Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatases (MKPs) negatively regulate MAPK activity. In the present study, we have identified a novel MKP, designated MKP-7, and mapped it to human chromosome 12p12. MKP-7 possesses a long C-terminal stretch containing both a nuclear export signal and a nuclear localization signal, in addition to the rhodanese-like domain and the dual specificity phosphatase catalytic domain, both of which are conserved among MKP family members. When expressed in mammalian cells MKP-7 protein was localized exclusively in the cytoplasm, but this localization became exclusively nuclear following leptomycin B treatment or introduction of a mutation in the nuclear export signal. These findings indicate that MKP-7 is the first identified leptomycin B-sensitive shuttle MKP. Forced expression of MKP-7 suppressed activation of MAPKs in COS-7 cells in the order of selectivity, JNK > > p38 > ERK. Furthermore, a mutant form MKP-7 functioned as a dominant negative particularly against the dephosphorylation of JNK, suggesting that MKP-7 works as a JNK-specific phosphatase in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments and histological analysis suggested that MKP-7 determines the localization of MAPKs in the cytoplasm.
Eight new dimeric bromopyrrole alkaloids, nagelamides A-H (1-8) and a monomeric one, 9,10-dihydrokeramadine (9), have been isolated from the Okinawan marine sponge Agelas sp., and the structures were elucidated from spectroscopic data. Nagelamides A-H (1-8) exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Nagelamide G (7) inhibited protein phosphatase 2A activity.
Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is regulated by various extracellular ligands and phosphorylates many substrates, thereby regulating cellular functions. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, we found that GSK-3 binds to AKAP220, which is known to act as an A-kinase anchoring protein. GSK-3 formed a complex with AKAP220 in intact cells at the endogenous level. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and type 1 protein phosphatase (PP1) were also detected in this complex, suggesting that AKAP220, GSK-3, PKA, and PP1 form a quaternary complex. It has been reported that PKA phosphorylates GSK-3, thereby decreasing its activity. When COS cells were treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP to activate PKA, the activity of GSK-3 bound to AKAP220 decreased more markedly than the total GSK-3 activity. Calyculin A, a protein phosphatase inhibitor, also inhibited the activity of GSK-3 bound to AKAP220 more strongly than the total GSK-3 activity. These results suggest that PKA and PP1 regulate the activity of GSK-3 efficiently by forming a complex with AKAP220.
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