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Timothy A Haystead

Publications and source records attributed to Timothy A Haystead.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Real-time in vivo proteomic identification of novel kinase substrates in smooth muscle.

Relaxation of smooth muscle can occur through agonists (such as nitric oxide) that activate guanylyl cyclase and stimulate the production of cGMP, activating its target, cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). This kinase can raise the Ca2+ threshold for contraction, thus causing Ca2+ desensitization, but the mechanism for this event is not completely understood. Ca2+ sensitization/desensitization pathways are essential for maintenance of normal smooth muscle tone, and abnormalities in these pathways have been shown to be key components in the pathogenesis of diseases such as hypertension and asthma in humans. Our laboratory has devised a proteomic method to specifically address the question of what proteins are early phosphorylation targets in calcium desensitization. Using ileum smooth muscle, we metabolically labeled the muscle with (32P)-orthophosphate, permeabilized the muscle, established constant calcium concentrations, and stimulated with 8-bromo-cGMP, which activates PKG. Proteins whose phosphorylation state changed in response to cGMP at constant levels of calcium were separated with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, identified by autoradiography, and sequenced with nanospray mass spectrometry. Using this technique, we identified a previously uncharacterized PKG phosphoprotein, which we have termed CHASM (Calponin Homology Smooth Muscle protein). Using physiological muscle bath contraction studies, we have validated CHASM as a component of calcium desensitization pathways in smooth muscle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Altered blood pressure responses and normal cardiac phenotype in ACE2-null mice.

The carboxypeptidase ACE2 is a homologue of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). To clarify the physiological roles of ACE2, we generated mice with targeted disruption of the Ace2 gene. ACE2-deficient mice were viable, fertile, and lacked any gross structural abnormalities. We found normal cardiac dimensions and function in ACE2-deficient animals with mixed or inbred genetic backgrounds. On the C57BL/6 background, ACE2 deficiency was associated with a modest increase in blood pressure, whereas the absence of ACE2 had no effect on baseline blood pressures in 129/SvEv mice. After acute Ang II infusion, plasma concentrations of Ang II increased almost 3-fold higher in ACE2-deficient mice than in controls. In a model of Ang II-dependent hypertension, blood pressures were substantially higher in the ACE2-deficient mice than in WT. Severe hypertension in ACE2-deficient mice was associated with exaggerated accumulation of Ang II in the kidney, as determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Although the absence of functional ACE2 causes enhanced susceptibility to Ang II-induced hypertension, we found no evidence for a role of ACE2 in the regulation of cardiac structure or function. Our data suggest that ACE2 is a functional component of the renin-angiotensin system, metabolizing Ang II and thereby contributing to regulation of blood pressure.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed2006

A role for PP1 in the Cdc2/Cyclin B-mediated positive feedback activation of Cdc25.

The Cdc25 phosphatase promotes entry into mitosis through the removal of inhibitory phosphorylations on the Cdc2 subunit of the Cdc2/CyclinB complex. During interphase, or after DNA damage, Cdc25 is suppressed by phosphorylation at Ser287 (Xenopus numbering; Ser216 of human Cdc25C) and subsequent binding of the small acidic protein, 14-3-3. As reported recently, at the time of mitotic entry, 14-3-3 protein is removed from Cdc25 and S287 is dephosphorylated by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). After the initial activation of Cdc25 and consequent derepression of Cdc2/CyclinB, Cdc25 is further activated through a Cdc2-catalyzed positive feedback loop. Although the existence of such a loop has been appreciated for some time, the molecular mechanism for this activation has not been described. We report here that phosphorylation of S285 by Cdc2 greatly enhances recruitment of PP1 to Cdc25, thereby accelerating S287 dephosphorylation and mitotic entry. Moreover, we show that two other previously reported sites of Cdc2-catalyzed phosphorylation on Cdc25 are required for maximal biological activity of Cdc25, but they do not contribute to PP1 regulation and do not act solely through controlling S287 phosphorylation. Therefore, multiple mechanisms, including enhanced recruitment of PP1, are used to promote full activation of Cdc25 at the time of mitotic entry.

14-3-3 Proteins↗
PubMed2004

C-terminal repeat domain kinase I phosphorylates Ser2 and Ser5 of RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain repeats.

The C-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II is composed of tandem heptad repeats with consensus sequence Tyr1-Ser2-Pro3-Thr4-Ser5-Pro6-Ser7. In yeast, this heptad sequence is repeated about 26 times, and it becomes hyperphosphorylated during transcription predominantly at serines 2 and 5. A network of kinases and phosphatases combine to determine the CTD phosphorylation pattern. We sought to determine the positional specificity of phosphorylation by yeast CTD kinase-I (CTDK-I), an enzyme implicated in various nuclear processes including elongation and pre-mRNA 3'-end formation. Toward this end, we characterized monoclonal antibodies commonly employed to study CTD phosphorylation patterns and found that the H5 monoclonal antibody reacts with CTD species phosphorylated at Ser2 and/or Ser5. We therefore used antibody-independent methods to study CTDK-I, and we found that CTDK-I phosphorylates Ser5 of the CTD if the CTD substrate is either unphosphorylated or prephosphorylated at Ser2. When Ser5 is already phosphorylated, CTDK-I phosphorylates Ser2 of the CTD. We also observed that CTDK-I efficiently generates doubly phosphorylated CTD repeats; CTD substrates that already contain Ser2-PO(4) or Ser5-PO(4) are more readily phosphorylated CTDK-I than unphosphorylby ated CTD substrates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Changes in magnetization transfer MRI correlate with spreading depression-induced astroglial reactivity and increased protein expression in mice.

OBJECTIVE: Gliosis refers to a range of glial cell transformations that vary according to specific brain pathologic states. Disease, however, is not a prerequisite for gliosis because glial reactivity may also be seen in regions of increased physiologic activity. Our study tests the hypothesis that high-field-strength magnetization transfer MRI is a sensitive technique for detecting transient glial reactivity after experimental spreading depression, a relatively benign perturbation unaccompanied by cell injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Unilateral neocortical spreading depression was elicited in mouse cerebral hemispheres and confirmed by transcranial blood flow and extracellular potential measurements. After 3 days, mice were imaged at 4 T using magnetization transfer techniques. Astroglial reactivity was determined immunohistochemically, and protein expression in control and experimental hemispheres was compared using proteomic techniques. RESULTS: Sixteen ([mean +/- SD] +/- 3) spreading depressions (n = 10) were recorded in experimental hemispheres. Spreading depression was never observed in control hemispheres. At 3 days, an 8% decrease (p < 0.05, n = 4) in magnetization transfer signal intensity was measured in experimental hemispheres, which was associated with a 37% increase (p < 0.001, n = 4) in the intensity of glial fibrillary acidic protein staining. Proteomic analysis performed 3 days after the induction of spreading depression showed upregulation of at least 56 proteins, including extracellular and intracellular elements. CONCLUSION: Magnetization transfer at 4.0-T MRI is a sensitive method for detecting glial reactivity and changes in protein expression not associated with cell injury. These results suggest magnetization transfer MRI techniques may have potential for detecting glial reactivity in physiologic processes such as learning and in early disease states.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Caspase-dependent cleavage of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II during apoptosis.

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase II (CPSII) is part of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase/aspartate transcarbamoylase/dihydroorotase (CAD), a multienzymatic protein required for the de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides and cell growth. Herein, we identify CAD as a substrate for caspase-3 degradation in both in vitro and in vivo models of apoptosis. Withdrawal of interleukin-3 or incubation with staurosporine (STS) or doxorubicin (Dox) resulted in proteolytic cleavage of CAD in a myeloid precursor cell line (32D) or in a cell line over-expressing CAD. The rapid decline in the CPSII activity paralleled the degradation of CAD and preceded the appearance of Annexin-V-stained apoptotic cells and DNA fragmentation. These events correlated closely with the activation of caspase-3 in these cells and were prevented by the cell-permeable caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp fluoromethyl ketone. Moreover, the incubation of purified CAD with recombinant caspase-3 in vitro generated CAD fragments that were similar to those obtained in vivo. Edman sequencing revealed that two of the major caspase-3 cleavage sites occurred at the sequences EAVD/G and VACD/G within the catalytic (B2) and allosteric (B3) domains of CAD, thus providing a potential mechanism for the rapid inactivation of CPSII during apoptosis. Consistent with this, an enhanced loss of the intracellular pyrimidines (UTP and CTP) was observed in response to STS or DOX-induced apoptosis. Therefore, these studies show that CAD is a novel target for caspase-dependent regulation during apoptosis and suggest that the selective inactivation of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis accompanies the process of apoptosis.

Animals↗