Induction of c-fos Gene Expression by Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells.

The ability to fractionate nucleic acids and to determine which of them has sequences complementary to an array of DNA or RNA molecules is one of the most powerful tools of molecular biology. The Southern blot, named for its inventor, is a method for transferring size-fractionated DNA from a gel matrix to a solid support followed by hybridization to a labeled probe (1. The identical process for RNA became known as) the Northern blot i2 1i The identical process for RNA became known as the Northern blot (2). Both are, then, often key elements in establishing the identity of nucleic acids of interest. Northern blot analysis was used by us as a tool in order to answer the question whether or not the nuclear transcripitional apparatus of human ovarian cancer cells might be activated in response to the urokinase.

Urokinase stimulates human vascular smooth muscle cell migration via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Tyk2 interaction.

Janus kinases Jak1 and Tyk2 play an important role in urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)-dependent signaling. We have recently demonstrated that both kinases are associated with the uPA receptor (uPAR) and mediate uPA-induced activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat1, Stat2, and Stat4) in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Janus kinases are not only required for Stat activation but may also interfere with other intracellular signaling pathways. Here we report that in VSMC, Tyk2 interacts with a downstream signaling cascade involving phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K). We demonstrate that uPA induces PI3-K activation, which is abolished in VSMC expressing the dominant negative form of Tyk2. The regulatory subunit p85 of PI3-K co-immunoprecipitates with Tyk2 but not with Jak1, Jak2, or Jak3, and uPA stimulation increases the PI3-K activity in Tyk2 immunoprecipitates. Tyk2 directly binds to either of the two Src homology 2(SH2)p85 domains in a uPA-dependent fashion. We provide evidence that the Tyk2-mediated PI3-K activation in response to uPA is required for VSMC migration. Thus, two unrelated structurally distinct specific inhibitors of PI3-K, wortmannin and LY294002, prevent VSMC migration induced by uPA. No migratory effect of uPA was observed in VSMC expressing the dominant negative form of Tyk2. Our results underscore the versatile function of Tyk2 in uPA-related intracellular signaling and indicate that PI3-K plays a selective role in the regulation of VSMC migration.

Urokinase-induced mitogenesis is mediated by casein kinase 2 and nucleolin.

BACKGROUND: Urokinase (uPA) and the urokinase receptor (uPAR) form a multifunctional system capable of concurrently regulating pericellular proteolysis, cell-surface adhesion, and mitogenesis. The role of uPA and uPAR in directed proteolysis is well established and its function in cellular adhesiveness has recently been clarified by numerous studies. The molecular mechanisms underlying the mitogenic effects of uPA and uPAR are still unclear, however. RESULTS: We identified mechanisms that might participate in uPA-related mitogenesis in human vascular smooth muscle cells and demonstrated that uPA induces activation of a unique signaling complex. This complex contains uPAR and two additional proteins, nucleolin and casein kinase 2, which are implicated in cell proliferation. Both proteins were isolated by affinity chromatography on uPA-conjugated cyanogen-bromide-activated Sepharose 4B and were identified using nano-electrospray mass spectrometry and immunoblotting. We used laser scanning and immunoelectron microscopy studies to further demonstrate that nucleolin and casein kinase 2 are located on the cell surface where they colocalize with the uPAR. Moreover, the proteins were co-internalized into the cell as an entire complex. Immunoprecipitation experiments in combination with an in vitro kinase assay demonstrated a specific association of uPAR with nucleolin and casein kinase 2 and revealed a uPA-induced activation of casein kinase 2, which presumably led to phosphorylation of nucleolin. Blockade of nucleolin and casein kinase 2 with specific modulators led to the inhibition of uPA-induced cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in human vascular smooth muscle cells, uPA induces the formation and activation of a newly identified signaling complex comprising uPAR, nucleolin, and casein kinase 2, that is responsible for the uPA-related mitogenic response. The complex is not a unique feature of vascular smooth muscle cells, as it was also found in other uPAR-expressing cell types.

Urokinase activates calcium-dependent potassium channels in U937 cells via calcium release from intracellular stores.

The urokinase receptor (uPAR) is highly expressed in the human promyelocytic cell line U937 and contributes to transmembrane signalling. However, the signalling mechanisms are poorly understood. We used the patch-clamp technique to demonstrate that urokinase (uPA) binds to uPAR and thereby stimulates Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in U937 cells. uPA transiently increased K+ currents within 30 s. The K+ currents were pertussis toxin-sensitive and were also observed in Ca(2+)-free solution. However, when cells were dialysed with EGTA, uPA did not affect K+ currents. The intracellular Ca2+ response to uPA was independent of extracellular Ca2+, was pertussis toxin-sensitive, and was blocked by both thapsigargin and the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122. The uPA-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ was independent of uPA proteolytic activity. Furthermore, uPA initiated a rapid formation of inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]. The amino-terminal uPA fragment and uPA inactivated with diisopropyl fluorophosphate or with inhibitory antibody, elicited the same Ca2+ signal. On the other hand, Ca2+ signalling required the intact uPAR because the effects were abrogated by PtdIns-specific phospholipase C, which removes the uPAR from the cell surface. The prevention of glycosyl phosphatidylinositol moiety synthesis and interference with uPAR anchoring to the cell surface using mannosamine also abolished Ca2+ signals. Taken together, our findings indicate that uPA binds to uPAR and stimulates the production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 via a G-protein- and phospholipase C-dependent mechanism. Ins(1,4,5)P3 in turn liberates Ca2+ from intracellular stores, which leads to the stimulation of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels.

Urokinase induces activation and formation of Stat4 and Stat1-Stat2 complexes in human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its specific receptor (uPAR) act in concert to stimulate cytoplasmic signaling machinery and transcription factors responsible for cell migration and proliferation. Recently we demonstrated that uPA activates the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat1) signaling in human vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. However, the important question whether other transcription factors of the Stat family, in addition to Stat1, are involved in the uPAR-related signaling has not been addressed. In this study, we demonstrate that Stat4 and Stat2, but not Stat3, Stat5, or Stat6, are rapidly activated in response to uPA. We demonstrate further that Stat4 and Stat2 rapidly and transiently translocate to the cell nucleus where they bind specifically to the regulatory DNA elements. Analysis of Stat complexes formed in response to uPA revealed a Stat2-Stat1 heterodimer, which lacks p48, a DNA-binding protein known to combine with Stat1-Stat2. This new uPA-induced Stat2-Stat1 heterodimer binds to GAS (the interferon-gamma activation site) distinct from the interferon-stimulated response element to which the p48 protein containing complexes generally bind. We conclude that uPA activates a specific and unusual subset of latent cytoplasmic transcription factors in human vascular smooth muscle cells that suggests a critical role of uPA in these cells.

Urokinase activates the Jak/Stat signal transduction pathway in human vascular endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells demonstrate high urokinase expression and upregulation of urokinase receptors in response to vascular injury. Urokinase receptor binding facilitates endothelial cell migration into an arterial wound; however, the signaling cascade induced by the urokinase receptor in this cell type is incompletely understood. Because the Janus kinase (Jak)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) pathway seems to be important for vessel function, we investigated the hypothesis that urokinase receptor binding activates Jak/Stat signaling in human vascular endothelial cells. Incubation of endothelial cells with urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA,1 nmol/L) induced a rapid and pronounced increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins with a molecular weight between 80 to 90 and 130 to 140 kDa. The same pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation was found after treatment with 1 nmol/L ATF, the urokinase amino-terminal fragment, which is devoid of proteolytic activity but still binds to the urokinase receptor. Using coimmunoprecipitation techniques, we demonstrated that the activated urokinase receptor is associated with 2 cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases of the Jak family, viz, Jak1 and Tyk2. uPA and ATF induced a time-dependent activation of both kinases, as shown by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. Using electrophoretic mobility shift and supershift assays, we then demonstrated that Stat1 is rapidly activated in endothelial cells in response to uPA and ATF. Furthermore, Stat1 specifically binds to the regulatory elements interferon-gamma activation site/interferon-stimulated response element. The uPA-induced, time-dependent translocation of Stat1 to cell nuclei was confirmed by confocal microscopy study and immunoblotting of nuclear extracts with an anti-Stat1 antibody. This study provides evidence for a novel signaling pathway for uPA in human vascular endothelial cells. Direct activation of the Jak/Stat system via the uPA-receptor complex may be an important mechanism for endothelial cell migration and/or proliferation during angiogenesis and after vascular injury.

The Jak/Stat pathway and urokinase receptor signaling in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells.

The binding of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) to its specific receptor (uPAR) facilitates migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). However, the signaling cascade utilized by the urokinase receptor is only incompletely understood. We investigated intracellular uPA/uPAR signaling in human aortic VSMC from the cell membrane to the nucleus. uPA binding to VSMC induced a rapid and pronounced increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins with molecular masses of 53-60, 85-90, and 130-140 kDa. By using co-immunoprecipitation techniques and in vitro kinase assays, the uPAR-associated proteins were identified as Janus (Jak) and Src non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinases (PTK) Jak1, Tyk2, and p59(fyn), p53/56(lyn), p53/59(hck), and p55(fgr). Furthermore, uPA induced a time-dependent reversible translocation of the Stat1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription) protein to the VSMC nuclei, as shown by confocal microscopy studies. Using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we then demonstrated that Stat1 is rapidly activated in response to stimulation with uPA and specifically binds to the DNA regulatory elements GAS (interferon-gamma activation site) and ISRE (interferon-stimulated response element). Mobility supershift experiments confirmed DNA-protein complexes containing Stat1 protein. Migration experiments with double immunofluorescence staining revealed polarization of uPAR, and colocalization with Jak1 and Tyk2 to the leading edge of the migrating cells. Under the same conditions, Jak2, Jak3, and the Src-PTKs remained randomly distributed over the entire body of the cells. Our studies therefore suggest that, in VSMC, the uPAR-signaling complex utilizes at least two different mechanisms, a direct signaling pathway utilizing the Jak/Stat cascade and a second signal transduction mechanism via Src-like protein-tyrosine kinases. uPA-induced signaling via Jak/Stat is most likely involved in the regulation of cell migration, while the functional purpose of the uPA-associated Src-PTK activation remains to be elucidated.

Induction of c-fos gene expression by urokinase-type plasminogen activator in human ovarian cancer cells.

Binding of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) to u-PA receptor (u-PAR) induces the rapid and transient expression of c-fos in OC-7 ovarian carcinoma cells. The pretreatment of the cells with protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors, but not the inactivation of the u-PA active site by DFP (diisopropyl fluorophosphate), abrogates this effect. A soluble u-PAR fragment, expressed in baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells and purified by affinity chromatography, competes for binding of u-PA to u-PAR and inhibits c-fos induction. We conclude that activation of u-PAR after interaction with u-PA at the cell surface initiates a transmembrane signal, most likely in conjunction with other still unknown protein(s). This signal generates PTK activity feeding into a signal transduction pathway which activates nuclear transcription factors.

Interaction of urokinase-type plasminogenactivator (u-PA) with its cellular receptor (u-PAR) induces phosphorylation on tyrosine of a 38 kDa protein.

We demonstrate by immunoprecipitation that u-PAR is associated with a 38 kDa protein that is phosphorylated on tyrosine after u-PA treatment of cells. As tyrosine phosphorylation is the hallmark of many signal transduction pathways that promote growth and differentiation, these data suggest that u-PA, besides its role as a regulatory protease, might act as a para- or autocrine hormone.

A new peptide (1150Da) selectively activates the calcium-calmodulin sensitive isoform of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from human myometrium.

The cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase enzymatic system is examined in extracts of human myometrium and four individual phosphodiesterase isoforms have been isolated and characterized. A new thermostable peptide, recently purified in rat and calf myometrium, is able to stimulate up to 55-fold, the calcium-calmodulin dependent phosphodiesterase isoform. Activation of cAMP hydrolysis is by far the most marked with a 55-fold maximal stimulation at a concentration of 0.1 microM peptide and a IC50 value estimated at 30nM. For cGMP hydrolysis, the maximal effect (x25) obtained at 40nM peptide is lesser and the IC50 value is in the 10nM range. Furthermore, we verified that classical calmodulin antagonists such as calmidazolium or trifluoroperazine did not change stimulation of the calcium-calmodulin phosphodiesterase by the peptide, indicating that the myometrial peptide is different from calmodulin. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence for such a strong and selective stimulation of one isoform of the phosphodiesterase enzymatic system by a natural peptide.

Proper cotranslational insertion of visual rhodopsin into the lipid bilayer occurs in the absence of protein translocation machinery.

The insertion of visual opsin into membranes occurred during in vitro translation of opsin mRNA in wheat germ extract in the presence of either microsomes or liposomes. The rhodopsin that integrated into both types of membranes after regeneration with 11-cis-retinal was functionally active (in contrast to the nonincorporated protein). Opsin either cotranslationally translocated into microsomes or inserted into liposomes had equal sensitivity to proteolysis and yielded the same pattern of peptides, which differed substantially from the set of peptides produced during proteolysis of opsin not incorporated into membranes. Thus visual opsin does not require protein translocation machinery for proper insertion into the lipid bilayer.

The detection and characterization of G-proteins in the eyespot of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

The presence of G-proteins in the eyespot fraction of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is shown. This fraction is capable of binding (GTP gamma[35S], possesses the GTPase activity and interacts with antibodies raised against a highly conserved peptide of most G-proteins' alpha-subunit. Cross-reaction with a 24-kDa protein is detected on immunoblots. Using an antiserum prepared from vertebrate beta-subunit peptide, two additional proteins with apparent Mr 21 and 29 kDa could be revealed. The light-dependence of GTPase extraction from eyespot membranes is shown. The results make it possible to suggest the participation of G-proteins in the photosensory transduction chain of Ch. reinhardtii.

Functional expression in vitro of bovine visual rhodopsin.

Expression of functionally active bovine visual rhodopsin was achieved by sequential transcription and translation in vitro of rhodopsin gene cDNA with co-translational insertion of the protein into phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The recombinant rhodopsin has functional, spectral and immunochemical properties similar to those of natural rhodopsin from bovine retina. Two mutant rhodopsins, Cys316----Ser and Asp330----Asn, Asp331----Asn, were produced by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. The first mutation does not affect rhodopsin's ability to stimulate transducin GTPase and visual cGMP phosphodiesterase activities, while the second double mutation leads to a sharp decrease in rhodopsin activity.

[Synthesis of visual rhodopsin in a cell-free translation system. II. Functional properties of recombinant rhodopsin and its mutant forms]. / Sintez zritel'nogo rodopsina v beskletochnoi sisteme transliatsii. II. Funktsional'nye svoistva rekombinantnogo rodopsina i ego mutantnykh form.

Functional expression of bovine visual rhodopsin in the cell-free translation system with cotranslational insertion of the protein into phosphatidylcholine liposomes is described. The recombinant rhodopsin has spectral and functional properties similar to those of natural rhodopsin from bovine retina. Two mutant rhodopsins with amino acid substitutions in the hydrophilic C-terminal domain were obtained using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. It was found that substitution Cys-316----Ser does not affect rhodopsin's ability to activate the visual amplification cascade, whereas double mutation Asp-330----Asn, Asp-331----Asn dramatically lowers the rhodopsin functional activity.

Bovine rhodopsin: amino acid substitutions Asp-83----Asn and Glu-134----Gln prevent activation of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase.

Two bovine rhodopsin mutants with substitutions of negatively charged residues within transmembrane domains II and III by uncharged ones (Asp-83----Asn and Glu-134----Gln) were constructed. Both mutants stimulated transducin GTPase with slightly lowered efficiency, but were completely unable to activate cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase.

[The functional similarity of vertebrate rhodopsin and of a photosensitive pigment from the unicellular flagellate alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii]. / O funktsional'nom podobii rodopsina pozvonochnykh i fotochuvstvitel'nogo pigmenta odnokletochnoi zhgutikovoi vodorosli Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Photoreceptor membranes in the bovine retina may be substituted in reconstructed systems by pigment fractions from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii which account for GTP-dependent activation of cGMP-phosphodiesterase. Fractions from carotinoid-less mutant did not exhibit this capacity. The results obtained reveal significant structural and functional similarity between rhodopsin-like pigment of Ch. reinhardtii and rhodopsin from vertebrates.

Active sites of the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase gamma-subunit of retinal rod outer segments.

Monoclonal antibodies were prepared to the gamma-subunit of the cGMP phosphodiesterase. One of them gamma p-1, suppresses the activation of phosphodiesterase through the alpha-subunit of transducin. The gamma-subunit fragment 24-45 rich in Arg and Lys residues is involved in gamma p-1 binding and is essential for the gamma-subunit interaction with transducin. Carboxypeptidase Y cleaves off seven amino acid residues from the C-terminus of the gamma-subunit resulting in phosphodiesterase activation. Thus, the C-terminal fragment of gamma-subunit participates in phosphodiesterase inhibition.