Dependent Protein Kinase (dependent + protein_kinase)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Failure of Ca2+ -activated, CREB-dependent transcription in astrocytes

GLIA, Issue 8 2009
Peter D. Murray
Abstract Astrocytes participate in signaling via Ca2+ transients that spread from cell to cell across a multicellular syncytium. The effect, if any, of these Ca2+ waves on the transcription of Ca2+/cAMP-regulatory element binding protein (CREB)-dependent genes is not known. We report here that, unlike neurons, increasing intracellular Ca2+ in cultured mouse cortical astrocytes failed to activate CREB-dependent transcription, even though CREB was phosphorylated at serine 133. In contrast, both CREB phosphorylation and CREB-dependent transcription were robustly stimulated by increasing cAMP. The failure of Ca2+ -activated transcription in astrocytes was correlated with the absence of CaMKIV, a Ca2+ -dependent protein kinase required for Ca2+ -stimulated gene transcription in neurons. The inability of Ca2+ to signal via CaMKIV may insulate CREB-dependent gene transcription in astrocytes from activation by Ca2+ waves. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Regional differences in hippocampal PKA immunoreactivity after training and reversal training in a spatial Y-maze task

HIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 5 2007
Robbert Havekes
Abstract It is suggested that the hippocampus functions as a comparator by making a comparison between the internal representation and actual sensory information from the environment (for instance, comparing a previously learned location of a food reward with an actual novel location of a food reward in a Y-maze). However, it remains unclear to what extent the various hippocampal regions contribute to this comparator function. One of the proteins known to be crucially involved in the formation of hippocampus-dependent long-term memory is the adenosine 3,,5, cyclic monophosphate dependent protein kinase (PKA). Here, we examined region-specific changes in immunoreactivity (ir) of the regulatory II,,, subunits of PKA (PKA RII,,,-ir) in the hippocampus during various stages of spatial learning in a Y-maze reference task. Thereafter, we compared changes in hippocampal PKA RII,,,-ir induced by training and reversal training in which the food reward was relocated to the previously unrewarded arm. We show that: (1) There was a clear correlation between behavioral performance and elevated PKA RII,,,-ir during the acquisition phase of both training and reversal training in area CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG), (2) PKA RII,,,-ir was similarly enhanced in area CA1 during the acquisition phase of reversal training, but did not correlate with behavioral performance, (3) PKA RII,,,-ir did not change during training or reversal training in the subiculum (SUB), (4) No changes in PKA RII,,, protein levels were found using Western blotting, and (5) AMPA receptor phosphorylation at serine 845 (S845p; the PKA site on the glutamate receptor 1 subunit (GluR1)), was enhanced selectively during the acquisition phase of reversal training. These findings reveal that training and reversal training induce region-specific changes in hippocampal PKA RII,,,-ir and suggest a differential involvement of hippocampal subregions in match-mismatch detection in case of Y-maze reference learning. Alterations in AMPA receptor regulation at the S845 site seems specifically related to the novelty detector function of the hippocampus important for match-mismatch detection. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Exendin-4 regulates pancreatic ABCA1 transcription via CaMKK/CaMKIV pathway

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE, Issue 5 2010
Junhua Li
Abstract ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in pancreatic , cells influences insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. This study investigates whether the long-acting agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1, namely exendin-4, which mediates stimulatory effects on ABCA1 gene expression, could interfere with the Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) cascade. ABCA1 promoter activity was examined by reporter gene assay in rat insulin-secreting INS-1 cells incubated with exendin-4. CaMKIV activity was assessed by detection of activation-loop phosphorylation (Thr196) of CaMKIV. We investigated the influence of the constitutively active form (CaMKIVc) or CaMKIV knockdown on ABCA1 expression. Increased abundance of ABCA1 protein was noted in response to rising concentrations of exendin-4 with maximum induction at 10 nM. Exendin-4 also stimulated ABCA1 promoter activity, but failed to do so in the presence of STO-609, a CaMKK inhibitor. Up-regulation of CaMKIV phosphorylation (at Thr196) peaked after 10 min. of exposure to exendin-4. CaMKIVc enhanced or up-regulated ABCA1 promoter activity in INS-1 cells. Furthermore, exendin-4 induction of ABCA1 protein expression was significantly suppressed in cells treated with CaMKIV-siRNA. Activation of the CaMKK/CaMKIV cascade by exendin-4 stimulated ABCA1 gene transcription, indicating that exendin-4 plays an important role in insulin secretion and cholesterol ester content in pancreatic , cells. [source]


Nitric Oxide-Sensitive Guanylyl Cyclase Activity Inhibition Through Cyclic GMP-Dependent Dephosphorylation

JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 5 2000
Rut Ferrero
Abstract: The soluble form of guanylyl cyclase (sGC) plays a pivotal role in the transduction of inter- and intracellular signals conveyed by nitric oxide. Here, a feedback inhibitory mechanism triggered by cyclic guanosine-3,,5,-monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) activation is described. Preincubation of chromaffin cells with C-type natriuretic peptide, which increased cGMP levels and activated PKG, or with cGMP-permeant analogue (which also activates PKG), in the presence of a broad-spectrum phosphodiesterase inhibitor, resulted in a decrease in subsequent sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-dependent cGMP elevations. This inhibitory effect was mimicked by activating a protein phosphatase and counteracted by the selective PKG inhibitor KT-5823 and by different protein phosphatase inhibitors. Immunoprecipitation of sGC from cells submitted to different treatments followed by immunodetection with antiphosphoserine antibodies (clone 4A9) showed changes in phosphorylation levels of the , subunit of sGC, and these changes correlated well with differences in SNP-elicited cGMP accumulations. Pretreatment of cells with several PKG inhibitors or protein phosphatase inhibitors produced an enhancement of SNP-stimulated cGMP rises without changing the SNP concentration required to produce half-maximal or maximal responses. Taken together, these results indicate that the catalytic activity of sGC is closely coupled to the phosphorylation state of its , subunit and that the tonic activity of PKG or its stimulation regulates sGC activity through dephosphorylation of the , subunit. [source]


Calpain-mediated degradation of G-substrate plays a critical role in retinal excitotoxicity for amacrine cells

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009
Toru Nakazawa
Abstract The role of neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated intracellular signaling has been elucidated in both physiological and pathological conditions. However, the details of relative vulnerability for excitotoxicity remain unknown. Retinal excitotoxicity is involved in various diseases leading to irreversible blindness. Here, we used the visual system and explored the mechanistic details of the NMDA-elicited intracellular events, especially in the amacrine cells, which are the most vulnerable type of neuron in the retina. G-substrate, a specific substrate of cyclic guanosine 3,,5,-monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase, is colocalized with amacrine cells and acts as an endogenous inhibitor of protein phosphatase. To elucidate how G-substrate was involved in NMDA-induced amacrine cell death, the immunohistochemical analysis with G-substrate antibody was performed following NMDA injury. In vivo, NMDA immediately decreased G-substrate immunoreactivity, and the suppression of calpain activation using ALLN or calpain III, an inhibitor of calpain, blocked this decrease. In vitro, degraded fragments of G-substrate were detected within 10 min after coincubation of G-substrate and calpain. Moreover, G-substrate knockout (G-substrate,/,) mice were more susceptible to NMDA injury than wild-type mice. ALLN did not have a neuroprotective effect in G-substrate,/, mice. These data strongly suggest that calpain-mediated loss of G-substrate represents an important mechanism contributing to NMDA-induced amacrine cell death. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Increased Consumption but Not Operant Self-administration of Ethanol in Mice Lacking the RII, Subunit of Protein Kinase A

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2006
Frank M. Ferraro III
Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) is involved in the neurobiological responses to ethanol. Previous reports indicate that mice lacking the RII, subunit of PKA (RII,,/,) voluntarily consume more ethanol than wild-type controls (RII,+/+) using 2-bottle testing procedures. Although such procedures primarily measure consummatory behavior, operant self-administration procedures allow analysis of consummatory as well as appetitive or "ethanol-seeking" behavior (i.e., lever pressing is required to gain access to the ethanol solution). Therefore, we determined whether the high ethanol consumption characteristic of RII,,/, mice would be complemented by increased appetitive ethanol-seeking behavior in an operant paradigm. Methods: RII,,/, (n=8) and RII,+/+ (n=8) mice were initially sucrose-faded until they were lever responding for nonsweetened ethanol (10, 14, and 18%). Following the self-administration testing, RII,+/+ and RII,,/, mice were given access to 2 bottles, one containing water and the other ethanol to replicate the voluntary ethanol drinking data previously from our laboratory. Finally, immediately after voluntary consumption all mice were again tested for self-administration of 10% ethanol. Alterations in the reinforcement schedule were also explored as RII,+/+ and RII,,/, mice were tested for self-administration of 10% ethanol at FR-3 and FR-5 schedules. Results: The RII,,/, mice displayed lower operant responding for ethanol and food reinforcement compared with RII,+/+ controls. However, this effect was driven by a significant increase in lever responses made by female RII,+/+ mice. When the excessive lever responses of the female RII,+/+ mice are accounted for, the RII,,/, mice show ethanol lever responses comparable to controls. Following operant self-administration testing, RII,,/, mice of both sexes consumed more ethanol solution compared with RII,+/+ mice during 2-bottle testing. Conclusions: Increased ingestion of ethanol by RII,,/, mice is likely the result of altered PKA activity within neuronal pathways that control ethanol-consummatory behaviors. Conversely, the RII, subunit of PKA appears not to play a critical role in neuronal pathways that regulate appetitive behaviors directed at obtaining ethanol. Finally, increased operant self-administration of food and ethanol by female wild-type mice was absent in female RII,,/, mice, suggesting that normal PKA signaling may be part of a general, and sex-dependent, mechanism involved with reinforcement-seeking behavior. [source]


Novel alternatively spliced mRNA (1c) of the protein kinase A RIα subunit is implicated in haploid germ cell specific expression

MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2001
Maria K. Dahle
Abstract By using 5′ RACE on rat testis cDNA we identified three alternatively spliced mRNAs of the RIα subunit of cAMP‐dependent protein kinase that differed in their 5′ untranslated regions. Two of these 5′‐regions showed similarity with the human RIα exons 1a and 1b, while the third (1c) constituted a novel mRNA splice variant. Northern blot analysis showed that the 1c mRNA was specifically expressed in testis and only in postmeiotic germ cells. In contrast, the RIα 1b and RIα 1a mRNAs were present both in premeiotic germ cells and somatic cells of the testis, and the expression of both RIα 1a and 1b mRNAs were stimulated by cAMP in Sertoli cells. In sperm, the RIα protein was expressed after meiosis, and targeted to various subcellular structures via anchoring proteins. The RIα 1c haploid‐specific mRNA, therefore, may be important for the regulation of RIα expression in sperm. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 59:11–16, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. [source]


Systematic interpretation of cyclic nucleotide binding studies using KinetXBase

PROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 6 2008
Sonja Schweinsberg
Abstract Functional proteomics aims to describe cellular protein networks in depth based on the quantification of molecular interactions. In order to study the interaction of adenosine-3,,5,-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), a general second messenger involved in several intracellular signalling networks, with one of its respective target proteins, the regulatory (R) subunit of cAMP dependent protein kinase (PKA), a number of different methods was employed. These include fluorescence polarisation (FP), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), amplified luminescence proximity homogeneous assay (ALPHA-screen), radioligand binding or activity-based assays. Kinetic, thermodynamic and equilibrium binding data of a variety of cAMP derivatives to several cAMP binding domains were integrated in a single database system, we called KinetXBase, allowing for very distinct data formats. KinetXBase is a practical data handling system for molecular interaction data of any kind, providing a synopsis of data derived from different technologies. This supports ongoing efforts in the bioinformatics community to devise formal concepts for a unified representation of interaction data, in order to enable their exchange and easy comparison. KinetXBase was applied here to analyse complex cAMP binding data and highly site-specific cAMP analogues could be identified. The software package is free for download by academic users. [source]


Expression of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in metastatic colon carcinoma cells blocks tumor angiogenesis

CANCER, Issue 7 2008
In-Kiu Kwon PhD
Abstract BACKGROUND Type 1 cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) reportedly has exhibited antitumor properties, and its expression is down-regulated in many tumors. METHODS The authors recently demonstrated that PKG re-expression in metastatic colon carcinoma cells results in decreased tumorigenesis: In the current study, they addressed that mechanism. RESULTS Over-expression of PKG in SW620 cells produced smaller, more apoptotic subcutaneous tumors in athymic mice, but the observed effect of PKG expression on growth and apoptosis in vitro was minimal. Closer examination of the subcutaneous xenografts revealed highly vascular tumors produced by the parental SW620 cells, which contrasted greatly with the PKG-expressing tumors, in which cell growth was limited to "islands" surrounding CD31-positive cells. The idea that PKG expression was associated with reduced tumor angiogenesis was supported by decreased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in these tumors compared with tumors that were derived from parental SW620 cells. Investigation of potential mechanisms revealed that PKG expression was associated with reduced levels of ,-catenin compared with parental cells. Moreover, this effect of exogenous PKG on ,-catenin expression in SW620 cells also occurred in vitro, where the decrease was associated with reduced T-cell factor-dependent transcription. CONCLUSIONS Together the findings indicated that PKG down-regulation in colon cancer cells is important for optimal tumor angiogenesis and that regulation of ,-catenin expression may be important to this process. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society. [source]


A multi-angular mass spectrometric view at cyclic nucleotide dependent protein kinases: In vivo characterization and structure/function relationships

MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS, Issue 4 2008
Arjen Scholten
Abstract Mass spectrometry has evolved in recent years to a well-accepted and increasingly important complementary technique in molecular and structural biology. Here we review the many contributions mass spectrometry based studies have made in recent years in our understanding of the important cyclic nucleotide activated protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase G (PKG). We both describe the characterization of kinase isozymes, substrate phosphorylation, binding partners and post-translational modifications by proteomics based methodologies as well as their structural and functional properties as revealed by native mass spectrometry, H/D exchange MS and ion mobility. Combining all these mass spectrometry based data with other biophysical and biochemical data has been of great help to unravel the intricate regulation of kinase function in the cell in all its magnificent complexity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 27: 331,353, 2008 [source]