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Biomedical subjects

R Wetzker

Publications and source records attributed to R Wetzker.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Activation of Akt/protein kinase B by G protein-coupled receptors. A role for alpha and beta gamma subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins acting through phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinasegamma.

The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt has recently been shown to be implicated in the pathway leading to cell survival in response to serum and growth factors in a variety of cellular systems. However, the existence of a biochemical route connecting this kinase to the large family of receptors that signal through heterotrimeric G proteins is yet to be explored. In this study, we set out to investigate whether GTP-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can stimulate Akt activity and survival pathways and, if so, to define the mechanism(s) whereby this class of cell surface receptors could regulate Akt function. Using ectopic expression of GPCRs in COS-7 cells as a model, we have observed that both m1 and m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, representative of those GPCRs coupled to Gq and Gi proteins, respectively, can readily activate an epitope-tagged form of Akt kinase and prevent UV-induced apoptosis. We have also found that the pathway connecting G proteins to Akt implicates signals emanating from Galphaq, Galphai, and beta gamma dimers, but not from Galphas or Galpha12, in each case acting through a pathway that involves a phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase activity. Moreover, our findings suggest a role for a novel beta gamma-sensitive complex, p101.phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase-gamma, in the transduction of signals leading to Akt stimulation and cell survival by GPCRs and open new avenues for research on the function of the large family of G protein-linked receptors in the regulation of anti-apoptotic pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effects of FK506-binding protein 12 and FK506 on autophosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor.

FK506-binding proteins and cyclophilins are intracellular proteins that express peptidylproline cis-trans-isomerase (PPIase) activity. The effects of FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12) and the cyclophilins 18 and 23 on autophosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor prepared from plasma membranes of the human epidermoid cell line A431 have been investigated. Whereas FKBP12 inhibited EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner, the cyclophilins did not affect autophosphorylation. In contrast to the wild-type enzyme, several variants of FKBP12 with greatly reduced PPIase activity were unable to suppress EGF receptor tyrosine kinase significantly. Pervanadate an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases, abolished the effect of FKBP12 on EGF receptor autophosphorylation. Finally, FK506 and rapamycin, which are known to block the PPIase activity of FKBP12, induced a significant stimulation of EGF receptor autophosphorylation in intact A431 cells suggesting suppression of EGF receptor autophosphorylation by intracellular FKBP12 in vivo. Taken together the data point to an inhibitory function of FKBP12 in EGF receptor signaling, possibly induced by stimulation of a protein tyrosine phosphatase coupled to the EGF receptor. Both PPIase activity and substrate specificity of FKBP12 seem to be indispensable for this effect.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1998

Gbetagamma stimulates phosphoinositide 3-kinase-gamma by direct interaction with two domains of the catalytic p110 subunit.

Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) regulate important cellular processes such as mitogenesis, apoptosis, and cytoskeletal functions. They include PI3Kalpha, -beta, and -delta isoforms coupled to receptor tyrosine kinases and a PI3Kgamma isoform activated by receptor-stimulated G proteins. This study examines the direct interaction of purified recombinant PI3Kgamma catalytic subunit (p110gamma) and Gbetagamma complexes. When phosphatidylinositol was used as a substrate, Gbetagamma stimulated p110gamma lipid kinase activity more than 60-fold (EC50, approximately 20 nM). Stimulation was inhibited by Galphao-GDP or wortmannin in a concentration-dependent fashion. Stoichiometric binding of a monoclonal antibody to the putative pleckstrin homology domain of p110gamma did not affect Gbetagamma-mediated enzymatic stimulation, whereas incubation of Gbetagamma with a synthetic peptide resembling a predicted Gbetagamma effector domain of type 2 adenylyl cyclase selectively inhibited activation of p110gamma. Gbetagamma complexes bound to N- as well as C-terminal deletion mutants of p110gamma. Correspondingly, these enzymatically inactive N- and C-terminal mutants inhibited Gbetagamma-mediated activation of wild type p110gamma. Our data suggest that (i) p110gamma directly interacts with Gbetagamma, (ii) the pleckstrin homology domain is not the only region important for Gbetagamma-mediated activation of the lipid kinase, and (iii) Gbetagamma binds to at least two contact sites of p110gamma, one of which is close to or within the catalytic core of the enzyme.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1998

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma is a mediator of Gbetagamma-dependent Jun kinase activation.

Jun kinases (JNK) are involved in the stress response of mammalian cells. Stimulation of JNK can be induced by stress factors and by agonists of tyrosine kinase and G protein-coupled receptors. G protein-dependent receptors stimulate JNK via Gbetagamma subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins, but the subsequent signaling reaction has been undefined. Here we demonstrate JNK activation in COS-7 cells by Gbetagamma-stimulated phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma (PI3Kgamma). Signal transduction from PI3Kgamma to JNK can be suppressed by dominant negative mutants of Ras, Rac, and the protein kinase PAK. These results identify PI3Kgamma as a mediator of Gbetagamma-dependent regulation of JNK activity.

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗
PubMed1998

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase gamma mediates shear stress-dependent activation of JNK in endothelial cells.

Shear stress differentially activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) by mechanisms involving Galphai2 and Gbeta/gamma proteins, respectively, in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). The early events in this signaling mechanism by which G proteins regulate ERK and JNK in response to shear stress have not been defined. Here we show that BAEC endogenously express a G protein-dependent form of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, PI3Kgamma, and its activity is stimulated by shear stress. PI3Kgamma activity was measured in vitro using BAEC that were transiently transfected with an epitope-tagged PI3Kgamma (vsv-PI3Kgamma). Exposure of BAEC to shear stress rapidly and transiently stimulated the activity of vsv-PI3Kgamma (maximum by 15 s, with a return to basal after 1-min exposure to 5 dyn/cm2 shear stress). Activity of vsv-PI3Kgamma was stimulated by shear stress intensities as low as 0.5 dyn/cm2. Treatment of BAEC with an inhibitor of PI3K, wortmannin, inhibited shear-dependent activation of JNK but had no effect on that of ERK. Furthermore, expression of a kinase-inactive mutant (PI3KgammaK799R) in BAEC inhibited the shear-dependent activation of JNK but not ERK. Taken together, these results suggest that PI3Kgamma selectively regulates the shear-sensitive JNK pathway. This differential and novel signaling pathway may be responsible for coordinating various mechanosensitive events in endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Vasoactive intestinal peptide and epidermal growth factor: co-mitogens or inhibitors of keratinocyte proliferation in vitro?

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide with a broad range of biological activities in various tissues. Interactions of VIP and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are of particular interest for dermatology. They may be either co-mitogenic or inhibitory. HaCaT keratinocytes cultivated under serum-free conditions in vitro have been used to investigate the interactions of VIP and EGF. EGF was found to induce cell growth, whereas preincubation with VIP inhibited EGF-induced proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum growth inhibition was 46% (p < 0.01) at a VIP concentration of 10(-7) M. EGF-induced growth is mediated by tyrosine kinase (TK). Therefore we studied the effect of VIP on TK activity. Cells were incubated with VIP (10(-13)-10(-7) M) for 48 h and stimulated with EGF at a final concentration of 500 ng/ml. SDS-PAGE and Western blot with the antibody RC20H against TK were performed. We found a dose dependent decrease of EGF receptor TK activity. At VIP concentration of 10(-7) M a residual TK activity of 65% was detected. To investigate the possibly involved signal transduction pathways, we performed inhibition experiments with wortmannin, pertussis toxin, 2'5'diacylglycerol and adenosine-3':5'-mono-phosphorothioate. However, none of the inhibitors was effective in abolishing growth inhibition by VIP. VIP was shown to be growth inhibitory for human keratinocytes. The data suggest that EGF receptor TK is involved in signal transduction of VIP. Thus TK activity is a possible common target of both EGF- and VIP-induced cellular responses.

Androstadienes↗
PubMed1998

[EGF-dependent association of 20S-proteasome and alpha-RNP particles with the epidermal growth factor receptor in A-431 cells].

Here we demonstrate that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces association of prosomes (20S-proteasomes) with its receptor in A-431 cells. Additionally, ligand-dependent association of ribonucleoprotein particles (alpha-RNP), containing small ALU-like RNA, with the EGF receptor was demonstrated. A suggestion has been put forward on the involvement of prosomes and alpha-RNP in the EGF signal transmission to different stages of gene expression.

Cysteine Endopeptidases↗
PubMed1998

Tissue distribution and subcellular localization of a G-protein activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase. An immunohistochemical study.

We studied by light-and electron microscopic immunohistochemical techniques the anatomical distribution and subcellular localization of a G-protein activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma (PI3Kgamma) in several tissues of rat, mouse, dog and man. Using monospecific polyclonal antisera and monoclonal antibodies to the enzyme protein PI3Kgamma immunoreactivity was detected in rat and mouse neutrophils, prostate, kidney, exocrine pancreas, salivary glands (parotid gland) as well as in dog and human exocrine pancreas and parotid gland. No immunoreactive material was found in Langerhans islet cells and in the nervous tissue. Fine structural analysis of PI3Kgamma immunoreactivity revealed immunolabeling of the basolateral membrane of rat kidney tubular cells and certain cells in the parenchyma of the glandular part of rat prostate gland. Our morphological data suggest a possible involvement of the enzyme in cellular transport phenomena and a regulatory influence in secretory processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Interaction of Ras with phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma (PI3Kgamma) can be activated in vitro by both alpha and betagamma subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins and does not interact with p85, the regulatory subunit of PI3Kalpha. Here we demonstrate the binding of Ras to PI3Kgamma in vitro. An N-terminal region of PI3Kgamma was identified as a binding site for Ras. After co-expression with PI3Kgamma in COS-7 cells, Ras induced only a modest increase in PI3K activity compared with the stimulation of PI3Kalpha by Ras in the same cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Co-operation of phosphatidylinositol transfer protein with phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma in the formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine-dependent production of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate in human neutrophils.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and its product phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) play an essential role in the regulation of neutrophil functions by the chemoattractant formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (FMLP). Here we show that permeabilization of human neutrophils leads to loss of cytosolic components, including PI3Kgamma, and causes the loss of FMLP-dependent production of PIP3. FMLP-sensitive synthesis of PIP3 could be restored by reconstitution of permeabilized neutrophils with recombinant PI3Kgamma. Admixture of recombinant phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP) to the reconstitution cocktail produced a further increase of PIP3 synthesis, whereas pertussis toxin suppressed the FMLP-dependent production of PIP3. We conclude that FMLP-sensitive PIP3 formation in human neutrophils involves the FMLP receptor, heterotrimeric G-proteins of the Gi type, PI3Kgamma and PITP.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1997

Lipid kinase and protein kinase activities of G-protein-coupled phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma: structure-activity analysis and interactions with wortmannin.

Signalling via seven transmembrane helix receptors can lead to a massive increase in cellular PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, which is critical for the induction of various cell responses and is likely to be produced by a trimeric G-protein-sensitive phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3Kgamma). We show here that PI3Kgamma is a bifunctional lipid kinase and protein kinase, and that both activities are inhibited by wortmannin at concentrations equal to those affecting the p85/p110alpha heterodimeric PI3K (IC50 approx. 2 nM). The binding of wortmannin to PI3Kgamma, as detected by anti-wortmannin antisera, closely followed the inhibition of the kinase activities. Truncation of more than the 98 N-terminal amino acid residues from PI3Kgamma produced proteins that were inactive in wortmannin binding and kinase assays. This suggests that regions apart from the core catalytic domain are important in catalysis and inhibitor interaction. The covalent reaction of wortmannin with PI3Kgamma was prevented by preincubation with phosphoinositides, ATP and its analogues adenine and 5'-(4-fluorosulphonylbenzoyl)adenine. Proteolytic analysis of wortmannin-prelabelled PI3Kgamma revealed candidate wortmannin-binding peptides around Lys-799. Replacement of Lys-799 by Arg through site-directed mutagenesis aborted the covalent reaction with wortmannin and the lipid kinase and protein kinase activities completely. The above illustrates that Lys-799 is crucial to the phosphate transfer reaction and wortmannin reactivity. Parallel inhibition of the PI3Kgamma-associated protein kinase and lipid kinase by wortmannin and by the Lys-799-->Arg mutation reveals that both activities are inherent in the PI3Kgamma polypeptide.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1997

Linkage of G protein-coupled receptors to the MAPK signaling pathway through PI 3-kinase gamma.

The tyrosine kinase class of receptors induces mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation through the sequential interaction of the signaling proteins Grb2, Sos, Ras, Raf, and MEK. Receptors coupled to heterotrimeric guanine triphosphate-binding protein (G protein) stimulate MAPK through Gbetagamma subunits, but the subsequent intervening molecules are still poorly defined. Overexpression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma (PI3Kgamma) in COS-7 cells activated MAPK in a Gbetagamma-dependent fashion, and expression of a catalytically inactive mutant of PI3Kgamma abolished the stimulation of MAPK by Gbetagamma or in response to stimulation of muscarinic (m2) G protein-coupled receptors. Signaling from PI3Kgamma to MAPK appears to require a tyrosine kinase, Shc, Grb2, Sos, Ras, and Raf. These findings indicate that PI3Kgamma mediates Gbetagamma-dependent regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1996

Tyrosine phosphorylation of GSalpha and inhibition of bradykinin-induced activation of the cyclic AMP pathway in A431 cells by epidermal growth factor receptor.

An increasing amount of experimental data suggest that cross-talk exists between pathways involving tyrosine kinases and heterotrimeric G proteins. In a previous study, we demonstrated that bradykinin (BK) increases the intracellular accumulation of cAMP in the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 by stimulating adenylate cyclase activity via a stimulatory G protein (Gsalpha) (Liebmann, C., Graness, A., Ludwig, B., Adomeit, A., Boehmer, A., Boehmer, F.-D., Nürnberg, B., and Wetzker, R. (1996) Biochem. J. 313, 109-118). Here, we present several lines of evidence indicating the ability of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to suppress BK-induced activation of the cAMP pathway in A431 cells via tyrosine phosphorylation of Gsalpha. Gsalpha was specifically immunoprecipitated from A431 cells using the anti-alphas antiserum AS 348. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Gsalpha was detectable in EGF-pretreated cells with monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. Additionally, A431 cells were labeled with [32P]orthophosphate in vivo and treated with EGF, and the resolved immunoprecipitates were subjected to amino acid analysis. The results clearly indicate that EGF induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Gsalpha in A431 cells. Treatment of A431 cells with EGF decreased BK-induced cAMP accumulation in intact cells as well as the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by BK, NaF, and guanyl nucleotides, but not by forskolin. Also, EGF treatment abolished both the BK- and isoprenaline-induced stimulation of guanosine 5'-O-(3-[35S]thiotriphosphate) binding to Gsalpha. In contrast, the BK-evoked, Gq-mediated stimulation of inositol phosphate formation in A431 cells was not affected by EGF pretreatment. Thus, EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Gsalpha is accompanied by a loss of its susceptibility to G protein-coupled receptors and its ability to stimulate adenylate cyclase via guanyl nucleotide exchange. We propose that Gsalpha may represent a key regulatory protein in the cross-talk between the signal transduction pathways of BK and EGF in A431 cells.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1996

Dual bradykinin B2 receptor signalling in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells: activation of protein kinase C is counteracted by a GS-mediated stimulation of the cyclic AMP pathway.

Cell membranes of the human epidermoid cell line A431 express classical bradykinin (BK) B2 receptors, as assessed by [3H]BK binding studies. Furthermore, stimulation by BK induced a time-dependent modulation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity in A431 cells: a rapid activation (t1/2 approximately 1 min) is followed by a slow inhibition (t1/2 approximately 20 min) of PKC translocation measured by [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding. In addition, BK stimulated both adenylate cyclase activity in A431 membranes and accumulation of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) in intact cells in a retarded manner. A possible BK-induced activation of the cAMP pathway mediated via PKC, phospholipase D, prostaglandins or Ca2+/calmodulin was excluded. A 35 kDa protein was found in A431 membranes to be specifically phosphorylated in the presence of both BK and protein kinase A (PKA). An anti-alpha s-antibody, AS 348, abolished stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in response to BK, cholera toxin and isoprenaline, strongly suggesting the involvement of Gs proteins in the BK action. The BK-activated cAMP signalling system might be important for the observed inactivation of PKC slowly evoked by BK: the BK-induced rapid activation of PKC is decreased by dibutyryl cAMP, and the slow inhibition of PKC is prevented by an inhibitor of PKA, adenosine 3':5'-monophosphothioate (cyclic, Rp isomer). The inhibition of PKC translocation might be exerted directly at the level of PKC activation, since stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by BK was affected by neither dibutyryl cAMP nor forskolin. Thus our results provide the first evidence that A431 cells BK is able to activate two independent signal-transduction pathways via a single class of B2 receptors but two different G proteins. The lagging stimulation of the cAMP signalling pathway via Gs might serve to switch off PKC, which is rapidly activated via Gq-mediated stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1996

Dependence on intracellular pH and Mg2+ of metabolic compartmentation of phosphoinositides in human erythrocytes.

Effects of intracellular pH and Mg2+ on turnover and extent of metabolic compartmentation of phosphomonoester groups of phosphoinositides and phosphatidate were investigated in human erythrocytes by short-term and equilibrium labeling with [32P]Pi under steady-state conditions. At pH 6.7, the specific radio-activities of phosphoinositides reached apparent equilibrium values, in the range of 70% of that ATP-gamma-P after long-term labelling. At pH 7.2, these values were in the range of 40-50% of that ATP-gamma-P. This demonstrates a decreased accessibility of phosphoinositides to enzymatic phosphorylation and dephosphorylation at the transition from acidic to normal incubation conditions. These changes were more pronounced at pH 7.8. High intracellular [Mg2+] initially activated the turnover of phosphoinositides at pH 7.2. The activation changed into an inhibition and an increase of metabolic compartmentation after three hours preincubation of erythrocytes at high [Mg2+]. The long-term Mg2+ effects are reversible to a great extent by a subsequent re-reduction of [Mg2+]. In conclusion, deprotonation of phosphoinositides by low [H+] or high intracellular [Mg2+] at normal pH induces a decreased accessibility for their specific lipid kinases and phosphatases. This effect may be the result of lateral phase separation of acidic phospholipids as a consequence of divalent cation complexation under both experimental conditions, high pH and high [Mg2+] at normal pH.

Erythrocytes↗
PubMed1996

[The association of specific RNPs with the EGF receptor in A-431 cells].

One of alpha-RNP proteins (38 kDa alpha-protein) has been revealed as a target of the EGF receptor-associated protein kinase. A specific association of alpha-RNP complexes with the EGF receptor has been demonstrated. The involvement of alpha-RNP in the transduction of the EGF-induced signal has been suggested.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1995

Sequestration of a G-protein beta gamma subunit or ADP-ribosylation of Rho can inhibit thrombin-induced activation of platelet phosphoinositide 3-kinases.

Stimulation of platelets by thrombin leads to an increased association of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K) with a membrane cytoskeletal fraction (CSK). Activation of PI 3-K is dependent upon GTP-binding protein(s), since PI 3-K in permeabilized platelets is stimulated by GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate), and stimulation of platelet cytosolic PI 3-K by GTP gamma S requires a functional small G-protein, Rho. Recent reports indicate that cytosolic PI 3-Ks can also be activated by the beta gamma subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins (G beta gamma). We now report that the activated PI 3-K that is associated with CSK can be inhibited by a recombinant protein containing the G beta gamma-binding pleckstrin homology domain of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 (beta ARK-PH). Inhibition is blocked by G beta gamma. PI 3-K in nonactivated platelet CSK is activated by GTP gamma S but unaffected by beta ARK-PH or G beta gamma. Western blots indicate that activated platelet CSK contains a novel 110-kDa PI 3-K(gamma) that has been shown to be stimulated by G beta gamma and to lack binding sites for the 85-kDa subunit of conventional PI 3-K. PI 3-K in immunoprecipitates obtained via p85 subunit-directed antibodies can be activated by GTP gamma S but not by G beta gamma. PI 3-K that is stimulatable by G beta gamma remains soluble, as does PI 3-K(gamma), and is unaffected by Rho. In contrast, ADP-ribosylation of Rho present in p85 immunoprecipitates is inhibitory. Further, activation of PI 3-K in permeabilized platelets exposed to thrombin or GTP gamma S is inhibited by beta ARK-PH and/or Rho-specific ADP-ribosylating enzymes. We conclude that Rho and G beta gamma each, respectively, contributes to the activation of different PI 3-Ks (p85-containing heterodimer and PI 3-K (gamma)) in thrombin-stimulated platelets.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗