Phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase by p21-activated kinase PAK2.

Phosphorylation of myosin II regulatory light chains (RLC) by Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is a critical step in the initiation of smooth muscle and non-muscle cell contraction. Post-translational modifications to MLCK down-regulate enzyme activity, suppressing RLC phosphorylation, myosin II activation, and tension development. Here we report that PAK2, a member of the Rho family of GTPase-dependent kinases, regulates isometric tension development and myosin II RLC phosphorylation in saponin permeabilized endothelial monolayers. PAK2 blunts tension development by 75% while inhibiting diphosphorylation of myosin II RLC. Cdc42-activated placenta and recombinant, constitutively active PAK2 phosphorylate MLCK in vitro with a stoichiometry of 1.71 +/- 0. 21 mol of PO(4)/mol of MLCK. This phosphorylation inhibits MLCK phosphorylation of myosin II RLC. PAK2 catalyzes MLCK phosphorylation on serine residues 439 and 991. Binding calmodulin to MLCK blocks phosphorylation of Ser-991 by PAK2. These results demonstrate that PAK2 can directly phosphorylate MLCK, inhibiting its activity and limiting the development of isometric tension.

Endothelial cell retraction is induced by PAK2 monophosphorylation of myosin II.

The p21-activated kinase (PAK) family includes several enzyme isoforms regulated by the GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42. PAK1, found in brain, muscle and spleen, has been implicated in triggering cytoskeletal rearrangements such as the dissolution of stress fibers and reorganization of focal complexes. The role of the more widely distributed PAK2 in controlling the cytoskeleton has been less well studied. Previous work has demonstrated that PAK2 can monophosphorylate the myosin II regulatory light chain and induce retraction of permeabilized endothelial cells. In this report we characterize PAK2's morphological and biochemical effect on intact endothelial cells utilizing microinjection of constitutively active PAK2. Under these conditions we observed a modification of the actin cytoskeleton with retraction of endothelial cell margins accompanied by an increase in monophosphorylation of myosin II. Selective inhibitors were used to analyze the mechanism of action of PAK2. Staurosporine, a direct inhibitor of PAK2, largely prevented the action of microinjected PAK2 in endothelial cells. Butanedione monoxime, a non-specific myosin ATPase inhibitor, also inhibited the effects of PAK2 implicating myosin in the changes in cytoskeletal reorganization. In contrast, KT5926, a specific inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase was ineffective in preventing the changes in morphology and the actin cytoskeleton. The additional finding that endogenous PAK2 associates with myosin II is consistent with the proposal that cell retraction and cytoskeletal rearrangements induced by microinjected PAK2 depend on the direct activation of myosin II by PAK2 monophosphorylation of the regulatory light chain.

Glycogenin-dependent organization of Ascaris suum muscle glycogen.

In Ascaris suum, muscle glycogen is synthesized during host feeding intervals and degraded during nonfeeding intervals. Glycogen accumulation is up to 12-fold greater than that observed in mammalian muscle. Previous studies have established that many aspects of the parasite glycogen metabolism are comparable with the host, but a novel form of glycogen synthase designated GSII also occurs in the parasite. In this report glycogenin has been identified as the core protein in both mature glycogen and the GSII complex. Digestion of GSII complex glycogen generates discreet intermediates that may correspond to a proglycogen pool, whereas digestion of mature glycogen does not generate these intermediates. Because both GSII complex glycogen and mature glycogen serve as GSII substrates, the GSII complex likely represents an intermediate between glycogenin and mature glycogen. The regulation of glycogenin synthesis or the regulation of GSII activity that converts glycogenin to proglycogen, or both, may account for high levels of polysaccharide accumulation that are essential for A. suum survival.

Phosphorylation of non-muscle myosin II regulatory light chain by p21-activated kinase (gamma-PAK).

Myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation has been implicated in Rho-mediated stress fibre formation. The recent observation that Rho kinase phosphorylates RLC in vitro suggests that serine/threonine kinases other than those in the myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) family have the potential to activate myosin II. In this study we report that gamma-PAK, which is activated by the GTP-binding proteins Cdc42 and Rac, catalyses phosphorylation of intact non-muscle myosin II and isolated recombinant RLC. gamma-PAK phosphorylated endothelial cell myosin II to 0.85 +/- 0.02 mol PO4 per mol RLC. Phosphorylation is Ca2+/calmodulin-independent and the enzyme has a K(m) and Vmax for myosin II regulatory light chain of 12 microM and 180 nmol/min/mg respectively. No myosin II heavy chain phosphorylation was detected. Phosphopeptide maps and phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that gamma-PAK phosphorylates Ser-19 but does not phosphorylate Thr-18. A panel of recombinant RLC mutants was used to confirm that Ser-19 is the only phosphorylation site modified by gamma-PAK. On substitution of both Ser-19 and Thr-18 with Ala or Glu, no phosphorylation of other Ser/Thr residues in the RLC was detected. Similar to MLCK, Arg-16 is required for interaction of gamma-PAK with the substrate, since converting Arg-16 to Ala significantly reduced RLC phosphorylation. Endothelial cell monolayers permeabilized with saponin retract upon exposure to either Cdc42 or trypsin-activated gamma-PAK and ATP. Activation of gamma-PAK is required to initiate Ca2+/calmodulin-independent cell retraction and actin rearrangement. Taken together, these data suggest that myosin II activation by the p21-activated family of kinases may be physiologically important in regulating cytoskeletal organization.

Myosin phosphorylation by human cdc42-dependent S6/H4 kinase/gammaPAK from placenta and lymphoid cells.

The p21-activated kinase (PAK) family includes protein phosphotransferases regulated by the GTPases rho, rac, and cdc42. Sequence homology, activation mechanism, and substrate specificity suggest that the well-characterized human placenta S6/H4 kinase is a member of this family. In these studies, S6/H4 kinase purified to homogeneity from human placenta was activated in vitro by cdc42-GTP, or protease incubation and MgATP-dependent autophosphorylation. The cdc42-activated enzyme demonstrated an Mr 60,000, and shares sequence homology with the gammaPAK family. Antipeptide antibodies against one of the autophosphorylation site sequences recognized a single p60 protein in the purified placenta preparation or Jurkat cell extracts. An autophosphorylated Mr 40,000 protein, previously identified as the catalytic domain of the enzyme, was also detected by the antibody after protease activation. Crude PAK60 obtained from Mono Q chromatography of Jurkat cell extracts and purified placenta enzyme catalyzed phosphorylation of histone H4 and myelin basic protein as well as a variety of synthetic peptides previously identified as S6/H4 kinase substrates. In addition, Jurkat myosin II and the regulatory myosin light chain were phosphorylated by the Jurkat and placenta gammaPAK. Synthetic peptides were used to demonstrate that the site of light chain phosphorylation occurs at the serine which results in ATPase activation. The data suggest that human gammaPAK may regulate cell motility by a GTP-dependent and calcium-independent mechanism.

Activation of an S6/H4 kinase (PAK 65) from human placenta by intramolecular and intermolecular autophosphorylation.

The S6/H4 kinase purified from human placenta catalyzes phosphorylation of the S6 ribosomal protein, histone H4, and myelin basic protein. In vitro activation of the p60 S6/H4 kinase requires removal of an autoinhibitory domain by mild trypsin digestion and autophosphorylation of the catalytic domain (p40 S6/H4 kinase). The two autophosphorylation/autoactivation sites contain the sequences SSMVGTPY (site 1) and SVIDPVPAPVGDSHVDGAAK (site 2). These sequences identify S6H4 kinase as the rac-activated PAK65 (Martin, G. A., Bollag, G., McCormick, F. and Abo, A. (1995) EMBO J. 14, 1971-1978). Site 1 phosphorylation is most rapid, but activation does not occur until site 2 is autophosphorylated. The site 1 phosphorylation occurs by an intramolecular mechanism whereas site 2 autophosphorylation occurs by an intermolecular mechanism. A model is proposed in which phosphorylation of sites 1 and 2 occurs sequentially. The model proposes that trypsin treatment of the inactive holoenzyme removes an inhibitory rac-binding domain which blocks MgATP access to the catalytic site. The pseudosubstrate domain at site 1 is autophosphorylated and subsequent bimolecular autophosphorylation at site 2 fully opens the catalytic site. Phosphorylation by a regulatory protein kinase may occur at site 2 in vivo.

Activation of an S6 kinase from human placenta by autophosphorylation.

A number of protein kinases have been shown to undergo autophosphorylation, but few have demonstrated a coordinate increase or decrease in enzymatic activity as a result. Described here is a novel S6 kinase isolated from human placenta which autoactivates through autophosphorylation in vitro. This S6/H4 kinase, purified in an inactive state, exhibited a molecular mass of 60 kDa as estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 60-kDa protein underwent autophosphorylation, was labeled by 8-azido-[alpha-32P]ATP, and reacted with an antibody to the conserved APE domain of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The protein did not cochromatograph with p70 S6 kinase and did not cross-react with an anti-p70 kinase antibody. The synthetic peptide S6-21, histone H4, and myelin basic protein were phosphorylated by the purified S6/H4 kinase. Mild digestion of the inactive S6/H4 kinase with trypsin generated a 40-kDa fragment, as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The trypsin treatment was necessary, but not sufficient, to fully activate the kinase. Subsequent incubation of the trypsin-treated S6 kinase with MgATP resulted in the rapid autophosphorylation of the 40-kDa fragment along with a coordinate increase in kinase activity. The autophosphorylation of the 40-kDa protein was positively correlated with MgATP incubation time and an increase in activity toward the S6-21 peptide, histone H4, and myelin basic protein. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that this previously uncharacterized S6 kinase belongs to a unique family of protein kinases which utilize autophosphorylation as part of their in vivo activation mechanism.

Protein phosphatase assay using a modification of the P81 paper protein kinase assay procedure.

Synthetic peptides have been used to define specificity determinants and to distinguish reactivities of numerous protein kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatases. Direct analysis of peptide phosphorylation is most often determined using P81 phosphocellulose paper to separate modified peptide and unreacted [gamma-32P]ATP; however phosphopeptide dephosphorylation is usually determined by extraction and quantitation of phosphomolybdate complexes or ion exchange chromatography. We describe here the adaptation of the rapid, direct P81 paper protein kinase assay for the determination of phosphopeptide dephosphorylation. The S6-21 peptide (AKRRRLSSLRASTSKSESSQK), which is derived from the multiphosphorylated carboxyl terminal domain of the S6 ribosomal protein, was phosphorylated by a human placenta S6 kinase and dephosphorylation by purified phosphoprotein phosphatase type 1 in the presence of a variety of buffers, and inhibitors/activators was determined using the new assay. Results comparable to those obtained with the ion-exchange chromatography were obtained, and the assay was significantly less expensive, more rapid, and more accurate than methods previously used to quantitate phosphopeptide dephosphorylation.

Amblyomma americanum (L.): protein kinase C-independent fluid secretion by isolated salivary glands.

Protein kinase C activity was partially purified from tick salivary glands by fast protein liquid chromatography anion-exchange chromatography. Enzyme activity was stimulated by Ca2+, phosphatidylserine, and diacylglycerol with the highest activity observed in the presence of all three modulators. Enzyme activity was inhibited by a synthetic pseudosubstrate peptide with an amino acid sequence resembling the protein kinase C substrate phosphorylation site. The protein kinase C activator, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG), when added to whole in vitro salivary glands previously prelabeled with 32P, stimulated the phosphorylation of salivary gland proteins. Activators of protein kinase C (phorbol ester or OAG) did not stimulate fluid secretion by isolated tick salivary glands. OAG and phorbol ester had only minimal affects on the ability of dopamine to stimulate secretion by isolated salivary glands and dopamine's ability to increase salivary gland cyclic AMP.

Multisite phosphorylation of a synthetic peptide derived from the carboxyl terminus of the ribosomal protein S6.

The synthetic peptide AKRRRLSSLRASTSKSESSQK (S6-21) which corresponds to the carboxyl-terminal 21 amino acids of human ribosomal protein S6 was synthesized and tested as a substrate for S6/H4 kinase purified from human placenta. The specific activity of the enzyme with the synthetic peptide and 40 S ribosomes was 45 and 23 nmol/min/mg, respectively. The S6/H4 kinase activity with S6-21 was greater than the enzyme activity with any other substrate tested, including histones, protamine, and casein and several other synthetic peptides. The phosphorylation of the peptide was not inhibited by inhibitors of several other proteins kinases. S6/H4 kinase catalyzed the phosphorylation of three major sites in the synthetic peptide and the 40 S ribosomes. A fourth site in S6-21 was phosphorylated more slowly. The principal phosphorylation sites were serines in the acidic carboxyl-terminal domain of the peptide. A serine (Ser-7 or -8) in the amino-terminal domain was phosphorylated at approximately 25% the rate of the carboxyl-terminal domain serines. The data suggest that multiple S6 kinases may be required to phosphorylate S6 at all five sites which are modified in vivo.

Site-specific phosphorylation of a synthetic peptide derived from ribosomal protein S6 by human placenta protein kinases.

A synthetic peptide S6-21 (AKRRRLSSLRASTSKSESSQK) which contains the phosphorylated residues in the ribosomal protein S6 has been used as a substrate for two partially purified human placenta protein kinases. Two distinct classes of protein kinases which catalyze either amino terminal (AKRRRLSS) or carboxyl terminal (LRASTSKSESSQK) peptide phosphorylation were identified. Multiple sites were phosphorylated in each domain. A single protein kinase which catalyzed phosphorylation of sites in both domains was identified. Although growth factors are known to promote phosphorylation of S6 at five serine sites, no enzyme which could modify S6-21 to that extent was observed.

Glycogen synthesis in the obliquely striated muscle of Ascaris suum.

A glycogen synthase, designated GS II, which occurs in a protein/carbohydrate complex has been purified from Ascaris suum muscle. The purified GS-II complex which is eluted from concanavalin-A--Sepharose contains proteins with Mr 140,000 and 66,000 and a glycoprotein with a carbohydrate/protein mass ratio of 3:1. GS II activity was totally dependent on glucose 6-phosphate, but exogenous glycogen was not required for polysaccharide synthesis. The GS-II complex was not phosphorylated by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase, and antibodies to the protein and carbohydrate components of GS II did not cross react with the purified cyclic-AMP-regulated glycogen synthase (GS I) from A. suum muscle. Polysaccharide which was synthesized de novo by the complex was added to the large-molecular-mass glycoprotein in GS II. The glycogen-like character of the newly synthesized polysaccharide was confirmed by the observation that glycogen phosphorylase utilized the polymer as substrate in both the synthesis and degradation reactions. A model is discussed in which a core glycoprotein serves as the substrate for a glycogen synthase which is distinctly different from GS I.

Synthetic peptides derived from the nonmuscle myosin light chains are highly specific substrates for protein kinase C.

The phosphorylation of synthetic peptides derived from the NH2-terminal sequence of smooth-muscle myosin was studied with purified protein kinase C. The protein kinase C phosphorylation domain included both serine residues and threonine residues in the sequence SSKRAKAKTTKKR(G), denoted myosin light chain (1-13) (MLC(1-13)). Kinetic analysis of MLC(1-13) and truncated peptides derived from the parent peptide established that removal of the serine residues had little effect on protein kinase C reactivity. MLC(1-13) had a V/K of 2.4 min-1.mg-1, whereas the V/K of MLC(3-13) was 3.0 min-1.mg-1. Removal of Lys-3 resulted in a 50% decrease in V/K which was attributable to a 50% decrease in apparent Vmax.Arg-4 was established as a significant protein kinase C specificity determinant, since the apparent Km increased 7-fold and the Vmax decreased 3-fold when the parent peptide was truncated at that residue. All peptides studied required calcium and lipid effectors for full activity with protein kinase C, indicating that they are Class C substrates as defined by Bazzi and Nelsestuen (Biochemistry 26 (1987) 5002) for protein kinase C. Other protein kinases, including cyclic AMP- and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, S6/H4 kinase, myosin light-chain kinase and calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II, had little or no activity with these peptides. In studies on the purification of lymphosarcoma protein kinase C by several chromatographic procedures, the results showed that the myosin light-chain peptides can provide convenient and well-characterized substrates for purification and mechanistic studies of protein kinase C biochemistry.

Structural analysis of the calcium-binding protein calmodulin from Ascaris suum obliquely striated muscle.

Calmodulin was purified from the obliquely striated skeletal muscle of Ascaris suum. The calmodulin had a molecular weight of 16,400 and the amino acid composition indicated it is highly similar to other purified calmodulins, showing insignificant variation in 12 of 17 residues. In the residues that showed variation, a trend towards conservative substitution was observed. Spectrophotometric absorption maxima of 276 nm and 283 nm were observed. A molar absorption coefficient of 7,800 was calculated. Calcium-dependent binding to phenothiazine Affi-Gel confirmed that calcium binding induces conformation changes characteristic of calmodulin. Double reciprocal analysis of phosphodiesterase activation by A. suum calmodulin gave a Kapp of 40 nM.

Ascaris suum: regulation of myosin light chain phosphorylation from adult skeletal muscle.

The regulatory myosin light chain in Ascaris suum muscle was isolated in a phospho and dephosphoform. In freshly dissected tissue or in control muscle segments perfused with saline, approximately 48% of the total myosin light chain pool was phosphorylated. Perfusion with acetylcholine caused a dose dependent increase in muscle contraction but no change in myosin light chain phosphorylation. In contrast, perfusion with gamma-aminobutyric acid resulted in a dose dependent relaxation of A. suum muscle and a decrease in myosin light chain phosphorylation so that only 18% of the total myosin light chain remained phosphorylated. Trifluoroperizine, an inhibitor of myosin light chain phosphorylation, did not inhibit acetylcholine induced muscle contraction. Collectively, the data support the hypothesis that A. suum muscle contraction is mediated by actin.

Nonmuscle myosin phosphorylation sites for calcium-dependent and calcium-independent protein kinases.

Thymus myosin, light chains and a synthetic peptide (S-S-K-R-A-K-A-K-T-T-K-K-R-P-Q-R-A-T-S-N-V-F-S) corresponding to the N-terminal sequence of smooth muscle myosin light chains were compared as substrates for calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (MLCK), calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC), and a MgATP-activated protein kinase (H4PK) from lymphoid cells. All protein kinases catalyzed phosphorylation of the substrates although H4PK showed higher affinity for isolated light chains and the peptide. Phosphoamino acid analysis and analysis of thermolysin peptides established that PKC catalyzed phosphorylation of threonine-9 or 10. In addition, PKC and H4PK catalyzed phosphorylation at serine-19, the MLCK site. Collectively the data support the hypothesis that myosin filament assembly in nonmuscle cells may be regulated by a variety of calcium-dependent and calcium-independent protein kinases.

Comparative purification and characterization of invertebrate muscle glycogen synthase from the porcine parasite Ascaris suum.

Glycogen synthase has been purified from the obliquely striated muscle of the swine parasite Ascaris suum. The muscle contains a concentration of glycogen synthase and glycogen which is 20-fold and 15-fold, respectively, greater than rabbit skeletal muscle. The enzyme could not be solubilized with salivary amylase, but partial solubilization was achieved by activation of endogenous phosphorylase. The enzyme was purified to 85-90% homogeneity (specific activity = 4.3 units/mg) by DEAE-cellulose, Sepharose 4B, and glucosamine 6-phosphate chromatography. The purified glycogen synthase was substantially similar to rabbit skeletal muscle enzyme with respect to Mr (gel electrophoresis and gel filtration), pH dependence, aggregation properties, temperature dependence, and kinetic constants for substrates and activators. Glycogen synthase I was converted to glycogen synthase D by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase catalyzed the incorporation of 1.3 mol of phosphate into each glycogen synthase I subunit and the concomitant interconversion to glycogen synthase D. Since glycogen is the sole fuel utilized by this organism during nonfeeding periods of the host, the characterization of this enzyme provides further insight into the regulatory mechanisms which determine glycogen turnover.

Calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase and its relationship to antidiuretic hormone in toad urinary bladder epithelium.

The hydro-osmotic response of the toad urinary bladder to antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and cyclic AMP was inhibited by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and 4 beta- phorbol dideconate (4 beta-PDD), activators of protein kinase C (PKC). The inactive epimer of 4 beta-PDD, had no effect on the ADH response. The osmotic transfer of water in the absence of ADH was unaffected by PMA. PKC activity, localized in the soluble fraction of isolated toad bladder cells, was activated by PMA. ADH initially inhibited and subsequently stimulated 32Pi incorporation into phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). Carbachol, which inhibits ADH-induced water flow, also stimulated 32P incorporation into PA and PI. It is suggested that phosphoinositide breakdown to diacylglycerol may activate PKC which functions to attenuate the hormone-mediated permeability response.

Calcium-dependent muscle contraction in obliquely striated Ascaris suum muscle.

The regulatory proteins of Ascaris suum striated skeletal muscle were partially purified and characterized. A tropomyosin isoform (Mr 41K) and three troponin subunits identified as troponin T (Mr 37.5K), troponin I (Mr 25.5K) and troponin C (Mr 18.5K) were purified. Three myosin light chains (Mr 25K, 19K, and 17K) were isolated from washed Ascaris actomyosin; the 19K subunit was phosphorylated in vitro. A calcium/calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase activity was identified in the muscle. In contrast to previously reported data suggesting that Ascaris obliquely striated muscle contraction is regulated by a myosin-mediated mechanism, these data indicate that all of the proteins required for actin-mediated, calcium-dependent muscle contraction are present in this tissue.

Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 at multiple sites by a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase from lymphoid cells.

Ribosomes prepared from murine lymphosarcoma cells were phosphorylated by a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase designated H4P kinase. H4P kinase was isolated as an inactive enzyme which was activated by Mg2+-ATP and an endogenous converting enzyme. In the absence of preactivation by Mg2+-ATP and an endogenous converting enzyme, H4P kinase catalyzed phosphorylation of 80, 60, and 40 S ribosomal subunits at a low rate. After activation, the H4P kinase selectively catalyzed phosphorylation of the S 6 protein in the 40 S ribosomal subunit. Under the assay conditions selected, at least 90% of the [32P]phosphate transferred to the 40 S ribosomal preparation was incorporated into S 6. The apparent Km for 40 S subunits phosphorylated by H4P kinase was 7.2 microM. The calculated Vmax was 50 nmol of Pi transferred per min/mg. Exhaustive phosphorylation of 40 S subunits resulted in incorporation of 3 mol of phosphate/mol of S 6, in contrast to results reported previously which indicated 0.3 mol of phosphate was transferred by a similar enzyme from reticulocyte (Del Grande, R. W., and Traugh, J. A. (1982) Eur. J. Biochem. 123, 421-428). These data are consistent with a potential role for H4P kinase in the insulin-mediated phosphorylation of S 6 at multiple sites.