Biomedical subjects

M Gaestel

Publications and source records attributed to M Gaestel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

The anti-cancer drug cisplatin induces H25 in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by a mechanism different from transcriptional stimulation influencing predominantly H25 translation.

Treatment of Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells with the anti-cancer drug cisplatin induces an increase of the intracellular level of the small heat shock protein Hsp25 without stimulating the general stress response. The mechanism of this induction process was investigated at the levels of gene transcription, protein synthesis and stability. We show that an increased synthesis of Hsp25 is predominantly responsible for the increased intracellular level of this protein. In addition, there is a slightly increased metabolic stability of Hsp25 in cisplatin-treated EAT cells. In contrast to the mechanism of Hsp25 induction by heat shock and other chemical stresses, stimulated synthesis of Hsp25 after treatment with cisplatin is not the result of increased transcription of the hsp25 gene. Cisplatin treatment does not significantly influence the oligomerization of heat shock transcription factors 1 and 2, hsp25 promoter activity or hsp25 mRNA stability, as judged by cross-linking experiments, reporter gene assay and Northern blot analysis. Hence, cisplatin specifically induces Hsp25 synthesis at the level of mRNA translation without any changes in hsp25 gene transcription.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Expression of heat shock protein 25,000 in rat uterus during pregnancy and pseudopregnancy.

In previous studies, we found that the human estrogen-regulated heat shock protein (hsp) 27 (human homologue of rat hsp25) is modulated in the endometrium during the different phases of the menstrual cycle and that it is present in endometrial predecidual cells and in decidual cells attached to the placenta. In the present report, we describe the cell type-specific pattern of hsp25 expression in the rat uterus during the periimplantation period as well as during early and late decidualization and placentation. The hsp25 expression pattern was also analyzed in pseudopregnant rats with deciduomas. Immunocytochemistry was performed with an antibody generated against a chimeric hybrid protein containing the N-terminal of the murine hsp25 and the C-terminal of the human hsp27. During pregnancy at the time of implantation, hsp25 was expressed in the endothelial cells of the endometrial vessels and in the luminal epithelium of the antimesometrial region. As pregnancy advanced, hsp25 appeared in predecidual/decidual cells close to the implantation region and then expanded to the mesometrial region. This expression pattern was very similar during pseudopregnancy. Hsp25 was strongly expressed in trophoblastic giant cells beginning on Day 11 of gestation; less expression was noted in the junctional and labyrinth zones of the chorioallantoic placenta (in some cells lining the vascular spaces). In all the disparate cell types that expressed hsp25, the presence of the protein did not correlate with cell proliferation or with apoptosis but with the state of differentiation. Some placental PRL-family members with molecular weights similar to that of hsp25 are also present in antimesometrial decidua and in differentiated trophoblast giant cells; therefore, in this study we eliminated the possibility that our antibody was recognizing prolactin. We also determined that the hybrid hsp25/27 protein did not bind prolactin receptors, and noted that the hsp25 immunostaining pattern was not identical to that of decidual prolactin. In conclusion, the striking cell type-specific timing of hsp25 expression points to hsp25 as a molecule that is important during the implantation, decidualization, and placentation processes.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

3pK, a novel mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-activated protein kinase, is targeted by three MAP kinase pathways.

Recently we have identified a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase, named 3pK (G. Sithanandam, F. Latif, U. Smola, R. A. Bernal, F.-M. Duh, H. Li, I. Kuzmin, V. Wixler, L. Geil, S. Shresta, P. A. Lloyd, S. Bader, Y. Sekido, K. D. Tartof, V. I. Kashuba, E. R. Zabarovsky, M. Dean, G. Klein, B. Zbar, M. I. Lerman, J. D. Minna, U. R. Rapp, and A. Allikmets, Mol. Cell. Biol. 16:868-876, 1996). In vitro characterization of the kinase revealed that 3pK is activated by ERK. It was further shown that 3pK is phosphorylated in vivo after stimulation of cells with serum. However, the in vivo relevance of this observation in terms of involvement of the Raf/MEK/ERK cascade has not been established. Here we show that 3pK is activated in vivo by the growth inducers serum and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate in promyelocytic HL60 cells and transiently transfected embryonic kidney 293 cells. Activation of 3pK was Raf dependent and was mediated by the Raf/MEK/ERK kinase cascade. 3pK was also shown to be activated after stress stimulation of cells. In vitro studies with recombinant proteins demonstrate that in addition to ERK, members of other subgroups of the MAPK family, namely, p38RK and Jun-N-terminal kinases/stress-activated protein kinases, were also able to phosphorylate and activate 3pK. Cotransfection experiments as well as the use of a specific inhibitor of p38RK showed that these in vitro upstream activators also function in vivo, identifying 3pK as the first kinase to be activated through all three MAPK cascades. Thus, 3pK is a novel convergence point of different MAPK pathways and could function as an integrative element of signaling in both mitogen and stress responses.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

PubMed1995

Dimer structure as a minimum cooperative subunit of small heat-shock proteins.

Recently, it has been shown that small heat-shock proteins (Hsp25, Hsp27) are molecular chaperones. They bind to thermally unfolded proteins and can also assist refolding of denatured proteins. Mammalian small Hsps can form oligomeric structures of about 32 subunits. Until now, no data about cooperativity and stability of the interactions between the subunits of sHsps are available. To analyze these interactions we studied mouse Hsp25 and human Hsp27 by difference adiabatic scanning microcalorimetry (DASM) and circular dichroism (CD). Here we show that, according to DASM data, the minimum cooperatively melting structure is a sHsp-dimer. CD data indicate that Hsp25 major secondary structure, the beta-pleated conformation, is resistant to acidic influence up to pH 4.5 and, at neutral pH values, to heat treatment up to 60 degrees C. The melting pattern of Hsp25/27 bears resemblance to alpha-crystallins. CD data indicate similar secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures of the proteins compared. This finding is in agreement with the revealed homology of primary structure of these proteins and their common chaperone function.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Constitutive activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 by mutation of phosphorylation sites and an A-helix motif.

A recently described downstream target of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) is the MAPK-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase 2 which has been shown to be responsible for small heat shock protein phosphorylation. We have analyzed the mechanism of MAPKAP kinase 2 activation by MAPK phosphorylation using a recombinant MAPKAP kinase 2-fusion protein, p44MAPK and p38/40MAPK in vitro and using an epitope-tagged MAPKAP kinase 2 in heat-shocked NIH 3T3 cells. It is demonstrated that, in addition to the known phosphorylation of the threonine residue carboxyl-terminal to the catalytic domain, Thr-317, activation of MAPKAP kinase 2 in vitro and in vivo is dependent on phosphorylation of a second threonine residue, Thr-205, which is located within the catalytic domain and which is highly conserved in several protein kinases. Constitutive activation of MAPKAP kinase 2 is obtained by replacement of both of these threonine residues by glutamic acid. A constitutively active form of MAPKAP kinase 2 is also obtained by deletion of a carboxyl-terminal region containing Thr-317 and the A-helix motif or by replacing the conserved residues of the A-helix. These data suggest a dual mechanism of MAPKAP kinase 2 activation by phosphorylation of Thr-205 inside the catalytic domain and by phosphorylation of Thr-317 outside the catalytic domain involving an autoinhibitory A-helix motif.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1995

1H NMR spectroscopy reveals that mouse Hsp25 has a flexible C-terminal extension of 18 amino acids.

The small heat-shock proteins (Hsps) exist as large aggregates and function by interacting and stabilising non-native proteins in a chaperone-like manner. Two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy of mouse Hsp25 reveals that the last 18 amino acids have great flexibility with motion that is essentially independent of the domain core of the protein. The lens protein, alpha-crystallin, is homologous to Hsp25 and its two subunits also have flexible C-terminal extensions. The flexible region in Hsp25 encompasses exactly that expected from sequence comparison with alpha-crystallin implying that both proteins have similar structures and that the C-terminal extensions could be of functional importance for both proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

MAPKAP kinase 2 is activated by heat shock and TNF-alpha: in vivo phosphorylation of small heat shock protein results from stimulation of the MAP kinase cascade.

The activation of MAPKAP kinase 2 was investigated under heat-shock conditions in mouse Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and after treatment of human MO7 cells with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). MAPKAP kinase 2 activity was determined using the small heat-shock proteins (sHsps) Hsp25 and Hsp27 as substrates. In both cell types, about a threefold increase in MAPKAP kinase 2 activity could be detected in a time interval of about 10-15 min after stimulation either by heat shock or TNF-alpha. Phosphorylation of MAPKAP kinase 2, but not the level of MAPKAP kinase 2 mRNA, was increased after heat shock in EAT cells. It is further shown that activation of MAPKAP kinase 2 in MO7 cells is accompanied by increased MAP kinase activity. These data strongly suggest that increased phosphorylation of the sHsps after heat shock or TNF-alpha treatment results from phosphorylation by MAPKAP kinase 2, which itself is activated by phosphorylation through MAP kinases. Hence, we demonstrate that MAPKAP kinase 2 is responsible not only for phosphorylation of sHsps in vitro but also in vivo. The findings link sHsp phosphorylation to the MAP kinase cascade, explaining the early phosphorylation of sHsp that is stimulated by a variety of inducers such as mitogens, phorbol esters, thrombin, calcium ionophores, and heat shock.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Structural and functional homology between periplasmic bacterial molecular chaperones and small heat shock proteins.

The periplasmic Yersinia pestis molecular chaperone Caf1M belongs to a superfamily of bacterial proteins for one of which (PapD protein of Escherichia coli) the immunoglobulin-like fold was solved by X-ray analysis. The N-terminal domain of Caf1M was found to share a 20% amino acid sequence identity with an inclusion body-associated protein IbpB of Escherichia coli. One of the regions that was compared, was 32 amino acids long, and displayed more than 40% identity, probability of random coincidence was 1.2 x 10(-4). IbpB is involved in a superfamily of small heat shock proteins which fulfil the function of molecular chaperone. On the basis of the revealed homology, an immunoglobulin-like one-domain model of IbpB three-dimensional structure was designed which could be a prototype conformation of sHsp's. The structure suggested is in good agreement with the known experimental data obtained for different members of sHsp's superfamily.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Interleukin (IL)-6 signaling leads to phosphorylation of the small heat shock protein (Hsp)27 through activation of the MAP kinase and MAPKAP kinase 2 pathway in monocytes and monocytic leukemia cells.

Interleukin-6 is a multifunctional cytokine which regulates various aspects of the host immune response. Here we show that signaling events transferred by IL-6 in monocytes and the U937 human monocytic leukemia cell line lead to the phosphorylation of the small heat shock protein (Hsp)27. Phosphorylation of Hsp27 is both dose- and time-dependent. In the absence of NaF, a serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor, IL-6 failed to initiate Hsp27 phosphorylation in vitro. IL-6 also failed to phosphorylate Hsp27 when cells had been deactivated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as genistein. The capacity of cellular extracts to phosphorylate Hsp27 could be, however, restored when either immunoprecipitated activated MAP kinase or purified MAPKAP kinase 2 was added to cell lysates. These findings suggest that IL-6-mediated phosphorylation of Hsp27 results from activation of MAPKAP kinase 2, a serine/threonine kinase which is activated by MAP kinase. Taking together, our findings indicate that IL-6-induced activation of MAP kinase by IL-6 entails the activation of MAPKAP kinase 2 and subsequent phosphorylation of the Hsp27.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

PubMed1994

Alpha A-crystallin confers cellular thermoresistance.

The bovine eye lens protein alpha A-crystallin has been overexpressed both by stable transfection of HeLa cells and by transient transfection of NIH 3T3 cells. In both experimental systems alpha A-crystallin overexpression results in an increased cellular thermoresistance as judged by different clonal survival assays. In contrast, similar overexpression of another stable lens protein, beta B2-crystallin, does not confer thermoresistance. These results indicate that the structural relationship of alpha A-crystallin to the small heat shock proteins HSP25/27 and to alpha B-crystallin is sufficient for the shared thermoprotective function of all of these molecules and strongly suggests that the chaperone-like properties that they have in common are responsible for the conferred cellular thermoresistance.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1994

Characterization of the proline-rich region of mouse MAPKAP kinase 2: influence on catalytic properties and binding to the c-abl SH3 domain in vitro.

The primary structure of mouse MAP kinase-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase 2 contains a proline-rich N-terminal region which might function as a src-homology 3 (SH3) domain-binding motif in vivo. To demonstrate the ability of this region to bind SH3 domains, we analyzed the interaction of the SH3 domain of the protein tyrosine kinase c-abl with MAPKAP kinase 2. It is demonstrated, that the proline-rich region specifically binds c-abl-SH3 domain in vitro. Furthermore, it is shown, that deletion of this proline-rich region does not significantly influence the substrate binding properties of the enzyme when analyzed with the substrate small heat shock protein Hsp25. The data suggest that the proline-rich region of MAPKAP kinase 2 could interact with proteins containing SH3-domains also in vivo regulating its cellular localization and/or modulating its enzymatic properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor induce activation of the MAPKAP kinase 2 resulting in in vitro serine phosphorylation of the small heat shock protein (Hsp 27).

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have previously been reported to induce rapid phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. However, little is known about signaling events initiated by both hematopoietins that occur downstream of the MAP kinase. MAP kinase has been shown to phosphorylate the AP-1 transcription factor and also to activate two kinases designated insulin-stimulated protein kinase-1 and MAP kinase-activated protein (MAP-KAP) kinase 2. We show here that IL-3 and GM-CSF induce MAPKAP kinase 2 activity in the human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line MO7 and phosphorylate the human small heat shock protein Hsp 27 on serine residues in vitro. GM-CSF also induced Hsp 27 phosphorylation in neutrophils in a range similar to that observed in MO7 cells, suggesting that MAPKAP kinase 2-mediated Hsp 27 activation occurs independently of proliferation. Hsp 27 phosphorylation was dose-dependent, occurred as early as 5 minutes after factor exposure, and was inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A. Furthermore, the protein phosphatase A2 abolished IL-3- and GM-CSF-induced serine phosphorylation of Hsp 27. Taken together, our findings indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase is a prerequisite for serine phosphorylation of Hsp 27, which is mediated by MAPKAP kinase 2. Hsp 27 has shown activation-dependent translocation from the cytosolic to the nuclear region and has been linked to the cellular stress response. However, its precise function is largely unknown. Our data identify Hsp 27 as a target of the IL-3/GM-CSF stimulation pathway that involves MAP kinase and MAPKAP kinase 2. In addition, our results indicate that Hsp 27 may be target of phosphorylation events not only in the stress response but also in unstressed cells responding to cytokine stimulation.

Benzoquinones↗

PubMed1994

Stress- and mitogen-induced phosphorylation of the small heat shock protein Hsp25 by MAPKAP kinase 2 is not essential for chaperone properties and cellular thermoresistance.

Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) show a very rapid stress- and mitogen-dependent phosphorylation by MAPKAP kinase 2. Based on this observation, phosphorylation of sHsps was thought to play a key role in mediating thermoresistance immediately after heat shock, before the increased synthesis of heat shock proteins becomes relevant. We have analysed the phosphorylation dependence of the chaperone and thermoresistance-mediating properties of the small heat shock protein Hsp25. Surprisingly, overexpression of Hsp25 mutants, which are not phosphorylated in the transfected cells, confers the same thermoresistant phenotype as overexpression of wild type Hsp25, which is either mono- or bis-phosphorylated at serine residues 15 and 86 within the cells. Furthermore, in vitro phosphorylated Hsp25 shows the same oligomerization properties and the same chaperone activity as the nonphosphorylated protein. No differences between phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated Hsp25 are detected in preventing thermal aggregation of unfolding proteins and assisting refolding of denatured proteins. The results suggest that chaperone properties of the small heat shock proteins contribute to the increased cellular thermoresistance in a phosphorylation-independent manner.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1994

Interleukin-1-induced intracellular signaling pathways converge in the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 and the subsequent phosphorylation of the 27-kilodalton heat shock protein in monocytic cells.

Interleukin (IL)-1 plays a central role in human host defense. Binding of IL-1 to its receptor is associated with phosphorylation of various cellular target proteins, most of which are unidentified. The kinases responsible for target protein phosphorylation after IL-1 stimulation are also still not completely understood. We report here that IL-1 induced activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in primary monocytes and in the human monocytic leukemia cell line U-937. Activation of MAP kinase was followed by activation of MAP kinase-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase 2, a serine/threonine kinase, leading to subsequent phosphorylation of the small heat shock protein [27-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp27)]. Phosphorylation of Hsp27 triggered by IL-1 was both dose and time dependent. IL-1 failed to phosphorylate Hsp27 when cells had been previously deactivated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as genistein. In those cells, however, Hsp27 phosphorylation could be reconstituted when activated immunoprecipitated MAP kinase or purified MAPKAP kinase 2 was added. Phosphorylation of Hsp27 could also be inhibited when NaF, a serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor, was omitted. Taken together, our findings indicate that IL-1-induced intracellular signaling pathways converge in the activation of MAP kinase and MAPKAP kinase 2 and the subsequent phosphorylation of Hsp27.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1993

The MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 contains a proline-rich SH3-binding domain.

The protein sequence of MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAP kinase 2) deduced from mouse cDNA sequence reveals structural features of the enzyme, which could be of importance for its function: a proline-rich SH3-binding domain N-terminal to the catalytic region, a MAP kinase phosphorylation site and a bipartite nuclear targeting sequence located C-terminal to the catalytic region. The catalytic domain itself has the strongest homology to calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Northern blot analysis demonstrates a 3.5 kb MAPKAP kinase 2 transcript which is ubiquitously expressed and, hence, co-expressed with the mRNA of the recently identified substrate Hsp25 in all tissues analysed. However, the functional consequences of the nuclear targeting sequence present in MAPKAP kinase 2 suggest the existence of further substrates for the enzyme in the nucleus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Increased expression of heat-shock protein 27 kDa in Alzheimer disease: a preliminary study.

Stress-response (heat shock) proteins (hsps) are induced in living cells under pathological conditions, including diseases of the central nervous system. Increased synthesis of hsps is suggested to play a role in preventing neuronal injury in Alzheimer disease (AD). Using a highly specific antibody we have studied the expression of heat shock protein 27 kDa (hsp 27), in the brains of AD and non-demented, age-matched control patients. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemical methods were used. We report here that in the human brain in the normal condition the expression of hsp 27 is low and limited to the vessels, subpial astrocytes and single astrocytes of the white matter. There is a significant increase in the expression of hsp 27 in the cortex of AD. In AD, the immunoreaction is mainly localized in proliferating astrocytes establishing a pattern of astrocytic gliosis. These findings are the first to show the presence of hsp 27 in human cerebral tissue in normal conditions and its induction in AD.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Structure and organisation of a murine gene encoding small heat-shock protein Hsp25.

The structure and sequence of a gene encoding the mouse small heat-shock protein, Hsp25, is presented and compared to the human hsp27. In contrast to the human hsp27, only two copies of hsp25 could be detected in the mouse genome. The intron-exon structure of the identified hsp25 is similar to the transcribed human hsp27, and the transcription start points of the genes are located at similar sites. The promoter region contains various putative transcription factor-binding elements including two G + C-rich Sp1-binding domains, two heat-shock elements, and an estrogen-responsive element half-site in direct proximity to the TATA box. These elements could explain hsp25 basal expression as well as its induction as a result of heat-shock and estrogen treatment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Small heat shock proteins are molecular chaperones.

Small heat shock proteins (sHsp) with a molecular mass of 15-30 kDa are ubiquitous and conserved. Up to now their function has remained enigmatic. Increased expression under heat shock conditions and their protective effect on cell viability at elevated temperatures suggest that they may have a function in the formation or maintenance of the native conformation of cytosolic proteins. To test this hypothesis we studied the influence of murine Hsp25, human Hsp27, and bovine alpha-B-crystallin (an eye lens protein homologous to sHsps) on the unfolding and refolding of citrate synthase and alpha-glucosidase in vitro. Here we show that all sHsps investigated act as molecular chaperones in these folding reactions. At stoichiometric amounts they maximally prevent the aggregation of citrate synthase and alpha-glucosidase under heat shock conditions and stabilize the proteins. Furthermore, they promote the functional refolding of these proteins after urea denaturation similar to GroE and Hsp90. The interaction both with unfolding and refolding proteins seems to be ATP-independent.

3T3 Cells↗