Cascades of kinases and phosphatases are regulated by selective protein-protein interactions that are essential for signal transduction. Peptide modulators of these interactions have been used to dissect the function of individual components of the signaling cascade, without relying on either the overor underexpression of proteins. Previously, we identified RACK1 as an endogenous substrate, binding partner and inhibitor of Src tyrosine kinases. Here we utilized cell-permeable peptides that selectively disrupt or enhance the interaction of RACK1 and Src to further examine the function of RACK1. Our results provide direct physiologic evidence that RACK1 regulates growth of NIH3T3 cells by suppressing the activity of Src and other cell cycle regulators in G 1 , and delaying entry into S phase. They also demonstrate the potential for using peptide modulators of Src activity as a tool for regulating cell growth, and for designing new strategies for cancer therapy that target specific protein-protein interactions.
KeywordsSrc; RACK1; PKC; tyrosine kinases; G 1 /S transition; cell cycle regulation RACK1 is the founding member of a family of intracellular receptors for activated C kinase (PKC) collectively called RACKs [reviewed in 1 ]. RACKs determine the specificity and function of PKC isozymes by selectively anchoring activated isozymes to specific subcellular sites, and near to specific substrates that mediate distinct cellular functions. For example, εRACK anchors activated εPKC, which protects the heart from ischemic and reperfusion damage, whereas RACK1 anchors activated βIIPKC, which mediates phenylepherine-induced cardiac hypertrophy [reviewed in 2 ]. *Corresponding author: M211 Alway Building, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford,, e-mail: chris.cartwright@stanford.edu. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errorsmaybe discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
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Materials and methods
Cell Culture and Cell Proliferation AssaysNIH3T3 cells were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (Mediatech, Herndon, VA). Cells were supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS; Hyclone, Logan, UT), unless otherwise stated. Methods for peptide incubations were previously described [ 9 ]. For cell proliferation assays, cells were seeded in 96-well plates (5 × 10 3 cells/well). Peptides and 10% Alamar Blue were added and absorbance was measured hourly for 8 h at a wavelength of 562 and 595 nm using a Vmax kinetic microplate reader (Molecular Devices, Palo Alto, CA). Fresh peptide was added every 2 h. Reduction of alamarBlue was calculated from absorbance, according to t...