We previously identified a novel src-and ras-suppressed gene, 322, encoding a mitogenic regulatory function (Lin, X., Nelson, P. J., Frankfort, B., Tombler, E., Johnson, R., and Gelman, I. H. (1995) Mol. Cell. Biol. 15, 2754 -2762). Here, we characterize the 322 gene product as an in vivo and in vitro substrate of protein kinase C (PKC). Hence, we named this product SSeCKS (pronounced essex) for Src Suppressed C Kinase Substrate. Rabbit polyclonal sera raised against glutathione S-transferase (GST)-SSeCKS recognized a myristylated 280/290-kDa doublet in Rat-6 fibroblasts. SSeCKS levels in src-and ras-transformed Rat-6 cells were 15-and 8-fold less, respectively, than those in untransformed cells. Short-term addition of phorbol ester resulted in a 5-fold increase in SSeCKS phosphorylation which was inhibited by bis-indolylmaleimide. In vitro phosphorylation of GST-SSeCKS by purified rabbit brain PKC-␣ was enhanced by phosphatidylserine and blocked by excess PKC pseudosubstrate inhibitor peptide. GSTSSeCKS bound purified PKC-␣ or PKC from Rat-6 lysates in a phosphatidylserine-dependent manner. Four SSeCKS domains containing Lys/Arg-rich motifs similar to the PKC phosphorylation site in MARCKS were phosphorylated in vitro by PKC. Immunofluorescence analysis showed SSeCKS present throughout the cytoplasm with enrichment in podosomes and at the cell edge. Short-term addition of phorbol esters caused the movement of SSeCKS from plasma membrane sites to the perinucleus coincident with a loss of actin stress fibers. These data suggest a role for SSeCKS in the control of cellular cytoskeletal architecture.
In an attempt to isolate novel regulatory and/or tumor suppressor genes, we identified cDNAs whose abundance is low in NIH 3T3 cells and further decreased following the expression of the activated oncogene, v-src. The transcription of one such gene, 322, is suppressed at least 15-fold in src-, ras-, and fos-transformed cells and 3-fold in myc-transformed cells but is unaffected in raf-, mos-, or neu-transformed cells. Activation of a ts-v-src allele in confluent 3Y1 fibroblasts resulted in an initial increase in 322 mRNA levels after 1 to 2 h followed by a rapid decrease to suppressed levels after 4 to 8 h. The inactivation of several tumor suppressor gene families (e.g., those encoding p53, Rb, and APC) as a result of mutation is acknowledged to contribute to the oncogenicity of several types of human cancers (21). Many of these so-called class I tumor suppressor genes (20) were identified and isolated following cumbersome pedigree and cytogenetic analyses (29). Recently, another class of genes (class II) whose expression is known to be down-regulated in tumor cells has been shown by gene transfer techniques to encode potential tumor suppressors. These include nonmuscle ␣-actinin, tropomyosin I, CLP, retinoic acid receptor , and interferon regulatory factor 1 (14,17,18,23,26). Additional tumor suppressor gene families, such as the maspin gene, rrg, and N03 (4, 25, 34), were isolated by subtractive hybridization techniques designed to identify down-regulated genes. These findings indicate a widening definition of tumor suppressor genes and strongly suggest that additional suppressor genes could be identified in gene populations whose expression is down-regulated in response to oncogenic stimuli such as activation of oncogenes. The ability of these gene families to reverse an array of oncogenic phenotypes following gene transfer and overexpression supports the possibility for novel therapeutic modalities for cancer.We previously reported using a novel PCR-based subtractive hybridization method to generate expressed sequence tags (EST) representing genes expressed at low basal levels in NIH 3T3 cells and at suppressed levels in v-src-transformed NIH 3T3 cells (10). We envisioned that the derived EST might contain potential mitogenic regulators or tumor suppressors. Of the nine distinct cDNAs identified in this manner, four were identical or highly similar to known genes, although none had been previously shown to be down-regulated by v-src. These known genes include genes for helix-destabilizing protein A1 (hnRNP A1), CTLA-2␣ cysteine protease, and cytochrome c oxidase VIc subunit and gravin. An additional EST was highly homologous to a randomly cloned human cDNA (clone A7C09; GenBank accession no. Z25236). Four other EST were not similar to published sequences.In this study, we have characterized one such EST, initially identified as clone 3.2.2, whose steady-state level of mRNA expression in NIH/v-src cells is Ͼ15-fold less than that in NIH 3T3 controls. An initial GenBank search showed a significant homology t...
Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in many cell types results in cytoskeletal reorganization associated with cell proliferation. We previously described a new cell cycle-regulated myristylated PKC substrate, SSeCKS (pronounced essex), that interacts with the actin cytoskeleton [Lin et al., 1995, 1996]. SSeCKS shares significant homology with Gravin, which encodes kinase scaffolding functions for PKC and PKA [Nauert et al., 1997]. This article describes the cellular effects of ectopically expressing SSeCKS in untransformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Because the constitutive overexpression of SSeCKS is toxic [Lin et al., 1995], we developed cell lines with tetracycline (tet)-regulated SSeCKS expression. The induction of SSeCKS (removal of tet) caused significant cell flattening and the elaboration of an SSeCKS-associated cortical cytoskeletal matrix resistant to Triton X-100 extraction. Flattened cells were growth-arrested and marked by the formation of cellular projections and the temporary loss of actin stress fibers and vinculin-associated adhesion plaques. SSeCKS overexpression did not affect steady-state levels of actin, vinculin, or focal adhesion kinase (FAK) but did increase integrin-independent FAK tyrosine phosphorylation. Stress fiber loss was coincident with induced SSeCKS expression, strongly suggesting a direct effect. Cytochalasin, and to a lesser extent nocodazole, inhibited SSeCKS-induced cell flattening, however, only cytochalasin affected the shape of pre-flattened cells, suggesting a greater dependence on microfilaments, rather than microtubules. By contrast, only nocodazole caused retraction of the filopodia-like processes. These data indicate a role for SSeCKS in modulating both cytoskeletal and signaling pathways. Thus, we propose to expand SSeCKS scaffolding functions to include the ability to control actin-based cytoskeletal architecture, as well as mitogenic signal pathways.
Calcium channels are well known targets for inhibition by G protein-coupled receptors, and multiple forms of inhibition have been described. Here we report a novel mechanism for G protein-mediated modulation of neuronal voltage-dependent calcium channels that involves the destabilization and subsequent removal of calcium channels from the plasma membrane. Imaging experiments in living sensory neurons show that, within seconds of receptor activation, calcium channels are cleared from the membrane and sequestered in clathrin-coated vesicles. Disruption of the L1-CAMankyrin B complex with the calcium channel mimics transmitterinduced trafficking of the channels, reduces calcium influx, and decreases exocytosis. Our results suggest that G protein-induced removal of plasma membrane calcium channels is a consequence of disrupting channel-cytoskeleton interactions and might represent a novel mechanism of presynaptic inhibition.Dunlap and Fischbach (1) have suggested that transmitter-mediated shortening of the duration of the action potential could be due to a decrease in calcium conductance or a decrease in the number of functional channels in the membrane. Because of the importance of such a mechanism for the regulation of synaptic transmission, much attention has been placed to the mechanisms of receptor-mediated modulation of voltage-gated calcium channels. Inhibition of Ca 2ϩ channels can be voltage-dependent and is mediated by direct interaction of G protein ␥ subunits with the ␣1 pore-forming subunit of the channel (2, 3). In addition, phosphorylation by kinases such as protein kinase C and tyrosine kinases has been shown to inhibit Ca 2ϩ channels (4). Subsequent work has established that G protein-dependent inhibition of calcium current is in part a result of a decrease in the open probability of the channel, reducing current density (5-7). The idea that changes in channel density could underlie calcium channel modulation has not been tested.Activity-and receptor-dependent trafficking of ionotropic receptors has been widely studied in the post-synaptic density (8, 9). Such studies have not been extended to proteins in the presynaptic active zones. In this study we have found that activation of G protein-coupled receptors induces destabilization and subsequent removal of calcium channels from the plasma membrane. Transmitter-induced trafficking of calcium channels is a consequence of disrupting the interaction of the channel with L1-CAM and ankyrin B and might represent a novel mechanism of presynaptic inhibition.
SSeCKS is a major protein kinase C substrate which has tumour suppressor activity in models of src- and ras-induced oncogenic transformation. The mitogenic regulatory activity of SSeCKS is likely manifested by its ability to bind key signalling proteins such as protein kinases C and A and calmodulin, and to control actin-based cytoskeletal architecture. Rat SSeCKS shares extensive homology with human Gravin, an autoantigen in myasthenia gravis that encodes kinase scaffolding functions and whose expression pattern in fibroblasts and nerves suggests a role in cell motility. Here, we analyse the expression of SSeCKS and Gravin in rodent and human fibroblast and epithelial cell lines using antibodies specific or crossreactive for SSeCKS or Gravin. SSeCKS expression was then analysed in developing mouse embryos and in adult tissues. In the foetal mouse, early SSeCKS protein expression (E10-11) is focused in the loose mesenchyme, luminal surface of the neural tube, notochord, early heart and pericardium, urogenital ridge, and dorsal and ventral sections of limb buds. In later stages (E12-14), SSeCKS is widely expressed in mesenchymal cells but is absent in the spinal ganglia. By E15, SSeCKS expression is ubiquitous, although the staining pattern varies from being striated within smooth muscle sarcomeres to filamentous in mesenchymal and select epithelial cells. In the adult mouse, SSeCKS staining is relatively ubiquitous, with highest expression in the gonads, smooth and cardiac muscle, lung, brain and heart. High expression is also detected in fibroblasts and nerve fibres as well as in more specialized cells such as glomerular mesangial cells and testicular Sertoli cells. SSeCKS expression in the rat testes correlates with the induction of puberty, and in mature mouse spermatozoa, SSeCKS is found in peripheral acrosome membranes and in a helix-like winding pattern within the midsection. Periodic enrichments of SSeCKS are found in sperm midsections and in developing axons, suggesting a role in architectural infrastructure. As with Gravin, high SSeCKS expression is absent in most epithelial cells; however, in contrast to Gravin, SSeCKS is expressed in Purkinje cells, cardiac muscle, macrophages and hepatic stellate cells, indicating overlapping yet distinct patterns of tissue expression in the SSeCKS/Gravin family. The data suggest roles for SSeCKS in the control of cytoskeletal and tissue architecture, formation of migratory processes and cell migration during embryogenesis.
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