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Phosphorylation of the (Na,K)-ATPase by a plasma membrane-bound protein kinase in friend erythroleukemia cells.

A decrease in the activity of the (Na,K)-ATPase is an early and essential step in commitment of Friend virus-infected murine erythroleukemia cells to terminal erythroid differentiation. Plasma membranes from these cells were purified and shown to contain ouabain-inhibitable (Na,K)-ATPase present as approximately 0.4% of the total membrane protein. Protein kinase activity also co-purified with the plasma membrane and preferentially phosphorylated a Nonidet P-40 detergent-extractable 100,000-Da peptide. The 100,000-Da phosphopeptide migrated with the alpha subunit of dog kidney (Na,K)-ATPase when electrophoresis was carried out in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate in either 5 or 10% polyacrylamide gels. In two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, it separated into a series of spots between pH 5.1 and 5.4, while dog kidney alpha subunit appeared as a doublet at pH 5.3-5.4. When Nonidet P-40-solubilized plasma membranes were passed through a ouabain affinity column in the presence of Mg2+, Na+, and ATP, the 100,000-Da phosphopeptide was retained and could be eluted by ouabain. This peptide was also phosphorylated in living murine erythroleukemia cells, and proteolysis patterns of the peptide labeled in vitro, the peptide labeled in vivo, and the purified dog kidney alpha subunit using V8 protease were nearly identical. Phosphothreonine was detected in both the peptides labeled in vivo and in vitro.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of the sodium channel in synaptic nerve ending particles.

In purified preparations of voltage-sensitive sodium channels, the alpha subunit is selectively phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (Costa, M. R. C., Casnellie, J. E., and Catterall, W. A. (1982) J. Biol. Chem., 7918-7921). We have developed methods to measure sodium channel phosphorylation in both lysed synaptosomal membranes and intact synaptosomes. Incubation of lysed synaptosomal membranes with exogenously added catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP resulted in rapid phosphorylation of the alpha subunit as detected by specific immuno-precipitation, sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, and autoradiography. Analysis of tryptic phosphopeptides revealed five major sites of reaction. The level of phosphorylation of these sites on the sodium channel in intact synaptosomes was monitored using a rephosphorylation method in which those sites not phosphorylated in situ were labeled with [gamma-32P]ATP and exogenously added protein kinase after lysis of the synaptosomes. Incubation of synaptosomes with 8-Br-cAMP completely blocked labeling of the alpha subunit in rephosphorylation indicating marked stimulation of phosphorylation of the sites on the sodium channel in situ. Phosphorylation was complete in 15 s and all four of the tryptic phosphopeptides detected under these conditions could be phosphorylated in situ. These results show that the sodium channel can be rapidly phosphorylated by endogenous cAMP-dependent protein kinase in intact synaptosomes. In addition, since ATP and protein kinase are only available inside the synaptosomes, they also show that the alpha subunit is a transmembrane polypeptide exposed on both sides of the synaptosomal membrane. The functional consequences of 8-Br-cAMP-stimulated phosphorylation were examined using ion flux and neurotoxin-binding methods. Binding of saxitoxin and scorpion toxin were unaffected, but neurotoxin-activated 22Na+ influx mediated by the sodium channel was reduced 16 to 26% (P less than 0.01) under various experimental conditions. The potential physiological significance of this action is considered.

Amphibian Proteins↗

Association of pp60c-src with biliary glycoprotein (CD66a), an adhesion molecule of the carcinoembryonic antigen family downregulated in colorectal carcinomas.

CD66a, also known as 'biliary glycoprotein (BGP)', is the human homologue of a cell adhesion molecule (CAM) of the rat (Cell-CAM). CD66a, which belongs to the carcinoembryonic antigen family and the immunoglobulin superfamily, is expressed in cells of myeloid and epithelial origin. The cytoplasmic domain of the major isoform of CD66a (CD66acyt) contains two tyrosine residues in amino acid motifs potentially interacting with protein tyrosine kinases of the Src family. Here we provide evidence that CD66a is associated with pp60c-src. From membrane fractions of granulocytes and the colonic cell line HT29, phosphokinase activity was co-immunoprecipitated with CD66a when monoclonal CD66 antibodies or an antiserum against the recombinant cytoplasmic domain of CD66a were used. From the dissociated immunecomplexes, a phosphokinase of M(r) 60,000 was reprecipitated using antibodies against pp60c-src. In vitro, the recombinant cytoplasmic domain was a substrate and binding partner of pp60c-src. Phosphopeptides corresponding to the tyrosine containing amino acid sequences of CD66acyt activated the kinase activity of pp60c-src to a greater extent than a phosphopeptide containing Tyr527 from the SH2-binding regulatory domain of pp60c-src. The down-regulation of CD66a in about 80% of colorectal carcinomas may contribute to a dysregulation of pp60c-src in colorectal cancer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Localization of the insulin receptor binding sites for the SH2 domain proteins p85, Syp, and GAP.

The insulin receptor is known to interact with the SH2 domain proteins p85 (the regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase), Syp (a tyrosine phosphatase), and GAP (GTPase-activating protein). In this study, we mapped the insulin receptor binding sites for each of these proteins by examining the ability of phosphopeptides, corresponding to insulin receptor phosphorylation sites, and mutant insulin receptors to inhibit an insulin receptor-SH2 domain interaction. Precipitation of partially purified insulin receptors by glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins containing the N-terminal SH2 domains of p85 and GAP and both SH2 domains of Syp was demonstrated. The effect of the addition of each phosphopeptide on insulin receptor precipitation was tested. pY1322, the C-terminal insulin receptor peptide, inhibited insulin receptor precipitation by both p85- and Syp-GST. The NPXY internalization domain peptide inhibited insulin receptor precipitation by GAP-GST. These data were confirmed by mutant insulin receptor experiments. The insulin receptor C-terminal mutants, delta CT and Y/F2, were not precipitated by p85- or Syp-GST and the NPXY mutant insulin receptors, delta Ex16 and HI delta NPEY, were not precipitated by GAP-GST. Therefore, we conclude that p85 and Syp bind to the insulin receptor C terminus at tyrosine 1322 and GAP binds to the insulin receptor NPXY domain at tyrosine 960.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Independent binding of peptide ligands to the SH2 and SH3 domains of Grb2.

Grb2, composed entirely of SH2 and SH3 domains, serves as an adaptor protein in signaling from growth factor-activated tyrosine kinase receptors. It interacts via its SH2 domain with the autophosphorylated carboxyl-terminal tail of activated epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and via its SH3 domains with proline-rich sequences in the Ras guanine nucleotide releasing factor, Son of sevenless (Sos). Recruitment of the Grb2-Sos complex to the receptor upon its stimulation leads to Ras activation. A major question remains as to whether SH2-mediated binding of Grb2 to the activated receptor results in conformational changes that influence its SH3-mediated association with Sos, thereby affecting Sos activity. This question is addressed through studies of the binding to intact Grb2 of an EGF receptor-derived phosphotyrosine-containing peptide and a Sos-derived proline-rich peptide using isothermal titration calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance measurements. The phosphopeptide binds to Grb2 in a 1:1 complex, with a KD of 0.4 microns. The Sos proline-rich peptide binds to Grb2 in a 2:1 complex, with a KD of 22 microns. Saturation of the SH2 domain of Grb2 with the EGFR phosphopeptide was found not to affect its subsequent binding to the Sos peptide. Thus we detected no influence of SH2 binding upon SH3-mediated interactions, suggesting that the domains do not communicate, and that recruitment itself of Sos to the cell surface is sufficient for Ras signaling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Identification of the phosphorylation site in vitro for cAMP-dependent protein kinase on the rat adipocyte cGMP-inhibited cAMP phosphodiesterase.

Rat adipocyte cGMP-inhibited cAMP phosphodiesterase (cGI-PDE) appears to be dually regulated in intact cells by serine phosphorylations induced by isoprenaline and insulin, respectively (Degerman, E., Smith, C. J., Tornqvist, H., Vasta, V., Belfrage, P., and Manganiello, V. C. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 533-537; Smith, C. J., Vasta, V., Degerman, E., Belfrage, P., and Manganiello, V. C. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 13385-13390). Since cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) catalyzes the beta-adrenergic effects, the site in the isolated cGI-PDE phosphorylated by this kinase was explored. A peptide, LRRSSGASGLLTSEHHSR (P18), corresponding to the amino acid sequence Leu423-Arg440 in the putative regulatory domain of the rat adipocyte cGI-PDE was synthesized. It contains a consensus substrate sequence -RRXS- for cAMP-PK within two tryptic cleavage sites and was readily phosphorylated by cAMP-PK. Two phosphopeptides, identified as RS-[32P]SGASGLLTSEHHSR and S-[32P]SGASGLLTSEHHSR, were obtained after stoichiometric phosphorylation and trypsinization of the peptide. These two peptides and the two main tryptic phosphopeptides obtained from immunoisolated [32P]cGI-PDE phosphorylated with cAMP-PK in a solubilized crude adipocyte membrane fraction were immuno-precipitated by an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody raised against P18 and exhibited the same chromatographic and electrophoretic profiles in three different separation systems. Similar radiosequencing profiles indicated that the second most N-terminal serine, corresponding to Ser-427 in the intact cGI-PDE, was phosphorylated by cAMP-PK in both P18 and authentic cGI-PDE. It is concluded that serine 427 is the target for cAMP-PK phosphorylation of the rat adipocyte cGI-PDE in vitro.

Adipocytes↗

In vivo phosphorylation sites in fetal and adult rat tau.

Fetal tau and tau in paired helical filaments show similar immunoreactivities with several phosphorylation-dependent paired helical filament-polyclonals and monoclonals, suggesting that the two molecules share several distinct phosphorylated epitopes. To make clear the similarities and differences between the two, we have undertaken work to identify the in vivo phosphorylation sites in fetal rat tau. We have approached this problem by identifying phosphopeptides by means of mass spectrometry and sequencing of those phosphopeptides after modification with ethanethiol. Although remarkable heterogeneity was present, fetal tau was found to bear at most 10 phosphates at Ser-189, Ser-190, Ser-193, Ser-226, Ser-387, Ser-395, Thr-172, Thr-222, and, presumably, Ser-391 and Thr-208 (numbering is according to the longest form of rat tau; Kosik, K. S., Orecchio, L. D., Bakalis, S., and Neve, R. L. (1989) Neuron 2, 1389-1397). In contrast, adult rat tau was much less phosphorylated; only Thr-172, Ser-190, Ser-193, Thr-222, and Ser-395 were phosphorylated to a slight-to-moderate extent. All these sites except for Ser-189 and Ser-391 were followed by Pro residues. Thus, tau is an in vivo substrate for proline-directed protein kinase(s), and its phosphorylation state is developmentally regulated.

Aging↗

Phosphorylation of serine 985 negatively regulates the hepatocyte growth factor receptor kinase.

The receptor for hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is an alpha beta tyrosine kinase of 190 kDa which mediates growth and motility in several cell types. We have previously shown that tyrosine autophosphorylation enhances the receptor kinase activity, while serine phosphorylation by protein kinase C or other Ca(2+)-dependent kinase(s) is inhibitory. We now identify Ser985 as the major phosphorylation site for the protein kinases responsible for such inhibition. Both phorbol esters or Ca2+ ionophore treatment induces phosphorylation of the same tryptic phosphopeptide corresponding to the sequence Leu983-Arg987 located in the juxta-membrane domain of the receptor beta chain. Purified protein kinase C phosphorylates in vitro a synthetic peptide (V14S) including Ser985. Trypsin digestion of the phosphorylated V14S generates a single phosphopeptide comigrating in reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography with the tryptic peptide phosphorylated in vivo. Phorbol ester treatment of cultured cells inhibits the ligand-induced tyrosine autophosphorylation of the receptor. In vitro, Ser985 phosphorylation inhibits the receptor tyrosine kinase activity on exogenous substrates. Substitution of Ser985 by site-directed mutagenesis results in increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor and abolishes down-modulation by protein kinase C. These data show that phosphorylation of Ser985 is a key mechanism for the negative regulation of HGF/SF receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Multiple phosphorylation of stathmin. Identification of four sites phosphorylated in intact cells and in vitro by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and p34cdc2.

Stathmin is a ubiquitous, highly conserved phosphoprotein which most likely acts as a relay integrating various intracellular pathways regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and functions. At least 14 molecular forms of stathmin have been identified so far, which migrate as 2 unphosphorylated and 12 increasingly phosphorylated spots (M(r) = 19,000-23,000; pI = 6.2-5.6) on two-dimensional electrophoretic gels, and whose pattern may reflect the state of activation of cells. We found that stathmin could be phosphorylated in vitro by at least three different protein kinases: cAMP-dependent protein kinase, p34cdc2, and casein kinase II, cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalyzed the phosphorylation of stathmin on serines 16 (K-R-A-S) and 63 (R-R-K-S), whereas p34cdc2 induced phosphorylation on serines 25 (I-L-S-P-R) and 38 (P-L-S-P-P-K-K-K). Interestingly, phosphorylation by both kinases together yielded all of the phosphoforms of stathmin identified so far. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide analysis allowed us to demonstrate that the same four sites were exclusively found to be phosphorylated in vivo, in brain tissue as well as in control or nerve growth factor-stimulated PC12 cells. In this latter case, the major site phosphorylated in response to nerve growth factor being serine 25, it is likely that a kinase such as a mitogen-activated protein kinase, known to be activated by growth factors, might directly phosphorylate stathmin. The phosphopeptide map analysis allowed further identification of the specific combinations among the four sites whose phosphorylation is responsible for the characteristic two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis migration of the resulting stathmin forms both in vitro and in vivo and revealed the existence of likely structural interactions between the sites phosphorylated. In conclusion, our results show that phosphorylation of serines 16, 25, 38, and 63 accounts for all of the major functional stathmin forms observed in vivo. The present identification of these sites will foster a better understanding of some intracellular mechanisms involved in the diverse physiological regulation of the proliferation, differentiation, and functions of cells, including the role of stathmin in these processes as a relay integrating diverse signaling pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Adenovirus DNA polymerase is a phosphoprotein.

Biological activities of many of the eukaryotic DNA replication proteins are modulated by protein phosphorylation. Investigations of the phosphorylation of adenovirus DNA polymerase (AdPol) have been difficult mainly because of its low level of synthesis in adenovirus-infected HeLa cells. However, when AdPol was overproduced using the recombinant vaccinia virus (RV-AdPol) and the baculovirus expression systems, or by a large scale metabolic labeling of adenovirus 2-infected HeLa cells (native AdPol), in vivo phosphorylation of AdPol could be demonstrated. Phosphoamino acid analysis of [32P]AdPol indicated the presence of phosphoserine independent of the source of AdPol. Comparison of tryptic peptide maps of native AdPol and RV-AdPol revealed that the majority of phosphopeptides were common. Fractionation by high performance liquid chromatography and sequencing of one of the major phosphopeptides revealed serine 67 as a site of phosphorylation. Interestingly, this site is located close to the nuclear localization signal of AdPol and has a consensus substrate recognition sequence for histone H1 (cdc2-related) kinases and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Dephosphorylation of AdPol with calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase resulted in significant decrease in its activity in the in vitro DNA replication initiation assay, suggesting that phosphorylation is important for its biological activity.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Insulin receptor autophosphorylation occurs asymmetrically.

The unoccupied insulin receptor is a structurally symmetric, disulfide-linked dimer, comprising two alpha beta halves, each with a potential insulin binding alpha subunit and a kinase active beta subunit. In the accompanying paper (Shoelson, S. E., Lee, J., Lynch, C. S., Backer, J. M., and Pilch, P. F. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 4085-4091), we described the utility of a novel insulin analogue, L-benzoylphenylalanineB25,B29 epsilon-biotin insulin (BBpa insulin)1 as a probe for receptor behavior, and we determined that binding and cross-linking of one BBpa insulin molecule could fully stimulate insulin receptor autophosphorylation. Here we use this analogue to determine the symmetry of the autophosphorylation reaction. The alpha beta half-receptor that does not covalently couple to BBpa insulin incorporates 50% more orthophosphate than the alpha beta half that becomes coupled to the insulin analogue. Phosphopeptide mapping of each receptor half shows minimal differences in the phosphorylation sites or their relative contribution to the phosphate content of each half. The kinetics of 32P incorporation into each receptor half are essentially identical over a 10-20-min time course. Phosphopeptide mapping analysis reveals that the phosphate incorporation patterns do not change between the two alpha beta half-receptor forms (BBpa insulin-linked and unlinked, respectively) at different time points or concentrations of ATP ranging from 12 to 200 microM. Based on these and other data, we propose a model of insulin receptor activation whereby binding of one insulin molecule can trigger autophosphorylation in an asymmetric fashion.

3T3 Cells↗

Insulin stimulates serine and tyrosine phosphorylation in the juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor.

Insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the cytoplasmic juxtamembrane region of the human insulin receptor was examined by Tricine/SDS-PAGE. Various mutant receptor molecules were used to identify two tryptic phosphopeptides associated with the juxtamembrane region which accounts for 15% of the autophosphorylation of partially purified insulin receptor. These phosphopeptides were immunoprecipitated with an antipeptide antibody against the juxtamembrane sequence and were phosphorylated exclusively on tyrosine. Substitution of both Tyr960 and Tyr953 with alanine eliminated insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane region without affecting tyrosine autophosphorylation in the C terminus or regulatory regions. Monosubstitution of Tyr960 with phenylalanine or alanine reduced phosphorylation in the juxtamembrane region by more than 50%, and manual Edman degradation indicated that Tyr960 was phosphorylated in wild-type receptor. In vivo, phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane region accounts for one-third of the insulin receptor phosphorylation and contains both phosphoserine and phosphotyrosine. Deletion of Tyr960 and 11 adjacent amino acids eliminated insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane region. Substitution of Tyr960 reduced this phosphorylation by more than 50%. The insulin receptor also undergoes serine phosphorylation outside of the juxtamembrane region which depends on the presence of Tyr1151. Together with our previous studies, this report suggests that phosphorylation of Tyr960 may play an important role in signal transduction by the insulin receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Na+,K(+)-ATPase phosphorylation in the choroid plexus: synergistic regulation by serotonin/protein kinase C and isoproterenol/cAMP-PK/PP-1 pathways.

BACKGROUND: The ion pump Na+,K(+)-ATPase is responsible for the secretion of cerebrospinal fluid from the choroid plexus. In this tissue, the activity of Na+,K(+)-ATPase is inhibited by serotonin via stimulation of protein kinase C-catalyzed phosphorylation. The choroid plexus is highly enriched in two phosphoproteins which act as regulators of protein phosphatase-1 activity, DARPP-32 and inhibitor-1. Phosphorylation catalyzed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase on a single threonyl residue converts DARPP-32 and inhibitor-1 into potent inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1. Previous work has shown that in the choroid plexus, phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and I-1 is enhanced by isoproterenol and other agents that activate cAMP-PK. We have now examined the possible involvement of the cAMP-PK/protein phosphatase-1 pathway in the regulation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The state of phosphorylation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase was measured by determining the amount of radioactivity incorporated into the ion pump following immunoprecipitation from 32P-prelabeled choroid plexuses incubated with various drugs (see below). Two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping was employed to identify the protein kinase involved in the phosphorylation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase. RESULTS: The serotonin-mediated increase in Na+,K(+)-ATPase phosphorylation is potentiated by okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases-1 and -2A, as well as by forskolin or the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, activators of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps suggest that this potentiating action occurs at the level of a protein kinase C phosphorylation site. Forskolin and isoproterenol also stimulate the phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and protein phosphatase inhibitor-1, which in their phosphorylated form are potent inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here support a model in which okadaic acid, forskolin, and isoproterenol achieve their synergistic effects with serotonin through phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and inhibitor-1, inhibition of protein phosphatase-1, and a reduction of dephosphorylation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase at a protein kinase C phosphorylation site.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Identification of a novel Stat3 recruitment and activation motif within the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor.

Stat3 is essential for early embryonic development and for myeloid differentiation induced by the cytokines granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Two isoforms of Stat3 have been identified, (p92) and beta (p83), which have distinct transcriptional and biological functions. Activation of both Stat3 and Stat3beta requires the distal cytoplasmic domain of the G-CSFR, which contains four Tyr at positions 704, 729, 744, and 764. The studies reported here were undertaken to determine which, if any, of these tyrosine residues participated in Stat3/beta recruitment and activation. We showed that Stat3 and Stat3beta were affinity purified using phosphopeptides containing Y704 and Y744 but not by nonphosphorylated peptide analogues or by phosphopeptides containing Y729 and Y764. Complementary results were obtained in studies examining the ability of these peptides to destabilize and inhibit DNA binding of activated Stat3. Both Y704 and Y744 contributed to optimal activation of Stat3/beta in M1 murine myeloid leukemia cells containing wild-type and Y-to-F mutant G-CSFR constructs. Carboxy-terminal to Y704 at the +3 position is Gln; YXXQ represents a consensus Stat3 recruitment and activation motif. Y744 is followed at the +3 position by Cys (C); YXXC, represents a novel motif implicated in the recruitment and activation of Stat3. Modeling of the SH2 domain of Stat3 based on homologous SH2 domains of known structure revealed polar residues whose side chains contact the +3 position. This substitution may confer specificity for the Y704- and Y744-based ligands by allowing H-bond formation between the binding surface and the Gln or Cys found at the respective +3 position.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of phosphorylation sites in proteins by nanospray quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry.

A method is described for identifying serine phosphorylation sites in proteins, based on conventional (32)P labeling followed by electrophoretic separation, 'in-gel' digestion with a protease, peptide extraction, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and collection and off-line analysis of the radioactive fractions by nanospray ion trap mass spectrometry. The method was successfully applied to the identification of three phosphorylation sites in two proteins which were subjected to in vitro phosphorylation under physiological conditions. Different combinations of the various scanning modes of the ion trap, including high-resolution, multiple subfragmentation (or MS(n)) and fast scan analysis, were employed to identify the phosphopeptides, determine their sequence and localize the exact site of phosphorylation. 'Blind' fragmentation using fast scans was used to analyze a phosphopeptide which was undetectable in other scanning modes. The sequence, phosphorylation site and double cysteine modification of the potassium adduct of a peptide containing 35 residues were also determined by multiple fragmentation. The results not only support the validity of the proposed method for routine identification of phosphorylation sites, but also demonstrate the exceptional capability of off-line ion trap mass spectrometry in combination with nanospray ionization for performing very detailed studies on the structure of peptides.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Use of 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone for analysis of fragile peptides, disulphide bonding and small proteins by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization.

Several peptides were shown to undergo fragmentation during matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry to a degree which complicated their analysis using alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) as a matrix, even at threshold laser irradiance. These peptides included synthetic peptides, peptides isolated from viral proteins and a phosphopeptide from beta-casein (residues 33-48). The excessive fragmentation occurred usually as a post-source phenomenon; however, in-source fragmentation was also observed. The combined effects of in-source and post-source fragmentation of one peptide studied led to a failure to observe the protonated molecule of this peptide in reflector mode analysis. The phosphopeptide studied exhibited a high degree of beta-elimination of phosphate. It was demonstrated that the fragility exhibited by these peptides in CHCA, including beta-elimination of phosphate from serine, was not evident with a matrix comprising 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone (DHAP) and di-ammonium hydrogen citrate (DAHC). The DHAP/DAHC matrix was also adapted for direct analysis of peptides from an acidic reducing milieu containing tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine. The molecular weight of equine cytochrome c was determined with a relatively high degree of accuracy (experimental M(r) = 12360.2 +/- 1.4 Da compared to the theoretical M(r) = 12360.09 Da) using DHAP/DAHC as a matrix for reflector mode analysis.

Acetophenones↗

Ultraviolet light attenuates heat-inducible gene expression.

Ultraviolet light (UV) induces a stress response mediated through transcription factors such as NF-kB and AP-1, yet little is known about its effect on other transactivators of stress gene expression such as heat shock factor (HSF1). Analysis of UV-treated HeLa cells unexpectedly revealed uncoupling of the heat shock response. UV weakly induced HSF1 into its DNA bound state and markedly attenuated heat-inducible gene expression. HSF1 was further analyzed as a potential target for the uncharacteristic uncoupling of the thermal stress response by another type of stress. Heat-inducible multimerization and nuclear translocation of HSF1 were found to be intact in UV-treated cells; however, the monomeric rather than the multimeric form of HSF1 become hyperphosphorylated by UV. This effect could be partially abolished by the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine with partial reconstitution of hs gene expression. The reported role of a MAP kinase blockade of HSF1 transactivating properties could not be confirmed by an inhibitor of the MAP kinase pathway. Fibroblasts defective in SAP kinase activity also did not exhibit resistance to UV-inducible phosphorylation of HSF1. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping of HSF1 revealed a single tryptic peptide to be affected by UV, but no new pattern of phosphorylation was evident relative to tryptic phosphopeptide profile observed in control cells. These data suggest that UV uncoupling of the hs response possibly involves steps in addition to those associated with phosphorylation the monomeric form of HSF1.

Acetylcysteine↗

Association of Nck with tyrosine-phosphorylated SLP-76 in activated T lymphocytes.

The Nck adaptor protein links tyrosine kinases or their substrates to proteins containing proline-rich motifs. Here we show that in activated T cells two tyrosine phosphoproteins of 75 and 120 kDa are co-immunoprecipitated with polyclonal antibodies against Nck. Analysis of Nck immunoprecipitates with various candidate antibodies revealed that the 75-kDa tyrosine phosphoprotein is the SH2 domain-containing leukocyte protein referred to as SLP-76. In vitro experiments show that the interaction between Nck and SLP-76 is mediated via the Nck SH2 domain. Using specific phosphopeptides corresponding to the major tyrosine phosphorylation sites of SLP-76, it was found that Y113 and Y128 phosphopeptides could compete binding of SLP-76 to the SH2 domain of Nck. In addition, the 120-kDa tyrosine phosphoprotein was recognized by an antibody raised against Cbl, a proto-oncogene product that has been previously found to be associated with Nck. These results suggest that the Nck adaptor protein interacts with key signaling molecules and may play an important role in activation of T lymphocytes.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗