated protein tyrosine phosphatase associated with bone and testicular differentiation.

Absence of the tyrosine kinase activity of c-src and c-fms results in impairment of bone remodeling. Such dysfunction underscores the importance of tyrosine phosphorylation, yet the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in bone metabolism remains unexamined. We have isolated the cDNA for a novel receptor-like tyrosine phosphatase expressed in bone and testis named osteotesticular protein tyrosine phosphatase (OST-PTP). The deduced 1711-residue protein possesses an extracellular domain with 10 fibronectin type III repeats and a cytoplasmic region with two catalytic domains. In primary rat osteoblasts, the 5.8-kilobase OST-PTP transcript is up-regulated in differentiating cultures and down-regulated in late stage mineralizing cultures. In addition, a presumed alternate transcript of 4.8-5.0 kilobases, which may lack PTP domains, is present in proliferating osteoblasts, but not detectable at other stages. Parathyroid hormone, a modulator of bone function, as well as cyclic AMP analogues, increase OST-PTP mRNA 5-8-fold in UMR 106 cells. In situ hybridization of adult rat testis revealed stage-specific expression of OST-PTP. OST-PTP may function in signaling pathways during bone remodeling, as well as serve a broader role in cell interactions associated with differentiation in bone and testis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The catalytic role of Cys124 in the dual specificity phosphatase VHR.

The recombinant human Vaccinia virus H1-related protein tyrosine phosphatase, (VHR PTPase) possesses intrinsic Tyr and Thr/Ser phosphatase activities. Both activities were abolished by a single amino acid substitution, C124S. When VHR was incubated with a 32P-labeled phosphotyrosine-containing substrate and then rapidly denatured, enzyme-associated 32P was evident following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The formation of 32P-labeled protein could be blocked in the presence of an unlabeled substrate. VHR-associated 32P was sensitive to iodine but insensitive to pyridine and hydroxylamine. The catalytically inactive C124S mutant would not form a 32P-labeled enzyme. Furthermore, VHR phosphatase could be selectively inactivated by the alkylating agent iodoacetate. The inactivation resulted from the specific covalent modification of Cys124. Collectively these results suggest that a thiol-phosphate enzyme intermediate is formed when Cys124 of VHR accepts a phosphate from the substrate. Our results also demonstrate that the dual specificity phosphatases and the tyrosine-specific PTPases employ similar catalytic mechanisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Resolution of immobile chi structures by the FLP recombinase of 2 microns plasmid.

FLP is a conservative site-specific recombinase that is encoded by the 2 microns plasmid of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FLP is member of the integrase family of recombinases that mediate the recombination reaction through a Holliday intermediate. The FLP recognition target (FRT) sites lie within two 599 bp inverted repeats of the 2 microns plasmid. The minimal target contains two inverted FLP binding sites (13 bp) that surround an 8 bp core region. FLP nicks the top and the bottom strands of the FRT site at the margins of the core and these nicks are thought to be the sites of strand exchange. Hence, recombination generates heteroduplex DNA in the core region. It is known that heterology between the core regions of two FRT sites inhibits their ability to engage in recombination. It is possible that two homologous cores are required to allow the junction of the Holliday intermediate to branch migrate through the core during resolution. If so, an immobile Holliday junction point should inhibit the recombination activity of FLP in the same manner as a heterology between the cores of two double-stranded FRT sites. In order to test this prediction, we generated synthetic Holliday structures specific for FLP that had the junction immobilised at representative points within the FRT core. We used either sequence heterologies or nicked strands in order to immobilise the junction. We found that immobilisation of a Holliday junction within the core region did not inhibit resolution of the Holliday structure by FLP. Hence, homology is not required for the resolution of the Holliday intermediate but rather, for an earlier step in the reaction.

Bacteriophage T4↗
PubMed1994

Mutational analysis of a Ser/Thr phosphatase. Identification of residues important in phosphoesterase substrate binding and catalysis.

The Ser/Thr phosphoprotein phosphatases (PPases) display similarities in amino acid sequence and biochemical properties. Most members of this family require transition metal ions for activity. The smallest family member, the bacteriophage lambda PPase (lambda-PPase), has been successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and characterized (Zhuo, S., Clemens, J.C., Hakes, D.J., Barford, D., and Dixon, J. E. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 17754-17761). Site-directed mutagenesis has now been employed to define amino acid residues in lambda-PPase required for metal ion binding and catalysis. Conservative amino acid substitutions at residues Asp20, His22, Asp49, His76, and Glu77 affected lambda-PPase catalysis and metal ion binding, whereas substitutions at residues Arg53 and Arg73 affected catalysis and substrate binding. Each of these residues is invariant in all phosphoprotein phosphatases, suggesting that these residues may play important roles in binding and catalysis in all of the PPases. Computer-assisted sequence alignment further revealed that lambda-PPase residues Asp20, His22, Asp49, His76, Arg53, and Arg73 lie within three larger regions of PPase sequence identity with the consensus sequence (DXH-(approximately 25)-GDXXD-(approximately 25)-GNHD/E). This motif can be found in a wide variety of phosphoesterases unrelated to the PPases and defines structural and catalytic features utilized by a diverse group of enzymes for the hydrolysis of phosphate esters.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Crystal structure of Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase at 2.5 A and the complex with tungstate.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) and kinases coregulate the critical levels of phosphorylation necessary for intracellular signalling, cell growth and differentiation. Yersinia, the causative bacteria of the bubonic plague and other enteric diseases, secrete an active PTPase, Yop51, that enters and suppresses host immune cells. Though the catalytic domain is only approximately 20% identical to human PTP1B, the Yersinia PTPase contains all of the invariant residues present in eukaryotic PTPases, including the nucleophilic Cys 403 which forms a phosphocysteine intermediate during catalysis. We present here structures of the unliganded (2.5 A resolution) and tungstate-bound (2.6 A) crystal forms which reveal that Cys 403 is positioned at the centre of a distinctive phosphate-binding loop. This loop is at the hub of several hydrogen-bond arrays that not only stabilize a bound oxyanion, but may activate Cys 403 as a reactive thiolate. Binding of tungstate triggers a conformational change that traps the oxyanion and swings Asp 356, an important catalytic residue, by approximately 6 A into the active site. The same anion-binding loop in PTPases is also found in the enzyme rhodanese.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Chromosomal localization of four human VH1-like protein-tyrosine phosphatases.

Four human protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) genes of the VH1-like subclass were cloned by low-stringency screening of a genomic library. These genes were localized to their respective chromosomes by G-banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The genes were localized to unique regions of different chromosomes: CL100, a stress-induced PTPase, to 5q35; PAC-1, a mitogen-induced nuclear PTPase, to 2q11;hVH-3 to 10q25; and hVH-4 to 10q11.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Nature of the rate-determining steps of the reaction catalyzed by the Yersinia protein-tyrosine phosphatase.

Product inhibition and 18O exchange experiments suggest that the Yersinia protein-tyrosine phosphatase-catalyzed phosphate monoester hydrolysis proceeds through at least two different chemical steps, i.e. the formation and breakdown of a covalent phosphoenzyme intermediate. The pH dependence of kcat values is bell-shaped, with the apparent pKa derived from the acidic limb of the profile at 4.6 for both p-nitrophenyl phosphate and beta-naphthyl phosphate, whereas the apparent pKa derived from the basic limb of the profile is substrate-dependent, with apparent pKa values of 5.2 and 5.8 for p-nitrophenyl phosphate and beta-naphthyl phosphate, respectively. Twelve aryl phosphates with leaving groups having pKa values from approximately 7 to 10 are also examined as substrates at two pH values. At pH 4.0, the beta lg values is effectively zero, whereas at pH 7.5, a beta lg value of 0.16 is observed. Collectively, our results suggest that the rate-determining step under acidic conditions corresponds to the breakdown of the phosphoenzyme intermediate, whereas under more alkaline conditions, substrate effects also contribute to the rate-limiting step. A model is proposed for the mechanism of the Yersinia protein-tyrosine phosphatase-catalyzed reaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Protein tyrosine phosphatase substrate specificity: size and phosphotyrosine positioning requirements in peptide substrates.

The structural requirements of substrates for two recombinant protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) are probed using various-sized synthetic phosphotyrosine (pY)-containing peptides corresponding to the autophosphorylation site in EGF receptor (EGFR) at Y992. The peptide EGFR988-998 (DADEpYLIPQQG) is chosen as a template due to its favorable kinetic constants. The contribution of individual amino acids on both sides of pY to binding and catalysis was assessed by kinetic analysis using a continuous, spectrophotometric assay. For both Yersinia PTPase and a soluble recombinant mammalian PTPase of 323 amino acid residues (rat PTP1), efficient binding and catalysis required six amino acids including the pY residue, i.e., four residues N-terminal to pY and one residue C-terminal to pY. Thus, PTPase substrate specificity is primarily dictated by residues to the N-terminal side of pY. The pY moiety and the rest of the peptide interact with PTPases in a cooperative manner. The presence of pY in the peptide substrate is necessary but not sufficient for high-affinity binding, since phosphotyrosine and other simple aryl phosphates exhibit weak binding, and dephosphorylated peptides do not bind to PTPases. Two variations on the pY moiety are also examined in order to assess their utility in PTPase inhibitor design. It is demonstrated that the thiophosphoryl analog in which one of the phosphate oxygens is replaced by sulfur can be hydrolyzed by PTPases, whereas the phosphonomethylphenylalanine analog in which the tyrosyl oxygen is replaced by a CH2 group is a competitive and nonhydrolyzable inhibitor, with Ki values of 18.6 and 10.2 microM, respectively, for the Yersinia PTPase and the rat PTP1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗