Project description:Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is an essential Ser/Thr phosphatase that regulates a plethora of cellular processes. PP2A operates as a holoenzyme complex, comprising one each of the scaffolding (A), regulatory (B) and catalytic (C) subunits. PPP2CA is the principal catalytic subunit of the PP2A holoenzyme complex. Although previous studies have reported many substrates of specific PP2A holoenzyme complexes, the full scope of PP2A substrates in cells remains to be defined. To address this, we generated HEK293 cells in which PPP2CA was homozygously knocked in with a dTAG, allowing for efficient and selective degradation of dTAG-PPP2CA with proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) targeting the dTAG. By employing an unbiased global phospho-proteomic analysis, we identified 6,280 phospho-peptides corresponding to 2,204 proteins that showed a significant increase in abundance upon dTAG-PPP2CA degradation, implicating them as potential PPP2CA substrates. Among these, some were established PP2A substrates, while most were novel. Bioinformatic analyses revealed the involvement of the identified potential PPP2CA substrates in many cellular processes, including spliceosome function, the cell cycle, RNA transport and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. We show that a pSP/pTP motif is a predominant target for PPP2CA. We confirmed some of our phosphoproteomic data with immunoblotting, by utilising commercially available phospho-specific antibodies. We provide an in-depth atlas of potential PPP2CA substrates and establish targeted degradation as a robust tool to unveil phosphatase substrates in cells.
Project description:LB-100 is an experimental cancer therapeutic with cytotoxic activity against cancer cells in culture and antitumor activity in animals. The first phase I trial (NCT01837667) evaluating LB-100 recently concluded that safety and efficacy parameters are favorable for further clinical testing. Although LB-100 is widely reported as a specific inhibitor of serine/threonine phosphatase 2A (PP2AC/PPP2CA:PPP2CB), we could find no experimental evidence in the published literature demonstrating the specific engagement of LB-100 with PP2A in vitro, in cultured cells, or in animals. Rather, the premise for LB-100 targeting PP2AC is derived from studies that measure phosphate released from a phosphopeptide (K-R-pT-I-R-R) or inferred from the ability of LB-100 to mimic activity previously reported to result from the inhibition of PP2AC by other means. PP2AC and PPP5C share a common catalytic mechanism. Here, we demonstrate that the phosphopeptide used to ascribe LB-100 specificity for PP2A is also a substrate for PPP5C. Inhibition assays using purified enzymes demonstrate that LB-100 is a catalytic inhibitor of both PP2AC and PPP5C. The structure of PPP5C cocrystallized with LB-100 was solved to a resolution of 1.65Å, revealing that the 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarbonyl moiety coordinates with the metal ions and key residues that are conserved in both PP2AC and PPP5C. Cell-based studies revealed some known actions of LB-100 are mimicked by the genetic disruption of PPP5C These data demonstrate that LB-100 is a catalytic inhibitor of both PP2AC and PPP5C and suggest that the observed antitumor activity might be due to an additive effect achieved by suppressing both PP2A and PPP5C.
Project description:As a serine/threonine phosphatase, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is essential in numerous physiological processes. Our previously study confirmed PP2A dysfunction can cause azoospermia by generating catalytic subunit of PP2A (Ppp2ca) conditional knockout (CKO) in C57BL/6J mice. Here, we further explored the possible mechanisms by focusing on meiosis initiation and spermatogenesis. The deficiency of Ppp2ca in germ cells conspicuously disturbed spermatogonial differentiation and lead to pachytene arrest, accompanied by defects in programmed double-strand break (DSB) repair and meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). Furthermore, Ppp2ca-deficient spermatocytes exhibited abnormal agglutination and cohesion complex degradation of chromosome, probably contributing to pachytene arrest. Our study demonstrates the irreplaceable role of PP2A in spermatogenesis and provide more evidences on azoospermia etiology.
Project description:PP2A-serine/threonine protein phosphatases function as heterotrimeric holoenzymes, composed of a common scaffold (A-subunit encoded by PPP2R1A/PPP2R1B), a common catalytic (C-subunit encoded by PPP2CA/PPP2CB), and one of many variable regulatory (B) subunits. The site of phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP) hydrolysis features a bimetal system (M1/M2), an associated bridge hydroxide [W1(OH-)], and a highly-conserved core sequence. In the presumptive common mechanism, the phosphoprotein's seryl/threonyl phosphate coordinates the M1/M2 system, W1(OH-) attacks the central P atom, rupturing the antipodal bond, and simultaneously, a histidine/aspartate tandem protonates the exiting seryl/threonyl alkoxide. Based on studies of PPP5C, a conserved arginine proximal to M1 is also expected to bind the substrate's phosphate group in a bidentate fashion. However, in PP2A isozymes, the role of the arginine (Arg89) in hydrolysis is not clear because two independent structures for PP2A(PPP2R5C) and PP2A(PPP2R5D) show that Arg89 engages in a weak salt bridge at the B:C interface. These observations raise the question of whether hydrolysis proceeds with or without direct involvement of Arg89. The interaction of Arg89 with B:Glu198 in PP2A(PPP2R5D) is significant because the pathogenic E198K variant of B56δ is associated with irregular protein phosphorylation levels and consequent developmental disorders (Jordan's Syndrome; OMIM #616355). In this study, we perform quantum-based hybrid [ONIOM(UB3LYP/6-31G(d):UPM7)] calculations on 39-residue models of the PP2A(PPP2R5D)/pSer (phosphoserine) system to estimate activation barriers for hydrolysis in the presence of bidentate Arg89-substrate binding and when Arg89 is otherwise engaged in the salt-bridge interaction. Our solvation-corrected results yield ΔH‡ ≈ ΔE‡ = +15.5 kcal/mol for the former case, versus +18.8 kcal/mol for the latter, indicating that bidentate Arg89-substrate binding is critical for optimal catalytic function of the enzyme. We speculate that PP2A(PPP2R5D) activity is suppressed by B:Glu198 sequestration of C:Arg89 under native conditions, whereas the PP2A(PPP2R5D)-holoenzyme containing the E198K variant has a positively-charged lysine in this position that alters normal function.
Project description:The generation of complex three-dimensional structures is a key developmental step for most eukaryotic organisms. The details of the molecular machinery controlling this step remain to be determined. An excellent model system to study this general process is the generation of three-dimensional fruiting bodies in filamentous fungi like Sordaria macrospora Fruiting body development is controlled by subunits of the highly conserved striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex, which has been described in organisms ranging from yeasts to humans. The highly conserved heterotrimeric protein phosphatase PP2A is a subunit of STRIPAK. Here, catalytic subunit 1 of PP2A was functionally characterized. The Δpp2Ac1 strain is sterile, unable to undergo hyphal fusion, and devoid of ascogonial septation. Further, PP2Ac1, together with STRIPAK subunit PRO22, governs vegetative and stress-related growth. We revealed in vitro catalytic activity of wild-type PP2Ac1, and our in vivo analysis showed that inactive PP2Ac1 blocks the complementation of the sterile deletion strain. Tandem affinity purification, followed by mass spectrometry and yeast two-hybrid analysis, verified that PP2Ac1 is a subunit of STRIPAK. Further, these data indicate links between the STRIPAK complex and other developmental signaling pathways, implying the presence of a large interconnected signaling network that controls eukaryotic developmental processes. The insights gained in our study can be transferred to higher eukaryotes and will be important for understanding eukaryotic cellular development in general. The striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex is highly conserved from yeasts to humans and is an important regulator of numerous eukaryotic developmental processes, such as cellular signaling and cell development. Although functional insights into the STRIPAK complex are accumulating, the detailed molecular mechanisms of single subunits are only partially understood. The first fungal STRIPAK was described in Sordaria macrospora, which is a well-established model organism used to study the formation of fungal fruiting bodies, three-dimensional organ-like structures. We analyzed STRIPAK subunit PP2Ac1, catalytic subunit 1 of protein phosphatase PP2A, to study the importance of the catalytic activity of this protein during sexual development. The results of our yeast two-hybrid analysis and tandem affinity purification, followed by mass spectrometry, indicate that PP2Ac1 activity connects STRIPAK with other signaling pathways and thus forms a large interconnected signaling network.
Project description:Background and aimsMultiple copies of genes encoding the catalytic subunit (c) of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) are commonly found in plants. For some of these genes, expression is up-regulated under water stress. The aim of this study was to investigate expression and characterization of TaPP2Ac-1 from Triticum aestivum, and to evaluate the effects of TaPP2Ac-1 on Nicotiana benthamiana in response to water stress.MethodsTaPP2Ac-1 cDNA was isolated from wheat by in silico identification and RT-PCR amplification. Transcript levels of TaPP2Ac-1 were examined in wheat responding to water deficit. Copy numbers of TaPP2Ac-1 in wheat genomes and subcellular localization in onion epidermal cells were studied. Enzyme properties of the recombinant TaPP2Ac-1 protein were determined. In addition, studies were carried out in tobacco plants with pCAPE2-TaPP2Ac-1 under water-deficit conditions.Key resultsTaPP2Ac-1 cDNA was cloned from wheat. Transcript levels of TaPP2Ac-1 in wheat seedlings were up-regulated under drought condition. One copy for this TaPP2Ac-1 was present in each of the three wheat genomes. TaPP2Ac-1 fused with GFP was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm of onion epidermis cells. The recombinant TaPP2Ac-1 gene was over-expressed in Escherichia coli and encoded a functional serine/threonine phosphatase. Transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing TaPP2Ac-1 exhibited stronger drought tolerance than non-transgenic tobacco plants.ConclusionsTobacco plants with pCAPE2-TaPP2Ac-1 appeared to be resistant to water deficit, as shown by their higher capacity to maintain leaf relative water content, leaf cell-membrane stability index, water-retention ability and water use efficiency under water stress. The results suggest that the physiological role of TaPP2Ac-1 is related to drought stress response, possibly through its involvement in drought-responding signal transduction pathways.
Project description:In order to identify epigenetic mechanisms through which hyperglycemia can affect gene expression durably in β cells, we screened DNA methylation changes induced by high glucose concentrations (25 mmol/L) in the BTC3 murine cell line, using an epigenome-wide approach. Exposure of BTC3 cells to high glucose modified the expression of 1612 transcripts while inducing significant methylation changes in 173 regions. Among these 173 glucose-sensitive differentially methylated regions (DMRs), 14 were associated with changes in gene expression, suggesting an epigenetic effect of high glucose on gene transcription at these loci. Among these 14 DMRs, we selected for further study Pp2ac, a gene previously suspected to play a role in β-cell physiology and type 2 diabetes. Using RT-qPCR and bisulfite pyrosequencing, we confirmed our previous observations in BTC3 cells and found that this gene was significantly demethylated in the whole blood cells (WBCs) of type 2 diabetic patients compared to controls.
Project description:PP2A is the main serine/threonine-specific phosphatase in animal cells. The active phosphatase has been described as a holoenzyme consisting of a catalytic, a scaffolding, and a variable regulatory subunit, all encoded by multiple genes, allowing for the assembly of more than 70 different holoenzymes. The catalytic subunit can also interact with ?4, TIPRL (TIP41, TOR signaling pathway regulator-like), the methyl-transferase LCMT-1, and the methyl-esterase PME-1. Here, we report that the gene encoding the catalytic subunit PP2Ac? can generate two mRNA types, the standard mRNA and a shorter isoform, lacking exon 5, which we termed PP2Ac?2. Higher levels of the PP2Ac?2 mRNA, equivalent to the level of the longer PP2Ac? mRNA, were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells that were left to rest for 24 h. After this time, the peripheral blood mononuclear cells are still viable and the PP2Ac?2 mRNA decreases soon after they are transferred to culture medium, showing that generation of the shorter isoform depends on the incubation conditions. FLAG-tagged PP2Ac?2 expressed in HEK293 is catalytically inactive. It displays a specific interaction profile with enhanced binding to the ?4 regulatory subunit, but no binding to the scaffolding subunit and PME-1. Consistently, ?4 out-competes PME-1 and LCMT-1 for binding to both PP2Ac? isoforms in pulldown assays. Together with molecular modeling studies, this suggests that all three regulators share a common binding surface on the catalytic subunit. Our findings add important new insights into the complex mechanisms of PP2A regulation.
Project description:The serine/threonine protein phosphatases type 2A (PP2A) are involved in several physiological responses in plants, playing important roles in developmental programs, stress responses and hormone signaling. Six PP2A catalytic subunits (StPP2Ac) were identified in cultivated potato. Transgenic potato plants constitutively overexpressing the catalytic subunit StPP2Ac2b (StPP2Ac2b-OE) were developed to determine its physiological roles. The response of StPP2Ac2b-OE plants to the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight, was evaluated. We found that overexpression of StPP2Ac2b enhances susceptibility to the pathogen. Further bioinformatics, biochemical, and molecular analyses revealed that StPP2Ac2b positively regulates developmental and pathogen-induced senescence, and that P. infestans infection promotes senescence, most likely through induction of StPP2Ac2b expression.
Project description:Protein phosphatase 2A- (PP2A-) catalyzed dephosphorylation of target substrate proteins is widespread and critical for cellular function. PP2A is predominantly found as a heterotrimeric complex of a catalytic subunit (C), a scaffolding subunit (A), and one member of 4 families of regulatory subunits (B). Substrate specificity of the holoenzyme complex is determined by the subcellular locale the complex is confined to, selective incorporation of the B subunit, interactions with endogenous inhibitory proteins, and specific intermolecular interactions between PP2A and target substrates. Here, we discuss recent studies that have advanced our understanding of the molecular determinants for PP2A substrate specificity.