Robustness and compensation of information transmission of signaling pathways.

Robust transmission of information despite the presence of variation is a fundamental problem in cellular functions. However, the capability and characteristics of information transmission in signaling pathways remain poorly understood. We describe robustness and compensation of information transmission of signaling pathways at the cell population level. We calculated the mutual information transmitted through signaling pathways for the growth factor-mediated gene expression. Growth factors appeared to carry only information sufficient for a binary decision. Information transmission was generally more robust than average signal intensity despite pharmacological perturbations, and compensation of information transmission occurred. Information transmission to the biological output of neurite extension appeared robust. Cells may use information entropy as information so that messages can be robustly transmitted despite variation in molecular activities among individual cells.

Temporal decoding of MAP kinase and CREB phosphorylation by selective immediate early gene expression.

A wide range of growth factors encode information into specific temporal patterns of MAP kinase (MAPK) and CREB phosphorylation, which are further decoded by expression of immediate early gene products (IEGs) to exert biological functions. However, the IEG decoding system remain unknown. We built a data-driven based on time courses of MAPK and CREB phosphorylation and IEG expression in response to various growth factors to identify how signal is processed. We found that IEG expression uses common decoding systems regardless of growth factors and expression of each IEG differs in upstream dependency, switch-like response, and linear temporal filters. Pulsatile ERK phosphorylation was selectively decoded by expression of EGR1 rather than c-FOS. Conjunctive NGF and PACAP stimulation was selectively decoded by synergistic JUNB expression through switch-like response to c-FOS. Thus, specific temporal patterns and combinations of MAPKs and CREB phosphorylation can be decoded by selective IEG expression via distinct temporal filters and switch-like responses. The data-driven modeling is versatile for analysis of signal processing and does not require detailed prior knowledge of pathways.

Temporal coding of insulin action through multiplexing of the AKT pathway.

One of the unique characteristics of cellular signaling pathways is that a common signaling pathway can selectively regulate multiple cellular functions of a hormone; however, this selective downstream control through a common signaling pathway is poorly understood. Here we show that the insulin-dependent AKT pathway uses temporal patterns multiplexing for selective regulation of downstream molecules. Pulse and sustained insulin stimulations were simultaneously encoded into transient and sustained AKT phosphorylation, respectively. The downstream molecules, including ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), and glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK3ß) selectively decoded transient, sustained, and both transient and sustained AKT phosphorylation, respectively. Selective downstream decoding is mediated by the molecules' network structures and kinetics. Our results demonstrate that the AKT pathway can multiplex distinct patterns of blood insulin, such as pulse-like additional and sustained-like basal secretions, and the downstream molecules selectively decode secretion patterns of insulin.

Elucidating the in vivo phosphorylation dynamics of the ERK MAP kinase using quantitative proteomics data and Bayesian model selection.

Ever since reversible protein phosphorylation was discovered, it has been clear that it plays a key role in the regulation of cellular processes. Proteins often undergo double phosphorylation, which can occur through two possible mechanisms: distributive or processive. Which phosphorylation mechanism is chosen for a particular cellular regulation bears biological significance, and it is therefore in our interest to understand these mechanisms. In this paper we study dynamics of the MEK/ERK phosphorylation. We employ a model selection algorithm based on approximate Bayesian computation to elucidate phosphorylation dynamics from quantitative time course data obtained from PC12 cells in vivo. The algorithm infers the posterior distribution over four proposed models for phosphorylation and dephosphorylation dynamics, and this distribution indicates the amount of support given to each model. We evaluate the robustness of our inferential framework by systematically exploring different ways of parameterizing the models and for different prior specifications. The models with the highest inferred posterior probability are the two models employing distributive dephosphorylation, whereas we are unable to choose decisively between the processive and distributive phosphorylation mechanisms.

Decoupling of receptor and downstream signals in the Akt pathway by its low-pass filter characteristics.

In cellular signal transduction, the information in an external stimulus is encoded in temporal patterns in the activities of signaling molecules; for example, pulses of a stimulus may produce an increasing response or may produce pulsatile responses in the signaling molecules. Here, we show how the Akt pathway, which is involved in cell growth, specifically transmits temporal information contained in upstream signals to downstream effectors. We modeled the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-dependent Akt pathway in PC12 cells on the basis of experimental results. We obtained counterintuitive results indicating that the sizes of the peak amplitudes of receptor and downstream effector phosphorylation were decoupled; weak, sustained EGF receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation, rather than strong, transient phosphorylation, strongly induced phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6, a molecule downstream of Akt. Using frequency response analysis, we found that a three-component Akt pathway exhibited the property of a low-pass filter and that this property could explain decoupling of the peak amplitudes of receptor phosphorylation and that of downstream effectors. Furthermore, we found that lapatinib, an EGFR inhibitor used as an anticancer drug, converted strong, transient Akt phosphorylation into weak, sustained Akt phosphorylation, and, because of the low-pass filter characteristics of the Akt pathway, this led to stronger S6 phosphorylation than occurred in the absence of the inhibitor. Thus, an EGFR inhibitor can potentially act as a downstream activator of some effectors.

A quantitative image cytometry technique for time series or population analyses of signaling networks.

BACKGROUND: Modeling of cellular functions on the basis of experimental observation is increasingly common in the field of cellular signaling. However, such modeling requires a large amount of quantitative data of signaling events with high spatio-temporal resolution. A novel technique which allows us to obtain such data is needed for systems biology of cellular signaling. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We developed a fully automatable assay technique, termed quantitative image cytometry (QIC), which integrates a quantitative immunostaining technique and a high precision image-processing algorithm for cell identification. With the aid of an automated sample preparation system, this device can quantify protein expression, phosphorylation and localization with subcellular resolution at one-minute intervals. The signaling activities quantified by the assay system showed good correlation with, as well as comparable reproducibility to, western blot analysis. Taking advantage of the high spatio-temporal resolution, we investigated the signaling dynamics of the ERK pathway in PC12 cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The QIC technique appears as a highly quantitative and versatile technique, which can be a convenient replacement for the most conventional techniques including western blot, flow cytometry and live cell imaging. Thus, the QIC technique can be a powerful tool for investigating the systems biology of cellular signaling.

Timing-dependent actions of NGF required for cell differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Continuous NGF stimulation induces PC12 cell differentiation. However, why continuous NGF stimulation is required for differentiation is unclear. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms of the timing-dependent requirement of NGF action for cell differentiation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To address the timing-dependency of the NGF action, we performed a discontinuous stimulation assay consisting of a first transient stimulation followed by an interval and then a second sustained stimulation and quantified the neurite extension level. Consequently, we observed a timing-dependent action of NGF on cell differentiation, and discontinuous NGF stimulation similarly induced differentiation. The first stimulation did not induce neurite extension, whereas the second stimulation induced fast neurite extension; therefore, the first stimulation is likely required as a prerequisite condition. These observations indicate that the action of NGF can be divided into two processes: an initial stimulation-driven latent process and a second stimulation-driven extension process. The latent process appears to require the activities of ERK and transcription, but not PI3K, whereas the extension-process requires the activities of ERK and PI3K, but not transcription. We also found that during the first stimulation, the activity of NGF can be replaced by PACAP, but not by insulin, EGF, bFGF or forskolin; during the second stimulation, however, the activity of NGF cannot be replaced by any of these stimulants. These findings allowed us to identify potential genes specifically involved in the latent process, rather than in other processes, using a microarray. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results demonstrate that NGF induces the differentiation of PC12 cells via mechanically distinct processes: an ERK-driven and transcription-dependent latent process, and an ERK- and PI3K-driven and transcription-independent extension process.

Ca2+ -independent phospholipase A2-dependent sustained Rho-kinase activation exhibits all-or-none response.

Sustained contraction of cells depends on sustained Rho-associated kinase (Rho-kinase) activation. We developed a computational model of the Rho-kinase pathway to understand the systems characteristics. Thrombin-dependent in vivo transient responses of Rho activation and Ca2+ increase could be reproduced in silico. Low and high thrombin stimulation induced transient and sustained phosphorylation, respectively, of myosin light chain (MLC) and myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) in vivo. The transient phosphorylation of MLC and MYPT1 could be reproduced in silico, but their sustained phosphorylation could not. This discrepancy between in vivo and in silico in the sustained responses downstream of Rho-kinase indicates that a missing pathway(s) may be responsible for the sustained Rho-kinase activation. We found, experimentally, that the sustained phosphorylation of MLC and MYPT1 exhibit all-or-none responses. Bromoenol lactone, a specific inhibitor of Ca2+ -independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2), inhibited sustained phosphorylation of MLC and MYPT1, which indicates that sustained Rho-kinase activation requires iPLA2 activity. Thus, the systems analysis of the Rho-kinase pathway identified a novel iPLA2-dependent mechanism of the sustained Rho-kinase activation, which exhibits an all-or-none response.

Dynamic characteristics of transient responses.

Transient responses of signaling molecules are seen in a wide variety of cellular processes that are mediated by distinct molecular mechanisms. Although transient responses might intuitively be thought to depend on the absolute concentration of growth factors or the intensity of stimulation, we here introduce that some transient responses are prompted by temporal rate of increase of stimulation, rather than intensity of stimulation, by three independent mechanisms. These include the Ras system with fast activation and slow inactivation, the ERK-dependent negative feedback loop system, and the receptor degradation system, all of which can be commonly seen in various signaling networks. In addition, we show the distinct transient and steady state characteristics of these systems.

Prediction and validation of the distinct dynamics of transient and sustained ERK activation.

To elucidate the hidden dynamics of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling networks, we developed a simulation model of ERK signalling networks by constraining in silico dynamics based on in vivo dynamics in PC12 cells. We predicted and validated that transient ERK activation depends on rapid increases of epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor (NGF) but not on their final concentrations, whereas sustained ERK activation depends on the final concentration of NGF but not on the temporal rate of increase. These ERK dynamics depend on Ras and Rap1 dynamics, the inactivation processes of which are growth-factor-dependent and -independent, respectively. Therefore, the Ras and Rap1 systems capture the temporal rate and concentration of growth factors, and encode these distinct physical properties into transient and sustained ERK activation, respectively.