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Effects of inhibitors of signal transduction pathways on transforming growth factor beta1 and osteogenic protein-1-induced insulinlike growth factor binding protein-3 expression in human bone cells.

Signal transduction initiated by TGFbeta1 and OP-1 was studied in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells and in normal human bone cells (HBCs) in the presence of inhibitors of signal transduction events, using insulinlike growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) production as an end point. Treatment of serum-free MG63 cells and normal HBCs with TGFbeta1 increased IGFBP-3 protein level several fold in the conditioned medium. This effect of TGFbeta1 was mediated by increased de novo synthesis because mRNA level increased to the same extent as protein level and TGFbeta1 treatment had very little effect on IGFBP-3 protease activity. The stimulatory effect of TGFbeta1 on IGFBP-3 production was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by pretreatment with staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, or with vanadate, a phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase inhibitor in both MG63 cells and normal HBCs. In addition, pretreatment with okadoic acid, an inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatase, counteracted TGFbeta1 induction of IGFBP-3 production. Interestingly, pretreatment of MG63 cells or HBCs with staurosporine, vanadate, or okadoic acid augmented OP-1 stimulation of IGFBP3 production. Staurosporine- or vanadate-induced changes in IGFBP-3 protein levels in the presence of TGFbeta1 and OP-1 were associated with corresponding changes in IGFBP-3 mRNA levels in MG63 cells. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that TGFbeta1 and OP-1 increase IGFBP-3 expression via distinct intracellular signal transduction pathways.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7↗

Signal transduction in bacteria: kinases that control gene expression.

A new paradigm, termed two-component regulatory systems, is emerging from the study of signal transduction in bacteria. A simple example of such a system is provided by the Omp regulon of Escherichia coli. This regulon, which controls the expression of the major outer membrane porin proteins OmpF and OmpC in response to changes in osmolarity, includes the inner membrane protein EnvZ (a receptor kinase) and the DNA-binding protein OmpR (a transcriptional activator). Although we do not know what "ligand" is sensed in the Omp system, we can trace the signal transduction pathway from the receptor at the cell surface directly to regulatory sequences within the DNA. Perhaps signal transduction in bacteria can serve as a simple archetype for understanding certain functions performed by receptor kinases and phosphorylated DNA-binding proteins in higher organisms.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Novel subtype of human angiotensin II type 1 receptor: analysis of signal transduction mechanism in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells.

We examined the intracellular signal transduction of two subtypes of human angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1aR and AT1bR) by means of the stable expression of each receptor cDNA in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Both receptors showed a rapid stimulation of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis, a transient increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration and an inhibitory action on the forskolin-induced cyclic AMP formation. Interestingly, at high AII concentrations (> 1 microM), these AT1bR-mediated responses were inhibited, whereas the AT1aR-mediated responses were not. Thus, the two AT1Rs are considered to be coupled to the same signal transduction cascades, but to be regulated differently on the post-translational level (presumably desensitization).

Angiotensin II↗

Mutagenesis of residues adjacent to transmembrane prolines alters D1 dopamine receptor binding and signal transduction.

Proline is highly conserved in the presumed transmembrane alpha-helices of seven-transmembrane helix-containing, G protein coupled receptors. Unique properties of this imino acid have led to speculations of structural and perhaps dynamic importance for seven-transmembrane helix-containing receptor function. To avoid potentially deleterious consequences of proline-directed mutagenesis, substitutions were made in the X residue of X-Pro peptide bonds (where X is the residue on the amino-terminal side of proline), which may influence static geometries and potential agonist-induced conformational changes at the X-Pro peptide bond. In the fifth helix, Ile205 was substituted with either an alanine (I205A) or a tyrosine (I205Y). Similarly, in the sixth helix, Leu286 was substituted with either an alanine (L286A) or a tyrosine (L286Y). Mutant I205A demonstrated subtle changes in D1 pharmacology and signal transduction. The I205Y and L286Y mutations produced comparatively drastic impairments in both binding and signal transduction. Remarkably, the L286A mutation resulted in constitutive activity characterized by elevated basal signal transduction and increased agonist potencies. In addition, (R)-(+)-SCH23390, a classical antagonist at the wild-type D1 receptor, behaved as a partial agonist at L286A. This is the first report of a constitutively active receptor resulting from this point mutation and the first report of a constitutively active mutant dopamine receptor. These results are discussed in terms of binding pocket geometry and potential mechanisms of signal transduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Peroxisomal disease cell lines with cellular plasmalogen deficiency have impaired muscarinic cholinergic signal transduction activity and amyloid precursor protein secretion.

We tested whether alterations in membrane lipid composition associated with peroxisomal diseases affect muscarinic cholinergic signal transduction activity and amyloid precursor protein (APP) secretion in cultured human skin fibroblasts and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) mutants. We found that in cell lines from patients with peroxisomal disorders where plasmalogen levels were low, the low-Km GTPase activity was not induced by carbachol, and APP secretion was reduced. This effect on signal transduction activity was not associated with decreased levels of the M1-muscarinic cholinergic receptor or its associated heterotrimeric G-protein. Specifically, this decrease was associated with a plasmalogen deficiency since a CHO cell line with only a deficit in plasmalogens was as severely affected as were generalized peroxisomal disorder cell lines. Thus, plasmalogens appear to be implicated in muscarinic cholinergic signal transduction and secretion of APP. These results provide new insights about the pathophysiology of peroxisomal diseases and may be relevant to Alzheimer's disease where reduced plasmalogen levels have been reported.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗

Tyrosine kinase receptor-activated signal transduction pathways which lead to oncogenesis.

Oncogenesis is a complicated process involving signal transduction pathways that mediate many different physiological events. Typically, oncogenes cause unregulated cell growth and this phenotype has been attributed to the growth-stimulating activity of oncogenes such as ras and src. In recent years, much research effort has focused on proteins that function downstream of Ras, leading to the identification of the Ras/Raf/MAPK pathway, because activation of this pathway leads to cellular proliferation. Activated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) also utilize this pathway to mediate their growth-stimulating effects. However, RTKs activate many other signaling proteins that are not involved in the cellular proliferation process, per se and we are learning that these pathways also contribute to the oncogenic process. In fact, RTKs and many of the proteins involved in RTK-dependent signal transduction can also function as oncogenes. For example, the catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (P13-K) was recently identified as an oncogenic protein. The scope of pathways that are activated by oncogenic RTKs is expanding. Thus, not only do RTKs activate Ras-dependent pathways that drive proliferation, RTKs activate P13-K-dependent pathways which also contribute to the oncogenic mechanism. P13-K can initiate changes in gene transcription, cytoskeletal changes through beta-catenin, changes in cell motility through the tumor suppressor, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), and phosphorylation of BAD, a protein involved in apoptotic and antiapoptotic signaling. There is also cross-talk between RTKs and the oncostatin cytokine receptor which may positively and negatively influence oncogenesis. For this review, we will focus on oncogenic RTKs and the network of cellular proteins that are activated by RTKs because multiple, divergent pathways are responsible for oncogenesis.

Animals↗

Effects of emodin on Ca2+ signal transduction of smooth muscle cells in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

We have made several reports on the signal transduction mechanism that emodin enhance the calcium concentrations of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the physiological condition by inositol [1, 4, 5]-friphosphate (IP3). The observation that IP3 concentrations in SMCs were decreased in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) prompted us to ask whether emodin can activate SMCs to contract by way of elevating [Ca2+] and thus modulating the critical Ca2+ signal transduction pathways involved in the contraction of the SMCs in the pathological setting of MODS. To test this hypothesis, we used the rat model of MODS to explore the potential roles of emodin in Ca2+ signal transduction in the SMCs of colon in rats. ML-7 [an inhibitor of myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK)] and Calphostin C [an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC)] were used to observe the influence of emodin on the muscle strips and SMCs in rats after MODS. Nifedipine (an antagonist of voltage-gated Ca2+ channel), EGTA (removal of extracellular Ca2+), heparine (a specific IP3 receptor antagonist), and ryanodine were used to probe the potential mechanisms involved in emodin-mediated elevation of the global cytoplasmic Ca2+ in SMCs of colon in the rats after MODS. Our results show that emodin is capable of contract the smooth muscles of colon in rats after MODS by MLCK increasing [Ca2+] of SMCs, and by PKC enhancing the calcium sensitivity of SMCs. The mechanism by which emodin triggers elevated [Ca2+] of smooth muscles of colon in rats after MODS is likely to operate through IP3 and RyR receptors in the sarcoplasm. It is hoped that deeper insights into how emodin modulates the critical calcium signaling in SMCs might lead to the potential development of emodin in the treatment of MODS.

Animals↗

The signal-transduction network for Pho regulation in Bacillus subtilis.

Depletion of nutrients, including phosphate, is a stress often encountered by a bacterial cell, and results in slowed growth, marking the cessation of exponential growth. Genes that are transcriptionally activated during phosphate starvation have been used to examine the signal-transduction mechanisms governing the Pho regulon in Bacillus subtilis. Alkaline phosphatase, the traditional reporter protein for Pho regulation in prokaryotes, is encoded by a multigene family in B. subtilis. Characterization of the alkaline phosphatase family was a breakthrough in the study of regulation of the Pho regulon, especially the discovery of promoter elements exclusively responsive to phosphate-starvation regulation. Current data suggest that at least three two-component signal-transduction systems interact, forming a regulatory network that controls the phosphate-deficiency response in B. subtilis. The interconnected pathways involve the PhoP-PhoR system, whose primary role is to mediate the phosphate-deficiency response; the SpoO phosphorelay required for the initiation of sporulation; and a newly discovered signal-transduction system, ResD-ResE, which also has a role in respiratory regulation during late growth. Parallel pathways positively regulate the Pho response via PhoP-PhoR. One pathway includes the ResD-ResE system, while the other involves a transition-state regulator, AbrB. The SpoO system represses the Pho response by negatively regulating both pathways. This review will discuss how the characterization of the APase multigene family made possible studies which show that the Pho regulon in B. subtilis is regulated by the integrated action of the Res, Pho and Spo signal-transduction systems.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Histamine H2-receptor in atrium: signal transduction and response.

We have examined the signal transduction for H2-receptor mediated positive chronotropic response of guinea-pig right atrium. Our results indicate that phospholipid methylation is rapidly induced by histamine acting on H2-receptor in guinea-pig right atrium and therefore plays a predominant role in the signal transfer of H2-receptor-mediated cyclic AMP generation to exert positive chronotropic effect of atrium, as well as GTP-binding protein activation.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Ocular albinism: evidence for a defect in an intracellular signal transduction system.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) participate in the most common signal transduction system at the plasma membrane. The wide distribution of heterotrimeric G proteins in the internal membranes suggests that a similar signalling mechanism might also be used at intracellular locations. We provide here structural evidence that the protein product of the ocular albinism type 1 gene (OA1), a pigment cell-specific integral membrane glycoprotein, represents a novel member of the GPCR superfamily and demonstrate that it binds heterotrimeric G proteins. Moreover, we show that OA1 is not found at the plasma membrane, being instead targeted to specialized intracellular organelles, the melanosomes. Our data suggest that OA1 represents the first example of an exclusively intracellular GPCR and support the hypothesis that GPCR-mediated signal transduction systems also operate at the internal membranes in mammalian cells.

Albinism, Ocular↗

Inhibition of B16 melanoma cell proliferation and alterations in p21 ras expression induced by interceptors of signal transduction pathways.

Anti-tumor effects of agents known to intervene with signal transduction pathways (ras and protein kinase c cascades) were examined in the B16 melanoma cell model. The compounds examined included: lovastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, which interferes with membrane localization of p21 ras protein; H-7, a classic inhibitor of protein kinase C; and tiazofurin, a GTP depleting agent, that might affect the GTP/GDP ratio on p21ras. The three agents were found to inhibit the proliferation of B16 melanoma cells. Only tiazofurin, as expected, induced a significant decrease in GTP levels. Lovastatin and H-7 altered p21 subcellular localization. They reduced membrane expression of p21 ras, while increasing its expression in the cytosol. Following tiazofurin treatment a trend towards increased membranal p21 was observed. These results suggest that p21 is a target for the action of signal transduction inhibitors. However, the relationship between growth inhibition and altered p21 expression is not yet clear.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Dubrovnik Conference on Signal Transduction: an opportunity for education of young scientists.

From 8 to 15 October 1998 two international gatherings were organized in Cavtat/Dubrovnik, Croatia--1st International Conference on Signal Transduction and Dubrovnik Summer School on Molecular Medicine, which has been thematically added to the former Conference. Some 230 scientists from all over the world participated at the Conference. Nobel Prize winner, Edmond Fischer, gave the introductory lecture. The main topics of the Conference were: 1. The role of protein phosphorylation in signal transduction, 2. Small G-proteins and their receptors, 3. Cell signals in the development of organism and disease. The Conference brought together key world scientists on signal transduction who presented the latest achievements in this field.

Signal Transduction↗

Genetic evidence for the involvement of the lck tyrosine kinase in signal transduction through the T cell antigen receptor.

Signaling through the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) results both in rapid increases in tyrosine phosphorylation on a number of proteins and in the activation of the phosphatidylinositol pathway. It is not clear how stimulation of the TCR leads to these signaling events. Mutants of the Jurkat T cell line have been previously isolated that fail to show increases in calcium following receptor stimulation. Analysis of one of these mutants, JCaM1, which is defective in the induction of tyrosine phosphorylation, revealed a defect in the expression of functional lck tyrosine kinase. The lack of lck activity was caused in part by a splicing defect. Expression of the lck cDNA in JCaM1 restores the ability of the cell to respond to TCR stimulation. These results indicate that lck is required for normal signal transduction through the TCR.

Cell Line↗

Regulation of signal transduction pathways in development by glycosylation.

Recent studies from several laboratories have provided evidence that cell surface complex carbohydrates play key roles in the regulation of developmentally relevant signal transduction events. The demonstration that Fringe, a known modifier of Notch function, is a fucose-specific N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase provided strong evidence that the Notch signaling pathway could be regulated by alterations of O-fucose structures. More recently, the demonstration that O-fucose modification of Cripto is essential for Nodal-dependent signaling provides further evidence of a role for glycosylation in signal transduction. These and other examples provide a new paradigm for the regulation of signal transduction events by glycosylation.

Animals↗

[Role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling transduction pathway in rat hepatocarcinogenesis].

AIM: To investigate the role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling transduction pathway in rat hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: The mRNAs of Wnt1, beta-catenin, APC, cyclin D1 and c-myc genes were amplified by using of semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from normal rat livers, atypical hyperplasia livers and hepatoma tissues, respectively. Then the proteins expression of beta-catenin, APC and cyclin D1 was examined by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: In normal rat livers, the mRNAs of Wnt1, cyclin D1 and c-myc genes were not detected and only beta-catenin protein was observed to have low expression at cellular membrane. However, 14 weeks after cancer induction in atypical hyperplasia livers, beta-catenin protein and APC protein were accumulated in cytoplasm. Meanwhile, cyclin D1 protein was detected in cytoplasm and/or nucleus in some cells. 16 weeks after cancer induction in hepatoma tissues, the mRNAs and protein expression of beta-catenin, APC, cyclin D1 and c-myc genes were detected except Wnt1. CONCLUSION: The activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling transduction pathway might be one of the reasons for rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Electrochemical monitoring of cellular signal transduction with a secreted alkaline phosphatase reporter system.

Electrochemical monitoring of cellular signal transduction under three-dimensional (3-D) cell culture conditions has been demonstrated by combining cell-based microarrays with a secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter system. The cells were genetically engineered to produce SEAP under the control of nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) enhancer elements, and they were embedded with a small volume of a collagen gel matrix on a pyramidal-shaped silicon microstructure. Cellular SEAP expression triggered by NFkappaB activation was assessed by two types of electrochemical systems. First, SEAP expression of a 3-D cell array on a chip was continuously monitored in situ for 2 days by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Since the SECM-based assay enables the evaluation of cellular respiratory activity, simultaneous measurements of cellular viability and signal transduction were possible. Further, we have developed an electrode-integrated cell culture device for parallel evaluation of cellular SEAP expression. The detector electrode was integrated around the silicon microhole. Two kinds of cells were immobilized on the array of microholes on the same chip for comparative characterization of their SEAP activity. This electrochemical microdevice can be applied to evaluate the SEAP expression activity in multiple cellular microarrays by a high-throughput method.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Nuclear lipid-dependent signal transduction in human osteosarcoma cells.

The enzymes and substrates involved in phosphoinositide signal transduction which have been detected in the nucleus of several cell types have been demonstrated to be responsive to agonists. The complexity of this aspect of inositide function has been previously analyzed in some cell models characterized by a mitogenic or differentiating response to specific factors. An interesting experimental model is represented by human derived osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells, characterized by the expression of high affinity receptors for interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), which is one of the most potent stimulators of bone resorption. In particular, we investigated the earliest intracellular events following the binding of IL-1 alpha to its receptor, involving the inositide signal transduction pathway. Saos-2 cells present a partitioning of the phosphoinositidase (PLC) isoforms; in fact, the nucleus contains both PLC beta 1 and gamma 1, while the cytoplasm contains almost exclusively the gamma 1 isoform. IL-1 alpha evokes a rapid and transient increase of the PLC beta 1 activity in the nucleus, which causes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol mono- and bis-phosphate. In response to IL-1 alpha, not only the canonical inositol lipid pathway appears to be involved; also the 3'-phosphorylated lipids generated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K), which may act as second messengers, appear to be affected. In fact, Saos-2 cells present a nuclear PI 3-K activity which can be enhanced by the IL-1 alpha treatment. Among the possible targets of the second messengers released by the nuclear PLC beta 1 activation, we found that some protein kinase C isoforms, namely the epsilon and zeta, which are present within the nucleus, are activated after IL-1 alpha exposure. These activated PKC isoforms, in turn, could modulate the activity of the transcription factor NFkB, which, 5 min after IL-1 alpha treatment, has already translocated to the nucleus and bound to DNA to promote gene activation. The actual role of the inositide pathway in the Saos-2 cell function has also been investigated by utilizing cell clones transfected with the mouse sequence of the PLC beta 1.

Animals↗

A genomic analysis of two-component signal transduction in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

A genomics-based approach was used to identify the entire gene complement of putative two-component signal transduction systems (TCSTSs) in Streptococcus pneumoniae. A total of 14 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified as putative response regulators, 13 of which were adjacent to genes encoding probable histidine kinases. Both the histidine kinase and response regulator proteins were categorized into subfamilies on the basis of phylogeny. Through a systematic programme of mutagenesis, the importance of each novel TCSTS was determined with respect to viability and pathogenicity. One TCSTS was identified that was essential for the growth of S. pneumoniaeThis locus was highly homologous to the yycFG gene pair encoding the essential response regulator/histidine kinase proteins identified in Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Separate deletions of eight other loci led in each case to a dramatic attenuation of growth in a mouse respiratory tract infection model, suggesting that these signal transduction systems are important for the in vivo adaptation and pathogenesis of S. pneumoniae. The identification of conserved TCSTSs important for both pathogenicity and viability in a Gram-positive pathogen highlights the potential of two-component signal transduction as a multicomponent target for antibacterial drug discovery.

Animals↗