Biomedical subjects

Philip W Majerus

Publications and source records attributed to Philip W Majerus.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The identification and characterization of two phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 4-phosphatases.

Numerous inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases catalyze the degradation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns-4,5-P(2)) to phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns-4-P). An alternative pathway to degrade PtdIns-4,5-P(2) is the hydrolysis of PtdIns-4,5-P(2) by a 4-phosphatase, leading to the production of PtdIns-5-P. Whereas the bacterial IpgD enzyme is known to catalyze this reaction, no such mammalian enzyme has been found. We have identified and characterized two previously undescribed human enzymes, PtdIns-4,5-P(2) 4-phosphatase type I and type II, which catalyze the hydrolysis of PtdIns-4,5-P(2) to phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate (PtdIns-5-P). Both enzymes are ubiquitously expressed and localize to late endosomal/lysosomal membranes in epithelial cells. Overexpression of either enzyme in HeLa cells increases EGF-receptor degradation upon EGF stimulation.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2005

Inositol polyphosphate multikinase regulates inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate.

The human inositol phosphate multikinase (IPMK, 5-kinase) has a preferred 5-kinase activity over 3-kinase and 6-kinase activities and a substrate preference for inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,6)P4) over inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4). We now report that the recombinant human protein can catalyze the conversion of inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5,6)P4) to Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 in vitro; the reaction product was identified by HPLC to be Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5. The apparent Vmax was 42 nmol of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 formed/min/mg protein, and the apparent Km was 222 nM using Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 as a substrate; the catalytic efficiency was similar to that for Ins(1,4,5)P3. Stable over-expression of the human protein in HEK-293 cells abrogates the in vivo elevation of Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 from the Salmonella dublin SopB protein. Hence, the human 5-kinase may also regulate the level of Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 and have an effect on chloride channel regulation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Increased levels of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) protect HEK293 cells from tumor necrosis factor (alpha)- and Fas-induced apoptosis.

The overexpression of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase has recently been shown to protect HEK293 cells from tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF(alpha))-induced apoptosis. This overexpression leads to an increase in the levels of both inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (InsP5) and inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate (InsP6). Cells that overexpress InsP5 2-kinase have increased levels of InsP6 and are also protected from TNFalpha-induced apoptosis; furthermore, cells that express an RNA interference construct to the 2-kinase are deficient in InsP6 and are sensitized to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. Therefore the protective effect of 5/6-kinase on TNFalpha-mediated apoptosis is due to an increase of InsP6 or to a metabolite derived from InsP6. Furthermore, we find that the InsP6 also protects from Fas-mediated apoptosis. No effect was seen in the endocytic rate of transferrin receptor, caspase 8 activity, or TNF receptor number at the cell surface. Cells that overexpress 2-kinase do show an increase in the amount of receptor-interacting protein (RIP), while cells with reduced InsP6 levels show relatively less RIP, providing a possible mechanism for the effect on apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2005

Disruption of the mouse inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase gene, associated lethality, and tissue distribution of 2-kinase expression.

Many functions have been suggested for inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate (InsP6), including mRNA export, nonhomologous end-joining, endocytosis, and ion channel regulation. However, it remains to be demonstrated that InsP6 is necessary for in vivo survival. We previously isolated a cDNA encoding the mammalian inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (InsP5) 2-kinase (2-kinase), the enzyme that converts InsP5 to InsP6. We used the sequence to search the BayGenomics databases and identify an ES cell line (XA232) that has a gene trap construct embedded in the 2-kinase gene. We obtained a mouse from this line, produced heterozygotes, and confirmed that the heterozygotes contain the trapping construct and have diminished 2-kinase activity. Breeding the XA232 heterozygotes produced no homozygous offspring; thus, loss of 2-kinase is lethal in mice. Dissections of embryonic day-8.5 uteri yielded no homozygous embryos; thus, the mice die before day 8.5 postcoitum. The gene trap construct contains a beta-galactosidase/neomycin reporter gene, allowing us to stain heterozygotes for beta-galactosidase to determine tissue-specific expression of 2-kinase protein. 2-kinase is expressed in the hippocampus, the cortex, the Purkinje layer of the cerebellum in the brain, in cardiomyocytes, and in the testes of adult mice. At day 9.5 postcoitum, 2-kinase was expressed in the notochord, the ventricular layer of the neural tube, and the myotome of the somites. Intense staining was also seen in the yolk sac, suggesting that InsP6 is necessary for yolk sac development or function. Furthermore, failure of yolk sac development or function is consistent with the early lethality of 2-kinase embryos.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Specificity determinants in inositol polyphosphate synthesis: crystal structure of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase.

Inositol hexakisphosphate and other inositol high polyphosphates have diverse and critical roles in eukaryotic regulatory pathways. Inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in inositol high polyphosphate synthesis in animals. This multifunctional enzyme also has inositol 3,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate 1-kinase and other activities. The structure of an archetypal family member, from Entamoeba histolytica, has been determined to 1.2 A resolution in binary and ternary complexes with nucleotide, substrate, and product. The structure reveals an ATP-grasp fold. The inositol ring faces ATP edge-on such that the 5- and 6-hydroxyl groups are nearly equidistant from the ATP gamma-phosphate in catalytically productive phosphoacceptor positions and explains the unusual dual site specificity of this kinase. Inositol tris- and tetrakisphosphates interact via three phosphate binding subsites and one solvent-exposed site that could in principle be occupied by 18 different substrates, explaining the mechanisms for the multiple specificities and catalytic activities of this enzyme.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed2004

The pathway for the production of inositol hexakisphosphate in human cells.

The yeast and Drosophila pathways leading to the production of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)) have been elucidated recently. The in vivo pathway in humans has been assumed to be similar. Here we show that overexpression of Ins(1,3,4)P(3) 5/6-kinase in human cell lines results in an increase of inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP(4)) isomers, inositol pentakisphosphate (InsP(5)) and InsP(6), whereas its depletion by RNA interference decreases the amounts of these inositol phosphates. Expression of Ins(1,3,4,6)P(4) 5-kinase does not increase the amount of InsP(5) and InsP(6), although its depletion does block InsP(5) and InsP(6) production, showing that it is necessary for production of InsP(5) and InsP(6). Expression of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P(5) 2-kinase increases the amount of InsP(6) by depleting the InsP(5) in the cell, and depletion of 2-kinase decreases the amount of InsP(6) and causes an increase in InsP(5). These results are consistent with a pathway that produces InsP(6) through the sequential action of Ins(1,3,4)P(3) 5/6-kinase, Ins(1,3,4,6)P(4) 5-kinase, and Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 2-kinase to convert Ins(1,3,4)P(3) to InsP(6). Furthermore, the evidence implicates 5/6-kinase as the rate-limiting enzyme in this pathway.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2004

The inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase Ocrl associates with endosomes that are partially coated with clathrin.

The subcellular localization of Ocrl, the inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase that is mutated in Lowe syndrome, was investigated by fluorescence microscopy. Ocrl was localized to endosomes and Golgi membranes along with clathrin, giantin, the mannose 6-phosphate receptor, transferrin, and the early endosomal antigen 1 endosomal marker in fixed cells. The endosomal localization of Ocrl was confirmed by live-cell time-lapse microscopy in which we monitored the dynamics of Ocrl on endosomes. GST binding assays show that Ocrl interacts with the clathrin terminal domain and the clathrin adaptor protein AP-2. Our findings suggest a role for Ocrl in endosomal receptor trafficking and sorting.

Adaptor Protein Complex 2↗

PubMed2004

Blasts from the past.

With this issue of the JCI, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Journal. While 80 years is not a century, we still feel it is important to honor what the JCI has meant to the biomedical research community for 8 decades. To illustrate why the JCI is the leading general-interest translational research journal edited by and for biomedical researchers, we have asked former JCI editors-in-chief to reflect on some of the major scientific advances reported in the pages of the Journal during their tenures.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

The mRNA export factor human Gle1 interacts with the nuclear pore complex protein Nup155.

The protein Gle1 is required for export of mRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in both lower and higher eukaryotic cells. In human (h) cells, shuttling of hGle1 between the nucleus and cytoplasm is essential for bulk mRNA export. To date, no hGle1-interacting proteins have been reported and the mechanism by which hGle1 interacts with the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and mediates export is unknown. To identify proteins that can interact with hGle1, a genome-wide yeast two-hybrid screen was performed. Three potential hGle1-interacting partners were isolated, including clones encoding the C-terminal region of the NPC protein hNup155. This interaction between hGle1 and full-length hNup155 was confirmed in vitro, and deletion analysis identified the N-terminal 29 residues of hGle1 as the hNup155-binding domain. Experiments in HeLa cells confirmed that the nuclear rim localization of the major hGle1 protein variant (hGle1B) was dependent on the presence of these 29 N-terminal residues. This suggests that this domain of hGle1 is necessary for targeting to the NPC. This work also characterizes the first domain in hNup155, a 177 C-terminal amino acid span that binds to hGle1. The mutual interaction between hGle1 and the symmetrically distributed nuclear pore protein Nup155 suggests a model in which hGle1's association with hNup155 may represent a step in the Gle1-mediated mRNA export pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase inhibits tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNF-R1) signaling elicits a wide range of biological responses, including inflammation, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. TNF-R1 activates both caspase-mediated apoptosis and NF-kappaB transcription of anti-apoptotic factors. We now report a link between the TNF-R1 and inositol phosphate signaling pathways. We observed that overexpression of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase (5/6-kinase) inhibited apoptosis induced by TNFalpha. The anti-apoptotic effect by 5/6-kinase is not attributable to NF-kappaB activation, as no changes were detected in the levels of NF-kappaB DNA binding, IkappaBalpha degradation, or anti-apoptotic factors, such as x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Decreased expression of 5/6-kinase by RNA interference rendered HeLa cells more susceptible to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of 5/6-kinase in human embryonic kidney 293 cells inhibited TNFalpha-induced activation of caspases-8, -3, and -9, BID, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, 5/6-kinase did not protect against Fas-, etoposide-, or cycloheximide-induced apoptosis. Further, 5/6-kinase protected against apoptosis induced by the overexpression of TNF-R1-associated death domain but not Fas-associated death domain. Therefore, we suggest that 5/6-kinase modifies TNFalpha-induced apoptosis by interfering with the activation of TNF-R1-associated death domain.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed2003

Characterization of myotubularin-related protein 7 and its binding partner, myotubularin-related protein 9.

Myotubularin-related protein 7 (MTMR7) is a member of the myotubularin (MTM) family. The cDNA encoding the mouse MTMR7 contains 1,983 bp, and the predicted protein has a deduced molecular mass of 75.6 kDa. Northern and Western blot analyses showed that MTMR7 is expressed mainly in brain and mouse neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells. Recombinant MTMR7 dephosphorylated the D-3 position of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and inositol 1,3-bisphosphate [Ins(1,3)P2]. The substrate specificity of MTMR7 is different than other MTM proteins in that this enzyme prefers the water-soluble substrate. Immunofluorescence showed that MTMR7 is localized in Golgi-like granules and cytosol, and subcellular fractionation showed both cytoplasmic and membrane localization of MTMR7 in N1E-115 cells. An MTMR7-binding protein was found in an anti-MTMR7 immunoprecipitate from N1E-115 cells and identified as MTM-related protein 9 (MTMR9) by tandem mass spectrometry. The coiled-coil domain of MTMR9 was sufficient for binding to MTMR7. The binding of MTMR9 increased the Ins(1,3)P2 phosphatase activity of MTMR7. Our results show that MTMR7 forms a complex with MTMR9 and dephosphorylates phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and Ins(1,3)P2 in neuronal cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Identification of myotubularin as the lipid phosphatase catalytic subunit associated with the 3-phosphatase adapter protein, 3-PAP.

Myotubularin is a dual-specific phosphatase that dephosphorylates phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol (3,5)-bisphosphate. Mutations in myotubularin result in the human disease X-linked myotubular myopathy, characterized by persistence of muscle fibers that retain an immature phenotype. We have previously reported the identification of the 3-phosphatase adapter protein (3-PAP), a catalytically inactive member of the myotubularin gene family, which coprecipitates lipid phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate-3-phosphatase activity from lysates of human platelets. We have now identified myotubularin as the catalytically active 3-phosphatase subunit interacting with 3-PAP. A 65-kDa polypeptide, coprecipitating with endogenous 3-PAP, was purified from SDS/PAGE, subjected to trypsin digestion, and analyzed by collision-induced dissociation tandem MS. Three peptides derived from human myotubularin were identified. Association between 3-PAP and myotubularin was confirmed by reciprocal coimmunoprecipitation of both endogenous and recombinant proteins expressed in K562 cells. Recombinant myotubularin localized to the plasma membrane, causing extensive filopodia formation. However, coexpression of 3-PAP with myotubularin led to attenuation of the plasma membrane phenotype, associated with myotubularin relocalization to the cytosol. Collectively these studies indicate 3-PAP functions as an "adapter" for myotubularin, regulating myotubularin intracellular location and thereby altering the phenotype resulting from myotubularin overexpression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase associates with the COP9 signalosome by binding to CSN1.

The COP9 signalosome (CSN) is a complex of eight proteins first identified as a repressor of plant photomorphogenesis. A protein kinase activity associated with the COP9 signalosome has been reported but not identified; we present evidence for inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase (5/6-kinase) as a protein kinase associated with the COP9 signalosome. We have shown that 5/6-kinase exists in a complex with the eight-component COP9 signalosome both when purified from bovine brain and when transfected into HEK 293 cells. 5/6-kinase phosphorylates the same substrates as those of the COP9 signalosome, including IkappaBalpha, p53, and c-Jun but fails to phosphorylate several other substrates, including c-Jun 1-79, which are not substrates for the COP9-associated kinase. Both the COP9 signalosome- associated kinase and 5/6-kinase are inhibited by curcumin. The association of 5/6-kinase with the COP9 signalosome is through an interaction with CSN1, which immunoprecipitates with 5/6-kinase. In addition, the inositol kinase activity of 5/6-kinase is inhibited when in a complex with CSN1. We propose that 5/6-kinase is the previously described COP9 signalosome-associated kinase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

The human homolog of the rat inositol phosphate multikinase is an inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate 5-kinase.

We have demonstrated that the human homolog of the rat inositol phosphate multikinase is an inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate 5-kinase (InsP(4) 5-kinase). The cDNA of the human gene contained a putative open reading frame of 1251 bp encoding 416 amino acids with 83.6% identity compared with the rat protein. The substrate specificity of the recombinant human protein demonstrated preference for Ins(1,3,4,6)P(4) with a catalytic efficiency (V(max)/K(m)) 43-fold greater than that of Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4) and 2-fold greater than that of Ins(1,4,5)P(3). The apparent V(max) was 114 nmol of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P(5) formed/min/mg of protein, and the apparent K(m) was 0.3 microm Ins(1,3,4,6)P(4). The functional homolog in yeast is Ipk2p, and ipk2-null yeast strains do not synthesize Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P(5) or InsP(6). Synthesis of these compounds was restored by transformation with wild-type yeast IPK2 but not with human InsP(4) 5-kinase. Thus the human gene does not complement for the loss of the yeast gene because yeast cells do not contain the substrate Ins(1,3,4,6)P(4), and the reaction of the human protein with Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4) is insufficient to effect rescue or synthesis of InsP(5) and InsP(6). Therefore the major activity of human InsP(4) 5-kinase is phosphorylation at the D-5 position, and the pathways for synthesis of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P(5) in yeast versus humans are different.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

The synthesis of inositol hexakisphosphate. Characterization of human inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase.

The enzyme(s) responsible for the production of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)) in vertebrate cells are unknown. In fungal cells, a 2-kinase designated Ipk1 is responsible for synthesis of InsP(6) by phosphorylation of inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (InsP(5)). Based on limited conserved sequence motifs among five Ipk1 proteins from different fungal species, we have identified a human genomic DNA sequence on chromosome 9 that encodes human inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase (InsP(5) 2-kinase). Recombinant human enzyme was produced in Sf21 cells, purified, and shown to catalyze the synthesis of InsP(6) or phytic acid in vitro. The recombinant protein converted 31 nmol of InsP(5) to InsP(6)/min/mg of protein (V(max)). The Michaelis-Menten constant for InsP(5) was 0.4 microM and for ATP was 21 microM. Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking IPK1 do not produce InsP(6) and show lethality in combination with a gle1 mutant allele. Here we show that expression of the human InsP(5) 2-kinase in a yeast ipk1 null strain restored the synthesis of InsP(6) and rescued the gle1-2 ipk1-4 lethal phenotype. Northern analysis on human tissues showed expression of the human InsP(5) 2-kinase mRNA predominantly in brain, heart, placenta, and testis. The isolation of the gene responsible for InsP(6) synthesis in mammalian cells will allow for further studies of the InsP(6) signaling functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Phosphoinositide-specific inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase IV inhibits Akt/protein kinase B phosphorylation and leads to apoptotic cell death.

Phosphoinositide-specific inositol polyphosphate 5- phosphatase IV has the affinity for PI(3,4,5)P(3) (K(m) = 0.65 microM) that is approximately 10-fold greater than the other inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases, which use this substrate including SHIP, OCRL, and 5ptase II, suggesting that it may be important in controlling intracellular levels of this metabolite. We created cell lines stably expressing the enzyme to study its effect on cell function. We found that overexpression of 5ptase IV in 293 cells caused the rapid depletion of both PI(4,5)P(2) and PI(3,4,5)P(3) in cells with corresponding increases in the products, PI(4)P and PI(3,4)P(2), changing the balance of two phosphoinositol products of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, PI(3,4)P(2) and PI(3,4,5)P(3), in the cell. One of the targets of these phosphoinositides is the serine/threonine kinase Akt, which plays an important role in the control of apoptosis. We were able to address the relative roles of PI(3,4)P(2) and PI(3,4,5)P(3) in the activation of Akt by selective depletion of these phosphoinositides in cells stably transfected with 5ptase IV and inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase (4ptase I). In cells transfected with 4ptase I, the level of PI(3,4)P(2) was reduced, and PI(3,4,5)P(3) was increased. Expression of the two enzymes had the opposite effect on the phosphorylation of Akt in response to stimulation with growth factors or heat shock. Akt phosphorylation was inhibited in cells expressing 5ptase IV but increased in 4ptase I cells and correlated with the intracellular level of PI(3,4,5)P(3) and not that of PI(3,4)P(2). The inhibition of Akt phosphorylation in cells expressing 5ptase IV makes them highly susceptible to FAS-induced apoptosis, whereas overexpressing of the 4ptase I protects cells from apoptosis. Our results place 5ptase IV as a relevant biological regulator of PI3K/Akt pathway in cells.

Apoptosis↗