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EGF, PGF2 alpha and insulin induce the phosphorylation of identical S6 peptides in swiss mouse 3T3 cells: effect of cAMP on early sites of phosphorylation.

Epidermal growth factor (10(-9)M), prostaglandin (8.5 X 10(-7)M), F2 alpha, and insulin (10(-9)M), each of which only leads to a partial phosphorylation of 40S ribosomal protein S6, generate the same first eight phosphopeptides induced by 10% serum, suggesting all three activate a common regulatory pathway for the phosphorylation of S6. Added together, they induce almost maximal S6 phosphorylation and a phosphopeptide pattern nearly equivalent to that of serum. Unlike the agents above, 8-Br-cAMP or PGE1 has no significant effect on protein synthesis, but does induce a small increase in S6 phosphorylation. Surprisingly, the three peptides that become phosphorylated are identical with insulin-induced phosphopeptides 10b, 11, and 9, based on either comigration, limited acid hydrolysis, or V8 protease digestion. Incubation of 40S subunits with cAMP-dependent protein kinase induces the phosphorylation of these same three phosphopeptides. The in vitro and in vivo studies described here raise the possibility that cAMP could, in part, be responsible for mediating the phosphorylation of S6 during the mitogenic response.

Animals↗

Nuclear magnetic resonance structure of an SH2 domain of phospholipase C-gamma 1 complexed with a high affinity binding peptide.

The solution structure of the C-terminal SH2 domain of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1), in complex with a phosphopeptide corresponding to its Tyr-1021 high affinity binding site on the platelet-derived growth factor receptor, has been determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The topology of the SH2-phosphopeptide complex is similar to previously reported Src and Lck SH2 complexes. However, the binding site for residues C-terminal to the phosphotyrosine (pTyr) is an extended groove that contacts peptide residues at the +1 to +6 positions relative to the pTyr. This striking difference from Src and Lck reflects the fact that the PLC-gamma 1 complex involves binding of a phosphopeptide with predominantly hydrophobic residues C-terminal to the pTyr and therefore serves as a prototype for a second class of SH2-phosphopeptide interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Selective zirconium dioxide-based enrichment of phosphorylated peptides for mass spectrometric analysis.

Due to the dynamic nature and low stoichiometry of protein phosphorylation, enrichment of phosphorylated peptides from proteolytic mixtures is often necessary prior to their characterization by mass spectrometry. Several phosphopeptide isolation strategies have been presented in the literature, including immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. However, that technique suffers from poor selectivity and reproducibility. Recently, titanium dioxide-based columns have been successfully employed for phosphopeptide enrichment by several research groups. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of the utility of zirconium dioxide microtips for phosphopeptide isolation prior to mass spectrometric analysis. These microtips display similar overall performance as TiO2 microtips. However, more selective isolation of singly phosphorylated peptides was observed with ZrO2 compared to TiO2 whereas TiO2 preferentially enriched multiply phosphorylated peptides. Thus, these two chromatographic materials possess complementary properties. For alpha- and beta-casein, Glu-C digestion provided no evident advantage compared to trypsin digestion when combined with TiO2 or ZrO2 phosphopeptide enrichment.

Mass Spectrometry↗

A fluorescent indicator for tyrosine phosphorylation-based insulin signaling pathways.

A fluorescent indicator for tyrosine phosphorylation-based insulin signaling is described. Upon binding of insulin to cell-surface insulin receptor, the receptor phosphorylates tyrosine residues of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) in the cell. A fluorescent indicator was designed by using synthetic phosphopeptide pY939 derived from the tyrosine phosphorylation domain of IRS-1 and its target protein SH2N containing an N-terminal SH2 domain of PI 3-kinase. The SH2N protein and pY939 phosphopeptide were labeled with fluorescein (F-SH2N) and tetramethylrhodamine (T-pY939), respectively. Formation of a F-SH2N-T-pY939 complex (termed a fluorescence resonance energy-transfer (FRET) pair) was evaluated from a change in a fluorescence emission spectrum based on FRET between the two fluorophores. The FRET pair was formed to dissociate in competition with the unlabeled pY939 phosphopeptide, resulting in a decrease in a pY939 phosphopeptide-dependent FRET emission at 580 nm and causing an increase in emission at 520 nm. Tyrosine phosphorylation by the partially purified insulin receptor of substrate peptide Y939 was detected with this formed FRET pair, and resulting changes in fluorescence emission spectra were observed for insulin concentration from about 1.0 x 10(-9) to 1.0 x 10(-6) M. These results indicated that the FRET pair served as a competitive fluorescent indicator for tyrosine phosphorylation-based insulin signaling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Phosphorylation of the alpha- and beta-isoforms of DNA topoisomerase II is qualitatively different in interphase and mitosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Qualitative differences between interphase and mitotic topoisomerase II were studied in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Differences in sites of phosphorylation of in vivo 32P-labeled topoisomerase II alpha were observed between mitosis and interphase by one-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping of partial tryptic digests. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping of complete trypsin digests revealed two phosphopeptides unique to interphase and three phosphopeptides unique to mitosis. A reduced electrophoretic mobility on denaturing gels (approximately 190 kDa) was observed for the beta-isoform of topoisomerase II in mitosis relative to interphase. Treatment of lysates with alkaline phosphatase demonstrated that this was due to phosphorylation of mitotic topoisomerase II beta. The existence of interphase- and mitosis-specific sites of phosphorylation of topoisomerase II alpha, along with the electrophoretic mobility shift caused by phosphorylation of topoisomerase II beta in mitosis, demonstrates qualitative differences between interphase and mitosis in the phosphorylation state of both isoforms of topoisomerase II.

Animals↗

Threonine 1336 of the human insulin receptor is a major target for phosphorylation by protein kinase C.

The ability of tumor-promoting phorbol diesters to inhibit both insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity and its intracellular signaling correlates with the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta subunit on serine and threonine residues. In the present studies, mouse 3T3 fibroblasts transfected with a human insulin receptor cDNA and expressing greater than one million of these receptors per cell were labeled with [32P]phosphate and treated with or without 100 nM 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (PMA). Phosphorylated insulin receptors were immunoprecipitated and digested with trypsin. Alternatively, insulin receptors affinity purified from human term placenta were phosphorylated by protein kinase C prior to trypsin digestion of the 32P-labeled beta subunit. Analysis of the tryptic phosphopeptides from both the in vivo and in vitro labeled receptors by reversed-phase HPLC and two-dimensional thin-layer separation revealed that PMA and protein kinase C enhanced the phosphorylation of a peptide with identical chromatographic properties. Partial hydrolysis and radiosequence analysis of the phosphopeptide derived from insulin receptor phosphorylated by protein kinase C indicated that the phosphorylation of this tryptic peptide occurred specifically on a threonine, three amino acids from the amino terminus of the tryptic fragment. Comparison of these data with the known, deduced receptor sequence suggested that the receptor-derived tryptic phosphopeptide might be Ile-Leu-Thr(P)-Leu-Pro-Arg. Comigration of a phosphorylated synthetic peptide containing this sequence with the receptor-derived phosphopeptide confirmed the identity of the tryptic fragment. The phosphorylation site corresponds to threonine 1336 in the human insulin receptor beta subunit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗

SH2 domains mediate the sequential phosphorylation of HS1 protein by p72syk and Src-related protein tyrosine kinases.

The protein tyrosine kinase p72syk readily phosphorylates hematopoietic linkage cell-specific protein p50/HS1 with high stoichiometry (up to 4 mol of Pi/mol of protein) and favorable kinetic constants (Km 77 nM, kcat 0.37 s-1), at sites that display the motif that is specifically recognized by the HS2 domains of Src tyrosine kinases. Such a phosphorylation converts p50/HS1 into a good substrate for c-Fgr, which in contrast is nearly inactive on nonphosphorylated p50/HS1. A phosphopeptide reproducing one of the main p50/HS1 site affected by p72syk, but neither its dephosphorylated derivative nor other phosphopeptides with different structure, blocks the secondary phosphorylation of phospho(p50/HS1) by c-Fgr but not its primary phosphorylation by p72syk. It also prevents the coimmunoprecipitation of phospho(HS1) with c-Fgr by anti-(c-Fgr) antibodies. In contrast the HS1[393-402] phosphopeptide is ineffective on the kinase activity of c-Fgr when tested with peptide substrates, showing that inhibition of p50/HS1 phosphorylation is not exerted at the catalytic site of c-Fgr. The sequential phosphorylation of p50/HS1 as well as its specific blockage by the HS1 phosphopeptide is also observable if c-Fgr is replaced by two other Src-related kinases, namely, Lyn and Fyn, as secondary phosphorylating agents. None of these Src-related kinases, however, can carry out the phosphorylation of p50/HS1 at the sites affected by p72syk, even after prolonged incubation. Our data suggest that sequential phosphorylation might represent a general mechanism by which p72syk and other Syk-related kinases generate substrates for Src-related protein tyrosine kinases. They also show that sequential phosphorylation (requiring the concerted action of a primary and a secondary kinases) cannot be surrogated by "processive" phosphorylation where a single kinase catalyzes both the primary and secondary phosphorylation, although both these modes of multiple phosphorylation are based on interactions between SH2 domains of the kinases and phosphotyrosyl sites of the substrate.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Solid-phase synthesis and biochemical studies of O-boranophosphopeptides and O-dithiophosphopeptides.

Signal transduction cascades maintain control over important cellular processes such as cell growth and differentiation by orchestrating protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Specific control of these processes in vivo and in vitro can be achieved with peptide analogues that mimic the binding properties of phosphoproteins. We present here the solid-phase synthesis of two novel classes of phosphopeptide mimetics, O-boranophosphopeptides and O-dithiophosphopeptides, derivatized on tyrosine, serine, and threonine. The use of H-phosphonate and H-phosphonothioate monoesters containing the base labile 9-fluorenemethyl protecting group was key to the synthesis of both phosphopeptide mimetics. O-Boranophosphopeptides were synthesized by condensing O-(9-fluorenemethyl)-H-phosphonate to the peptide hydroxylic component (tyr, ser, or thr) followed by oxidation with borane complexes. Similarly, the synthesis of O-dithiophosphopeptides used the O-(9-fluorenemethyl)-H-phosphonothioate synthon and oxidation with elemental sulfur. Base elimination of the Fmol protecting group and cleavage from the solid support with concentrated ammonium hydroxide afforded the boranophosphopeptide and dithiophosphopeptide target compounds. Ac-YIIPLPG-NH2, having either dithiophosphoryl tyrosine or boranophosphoryltyrosine but no sequence specificity for Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), was found to competitively inhibit this enzyme with KI values of 430 +/- 50 and 670 +/- 50 microM, respectively. In addition, both phosphopeptide analogues were resistant toward Yersinia PTP enzymatic hydrolysis. Under conditions (pH 8.0) where the phosphopeptide was rapidly dephosphorylated, the boranophosphopeptide hydrolyzed slowly (t1/2 = 15 h) and the dithiophosphopeptide was completely stable over 24 h.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Recognition of a high-affinity phosphotyrosyl peptide by the Src homology-2 domain of p56lck.

The Src homology-2 (SH2) domains are modules of about 100 amino-acid residues that are found in many intracellular signal-transduction proteins. They bind phosphotyrosine-containing sequences with high affinity and specificity, recognizing phosphotyrosine in the context of the immediately adjacent polypeptide sequence. The protein p56lck (Lck) is a Src-like, lymphocyte-specific tyrosine kinase. A phosphopeptide library screen has recently been used to deduce an 'optimal' binding sequence for the Lck SH2 domain. There is selectivity for the residues Glu, Glu and Ile in the three positions C-terminal to the phosphotyrosine. An 11-residue phosphopeptide derived from the hamster polyoma middle-T antigen, EPQpYEEIPIYL, binds with an approximately 1 nM dissociation constant to the Lck SH2 (ref. 17), an affinity equivalent to that of the tightest known SH2-phosphopeptide complex. We report here the high-resolution crystallographic analysis of the Lck SH2 domain in complex with this phosphopeptide. Recent crystallographically derived structures of the Src SH2 domain in complex with low-affinity peptides, which do not contain the EEI consensus, and NMR-derived structures of unliganded Abl (ref. 19) and p85 (ref. 20) SH2 domains have revealed the conserved fold of the SH2 domain and the properties of a phosphotyrosine binding pocket. Our high-affinity complex shows the presence of a second pocket for the residue (pY + 3) three positions C-terminal to the phosphotyrosine (pY). The peptide is anchored by insertion of the pY and pY + 3 side chains into their pockets and by a network of hydrogen bonds to the peptide main chain. In the low-affinity phosphopeptide/Src complexes, the pY + 3 residues do not insert into the homologous binding pocket and the peptide main chain remains displaced from the surface of the domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tumor-promoting phorbol diesters cause the phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptors in normal human fibroblasts at threonine-654.

The effect of tumor-promoting phorbol diesters to potentiate the action of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on cell proliferation is associated with phosphorylation of EGF receptors, acute depression of EGF binding, and inhibition of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity. In the present studies, normal human fibroblasts and A431 carcinoma cells were labeled with [32P]phosphate and treated with and without 10 nM 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (PMA). The EGF receptors then were isolated by immunoprecipitation and digested with trypsin. Analysis of the labeled receptor phosphopeptides by reversed-phase HPLC revealed that PMA induces the phosphorylation of a unique phosphopeptide containing [32P]phosphothreonine. Comparison of several chemical and physical properties of the 32P-labeled phosphopeptide with the primary structure of the EGF receptor suggested the identify Lys-Arg-Thr(P)-Leu-Arg. This was confirmed by direct demonstration that a synthetic peptide of this structure comigrates during HPLC and electrophoresis with the 32P-labeled phosphopeptide isolated from the EGF receptors of normal human fibroblasts. The phosphorylated site on the peptide corresponds to threonine-654 of the EGF receptor, which is located on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane nine residues distant from the transmembrane domain. These data indicate that phosphorylation of the EGF receptor in human fibroblasts and A431 cells at threonine-654 may regulate the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity and the binding of EGF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Amino acid sequences surrounding the cAMP-dependent and calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation sites in rat and bovine synapsin I.

The amino acid sequences surrounding three major phosphorylation sites in rat and bovine synapsin I have been determined by employing automated gas-phase sequencing and manual Edman degradation of purified phosphopeptide fragments. Site 1 is a serine residue phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I. The sequence around site 1 was derived from tryptic/chymotryptic phosphopeptides and overlapping cyanogen bromide cleavage fragments. This sequence, identical in rat and bovine synapsin I, is Asn-Tyr-Leu-Arg-Arg-Arg-Leu-Ser(P)-Asp-Ser-Asn-Phe-Met. Site 1 is located at the NH2 terminus of the protein, within the collagenase-resistant head region. Sites 2 and 3 are serine residues phosphorylated by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. The sequences surrounding bovine site 2 and site 3 were derived from tryptic phosphopeptides and overlapping fragments generated by cleavage with chymotrypsin, collagenase, and endoproteinase Lys-C. The sequence around bovine site 2 is Thr-Arg-Gln-Thr-Ser(P)-Val-Ser-Gly-Gln-Ala-Pro-Pro-Lys, and the sequence around bovine site 3 is Thr-Arg-Gln-Ala-Ser(P)-Gln-Ala-Gly-Pro-Met-Pro-Arg. Sites 2 and 3 are located within the COOH-terminal, collagenase-sensitive tail region of the molecule, separated by 36 amino acids. The sequences surrounding rat site 2 and site 3 were derived from tryptic phosphopeptides. The sequence around rat site 2 is Gln-Ala-Ser(P)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Pro-Ala-Pro-Pro-Lys, and the sequence around rat site 3 is Gln-Ala-Ser(P)-Gln-Ala-Gly-Pro-Gly-Pro-Arg. Thus, the sequences surrounding the four sites that are phosphorylated by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, namely sites 2 and 3 in rat and bovine synapsin I, exhibit a high degree of homology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Kinetics of p56lck and p60src Src homology 2 domain binding to tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides determined by a competition assay or surface plasmon resonance.

Src homology 2 (SH2) domains are phosphotyrosine-binding modules found within various signal-transducing proteins. We have determined by 125I competition assay and surface plasmon resonance that the SH2 domains of Src and Lck bind to a variety of phosphopeptides with similar affinity and specificity. Both bound with highest affinity [Kd(app) approximately 3.7 nM; ka = 2.4 x 10(5) M-1 x s-1; kd = 1.2 x 10(-3) s-1] a phosphopeptide having a Tyr(P)-Glu-Glu-Ile motif found in the hamster polyomavirus middle-sized tumor antigen. Intermediate affinity (5- to 40-fold lower) was observed with phosphopeptides corresponding to the regulatory domains of Src and Lck, containing Tyr527 and Tyr505, respectively. Lowest affinity (80- to 300-fold lower) was observed with phosphopeptides corresponding to phosphorylated tyrosines of GTPase-activating protein, insulin receptor substrate 1, and SH2 domain-containing protein-tyrosine-phosphatase 1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cell cycle phase-specific phosphorylation of human topoisomerase II alpha. Evidence of a role for protein kinase C.

Type II topoisomerases are essential for faithful cell division in all organisms. In human cells, the alpha isozyme of topoisomerase II has been implicated in catalyzing mitotic chromosome segregation via its action as a DNA unlinking enzyme. Here, we have shown that the enzymatic activity of topoisomerase II alpha protein purified from HeLa cell nuclei was strongly enhanced following phosphorylation by protein kinase C. We have investigated the possibility that this kinase is involved in cell cycle phase-specific phosphorylation of topoisomerase II alpha in HeLa cells. Two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping revealed that topoisomerase II alpha protein immunoprecipitated from metabolically labeled HeLa cells was differentially phosphorylated during the G2/M phases of the cell cycle. To identify sites of phosphorylation, and the kinase(s) responsible for this modification, oligohistidine-tagged recombinant domains of topoisomerase II alpha protein were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. Phosphorylation of a short fragment of the N-terminal ATPase domain of topoisomerase II alpha by protein kinase C in vitro generated two phosphopeptides that co-migrated with prominent G2/M phase-specific phosphopeptides from the HeLa cell-derived topoisomerase II alpha protein. Site-directed mutagenesis studies indicated that phosphorylation of serine 29 generated both of these phosphopeptides. Our results implicate protein kinase C in the cell cycle phase-dependent modulation of topoisomerase II alpha enzymatic activity in human cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase by tyrosyl phosphoproteins. Full activation requires occupancy of both SH2 domains in the 85-kDa regulatory subunit.

Phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI 3'-kinase) is activated in insulin-stimulated cells by the binding of the SH2 domains in its 85-kDa regulatory subunit to insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). We have previously shown that both tyrosyl-phosphorylated IRS-1 and mono-phosphopeptides containing a single YXXM motif activate PI 3'-kinase in vitro. However, activation by the monophosphopeptides was significantly less potent than activation by the multiply phosphorylated IRS-1. We now show that the increased potency of PI 3'-kinase activation by IRS-1 relative to phosphopeptide is not due to tertiary structural features IRS-1, as PI 3'-kinase is activated normally by denatured, reduced, and carboxymethylated IRS-1. Furthermore, activation of PI 3'-kinase by bis-phosphorylated peptides containing two YXXM motifs is 100-fold more potent than the corresponding mono-phosphopeptides and similar to activation by IRS-1. These data suggest that tyrosyl-phosphorylated IRS-1 or bis-phosphorylated peptides bind simultaneously to both SH2 domains of p85. However, these data cannot differentiate between an activation mechanism that requires two-site occupancy for maximal activity as opposed to one in which bivalent binding enhances the occupancy of a single activating site. To distinguish between these possibilities, we produced recombinant PI 3'-kinase containing either wild-type p85 or p85 mutated in its N-terminal, C-terminal, or both SH2 domains. We find that mutation of either SH2 domains significantly reduced phosphopeptide binding and decreased PI 3'-kinase activation by 50%, whereas mutation of both SH2 domains completely blocked binding and activation. These data provide the first direct evidence that full activation of PI 3'-kinase by tyrosylphosphorylated proteins requires occupancy of both SH2 domains in p85.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of phosphotyrosine binding motifs in the cytoplasmic domain of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) that are required for the cellular association and activation of the protein-tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2.

Recent studies have shown that the Src homology-2 (SH2) domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, associates with the cytoplasmic domain of PECAM-1 as it becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated during platelet aggregation: a process that can be mimicked in part by small synthetic phosphopeptides corresponding to the cytoplasmic domain of PECAM-1 encompassing tyrosine residues Tyr-663 or Tyr-686. To further examine the molecular requirements for PECAM-1/SHP-2 interactions, we generated human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cell lines that stably expressed mutant forms of PECAM-1 harboring tyrosine to phenylalanine (Tyr --> Phe) mutations in the cytoplasmic domain. Y663F and Y686F forms of PECAM-1 were tyrosine-phosphorylated to a somewhat lesser extent than wild-type PECAM-1, and a doubly substituted Y663,686F form of PECAM-1 failed to become tyrosine-phosphorylated, suggesting that the PECAM-1 cytoplasmic domain tyrosine residues 596, 636 and 701 do not serve as substrates for cellular kinases. Interestingly, SHP-2 binding was lost when either Tyr-663 or Tyr-686 were changed to phenylalanine, indicating that both residues are required for SHP-2/PECAM-1 association. Although PECAM-1 phosphopeptides NSDVQpY663TEVQV and DTETVpY686SEVRK stimulated the catalytic activity of the phosphatase to a similar extent, surface plasmon resonance studies revealed that the Tyr-663-containing peptide had approximately 10-fold higher affinity for SHP-2 than did the Tyr-686 peptide. Finally, peptido-precipitation analysis showed that the NH2-terminal SH2 domain of SHP-2 reacted preferentially with the Tyr-663 PECAM-1 phosphopeptide, while the Tyr-686 phosphopeptide associated only with the COOH-terminal SH2 domain of the phosphatase. Together, these data provide a molecular model for PECAM-1/SHP-2 interactions that may shed light on the downstream events that follow PECAM-1-mediated interactions of vascular cells.

Binding Sites↗

Identification of flow-dependent endothelial nitric-oxide synthase phosphorylation sites by mass spectrometry and regulation of phosphorylation and nitric oxide production by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002.

Endothelial cells release nitric oxide (NO) acutely in response to increased laminar fluid shear stress, and the increase is correlated with enhanced phosphorylation of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS). Phosphoamino acid analysis of eNOS from bovine aortic endothelial cells labeled with [(32)P]orthophosphate demonstrated that only phosphoserine was present in eNOS under both static and flow conditions. Fluid shear stress induced phosphate incorporation into two specific eNOS tryptic peptides as early as 30 s after initiation of flow. The flow-induced tryptic phosphopeptides were enriched, separated by capillary electrophoresis with intermittent voltage drops, also known as "peak parking," and analyzed by collision-induced dissociation in a tandem mass spectrometer. Two phosphopeptide sequences determined by tandem mass spectrometry, TQpSFSLQER and KLQTRPpSPGPPPAEQLLSQAR, were confirmed as the two flow-dependent phosphopeptides by co-migration with synthetic phosphopeptides. Because the sequence (RIR)TQpSFSLQER contains a consensus substrate site for protein kinase B (PKB or Akt), we demonstrated that LY294002, an inhibitor of the upstream activator of PKB, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, inhibited flow-induced eNOS phosphorylation by 97% and NO production by 68%. Finally, PKB phosphorylated eNOS in vitro at the same site phosphorylated in the cell and increased eNOS enzymatic activity by 15-20-fold.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comprehensive identification of phosphorylation sites in postsynaptic density preparations.

In the mammalian central nervous system, the structure known as the postsynaptic density (PSD) is a dense complex of proteins whose function is to detect and respond to neurotransmitter released from presynaptic axon terminals. Regulation of protein phosphorylation in this molecular machinery is critical to the activity of its components, which include neurotransmitter receptors, kinases/phosphatases, scaffolding molecules, and proteins regulating cytoskeletal structure. To characterize the phosphorylation state of proteins in PSD samples, we combined strong cation exchange (SCX) chromatography with IMAC. Initially, tryptic peptides were separated by cation exchange and analyzed by reverse phase chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, which led to the identification of phosphopeptides in most SCX fractions. Because each of these individual fractions was too complex to characterize completely in single LC-MS/MS runs, we enriched for phosphopeptides by performing IMAC on each SCX fraction, yielding at least a 3-fold increase in identified phosphopeptides relative to either approach alone (SCX or IMAC). This enabled us to identify at least one site of phosphorylation on 23% (287 of 1,264) of all proteins found to be present in the postsynaptic density preparation. In total, we identified 998 unique phosphorylated peptides, mapping to 723 unique sites of phosphorylation. At least one exact site of phosphorylation was determined on 62% (621 of 998) of all phosphopeptides, and approximately 80% of identified phosphorylation sites are novel.

Animals↗

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 2 autophosphorylates on a subset of peptides phosphorylated in intact cells in response to insulin and nerve growth factor: analysis by peptide mapping.

The phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK2) in response to insulin in Rat 1 HIRc B cells and in response to nerve growth factor (NGF) in PC12 cells has been examined. ERK1 and ERK2 are phosphorylated on serine in the absence of the stimuli and additionally on tyrosine and threonine residues after exposure to NGF and insulin. NGF stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK1 more rapidly than threonine phosphorylation. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps of both ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylated in intact cells treated with NGF or with insulin display the same three predominant phosphopeptides that comigrate when digests of ERK1 and ERK2 are mixed. As many as five additional phosphopeptides are detected under certain conditions. Autophosphorylated recombinant ERK2 also contains the three tryptic phosphopeptides found in ERKs labeled in intact cells. These experiments demonstrate that ERK1 and ERK2 are phosphorylated on related sites in response to two distinct extracellular signals. The data also support the possibility that autophosphorylation may be involved in the activation of the ERKs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗