Abstract
Temporal cellular events responsible for hormonal activation of responses mediated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) have been studied in living cells. By selectively perturbing molecular function of Gs, the catalytic subunit of PKA (C), or the nuclear factor CREB, in cells through microinjection of inhibitory agents specific for these molecules or activated forms of these molecules, we have obtained evidence for a requirement for the function of each of these molecules in the hormonal stimulation of cAMP-regulated genes. Moreover, by introducing fluorescently labeled PKA subunits into these cells as molecular tracers, or by immunofluorescence of C subunit, we have observed biological translocation of C subunit from the cytoplasm to the nucleus during transcriptional activation and a quenching of this by the inhibitor molecule, PKI. The implications of these cellular and molecular events in the signal transduction of hormonal responses are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beavo JA, Bechtel PJ, Krebs EG: Activation of protein kinase by physiological concentrations of cyclic AMP. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 71: 3580–3583, 1974
Krebs EG, Beavo JA: Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of enzymes. Annu Rev Biochem 48: 923–959, 1980
Adams SR, Harootunian AT, Buechler YJ, Taylor SS, Tsien RY: Fluorescence ratio imaging of cyclic AMP in single cells. Nature 349: 694–697, 1991
Meinkoth JL, Ji Y, Taylor SS, Feramisco JR: Dynamics of the distribution of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in living cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87: 9595–9599, 1990
McKnight GS, Clegg CH, Uhler MD, Chrivia JC, Cadd GG, Correll LA, Otten AD: Analysis of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase system using molecular genetic approaches. Recent Prog Horm Res 44: 307–335, 1988
Walsh DA, Angelos KL, Van Patten SM, Glass DB, Garetto LP: In: (ed.) CRC Crit Rev Biochem 1990, pp 43–84
Fantozzi DA, Taylor SS, Howard PW, Maurer RA, Feramisco JR, Meinkoth JL: Effect of the thermostable protein kinase inhibitor on intracellular localization of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. J Biol Chem 267: 16824–16828, 1992
Uhler MD, McKnight GS: Expression of cDNA for two isoforms of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. J Biol Chem 262: 15202–15207, 1987
Olsen SR, Uhler MD: Isolation and characterization of cDNA clones for an inhibitor protein of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. J Biol Chem 266: 11158–11162, 1991
Van Patten SM, Ng DC, Th'ng JP, Angelos KL, Smith AJ, Walsh DA: Molecular cloning of a rat testis form of the inhibitor protein of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88: 5383–5387, 1991
Gonzalez GA, Montminy MR: Cyclic AMP stimulates somatostatin gene transcription by phosphorylation of CREB at serine 133. Cell 59: 675–680, 1989
Hagiwara M, Alberts A, Brindle P, Meinkoth J, Feramisco J, Deng T, Karin M, Montminy M: Transcriptional attenuation following cAMP induction requires PP-1 mediated dephosphorylation by CREB. Cell 70: 105–113, 1992
Shenolikar S, Nairn AC: Protein phosphatases. Adv Second Messenger and Phosphoprotein Research 23: 1–121, 1991
Meinkoth JL, Dela Cruz J, Burrow GN: TSH, IGF-1 and activated ras protein induce DNA synthesis in cultured thyroid cells. Thyroidology 3: 1–15, 1991
Meinkoth J, Goldsmith P, Spiegel A, Feramisco JR, Burrow GN: Inhibition of thyrotropin-induced DNA synthesis in rat thyroid follicular cells by microinjection of an antibody to the stimulatory G protein of adenylyl cyclase, Gs. J Biol Chem 267: 13239–13245, 1992
Simonds WF, Goldsmith PK, Codina J, Unson CG, Spiegel AM: Gi2 mediates alpha 2-adrenergic inhibition of adenylyl cyclase in platelet membranes:in situ identification with G alpha C-terminal antibodies. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86: 7809–7813, 1989
Simonds WF, Goldsmith PK, Woodard CJ, Unson CG, Spiegel AM: Receptor and effector interactions of Gs. Functional studies with antibodies to the alpha s carboxyl-terminal decapeptide. FEBS Lett 249: 189–194, 1989
Lohmann SM, Walter U: Regulation of the cellular and subcellular concentrations and distribution of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases. Adv Cyclic Nucleotide Protein Phosphorylation Res 18: 63–117, 1984
Nigg EA, Hilz H, Eppenberger HM, Dutly F: Rapid and reversible translocation of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II from the Golgi complex to the nucleus. EMBO J 4: 2801–2806, 1985
Nigg EA, Schäfer G, Hilz H, Eppenberger HM: Cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase type II is associated with the Golgi complex and with centrosomes. Cell 41: 1039–1051, 1985
Squinto SP, Kelley-Geraghty DC, Kuettel MR, Jungmann RA: Ultrastructural localization of cAMP dependent protein kinase subunits in regenerating rat hepatocytes using immunogold electron microscopy. J Cyclic Nucleotide and Prot Phos Res 10: 65–73, 1985
Kuettel MR, Squinto SP, Kwast-Welfeld J, Schwoch G, Schweppe JS, Jungmann RA: Localization of nuclear subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by the immunocolloidal gold method. J Cell Biol 101: 965–975, 1985
Byus CV, Fletcher WH: Direct cytochemical localization of catalytic subunits dissociated from cAMP-dependent protein kinase in Reuber H-35 hepatoma cells. II. Temporal and spatial kinetics. J Cell Biol 93: 727–734, 1982
Fletcher WH, Van Patten SM, Cheng HC, Walsh DA: Cytochemical identification of the regulatory subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase by use of fluorescently labeled catalytic subunit. Examination of protein kinase dissociation in hepatoma cells responding to 8-Br-cAMP stimulation. J Biol Chem 261: 5504–5513, 1986
Scott JD, Stofko RE, McDonald JR, Comer JD, Vitalis EA, Mangili JA: Type II regulatory subunit dimerization determines the subcellular localization of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. J Biol Chem 265: 21561–21566, 1990
Bubis J, Neitzel JJ, Saraswat LD, Taylor SS: A point mutation abolishes binding of cAMP to site A in the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. J Biol Chem 263: 9668–9673, 1988
Yamamoto KK, Gonzalez GA, Biggs WH III, Montminy MR: Phosphorylation-induced binding and transcriptional efficacy of nuclear factor CREB. Nature 334: 494–498, 1988
Alberts AS, Frost JA, Thorburn AM: Rapid transcription assay for the expression of two distinct reporter genes by microinjection. DNA and Cell Biology 1993, in press
Rall T, Sutherland E: Formation of a cyclic adenine ribonucleotide by tissue particles. J Biol Chem 232: 1065–1076, 1958
Vallar L, Spada A, Giannattasio G: Altered Gs and adenylate cyclase activity in human GH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Nature 330: 566–568, 1987
Landis CA, Masters SB, Spada A: GTPase inhibiting mutations activate the a chain of Gs and stimulate adenylyl cyclase in human pituitary tumors. Nature 340: 692–696, 1989.
Suárez HG, Du Villard JA, Caillou B, Schlumberger M, Tubrana M, Parmentier C, Monier R: Detection of activated ras oncogenes in human thyroid carcinomas. Oncogene 2: 403–406, 1988
Lee G, Yun Y, Hoeffler J, Habener J: Cyclic-AMP-responsive transcriptional activation of CREB-327 involves interdependent phosphorylated subdomains. EMBO J 13: 4455–4465, 1990
Foulkes NS, Borrelli E, Sassone-Corsi P: CREM gene: use of alternative DNA-binding domains generates multiple antagonists of cAMP-induced transcription. Cell 64: 739–749, 1991
Meinkoth JL, Montminy MR, Fink JS, Feramisco JR: Induction of a cyclic AMP-responsive gene in living cells requires the nuclear factor CREB. Mol Cell Biol 11: 1759–1764, 1991
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meinkoth, J.L., Alberts, A.S., Went, W. et al. Signal transduction through the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Mol Cell Biochem 127, 179–186 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01076769
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01076769
