Phosphatase Expression (phosphatase + expression)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A modulatory role for protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin) in the regulation of Ca2+ entry

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 8 2000
J. Russell Burley
Abstract The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B) also known as calcineurin (CN) has been implicated in the Ca2+ -dependent inactivation of Ca2+ channels in several cell types. To study the role of calcineurin in the regulation of Ca2+ -channel activity, phosphatase expression was altered in NG108-15 cells by transfection of sense and antisense plasmid constructs carrying the catalytic subunit of human PP2B,3. Relative to mock-transfected (wild-type) controls, cells overexpressing calcineurin showed dramatically reduced high-voltage-activated Ca2+ currents which were recoverable by the inclusion of 1 ,m FK506 in the patch pipette. Conversely, in cells with reduced calcineurin expression, high-voltage-activated Ca2+ currents were larger relative to controls. Additionally in these cells, low-voltage-activated currents were significantly reduced. Analysis of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ currents revealed that the kinetics of inactivation were significantly accelerated in cells overexpressing calcineurin. Following the delivery of a train of depolarizing pulses in experiments designed to produce large-scale Ca2+ influx across the cell membrane, Ca2+ -dependent inactivation of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ currents was increased in sense cells, and this increase could be reduced by intracellular application of 1 m m BAPTA or 1 ,m FK506. These data support a role of calcineurin in the negative feedback regulation of Ca2+ entry through voltage-operated Ca2+ channels. [source]


S -adenosylmethionine regulates dual-specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase expression in mouse and human hepatocytes,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2010
Maria Lauda Tomasi
Increased mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity correlates with a more malignant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) phenotype. There is a reciprocal regulation between p44/42 MAPK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK]1/2) and the dual-specificity MAPK phosphatase MKP-1/DUSP1. ERK phosphorylates DUSP1, facilitating its proteasomal degradation, whereas DUSP1 inhibits ERK activity. Methionine adenosyltransferase 1a (Mat1a) knockout (KO) mice express hepatic S -adenosylmethionine (SAM) deficiency and increased ERK activity and develop HCC. The aim of this study was to examine whether DUSP1 expression is regulated by SAM and if so, elucidate the molecular mechanisms. Studies were conducted using Mat1a KO mice livers, cultured mouse and human hepatocytes, and 20S and 26S proteasomes. DUSP1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were reduced markedly in livers of Mat1a KO mice and in cultured mouse and human hepatocytes with protein falling to lower levels than mRNA. SAM treatment protected against the fall in DUSP1 mRNA and protein levels in mouse and human hepatocytes. SAM increased DUSP1 transcription, p53 binding to DUSP1 promoter, and stability of its mRNA and protein. Proteasomal chymotrypsin-like and caspase-like activities were increased in Mat1a KO livers and cultured hepatocytes, which was blocked by SAM treatment. SAM inhibited chymotrypsin-like and caspase-like activities by 40% and 70%, respectively, in 20S proteasomes and caused rapid degradation of some of the 26S proteasomal subunits, which was blocked by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. SAM treatment in Mat1a KO mice for 7 days raised SAM, DUSP1, mRNA and protein levels and lowered proteosomal and ERK activities. Conclusion: DUSP1 mRNA and protein levels are lower in Mat1a KO livers and fall rapidly in cultured hepatocytes. SAM treatment increases DUSP1 expression through multiple mechanisms, and this may suppress ERK activity and malignant degeneration. HEPATOLOGY 2010 [source]


Inactivation of Pten in Osteo-Chondroprogenitor Cells Leads to Epiphyseal Growth Plate Abnormalities and Skeletal Overgrowth,

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 8 2007
Alice Fiona Ford-Hutchinson
Abstract To study the role of the Pten tumor suppressor in skeletogenesis, we generated mice lacking this key phosphatidylinositol 3,-kinase pathway regulator in their osteo-chondroprogenitors. A phenotype of growth plate dysfunction and skeletal overgrowth was observed. Introduction: Skeletogenesis is a complex process relying on a variety of ligands that activate a range of intracellular signal transduction pathways. Although many of these stimuli are known to activate phosphatidylinositol 3,-kinase (PI3K), the function of this pathway during cartilage development remains nebulous. To study the role of PI3K during skeletogenesis, we used mice deficient in a negative regulator of PI3K signaling, the tumor suppressor, Pten. Materials and Methods:Pten gene deletion in osteo-chondrodroprogenitors was obtained by interbreeding mice with loxP-flanked Pten exons with mice expressing the Cre recombinase under the control of the type II collagen gene promoter (Ptenflox/flox:Col2a1Cre mice). Phenotypic analyses included microcomputed tomography and immunohistochemistry techniques. Results: ,CT revealed that Ptenflox/flox:Col2a1Cre mice exhibited both increased skeletal size, particularly of vertebrae, and massive trabeculation accompanied by increased cortical thickness. Primary spongiosa development and perichondrial bone collar formation were prominent in Ptenflox/flox:Col2a1Cre mice, and long bone growth plates were disorganized and showed both matrix overproduction and evidence of accelerated hypertrophic differentiation (indicated by an altered pattern of type X collagen and alkaline phosphatase expression). Consistent with increased PI3K signaling, Pten-deficient chondrocytes showed increased phospho-PKB/Akt and phospho-S6 immunostaining, reflective of increased mTOR and PDK1 activity. Interestingly, no significant change in growth plate proliferation was seen in Pten-deficient mice, and growth plate fusion was found at 6 months. Conclusions: By virtue of its ability to modulate a key signal transduction pathway responsible for integrating multiple stimuli, Pten represents an important regulator of both skeletal size and bone architecture. [source]


The differential effects of the radioprotectant drugs amifostine and sodium selenite treatment in combination with radiation therapy on constituent bone cells, ewing's sarcoma of bone tumor cells, and rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells in vitro

JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 11 2008
Bryan S. Margulies
Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the differential effects of therapeutic X-radiation on constituent bone cells relative to the pediatric tumor cells: Ewing's sarcoma of bone and rhabdomyosarcoma. In addition, the radioprotectant drugs amifostine and sodium selenite were administered to constituent bone cells and the two tumor cells to determine if the radioprotectants differentially protect bone cells while not benefiting the tumor cells. These studies are a necessary first step in determining the potential clinical benefit of radioprotective therapy. An established in vitro cell culture model employing both constituent bone cells (osteoblasts, primary bone marrow monocytes, osteoclasts chondrocytes, and endothelial cells) and the tumor cells lines (Ewing's sarcoma of bone and rhabdomyosarcoma) were exposed to irradiation, amifostine, and sodium selenite. Cells were then assayed for changes in cell number, cytotoxicity, mineralization, bone resorption, cell attachment, osteocalcin, caspase-3 expression, clonogenic survival, and alkaline phosphatase expression. Radiation therapy differentially decreased cell number; with osteoblasts being shown to be the least sensitive to irradiation, the tumor cells had an intermediate sensitivity and monocytes were the most sensitive. Both amifostine and sodium selenite protected chondrocytes and osteoblasts from the negative effects of irradiation, while not protecting the tumor cells. The pediatric tumor cell lines were generally more radiosensitive than the bone cells examined. The radioprotectant drugs amifostine and sodium selenite provided significant radioprotection to constituent bone cells while not protecting the tumor cells. Finally, amifostine and sodium selenite therapy provided an additional benefit beyond radioprotection by increasing cytotoxicity in nonirradiated and irradiated tumor cells. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1512,1519, 2008 [source]