leupeptins and lactacystin

Viruses confiscate cellular components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to facilitate many aspects of the infectious cycle. The 26S proteasome is an ATP-dependent, multisubunit proteolytic machine present in all eukaryotic cells. The proteasome executes the controlled degradation of functional proteins, as well as the hydrolysis of aberrantly folded polypeptides. There is growing evidence for the role of the UPS in viral entry. The UPS assists in several steps of the initiation of infection, including endosomal escape of the entering virion, intracellular transport of incoming nucleocapsids and uncoating of the viral genome. Inhibitors of proteasome activity, including MG132, epoxomicin, lactacystin and bortezomib have been integral to developments in this area. Here, we review the mechanistic details of UPS involvement in the entry process of viruses from a multitude of families. The possibility of proteasome inhibitors as therapeutic antiviral agents is highlighted.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Bortezomib; Host Microbial Interactions; Humans; Leupeptins; Nucleocapsid; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Proteolysis; Ubiquitin; Virion; Virus Internalization; Virus Physiological Phenomena; Viruses

The proteasome, which plays a pivotal role in the control of many cell cycle-regulatory processes, has become the focus of new approaches to the treatment of cancer, including B-cell malignancies, and the first proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib (VELCADE; formerly PS-341), has entered clinical trials. The proteasome controls the stability of numerous proteins that regulate progression through the cell cycle and apoptosis, such as cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, tumor suppressors, and the nuclear factor-kB. By altering the stability or activity of these proteins, proteasome inhibitors sensitize malignant cells to apoptosis. Bortezomib is a dipeptidyl boronic acid proteasome inhibitor that effectively and specifically inhibits proteasome activity. In preclinical studies, bortezomib and other proteasome inhibitors have shown activity against a variety of B-cell malignancies, including multiple myeloma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. These agents can induce apoptosis and sensitize tumor cells to radiation or chemotherapy. Based on these findings, phase I clinical trials were conducted with bortezomib in various solid and hematologic malignancies. In these studies, bortezomib was generally well tolerated with manageable toxicities. Phase II trials have been initiated for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Preliminary data from the multiple myeloma phase II study indicate that a significant number of patients responded to therapy or exhibited stable disease and that the drug had manageable toxicities. These findings, along with extensive preclinical data, suggest that bortezomib and other proteasome inhibitors may have far-reaching potential in the treatment of various cancers, including B-cell malignancies.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Boronic Acids; Bortezomib; Cell Cycle Proteins; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Enzymes; Gene Expression Regulation; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Leukemia, B-Cell; Leupeptins; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell; Mice; Multiple Myeloma; Neoplasm Proteins; NF-kappa B; Oncogene Proteins; Peptide Hydrolases; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Pyrazines; Substrate Specificity; Transcription Factors; Treatment Outcome

Proteasomes are major sites for protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. The recent identification of selective proteasome inhibitors has allowed a definition of the roles of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in various cellular processes, such as antigen presentation and the degradation of regulatory or membrane proteins. This review describes the actions of these inhibitors, how they can be used to investigate cellular responses, the functions of the proteasome demonstrated by such studies and their potential applications in the future.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antigen Presentation; Boron Compounds; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Depression, Chemical; Endopeptidases; Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Mammals; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteins; Sulfones; Ubiquitins; Yeasts

Mayaro (MAYV) and Una (UNAV) are emerging arboviruses belonging to the

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Alphavirus; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Chlorocebus aethiops; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoplasm; HeLa Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Vero Cells; Virus Replication

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is a newly emerging pathogenic flavivirus that has caused massive economic losses to the duck industry in China. The cellular factors required for DTMUV replication have been poorly studied. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), the major intracellular proteolytic pathway, mediates diverse cellular processes, including endocytosis and signal transduction, which may be involved in the entry of virus. In the present study, we explored the interplay between DTMUV replication and the UPS in BHK-21 cells and found that treatment with proteasome inhibitor (MG132 and lactacystin) significantly decreased the DTMUV progency at the early infection stage. We further revealed that inhibition of the UPS mainly occurs on the level of viral protein expression and RNA transcription. In addition, using specific siRNAs targeting ubiquitin reduces the production of viral progeny. In the presence of MG132 the staining for the envelope protein of DTMUV was dramatically reduced in comparison with the untreated control cells. Overall, our observations reveal an important role of the UPS in multiple steps of the DTMUV infection cycle and identify the UPS as a potential drug target to modulate the impact of DTMUV infection.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Ducks; Flavivirus; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Leupeptins; Poultry Diseases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; RNA, Small Interfering; Transfection; Ubiquitin; Viral Envelope Proteins; Virus Internalization; Virus Replication

The Shadoo protein (Sho) exhibits homology to the hydrophobic region of the cellular isoform of prion protein (PrP

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Autophagy; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Nucleus; GPI-Linked Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Mice, Knockout; Models, Biological; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuroglia; Neurons; Prions; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteasome Inhibitors

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is the principal constituent of amyloid deposits and toxic oligomers in the pancreatic islets. Together with hyperglycemia, hIAPP-derived oligomers and aggregates are important culprits in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we explored the role of the cell's main proteolytic complex, the proteasome, in hIAPP turnover in normal and stressed β-cells evoked by chronic hyperglycemia. Moderate inhibition (10-35%) of proteasome activity/function in cultured human islets by the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin enhanced intracellular accumulation of hIAPP. Unexpectedly, prolonged (>1 h) and marked (>50%) impairment of proteasome activity/function had a strong inhibitory effect on hIAPP transcription and secretion from normal and stressed β-cells. This negative compensatory feedback mechanism for controlling IAPP turnover was also observed in the lactacystin-treated rat insulinoma β-cell line (INS 832/13), demonstrating the presence of an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for IAPP production. In line with these

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Down-Regulation; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta; Humans; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Insulinoma; Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; Leupeptins; Mice; Oligopeptides; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rats

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) plays a critical role in the degradation of proteins implicated in cell cycle control, signal transduction, DNA damage response, apoptosis and immune response. Proteasome inhibitors can inhibit the growth of a broad spectrum of human cancer cells by altering the balance of intracellular proteins. However, the targets of these compounds in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells have not been fully characterized. Herein, we combined large-scale quantitative analysis by SILAC-MS and targeted quantitative proteomic analysis in order to identify proteins regulated upon proteasome inhibition in two AML cell lines displaying different stages of maturation: immature KG1a cells and mature U937 cells. In-depth data analysis enabled accurate quantification of more than 7000 proteins in these two cell lines. Several candidates were validated by selected reaction monitoring (SRM) measurements in a large number of samples. Despite the broad range of proteins known to be affected by proteasome inhibition, such as heat shock (HSP) and cell cycle proteins, our analysis identified new differentially regulated proteins, including IL-32, MORF family mortality factors and apoptosis inducing factor SIVA, a target of p53. It could explain why proteasome inhibitors induce stronger apoptotic responses in immature AML cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Bortezomib; Cell Cycle; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line, Tumor; Computational Biology; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; Gene Ontology; Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Interleukins; Leukocytes; Leupeptins; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Isoforms; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factors; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key regulator of cell growth, autophagy, translation, and survival. Dysregulation of mTOR signaling is associated with cancer, diabetes, and autism. However, a role for mTOR signaling in neuronal death is not well delineated. Here we show that global ischemia triggers a transient increase in mTOR phosphorylation at S2448, whereas decreasing p-mTOR and functional activity in selectively vulnerable hippocampal CA1 neurons. The decrease in mTOR coincides with an increase in biochemical markers of autophagy, pS317-ULK-1, pS14-Beclin-1, and LC3-II, a decrease in the cargo adaptor p62, and an increase in autophagic flux, a functional readout of autophagy. This is significant in that autophagy, a catabolic process downstream of mTORC1, promotes the formation of autophagosomes that capture and target cytoplasmic components to lysosomes. Inhibitors of the lysosomal (but not proteasomal) pathway rescued the ischemia-induced decrease in mTOR, consistent with degradation of mTOR via the autophagy/lysosomal pathway. Administration of the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin or acute knockdown of mTOR promotes autophagy and attenuates ischemia-induced neuronal death, indicating an inverse causal relation between mTOR, autophagy, and neuronal death. Our findings identify a novel and previously unappreciated mechanism by which mTOR self-regulates its own levels in hippocampal neurons in a clinically relevant model of ischemic stroke.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenine; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Animals; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog; Beclin-1; Cells, Cultured; Hippocampus; Ischemia; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; Male; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Neurons; Phosphorylation; Rats; RNA Interference; Sirolimus; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

NY-ESO-1-specific CD4(+) T cells are of interest for immune therapy against tumors, because it has been shown that their transfer into a patient with melanoma resulted in tumor regression. Therefore, we investigated how NY-ESO-1 is processed onto MHC class II molecules for direct CD4(+) T cell recognition of melanoma cells. We could rule out proteasome and autophagy-dependent endogenous Ag processing for MHC class II presentation. In contrast, intercellular Ag transfer, followed by classical MHC class II Ag processing via endocytosis, sensitized neighboring melanoma cells for CD4(+) T cell recognition. However, macroautophagy targeting of NY-ESO-1 enhanced MHC class II presentation. Therefore, both elevated NY-ESO-1 release and macroautophagy targeting could improve melanoma cell recognition by CD4(+) T cells and should be explored during immunotherapy of melanoma.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antigen Presentation; Antigens, Neoplasm; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Protein 12; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Line, Tumor; Chloroquine; Dendritic Cells; Endocytosis; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; Humans; Immunotherapy, Adoptive; Leupeptins; Lymphocyte Activation; Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2; Melanoma; Membrane Proteins; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Interfering; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins

The treatment of Acanthamoeba infections remains problematic, suggesting that new targets and/or chemotherapeutic agents are needed. Bioassay-guided screening of drugs that are clinically-approved for non-communicable diseases against opportunistic eukaryotic pathogens is a viable strategy. With known targets and mode of action, such drugs can advance to clinical trials at a faster pace. Recently Bortezomib (proteasome inhibitor) has been approved by FDA in the treatment of multiple myeloma. As proteasomal pathways are well known regulators of a variety of eukaryotic cellular functions, the overall aim of the present study was to study the effects of peptidic and non-peptidic proteasome inhibitors on the biology and pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype, in vitro. Zymographic assays revealed that inhibition of proteasome had detrimental effects on the extracellular proteolytic activities of A. castellanii. Proteasome inhibition affected A. castellanii growth (using amoebistatic assays), but not viability of A. castellanii. Importantly, proteasome inhibitors affected encystation as determined by trophozoite transformation into the cyst form, as well as excystation, as determined by cyst transformation into the trophozoite form. The ability of proteasome inhibitor to block Acanthamoeba differentiation is significant, as it presents a major challenge in the successful treatment of Acanthamoeba infection. As these drugs are used clinically against non-communicable diseases, the findings reported here have the potential to be tested in a clinical setting against amoebic infections.

Topics: Acanthamoeba castellanii; Acetylcysteine; Bortezomib; Brain; Cell Adhesion; Cells, Cultured; Chlorhexidine; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endothelium, Vascular; Genotype; Humans; Lactones; Leupeptins; Proteasome Inhibitors

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are a group of heterogeneous diseases caused by compromised enzyme function leading to multiple organ failure. Therapeutic approaches involve enzyme replacement (ERT), which is effective for a substantial fraction of patients. However, there are still concerns about a number of issues including tissue penetrance, generation of host antibodies against the therapeutic enzyme, and financial aspects, which render this therapy suboptimal for many cases. Treatment with pharmacological chaperones (PC) was recognized as a possible alternative to ERT, because a great number of mutations do not completely abolish enzyme function, but rather trigger degradation in the endoplasmic reticulum. The theory behind PC is that they can stabilize enzymes with remaining function, avoid degradation and thereby ameliorate disease symptoms. We tested several compounds in order to identify novel small molecules that prevent premature degradation of the mutant lysosomal enzymes α-galactosidase A (for Fabry disease (FD)) and acid α-glucosidase (GAA) (for Pompe disease (PD)). We discovered that the expectorant Ambroxol when used in conjunction with known PC resulted in a significant enhancement of mutant α-galactosidase A and GAA activities. Rosiglitazone was effective on α-galactosidase A either as a monotherapy or when administered in combination with the PC 1-deoxygalactonojirimycin. We therefore propose both drugs as potential enhancers of pharmacological chaperones in FD and PD to improve current treatment strategies.

Topics: 1-Deoxynojirimycin; Acetylcysteine; alpha-Galactosidase; alpha-Glucosidases; Ambroxol; Bezafibrate; Enzyme Activators; Fabry Disease; Gene Expression; Glycogen Storage Disease Type II; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; Pioglitazone; Plasmids; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Stability; Recombinant Proteins; Thiazolidinediones; Transfection

Acute hyperglycemia co-presenting with myocardial infarction (in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals) is often associated with a poor prognosis. Although acute hyperglycemia induces oxidative stress that can lead to dysregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), it is unclear whether increased/decreased UPS is detrimental with ischemia-reperfusion under such conditions. As our earlier data implicated the UPS in cardiac damage, we hypothesized that its inhibition results in cardioprotection with ischemia-reperfusion performed under conditions that simulate acute hyperglycemia.. Ex vivo rat heart perfusions were performed with Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 33 mM glucose vs. controls (11 mM glucose) for 60 min stabilization, followed by 20 min global ischemia and 60 min reperfusion ± 5 µM lactacystin and 10 µM MG-132, respectively. The UPS inhibitors were added during the first 20 min of the reperfusion phase and various cardiac functional parameters evaluated. In parallel experiments, infarct sizes were assessed following 20 min regional ischemia and 120 min reperfusion ± each of the respective UPS inhibitors (added during reperfusion). Heart tissues were collected and analyzed for markers of oxidative stress, UPS activation, inflammation and autophagy.. The proteasome inhibitor doses and treatment duration here employed resulted in partial UPS inhibition during the reperfusion phase. Both lactacystin and MG-132 administration resulted in cardioprotection in our experimental system, with MG-132 showing a greater effect. The proteasome inhibitors also enhanced cardiac superoxide dismutase protein levels (SOD1, SOD2), attenuated pro-inflammatory effects and caused an upregulation of autophagic markers.. This study established that partial proteasome inhibition elicits cardioprotection in hearts exposed to ischemia-reperfusion with acute simulated hyperglycemia. These data reveal that protease inhibition triggered three major protective effects, i.e. (a) enhancing myocardial anti-oxidant defenses, (b) attenuating inflammation, and (c) increasing the autophagic response. Thus the UPS emerges as a unique therapeutic target for the treatment of ischemic heart disease under such conditions.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Autophagy; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies; Hyperglycemia; Inflammation Mediators; Isolated Heart Preparation; Leupeptins; Male; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Myocardium; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rats, Wistar; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase-1; Time Factors

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is important to maintain pancreatic β-cell function. Inhibition of the proteasome significantly reduced glucose-induced insulin secretion. Key regulators of the stimulus/secretion cascade seem to be affected by protein misfolding if the proteasome is down-regulated as recently reported in humans with Type 2 diabetes. It remains unknown, however, whether the glucose sensor enzyme glucokinase is involved in this process. A direct interaction between glucokinase and ubiquitin could be shown in vivo by FRET, suggesting regulation of glucokinase by the proteasome. After proteasome inhibition glucokinase activity was significantly reduced in MIN6 cells, whereas the protein content was increased, indicating protein misfolding. Enhancing the availability of chaperones by cyclohexamide could induce refolding and restored glucokinase activity. Glucokinase aggregation due to proteasome blocking with MG132, bortezomib, epoxomicin or lactacystin could be detected in MIN6 cells, primary β-cells and hepatocytes using fluorescence-based assays. Glucokinase aggresome formation proceeded microtubule-assisted and was avoided by cyclohexamide. Thus the results of the present study provide support for glucokinase misfolding and aggregation in case of a diminished capacity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in pancreatic β-cells. In the Type 2 diabetic situation this could contribute to reduced glucose-induced insulin secretion.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Chlorocebus aethiops; COS Cells; Cycloheximide; Glucokinase; Glucose; Hepatocytes; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Secretion; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Leupeptins; Mice; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Stability; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Proteolysis; Single-Cell Analysis; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitination

The astrocytic syncytium plays a critical role in maintaining the homeostasis of the brain through the regulation of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC). Changes to GJIC in response to inflammatory stimuli in astrocytes may have serious effects on the brain. We have previously shown that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reduces connexin43 (Cx43) expression and GJIC in cultured rat astrocytes via a toll-like receptor 4-mediated signaling pathway. In the present study, treatment of astrocytes with LPS resulted in a significant increase in levels of the phosphorylated forms of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) -1, -2, and -3 for up to 18 h. An increase in nuclear transcription factor NF-κB levels was also observed after 8 h of LPS treatment and was sustained for up to 18 h. The LPS-induced decrease in Cx43 protein levels and inhibition of GJIC were blocked by the SAPK/JNK inhibitor SP600125, but not by the NF-κB inhibitor BAY11-7082. Following blockade of de novo protein synthesis by cycloheximide, LPS accelerated Cx43 degradation. Moreover, the LPS-induced downregulation of Cx43 was blocked following inhibition of 26S proteasome activity using the reversible proteasome inhibitor MG132 or the irreversible proteasome inhibitor lactacystin. Immunoprecipitation analyses revealed an increased association of Cx43 with both ubiquitin and E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4 in astrocytes after LPS stimulation for 6 h and this effect was prevented by SP600125. Taken together, these results suggest that LPS stimulation leads to downregulation of Cx43 expression and GJIC in rat astrocytes by activation of SAPK/JNK and the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Anthracenes; Astrocytes; Connexin 43; Down-Regulation; Gap Junctions; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; Lipopolysaccharides; NF-kappa B; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteolysis; Rats; Signal Transduction; Ubiquitination; Ubiquitins

During the final stage of oocyte growth, the morphology of the oocyte nucleoli changes into a compact structure. The objective of this study was to determine the involvement of the proteasome, which is a large protein complex responsible for degrading intracellular proteins, in the nucleolar compaction. The mean nucleolar diameter of growing porcine oocytes (about 100 µm in diameter) was larger than that of fully grown (120 µm) oocytes (15.5 ± 0.3 vs. 13.2 ± 0.1 µm, P<0.05). When fully grown oocytes were treated with proteasome inhibitors, MG132 (10 and 20 µM) and lactacystin (100 and 200 µM), the nucleolar diameter significantly increased from 12.9 µm to 14.9-16.1 µm. In contrast, transcription inhibitors, actinomycin D (0.8-8 µM) and α-amanitin (10-100 µM) reduced the nucleolar diameter of growing oocytes to 9.4-12.4 µm. MG132 partially prevented this reduction in nucleolar diameter. These results suggest that the proteasome regulates the nucleolar size in porcine oocytes perhaps through the degradation of nucleolar proteins.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Alpha-Amanitin; Animals; Cell Nucleolus; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dactinomycin; Female; Leupeptins; Nuclear Proteins; Oocytes; Proteasome Inhibitors; Swine

Transcriptional regulation performs a central role in Notch1 signaling by recombining binding protein Suppressor of Hairless (RBP-Jk)--a signaling pathway that is widely involved in determination of cell fate. Our earlier work demonstrated the possible regulation of the Notch1-RBP-Jk pathway through protein degradation of RBP-Jk; however, the potential regulator for the degradation of RBP-Jk remains to be determined. Here, we report that the expression of endogenous and exogenous RBP-Jk was increased significantly in cells treated with proteasome- and lysosome-specific inhibitors. The effects of these inhibitors on RBP-Jk occurred in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The level of RBP-Jk protein was higher in presenilin-2 (PS2)-knockout cells than in presenilin-1 (PS1)-knockout cells. Furthermore, the level of RBP-Jk was decreased by expression of PS2 in PS1 and PS2 double-knockout cells. We also found that PS1-knockout cells treated with a specific inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase ∂ (MAPK) had significantly increased levels of RBP-Jk. p38 MAPK phosphorylates RBP-Jk at Thr339 by physical binding, which subsequently induces the degradation and ubiquitylation of the RBP-Jk protein. Collectively, our results indicate that PS2 modulates the degradation of RBP-Jk through phosphorylation by p38 MAPK.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Ammonium Chloride; Cell Line; Chloroquine; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Gene Knockout Techniques; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; MAP Kinase Signaling System; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phosphorylation; Presenilin-1; Presenilin-2; Proteasome Inhibitors; Proteolysis; Receptor, Notch1; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptional Activation; Ubiquitination

The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) senses tension defects at the kinetochore to activate the spindle assembly checkpoint, and helps to position the cleavage furrow. The CPC, consisting of INCENP, Survivin, Borealin and Aurora B localizes to the inner centromere at metaphase and re-localizes to the spindle midzone at anaphase; several CPC functions are regulated by post-translational modification. Borealin is phosphorylated at multiple sites and phosphorylation at S219 causes Borealin to migrate more slowly upon electrophoresis. Here we find that Cdk1 can induce a mobility shift of Borealin, suggesting that S219 phosphorylation is under Cdk1 control. However, Cdk1 is inefficient at phosphorylating purified Borealin in vitro. A yeast orthologue of Borealin, Npl1, is dephosphorylated by the phosphatase Cdc14. We find no difference in the mobility shift of Borealin in human cells lacking either Cdc14A or Cdc14B. In contrast, the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid does delay the dephosphorylation of Borealin as cells exit mitosis. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 reduces Borealin phosphorylation in mitosis and increases the steady-state level of Borealin, especially in mutants lacking the C-terminus. However, a second, structurally unrelated proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin did not up-regulate Borealin. These results suggest that the effect of MG132 on Borealin is due to the inhibition of an intracellular protease other than the proteasome.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Substitution; CDC2 Protein Kinase; Cell Cycle Proteins; Dual-Specificity Phosphatases; Gene Expression; HeLa Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Okadaic Acid; Peptide Fragments; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Protein Transport; Proteolysis; Ubiquitin

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is a major proteolytic system for nonlysosomal degradation of cellular proteins. Here, we investigated the response of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells under proteotoxic stress. Proteasome inhibitors induced expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and also induced apoptosis of ES cells. Importantly, more apoptotic cells were observed in ES cells compared with other somatic cells. To understand this phenomenon, we further investigated the expression of HSP70 and pluripotent cell markers. HSP70 expression was more significantly increased in somatic cells than in ES cells, and expression levels of pluripotent cell markers such as Oct4 and Nanog were decreased in ES cells. These results suggest that higher sensitivity of ES cells to proteotoxic stress may be related with lower capacity of HSP70 expression and decreased pluripotent cell marker expression, which is essential for the survival of ES cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Biomarkers; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Down-Regulation; Drug Resistance; Embryonic Stem Cells; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; HEK293 Cells; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Mice; Oligopeptides; Pluripotent Stem Cells; Proteasome Inhibitors

The ubiquitin proteasome-proteolytic pathway has emerged as one of the most significant pathways in modulating protein homeostasis under both normal and disease states. The use of proteasome inhibitors (PI) has played a pivotal role in understanding protein turn over. The main objective of this work was to develop a comprehensive, fast, and reliable, yet simple in vitro assay that would allow for the identification and characterization of a wide range of PIs. The assays consist of a 96-well plate high throughput (HTP) method to assess proteasome activity in Hs578T breast cancer cell extracts, purified 20S proteasome, using a fluorogenic substrate, Suc-leu-leu-val-tyr-7-AMC, specific to the chymotrypsin-like enzymatic activity of the proteasome. We showed that the chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome was inhibited in the two in vitro systems, albeit to different degrees. The assay system also includes two cell-based assays consisting of a vector expressing a fusion protein of green fluorescent protein (gfp) and Mouse Ornithine Decarboxylase (MODC) in Zs578T (parental Hs578T carrying the vector that expresses the fusion protein). In the cell-based assay analyses (qualitatively by microscopy and quantitatively by flow cytometry), treatment of Zs578T with PIs prevented the degradation of MODC, accumulated gfp, indicative of increased proteasome inhibition. Because no single assay represents a definitive proof of proteasome inhibitory activity, combined, these assays should serve as a comprehensive benchmark for the identification and partial characterization of novel inhibitors. In summary, the four-step assay protocol can easily be adapted into a high throughput format to rapidly screen unknown inhibitors.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Biological Assay; Boronic Acids; Bortezomib; Cell Extracts; Cells, Cultured; Chymotrypsin; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Leupeptins; Mice; Models, Biological; Oligopeptides; Ornithine Decarboxylase; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Pyrazines; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Time Factors

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is essential for most cellular processes, including protein quality control, cell cycle, transcription, signaling, protein transport, DNA repair and stress responses. Hampered proteasome activity leads to the accumulation of polyubiquitylated proteins, endoplastic reticulum (ER) stress and even cell death. The ability of chemical proteasome inhibitors (PIs) to induce apoptosis is utilized in cancer therapy. During PI treatment, misfolded proteins accrue to cytoplasmic aggresomes. The formation of aggresome-like structures in the nucleus has remained obscure. We identify here a nucleolus-associated RNA-protein aggregate (NoA) formed by the inhibition of proteasome activity in mammalian cells. The aggregate forms within the nucleolus and is dependent on nucleolar integrity, yet is a separate structure, lacking nucleolar marker proteins, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and rRNA synthesis activity. The NoAs contain polyadenylated RNA, conjugated ubiquitin and numerous nucleoplasmic proteasome target proteins. Several of these are key factors in oncogenesis, including transcription factors p53 and retinoblastoma protein (Rb), several cell cycle-regulating cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and stress response kinases ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and Chk1. The aggregate formation depends on ubiquitin availability, as shown by modulating the levels of ubiquitin and deubiquitinases. Furthermore, inhibition of chromosome region maintenance 1 protein homolog (CRM1) export pathway aggravates the formation of NoAs. Taken together, we identify here a novel nuclear stress body, which forms upon proteasome inactivity within the nucleolus and is detectable in mammalian cell lines and in human tissue. These findings show that the nucleolus controls protein and RNA surveillance and export by the ubiquitin pathway in a previously unidentified manner, and provide mechanistic insight into the cellular effects of PIs.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Line; Cell Nucleolus; Checkpoint Kinase 1; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Cyclins; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Humans; Leucine; Leupeptins; Nuclear Proteins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Kinases; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; RNA, Messenger; Transcription Factors; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Ubiquitin

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is known to be utilized by coxsackievirus to facilitate its propagation within the host cells. The present study explores the role of tripeptidyl peptidase II (TPPII), a serine peptidase contributing to protein turnover by acting downstream of the proteasome, in regulating coxsackievirus infection. Inhibition of TPPII does not affect virus replication in cells with functional proteasome. However, when the proteasome is impaired, TPPII appears to serve as an alternative to maintain low levels of virus infection. Our results suggest an important function of TPPII in the maintenance of viral growth and may have implications for anti-viral therapy.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Aminopeptidases; Blotting, Western; Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Enterovirus B, Human; Enzyme Inhibitors; HeLa Cells; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Leupeptins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Serine Endopeptidases; Virus Replication

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is involved in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Recently, the ubiquitin proteasome system was shown to participate in the TGF-β signalling pathway. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of proteasome inhibitors on TGF-β-induced transformation of renal fibroblasts and tubular epithelial cells in vitro and on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in vivo.. Rat renal fibroblasts NRK-49F cells and tubular epithelial cells, NRK-52E, were treated with TGF-β in the presence or absence of a proteasome inhibitor, MG132 or lactacystin. Rats were subjected to UUO and received MG132 i.p. for 7 days.. In cultured renal cells, both MG132 and lactacystin inhibited TGF-β-induced α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein expression according to both western blotting and immunofluorescent study results. MG132 also suppressed TGF-β-induced mRNA expression of α-SMA and upregulation of Smad-response element reporter activity. However, MG132 did not inhibit TGF-β-induced phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Smad2. In contrast, MG132 increased the protein level of Smad co-repressor SnoN, demonstrating that SnoN is one of the target molecules by which MG132 blocks the TGF-β signalling pathway. Although the proteasome inhibitor suppressed TGF-β-induced transformation of cultured fibroblasts and tubular epithelial cells, MG132 treatment did not ameliorate tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the rat UUO model.. Proteasome inhibitors attenuate TGF-β signalling by blocking Smad signal transduction in vitro, but do not inhibit renal interstitial fibrosis in vivo.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Actins; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Disease Models, Animal; Epithelial Cells; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Kidney Diseases; Leupeptins; Male; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Smad Proteins, Receptor-Regulated; Smad2 Protein; Smad3 Protein; Smad4 Protein; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Ureteral Obstruction

The ubiquitin ligase CBLL1 (also known as HAKAI) has been proposed to be a critical cellular factor exploited by West Nile virus (WNV) for productive infection. CBLL1 has emerged as a major hit in a recent RNA interference screen designed to identify cellular factors required for the early stages of the WNV life cycle. Follow-up experiments showed that HeLa cells knocked down for CBLL1 by a small interfering RNA (siRNA) failed to internalize WNV particles and resisted infection. Furthermore, depletion of a free-ubiquitin pool by the proteasome inhibitor MG132 abolished WNV endocytosis, suggesting that CBLL1 acts in concert with the ubiquitin proteasome system to mediate virus internalization. Here, we examined the effect of CBLL1 knockdown and proteasome inhibitors on infection by WNV and other flaviviruses. We identified new siRNAs that repress the CBLL1 protein and strongly inhibit the endocytosis of Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterial pathogen known to require CBLL1 to invade host cells. Strikingly, however, we detected efficient WNV, dengue virus, and yellow fever virus infection of human cells, despite potent downregulation of CBLL1 by RNA interference. In addition, we found that the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin did not affect WNV internalization but strongly repressed flavivirus RNA translation and replication. Together, these data do not support a requirement for CBLL1 during flavivirus entry and rather suggest an essential role of the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway for flavivirus genome amplification.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Dengue Virus; Gene Knockdown Techniques; HeLa Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Listeria monocytogenes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; RNA, Small Interfering; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Virus Internalization; Virus Replication; West Nile virus; Yellow fever virus

Regulator of G protein signaling protein 4 (RGS4) acts as a GTPase accelerating protein to modulate μ- and δ- opioid receptor (MOR and DOR, respectively) signaling. In turn, exposure to MOR agonists leads to changes in RGS4 at the mRNA and/or protein level. Here we have used human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells that endogenously express MOR, DOR, and RGS4 to study opioid-mediated down-regulation of RGS4. Overnight treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with the MOR agonist DAMGO or the DOR agonist DPDPE decreased RGS4 protein by ∼60% accompanied by a profound loss of opioid receptors but with no change in RGS4 mRNA. The decrease in RGS4 protein was prevented by the pretreatment with pertussis toxin or the opioid antagonist naloxone. The agonist-induced down-regulation of RGS4 proteins was completely blocked by treatment with the proteasome inhibitors MG132 or lactacystin or high concentrations of leupeptin, indicating involvement of ubiquitin-proteasome and lysosomal degradation. Polyubiquitinated RGS4 protein was observed in the presence of MG132 or the specific proteasome inhibitor lactacystin and promoted by opioid agonist. The loss of opioid receptors was not prevented by MG132, demonstrating a different degradation pathway. RGS4 is a GTPase accelerating protein for both Gα(i/o) and Gα(q) proteins. After overnight treatment with DAMGO to reduce RGS4 protein, signaling at the Gα(i/o)-coupled DOR and the Gα(q)-coupled M(3) muscarinic receptor (M(3)R) was increased but not signaling of the α(2) adrenergic receptor or bradykinin BK(2) receptor, suggesting the development of cross-talk between the DOR and M(3)R involving RGS4.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Analgesics, Opioid; Cell Line, Tumor; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Down-Regulation; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Pertussis Toxin; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Receptor, Muscarinic M3; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; Receptors, Bradykinin; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Receptors, Opioid, mu; RGS Proteins; Signal Transduction; Time Factors; Ubiquitination

The β-subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels regulate their functional expression and properties. Two mechanisms have been proposed for this, an effect on gating and an enhancement of expression. With respect to the effect on expression, β-subunits have been suggested to enhance trafficking by masking an unidentified endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal. Here we have investigated whether, and how, β-subunits affect the level of Ca(V)2.2 channels within somata and neurites of cultured sympathetic neurons. We have used YFP-Ca(V)2.2 containing a mutation (W391A), that prevents binding of β-subunits to its I-II linker and found that expression of this channel was much reduced compared with WT CFP-Ca(V)2.2 when both were expressed in the same neuron. This effect was particularly evident in neurites and growth cones. The difference between the levels of YFP-Ca(V)2.2(W391A) and CFP-Ca(V)2.2(WT) was lost in the absence of co-expressed β-subunits. Furthermore, the relative reduction of expression of Ca(V)2.2(W391A) compared with the WT channel was reversed by exposure to two proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin, particularly in the somata. In further experiments in tsA-201 cells, we found that proteasome inhibition did not augment the cell surface Ca(V)2.2(W391A) level but resulted in the observation of increased ubiquitination, particularly of mutant channels. In contrast, we found no evidence for selective retention of Ca(V)2.2(W391A) in the ER, in either the soma or growth cones. In conclusion, there is a marked effect of β-subunits on Ca(V)2.2 expression, particularly in neurites, but our results point to protection from proteasomal degradation rather than masking of an ER retention signal.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Substitution; Animals; Calcium Channels, N-Type; Chlorocebus aethiops; COS Cells; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Gene Expression Regulation; Leupeptins; Mutation, Missense; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurites; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rabbits; Rats

Myocardin is a transcriptional co-activator of serum response factor (SRF) and can be degraded through ubiquitin-proteasome system. Our preliminary studies unexpectedly revealed that accumulation of myocardin in response to proteasome inhibition by MG132 or lactacystin resulted in decrease of transcriptional activity of myocardin as indicated by reduced expression of SMC contractile marker genes (SM α-actin, SM22, and calponin) and muscle-enriched microRNAs (miR-143/145 and miR-1/133a), and reduced contractility of human vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) embedded in collagen gel lattices, suggesting that myocardin degradation is required for its transcriptional activity. Further studies using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that proteasome inhibition, although increased the occupancy of myocardin and SRF on the promoter of SM α-actin gene, abolished myocardin-dependent recruitment of RNA polymerase II. We further examined the degradation of myocardin in epithelioid and spindle-shaped SMCs and revealed that myocardin in more differentiated spindle-shaped SMCs was more quickly degraded and had shorter half-life than in epithelioid SMCs. In neointimal lesions, we found that stabilization of myocardin protein was companied by downregulation of transcripts of ubiquitin and proteasome subunits, further illustrating the mechanism underlying reduction of myocardin transcriptional activity. In summary, our results have suggested that proteasomal degradation of myocardin is required for its transcriptional activity.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Actins; Animals; Binding Sites; Carotid Artery Injuries; Cells, Cultured; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; Collagen; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Disease Models, Animal; DNA Polymerase II; Gels; Gene Expression Regulation; Genotype; Humans; Leupeptins; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; MicroRNAs; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Nuclear Proteins; Phenotype; Phosphorylation; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Serine; Serum Response Factor; Time Factors; Trans-Activators; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection; Vasoconstriction

Insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2) plays a critical role in the survival and function of pancreatic β-cells. Gene disruption of IRS-2 results in failure of the β-cell compensatory mechanism and diabetes. Nonetheless, the regulation of IRS-2 protein expression in β-cells remains largely unknown. Inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS), a major mediator of inflammation, has been implicated in β-cell damage in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The effects of iNOS on IRS-2 expression have not yet been investigated in β-cells. Here, we show that iNOS and NO donor decreased IRS-2 protein expression in INS-1/832 insulinoma cells and mouse islets, whereas IRS-2 mRNA levels were not altered. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), alone or in combination with interferon-γ (IFN-γ), reduced IRS-2 protein expression in an iNOS-dependent manner without altering IRS-2 mRNA levels. Proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin, blocked the NO donor-induced reduction in IRS-2 protein expression. Treatment with NO donor led to activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK/SAPK) in β-cells. Inhibition of GSK-3β by pharmacological inhibitors or siRNA-mediated knockdown significantly prevented NO donor-induced reduction in IRS-2 expression in β-cells. In contrast, a JNK inhibitor, SP600125, did not effectively block reduced IRS-2 expression in NO donor-treated β-cells. These data indicate that iNOS-derived NO reduces IRS-2 expression by promoting protein degradation, at least in part, through a GSK-3β-dependent mechanism. Our findings suggest that iNOS-mediated decreased IRS-2 expression may contribute to the progression and/or exacerbation of β-cell failure in diabetes.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Anthracenes; Cell Line, Tumor; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Activation; Gene Expression Regulation; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Humans; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-1beta; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; Mice; Nitric Oxide Donors; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rats

Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) is an important enzyme for metabolic processes, to the extent that its product, S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), plays a key role in trans-methylation, trans-sulphuration and polyamine synthesis. Previous studies have shown that a MAT-overexpressing strain of Leishmania donovani controls AdoMet production, keeping the intracellular AdoMet concentration at levels that are compatible with cell survival. This unexpected result, together with the fact that MAT activity and abundance changed with time in culture, suggests that different regulatory mechanisms acting beyond the post-transcriptional level are controlling this protein. In order to gain an insight into these mechanisms, several experiments were carried out to explain the MAT abundance during promastigote cell growth. Determination of MAT turnover in cycloheximide (CHX)-treated cultures resulted in a surprising 5-fold increase in MAT turnover compared to CHX-untreated cultures. This increase agrees with a stabilization of the MAT protein, whose integrity was maintained during culture. The presence of proteasome inhibitors, namely MG-132, MG-115, epoxomycin and lactacystin in the culture medium prevented MAT degradation in both MAT-overexpressing and 'mock-transfected' leishmanial strains. The role of the ubiquitin (Ub) pathway in MAT down-regulation was supported using immunoprecipitation experiments. Immunoprecipitated MAT cross-reacted with anti-Ub antibodies, which provides evidence of a proteasome-mediated down-regulation of the leishmanial MAT abundance.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Cell Culture Techniques; Cloning, Molecular; Cycloheximide; Down-Regulation; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Gene Expression; Immunoprecipitation; Kinetics; Leishmania donovani; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Leupeptins; Methionine Adenosyltransferase; Oligopeptides; Plasmids; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Recombinant Proteins; S-Adenosylmethionine; Transfection; Ubiquitin

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is an aggressive neoplasm caused by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). This study provides evidence that proteasomal activity is required for both survival of PEL cells stably harboring the KSHV genome and viral replication of KSHV. We evaluated the cytotoxic effects of proteasome inhibitors on PEL cells. The proteasome inhibitors MG132, lactacystin, and proteasome inhibitor I dramatically inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of PEL cells through the accumulation of p21 and p27. Furthermore, proteasome inhibitors induced the stabilization of NF-κB inhibitory molecule (IκBα) and suppressed the transcriptional activity of NF-κB in PEL cells. The NF-κB specific inhibitor BAY11-7082 also induced apoptosis in PEL cells. The constitutive activation of NF-κB signaling is essential for the survival and growth of B cell lymphoma cells, including PEL cells. NF-κB signaling is upregulated by proteasome-dependent degradation of IκBα. The suppression of NF-κB signaling by proteasome inhibitors may contribute to the induction of apoptosis in PEL cells. In addition, proteasome activity is required for KSHV replication in KSHV latently infected PEL cells. MG132 reduced the production of progeny virus from PEL cells at low concentrations, which do not affect PEL cell growth. These findings suggest that proteasome inhibitors may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of KSHV infection and KSHV-associated lymphomas.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Herpesvirus 8, Human; Humans; Leupeptins; Lymphoma, Primary Effusion; NF-kappa B; Nitriles; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Inhibitors; Sulfones; Virus Replication

Melanoma antigen (MAGE)-A4 is processed to generate a C-terminal fragment with proapoptotic activity. Here we demonstrate that Adriamycin promotes generation of the processed MAGE-A4 by activating the proteasome. The proteasome is known to prevent accumulation of toxic proteins to maintain cellular homeostasis.. Treatment of hepatoma cells expressing MAGE-A4 with a sublethal dose of Adriamycin increased the MAGE-A4 processing and sensitized the cells to Adriamycin-induced apoptosis. The processing of MAGE-A4 was inhibited by the proteasome inhibitors MG115, MG132, lactacystin and epoxamicin. MAGE-A4 was coimmunoprecipitated with the S6 proteasomal ATPase, and present in the fractions containing the proteasome during glycerol gradient centrifugation. Consistent with the notion that the proteasome cleaves MAGE-A4, the 26S proteasome, ubiquitin, and cell lysates were necessary for efficient in vitrocleavage of MAGE-A4.. The present study suggests that a low dose of Adriamycin increases the proteasome activity, which either maintains cellular homeostasis or leads to apoptosis depending, at least under the present conditions, on the expression of MAGE-A4.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antigens, Neoplasm; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line, Tumor; Chlorocebus aethiops; COS Cells; Doxorubicin; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Liver Neoplasms; Neoplasm Proteins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Ubiquitin

Previous studies have shown that inhibiting the activity of the proteasome leads to the accumulation of damaged or unfolded proteins within the cell. In this study, we report that proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin and carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucinal (MG132), induced the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins as well as a dose- and time-dependent increase in the relative levels of heat shock protein (HSP)30 and HSP70 and their respective mRNAs in Xenopus laevis A6 kidney epithelial cells. In A6 cells recovering from MG132 exposure, HSP30 and HSP70 levels were still elevated after 24 h but decreased substantially after 48 h. The activation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) may be involved in MG132-induced hsp gene expression in A6 cells since KNK437, a HSF1 inhibitor, repressed the accumulation of HSP30 and HSP70. Exposing A6 cells to simultaneous MG132 and mild heat shock enhanced the accumulation of HSP30 and HSP70 to a much greater extent than with each stressor alone. Immunocytochemical studies determined that HSP30 was localized primarily in the cytoplasm of lactacystin- or MG132-treated cells. In some cells treated with higher concentrations of MG132 or lactacystin, we observed in the cortical cytoplasm (1) relatively large HSP30 staining structures, (2) colocalization of actin and HSP30, and (3) cytoplasmic areas that were devoid of HSP30. Lastly, MG132 treatment of A6 cells conferred a state of thermotolerance such that they were able to survive a subsequent thermal challenge.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Epithelial Cells; Gene Expression Regulation; Heat Shock Transcription Factors; HSP30 Heat-Shock Proteins; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Proteasome Inhibitors; Temperature; Transcription Factors; Xenopus laevis

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is the causal gene for autosomal dominant familial Parkinson's disease. We have previously reported a novel molecular feature characteristic to I2020T mutant LRRK2: higher susceptibility to post-translational degradation than the wild-type LRRK2. In the present study, we demonstrated that the protective effect of I2020T LRRK2 against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis was impaired in comparison with the wild-type molecule. When the intracellular level of the protein had been allowed to recover by treatment with proteolysis inhibitors, the protective effect of I2020T LRRK2 against apoptosis was increased. We further confirmed that a decrease in the intracellular protein level of WT LRRK2 by knocking down resulted in a reduction of protectivity against apoptosis. These results suggest that higher susceptibility of I2020T mutant LRRK2 to intracellular degradation than the wild-type molecule may be one of the mechanisms involved in the neurodegeneration associated with this LRRK2 mutation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Chloroquine; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; Parkinson Disease; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a key role in signaling necessary for tissue remodeling and cell survival. However, signals from the ECM altered by disease, e.g. inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis and arthritis, may lead to apoptosis or programmed cell death of resident cells. Previously, we found that a disease-associated fibronectin fragment triggers apoptosis of primary human periodontal ligament cells via a novel apoptotic pathway in which the tumor suppressor, p53, is transcriptionally downregulated.. We used immunofluorescence, transfection assays, western blotting and ELISAs to show that p53 is degraded by a proteasomal pathway in response to a proapoptotic disease-associated fibronectin fragment.. We found that in these apoptotic conditions, p53 is further downregulated by post-translational ubiquitination and subsequent targeting to proteasomes for degradation. Pretreatment of cells with the proteasomal inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin rescued the cells from apoptosis. The p53 levels in cells transfected with ubiquitin small interfering RNA were resistant to degradation induced by the proapoptotic fibronectin fragment, showing that ubiquitination is important for the proapoptotic fibronectin fragment-induced degradation of p53.. These data show that a proapoptotic fibronectin matrix induces ubiquitination and degradation of p53 in the proteasome as part of a novel mechanism of apoptosis associated with inflammatory diseases.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Cell Culture Techniques; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Down-Regulation; Fibronectins; Humans; Leupeptins; Mutation; Peptide Fragments; Periodontal Ligament; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Isoforms; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Recombinant Proteins; RNA, Small Interfering; Transfection; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Ubiquitin

α-Synuclein (a-Syn) is a major component of fibrillar aggregates in Lewy bodies (LBs), a characteristic hallmark of Parkinson disease. Almost 90% of a-Syn deposited in LBs is phosphorylated at Ser-129. However, the role of Ser-129-phosphorylated a-Syn in the biogenesis of LBs remains unclear. Here, we investigated the metabolism of Ser-129-phosphorylated a-Syn. In SH-SY5Y cells, inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A/1 by okadaic acid, and inhibition of the proteasome pathway by MG132 or lactacystin accumulated Ser-129-phosphorylated a-Syn. However, these inhibitions did not alter the amounts of total a-Syn within the observation time. Inhibition of the autophagy-lysosome pathway by 3-methyladenine or chloroquine accumulated Ser-129-phosphorylated a-Syn in parallel to total a-Syn during longer incubations. Experiments using cycloheximide showed that Ser-129-phosphorylated a-Syn diminished rapidly (t(½) = 54.9 ± 6.4 min), in contrast to the stably expressed total a-Syn. The short half-life of Ser-129-phosphorylated a-Syn was blocked by MG132 to a greater extent than okadaic acid. In rat primary cortical neurons, either MG132, lactacystin, or okadaic acid accumulated Ser-129-phosphorylated a-Syn. Additionally, we did not find that phosphorylated a-Syn was ubiquitinated in the presence of proteasome inhibitors. These data show that Ser-129-phosphorylated a-Syn is targeted to the proteasome pathway in a ubiquitin-independent manner, in addition to undergoing dephosphorylation. The proteasome pathway may play a role in the biogenesis of Ser-129-phosphorylated a-Syn-rich LBs.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; alpha-Synuclein; Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Cerebral Cortex; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Humans; Leupeptins; Lewy Bodies; Neurons; Okadaic Acid; Parkinson Disease; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Phosphatase 1; Protein Phosphatase 2; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Rabbits; Ubiquitin

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway regulates many biological processes, including protein degradation, receptor endocytosis, protein sorting, subnuclear trafficking and neuronal differentiation. While proteasome inhibition is known to induce neurite outgrowth, the signaling mechanisms that mediate these effects have not been defined. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms that link proteasome inhibition with neurite generation. We found that the proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin, induced neurite outgrowth and also activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT pathways. These proteasome inhibitors also induced phosphorylation and ubiquitination of TrkA receptors, indicating that proteasome inhibition activates the major pathways of TrkA signaling. However, in contrast to nerve growth factor stimulation, which induces internalization of surface TrkA receptors, proteasome inhibitor-induced neurite outgrowth did not require TrkA receptor internalization. These results indicate that the ubiquitin-proteasome system regulates neurite formation through posttranslational modification of TrkA receptors.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Leupeptins; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Nerve Growth Factors; Neurites; PC12 Cells; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Rats; Receptor, trkA; Ubiquitination

Serum aldosterone level is clinically known to correlate with body weight and insulin resistance. Because the underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown, we examined the effect of aldosterone on insulin-induced metabolic signaling leading to glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Aldosterone reduced the amounts of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1 and IRS2 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. As a result, insulin-induced phosphorylation of Akt-1 and -2, and subsequent uptake of 2-deoxyglucose were decreased. Degradation of IRSs was effectively prevented by a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist and antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, but not by a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist. Because aldosterone induced phosphorylation of IRS1 at Ser(307), responsible kinases were investigated, and we revealed that rapamycin and BMS345541, but neither SP600125 nor calphostin C, conferred for degradation of IRSs. Although lactacystin prevented the degradation of IRSs, glucose uptake was not preserved. Importantly, sucrose-gradient-sediment intracellular fraction analysis revealed that lactacystin did not effectively restore the reduction of IRS1 in the low-density microsome fraction, important for the transduction of insulin's metabolic signaling. These results indicate that aldosterone deteriorates metabolic action of insulin by facilitating the degradation of IRS1 and IRS2 via glucocorticoid receptor-mediated production of reactive oxygen species, and activation of IkappaB Kinase beta and target of rapamycin complex 1. Thus, aldosterone appears to be a novel key factor in the development of insulin resistance in visceral obesity.

Topics: 3T3-L1 Cells; Acetylcysteine; Adenoviridae; Aldosterone; Animals; Biological Transport; Blotting, Western; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Glucose; Immunoprecipitation; Insulin; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; Leupeptins; Mice; Phosphorylation; Reactive Oxygen Species; Receptor, Insulin; Signal Transduction

The accumulation of misfolded and unfolded proteins in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) induces ER stress, activating the unfolded protein response (UPR). Recent evidence has suggested the relationship between UPR and dopaminergic neuronal cell death in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, it remains unclear whether it makes sense to modulate UPR, to mitigate the progression of PD. In this study, we investigated a role of the IRE1 alpha-XBP1 pathway in the survival of dopaminergic cells, under stress induced by PD-related insults. The exogenous expression of the active-form XBP1 (XBP1s) protein had protective effects against cell death induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and proteasome inhibitors. Moreover, adenoviral XBP1s expression significantly suppressed the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the mouse model of PD, as induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). These results demonstrate that the enhancement of XBP1 could be a novel PD therapeutic strategy.

Topics: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium; Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Death; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Dopamine; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Endoribonucleases; Humans; Leupeptins; Male; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Nerve Degeneration; Neurons; Parkinsonian Disorders; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Stress, Physiological; Transcription Factors; X-Box Binding Protein 1

The detection of cell cycle proteins in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains may represent an early event leading to neurodegeneration. To identify cell cycle modifiers with anti-Abeta properties, we assessed the effect of Differentiation-Inducing Factor-1 (DIF-1), a unique, small-molecule from Dictyostelium discoideum, on the proteolysis of the amyloid beta-protein precursor (APP) in a variety of different cell types. We show that DIF-1 slows cell cycle progression through G0/G1 that correlates with a reduction in cyclin D1 protein levels. Western blot analysis of DIF-treated cells and conditioned medium revealed decreases in the levels of secreted APP, mature APP, and C-terminal fragments. Assessment of conditioned media by sandwich ELISA showed reduced levels of Abeta40 and Abeta42, also demonstrating that treatment with DIF-1 effectively decreases the ratio of Abeta42 to Abeta40. In addition, DIF-1 significantly diminished APP phosphorylation at residue T668. Interestingly, site-directed mutagenesis of APP residue Thr668 to alanine or glutamic acid abolished the effect of DIF-1 on APP proteolysis and restored secreted levels of Abeta. Finally, DIF-1 prevented the accumulation of APP C-terminal fragments induced by the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin, and calpain inhibitor N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal (ALLN). Our findings suggest that DIF-1 affects G0/G1-associated amyloidogenic processing of APP by a gamma-secretase-, proteasome- and calpain-insensitive pathway, and that this effect requires the presence of residue Thr668.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; Animals; Benzazepines; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; Cyclin D1; Fibroblasts; Glioma; Hexanones; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Indoles; Leupeptins; Mice; Peptide Fragments; Proteasome Inhibitors; Purines; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Roscovitine; Threonine

Embryo implantation involves invasion of placental extravillous trophoblast cell (EVTs) into the uterus. Hyperactive EVT invasion occurs in hydatidiform moles and choriocarcinomas. We have previously demonstrated that the 20S proteasome is involved in mouse embryo implantation and its action is mediated via regulating the expression and activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in the EVTs. Our objective was to investigate whether low molecular mass polypeptide-2 (LMP2), a beta subunit of the 20S proteasome, is involved in the regulation of human trophoblast invasion. Normal human placentas or placentas from hydatidiform mole patients were collected and the expression of LMP2 in different cell types including trophoblastic column (TC), cytotrophoblast cells (CTB) and syncytiotrophoblast (STB) under different pathological states were studied by immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, the effect of LMP2 or proteasome on cell invasion was measured by using RNAi and inhibitors in a Matrigel invasion assay system in HTR-8/SVneo cells, a human invasive extravillous trophoblast cell line. Changes in the invasion-related molecules including MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also examined by using real time PCR and gelatin zymography. We demonstrated that the expression of LMP2 in TC of partial hydatidiform mole and complete hydatidiform mole, is higher than that in TC of normal human placentas. Besides, LMP2 knockdown significantly attenuated IL-1beta-induced cell invasion in vitro, a response readily induced by proteasome inhibitors. In summary, over-expression of the 20S proteasome beta-subunit LMP2 in trophoblast cells of hydatidiform moles may contribute to its highly invasive phenotype.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Cell Line; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Embryo Implantation; Female; Humans; Hydatidiform Mole; Immunohistochemistry; In Vitro Techniques; Interleukin-1beta; Leupeptins; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Placentation; Pregnancy; RNA Interference; Trophoblasts; Uterine Neoplasms

Glucosamine impairs hepatic apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) production by inducing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and enhancing cotranslational and posttranslational apoB100 degradation (Qiu, W., R. K. Avramoglu, A. C. Rutledge, J. Tsai, and K. Adeli. Mechanisms of glucosamine-induced suppression of the hepatic assembly and secretion of apolipoprotein B-100-containing lipoproteins. J. Lipid Res. 2006. 47: 1749-1761). Here, we report that glucosamine also regulates apoB100 protein synthesis via ER-stress-induced PERK activation. Short-term (4 h) glucosamine treatment of HepG2 cells reduced both cellular (by 62%) and secreted apoB100 (by 43%) without altering apoB100 mRNA. Treatment with proteasomal inhibitors only partially prevented the suppressive effects of glucosamine, suggesting that mechanisms other than proteasomal degradation may also be involved. Glucosamine-induced ER stress was associated with a significantly reduced apoB100 synthesis with no significant change in posttranslational decay rates, suggesting that glucosamine exerted its effect early during apoB biosynthesis. The role of PERK and its substrate, alpha-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2alpha), in the suppressive effects of glucosamine on apoB synthesis was then investigated. Coexpression of apoB15 (normally resistant to intracellular degradation) with wild-type double stranded (ds) RNA activated protein kinase (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) in COS-7 cells resulted in a dramatic reduction in the levels of newly synthesized apoB15. Interestingly, cotransfection with apoB15 and a kinase inactive PERK mutant (K618A) increased apoB15 expression. In addition, short-term glucosamine treatment stimulated an increase in phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2alpha. Taken together, these data suggest that in addition to the induction of ER-associated degradation and other degradative pathways, ER stress is associated with suppression of apoB synthesis via a PERK-dependent mechanism.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Activating Transcription Factor 6; Animals; Apolipoprotein B-100; Cell Line; eIF-2 Kinase; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; Endoribonucleases; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; Gene Expression Regulation; Glucosamine; Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Phosphorylation; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; RNA; Signal Transduction; Time Factors

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) plays a vital role in the regulation of protein degradation. Ubiquitination of proteins has been implicated in the pathological cascade associated with neuronal degeneration in both neurodegenerative disease and following acquired central nervous system (CNS) injury. In the present study, we have investigated the role of the UPS following mild to moderate in vitro axonal stretch injury to mature primary cortical neurons, a model of the evolving axonal pathology characteristic of diffuse axonal injury following brain trauma. Transient axonal stretch injury in this model does not involve primary axotomy. However, delayed accumulation of ubiquitin in neuritic swellings at 48 h post-injury (PI) was present in axonal bundles, followed by approximately 60% of axonal bundles progressing to secondary axotomy at 72 h PI. This delayed accumulation of ubiquitin was temporally and spatially associated with cytoskeletal damage. Pharmacological inhibition of the UPS with both MG132 and lactacystin prior to axonal injury resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the number of axonal bundles progressing to secondary axotomy at 48 and 72 h PI. These results demonstrate that, following mild to moderate transient axonal stretch injury, UPS activity may assist structural reorganization within axons, potentially impeding secondary axotomy. Protein ubiquitination in the axon may therefore have a protective role relative to the diffuse axonal changes that follow traumatic brain injury.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Axons; Axotomy; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Immunohistochemistry; Leupeptins; Neurofilament Proteins; Neurons; Phosphorylation; Physical Stimulation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitination

We investigated the effects of brefeldin A and ilimaquinone, inhibitors of membrane trafficking, using serotonin transporter (SERT)-expressing COS-7 cells. Both drugs significantly inhibited the serotonin uptake activity of SERT and caused SERT to be retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), indicating that membrane trafficking is an important factor for SERT functional regulation. In agreement with previous reports, a C-terminal-deletion mutant of SERT (SERTDeltaCT) mostly localized to the ER and completely lacked serotonin uptake activity. To further elucidate the role of the C-terminus of SERT, we investigated whether overexpression of FLAG-tagged SERT C-terminus (FLAG-SERT-CT) affected the serotonin uptake activity and glycosylation of SERT. Interestingly, when concomitantly expressed with full-length FLAG-SERT in COS-7 cells, FLAG-SERT-CT increased the serotonin uptake activity and mature glycosylation of FLAG-SERT. These results indicate that the C-terminal region of SERT plays a crucial role in the functional regulation of SERT via membrane trafficking and glycosylation. In addition, proteasome inhibitors induced apparent ER stress, significantly decreased the serotonin uptake activity and mature glycosylation of SERT and caused SERT to be localized to the ER, suggesting that SERT function would be attenuated via membrane trafficking in pathological states that trigger ER stress.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Binding Sites; Brefeldin A; Chlorocebus aethiops; COS Cells; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Glycosylation; Leupeptins; Membrane Transport Modulators; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Protein Transport; Quinones; Sequence Deletion; Serotonin; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Sesquiterpenes; Structure-Activity Relationship; Transfection

Glutamate transporters play a crucial role in physiological glutamate homeostasis, neurotoxicity, and glutamatergic regulation of opioid tolerance. However, how the glutamate transporter turnover is regulated remains poorly understood. Here we show that chronic morphine exposure induced posttranscriptional down-regulation of the glutamate transporter EAAC1 in C6 glioma cells with a concurrent decrease in glutamate uptake and increase in proteasome activity, which were blocked by the selective proteasome inhibitor MG-132 or lactacystin but not the lysosomal inhibitor chloroquin. At the cellular level, chronic morphine induced the PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome Ten)-mediated up-regulation of the ubiquitin E3 ligase Nedd4 via cAMP/protein kinase A signaling, leading to EAAC1 ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Either Nedd4 or PTEN knockdown with small interfering RNA prevented the morphine-induced EAAC1 degradation and decreased glutamate uptake. These data indicate that cAMP/protein kinase A signaling serves as an intracellular regulator upstream to the activation of the PTEN/Nedd4-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome system activity that is critical for glutamate transporter turnover. Under an in vivo condition, chronic morphine exposure also induced posttranscriptional down-regulation of the glutamate transporter EAAC1, which was prevented by MG-132, and transcriptional up-regulation of PTEN and Nedd4 within the spinal cord dorsal horn. Thus, inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated glutamate transporter degradation may be an important mechanism for preventing glutamate overexcitation and may offer a new strategy for treating certain neurological disorders and improving opioid therapy in chronic pain management.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Chloroquine; Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 3; Humans; Leupeptins; Male; Morphine; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Ubiquitin

The novel naphthalimide derivative R16 has been demonstrated to exhibit potent in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity by inhibiting topoisomerase II (Top2). R16 induces G(2) arrest via an ATM-activated Chk2-executed pathway, accompanied by reducing Chk1. In this study, R16 was demonstrated to trigger time and concentration-dependent Chk1 reduction which was unrelated to the mRNA level and HSP90-involved degradation. Pretreatment of HCT116 cells with the proteasome inhibitors MG132 or lactacystin prevented Chk1 decline induced by R16, accompanied by significant accumulation of ubiquitinated Chk1 protein, indicating the involvement of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Meanwhile, R16 also resulted in loss of Chk1 function. By site-specifically mutating the phosphorylation sites of Chk1 protein at Ser317 or at Ser345, we further demonstrated that R16-triggered Chk1 reduction was associated with its apoptotic induction and cell killing. In conclusion, the data reveal that the novel Top2 inhibitor R16 induces degradation of Chk1 via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, impairing the function of Chk1 and thus contributing to the anticancer activity of R16.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Checkpoint Kinase 1; Enzyme Inhibitors; Flow Cytometry; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Naphthalimides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Kinases; Thiophenes; Time Factors; Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; Ubiquitin

When a replicative DNA polymerase encounters a lesion on the template strand and stalls, it is replaced with another polymerase(s) with low processivity that bypasses the lesion to continue DNA synthesis. This phenomenon is known as translesion replication or replicative bypass. Failing this, the cell is increasingly likely to undergo apoptosis. In this study, we found that proteasome inhibitors prevent translesion replication in human cancer cells but not in normal cells. Three proteasome inhibitors, MG-132, lactacystin, and MG-262, inhibited UV-induced translesion replication in a wide range of cancer cell lines, including HeLa, HGC-27, MCF-7, HepG2, WiDr, a malignant melanoma, an acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and a multiple myeloma cell line; irrespective of cell origin, histological type, or p53 status. In contrast, these inhibitors had little or no influence on normal fibroblasts (NB1RGB and TIG-1) or a normal liver mesenchymal (LI90) cell line. Among the DNA-damaging antineoplastic agents, cisplatin caused a UV-type translesion reaction; the proteasome inhibitors delayed cisplatin-induced translesion replication in cancer cell lines but had only a weak effect on normal cell lines. Therefore, translesion replication would be an effective target of proteasome inhibitors for cancer chemotherapy by which cancer cells can be efficiently sensitized to DNA-damaging antineoplastic agents, such as cisplatin.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Boronic Acids; Caffeine; Cells, Cultured; Cisplatin; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; HeLa Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Neoplasms; Proteasome Inhibitors; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ultraviolet Rays

The tumour suppressor p33(ING1b) ((ING1b) for inhibitor of growth family, member 1b) is important in cellular stress responses, including cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, chromatin remodelling and DNA repair; however, its degradation pathway is still unknown. Recently, we showed that genotoxic stress induces p33(ING1b) phosphorylation at Ser 126, and abolishment of Ser 126 phosphorylation markedly shortened its half-life. Therefore, we suggest that Ser 126 phosphorylation modulates the interaction of p33(ING1b) with its degradation machinery, stabilizing this protein. Combining the use of inhibitors of the main degradation pathways in the nucleus (proteasome and calpains), partial isolation of the proteasome complex, and in vitro interaction and degradation assays, we set out to determine the degradation mechanism of p33(ING1b). We found that p33(ING1b) is degraded in the 20S proteasome and that NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), an oxidoreductase previously shown to modulate the degradation of p53 in the 20S proteasome, inhibits the degradation of p33(ING1b). Furthermore, ultraviolet irradiation induces p33(ING1b) phosphorylation at Ser 126, which, in turn, facilitates its interaction with NQO1.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Humans; Inhibitor of Growth Protein 1; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Leupeptins; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); Nuclear Proteins; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Serine; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Ultraviolet Rays

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is up-regulated in response to a nerve lesion and promotes axonal regeneration by activation of the tyrosine kinase receptor fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1). To determine the effects of elevated FGFR1 levels on neurite outgrowth, overexpression was combined with lysosomal inhibition of receptor degradation. In pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, FGFR1 overexpression resulted in flattened morphology, increased neurite outgrowth and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and AKT. Degradation of FGFR1 was inhibited by the lysosomal inhibitor leupeptin and by the proteasomal inhibitor lactacystin. In rat primary adult neurons, FGFR1 overexpression enhanced FGF-2-induced axon growth which was further increased by co-treatment with leupeptin. Lysosomal inhibition of receptor degradation concomitant with ligand stimulation of neurons overexpressing FGFR1 provides new insight in tyrosine kinase receptor-mediated promotion of axon regeneration and demonstrates that adult sensory neurons express sub-optimal levels of tyrosine kinase receptors for neurotrophic factors.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Blotting, Western; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Ganglia, Spinal; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Leupeptins; Ligands; Lysosomes; Neurites; PC12 Cells; Pheochromocytoma; Rats; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensory Receptor Cells; Signal Transduction

Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant that has been associated with male reproductive toxicity in both humans and animal models. The underlying mechanism of this response, however, is still uncharacterized. To address this issue, we employed a recently developed and optimized three-dimensional primary Sertoli cell-gonocyte coculture system and examined the time- and dose-dependent effects of Cd on morphological alterations, cell viability, activation of stress signaling pathway proteins, and the disruption of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Our results demonstrated that Cd exposure lead to time- and dose-dependent morphological changes that are associated with the induction of apoptosis. In response to Cd, we also saw a disruption of the UPS as evaluated through the accumulation of high-molecular weight polyubiquitinated proteins (HMW-polyUb) as well as alterations in proteasome activity. Robust activation of cellular stress response, measured through the increased phosphorylation of stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun N-terminal kinase and p38, paralleled the accumulation of HMW-polyUb. In addition, p53, a key regulatory protein, was upregulated and underwent increased ubiquitination in response to Cd. To further characterize the role of the UPS in Cd cellular response, we compared the above changes with two classic proteasomal inhibitors, lactacystin, and MG132. The stress response and the accumulation of HWM-polyUb induced by Cd were consistent with the response seen with MG132 but not with lactacystin. In addition, Cd treatment resulted in a dose- and time-dependent effect on proteasome activity, but the overall Cd-induced proteasomal inhibition was unique as compared to MG132 and lactacystin. Taken together, our studies further characterize Cd-induced in vitro testicular toxicity and highlight the potential role of the UPS in this response.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Cadmium Compounds; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Leupeptins; Male; Oxidative Stress; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sertoli Cells; Signal Transduction; Spermatogonia; Ubiquitins

Surfactant proteins maintain lung function through their actions to reduce alveolar surface tension and control of innate immune responses in the lung. The ubiquitin proteasome pathway is responsible for the degradation of majority of intracellular proteins in eukaryotic cells, and proteasome dysfunction has been linked to the development of neurodegenerative, cardiac, and other diseases. Proteasome function is impaired in interstitial lung diseases associated with surfactant protein C (SP-C) mutation mapping to the BRICHOS domain located in the proSP-C protein. In this study we determined the effects of proteasome inhibition on surfactant protein expression in H441 and MLE-12 lung epithelial cells to understand the relationship between proteasome dysfunction and surfactant protein gene expression. Proteasome inhibitors lactacystin and MG132 reduced the levels of SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C mRNAs in a concentration-dependent manner in H441 and MLE-12 cells. In H441 cells, lactacystin and MG132 inhibition of SP-B mRNA was associated with similar decreases in SP-B protein, and the inhibition was due to inhibition of gene transcription. Proteasome inhibitors decreased thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1)/Nkx2.1 DNA binding activity, and the reduced TTF-1 DNA binding activity was due to reduced expression levels of TTF-1 protein. These data indicated that the ubiquitin proteasome pathway is essential for the maintenance of surfactant protein gene expression and that disruption of this pathway inhibits surfactant protein gene expression via reduced expression of TTF-1 protein.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Base Sequence; Cell Line; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dexamethasone; DNA-Binding Proteins; Epithelial Cells; Gene Expression; Humans; Leupeptins; Lung; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein C; RNA, Messenger; Transcription Factors

p120-catenin contributes to the cadherin-mediated adhesion and aggregation of cells. mu-Calpain was activated and p120-catenin was degraded after 36 h of ischemia in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Calpain inhibitors Cbz-Val-Phe-H (MDL28170, 20 microM) and N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal (ALLN, 20 microM) increased the levels of dephosphorylated p120-catenin, aggregation, and cell survival as detected by reduced LDH release in ischemic cells. However, a proteasome inhibitor lactacystin had no such effects. This is the first report of the calpain-mediated degradation of p120-catenin and an association between the level of dephosphorylated p120-catenin and cell aggregation in ischemic neuronal cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Calpain; Catenins; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cell Aggregation; Cell Death; Cell Line, Tumor; Delta Catenin; Dipeptides; Humans; Ischemia; Leupeptins; Neuroblastoma; Phosphoproteins

Iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1) controls the translation or stability of several mRNAs by binding to "iron-responsive elements" within their untranslated regions. In iron-replete cells, IRP1 assembles a cubane iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) that inhibits RNA-binding activity and converts the protein to cytosolic aconitase. We show that the constitutive IRP1(C437S) mutant, which fails to form an ISC, is destabilized by iron. Thus, exposure of H1299 cells to ferric ammonium citrate reduced the half-life of transfected IRP1(C437S) from approximately 24 h to approximately 10 h. The iron-dependent degradation of IRP1(C437S) involved ubiquitination, required ongoing transcription and translation, and could be efficiently blocked by the proteasomal inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin. Similar results were obtained with overexpressed wild-type IRP1, which predominated in the apo-form even in iron-loaded H1299 cells, possibly due to saturation of the ISC assembly machinery. Importantly, inhibition of ISC biogenesis in HeLa cells by small interfering RNA knockdown of the cysteine desulfurase Nfs1 sensitized endogenous IRP1 for iron-dependent degradation. Collectively, these data uncover a mechanism for the regulation of IRP1 abundance as a means to control its RNA-binding activity, when the ISC assembly pathway is impaired.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Carbon-Sulfur Lyases; Cell Line, Tumor; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Humans; Iron; Iron Regulatory Protein 1; Leupeptins; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mutation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Biosynthesis; Transcriptional Activation; Ubiquitin

Lafora disease (LD), an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the presence of cytoplasmic polyglucosan inclusions known as Lafora bodies in several tissues including the brain. Laforin, a protein phosphatase, and malin, an ubiquitin ligase, are two of the proteins that are known to be defective in LD. Malin interacts with laforin and promotes its polyubiquitination and degradation. Here we show that malin and laforin co-localize in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and that they form centrosomal aggregates when treated with proteasomal inhibitors in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Laforin/malin aggregates co-localize with gamma-tubulin and cause redistribution of alpha-tubulin. These aggregates are also immunoreactive to ubiquitin, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, ER chaperone and proteasome subunits, demonstrating their aggresome-like properties. Furthermore, we show that the centrosomal aggregation of laforin and malin is dependent on the functional microtubule network. Laforin and malin form aggresome when expressed together or otherwise, suggesting that the two proteins are recruited to the centrosome independent of each other. Taken together, our results suggest that the centrosomal accumulation of malin, possibly with the help of laforin, may enhance the ubiquitination of its substrates and facilitate their efficient degradation by proteasome. Defects in malin or laforin may thus lead to increased levels of misfolded and/or target proteins, which may eventually affect the physiological processes of the neuron. Thus, defects in protein degradation and clearance are likely to be the primary trigger in the physiopathology of LD.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Carrier Proteins; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Centrosome; Chlorocebus aethiops; COS Cells; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunohistochemistry; Inclusion Bodies; Lafora Disease; Leupeptins; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Binding; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Non-Receptor; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Transfection; Tubulin; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis occupies a parasitophorous vacuole and employs a type III secretion mechanism to translocate host-interactive proteins. These proteins most likely contribute to pathogenesis through modulation of host cell mechanisms crucial for the establishment and maintenance of a permissive intracellular environment. Using a surrogate Yersinia type III secretion system (T3SS), we have identified the conserved gene product CT847 as a chlamydial T3SS substrate. Yeast two-hybrid studies using CT847 as bait to screen a HeLa cell cDNA library identified an interaction with mammalian Grap2 cyclin D-interacting protein (GCIP). Immunoblot analyses of C. trachomatis-infected HeLa cells showed that GCIP levels begin to decrease (as compared with mock-infected HeLa cells) between 8 h and 12 h post infection. GCIP was virtually undetectable in 24 h time point material. This decrease was inhibited by proteasome inhibitors lactacystin and MG-132, and the T3SS inhibitor Compound 1. CT847 was detectible in purified reticulate body but not elementary body lysates, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) expression analyses indicate a mid-cycle expression pattern. Both of these findings are consistent with CT847 contributing to the observed effect on GCIP. Given the established roles of GCIP, we believe that we have discovered a novel C. trachomatis antihost protein whose activity is relevant to chlamydial pathogenesis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Bacterial Proteins; Chlamydia Infections; Chlamydia trachomatis; Gene Library; HeLa Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Binding; Protein Interaction Mapping; Transcription Factors; Yersinia

Mutation in the X-chromosomal adrenoleukodystrophy gene (ALD; ABCD1) leads to X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), a severe neurodegenerative disorder. The encoded adrenoleukodystrophy protein (ALDP/ABCD1) is a half-size peroxisomal ATP-binding cassette protein of 745 amino acids in humans. In this study, we chose nine arbitrary mutant human ALDP forms (R104C, G116R, Y174C, S342P, Q544R, S606P, S606L, R617H, and H667D) with naturally occurring missense mutations and examined the intracellular behavior. When expressed in X-ALD fibroblasts lacking ALDP, the expression level of mutant His-ALDPs (S606L, R617H, and H667D) was lower than that of wild type and other mutant ALDPs. Furthermore, mutant ALDP-green fluorescence proteins (S606L and H667D) stably expressed in CHO cells were not detected due to rapid degradation. Interestingly, the wild type ALDP co-expressed in these cells also disappeared. In the case of X-ALD fibroblasts from an ALD patient (R617H), the mutant ALDP was not detected in the cells, but appeared upon incubation with a proteasome inhibitor. When CHO cells expressing mutant ALDP-green fluorescence protein (H667D) were cultured in the presence of a proteasome inhibitor, both the mutant and wild type ALDP reappeared. In addition, mutant His-ALDP (Y174C), which has a mutation between transmembrane domain 2 and 3, did not exhibit peroxisomal localization by immunofluorescense study. These results suggest that mutant ALDPs, which have a mutation in the COOH-terminal half of ALDP, including S606L, R617H, and H667D, were degraded by proteasomes after dimerization. Further, the region between transmembrane domain 2 and 3 is important for the targeting of ALDP to the peroxisome.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adrenoleukodystrophy; Animals; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Member 1; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; Fibroblasts; Humans; Leupeptins; Mutation, Missense; Proteasome Inhibitors; Subcellular Fractions

p63 is a member of the p53 protein family that regulates differentiation and morphogenesis in epithelial tissues and is required for the formation of squamous epithelia. Barrett's mucosa is a glandular metaplasia of the squamous epithelium that develops in the lower esophagus in the context of chronic, gastroesophageal reflux and is considered as a precursor for adenocarcinoma. Normal or squamous cancer esophageal cells were exposed to deoxycholic acid (DCA, 50, 100, or 200 microM) and chenodeoxycholic and taurochenodeoxycholic acid at pH 5. p63 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions were studied by Western blot and RT-PCR. DCA exposure at pH 5 led to a spectacular decrease in the levels of all isoforms of the p63 proteins. This decrease was observed within minutes of exposure, with a synergistic effect between DCA and acid. Within the same time frame, levels of p63 mRNA were relatively unaffected, whereas levels of COX-2, a marker of stress responses often induced in Barrett's mucosa, were increased. Similar results were obtained with chenodeoxycholic acid but not its taurine conjugate at pH 5. Proteasome inhibition by lactacystin or MG-132 partially blocked the decrease in p63, suggesting a posttranslational degradation mechanism. These results show that combined exposure to bile salt and acid downregulates a critical regulator of squamous differentiation, providing a mechanism to explain the replacement of squamous epithelium by a glandular metaplasia upon exposure of the lower esophagus to gastric reflux.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Barrett Esophagus; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Line, Tumor; Cells, Cultured; Chenodeoxycholic Acid; Cyclooxygenase 2; Deoxycholic Acid; DNA-Binding Proteins; Down-Regulation; Doxorubicin; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagus; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Leupeptins; Proteasome Inhibitors; Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid; Trans-Activators; Transcription Factors; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is the etiological agent of a highly contagious disease in chickens. In a recent report, proteasome inhibitor MG132 has been shown to completely inhibit IBDV-induced apoptosis. This raises the possibility that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway may be used by the virus to promote viral replication. In this study, we examined the interplay between IBDV replication and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in cultured cells. Treatment of DF-1 cells with the proteasome inhibitors MG132 or lactacystin significantly decreased virus release in the supernatant and prevented virus-induced cytopathic effect. Inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway did reduce markedly viral RNA transcription and protein translation but not affect virus internalization. We also demonstrated that IBDV activates caspase pathway via triggering the efflux of cytochrome c in mitochondria into cytosol of infected cells. This activity was dose-dependently reduced by proteasome inhibitor treatment. Taken together, our data suggest that proteasome inhibitor reduces IBDV replication through inhibition of viral RNA transcription and protein synthesis, and thus preventing IBDV-induced apoptosis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line; Chick Embryo; Chickens; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Fibroblasts; Infectious bursal disease virus; Leupeptins; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Biosynthesis; RNA, Viral; Transcription, Genetic; Viral Proteins; Virus Internalization

NSAIDs cause severe gastrointestinal injury, in part by suppressing survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis protein, both in cultured gastric epithelial cells and in human and rat gastric mucosa. The mechanism(s) of survivin down-regulation by NSAIDs is unclear. In this study, we examined whether NSAID treatment decreases survivin mRNA expression and/or enhances degradation of survivin protein via ubiquitin proteasome system in rat gastric mucosal, RGM-1 cells, and whether survivin overexpression prevents indomethacin-induced cell injury and apoptosis. Effects of indomethacin on survivin mRNA expression, survivin protein half-life and ubiquitination were examined in RGM-1 cells. Proteasome inhibitors were utilized to prevent indomethacin-induced survivin protein degradation in RGM-1 cells. The effects of stable overexpression of survivin on indomethacin-induced RGM-1 cell injury and apoptosis were examined. Results showed: (1) Indomethacin treatment did not alter survivin mRNA expression, but significantly reduced survivin protein half-life from 1.5h to approximately 1h and increased survivin ubiquitination. (2) Inhibition of ubiquitin proteasome prolonged survivin protein half-life to over 2h and inhibited indomethacin-induced survivin degradation. (3) Overexpression of survivin significantly reduced indomethacin-induced cell injury and apoptosis. In conclusion, indomethacin treatment enhances degradation of survivin via the ubiquitin proteasome machinery in RGM-1 cells, and maintenance of survivin levels is important for prevention of gastric epithelial cell injury and apoptosis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Apoptosis; Cell Line; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Epithelial Cells; Indomethacin; Leupeptins; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rats; RNA, Messenger; Stomach; Survivin; Ubiquitination

Nitric oxide (NO) production through the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway is increased in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines and bacterial products. In inflammation, NO has pro-inflammatory and regulatory effects. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), members of the nuclear steroid receptor superfamily, regulate not only metabolic but also inflammatory processes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of PPARalpha in the regulation of NO production and iNOS expression in activated macrophages.. The effects of PPARalpha agonists were investigated on iNOS mRNA and protein expression, on NO production and on the activation of transcription factors NF-kappaB and STAT1 in J774 murine macrophages exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).. PPARalpha agonists GW7647 and WY14643 reduced LPS-induced NO production in a dose-dependent manner as measured by the accumulation of nitrite into the culture medium. However, PPARalpha agonists did not alter LPS-induced iNOS mRNA expression or activation of NF-kappaB or STAT1 which are important transcription factors for iNOS. Nevertheless, iNOS protein levels were reduced by PPARalpha agonists in a time-dependent manner. The reduction was markedly greater after 24 h incubation than after 8 h incubation. Treatment with the proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin or MG132, reversed the decrease in iNOS protein levels caused by PPARalpha agonists.. The results suggest that PPARalpha agonists reduce LPS-induced iNOS expression and NO production in macrophages by enhancing iNOS protein degradation through the proteasome pathway. The results offer an additional mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of PPARalpha agonists.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Butyrates; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Leupeptins; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Mice; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Phenylurea Compounds; PPAR alpha; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Pyrimidines; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; STAT1 Transcription Factor

This study aimed to investigate redox regulation of the proteasome as well as the effect of proteasome inhibition on intracellular oxidative status and apoptosis.. Oxidative stress was induced in cultured human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) and intact mouse lenses by 100 microM H2O2. HLECs were also exposed to the reduced and the oxidized forms of glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and the reducing agent dithiotreitol (DTT). The chymotrypsin-like, the trypsin-like, and the peptidylglutamyl peptidase activities of the proteasome were measured using synthetic fluorogenic substrates. Superoxide as well as peroxide production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the level of GSH was measured in HLECs after proteasome inhibition by MG-132 or lactacystin. Apoptosis was determined by measuring caspase-3 activation and by studying apoptotic nuclei after staining with Hoechst 33342.. All three peptidase activities of the proteasome were inhibited by 100 microM H2O2 and by the oxidized form of glutathione (GSSG), whereas the reduced form (GSH) stimulated chymotrypsin-like and peptidylglutamyl peptidase activities in HLECs lysates. Intact mouse lenses exposed to 100 microM H2O2 exhibited loss of transparency and trends of decreased chymotrypsin-like proteasome activity as well as decreased GSH levels. Inhibition of the proteasome in cultured HLECs caused significant increase in apoptosis and disturbed intracellular redox balance. Simultaneous addition of exogenous GSH completely abolished the increased apoptosis seen after MG-132 treatment.. This study supports the hypothesis that intracellular proteolytic and oxidative regulatory systems are tightly coupled. The current data also indicate that apoptosis by proteasome inhibition is mediated through oxidative mechanisms.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Epithelial Cells; Glutathione; Glutathione Disulfide; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; In Vitro Techniques; Intracellular Membranes; Lens, Crystalline; Leupeptins; Mice; Oxidants; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Peptide Hydrolases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

Lung epithelium in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is characterized by structural damage and altered repair due to oxidative stress. To gain insight into the oxidative stress-related damage in CF, we studied the effects of hyperoxia in CF and normal lung epithelial cell lines. In response to a 95% O2 exposure, both cell lines exhibited increased reactive oxygen species. Unexpectedly, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 protein was undetectable in CF cells under hyperoxia, contrasting with increased levels of p21WAF1/CIP1 in normal cells. In both cell lines, exposure to hyperoxia led to S-phase arrest. Apoptotic features including nuclear condensation, DNA laddering, Annexin V incorporation, and elevated caspase-3 activity were not readily observed in CF cells in contrast to normal cells. Interestingly, treatment of hyperoxia-exposed CF cells with two proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin, restored p21WAF1/CIP1 protein and was associated with an increase of caspase-3 activity. Moreover, transfection of p21WAF1/CIP1 protein in CF cells led to increased caspase-3 activity and was associated with increased apoptotic cell death, specifically under hyperoxia. Taken together, our data suggest that modulating p21WAF1/CIP1 degradation may have the therapeutic potential of reducing lung epithelial damage related to oxidative stress in CF patients.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Annexin A5; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspases; Cells, Cultured; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cystic Fibrosis; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Hyperoxia; Leupeptins; Lung; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Reactive Oxygen Species; S Phase

Ku70 plays an important role in DNA damage repair and prevention of cell death. Previously, we reported that apoptosis caused a decrease in cellular Ku70 levels. In this study, we analyzed the mechanism of how Ku70 levels decrease during drug-induced apoptosis. In HeLa cells, staurosporin (STS) caused a decrease in Ku70 levels without significantly affecting Ku70 mRNA levels. We found that Ku70 protein was highly ubiquitinated in various cell types, such as HeLa, HEK293T, Dami (a megakaryocytic cell line), endothelial, and rat kidney cells. An increase in ubiquitinated Ku70 protein was observed in apoptotic cells, and proteasome inhibitors attenuated the decrease in Ku70 levels in apoptotic cells. These results suggest that the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway plays a role in decreasing Ku70 levels in apoptotic cells. Ku70 forms a heterodimer with Ku80, which is required for the DNA repair activity of Ku proteins. We also found that Ku80 levels decreased in apoptotic cells and that Ku80 is a target of ubiquitin. Ubiquitinated Ku70 was not found in the Ku70-Ku80 heterodimer, suggesting that modification by ubiquitin inhibits Ku heterodimer formation. We propose that the ubiquitin-dependent modification of Ku70 plays an important role in the control of cellular levels of Ku70.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; Antigens, Nuclear; Apoptosis; Caspase Inhibitors; Cell Line; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Doxorubicin; Gene Expression; HeLa Cells; Humans; Ku Autoantigen; Leupeptins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Signal Transduction; Staurosporine; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes

Tissue fibrosis results when dysregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover favors deposition of collagen and other ECM proteins over degradation. Fibrosis may then lead to organ dysfunction and pathology as observed in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In the present study, we investigated the antifibrotic properties of proteasome blockade. A dose- and time-dependent reduction in type-I collagen and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) production was observed in normal fibroblasts exposed to proteasome inhibitors (PI). In the same culture conditions, metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) protein and the collagenolytic activity on type I collagen was increased. The steady-state mRNA levels of COL1A1, TIMP-1, and MMP-1 paralleled protein levels. These effects were dominant over the profibrotic properties of TGF-beta and were observed with fibroblasts generated from normal and SSc skin. PI decreased type I collagen mRNA levels with kinetics similar to those observed with DRB, a specific RNA polymerase II inhibitor, thus indicating transcriptional inhibition. Of interest, PI induced c-Jun phosphorylation and c-Jun nuclear accumulation. The specific N-terminal Jun-kinase inhibitor SP-600125 selectively abrogated c-Jun phosphorylation and, in a dose-dependent fashion, the up-regulated synthesis of MMP-1 induced by PI. Finally, PI did not affect fibroblast viability. Thus, the coordinated down-regulation of collagen and TIMP-1 and up-regulation of MMP-1 renders proteasome blockade an attractive strategy for treating conditions as SSc, characterized by excessive fibrosis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Anthracenes; Boronic Acids; Bortezomib; Collagen Type I; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Down-Regulation; Extracellular Matrix; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Genes, jun; Humans; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; Pyrazines; RNA Polymerase II; RNA, Messenger; Scleroderma, Systemic; Skin; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Up-Regulation

Cyclin D1 is an important regulator of G1-S phase cell cycle transition and has been shown to be important for breast cancer development. GSK3beta phosphorylates cyclin D1 on Thr-286, resulting in enhanced ubiquitylation, nuclear export and degradation of the cyclin in the cytoplasm. Recent findings suggest that the development of small-molecule cyclin D1 ablative agents is of clinical relevance. We have previously shown that the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) induces the rapid ubiquitin-dependent degradation of cyclin D1 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells prior to repression of cyclin D1 gene (CCND1) transcription. TSA treatment also resulted in accumulation of polyubiquitylated GFP-cyclin D1 species and reduced levels of the recombinant protein within the nucleus.. Here we provide further evidence for TSA-induced ubiquitin-dependent degradation of cyclin D1 and demonstrate that GSK3beta-mediated nuclear export facilitates this activity. Our observations suggest that TSA treatment results in enhanced cyclin D1 degradation via the GSK3beta/CRM1-dependent nuclear export/26S proteasomal degradation pathway in MCF-7 cells.. We have demonstrated that rapid TSA-induced cyclin D1 degradation in MCF-7 cells requires GSK3beta-mediated Thr-286 phosphorylation and the ubiquitin-dependent 26S proteasome pathway. Drug induced cyclin D1 repression contributes to the inhibition of breast cancer cell proliferation and can sensitize cells to CDK and Akt inhibitors. In addition, anti-cyclin D1 therapy may be highly specific for treating human breast cancer. The development of potent and effective cyclin D1 ablative agents is therefore of clinical relevance. Our findings suggest that HDAC inhibitors may have therapeutic potential as small-molecule cyclin D1 ablative agents.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Nucleus; Cyclin D1; Cytoplasm; Enzyme Inhibitors; Exportin 1 Protein; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Humans; Hydroxamic Acids; Karyopherins; Leupeptins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; RNA Interference; Transfection; Ubiquitin

The durability of the ubiquitin proteasome pathway in the mammalian lens makes this enzyme system a potential contributor to certain cataracts and posterior capsular opacification (PCO). The present study addresses proteasome involvement in TGF-beta induced, cataract-associated gene activation in human lens cells.. HLE B-3 cells were treated with TGF-beta, in combination with the proteasome inhibitors MG-132 or lactacystin. TGF-beta target gene expression was measured by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Annexin-FITC staining and flow cytometry were used to assess apoptosis levels. Western blot analyses were performed with anti-SnoN and anti-Smad2 antibodies.. TGF-beta induced the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and TGF-beta-inducible gene mRNA in HLE B-3 cells and primary cultured human lens cells from donor tissues. TGF-beta also induced a time-dependent decrease in the level of the Smad repressor SnoN. Gamma-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) mRNA levels decreased in the presence of TGF-beta. Proteasome inhibitor cotreatment blocked the induction of alpha-SMA mRNA, the loss of SnoN protein, the decrease in gamma-GCS mRNA, and TGF-beta-induced apoptosis.. The HLE B-3 cell line and primary cultured human lens cells respond similarly to TGF-beta treatments by activating cataract-related gene expression. This response in both of these model systems is blocked by inhibiting the proteasome. This suggests that the proteasome can mediate cataract and PCO-associated changes and therefore is a novel target of medical therapy.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Actins; Annexins; Blotting, Western; Cataract; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Epithelial Cells; Fibronectins; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Gene Expression Regulation; Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Lens, Crystalline; Leupeptins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Smad2 Protein; Transcriptional Activation; Transforming Growth Factor beta

The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) is generally regarded as an antiapoptotic factor. Accordingly, NF-kappaB activation inhibits death ligand-induced apoptosis. In contrast, ultraviolet light B (UVB)-induced apoptosis is not inhibited but even enhanced upon NF-kappaB activation by interleukin-1 (IL-1). This study was performed to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying this switch of NF-kappaB. Enhancement of UVB-induced apoptosis was always associated with increased release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which was dependent on NF-kappaB activation. The same was observed when UVA and cisplatin were used, which like UVB induce base modifications. In contrast, apoptosis caused by DNA strand breaks was not enhanced by IL-1, indicating that the type of DNA damage is critical for switching the effect of NF-kappaB on apoptosis. Surprisingly, activated NF-kappaB induced TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the presence of all DNA damage-inducing agents. However, in the presence of DNA strand breaks, there was no release of the TNF-alpha protein, which is so crucial for enhancing apoptosis. Together, this indicates that induction of DNA damage may have a significant impact on biological effects but it is the type of DNA damage that determines the final outcome. This may have implications for the role of NF-kappaB in carcinogenesis and for the application of NF-kappaB inhibitors in anticancer therapy.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Chromosome Breakage; Cisplatin; Comet Assay; DNA Damage; Doxorubicin; Etoposide; Gamma Rays; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; I-kappa B Kinase; I-kappa B Proteins; Interleukin-1; Interleukin-6; KB Cells; Leupeptins; NF-kappa B; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; Nitriles; Proteasome Inhibitors; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; RNA, Messenger; Sulfones; Transcription, Genetic; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Ultraviolet Rays

EGF suppresses proteolysis via class 1 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in renal tubular cells. EGF also increases the abundance of glycolytic enzymes (e.g., glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH]) and transcription factors (e.g., pax2) that are degraded by the lysosomal pathway of chaperone-mediated autophagy. To determine if EGF regulates chaperone-mediated autophagy through PI3K signaling, this study examined the effect of inhibiting PI3K and its downstream mediators Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Inhibition of PI3K with LY294002 prevented EGF-induced increases in GAPDH and pax2 abundance in NRK-52E renal tubular cells. Similar results were seen with an adenovirus encoding a dominant negative Akt (DN Akt). Expression of a constitutively active Akt increased GAPDH and pax2 abundance. An mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, did not prevent EGF-induced increases in these proteins. Neither DN Akt nor rapamycin alone had an effect on total cell protein degradation, but both partially reversed EGF-induced suppression of proteolysis. DN Akt no longer affected proteolysis after treatment with a lysosomal inhibitor, methylamine. In contrast, methylamine or the inhibitor of macroautophagy, 3-methyladenine, did not prevent rapamycin from partially reversing the effect of EGF on proteolysis. Notably, rapamycin did not increase autophagasomes detected by monodansylcadaverine staining. Blocking the proteasomal pathway with either MG132 or lactacystin prevented rapamycin from partially reversing the effect of EGF on proteolysis. It is concluded that EGF regulates pax2 and GAPDH abundance and proteolysis through a PI3K/Akt-sensitive pathway that does not involve mTOR. Rapamycin has a novel effect of regulating proteasomal proteolysis in cells that are stimulated with EGF.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenine; Animals; Autophagy; Cell Line; Chromones; Epidermal Growth Factor; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases; Kidney Tubules; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; Methylamines; Morpholines; PAX2 Transcription Factor; Peptide Hydrolases; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Rats; Signal Transduction; Sirolimus; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Previous work in our laboratory has shown that acute exposure of primary rat hepatocyte cultures to non-toxic concentrations of arsenite causes major decreases in the DEX-mediated induction of CYP3A23 protein, with minor decreases in CYP3A23 mRNA. To elucidate the mechanism for these effects of arsenite, the effects of arsenite and proteasome inhibition, separately and in combination, on induction of CYP3A23 protein were compared. The proteasome inhibitor, MG132, inhibited proteasome activity, but also decreased CYP3A23 mRNA and protein. Lactacystin, another proteasome inhibitor, decreased CYP3A23 protein without affecting CYP3A23 mRNA at a concentration that effectively inhibited proteasome activity. This result, suggesting that the action of lactacystin is similar to arsenite and was post-transcriptional, was confirmed by the finding that lactacystin decreased association of DEX-induced CYP3A23 mRNA with polyribosomes. Both MG132 and lactacystin inhibited total protein synthesis, but did not affect MTT reduction. Arsenite had no effect on ubiquitination of proteins, nor did arsenite significantly affect proteasomal activity. These results suggest that arsenite and lactacystin act by similar mechanisms to inhibit translation of CYP3A23.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Arsenites; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Dexamethasone; Drug Interactions; Hepatocytes; Leupeptins; Male; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; RNA, Messenger

Proteasome inhibitors exhibit antitumor activity against malignancies of different histology. Yet, the mechanisms underlying this effect are poorly understood. Recent evidence indicates that antiapoptotic factors may also accumulate as a consequence of exposure to these drugs, possibly reducing their cytotoxicity. These include the Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1, whose down-regulation has been proposed to initiate apoptosis in response to genotoxic stimuli. In this study, we found that proteasome inhibitors release cyotochrome c and second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (SMAC)/Diablo and trigger the subsequent apoptotic cascade in spite of concomitant Mcl-1 increase. However, our data indicate that subtraction of Mcl-1 during apoptosis, although not required for early release of proapoptotic factors, is probably relevant in speeding up cell demise, since RNA interference-mediated Mcl-1 silencing is lethal in lymphoma cells. Consistent with this, the cytotoxic effects of proteasome inhibitors are enhanced when Mcl-1 increase is impeded. Thus, this study identifies Mcl-1 accumulation as an unwanted molecular consequence of exposure to proteasome inhibitors, which slows down their proapoptotic effects. Pharmacologic or genetic approaches targeting Mcl-1, including therapeutic RNAi, may increase the effectiveness of these compounds.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Carrier Proteins; Caspases; Cell Survival; Complement Membrane Attack Complex; Complement System Proteins; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytochromes c; Gene Expression; Glycoproteins; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Jurkat Cells; Leupeptins; Lymphocytes; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial Proteins; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; Neoplasm Proteins; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; RNA Interference

Malignant insulinoma is a critical cancer form with a poor prognosis. Because cure by surgery is infrequent, effective chemotherapy is in demand. Induction of cell death in tumor cells by proteasome inhibitors is emerging as a potential strategy in cancer therapy. Here we investigated whether inhibition of the proteasome has an antitumorigenic potential in insulinoma cells. Exposure of mouse betaTC3 insulinoma cells to the proteasome inhibitor N-Acetyl-Leu-Leu-Nle-CHO (ALLN) reduced cell viability, activated caspase-3, induced apoptosis, and suppressed insulin release. Treatment with ALLN also resulted in phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and an increase in in vitro phosphorylation of c-jun. In insulinoma cells with impaired JNK signaling, ALLN-induced apoptosis was significantly suppressed. Another proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin, also stimulated JNK activation, caused activation of caspase-3, suppressed cell viability, and induced apoptosis in betaTC3 and rat INS-1E cells. Both ALLN and lactacystin caused a marked decrease in the cellular amount of the JNK scaffold protein JNK-interacting protein 1/islet-brain-1. In primary pancreatic rat islet cells, proteasome inhibition reduced insulin secretion but had no impact on cell viability and even partially protected against the toxic effect of proinflammatory cytokines. Our findings demonstrate that proteasome inhibitors possess antitumorigenic and antiinsulinogenic effects on insulinoma cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Binding Sites; Cell Line, Tumor; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Insulinoma; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; Mice; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rats; Signal Transduction; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) is a phosphoprotein whose expression in neurons is related to the initial establishment and remodeling of neural connections. GAP-43 gene expression is known to be regulated at both the transcriptional and the postranscriptional levels. However, very little is known about the cellular mechanism involved in the degradation of this protein. Ubiquitin (Ub) is well known for its role in targeting cytoplasmic proteins for degradation by the 26S proteasome. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) consists of a conserved cascade of three enzymatic components that attach Ub covalently to various substrates and control the degradation of protein involved in several important cellular processes. In this study, we investigated the degradation of GAP-43 in transfected NIH 3T3 cells and neuronal cultures. We found that the proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin and MG132 increased the cellular GAP-43 level, leading to the accumulation of polyubiquitinated forms of this protein in transfected cells and that the Ub-proteasome pathway is also involved in the turnover of this protein in neurons. We conclude based on our findings that GAP-43 is a substrate of the UPS.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Blotting, Western; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cerebral Cortex; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Embryo, Mammalian; Female; GAP-43 Protein; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Vectors; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Immunohistochemistry; Immunoprecipitation; Leupeptins; Male; Mice; Mutagenesis; Neurons; NIH 3T3 Cells; Pregnancy; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Transfection; Ubiquitin

Growth hormone receptor (GHR) is a cytokine receptor superfamily member that binds growth hormone (GH) via its extracellular domain and signals via interaction of its cytoplasmic domain with JAK2 and other signaling molecules. GHR is a target for inducible metalloprotease-mediated cleavage in its perimembranous extracellular domain, a process that liberates the extracellular domain as the soluble GH-binding protein and leaves behind a cell-associated GHR remnant protein containing the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. GHR metalloproteolysis can be catalyzed by tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme (ADAM-17) and is associated with down-modulation of GH signaling. We now study the fate of the GHR remnant protein. By anti-GHR cytoplasmic domain immunoblotting, we observed that the remnant induced in response to phorbol ester or platelet-derived growth factor has a reliable pattern of appearance and disappearance in both mouse preadipocytes endogenously expressing GHR and transfected fibroblasts expressing rabbit GHR. Lactacystin, a specific proteasome inhibitor, did not appreciably change the time course of remnant appearance or clearance but allowed detection of the GHR stub, a receptor fragment slightly smaller than the remnant but containing the C terminus of the remnant (receptor cytoplasmic domain). In contrast, MG132, another (less specific) proteasome inhibitor, strongly inhibited remnant clearance and prevented stub appearance. Inhibitors of gamma-secretase, an aspartyl protease, also prevented the appearance of the stub, even in the presence of lactacystin, and concomitantly inhibited remnant clearance in the same fashion as MG132. In addition, mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from presenilin 1 and 2 (PS1/2) knockouts recapitulated the gamma-secretase inhibitor studies, as compared with their littermate controls (PS1/2 wild type). Confocal microscopy indicated that the GHR cytoplasmic domain became localized to the nucleus in a fashion dependent on PS1/2 activity. These data indicate that the GHR is subject to sequential proteolysis by metalloprotease and gamma-secretase activities and may suggest GH-independent roles for the GHR.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; ADAM Proteins; ADAM17 Protein; Adenoviridae; Adipocytes; Animals; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Nucleus; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoplasm; Down-Regulation; Fibroblasts; Growth Hormone; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunoprecipitation; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Metalloendopeptidases; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Microscopy, Confocal; Models, Biological; Plasmids; Presenilin-1; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Binding; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Receptors, Somatotropin; Recombinant Proteins; Signal Transduction; Time Factors

Mutations in the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) cause chromosome 7-linked long QT syndrome type II (LQT2). We have shown previously that LQT2 mutations lead to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention and rapid degradation of mutant hERG proteins. In this study we examined the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the degradation of the LQT2 mutation Y611H. We showed that proteasome inhibitors N-acetyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-norleucinal and lactacystin but not lysosome inhibitor leupeptin inhibited the degradation of Y611H mutant channels. In addition, ER mannosidase I inhibitor kifunensine and down-regulation of EDEM (ER degradation-enhancing alpha-mannosidase-like protein) also suppressed the degradation of Y611H mutant channels. Proteasome inhibition but not mannosidase inhibition led to the accumulation of full-length hERG protein in the cytosol. The hERG protein accumulated in the cytosol was deglycosylated. Proteasome inhibition also resulted in the accumulation of polyubiquitinated hERG channels. These results suggest that the degradation of LQT2 mutant channels is mediated by the cytosolic proteasome in a process that involves mannose trimming, polyubiquitination, and deglycosylation of mutant channels.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Alkaloids; Blotting, Western; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytosol; Down-Regulation; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glycosylation; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Humans; Immunoprecipitation; Leupeptins; Long QT Syndrome; Mutation; Potassium Channels; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Ribonucleases; Subcellular Fractions; Time Factors; Transfection; Ubiquitin

Parkinson's disease (PD) is pathologically characterized by dopaminergic (DA) cell death and the presence of Lewy bodies (LB) in the brain. alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) and ubiquitin (Ub) are the major components of LB, however, the process of their accumulation and their relationship to DA cell loss has not yet been resolved. Now, in this journal, Inden et al. showed the protective effect of proteasome inhibitors (PSI) on DA cell death in the rat PD model using 6-hydroxyl dopamine (6-OHDA). Co-administration of PSI, lactacystin, or MG-132 significantly prevented the nigral degeneration and apomorphine-induced rotational asymmetry of the model with increased appearance of alpha-syn- and Ub-positive inclusions in the substantia nigra. This study indicates that in their model, accelerated formation of inclusions via proteasome inhibition protects against DA cell death. Previous literature linked the impairments or inhibitions of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and DA cell death. However, this report implies that the relationship between the UPS and the pathogenesis of PD may be more complex than we thought.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dopamine; Humans; Leupeptins; Lewy Bodies; Neurotoxins; Oxidopamine; Parkinson Disease; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protective Agents; Rats; Substantia Nigra

Exposure of cells to a wide variety of chemoprotective compounds confers resistance to a broad set of carcinogens. For a subset of the chemoprotective compounds, protection is generated by an increase in the abundance of phase 2 detoxification enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Transcription factor Nrf2, which is sequestered in the cytoplasm by Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1) under unstimulated conditions, regulates the induction of phase 2 enzymes. In this study, to explore the role of the proteasome in the detoxification response, we tested the effect of proteasome inhibitors such as MG132, clasto-lactacystin beta-lactone, and lactacystin on the induction of GST isozymes and found that these inhibitors selectively induced the class Pi GST isozyme (GST P1). Down-regulation of the proteasome by antisense oligonucleotides or RNA interference indeed resulted in significant up-regulation of GST P1, suggesting that a decline in the proteasome activity could be directly or indirectly linked to the induction of GST P1. From the functional analysis of various deletion constructs of the upstream regulatory region of the GST P1 promoter, GST P1 enhancer I was identified as the response element for proteasome inhibition. Overexpression of the wild-type and dominant-negative forms of Nrf2 and Keap1 had little effect on the induction of GST P1 not only by the proteasome inhibitor, but also by phase 2-inducing isothiocyanate, suggesting that there may be a process of GST P1 induction distinct from other phase 2 gene induction mechanisms. Because GST P1 is highly and specifically induced during early hepatocarcinogenesis as well as in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, these data may provide a potential critical role for the proteasome in the induction of a cellular defense program associated with carcinogenesis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Biomarkers, Tumor; Blotting, Western; Cysteine; DNA-Binding Proteins; DNA, Complementary; Down-Regulation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Epithelial Cells; Genes, Dominant; Glutathione S-Transferase pi; Glutathione Transferase; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Isoenzymes; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1; Lactones; Leupeptins; Luciferases; Mice; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Oligonucleotides, Antisense; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Isoforms; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Proteins; Rats; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Interfering; Time Factors; Trans-Activators; Transfection; Up-Regulation

The expression of Survivin in cancer cells highly correlates with that of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Both of them are ideal targets for cancer gene therapy. This study aimed to clarify if they regulate each other in cancer cells.. The expressions of Survivin and hTERT in HeLa S3 cells were inhibited by antisense oligonucleotide respectively. Activity of telomerase was detected by telomerase repeat amplification (TRAP) assay. Protein and mRNA levels of Survivin were analyzed by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively. Proliferation of HeLa S3 cells was analyzed by MTT assay.. Inhibiting the expression of Survivin in HeLa S3 cells had no effects on telomerase activity. Inhibiting the expression of hTERT by antisense oligonucleotide No.14 decreased protein level of Survivin, which was negatively correlated with the concentration of No.14 (200-1 000 nmol/L), but didn't change mRNA level of survivin. The decrease of Survivin level was inhibited by proteasome inhibitor lactacystin and MG132. Furthermore, simultaneous inhibition of hTERT and survivin co-efficiently inhibited proliferation of HeLa S3 cells.. Inhibiting the expression of hTERT in HeLa S3 cells promotes ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of Survivin.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Cell Proliferation; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; HeLa Cells; Humans; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Leupeptins; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Neoplasm Proteins; Oligonucleotides, Antisense; RNA, Messenger; Survivin; Telomerase

Transcription factor GATA-2 is expressed in a number of tissues, including hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and is crucial for the proliferation and survival of hematopoietic cells. To further characterize the function of GATA-2, we examined the cellular turnover mechanism of GATA-2. In P815 cells, the half-life of endogenous GATA-2 was found to be as short as 30 min after cycloheximide treatment. This short half-life was reproducible in other hematopoietic and neuroblastoma cell lines with moderate variation. We also found that ultraviolet (UV)-C irradiation markedly represses the GATA-2 protein level by facilitating the degradation process. Since treatment of the cells with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 or clasto-Lactacystin substantially abrogated the effects of cycloheximide and UV-C irradiation and increased the expression level of both endogenous and transfected GATA-2, the degradation of GATA-2 seems to occur through the proteasome pathway. Structure-function analyses with the GAL4-DNA binding domain (GBD)-GATA-2 fusion protein and GATA-2 deletion mutants suggested that the protein degradation regulatory elements of GATA-2 reside in three regions, two of which overlap with the transactivation domain. We also detected poly ubiquitinated forms of GATA-2. Taken together, these results demonstrate that GATA-2 is turned over rapidly through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; GATA2 Transcription Factor; Gene Deletion; Gene Expression Regulation; Half-Life; Humans; Leukemia, Experimental; Leupeptins; Mice; Mutation; Neuroblastoma; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; Transcription Factors; Transcriptional Activation; Ubiquitins; Ultraviolet Rays

Although inhibition of the ubiquitin proteasome system has been postulated to play a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, studies have also shown that proteasome inhibition can induce increased expression of neuroprotective heat-shock proteins (HSPs). The global gene expression of primary neurons in response to treatment with the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin was studied to identify the widest range of possible pathways affected. Our results showed changes in mRNA abundance, both at different time points after lactacystin treatment and at different lactacystin concentrations. Genes that were differentially up-regulated at the early time point but not when most cells were undergoing apoptosis might be involved in an attempt to reverse proteasome inhibitor-mediated apoptosis and include HSP70, HSP22 and cell cycle inhibitors. The up-regulation of HSP70 and HSP22 appeared specific towards proteasome inhibitor-mediated cell death. Overexpression of HSP22 was found to protect against proteasome inhibitor-mediated loss of viability by up to 25%. Genes involved in oxidative stress and the inflammatory response were also up-regulated. These data suggest an initial neuroprotective pathway involving HSPs, antioxidants and cell cycle inhibitors, followed by a pro-apoptotic response possibly mediated by inflammation, oxidative stress and aberrant activation of cell cycle proteins.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspases; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cerebral Cortex; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Heat-Shock Proteins; HSP20 Heat-Shock Proteins; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Leupeptins; Mice; Molecular Chaperones; Muscle Proteins; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; PC12 Cells; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection; Up-Regulation

Effects of proteasome inhibitors on the replication of a paramyxovirus in comparison with the effects on replication of an orthomyxovirus and rhabdovirus were investigated. Treatment of Sendai virus (SeV)-infected LLC-MK2 cells with 50 microM MG132 reduced virus growth to ca. 1/10,000, and treatment with different concentrations of MG132 reduced virus growth in a dose-dependent manner. Released amounts of viral proteins were reduced in correspondence with decrease in infectivity. The inhibition of virus maturation was confirmed by an SeV-like particle formation system. Lactacystin also impaired SeV growth and zLL impaired the growth to a lesser extent, suggesting involvement of proteasomes in the restriction of virus growth. In the presence of MG132, localizations of the M protein and viral F and HN glycoproteins on the cell membrane appeared to be partly dissociated, although the viral glycoproteins were normally transported to the cell surface. These results suggest that an early step of SeV assembly was disturbed by proteasome inhibitors. The relationship of the results with ubiquitin is also discussed. SeV maturation was less susceptible and resistant to MG132 in CV1 cells and A549 cells, respectively, indicating cell specificity of the drug effect. Release of vesicular stomatitis virus also showed high susceptibility to MG132 and release of influenza virus A/WSN/33 was only mildly susceptible to the drug in LLC-MK2 cells. Effects of proteasome inhibitors on virus maturation are thus highly cell-specific and partly virus-specific.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Chlorocebus aethiops; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; HN Protein; Influenza A virus; Leupeptins; Macaca mulatta; Macrophages; Orthomyxoviridae; Paramyxoviridae; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rhabdoviridae; Sendai virus; Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus; Viral Fusion Proteins; Viral Matrix Proteins; Virus Assembly; Virus Replication

Acute exposure of dark-adapted, cultured chick pineal glands to UV-A light significantly decreased the tissue cAMP concentration and the activity of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), the penultimate and key regulatory enzyme in the melatonin biosynthetic pathway. The magnitude of these changes was dependent on the duration of UV-A exposure. The UV-A light-evoked decline in pineal AANAT activity was blocked by cAMP protagonists (forskolin and dibutyryl-cAMP) and by inhibitors of the proteasomal degradation pathway (MG-132, proteasome inhibitor I, and lactacystin). These results indicate that the chick pineal gland is directly sensitive to UV-A light. By analogy to white light, the suppressive action of UV-A radiation on AANAT activity in the chick pineal gland involves changes in the tissue cAMP level and enhanced proteasomal proteolysis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase; Bucladesine; Chickens; Colforsin; Cyclic AMP; Dark Adaptation; Leupeptins; Male; Oligopeptides; Organ Culture Techniques; Pineal Gland; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Time Factors; Ultraviolet Rays

The proteasome inhibitor Velcade (bortezomib/PS-341) has been shown to block the targeted proteolytic degradation of short-lived proteins that are involved in cell maintenance, growth, division, and death, advocating the use of proteasomal inhibitors as therapeutic agents. Although many studies focused on the use of one proteasomal inhibitor for therapy, we hypothesized that the combination of proteasome inhibitors Lactacystin (AG Scientific, Inc., San Diego CA) and MG132 (Biomol International, Plymouth Meeting, PA) may be more effective in inducing apoptosis. Additionally, this regimen would enable the use of sublethal doses of individual drugs, thus reducing adverse effects. Results indicate a significant increase in apoptosis when LNCaP prostate cancer cells were treated with increasing levels of Lactacystin, MG132, or a combination of sublethal doses of these two inhibitors. Furthermore, induction in apoptosis coincided with a significant loss of IKKalpha, IKKbeta, and IKKgamma proteins and NFkappaB activity. In addition to describing effective therapeutic agents, we provide a model system to facilitate the investigation of the mechanism of action of these drugs and their effects on the IKK-NFkappaB axis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Apoptosis; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Drug Synergism; Humans; I-kappa B Kinase; Leupeptins; Male; NF-kappa B; Prostatic Neoplasms; Proteasome Inhibitors; Tumor Cells, Cultured

In the current study, we examined the mechanisms that regulate hepatic apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing lipoprotein secretion in Psammomys obesus, a good animal model for the investigation of insulin resistance and diabetes.. When fed chow ad libitum, 22% maintained normoglycemia and normoinsulinemia (group A), 33% exhibited normoglycemia and appreciable hyperinsulinemia (group B), and 45% developed overt diabetes (group C). Body weight gain, plasma free fatty acid elevation, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia characterized groups B and C. Triton WR-1339 injection, at fasting, resulted in higher plasma VLDL-triglyceride and VLDL-apoB accumulation in groups B and C, suggesting increased VLDL production by the liver. Pulse-chase labeling experiments in cultured hepatocytes with [35S]methionine revealed reduced intracellular degradation and enhanced secretion of newly synthesized apoB in groups B and C. Concomitant with the raised triglyceride and cholesterol contents in the livers of groups B and C, there was an increase in lipogenesis and in the activity of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, monoacylglycerol acyltransferase, and diacylglycerol transferase. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with proteasomal inhibitors eliminated the differences in apoB secretion among groups A, B, and C.. Our data indicate that both insulin resistance and diabetes triggered the intracellular machinery involved in VLDL assembly and secretion.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apolipoproteins B; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Diabetes Mellitus; Disease Models, Animal; Gerbillinae; Hepatocytes; Hypercholesterolemia; Hyperinsulinism; Hypertriglyceridemia; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Leupeptins; Lipoproteins, VLDL; Liver; Multienzyme Complexes; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

Parkinson's disease is characterized by dopaminergic neuronal death and the presence of Lewy bodies. alpha-Synuclein is a major component of Lewy bodies, but the process of its accumulation and its relationship to dopaminergic neuronal death has not been resolved. Although the pathogenesis has not been clarified, mitochondrial complex I is suppressed, and caspase-3 is activated in the affected midbrain. Here we report that a combination of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+)) or rotenone and proteasome inhibition causes the appearance of alpha-synuclein-positive inclusion bodies. Unexpectedly, however, proteasome inhibition blocked MPP(+)- or rotenone-induced dopaminergic neuronal death. MPP(+) elevated proteasome activity, dephosphorylated mitogen-activating protein kinase (MAPK), and activated caspase-3. Proteasome inhibition reversed the MAPK dephosphorylation and blocked caspase-3 activation; the neuroprotection was blocked by a p42 and p44 MAPK kinase inhibitor. Thus, the proteasome plays an important role in both inclusion body formation and dopaminergic neuronal death but these processes form opposite sides on the proteasome regulation in this model.

Topics: 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium; Acetylcysteine; alpha-Synuclein; Animals; Brain; Caspase 3; Caspase Inhibitors; Caspases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Dopamine; Dopamine Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; Herbicides; Immunoblotting; Immunohistochemistry; Ions; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Leupeptins; Male; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mitochondria; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Multienzyme Complexes; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurons; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rotenone; Synucleins; Time Factors; Ubiquitin

Targeted ectopic expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the eyes of transgenic mice disrupts lens differentiation, upregulates immunoproteasomes, and causes cataract. In this study, the hypothesis that IFN-gamma induces proteasome-dependent apoptosis of lens epithelial cells was tested.. Murine lens epithelial alphaTN4-1 cells were treated with IFN-gamma. Apoptosis was measured using annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) staining, and DNA fragmentation. IFN-gamma-inducible mRNA and protein expressions were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Caspase activities were measured using colorimetric substrates and poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. The effect of proteasome inhibition was tested with MG132 and lactacystin.. IFN-gamma treatment at a concentration that induces immunoproteasome expression causes an approximately 20% increase in early apoptotic cells as observed by annexin V-FITC/PI staining and the increase in DNA fragmentation. IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis was accompanied by upregulation of apoptosis-related genes, including a dramatic increase in signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1 and interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP), a more than 2-fold increase in IRF-1, and a 1.7- to 2-fold increase in caspase-1 mRNA. Bcl-2 mRNA decreased 2.4- to 3.0-fold, whereas Bax mRNA was unchanged. The Bax-to-Bcl-2 protein ratio increased by 1.6-fold. Caspase-1 and -8 activities were higher, but there was no increase in caspase-3 activity. Proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin protected the cells against IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis. A positive control treatment with staurosporine (STP) caused increased caspase-3 activity, which was inhibited by MG132.. IFN-gamma causes apoptosis of alphaTN4-1 cells, accompanied by upregulation of known effectors. IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis involves Bcl-2 family proteins and caspases. Proteasome inhibition has antiapoptotic effects on IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis. It also inhibits the STP-induced increase in caspase-3 activity. If IFN-gamma-induced apoptosis of lens epithelial cells contributes to cataractogenesis, the proteasome may be a therapeutic target.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Annexin A5; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Caspases; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoprotection; DNA-Binding Proteins; Epithelial Cells; Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; Interferon Regulatory Factors; Interferon-gamma; Lens, Crystalline; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Phosphoproteins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Recombinant Proteins; Repressor Proteins; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; STAT1 Transcription Factor; Trans-Activators; Up-Regulation

Inhibition of proteasome activity is associated with a reduction in proliferation and apoptosis in cancer cells, depending upon the extent of inhibition. We have reported that a minimal inhibition of proteasome activity prevented adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-induced differentiation and caused apoptosis in murine neuroblastoma (NB) cells in culture. In order to establish whether an elevated cAMP level increases the sensitivity of proteasome to its inhibitors, MG-132 and lactacystin (proteasome inhibitors) were added concomitantly with a stimulator of adenylate cyclase (prostaglandin A1) and an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (RO20-1724). Results showed that concentrations of MG-132 that did not reduce or that minimally inhibited proteasome activity also did not affect the proliferation of undifferentiated NB cells. However, these concentrations of MG-132 in the presence of an elevated cAMP level markedly inhibited proteasome activity and caused extensive cell death. Similar results were obtained with lactacystin. In normal murine fibroblasts, cAMP-induced reduction in proliferation was not affected by any concentration of MG-132 used in this study. These results suggest that proteasome exhibits increased sensitivity to its inhibitors following an elevation of cAMP level in NB cells, but not in normal fibroblasts, and that this may account for the enhanced cell death in NB cells. Thus, the strategy of using low doses of a proteasome inhibitor in combination with a cAMP-stimulating agent may be useful in pre-clinical and clinical studies on NB tumor because of the selectivity of the effect on cancer cells.

Topics: 4-(3-Butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone; Acetylcysteine; Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cell Survival; Cyclic AMP; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Fibroblasts; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Neuroblastoma; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder that results from various gene mutations, primarily within the LDL receptor (LDLR). Approximately 50% of the LDLR mutations are defined as class 2 mutations, with the mutant proteins partially or entirely retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. To determine the degradation pathway of the LDLR class 2 mutants, we examined the effects of inhibition of several potential pathways on the levels of the wild-type LDLR and its four representative class 2 mutants (S156L, C176Y, E207K, and C646Y) stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We found that proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin blocked the degradation of the LDLR mutants, but not that of the wild-type LDLR. Treatment of CHO cells with these proteasome inhibitors led to a significant accumulation of the mutants at steady state. Furthermore, cell surface levels of the LDLR mutants were significantly increased upon inhibition of the proteasome degradation pathway. In contrast to the proteasome inhibitors, inhibitors of trypsin-like proteases, chymotrypsin-like proteases, and lysosomal pathway inhibitors did not affect the levels of the LDLR mutants. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the proteasome is the principal degradation pathway for LDLR class 2 mutants.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Humans; Leupeptins; Mutation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Transport; Receptors, LDL

Ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation in vertebrates has been implicated in cell cycle control. In this report we explored the effects of proteasome inhibitors (MG132, lactacystin and ALLN) on cell cycle distribution. Colorectal carcinoma HCT116 cells were treated with proteasome inhibitor MG132. The results showed that MG132 inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. MG132 arrested HCT116 cells at G2/M phase, which was associated with drug-induced blockade of p53 degradation and/or induction of p53-related gene expression along with the accumulation of cyclin B, cyclin A and p21. MG132 treated HCT116 (wild-type) had a similar cell cycle distribution as the MG132 treated HCT116 (p53-/-) and HCT116 (p21-/-) cells, suggesting that p53 and p21 may not be essential for MG132-induced G2/M phase arrest. The release experiments from nocodazole-induced mitotic phase cells indicated that MG132 inhibits the proliferation of HCT116 cells via arrest in the G2 phase. In addition, when HCT116 cells were exposed to combination of sodium butyrate and MG132 enhanced cell growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis were observed.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Butyrates; Caspases; Cell Division; Colorectal Neoplasms; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclins; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Drug Therapy, Combination; G2 Phase; Humans; Leupeptins; Mitosis; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Ubiquitins

E2F family of transcription factors regulates the transcription of genes required for DNA synthesis. E2F is itself controlled by a series of transcriptional and post-transcriptional pathways. Here we provide evidence that proteasome inhibitor-mediated E2F1 gene down-regulation is regulated by transcriptional events. Using the proteasome-specific inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin, we show that the p53, the cdk inhibitors p21 and p27, and cyclin A are degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in human osteosarcoma cells. Interestingly, the expression levels of E2F1 and E2F2 are down-regulated by proteasome inhibitors. E2F promoter and RT-PCR assay clearly demonstrated that proteasome inhibitors could reduce E2F transcriptional activation. However, MG132-induced repression of E2F1 and E2F2 is not associated with ROS generation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antioxidants; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Line, Tumor; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Down-Regulation; E2F Transcription Factors; E2F1 Transcription Factor; E2F2 Transcription Factor; Glutathione; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Osteosarcoma; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection

Molecular chaperones and the ubiquitin-proteasome system are participants in the defense against unfolded proteins and provide an effective protein quality control system that is essential for cellular functions and survival. Ubiquitinated tau-positive inclusion bodies containing the small heat shock protein alphaB-crystallin in oligodendrocytes are consistent features of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, and defects in the proteasome system might contribute to the aggregation process. Oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells of the CNS, are specifically sensitive to stress situations. Here we can show that in cultured rat brain oligodendrocytes proteasomal inhibition by MG-132 or lactacystin caused apoptotic cell death and the induction of heat shock proteins in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Specifically, alphaB-crystallin was upregulated, and ubiquitinated proteins accumulated. After incubation with MG-132 the tau was dephosphorylated, which enhanced its microtubule-binding capacity. Proteasomal inhibition led to ubiquitination of tau and its association with alphaB-crystallin and to the occurrence of thioflavine S-positive aggregates in the oligodendroglial cytoplasm. These aggregates were positive for tau and also contained ubiquitin and alphaB-crystallin; hence they resembled the glial cytoplasmic inclusions observed in white matter disease and frontotemporal dementias with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). In summary, the data underscore the specific sensitivity of oligodendrocytes to stress situations and point to a causal relationship of proteasomal impairment and inclusion body formation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; alpha-Crystallin B Chain; Animals; Apoptosis; Brain; Cells, Cultured; Heat-Shock Proteins; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Inclusion Bodies; Leupeptins; Microtubules; Oligodendroglia; Oxidative Stress; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger; tau Proteins; Ubiquitin

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has been implicated in the penetration of ascidian vitelline envelope by the fertilizing spermatozoon (Sawada et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:1223-1228). The present study provides experimental evidence demonstrating proteasome involvement in the penetration of mammalian zona pellucida (ZP). Using porcine in vitro fertilization as a model, penetration of ZP was completely inhibited by specific proteasomal inhibitors MG-132 and lactacystin. Three commercial rabbit sera recognizing 20S proteasomal core subunits beta-1i, beta-2i, alpha-6, and beta-5 completely blocked fertilization at a very low concentration (i.e., diluted 1/2000 to 1/8000 in fertilization medium). Neither proteasome inhibitors nor antibodies had any effects on sperm-ZP binding and acrosome exocytosis in zona-enclosed oocytes or on fertilization rates in zona-free oocytes, which were highly polyspermic. Consistent with a possible role of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in ZP penetration, ubiquitin and various alpha and beta type proteasomal subunits were detected in boar sperm acrosome by specific antibodies, immunoprecipitated and microsequenced by MALDI-TOF from boar sperm extracts. Antiubiquitin-immunoreactive substrates were detected on the outer face of ZP by epifluorescence microscopy. This study therefore provides strong evidence implicating the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in mammalian fertilization and zona penetration. This finding opens a new line of acrosome/ZP research because further studies of the sperm acrosomal proteasome can provide new tools for the management of polyspermia during in vitro fertilization and identify new targets for contraceptive development.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Acrosome; Acrosome Reaction; Animals; Exocytosis; Female; Fertilization; Fertilization in Vitro; Immune Sera; Leupeptins; Male; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Sperm-Ovum Interactions; Spermatozoa; Swine; Ubiquitin; Zona Pellucida

I have postulated that arachidonic acid release from rat liver cells is associated with cancer chemoprevention. Since it has been reported that inhibition of proteasome activities may prevent cancer, the effects of proteasome inhibitors on arachidonic acid release from cells and on prostaglandin I2 production in rat liver cells were studied.. The proteasome inhibitors, epoxomicin, lactacystin and carbobenzoxy-leucyl-leucyl-leucinal, stimulate the release of arachidonic acid from rat glial, human colon carcinoma, human breast carcinoma and the rat liver cells. They also stimulate basal and induced prostacycin production in the rat liver cells. The stimulated arachidonic acid release and basal prostaglandin I2 production in rat liver cells is inhibited by actinomycin D.. Stimulation of arachidonic acid release and arachidonic acid metabolism may be associated with some of the biologic effects observed after proteasome inhibition, e.g. prevention of tumor growth, induction of apoptosis, stimulation of bone formation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; HT29 Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Liver; Neuroglia; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Inhibitors; Rats

Nuclear receptors and their coactivators are key regulators of numerous physiological functions. GRIP1 (glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein) is a member of the steroid receptor coactivator family. Here, we show that GRIP1 is regulated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) that induces its degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. GRIP1 was down-regulated in transiently transfected COS-1 cells after treatment with 8-para-chlorophenylthio-cAMP or forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and in adrenocortical Y1 cells after incubation with adrenocorticotropic hormone. Pulse-chase experiments with transiently transfected COS-1 cells demonstrated that the half-life of GRIP1 was markedly reduced in cells overexpressing the PKA catalytic subunit, suggesting that activation of PKA increases the turnover of GRIP1 protein. The proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin abolished the PKA-mediated degradation of GRIP1. Using ts20 cells, a temperature-sensitive cell line that contains a thermolabile ubiquitin-activating E1 enzyme, it was confirmed that PKA-mediated degradation of GRIP1 is dependent upon the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Coimmunoprecipitation studies of COS-1 cells transfected with expression vectors encoding GRIP1 and ubiquitin using anti-GRIP1 and anti-ubiquitin antibodies showed that the ubiquitination of GRIP1 was increased by overexpression of PKA. Finally, we show that PKA regulates the intracellular distribution pattern of green fluorescent protein-GRIP1 and stimulates recruitment of GRIP1 to subnuclear foci that are colocalized with the proteasome. Taken together, these data demonstrate that GRIP1 is ubiquitinated and degraded through activation of the PKA pathway. This may represent a novel regulatory mechanism whereby hormones down-regulate a nuclear receptor coactivator.

Topics: 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine; Acetylcysteine; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Amino Acid Motifs; Animals; Blotting, Western; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Nucleus; Colforsin; COS Cells; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; Down-Regulation; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Genetic Vectors; Immunoprecipitation; Leupeptins; Luciferases; Mice; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Temperature; Thionucleotides; Time Factors; Transcriptional Activation; Transfection; Ubiquitin

The role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway during roscovitine induced apoptosis was evaluated in the non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line MR65. To this end specific inhibitors of proteasome activity, MG132 and lactacystin were used. Addition of MG132 or lactacystin, 1 h prior to the addition of the CDK-inhibitor roscovitine to the cell cultures inhibited apoptosis significantly, as measured by PS exposure, cytokeratin 18 cleavage and caspase-3 activation. Furthermore, we show that inhibition of proteasome activation prior to induction of apoptosis by roscovitine prevents loss of mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim). In addition we found that MG132 and lactacystin prevent release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrion. In contrast to the above findings we see no effect of proteasome inhibition in Fas-mediated apoptosis. Taken together our data suggest a specific role for proteasomes very early in roscovitine-induced apoptosis, upstream from the caspase cascade and mitochondrion.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Humans; Leupeptins; Lung Neoplasms; Membrane Potentials; Mitochondria; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Purines; Roscovitine; Signal Transduction; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The human herpes virus 8 (HHV8)-encoded viral FLICE (Fas-associating protein with death domain-like interleukin-1-converting enzyme) inhibitory protein (vFLIP) is believed to protect cells against death receptor-mediated apoptosis. In the present study we demonstrate that expression of HHV8 vFLIP in a growth factor-dependent TF-1 leukemia cell line protects against growth factor withdrawal-induced apoptosis. Unlike vector-expressing cells, those expressing HHV8 vFLIP maintain their mitochondrial membrane potential upon withdrawal from growth factor and also exhibit a block in the activation of caspases. The protective effect of HHV8 vFLIP is associated with its ability to activate the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway and is missing in the vFLIP encoded by equine herpes virus 2 that lacks this activity. Inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway by IkappaB superrepressor, lactacystin, MG132, arsenic trioxide, and phenylarsine oxide reverse the protection against growth factor withdrawal-induced apoptosis conferred by HHV8 vFLIP. HHV8 vFLIP up-regulates the expression of Bcl-x(L), an antiapoptotic member of the Bcl2 family, which is a known target of the NF-kappaB pathway. Collectively, the above results suggest that HHV8 vFLIP-induced NF-kappaB activation may contribute to cellular transformation seen in association with HHV8 infection by preventing the apoptosis of cells destined to die because of growth factor deprivation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Acute Disease; Apoptosis; Arsenic Trioxide; Arsenicals; bcl-X Protein; Cell Transformation, Viral; Enzyme Activation; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Herpesvirus 8, Human; Humans; I-kappa B Proteins; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leupeptins; Mitochondria; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; Neoplasm Proteins; NF-kappa B; Oxides; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Recombinant Proteins; Rhadinovirus; Transcription, Genetic; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Viral Proteins

Germ line mutations in the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 account for the increased risk of early onset of familial breast cancer, whereas overexpression of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases has been linked to the development of nonfamilial or sporadic breast cancer. To analyze whether there is a link between these two regulatory molecules, we studied the effects of ErbB-2 activation by heregulin (HRG) on BRCA1 function. It was previously demonstrated that HRG induced the phosphorylation of BRCA1, which was mediated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Since altered interaction between cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) is a common feature in a variety of tumors and since ECM modulates intracellular signaling, we hypothesized that ECM may affect the expression and HRG-dependent phosphorylation of BRCA1. Following stimulation by HRG, a strong increase in [(3)H]thymidine incorporation was observed in human T47D breast cancer cells seeded on plastic (PL). When T47D cells were seeded on laminin (LAM) or Matrigel, HRG induced a significantly higher proliferation than it did in cells seeded on PL. T47D cells seeded on poly-L-lysine had an abrogated mitogenic response, indicating the involvement of integrins in this process. HRG treatment induced a transient phosphorylation of BRCA1 that was enhanced in T47D cells grown on LAM. LAM-enhanced BRCA1 phosphorylation was mediated through alpha(6) integrin upon HRG stimulation. Accordingly, T47D cells grown on LAM had the greatest increase in ErbB-2 activation, PI3K activity, and phosphorylation of Akt. A similar pattern of BRCA1 mRNA expression was observed when T47D cells were seeded on PL, LAM, or COL4. There was a significant decrease in the steady state of the BRCA1 mRNA level on both the LAM and COL4 matrices compared to that for cells seeded on PL. In addition, HRG stimulation caused a significant decrease in BRCA1 mRNA expression that was dependent on protein synthesis. Pretreatment with both the calpain inhibitor ALLN (N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal) and the proteosome inhibitor lactacystin inhibited the HRG-induced down-regulation of BRCA1 mRNA expression. Likewise, there was a strong decrease in the protein level of BRCA1 in T47D cells 4 h after treatment with HRG compared to its level in control nontreated T47D cells. Pretreatment with the proteosome inhibitors ALLN, lactacystin, and PSI [N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Ile-Glu-(O-t-butyl)-Ala-leucinal] inhibited

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Blotting, Northern; Blotting, Western; BRCA1 Protein; Cell Cycle; Cell Division; Cell Survival; Collagen; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Down-Regulation; Drug Combinations; Enzyme Inhibitors; Extracellular Matrix; Genetic Vectors; Germ-Line Mutation; Humans; Immunoblotting; Laminin; Leupeptins; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Neuregulin-1; Phenotype; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphorylation; Polylysine; Precipitin Tests; Protein Binding; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Proteoglycans; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Receptor, ErbB-2; RNA; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Time Factors; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The androgen receptor (AR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that requires the action of molecular chaperones for folding and hormone binding. C-terminal Hsp-interacting protein (Chip) is a cochaperone that interacts with Hsp70 and Hsp90 molecular chaperones via a tetratricopeptide domain and inhibits chaperone-dependent protein folding in vitro. Chip also stimulates protein degradation by acting as an E3 ubiquitin ligase via a modified ring finger domain called a U box. We analyzed whether Chip affected AR levels using a transient transfection strategy. Chip overexpression led to a large decrease in AR steady state levels and increased levels of AR ubiquitinylation. However, Chip effects were not fully reversed by proteasome inhibitors, suggesting that mechanisms alternative to or in addition to proteasome-mediated degradation were involved. This hypothesis was supported by the finding that Chip overexpression reduced the rate of AR degradation, consistent with an effect on AR folding, perhaps leading to aggregation. The possibility that Chip affected AR folding was further supported by the finding that the effects of exogenous Chip were reproduced by a mutant lacking the U box. These results are discussed in terms of the role played by molecular chaperones in AR biogenesis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Benzoquinones; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dihydrotestosterone; Gene Expression; HeLa Cells; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Lactams, Macrocyclic; Leupeptins; Ligases; Male; Molecular Chaperones; Multienzyme Complexes; Prostatic Neoplasms; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Quinones; Receptors, Androgen; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Glucocorticoid; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis has been implicated in the recognition and selective elimination of paternal mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) after fertilization in mammals. Initial evidence suggests that this process is contributed to by lysosomal degradation of the ubiquitinated sperm mitochondrial membrane proteins. The present study examined the role of the proteasome-dependent protein degradation pathway of the ubiquitin system, as opposed to lysosomal proteolysis of the ubiquitinated proteins, in the regulation of sperm mitochondrion elimination after fertilization. Boar spermatozoa prelabeled with vital fluorescent mitochondrial probes MitoTracker were used to trace the degradation of paternal mitochondria after in vitro fertilization (IVF) of porcine oocytes. The degradation of sperm mitochondria in the cytoplasm of fertilized oocytes started very rapidly, i.e., within 12-20 h after insemination. Four stages of paternal mitochondrial degradation were distinguished, ranging from an intact mitochondrial sheath (type 1) to complete degradation (type 4). At 27-30 h postinsemination, 96% of zygotes contained the partially (type 3) or completely (type 4) degraded sperm mitochondria. Highly specific peptide inhibitors of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, lactacystin (10 and 100 microM) and MG132 (10 microM), efficiently blocked the degradation of the sperm mitochondria inside the fertilized egg when applied 6 h after insemination. Using 10 microM MG132, only 13.6% of fertilized oocytes screened 27-30 h after IVF displayed type 3 sperm mitochondria, and there was no incidence of type 4, completely degraded mitochondria. Although lactacystin is not a reversible agent, the effect of MG132 was fully reversible: zygotes transferred to regular culture medium after 24 h of culture with 10 microM MG132 resumed development and degraded sperm mitochondria within the next cell cycle. Surprisingly, penetration of the zona pellucida (ZP) was also inhibited by MG-132 and lactacystin when the inhibitors were added at insemination. Altogether, these data provide the first evidence of the participation of proteasomes in the control of mammalian mitochondrial inheritance and suggest a new role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in mammalian fertilization.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; In Vitro Techniques; Leupeptins; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Mitochondria; Mitosis; Multienzyme Complexes; Ovum; Pregnancy; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Sperm Maturation; Spermatozoa; Swine; Ubiquitin; Zygote

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is a major route of degradation of cell proteins. It also plays an essential role in maintaining cell homeostasis by degrading many rate-limiting enzymes and critical regulatory proteins. Alterations in proteasome activity have been implicated in a number of pathologies including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. The eukaryotic proteasome is a multicatalytic protease characterized by three activities with distinct specificities against peptide substrates. Although substrates were identified which could selectively measure the individual activities in the purified proteasome little data is available on how specific those substrates are for proteasomal activity when used with biological samples which may contain many other active peptidases. Here we examine the three major peptidase activities in lysates of two cell types and in a liver cytosol fraction in the presence of specific proteasome inhibitors and after fractionation by gel permeation chromatography. We demonstrate that other proteinases present in these preparations can degrade the commonly used proteasome substrates under the standard assay conditions. We develop a simple method for separating the proteasome from the lower molecular weight proteases using a 500kDa molecular weight cut-off membrane. This allows proteasome activity to be accurately measured in crude biological samples and may have quite broad applicability. We also identify low molecular weight tryptic activity in both the cell and tissue preparations which could not be inhibited by the proteasome inhibitor epoxomycin but was inhibitable by two cysteine proteinase inhibitors and by lactacystin suggesting that lactacystin may not be completely proteasome specific.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Chromatography, Gel; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Humans; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Peptide Hydrolases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Substrate Specificity; Ubiquitin

p62 is a multifunctional cytoplasmic protein able to noncovalently bind ubiquitin and several signaling proteins, suggesting a regulatory role connected to the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. No studies to date have linked p62 protein expression with pathological states. Here we demonstrate the overabundance of p62 protein in malignant breast tissue relative to normal breast tissue. The proteasome inhibitor PSI increased p62 mRNA and protein; however, PSI treatment of breast epithelial cells transfected with the p62 promoter did not affect promoter activity. High levels of prostate-derived Ets factor (PDEF) mRNA have been identified in breast cancer compared to normal breast. Only the PSA and maspin promoters have been identified as targets of this transcription factor. Here we show that PDEF stimulates the p62 promoter through at least two sites, and likely acts as a coactivator. PSI treatment abrogates the PDEF-stimulated increase of p62 promoter activity by 50%. Thus, multiple mechanisms for the induction of p62 exist. We conclude that (1) p62 protein is overexpressed in breast cancer; (2) p62 mRNA and protein increase in response to PSI, with no change of basal promoter activity; (3) PDEF upregulates p62 promoter activity through at least two sites; and (4) PSI downregulates PDEF-induced p62 promoter activation through one of these sites.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carrier Proteins; Cells, Cultured; Computer Systems; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Epithelial Cells; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neoplasm Proteins; Oligopeptides; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; RNA, Neoplasm; Sequestosome-1 Protein; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitin

We have used lactacystin, a specific inhibitor of the 26S proteasome, in oligodendroglial cell (OLGc) primary cultures to explore the possible participation of the proteasome-ubiquitin-dependent pathway in the decision of the OLGcs to arrest their proliferation and start differentiation. Addition of lactacystin at various concentrations to cultures containing a majority of OLGc was found to produce their withdrawal from the cell cycle and to induce their biochemical and morphological differentiation, with the appearance of extensive myelin-like sheets. The three classic proteolytic activities of the proteasome were significantly decreased in the lactacystin-treated cultures, and the immunocytochemical analysis showed an increase in the number of O4-, O1-, myelin basic protein-, and myelin proteolipid protein-positive cells and a decrease in A2B5-reacting cells. Quantitative immunochemical evaluation of the expression of certain proteins controlling the cell cycle showed an increase in p27kip1-, cyclin D-, and cdk4-positive cells, with a decrease in cyclin E- and cdk2-positive cells. In the lactacystin-treated OLGcs, there was a dose-dependent decrease in the number of cells incorporating bromodeoxyuridine and in the activity of the complexes cyclin D-cdk4 and cyclin E-cdk2. Furthermore, increased levels of expression of several STAT factors were found, suggesting that proteasome inhibition in OLGcs could stabilize signals of survival and differentiation that might be processed through the JAK/STAT signaling cascade.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Bromodeoxyuridine; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Immunohistochemistry; Leupeptins; Macromolecular Substances; Oligodendroglia; Peptide Hydrolases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Signal Transduction

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is the central mediator of regulated proteolysis in cells, and defects in this pathway are associated with cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. To assess 26S proteasome function in living animals, we developed a ubiquitin-luciferase reporter for bioluminescence imaging. The reporter was degraded rapidly under steady-state conditions and stabilized in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to proteasome inhibitors. Using bioluminescence imaging after one dose of the chemo-therapeutic proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (PS-341), proteasome function in tumor xenografts was blocked within 30 min and returned to nearly baseline by 46 h. After a 2-week regimen of bortezomib, however, imaging of target tumors showed significantly enhanced proteasome inhibition that no longer returned to baseline. The ubiquitin-luciferase reporter enables repetitive tissue-specific analysis of 26S proteasome activity in vivo and should facilitate development and validation of proteasome inhibitors in mouse models, as well as investigations of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in disease pathogenesis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Boronic Acids; Bortezomib; Coleoptera; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Genes, Reporter; HeLa Cells; Humans; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Luciferases; Luminescent Measurements; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; Molecular Biology; Peptide Hydrolases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Pyrazines; Transfection; Ubiquitin; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; bcl-X Protein; Blotting, Western; Caspase 3; Caspase 8; Caspases; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cytochromes c; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Leupeptins; Membrane Potentials; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Mitochondria; Multienzyme Complexes; Osteosarcoma; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Reactive Oxygen Species; Retinoblastoma Protein; Time Factors; Transfection; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

We have developed a novel LPS probe using a highly purified and homogenous preparation of [(3)H] Escherichia coli LPS from the deep rough mutant, which contains a covalently linked, photoactivable 4-p-(azidosalicylamido)-butylamine group. This cross-linker was used to identify the LPS-binding proteins in membranes of the murine-macrophage-like cell line RAW 264.7. The alpha-subunit (PSMA1 C2, 29.5 kDa) and the beta-subunit (PSMB4 N3, 24.36 kDa) of the 20S proteasome complex were identified as LPS-binding proteins. This is the first report demonstrating LPS binding to enzymes such as the proteasome subunits. Functionally, LPS enhanced the chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome to degrade synthetic peptides in vitro and, conversely, the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin completely blocked the LPS-induced proteasome's chymotrypsin activity as well as macrophage TNF-alpha secretion and the expression of multiple inflammatory mediator genes. Lactacystin also completely blocked the LPS-induced expression of Toll-like receptor 2 mRNA. In addition, lactacystin dysregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated macrophages, but failed to inhibit IL-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 activity. Importantly, lactacystin also prevented LPS-induced shock in mice. These data strongly suggest that the proteasome complex regulates the LPS-induced signal transduction and that it may be an important therapeutic target in Gram-negative sepsis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Acute-Phase Proteins; Animals; Carrier Proteins; Cell Line; Chymotrypsin; Cross-Linking Reagents; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Down-Regulation; Enzyme Activation; Escherichia coli; Glutamate Synthase; Leupeptins; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Macrophages, Peritoneal; Membrane Glycoproteins; Membrane Proteins; Methanosarcina; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Multienzyme Complexes; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Shock, Septic; Signal Transduction; Tritium

The global effect of ubiquitin-proteasome (UP) inhibitors on leukemic cell proteome was analysed. A total of 39 protein spots, affected by UP inhibitors, were identified, including 11 new apoptosis-associated proteins. They are involved in different cellular functions and four were associated with caspase-3 activation. Eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) was identified in two spots; however, the peptide mass-fingerprinting for the accumulated one included a peptide with lysine50, indicating that hypusine formation was suppressed during UP inhibitor-induced apoptosis. Hypusine modification ensues immediately following translation of eIF-5A precursor, unless cells are treated with the modification inhibitors diaminoheptane. However, UP inhibitors induced a much stronger accumulation of unmodified eIF-5A compared to the effect of diaminoheptane. We further showed the unmodified eIF-5A was regulated in a proteasome-dependent manner. Inhibition of hypusine formation by diaminoheptane triggered apoptosis, but of particular interest is the finding that eIF-5A expression inhibition by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides significantly enhanced the stimulating effect of GM-CSF on cell growth. Therefore, the eIF-5A accumulation played important roles in the apoptosis induced by UP inhibitors. Moreover, hypusine inhibition in apoptosis was further revealed to be associated with the subcellular localization of eIF-5A. Our data pave the way to a better understanding of the mechanisms by which UP system has been linked to apoptosis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Diamines; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; Enzyme Activation; Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5A; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute; Leupeptins; Lysine; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; Peptide Initiation Factors; Peptide Mapping; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteomics; RNA-Binding Proteins; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; Subcellular Fractions; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitin

Iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1) binds to mRNA iron-responsive elements (IREs) and thereby controls the expression of IRE-containing mRNAs. In iron-replete cells, assembly of a cubane [4Fe-4S] cluster inhibits IRE-binding activity and converts IRP1 to a cytosolic aconitase. Earlier experiments with Saccharomyces cerevisiae suggested that phosphomimetic mutations of Ser-138 negatively affect the stability of the cluster (N. M. Brown, S. A. Anderson, D. W. Steffen, T. B. Carpenter, M. C. Kennedy, W. E. Walden, and R. S. Eisenstein, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:15235-15240, 1998). Along these lines, we show here that a highly purified preparation of recombinant human IRP1 bearing a phosphomimetic S138E substitution (IRP1(S138E)) lacks aconitase activity, which is a hallmark of [4Fe-4S] cluster integrity. Similarly, IRP1(S138E) expressed in mammalian cells fails to function as aconitase. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the impairment of [4Fe-4S] cluster assembly in mammalian cells sensitizes IRP1(S138E) to iron-dependent degradation. This effect can be completely blocked by the iron chelator desferrioxamine or by the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin. As expected, the stability of wild-type or phosphorylation-deficient IRP1(S138A) is not affected by iron manipulations. Ser-138 and flanking sequences appear to be highly conserved in the IRP1s of vertebrates, whereas insect IRP1 orthologues and nonvertebrate IRP1-like molecules contain an S138A substitution. Our data suggest that phosphorylation of Ser-138 may provide a basis for an additional mechanism for the control of vertebrate IRP1 activity at the level of protein stability.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Cell Line; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Deferoxamine; Humans; Iron; Iron Chelating Agents; Iron Regulatory Protein 1; Leupeptins; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Point Mutation; Recombinant Proteins; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Serine

The mechanism of small heat shock protein/alphaB-crystallin gene expression by proteasome inhibition was investigated. Expression of alphaB-crystallin was induced efficiently only by proteasome inhibition and not by heat shock while expression of HSP27 was induced efficiently by both proteasome inhibition and heat shock. The promoter of the alphaB-crystallin gene contains two conserved heat shock elements, one located between -397 and -374 and the other between -57 and -37, relative to the transcription start site. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) revealed that proteasome inhibition induces binding of heat shock factors to both heat shock elements in the alphaB-crystallin gene promoter. However, a transient transfection assay using deletion constructs of the alphaB-crystallin gene promoter showed that the region between -373 and -58 plays an important role in promoter activity. These results indicate the presence of differential response mechanisms of alphaB-crystallin gene expression to proteasome inhibition and heat shock, and that the activation of heat shock elements is not sufficient for the efficient induction of the alphaB-crystallin gene by proteasome inhibition.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; alpha-Crystallin B Chain; Animals; Cell Line; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Gene Expression; Heat-Shock Response; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Myocytes, Cardiac; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats

Breakdown of cellular proteins is a highly regulated process, and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is the major proteolytic system in the cell. It regulates the levels of numerous proteins that control gene expression and cell division, as well as responses to stress and inflammation. Recent studies have reported abnormalities in proteasome function in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Moreover, a direct relation has been reported between impaired proteasome function and oxidative stress in experimental models of ALD. Neutrophil infiltration is a hallmark of ALD, and activated neutrophils are thought to play a role in the pathology of ALD. As a potent neutrophil chemoattractant and activator, interleukin 8 (IL-8) likely plays a key mechanistic role in many forms of liver injury. In this study, we evaluated the effects of inhibition of proteasome function on expression and release of IL-8 by human fetal hepatocytes and hepatoma cells. Our data demonstrate that inhibition of proteasome function in hepatocytes leads to apoptotic cell death. Decreased hepatocyte survival coincides with enhanced expression of IL-8, both at the protein and the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. This increase in IL-8 is independent of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and is associated with an increase in c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) activity. In conclusion, hepatocytes dying because of inhibition of proteasome function produce massive quantities of the proinflammatory chemokine IL-8, possibly resulting in neutrophil infiltration, increased inflammation, and liver injury.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Cell Death; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA; DNA Fragmentation; Enzyme Activation; Fetus; Hepatocytes; Humans; Interleukin-8; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Neutrophils; NF-kappa B; Peptide Hydrolases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; RNA, Messenger; Transcription Factor AP-1; Up-Regulation

Growth related oncogene protein-alpha (GRO-alpha) is a member of C-X-C chemokine and plays an important role in inflammatory responses. Expression of GRO gene family is regulated by a number of factors at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. In the present study, we have addressed the possible regulation of GRO-alpha expression by ubiquitin-proteasome system. Cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with a proteasome inhibitor, MG132, and the levels of GRO-alpha mRNA were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or northern blotting. Levels of GRO-alpha protein in the cell-conditioned medium were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MG132 alone increased the levels of GRO-alpha mRNA and protein; however, it did not affect the GRO-alpha mRNA induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inhibited the LPS-induced decrease in IkappaB levels. Other proteasome inhibitors, MG115 and lactacystin, also induced the expression of GRO-alpha mRNA. MG132 induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, MEK and JNK. Pretreatment of the cells with SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, suppressed the MG132-induced GRO-alpha expression, but pretreatment of the cells with U0126, PD98059 or SP600125, inhibitors of MEK1/2 or JNK, did not influence the effect of MG132. We conclude that MG132 upregulates GRO-alpha expression in vascular endothelial cells, at least in part, through the activation of p38 MAPK.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Anthracenes; Cells, Cultured; Chemokine CXCL1; Chemokines, CXC; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endothelium, Vascular; Enzyme Inhibitors; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; I-kappa B Proteins; Imidazoles; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; NF-kappa B; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phosphorylation; Pyridines; Umbilical Veins

Influenza virus enters cells by endocytosis, and requires the low pH of the late endosome for successful infection. Here, we investigated the requirements for sorting into the multivesicular body pathway of endocytosis. We show that treatment of host cells with the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin directly affects the early stages of virus replication. Unlike other viruses, such as retroviruses, influenza virus budding was not affected. The requirement for proteasome function was not shared by two other pH-dependent viruses: Semliki Forest virus and vesicular stomatitis virus. With MG132 treatment, incoming influenza viruses were retained in endosomes that partially colocalized with mannose 6-phosphate receptor, but not with classical markers of early or late endosomes. Colocalization was also observed with Rme-1, which is part of the recycling pathway of endocytosis. In addition, influenza virus entry was dependent on the vacuolar protein sorting pathway, as over-expression of dominant-negative hVPS4 caused arrest of viruses in endosome-like populations that partially colocalized with the hVPS4 protein. Overall, we conclude that influenza virus selectively requires the ubiquitin/vacuolar protein sorting pathway for entry into host cells, and that it must communicate with a specific cellular machinery for intracellular sorting during the initial phase of virus infection.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenosine Triphosphatases; Animals; Cell Line; Cell Nucleus; Endocytosis; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport; Endosomes; Flow Cytometry; Genes, Dominant; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Hemagglutinins; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Leupeptins; Luminescent Proteins; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Mink; Orthomyxoviridae; Plasmids; Protein Transport; Receptor, IGF Type 2; Retroviridae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; Time Factors; Transfection; Ubiquitin; Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus; Virus Replication

PSD-95 is a major scaffolding protein of the postsynaptic density, tethering NMDA- and AMPA-type glutamate receptors to signaling proteins and the neuronal cytoskeleton. Here we show that PSD-95 is regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. PSD-95 interacts with and is ubiquitinated by the E3 ligase Mdm2. In response to NMDA receptor activation, PSD-95 is ubiquitinated and rapidly removed from synaptic sites by proteasome-dependent degradation. Mutations that block PSD-95 ubiquitination prevent NMDA-induced AMPA receptor endocytosis. Likewise, proteasome inhibitors prevent NMDA-induced AMPA receptor internalization and synaptically induced long-term depression. This is consistent with the notion that PSD-95 levels are an important determinant of AMPA receptor number at the synapse. These data suggest that ubiquitination of PSD-95 through an Mdm2-mediated pathway is critical in regulating AMPA receptor surface expression during synaptic plasticity.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Blotting, Western; Calcium; Cells, Cultured; Colforsin; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; Drug Interactions; Electric Stimulation; Embryo, Mammalian; Endocytosis; Epitopes; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; Hippocampus; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunohistochemistry; Immunosuppressive Agents; In Vitro Techniques; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Kidney; Leupeptins; Membrane Potentials; Membrane Proteins; Mutation; N-Methylaspartate; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neural Inhibition; Neurons; Nuclear Proteins; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Receptors, AMPA; Synapses; Synapsins; Tacrolimus; Time Factors; Transfection; Ubiquitin

Phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLC gamma 1), an enzyme participating in phosphoinositide turnover, is one of the key elements in cell signaling. Here it is shown that treatment of A431 carcinoma cells with proteasome inhibitors Mg132 and lactacystin results in increasing the PLC gamma 1 intracellular level. Simultaneously, several additional bands with lower electrophoretic mobilities were detected on immunoblots, using anti-PLC gamma 1 antibodies. PLC gamma 1 ubiquitinilation was shown using immunoprecepitation. In control A 431 cells, PLC gamma 1 is ubiquitinilated, but the addition of EGF greatly induces the ubiquitinilation of the protein. Association of PLC gamma 1 with ubiquitin-ligase c-Cb1 was shown. Dynamics of ubiquitinilation under EGF treatment is in a close agreement with that of association of PLC gamma 1 and c-Cb1. It is concluded that PLC gamma 1 is ubiquitinilated and degraded by proteasomes. PLC gamma 1 ubiquitinilation is an EGF-dependent process.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Line, Tumor; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Phospholipase C gamma; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Type C Phospholipases; Ubiquitins

Murine erythroblasts infected with the anemia-inducing strain of Friend virus (FVA cells) terminally differentiate to the reticulocyte stage after 48 hours of culture in vitro in response to erythropoietin (EPO). The objective of this study was to determine the possible role of proteasome-mediated proteolysis during the terminal differentiation of FVA cells.. The proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin were used to perturb the normal function of proteasomes during terminal differentiation. Effects of proteasome inhibitors on terminal differentiation were quantitated by evaluation of cellular morphology after benzidine staining and by Western blot analyses.. Treatment of EPO-stimulated FVA cells with lactacystin or MG132 at later periods of culture increased accumulations of nuclear and cytosolic ubiquitinated proteins and decreased nuclear extrusion to less than 40% of controls.. Our results suggest that the proteasomal degradation of ubiquitinated proteins plays an important role in the enucleation of mammalian erythroblasts.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Blotting, Western; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line, Transformed; Cell Transformation, Viral; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cytoplasm; Erythroid Precursor Cells; Erythropoiesis; Friend murine leukemia virus; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Nuclear Proteins; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Reticulocytes; Ubiquitin

In this study, we investigated the effects of proteasome inhibibors (MG132 and lactacystin) on interleukin (IL)-8 induction. In human epithelial A549 cells, MG132 and lactacystin induced IL-8 release within the range of 0.1-30 microM. The effect of MG132 resulted from IL-8 gene transcription and was blocked by PD 98059, but was unaffected by GF109203X, Ro 31-8220, or SB 203580. Mutational analysis of the 5' flanking region of the IL-8 gene revealed that activator protein (AP)-1-binding element, but not that element responsive to nuclear factor (NF)-IL-6 or NF-kappaB, was necessary for MG132 stimulation. Consistent with this, MG132 and lactacystin increased the DNA-binding and reporter activities of AP-1, but reduced cytokine-elicited kappaB activation. Moreover, AP-1 stimulation was associated with increased extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase (MEK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, whereas IL-8 activity was sensitive to the dominant-negative mutants of JNK1, JNK2, SEK, ASK, ERK2, and Ras, but not those of MEKK1, TAK, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. In addition, activations of the IL-8 gene and AP-1 by MG132 and lactacystin were inhibited by GSH and NAC. Herein we present a novel action of proteasome inhibitors, possibly through ROS production, of targeting the upstream signaling molecules, ERK and JNK, which leads to AP-1 activation and IL-8 gene expression.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Cell Line; Chemotaxis; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Activation; Epithelial Cells; Genes, Reporter; Humans; Interleukin-8; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Multienzyme Complexes; Neutrophils; NF-kappa B; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; ras Proteins; Reactive Oxygen Species; Transcription Factor AP-1; Transcription Factors; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The physiological implication of elevated cortisol levels on cellular heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70) response was examined using primary cultures of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes. Trout hepatocytes treated with cortisol, the predominant glucocorticoid in teleosts, responded to the heat shock (+15 degrees C for 1 h) with a significant drop in hsp70 accumulation over a 24-h recovery period. [(35)S]methionine incorporation and pulse-chase studies confirmed that this cortisol impact was due to decreased hsp70 synthesis and not enhanced protein breakdown. Cortisol also significantly decreased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in trout hepatocytes. This receptor downregulation was inhibited by the proteasomal inhibitors, lactacystin and MG-132, implying a role for the proteasome in GR downregulation by cortisol. Inhibiting the proteasome did not significantly modify heat-induced hsp70 accumulation in the absence of cortisol but significantly elevated hsp70 expression in the presence of cortisol in heat-shocked trout hepatocytes. Taken together, our results suggest proteasome-mediated GR degradation as a mechanism for the attenuation of hsp70 response by cortisol in heat-shocked hepatocytes.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Down-Regulation; Hepatocytes; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Hydrocortisone; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Receptors, Glucocorticoid; Sulfur Radioisotopes

Insulin rapidly stimulates the tyrosine kinase activity of its receptor, resulting in the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates (IRS), which in turn associates and activates PI 3-kinase, leading to an increase in glucose uptake. Phosphorylation of IRS proteins and activation of downstream kinases by insulin are transient and the mechanisms for the subsequent downregulation of their activity are largely unknown. We report here that the insulin-induced IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and PI 3-kinase association to IRS-1 were strongly sustained by the proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin. In contrast, no effect was detected on the insulin receptor and IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation. Interestingly, lactacystin also preserved PKB activation and insulin-induced glucose uptake. In contrast, calpeptin, a calpain inhibitor, was ineffective. Tyrosine phosphatase assays were also performed, showing that lactacystin was not functioning directly as a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor "in vitro." In conclusion, proteasome inhibitors can regulate the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and the downstream insulin signaling pathway, leading to glucose transport.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Acetylcysteine; Adipocytes; Animals; Biological Transport; Cell Line; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glucose; Insulin; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphoproteins; Phosphorylation; Phosphotyrosine; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Signal Transduction

In this report we explored the effects of proteasome inhibitors (MG132, aLLN, lactacystin and MG262) on interleukin-8 (IL-8) induction. In HEK293 cells, proteasome inhibitors could concentration-dependently increase IL-8 promoter and activator protein-1 (AP-1) activities, but inhibited nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B activation induced by cytokines. The stimulating effects on IL-8 promoter and AP-1 were reduced by N-acetylcysteine, glutathione, diphenyleneiodonium, rotenone and antimycin A. Fluorescent analysis using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate further confirmed the abilities of proteasome inhibitors to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These results suggest that ROS production by proteasome inhibitors leads to AP-1 activation, which in the absence of NF-kappa B activation still transactivates IL-8 gene expression.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antioxidants; Cell Line; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, Reporter; Humans; Interleukin-8; Leupeptins; Luciferases; Multienzyme Complexes; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Reactive Oxygen Species; Recombinant Proteins; Transcription Factor AP-1; Transfection

Proteasome inhibitors induce apoptosis in some malignant cells, and we show here that these inhibitors induce apoptosis in rat pituitary MMQ and GH3 tumor cells but not in normal pituitary cells. Three proteasome inhibitors, PSI, MG-132, and lactacystin, but not the calpain inhibitor, ALLM, dose- and time-dependently caused apoptosis in these cells, and 10 microM PSI caused apoptosis in 70% of MMQ cells and in 25% of GH3 cells within 24 h. A lower PSI dose (10 nM) inhibited GH3 cell growth without causing significant apoptosis or affecting prolactin secretion. Primary rat pituitary cells were resistant to both PSI and MG-132 and did not undergo apoptosis. In MMQ cells, DNA synthesis was slowed (approximately 30%) after 6 h of 10 microM PSI treatment and a partial cell cycle block at G2/M was evident after 8 h. Colorimetric caspase substrate assay and Western blotting of caspase substrates showed that caspases 2 and 3 are activated by PSI while caspases 6 and 8 remained inactive. A broad-range caspase inhibitor, caspase inhibitor III, prevented apoptosis induced by PSI. The results show that proteasome inhibitors induce apoptosis in rat pituitary tumor cells by specific caspase activation. This novel group of drugs may potentially be used in treatment of aggressive pituitary tumors, especially as their action appears relative for tumor cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Caspases; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Growth Hormone; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Pituitary Gland, Anterior; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactinoma; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Gunn rat is a hyperbilirubinemic rat strain that is inherently deficient in the activity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase form 1A1 (UGT1A1). A premature termination codon is predicted to produce truncated UGT1 proteins that lack the COOH-terminal 116 amino acids in Gunn rat. Pulse-chase experiments using primary cell cultures showed that the truncated UGT1A1 protein in Gunn rat hepatocytes was synthesized similarly to wild-type UGT1A1 protein in normal Wistar rat hepatocytes. However, the truncated UGT1A1 protein was degraded rapidly with a half-life of about 50 min, whereas the wild-type UGT1A1 protein had a much longer half-life of about 10 h. The rapid degradation of truncated UGT1A1 protein was inhibited partially but not completely by treating Gunn rat hepatocytes with proteasome inhibitors such as carbobenzoxy-Leu-Leu-leucinal and lactacystin. By contrast, neither the lysosomal cysteine protease inhibitor nor the calpain inhibitor slowed the degradation. Our findings show that the absence of UGT1 protein from Gunn rat hepatocytes is due to rapid degradation of the truncated UGT1 protein by the proteasome and elucidate the molecular basis underlying the deficiency in bilirubin glucuronidation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Glucuronosyltransferase; Glycoproteins; Half-Life; Hepatocytes; Leupeptins; Male; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutation; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Gunn; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger; Subcellular Fractions

A rare conformation of the prion protein, PrPSc, is found only in mammals with transmissible prion diseases and represents either the infectious agent itself or a major component of it. The mechanism for initiating PrPSc formation is unknown. We report that PrP retrogradely transported out of the endoplasmic reticulum produced both amorphous aggregates and a PrPSc-like conformation in the cytosol. The distribution between these forms correlated with the rate of appearance in the cytosol. Once conversion to the PrPSc-like conformation occurred, it was sustained. Thus, PrP has an inherent capacity to promote its own conformational conversion in mammalian cells. These observations might explain the origin of PrPSc.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; COS Cells; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; Cytosol; Endopeptidase K; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Leupeptins; Mice; Models, Biological; Multienzyme Complexes; Neurons; Oligopeptides; Prions; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Conformation; Protein Folding; Protein Transport; PrPSc Proteins; Solubility; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured

After hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) treatment, the p21 (p21(Waf1/Cip1)) protein level in GM00637 fibroblast cells was rapidly decreased, reaching its nadir around 3 h. However, it rebounded within 5 hours to a level higher than that before treatment. Fluorescence microscopic analyses revealed that nuclear p21 was downregulated during the initial oxidative stress. H(2)O(2)-induced downregulation of p21 protein was accompanied by a gradual increase in p21 mRNA levels. Other inducers of genotoxic stress, such as treatment with adriamycin, a DNA damage compound, did not cause a significant decrease in p21 protein levels. Pretreatment of GM00637 cells with the proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin or MG132, completely blocked H(2)O(2)-induced p21 downregulation, suggesting that H(2)O(2) treatment accelerated p21 degradation. Conversely, cotreatment of cells with a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, and H(2)O(2) drastically shortened the half-life of p21. Moreover, p21 mRNA levels were not downregulated by treatment with proteasome or protein synthesis inhibitors. Taken together, our studies indicate that oxidative stress induces rapid, but reversible, downregulation of functional p21 by accelerating its protein turnover.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Cell Line; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclins; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Doxorubicin; Fibroblasts; HeLa Cells; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neoplasm Proteins; Oxidative Stress; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Reactive Oxygen Species

Transcription of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for Notch signaling molecules oscillates with 2-hour cycles, and this oscillation is important for coordinated somite segmentation. However, the molecular mechanism of such oscillation remains to be determined. Here, we show that serum treatment of cultured cells induces cyclic expression of both mRNA and protein of the Notch effector Hes1, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factor, with 2-hour periodicity. Cycling is cell-autonomous and depends on negative autoregulation of hes1 transcription and ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation of Hes1 protein. Because Hes1 oscillation can be seen in many cell types, this clock may regulate timing in many biological systems.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Biological Clocks; Blood; Cell Line; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Feedback, Physiological; Gene Expression Regulation; Glycosyltransferases; Half-Life; Homeodomain Proteins; Leupeptins; Mesoderm; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; PC12 Cells; Periodicity; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Biosynthesis; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Rats; RNA, Messenger; Transcription Factor HES-1; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection; Ubiquitin

Parkinson's disease is characterized by loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons and the presence of cytoplasmic inclusions known as Lewy bodies. alpha-Synuclein and its interacting partner synphilin-1 are among constituent proteins in these aggregates. The presence of ubiquitin and proteasome subunits in these inclusions supports a role for this protein degradation pathway in the processing of proteins involved in this disease. To begin elucidating the kinetics of synphilin-1 in cells, we studied its degradation pathway in HEK293 cells that had been engineered to stably express FLAG-tagged synphilin-1. Pulse-chase experiments revealed that this protein is relatively stable with a half-life of about 16 h. Treatment with proteasome inhibitors resulted in attenuation of degradation and the accumulation of high molecular weight ubiquitinated synphilin-1 in immunoprecipitation/immunoblot experiments. Additionally, proteasome inhibitors stimulated the formation of peri-nuclear inclusions which were immunoreactive for synphilin-1, ubiquitin and alpha-synuclein. Cell viability studies revealed increased susceptibility of synphilin-1 over-expressing cells to proteasomal dysfunction. These observations indicate that synphilin-1 is ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome. Accumulation of ubiquitinated synphilin-1 due to impaired clearance results in its aggregation as peri-nuclear inclusions and in poor cell survival.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; alpha-Synuclein; Animals; Blotting, Western; Carrier Proteins; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Humans; Inclusion Bodies; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Kidney; Leupeptins; Macromolecular Substances; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuroblastoma; Precipitin Tests; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Synucleins; Transfection; Ubiquitin

Neurite extension is a key process for constructing neuronal circuits during development and remodeling of the nervous system. Here we show that Src family tyrosine kinases and proteasome degradation signals synergistically regulate N-WASP in neurite extension. Src family kinases activate N-WASP through tyrosine phosphorylation, which induces Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization. Tyrosine phosphorylation of N-WASP also initiates its degradation through ubiquitination. When neurite growth is stimulated in culture, degradation of N-WASP is markedly inhibited, leading to accumulation of the phosphorylated N-WASP. On the other hand, under culture conditions that inhibit neurite extension, but favor proliferation, the phosphorylated N-WASP is degraded rapidly. Collectively, neurite extension is regulated by the balance of N-WASP phosphorylation (activation) and degradation (inactivation), which are induced by tyrosine phosphorylation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Actin-Related Protein 2; Actin-Related Protein 3; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein; Cell Line; Chlorocebus aethiops; COS Cells; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Female; Leupeptins; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Molecular Sequence Data; Multienzyme Complexes; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurites; PC12 Cells; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; Rats; Spodoptera; src-Family Kinases; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein, Neuronal

In recent studies, induction of the heat shock response by hyperthermia upregulated the expression and DNA binding activity of the transcription factor C/EBP. This is an important observation because it may at least in part explain why the heat shock response upregulates IL-6 production in the intestinal mucosa and in the enterocyte. A novel method to induce the heat shock response is proteasome inhibition. The influence of this treatment on the expression and DNA binding activity of C/EBP is not known. We treated cultured Caco-2 cells, a human intestinal epithelial cell line, with one of the proteasome inhibitors, MG-132 or lactacystin, and measured C/EBP-beta and delta DNA binding activity by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and supershift analysis. In addition, nuclear levels of C/EBP-beta and delta protein were determined by Western blot analysis. Treatment of the cells with the proteasome inhibitors resulted in increased cellular levels of heat shock protein 72, consistent with induction of the heat shock response. Treatment also resulted in increased DNA binding activity and nuclear protein levels of C/EBP-beta and delta. The effects of the proteasome inhibitors on C/EBP were inhibited by treating the cells with quercetin, a substance known to block the heat shock response. The results suggest that proteasome inhibition activates the transcription factors C/EBP-beta and delta in human intestinal epithelial cells and that this response, at least in part, is caused by induction of the heat shock response. The observations are important because they provide support for a novel method to influence gene activation in the enterocyte.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Blotting, Western; Caco-2 Cells; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; Cell Nucleus; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enterocytes; Enzyme Activation; Epithelial Cells; Heat-Shock Proteins; Hot Temperature; HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Binding; Protein Isoforms; Quercetin; Temperature; Time Factors; Transcription Factors

Within 24 h of hormonally stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation, there are dramatic changes in the protein levels of p130 and p107, two members of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene family. Designated the "p103:p107" switch, this alteration is characterized by a rapid and transient drop in p130 protein levels accompanied by a transient increase in both p107 mRNA and protein levels. Using protease inhibitors, the specific proteolytic pathway involved in degradation of p130 was examined. Treatment of cells with N-acetyl-leu-leu-norleucinal, an inhibitor that blocks proteolytic activity of type I calpain and the 26S proteasome, resulted in a complete block in the degradation of p130 protein, as well as adipocyte differentiation, suggesting that one of these pathways is involved in regulating p130 protein levels. Similar analysis with lactacystin, a specific inhibitor of the 26S proteasome, also resulted in a complete block in both differentiation and p130 degradation. Furthermore, both inhibitors blocked the increase in p107 protein levels normally observed on Day 1, suggesting that the p130:p107 switch is required for adipocyte differentiation and one of the early molecular events involved in activating the p130:p107 switch is the specific degradation of p130 by the 26S proteasome.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adipocytes; Animals; Calpain; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Nuclear Proteins; Peptide Hydrolases; Phosphoproteins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteins; Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130

EGF, but not TGF alpha, efficiently induces degradation of the EGF receptor (EGFR). We show that EGFR was initially polyubiquitinated to the same extent upon incubation with EGF and TGF alpha, whereas the ubiquitination was more sustained by incubation with EGF than with TGF alpha. Consistently, the ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl was recruited to the plasma membrane upon activation of the EGFR with EGF and TGF alpha, but localized to endosomes only upon activation with EGF. EGF remains bound to the EGFR upon endocytosis, whereas TGF alpha dissociates from the EGFR. Therefore, the sustained polyubiquitination is explained by EGF securing the kinase activity of endocytosed EGFR. Overexpression of the dominant negative N-Cbl inhibited ubiquitination of the EGFR and degradation of EGF and EGFR. This demonstrates that EGF-induced ubiquitination of the EGFR as such is important for lysosomal sorting. Both lysosomal and proteasomal inhibitors blocked degradation of EGF and EGFR, and proteasomal inhibitors inhibited translocation of activated EGFR from the outer limiting membrane to inner membranes of multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Therefore, lysosomal sorting of kinase active EGFR is regulated by proteasomal activity. Immuno-EM showed the localization of intact EGFR on internal membranes of MVBs. This demonstrates that the EGFR as such is not the proteasomal target.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Ammonium Chloride; Animals; Cell Membrane; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoplasmic Vesicles; Endocytosis; Endopeptidases; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Intracellular Membranes; Leupeptins; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Electron; Multienzyme Complexes; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Transport; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl; Transforming Growth Factor alpha; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Ubiquitins

Notch receptors undergo three distinct proteolytic cleavages during maturation and activation. The third cleavage occurs within the plasma membrane and results in the release and translocation of the intracellular domain into the nucleus to execute Notch signaling. This so-called gamma-secretase cleavage is under the control of presenilins, but it is not known whether presenilins themselves carry out the cleavage or whether they act by means of yet-unidentified gamma-secretase(s). In this article, we show that Notch intracellular cleavage in intact cells completely depends on presenilins. In contrast, partial purification of the Notch cleavage activity reveals an activity, which is present only in protein extracts from presenilin-containing cells, and which does not comigrate with presenilin. This finding provides evidence for the existence of a specific Notch-processing activity, which is physically distinct from presenilins. We conclude from these experiments that presenilins are critically required for Notch intracellular cleavage but are not themselves directly mediating the cleavage.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Sequence; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; Animals; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; Cell Extracts; Cell Line; Detergents; Endopeptidases; Fluorometry; Humans; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mutation; Presenilin-1; Presenilin-2; Protease Inhibitors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Notch; Signal Transduction; Solubility

In previous studies, the heat shock response, induced by hyperthermia or sodium arsenite, increased interleukin (IL)-6 production in intestinal mucosa and cultured human enterocytes. A novel way to induce the heat shock response, documented in other cell types, is treatment with proteasome inhibitors. It is not known if proteasome inhibition induces heat shock in enterocytes or influences IL-6 production. Here we tested the hypothesis that treatment of cultured Caco-2 cells, a human intestinal epithelial cell line, with proteasome inhibitors induces the heat shock response and stimulates IL-6 production. Treatment of Caco-2 cells with one of the proteasome inhibitors MG-132 or lactacystin activated the transcription factor heat shock factors (HSF)-1 and -2 and upregulated cellular levels of the 72-kDa heat shock protein HSP-72. The same treatment resulted in increased gene and protein expression of IL-6, a response that was blocked by quercetin. Additional experiments revealed that the IL-6 gene promoter contains a HSF-responsive element and that the IL-6 gene may be regulated by the heat shock response. The present results suggest that proteasome inhibition induces heat shock response and IL-6 production in enterocytes and that IL-6 may be a heat shock-responsive gene, at least under certain circumstances. The observations are important considering the multiple biological roles of IL-6, both locally in the gut mucosa and systemically, and considering recent proposals in the literature to use proteasome inhibitors in the clinical setting to induce the heat shock response.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Caco-2 Cells; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; Enterocytes; Epithelial Cells; Gene Expression; Heat Shock Transcription Factors; Heat-Shock Proteins; Heat-Shock Response; HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Interleukin-6; Intestinal Mucosa; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; NF-kappa B; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; RNA, Messenger; Transcription Factors; Transcriptional Activation

Resistance to leishmanial infections depends on intracellular parasite killing by activated host macrophages through the L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO) metabolic pathway. Here we investigate the cell death process induced by NO for the intracellular protozoan Leishmania amazonensis. Exposure of amastigotes to moderate concentrations of NO-donating compounds (acidified sodium nitrite NaNO(2) or nitrosylated albumin) or to endogenous NO produced by lipopolysaccharide or gamma interferon treatment of infected macrophages resulted in a dramatic time-dependent cell death. The combined use of several standard DNA status analysis techniques (including electrophoresis ladder banding patterns, YOPRO-1 staining in flow cytofluorometry, and in situ recognition of DNA strand breaks by TUNEL [terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling] assay) revealed a rapid and extensive fragmentation of nuclear DNA in both axenic and intracellular NO-treated amastigotes of L. amazonensis. Despite some similarities to apoptosis, the nuclease activation responsible for characteristic DNA degradation was not under the control of caspase activity as indicated by the lack of involvement of cell-permeable inhibitors of caspases and cysteine proteases. In contrast, exposure of NO-treated amastigotes with specific proteasome inhibitors, such as lactacystin or calpain inhibitor I, markedly reduced the induction of the NO-mediated apoptosis-like process. These data strongly suggest that NO-induced oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation in Leishmania amastigotes is, at least in part, regulated by noncaspase proteases of the proteasome. The determination of biochemical pathways leading up to cell death might ultimately allow the identification of new therapeutic targets.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA Fragmentation; DNA, Protozoan; Female; Glycoproteins; Kinetics; Leishmania mexicana; Leupeptins; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Multienzyme Complexes; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Donors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Sodium Nitrite; Time Factors

Recent studies have increasingly implicated the proteasome in the regulation of cell surface receptors. In the present study, we investigated the role of the proteasome for ligand-dependent endocytosis and degradation of the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) complex. Proteasome inhibitors impaired internalization of IL-2.IL-2R and prevented the lysosomal degradation of this cytokine. Based on time-course studies, proteasome activity is primarily required after initial endocytosis of the IL-2.IL-2R. Proteasome function was also necessary for the lysosomal degradation of IL-2 internalized by IL-2R that were comprised of cytoplasmic tailless beta- or gamma c-subunits, suggesting that the target protein for the proteasome is independent of either the cytoplasmic tail of the IL-2R beta- or gamma c-subunits and their associated signaling components. Therefore, a functional proteasome is required for optimal endocytosis of the IL-2R/ligand complex and is essential for the subsequent lysosomal degradation of IL-2, possibly by regulating trafficking to the lysosome.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Endocytosis; Interleukin-2; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; Macromolecular Substances; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Milk Proteins; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Subunits; Receptors, Interleukin-2; Spleen; STAT5 Transcription Factor; T-Lymphocytes; Trans-Activators

Wilson disease is a genetic disorder characterized by the accumulation of copper in the body as a result of a defect of copper excretion from hepatocytes. The intracellular localization of the Wilson disease gene product, ATP7B, was recently identified as the late endosomes. Various mutations have been documented in patients with Wilson disease. The clinical manifestations vary greatly among the patients; however, there is little information on the genotype-phenotype correlation.. We investigated the distribution of a common ATP7B mutant His1069Gln and a mutant Asp1270Ser by expressing the mutants tagged with green fluorescent protein in Huh7 and HEK293 cells. Intracellular organelles were visualized by fluorescence microscopy.. Although the wild-type ATP7B and Asp1270Ser mutant localized in the late endosomes, His1069Gln mutant did not locate in the late endosomes and was degraded by the proteasomes in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, His1069Gln formed aggresomes composed of the degradates and intermediate filaments at the microtubule-organizing center. These aggresomes were similar to Mallory bodies on electron microscopy.. The different protein properties of ATP7B mutants may explain the variety of clinical spectrums in patients with Wilson disease.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenosine Triphosphatases; Carrier Proteins; Cation Transport Proteins; Cell Line; Copper-Transporting ATPases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cytoskeleton; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Leupeptins; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Electron; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Tissue Distribution

1DNA topoisomerase II (topo II) is a nuclear enzyme that modifies DNA topology and also serves as a target to mediate the cytotoxicity of several antineoplastic agents. Several reports have demonstrated that a reduction of topo II is associated with reduced sensitivity to these agents. Topo II exists as two isoforms in mammalian cells: topo IIalpha and topo IIbeta. In MCF-7 cells, the half-life (mean +/- SEM) values of topo IIalpha and topo IIbeta in situ were 6.6 +/- 0.3 and 17.6 +/- 2.3 hr, respectively, as determined by [(35)S]methionine/cysteine pulse-chase analysis. Degradation of topo IIalpha in situ was abrogated by the presence of proteasome inhibitors, and the relative activities were carbobenzoxy-leucyl-leucyl-leucinal (MG132) > carbobenzoxy-leucyl-leucyl-norvalinal (MG115) > ALLN congruent with lactacystin. ATP-dependent degradation of topo IIalpha, but not topo IIbeta, was observed in extracts of asynchronously dividing HeLa and MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, degradation of topo IIalpha was abrogated by the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and MG115, but not by lactacystin, in extracts of asynchronously dividing MCF-7 cells. Finally, degradation of topo IIalpha, but not topo IIbeta, was observed to occur in a cell cycle-dependent fashion, in extracts of synchronized HeLa cells, with maximal loss of the alpha isoform occurring 2 hr after release from mitotic arrest. This degradation of topo IIalpha appeared to be facilitated by an ATP-dependent activity. Furthermore, high molecular weight bands (>200 kDa), which may represent polyubiquitinated-topo IIalpha conjugates, were also detected in extracts of synchronized HeLa cells. This study provides evidence for a role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the cell cycle-dependent regulation of topo IIalpha expression.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenosine Triphosphate; Antigens, Neoplasm; Cell Cycle; Cell Extracts; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; DNA-Binding Proteins; HeLa Cells; Humans; Isoenzymes; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a critical role in the degradation of several proteins involved in the cell cycle. Dysregulation of this pathway leads to inhibition of cellular proliferation and the induction of apoptosis. Ubiquitination and its downstream consequences have been investigated intensively as targets for the development of drugs for tumour therapy. Here we have investigated the mechanism of apoptosis induced by the proteasome inhibitors MG-132, lactacystin and calpain inhibitor I (ALLN), in the HEK 293 cell line and the ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and OVCAR3. We have found strong caspase-3-like and caspase-6-like activation upon treatment of HEK 293 cells with MG-132. Using a tricistronic expression vector based on a tetracycline-responsive system we generated stable SKOV3 nd OVCAR3 cell lines with inducible expression of pro-caspase-3. Induction of pro-caspase-3 expression in normally growing cells does not induce apoptosis. However, in the presence of the proteasome inhibitors MG-132, lactacystin or ALLN we found that cells overexpressing pro-caspase-3 are rapidly targeted for apoptosis. Our results demonstrate that pro-caspase-3 can sensitise ovarian cancer cells to proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis, and a combination of these approaches might be exploited for therapy of ovarian and other cancers.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspases; Cell Division; Cell Line, Tumor; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Induction; Female; Flow Cytometry; G2 Phase; Glycoproteins; Humans; Immunoblotting; Isoenzymes; Leupeptins; Ovarian Neoplasms; Transfection

Down-regulation of cell surface growth factor receptors plays a key role in the tight control of cellular responses. Recent reports suggest that the ubiquitin system, in addition to participating in degradation by the proteasome of cytosolic and nuclear proteins, might also be involved in the down-regulation of various membrane receptors. We have previously characterized a signal in the cytosolic part of the interleukin 2 receptor beta chain (IL2Rbeta) responsible for its targeting to late endosomes/lysosomes. In this report, the role of the ubiquitin/proteasome system on the intracellular fate of IL2Rbeta was investigated. Inactivation of the cellular ubiquitination machinery in ts20 cells, which express a thermolabile ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1, leads to a significant decrease in the degradation rate of IL2Rbeta, with little effect on its internalization. In addition, we show that a fraction of IL2Rbeta can be monoubiquitinated. Furthermore, mutation of the lysine residues of the cytosolic region of a chimeric receptor carrying the IL2Rbeta targeting signal resulted in a decreased degradation rate. When cells expressing IL2Rbeta were treated either by proteasome or lysosome inhibitors, a significant decrease in receptor degradation was observed. Our data show that ubiquitination is required for the sorting of IL2Rbeta toward degradation. They also indicate that impairment of proteasome function might more generally affect intracellular routing.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antimalarials; Cell Line; Chloroquine; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endocytosis; Humans; Immunoblotting; Leupeptins; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Sorting Signals; Protein Subunits; Receptors, Interleukin-2; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Transfection; Ubiquitins

Intracellular deposition of aggregated and ubiquitylated proteins is a prominent cytopathological feature of most neurodegenerative disorders. Whether protein aggregates themselves are pathogenic or are the consequence of an underlying molecular lesion is unclear. Here, we report that protein aggregation directly impaired the function of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Transient expression of two unrelated aggregation-prone proteins, a huntingtin fragment containing a pathogenic polyglutamine repeat and a folding mutant of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, caused nearly complete inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Because of the central role of ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis in regulating fundamental cellular events such as cell division and apoptosis, our data suggest a potential mechanism linking protein aggregation to cellular disregulation and cell death.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Sequence; Cell Death; Cell Line; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; Endoplasmic Reticulum; G2 Phase; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Humans; Huntingtin Protein; Inclusion Bodies; Leupeptins; Luminescent Proteins; Molecular Sequence Data; Multienzyme Complexes; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Nuclear Proteins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Transfection; Ubiquitins

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) induce dendritic growth in cultured sympathetic neurons; however, the signaling pathways that mediate this dendrite-promoting activity have not been previously characterized. Here we report studies of the signaling events that regulate the growth of these afferent processes. We find that Smad1 is expressed in sympathetic neurons and that BMPs rapidly induce its phosphorylation and translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Furthermore, a dominant negative form of Smad1 inhibits BMP-7-induced dendritic growth, suggesting a requirement for Smad1 activation in this biological activity of BMP-7. A physical interaction between Smad1 and components involved in the proteasome-mediated degradation system was detected with a yeast two-hybrid screen, thereby prompting an examination of the effects of proteasome inhibitors on dendritic growth. Lactacystin and ALLN (N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal) selectively blocked BMP-7-induced dendritic growth without adversely affecting either cell viability or axonal growth. Moreover, studies of transfected P19 cells suggest that the proteasome inhibitors directly block the effects of Smad1 on the transcriptional activity of the Tlx-2 promoter. These data indicate that BMP-induced dendritic growth requires Smad1 activation and involves proteasome-mediated degradation events.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; Cell Nucleus; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dendrites; DNA-Binding Proteins; Gene Expression; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Smad Proteins; Smad1 Protein; Superior Cervical Ganglion; Trans-Activators; Transcriptional Activation; Transfection; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) decreases rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) due principally to an increased rate of degradation of the enzyme. The pathway of degradation of ADH was investigated. Exposure of hepatocytes in culture to lactacystin or to MG132, which are inhibitors of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway of protein degradation, resulted in higher ADH. Furthermore, both lactacystin and MG132 prevented the decrease in ADH caused by DHT. By contrast, the lysosomal proteolytic inhibitors 3-methyladenine and leupeptin as well as inhibitors of the calcium-activated neutral protease calpain system had no effect on ADH in the absence or presence of DHT. ADH isolated by immunoprecipitation from hepatocytes exposed to DHT reacted specifically with anti-ubiquitin antibody. Ubiquitinated ADH was also demonstrated in hepatocytes exposed to MG132. The combination of DHT and MG132 resulted in more ubiquitinated ADH than exposure to either compound alone. These results suggest that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a role in the degradation of ADH and in the enhanced degradation of this enzyme by DHT.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenine; Alcohol Dehydrogenase; Animals; Calpain; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dihydrotestosterone; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Hepatocytes; Leupeptins; Liver; Lysosomes; Male; Multienzyme Complexes; Precipitin Tests; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Ubiquitins

Previously, we have shown that translation eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4GI is cleaved during anti-Fas-mediated apoptosis. Here, we have investigated the effects of the proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin, and the immunosuppressants, 2-amino-2[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]-1,3,propane diol (FTY720) and cyclosporin A, on the integrity of eIF4GI and eIF4GII in T cells. Using wild-type Jurkat T cells, we show that the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin promote the cleavage of eIF4G, activate caspase-8 and caspase-3-like activities and decrease cell viability. Furthermore, MG132 also promotes the cleavage of eIF4G and the activation of caspase-3-like activity in a caspase-8-deficient Jurkat cell line which is resistant to anti-Fas-mediated apoptosis. Using specific anti-peptide antisera, we show that both eIF4GI and eIF4GII are cleaved in either cell line in response to MG132 and lactacystin. In response to such treatments, we demonstrate that the fragments of eIF4GI generated include those previously observed with anti-Fas antiserum together with a novel product which lacks the ability to interact with eIF4E. In contrast, cells treated with the immunosuppressants FTY720 and cyclosporin A appear to contain only the novel cleavage fragment of eIF4GI and to lack those characteristic of cells treated with anti-Fas antiserum. These data suggest that caspase-8 activation is not required for apoptosis and eIF4G cleavage mediated by proteasome inhibitors and immunosuppressants in human T cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Calpain; Caspase 8; Caspase 9; Caspase Inhibitors; Caspases; Cyclosporine; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4G; fas Receptor; Fingolimod Hydrochloride; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Jurkat Cells; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Peptide Fragments; Peptide Initiation Factors; Propylene Glycols; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Sphingosine; T-Lymphocytes

Proteasome inhibitors, including lactacystin and MG132 (carbobenzoxyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-leucinal), potently induce apoptosis in leukaemic B cells from patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). This pro-apoptotic effect occurs in cells from patients at all stages of the disease, including those resistant to conventional chemotherapy, suggesting that proteasome inhibitors may be useful for treatment of B-CLL. Following initial inhibition of proteasomal activity, these agents induce mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-dependent apoptosis, involving cleavage/activation of caspases -2, -3, -7, -8 and -9. Pre-treatment with the cell permeable caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp (OMe)fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD.fmk), did not prevent the release of cytochrome c or partial processing of caspase-9 but prevented activation of effector caspases and the induction of apoptosis. These results suggest that the release of cytochrome c is caspase independent and that caspase-9 is the initiator caspase in proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis of B-CLL cells. Activation of B-CLL lysates with dATP results in the formation of an approximately 700 kDa caspase-activating apoptosome complex containing Apaf-1. We describe for the first time the formation of a similar approximately 700 kDa caspase-activating apoptosome complex in B-CLL cells induced to undergo apoptosis by proteasome inhibitors.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; Apoptosis; Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; Blotting, Western; Caspase 9; Caspases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cytochrome c Group; Cytosol; Enzyme Activation; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Leupeptins; Microscopy, Electron; Molecular Weight; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Biosynthesis; Proteins; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Proteasome inhibitors were shown previously to induce mitochondria-independent and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in human glioma cell lines by unknown mechanisms. Here, we showed that treatment with proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin or acetyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-norleucinal, led to elevation of the steady-state c-Myc protein but not c-myc mRNA, suggesting the accumulation of c-Myc protein by proteasome inhibitors. In addition, the marked association of c-Myc protein with ubiquitin by treatment with proteasome inhibitors indicated the involvement of proteasome in c-Myc proteolysis and the stabilization of c-Myc protein by proteasome inhibitors in vivo. The expression of Fas (also termed CD95 or APO-1) mRNA, if analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay, was found to occur constitutively, and increased slightly by the treatment with proteasome inhibitors. In contrast, the expression of Fas ligand (FasL) mRNA was markedly induced temporarily before the activation of caspase-3 by the treatment. Agonistic anti-Fas antibody (CH11) induced apoptotic cell death, suggesting the presence of a functional Fas receptor. In addition, proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis was prevented by the addition of antagonistic anti-FasL antibody (4A5) or z-IETD.fmk, a potent inhibitor of caspase-8, indicating the involvement of the Fas receptor-ligand apoptotic signaling system in proteasome inhibitor-mediated apoptosis. Thus, it is suggested that proteasome inhibitors cause the accumulation of c-Myc protein which induces transiently FasL message to stimulate the Fas receptor-ligand apoptotic signaling pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Base Sequence; Brain Neoplasms; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA Primers; Fas Ligand Protein; fas Receptor; Glioma; Humans; Leupeptins; Membrane Glycoproteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that are emerging as biochemical regulators of cell growth, apoptosis, protein homeostasis and intracellular targeting of peptides. The immunological function of the HSPs are imparted by tissue specific peptides associated with the HSPs and as such autologous cancer derived HSP-peptide complexes are unique therapeutic agents. Since a majority of the intracellular peptides are generated by the proteasome, we examined the consequence of abrogation of proteasome function by proteasome inhibitors (PIs) such as Lactacystin, MG-132 and LLM on the growth and induction profile of HSP70 and gp96 using hematopoietic, lymphoid, and epithelial derived cancer cell lines. The effect on growth was measured by the XTT assay and induction of the heat shock proteins by western blot analyses using HSP70 and gp96 specific antibodies. Of the PIs tested, cancer cells, were most sensitive to MG-132 and least sensitive to LLM. MG-132 also showed a 10-fold differential sensitivity between estrogen receptor positive, (ER+) MCF-7 cells and negative cells, (ER-) MDA-MB-231. Induction of heat shock proteins, gp96 and HSP70 was, however, noted in response to LLM. Since LLM exhibited minimal cytotoxic effect, metabolic stress that results in induction of HSPs may not be translated in cell growth inhibition and that there may exist a cell-type specific phenomenon in the HSP response to PI mediated metabolic stress.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antigens, Neoplasm; Blotting, Western; Cell Division; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heat-Shock Proteins; HL-60 Cells; Humans; K562 Cells; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neoplasms; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Because retention of mutant alpha(1)-antitrypsin (alpha(1)-AT) Z in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is associated with liver disease in alpha(1)-AT-deficient individuals, the mechanism by which this aggregated glycoprotein is degraded has received considerable attention. In previous studies using stable transfected human fibroblast cell lines and a cell-free microsomal translocation system, we found evidence for involvement of the proteasome in degradation of alpha(1)-ATZ (Qu, D., Teckman, J. H., Omura, S., and Perlmutter, D. H. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 22791-22795). In more recent studies, Cabral et al. (Cabral, C. M., Choudhury, P., Liu, Y., and Sifers, R. N. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 25015-25022) found that degradation of alpha(1)-ATZ in a stable transfected murine hepatoma cell line was inhibited by tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors, but not by the proteasomal inhibitor lactacystin and concluded that the proteasome was only involved in ER degradation of alpha(1)-ATZ in nonhepatocytic cell types or in cell types with levels of alpha(1)-AT expression that are substantial lower than that which occurs in hepatocytes. To examine this important issue in further detail, in this study we established rat and murine hepatoma cell lines with constitutive and inducible expression of alpha(1)-ATZ. In each of these cell lines degradation of alpha(1)-ATZ was inhibited by lactacystin, MG132, epoxomicin, and clasto-lactacystin beta-lactone. Using the inducible expression system to regulate the relative level of alpha(1)-ATZ expression, we found that lactacystin had a similar inhibitory effect on degradation of alpha(1)-ATZ at high and low levels of alpha(1)-AT expression. Although there is substantial evidence that other mechanisms contribute to ER degradation of alpha(1)-ATZ, the data reported here indicate that the proteasome plays an important role in many cell types including hepatocytes.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Fibroblasts; HeLa Cells; Hepatocytes; Humans; Lactones; Leupeptins; Liver; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutation; Oligopeptides; Precipitin Tests; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Binding; Rats; Time Factors; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured

A temperature-sensitive cell-cycle mutant of the 3Y1 rat fibroblast cell line, 3Y1tsD123 has in the D123 gene coding region a point mutation which causes instability of the D123 protein. Temperature-sensitive G1 arrest of the mutant is caused by increased degradation of the D123 protein at restrictive temperature. In this study we found that the selective proteasome inhibitors lactacystin and MG132 inhibited degradation of the mutated D123 protein in cell lines overexpressing the mutated D123 protein, followed by accumulation of a modified form (increased molecular weight other than by ubiquitination) of the D123 protein. Although a temperature-resistant revertant of the mutant had no further mutation in the D123 gene coding region, the modification of the mutated D123 protein was inhibited and the mutated D123 protein was rendered stable. The modification was also inhibited in the hybrid cell lines between the revertant and the cell line overexpressing the mutated D123 protein. These facts imply that the mutated D123 protein receives unidentified modification before degradation in the proteasome, and that the revertant expresses a gene inhibiting this modification.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; Base Sequence; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Division; Cell Line, Transformed; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Genetic Complementation Test; Hybrid Cells; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Point Mutation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteins; Rats; Temperature; Ubiquitin

The Vesl-1S/Homer-1a proteins are upregulated during seizure and long-term potentiation, but are rapidly degraded by ubiquitin-proteasome systems under normal conditions. We examined the distribution of Vesl-1S proteins in cultured hippocampal neurons. Application of proteasome inhibitors caused accumulation of Vesl-1S immunoreactivity in the neurons which showed a punctate distribution in the cortical regions of the cells, and these puncta were found to be juxtaposed with synaptophysin, a presynaptic, synapse-specific protein. These results suggest that Vesl-1S protein is synaptically targeted.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Carrier Proteins; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Hippocampus; Homer Scaffolding Proteins; Immunohistochemistry; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neuronal Plasticity; Neurons; Neuropeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Synapses; Synaptophysin

1. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is involved in a variety of cellular functions in mammalian cells. The role of proteasome, however, in the course of cell differentiation is not well characterized. We hypothesized that proteasome activity might be essential during neuronal cell differentiation. 2. To investigate the role of proteasome during neuronal differentiation, we made use of a murine neuroblastoma cell line (NBP2) that terminally differentiates into mature neurons upon elevation of the intracellular level of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). To monitor proteasome activity in NBP2 cells, we integrated an expression cassette for a short-lived green fluorescent protein (d2EGFP) into these cells, which were designated as NBP2-PN25. When NBP2-PN25 cells were treated with a proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin or MG132, a dose-dependent increase in the constitutive levels of d2EGFP expression was detected. 3. We also found that proteasome inhibition by lactacystin during the cAMP-induced differentiation of NBP2-PN25 cells triggered cell death. Both lactacystin and cAMP induction reduced the expression of mRNA for the differentiation-associated genes, such as N-myc and cyclin B1. While cAMP-inducing agents decreased the level of N-myc and cyclin B1 proteins, lactacystin increased the level of these proteins. 4. Our data suggest that a reduced level of N-myc and cyclin B1 proteins is critical to commence differentiation, and this can be blocked by a proteasome inhibitor, leading to cell death. Concomitant induction of differentiation and proteasome inhibition, may, therefore, be potentially useful for the treatment of human neuroblastomas.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cyclic AMP; Cyclin B; Cyclin B1; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Flow Cytometry; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, myc; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Luminescent Proteins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Neuroblastoma; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Retroviridae; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Influenza viruses bud from the plasma membrane of virus-infected cells. Although budding is a critical step in virus replication, little is known about the requirements of the budding process. In this report, we have investigated the role of ATP in influenza virus budding by treating influenza virus infected Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells with a number of metabolic inhibitors. When WSN virus-infected MDCK cells were exposed to antimycin A, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone, or oligomycin for a short time (15 min or 1 h) late in the infectious cycle, the rate of virus budding decreased. This inhibitory effect was reversible upon removal of the inhibitors. The role of ATP hydrolysis was analyzed by treating lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-permeabilized live filter-grown virus-infected MDCK cells with nonpermeable ATP analogues from the basal side and assaying virus budding from the apical side. In LPC-permeabilized cells, membrane-impermeable ATP analogues such as adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) or 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate caused reduction of virus budding which could be partially restored by adding excess ATP. These data demonstrated that ATP hydrolysis and not just ATP binding was required for virus budding. However, inhibitors of ion channel (ATPases) and protein ubiquitinylation, which also required the ATP as energy source, did not affect influenza virus budding, suggesting that neither ion channel nor protein ubiquitinylation activity was involved in influenza virus budding. On the other hand, treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which decreases membrane viscosity, reduced the rate of virus budding, demonstrating that the physical state of membrane viscosity and membrane fluidity had an important effect on virus budding. Data presented in the report indicate that influenza virus budding is an active ATP-dependent process and suggest that reduced virus budding by ATP depletion and DMSO treatment may be partly due to decreased membrane viscosity.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Cell Line; Cell Membrane Permeability; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dogs; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Indoles; Influenza A virus; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Lysophosphatidylcholines; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Ouabain; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; Sulfones; Thapsigargin; Viscosity

Proteolysis by the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway regulates the intracellular level of several proteins, some of which control cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. To determine what kinds of signaling cascades are activated or inhibited by proteasome inhibition, we treated PC12 cells with specific proteasome inhibitors and subsequently performed in-gel kinase assays. N-Acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal and lactacystin, which inhibit the activity of the proteasome, induced the activation of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases [extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2]. In contrast, N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-methional, which inhibits the activity of calpains, but not of the proteasome, failed to induce ERK activation. Uniquely, the kinetics of MAP kinase activation induced by proteasome inhibitors are very slow compared with those resulting from activation by nerve growth factor; ERK activation is detectable only after a 5-h treatment with the inhibitors, and its activity remained unchanged for at least until 27 h. Proteasome inhibitor-initiated ERK activation is inhibited by pretreatment with the ERK kinase inhibitor PD 98059, as well as by overexpression of a dominant-negative form of Ras. Thus, proteasome inhibitors induce sustained ERK activation in a Ras-dependent manner. Proteasome inhibitor-induced neurite outgrowth, however, is not inhibited by PD 98059, indicating that sustained activation of ERKs is not the factor responsible for proteasome inhibitor-induced morphological differentiation. Our data suggest the presence of a novel mechanism for activation of the MAP kinase cascade that involves proteasome activity.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Autocrine Communication; Cysteine Endopeptidases; DNA-Binding Proteins; Enzyme Activation; ets-Domain Protein Elk-1; Leupeptins; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Multienzyme Complexes; Neurites; PC12 Cells; Phosphorylation; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Rats; Time Factors; Transcription Factors

We investigated the potential role of the ubiquitin proteolytic system in the death of cerebellar granule neurons induced by reduction of extracellular potassium. Inhibitors of proteasomal function block apoptosis if administered at onset of this process, but they do not exert such effect when added 2-3 hr later. The same inhibitors also prevent caspase-3 activity and calpain-caspase-3-mediated processing of tau protein, suggesting that proteasomes are involved upstream of the caspase activation. Although the proteasomes seem to play an early primary role in programmed cell death, we found that with progression of apoptosis, during the execution phase, a perturbation in normal ubiquitin-proteasome function occurs, and high levels of ubiquitinated proteins accumulate in the cytoplasm of dying cells. Such accumulation correlates with a progressive decline of proteasome chymotrypsin and trypsin-like activities and, to a lower extent, of postacidic-like activity. Both intracytoplasmic accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and decline of proteasome function are reversed by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk. The decline in proteasome function is accompanied by, and likely attributable to, a marked and progressive decline of deubiquitinating activities. The finding that the proteasomes are early involved in apoptosis and that ubiquitinated proteins accumulate during this process prospect granule neurons as a model system aimed at correlating these events with neurodegenerative diseases.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Cell Division; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cerebellum; Culture Media, Serum-Free; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Leucine; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neurons; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Ubiquitins

The deposition of amyloid-beta peptides (Abeta) in senile plaques (SPs) is a central pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since SPs are composed predominantly of Abeta1-42, which is more amyloidogenic in vitro, the enzymes involved in generating Abeta1-42 may be particularly important to the pathogenesis of AD. In contrast to Abeta1-40, which is generated in the trans-Golgi network and other cytoplasmic organelles, intracellular Abeta1-42 is produced in the endoplasmic reticulum/intermediate compartment (ER/IC), where it accumulates in a stable insoluble pool. Since this pool of insoluble Abeta1-42 may play a critical role in AD amyloidogenesis, we sought to determine how the production of intracellular Abeta is regulated. Surprisingly, the production of insoluble intracellular Abeta1-42 was increased by a putative gamma-secretase inhibitor as well as by an inhibitor of the proteasome. We further demonstrate that this increased generation of Abeta1-42 in the ER/IC is due to a reduction in the turnover of Abeta-containing APP C-terminal fragments. We conclude that the proteasome is a novel site for degradation of ER/IC-generated APP fragments. Proteasome inhibitors may augment the availability of APP C-terminal fragments for gamma-secretase cleavage and thereby increase production of Abeta1-42 in the ER/IC. Based on the organelle-specific differences in the generation of Abeta by gamma-secretase, we conclude that intracellular ER/IC-generated Abeta1-42 and secreted Abeta1-40 are produced by different gamma-secretases. Further, the fact that a putative gamma-secretase inhibitor had opposite effects on the production of secreted and intracellular Abeta may have important implications for AD drug design.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; Animals; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; Binding, Competitive; Cell Compartmentation; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endopeptidases; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Humans; Hydrolysis; Intracellular Fluid; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neurons; Peptide Fragments; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Cytokines induce the tyrosine phosphorylation and associated activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat). The mechanisms by which this response is terminated are largely unknown. Among a variety of inhibitors examined, the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin affected Stat4, Stat5 and Stat6 turnover by significantly stabilizing the tyrosine-phosphorylated form. However, these proteasome inhibitors did not affect downregulation of the tyrosine-phosphorylated Stat1, Stat2 and Stat3. With Stat5 isoforms, we have observed that tyrosine-phosphorylated carboxyl-truncated forms of Stat5 proteins were considerably more stable than phosphorylated wild-type forms of the protein. Also, the C-terminal region of Stat5 could confer proteasome-dependent downregulation to Stat1. With a series of C-terminal deletion mutants, we have defined a relatively small, potentially amphipathic alpha-helical region that is required for the rapid turnover of the phosphorylated Stat5 proteins. The region is also required for transcriptional activation, suggesting that the functions are linked. The results are consistent with a model in which the transcriptional activation domain of activated Stat5 is required for its transcriptional activity and downregulation through a proteasome-dependent pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Leupeptins; Milk Proteins; Multienzyme Complexes; Phosphorylation; Phosphotyrosine; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Structure, Secondary; STAT5 Transcription Factor; Trans-Activators; Transcriptional Activation; Tyrosine

The accumulation and degradation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of a truncated ER-60 protease, from which the C-terminal 89 amino acid residues have been deleted (K 417 ochre), was examined. K 417 ochre overexpressed in COS-1 cells is not secreted into the medium, but accumulates as insoluble aggregates in non-ionic detergent without degradation in unusual clump membrane structures. K 417 ochre, stably expressed, forms soluble aggregates in non-ionic detergent and is distributed in the reticular structures of ER. Under these conditions, K 417 ochre is not secreted into the medium but is degraded with a half-life time of more than 8 h. Since K 417 ochre/C all S, in which all the Cys residues of K 417 ochre are replaced by Ser, also forms aggregates, an inter-disulfide bond appears unnecessary for aggregation. In both types of aggregates, Ig heavy chain binding protein, calnexin, glucose regulated protein 94, calreticulin, ERp72, and protein disulfide isomerase are scarcely found. Since degradation of the stably expressed K 417 ochre was not inhibited by lactacystin, leupeptin, NH(4)Cl, or cytocharasin B, but was inhibited by N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal, the self-aggregated abnormal protein in the lumen of ER is assumed to be degraded by an unknown protease system other than proteasome, lysosome or autophagy.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calnexin; Calreticulin; Carrier Proteins; Cell Membrane; COS Cells; Culture Media; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytochalasin B; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; Half-Life; Heat-Shock Proteins; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Molecular Chaperones; Protein Disulfide-Isomerases; Recombinant Proteins; Ribonucleoproteins

Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis controls intracellular levels of various cell cycle regulatory proteins, and its inhibition has been shown to induce apoptosis in proliferating cells. In the present study, we examined induction of apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells by treatment with specific proteasome inhibitors, carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-norvalinal and lactacystin. In all three OSCC cell lines examined, apoptotic changes such as apoptotic body formation and DNA fragmentation were observed at various degrees after 24 h of the carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-norvalinal or lactacystin treatment. HSC2 cells showed the most prominent apoptotic changes among the cell lines examined and demonstrated the highest level of accumulation of p27Kip1 protein after the treatment with proteasome inhibitor. Reduced expressions of cyclin D1 and phospho pRb were also observed after the treatment with proteasome inhibitor. Moreover, 12 h of treatment with the proteasome inhibitor inhibited cdk2/cyclin E kinase activity and increased the ratio of the cell cycle population at the G1 phase. The proteasome inhibitor led to inhibition of cell cycle progression. In addition, activation of CPP32 and reduced expression of Bcl-2 were observed. Because apoptosis induced by the proteasome inhibitor was inhibited by treatment with antisense p27Kip1 oligonucleotide, accumulation of the p27Kip1 protein might play an important role in the apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibitor. The present results suggest that inhibition of proteasome function may be used as a possible target of novel therapy for OSCC.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Caspase 3; Caspases; Cell Cycle; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Division; Cell Line; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Humans; Leupeptins; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Mouth Mucosa; Mouth Neoplasms; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligonucleotides, Antisense; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Precursors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

The proteasome engages in protein degradation as a regulatory process in biological transactions. Among other cellular processes, the proteasome participates in degradation of ubiquinated cyclins in mitosis. However, its role in meiosis has not been established. Resumption of meiosis in the oocyte involves the activation of maturation promoting factor (MPF), a complex of p34cdc2 and cyclin B. Inactivation of this factor, occurring between the two meiotic divisions, is associated with degradation of cyclin B. In this study, we examined the possible involvement of the proteasome in regulation of the exit from metaphase I in spontaneously maturing rat oocytes. We found that upon resumption of meiosis, proteasomes translocate to the spindle apparatus. We further demonstrated that specific inhibitors of proteasome catalytic activity, MG132 and lactacystin, blocked polar body extrusion. Chromosome and microtubule fluorescent staining verified that MG132-treated oocytes were arrested at metaphase I. Intervention of proteasomal action with this inhibitor also resulted in accumulation of cyclin B and elevated activity of MPF. These data demonstrate that proteasomal catalytic activity is absolutely essential for the decrease in MPF activity and completion of the first meiotic division. Its translocation to the spindle apparatus may facilitate the timely degradation of cyclin B.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Anaphase; Animals; Cyclin B; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Female; Leupeptins; Meiosis; Metaphase; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Oocytes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Spindle Apparatus

Antigenic peptides derived from viral proteins by multiple proteolytic cleavages are bound by MHC class I molecules and recognized by CTL. Processing predominantly takes place in the cytosol of infected cells by the action of proteasomes. To identify other proteases involved in the endogenous generation of viral epitopes, specifically those derived from proteins routed to the secretory pathway, we investigated presentation of the HIV-1 ENV 10-mer epitope 318RGPGRAFVTI327 (p18) to specific CTL in the presence of diverse protease inhibitors. Both metalloproteinase and proteasome inhibitors decreased CTL recognition of the p18 epitope expressed from either native gp160 or from a chimera based on the hepatitis B virus secretory core protein as carrier protein. Processing of this epitope from both native ENV and the hepatitis B virus secretory core chimeric protein appeared to proceed by a TAP-dependent pathway that involved sequential cleavage by proteasomes and metallo-endopeptidases; however, other protease activities could replace the function of the lactacystin-sensitive proteasomes. By contrast, in a second TAP-independent pathway we detected no contribution of metallopeptidases for processing the ENV epitope from the chimeric protein. These results show that, in the classical TAP-dependent MHC class I pathway, endogenous Ag processing of viral proteins to yield the p18 10-mer epitope requires metallo-endopeptidases in addition to proteasomes.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antigen Presentation; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Cell Line, Transformed; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; Hepatitis B e Antigens; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; HIV Envelope Protein gp160; HIV-1; Humans; Hydrolysis; Leupeptins; Metalloendopeptidases; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Multienzyme Complexes; Pepstatins; Peptide Fragments; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Signal Transduction; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

Recently we found a clearly reduced basal level of wt p53 protein in PARP-deficient cells. Interestingly, PARP deficiency affected only regularly spliced (RS) wt p53. No significant difference of the p53 transcription rate was observed between wt and PARP-lacking cells. To clarify whether the reduction of RS p53 protein is due to a lower translation rate or rather to its instability in the absence of functional PARP, we investigated the effect of the inhibition of proteasome activity and nuclear export on the p53 level. The p53 half-life was approximately eight-fold decreased in PARP-lacking cells. Surprisingly, treatment with three proteasome inhibitors increased RS p53 in normal but not in PARP-deficient cells. However, the inhibition of nuclear export resulted in a considerable accumulation of RS p53 in the latter. Therefore, we decided to increase concentrations of the inhibitors. Their higher concentrations strongly affected viability of normal, but not of PARP-deficient cells, about 70% of MEFs died. Interestingly, higher concentrations of proteasome inhibitors resulted in the appearance of RS p53 in PARP-lacking fibroblasts. Reconstitution of PARP-deficient cells with PARP restored the normal susceptibility to proteasome inhibitors thereby unequivocally demonstrating that the enhanced cytotoxicity of proteasome inhibitors and their action on p53 level depends on the presence of functional PARP.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Cell Nucleus; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Fibroblasts; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Immunoblotting; Indoles; Leupeptins; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Phenotype; Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteins; Time Factors; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

HEF1 (human enhancer of filamentation 1) is a member of a docking protein family that includes p130(Cas) and Efs. Through assembly of multiple protein interactions at focal adhesion sites, these proteins activate signaling cascades in response to integrin receptor binding of the extracellular matrix. The HEF1 protein is cell cycle regulated, with full-length forms cleaved in mitosis at a caspase consensus site to generate an amino-terminal 55-kDa form that localizes to the mitotic spindle. The identification of a caspase cleavage site in HEF1 led us to investigate whether HEF1 belongs to a select group of caspase substrates cleaved in apoptosis to promote the morphological changes characteristic of programmed cell death. Significantly, inducing expression of HEF1 in MCF-7 or HeLa cells causes extensive apoptosis, as assessed by multiple criteria. Endogenous HEF1 is cleaved into 65- and 55-kDa fragments and a newly detected 28-kDa form in response to the induction of apoptosis, paralleling cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and focal adhesion kinase (FAK); the death-promoting activity of over-expressed HEF1 is associated with production of the 28-kDa form. While the generation of the cleaved HEF1 forms is caspase dependent, the accumulation of HEF1 forms is further regulated by the proteasome, as the proteasome inhibitors N-acetyl-L-leucinyl-L-leucinyl-L-norleucinyl and lactacystin enhance their stability. Finally, the induction of HEF1 expression also increases Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) activation, and activated JNK colocalizes with HEF1, implicating this pathway in HEF1 action. Based on these results, we propose that dysregulation of HEF1 and its family members along with FAK may signal the destruction of focal adhesion sites and regulate the onset of apoptosis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspase 7; Caspase Inhibitors; Caspases; Cell Death; Crk-Associated Substrate Protein; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; HeLa Cells; Humans; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Mitosis; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutation; Oligopeptides; Peptide Fragments; Phosphoproteins; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Isoforms; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Proteins; Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130; Signal Transduction; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Inhibitors of proteases are currently emerging as a potential anti-cancer modality. Nonselective protease inhibitors are cytotoxic to leukemia and cancer cell lines and we found that this cytotoxicity is correlated with their potency as inhibitors of the proteasome but not as inhibitors of calpain and cathepsin. Highly selective inhibitors of the proteasome were more cytotoxic and fast-acting than less selective inhibitors (PS341>>ALLN>>ALLM). Induction of wt p53 correlated with inhibition of the proteasome and antiproliferative effect in MCF7, a breast cancer cell line, which was resistant to apoptosis caused by proteasome inhibitors. In contrast, inhibitors of the proteasome induced apoptosis in four leukemia cell lines lacking wt p53. The order of sensitivity of leukemia cells was: Jurkat>HL60> or =U937>>K562. The highly selective proteasome inhibitor PS-341 induced cell death with an IC50 as low as 5 nM in apoptosis-prone leukemia cells. Cell death was preceded by p21WAF1/CIP1 accumulation, an alternative marker of proteasome inhibition, and by cleavage of PARP and Rb proteins and nuclear fragmentation. Inhibition of caspases abrogated PARP cleavage and nuclear fragmentation and delayed, but did not completely prevent cell death caused by PS-341. Reintroduction of wt p53 into p53-null PC3 prostate carcinoma cells did not increase their sensitivity to proteasome inhibitors. Likewise, comparison of parental and p21-deficient cells demonstrated that p21WAF1/CIP1 was dispensable for proteasome inhibitor-induced cytotoxicity. We conclude that accumulation of wt p53 and induction of apoptosis are independent markers of proteasome inhibition.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Acrylates; Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; Apoptosis; Boronic Acids; Bortezomib; Calpain; Cathepsins; Cell Division; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclins; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Drug Synergism; Genes, p53; Humans; Jurkat Cells; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplasms; Oligopeptides; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Pyrazines; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; U937 Cells

Quinidine inhibits proliferation and promotes cellular differentiation in human breast tumor epithelial cells. Previously we showed quinidine arrested MCF-7 cells in G(1) phase of the cell cycle and led to a G(1) to G(0) transition followed by apoptotic cell death. The present experiments demonstrated that MCF-7, MCF-7ras, T47D, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-435 cells transiently differentiate before undergoing apoptosis in response to quinidine. The cells accumulated lipid droplets, and the cytokeratin 18 cytoskeleton was reorganized. Hyperacetylated histone H4 appeared within 2 h of the addition of quinidine to the medium, and levels were maximal by 24 h. Quinidine-treated MCF-7 cells showed elevated p21(WAF1), hypophosphorylation and suppression of retinoblastoma protein, and down-regulation of cyclin D1, similar to the cell cycle response observed with cells induced to differentiate by histone deacetylase inhibitors, trichostatin A, and trapoxin. Quinidine did not show evidence for direct inhibition of histone deacetylase enzymatic activity in vitro. HDAC1 was undetectable in MCF-7 cells 30 min after addition of quinidine to the growth medium. The proteasome inhibitors MG-132 and lactacystin completely protected HDAC1 from the action of quinidine. We conclude that quinidine is a breast tumor cell differentiating agent that causes the loss of HDAC1 via a proteasomal sensitive mechanism.

Topics: Acetylation; Acetylcysteine; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Cycle; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Chickens; Cyclin D1; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclins; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoskeleton; Down-Regulation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; G1 Phase; Histone Deacetylase 1; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Histone Deacetylases; Histones; Humans; Hydroxamic Acids; Immunoblotting; Keratins; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Peptides; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Quinidine; Retinoblastoma Protein; Time Factors; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Prolonged activation of protein kinase Cs (PKCs) by long-term treatment of cells with phorbol ester tumor promoters down-regulates the expression of many PKCs. To investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the down-regulation of PKC eta, we expressed the novel PKCs eta and θ and various mutant forms in baby hamster kidney cells. Upon overexpression, constitutively active PKC eta, but not wild type or kinase-dead PKC eta, underwent rapid degradation to generate several lower molecular weight polypeptides. When co-expressed with active kinases, kinase-dead PKC eta with a pseudosubstrate site mutation designed to give an active conformation was down-regulated while the wild type PKC eta was not. These results suggest requirements for kinase activity and an active conformation for down-regulation of PKC eta. Treatment with the proteasome inhibitors N-Ac-Leu-Leu-norleucinal and lactacystin led to accumulation of PKC eta proteolytic products and potentially ubiquitinated forms. While wild type PKC eta localizes mostly to the detergent-soluble fraction of the cell, a significant portion of full-length constitutively active PKC eta and of kinase-dead, active conformation PKC eta were found in the detergent-insoluble fraction. Several proteolytic fragments of constitutively active PKC eta also were found in the detergent insoluble fraction. These full-length and proteolytic fragments of PKC eta in the detergent-insoluble fraction accumulated further in the presence of proteasome inhibitors. These data suggest that active conformation PKC eta accumulates in the detergent-insoluble compartment, is degraded by proteolysis in the presence of kinase activity, and that the cleavage products undergo further degradation via ubiquitin-mediated degradation in the proteasome. Oncogene (2000) 19, 4263 - 4272

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Fractionation; Cell Line; Chick Embryo; Cricetinae; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Detergents; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Isoenzymes; Kidney; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Mesocricetus; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Conformation; Protein Kinase C; Protein Kinase C-theta; Rats; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Sindbis Virus; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitins

Liposome-encapsulated conalbumin (L(conalbumin)) is an antigen that is efficiently phagocytosed by bone marrow-derived macrophages and presented to effector cells as part of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I complex. In this report, we show that the conalbumin component of L(conalbumin) is degraded to small peptide fragments and translocated to the area of the Golgi. Golgi localization is confirmed by co-localization of L(Texas red-conalbumin) (L(TR-conalbumin))with both NBD-ceramide, a lipid Golgi marker, and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-galactosyl transferase, a Golgi resident enzyme. Incubation of the cells with brefeldin A disrupts the Golgi and disperses the TR-conalbumin. Furthermore, when macrophages were incubated with another liposome-encapsulated antigen, L(ovalbumin), ovalbumin peptides were observed in the Golgi area and MHC class I-peptide complexes could be detected on the cell surface by both immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The Golgi localization observed in vitro in cultured macrophages is mirrored by the in vivo uptake and Golgi localization of fluorescent L(conalbumin) in macrophages isolated from the spleen of a mouse injected with L(TR-conalbumin). The accumulation of peptide fragments in the Golgi is inhibited by the addition of the proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin and MG-132, demonstrating the role of the proteasome in this activity. In addition, when macrophages or a macrophage-derived cell line, are incubated with liposome-enccapsulated antigens and used as target cells in a cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) assay, the CTLs recognize the processed peptide-MHC complexes and kill the cells. In contrast, specific lysis of target cells by CTLs is inhibited when the target cells are first incubated with lactacystin. These results suggest that uptake and processing of L(antigen) follows the classical MHC class I pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Bone Marrow Cells; Conalbumin; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Golgi Apparatus; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Leupeptins; Liposomes; Macrophages; Mice; Models, Biological; Multienzyme Complexes; Peptides; Phagocytosis; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

The ubiquitin-proteasome system has been regarded as being important in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, although its exact role remains uncertain. This in vitro study using PC12h cell cultures examined whether interference with the ubiquitin-proteasome system by proteasome inhibitors induces the neuropathological features of neurodegenerative diseases. Perikaryal accumulation of phosphorylated neurofilaments and an increase in c-Jun as well as phosphorylated form of c-Jun and apoptosis-specific protein were induced by the proteasome inhibitors lactacystin and N-carbobenzoxy-leucyl-leucyl-leucinal. These changes were not observed when only calpain was inhibited. The present study therefore suggests the possibility that a perturbation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system may be one of the causes that result in the development of neuropathological features. Additionally, activity assays showed that the proteasome inhibitor caused an increase in the activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK/SAPK), which can phosphorylate neurofilaments and c-Jun, suggesting the possible involvement of JNK in phosphorylation of these proteins.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Calpain; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Immunoblotting; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Multienzyme Complexes; Neurites; Neurofilament Proteins; PC12 Cells; Phosphorylation; Precipitin Tests; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; Rats; Ubiquitins

The 26S proteasome is a non-lysosomal multicatalytic protease complex for degrading intracellular proteins by ATP/ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. Tightly ordered proteasomal degradation of proteins critical for cell cycle control implies a role of the proteasome in maintaining cell proliferation and cell survival. In this study, we demonstrate that cell-permeable proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin, benzyloxycarbonyl(Z)-leucyl-leucyl-leucinal (ZLLLal; MG-132) and 4-hydroxy-5-iodo-3-nitrophenylacetyl-leucyl-leucyl-leucine vinyl sulfone (NLVS), induce apoptosis abundantly in p53-defective leukemic cell lines CCRF-CEM, U937 and K562 as well as in myelogenic and lymphatic leukemic cells obtained from adult individuals with relapsed acute leukemias. Leukemic cell apoptosis induced by the proteasome inhibitors was dependent on activation of caspase-3 and related caspase family proteases, because caspase-3 inhibitor N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamyl-L-valyl-L-aspartal (Ac-DEVD-cho) and, more effectively, the general caspase-inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-valyl-L-alanyl-L-aspartate fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-fmk) were capable of blocking apoptosis induced by lactacystin, ZLLLal or NLVS. Induction of apoptosis by lactacystin or ZLLLal was accompanied by cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and by accumulation and stabilization of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/Cip and tumor suppressor protein p53. A role of p53 in mediating apoptosis or induction of p21WAF1/Cip1 was ruled out since CCRF-CEM and U937 cells express non-functional mutant p53, and K562 cells lack expression of p53. Viability and hematopoietic outgrowth of human CD34+ progenitor cells treated with lactacystin were slightly reduced, whereas treatment of CD34 + cells with ZLLLal or the cytostatic drugs doxorubicin and gemcitabine resulted in markedly reduced viability and hematopoietic outgrowth. These results demonstrate a basic role of the proteasome in maintaining survival of human leukemic cells, and may define cell-permeable proteasome inhibitors as potently anti-leukemic agents which exhibit a moderate hematopoietic toxicity in vitro.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Acute Disease; Adult; Antigens, CD34; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspases; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Cycle; Cell Division; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclins; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Flow Cytometry; G2 Phase; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Humans; K562 Cells; Leukemia; Leupeptins; Mitosis; Multienzyme Complexes; Neoplasm Proteins; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; U937 Cells

The proteasome is a multiprotein complex that is involved in the intracellular protein degradation in eukaryotes. Here, we show that human malignant glioma cells are susceptible to apoptotic cell death induced by the proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin. The execution of the apoptotic death program involves the processing of caspases 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9. Apoptosis is inhibited by ectopic expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and by coexposure to the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, benzoyl-VAD-fluoromethyl ketone (zVAD-fmk), but not by the preferential caspase 8 inhibitor, crm-A. It is interesting that specific morphological alterations induced by proteasome inhibition, such as dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum and the formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles and dense mitochondrial deposits, are unaffected by zVAD-fmk. Apoptosis is also inhibited by ectopic expression of Bcl-2 or by an inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide. Further, cytochrome c release and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential are prominent features of apoptosis triggered by proteasome inhibition. Bcl-2 is a stronger inhibitor of cytochrome c release than zVAD-fmk. XIAP and crm-A fail to modulate cytochrome c release. These data place cytochrome c release downstream of Bcl-2 activity but upstream of XIAP- and crm-A-sensitive caspases. The partial inhibition of cytochrome c release by zVAD-fmk indicates a positive feedback loop that may involve cytochrome c release and zVAD-fmk-sensitive caspases. Finally, death ligand/receptor interactions, including the CD95/CD95 ligand system, do not mediate apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibition in human malignant glioma cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Caspases; Cell Survival; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytochrome c Group; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fas Ligand Protein; fas Receptor; Glioma; Humans; Lactams; Leupeptins; Membrane Glycoproteins; Mice; Mitochondria; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Transgenes; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Lactacystin, a specific inhibitor of proteasomes in eukaryotic cells, did not block parasite entry or the establishment of the parasitophorous vacuole, but did inhibit parasite growth and daughter cell budding, as well as DNA synthesis. Two other proteasome inhibitors, MG-132 and proteasome inhibitor 1, also blocked parasite growth and intracellular development. Adding lactacystin to established, dividing parasites, rapidly blocked parasite growth and daughter cell budding at all stages in the process. Pre-treating host cells with lactacystin did not block parasite entry or development. Moreover, under the conditions used, the host cells appeared not to be adversely affected indicating that host cell proteasome activity was not essential for parasite entry or development. Concomitant with these effects on parasite growth and division were morphological changes in the parasite including the appearance of whorls of ER-derived membranes presumably related to the failure to breakdown misfolded proteins. These changes were specific to lactacystin and were not seen in parasites treated with other protease inhibitors. Although the ER-derived structures resembled autophagic bodies, similar structures could not be induced by serum starvation nor did the membranous whorls acidify or undergo morphological changes consistent with autophagosomal maturation. These results highlight the possible role of proteasome activity in Toxoplasma in intracellular development and the regulation of parasite replication. However, how the dividing parasite recycles its organelles and the functional relationship between any lysosomal autophagic pathway and proteasomes in the parasite remains unresolved.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cysteine Endopeptidases; DNA, Protozoan; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Humans; Leupeptins; Microscopy, Electron; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis; Vacuoles

Retroviruses contain relatively large amounts of ubiquitin, but the significance of this finding has been unknown. Here, we show that drugs that are known to reduce the level of free ubiquitin in the cell dramatically reduced the release of Rous sarcoma virus, an avian retrovirus. This effect was suppressed by overexpressing ubiquitin and also by directly fusing ubiquitin to the C terminus of Gag, the viral protein that directs budding and particle release. The block to budding was found to be at the plasma membrane, and electron microscopy revealed that the reduced level of ubiquitin results in a failure of mature virus particles to separate from each other and from the plasma membrane during budding. These data indicate that ubiquitin is actually part of the budding machinery.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Avian Sarcoma Viruses; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Endocytosis; Gene Products, gag; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Quail; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Ubiquitins; Virus Replication

We have developed cell-based cancer vaccines that activate anti-tumor immunity by directly presenting endogenously synthesized tumor antigens to CD4+ T helper lymphocytes via MHC class II molecules. The vaccines are non-conventional antigen-presenting cells because they express MHC class II, do not express invariant chain or H-2M, and preferentially present endogenous antigen. To further improve therapeutic efficacy we have studied the intracellular trafficking pathway of MHC class II molecules in the vaccines using endoplasmic reticulumlocalized lysozyme as a model antigen. Experiments using endocytic and cytosolic pathway inhibitors (chloroquine, primaquine, and brefeldin A) and protease inhibitors (lactacystin, LLnL, E64, and leupeptin) indicate antigen presentation depends on the endocytic pathway, although antigen degradation is not mediated by endosomal or proteasomal proteases. Because H2-M facilitates presentation of exogenous antigen via the endocytic pathway, we investigated whether transfection of vaccine cells with H-2M could potentiate endogenous antigen presentation. In contrast to its role in conventional antigen presentation, H-2M had no effect on endogenous antigen presentation by vaccine cells or on vaccine efficacy. These results suggest that antigen/MHC class II complexes in the vaccines may follow a novel route for processing and presentation and may produce a repertoire of class II-restricted peptides different from those presented by professional APC. The therapeutic efficacy of the vaccines, therefore, may reside in their ability to present novel tumor peptides, consequently activating tumor-specific CD4+ T cells that would not otherwise be activated.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antigen Presentation; Antigen-Presenting Cells; Antigens, Neoplasm; Antimalarials; Brefeldin A; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Chloroquine; Coculture Techniques; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytosol; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endocytosis; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Genes, MHC Class II; Humans; Hybridomas; Leupeptins; Major Histocompatibility Complex; Mice; Muramidase; Plasmids; Primaquine; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Protein Transport; Ribonucleases; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured

It is becoming increasingly apparent that NF-kappa B plays a critical role in regulating the inflammatory response. Data obtained from studies in our laboratories demonstrate that the proteasome plays an important role in the inflammatory cascade by regulating the activation of NF-kappa B. Indeed, the availability of selective and orally active proteasome inhibitors should prove useful in delineating the roles of the proteasome and NF-kappa B in other pathophysiological conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Arthritis; Boronic Acids; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cytokines; Dipeptides; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; HeLa Cells; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Jurkat Cells; Leupeptins; NF-kappa B; Peptide Hydrolases; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; T-Lymphocytes

MG132 and lactacystin, two 26S proteasome-specific protease inhibitors, can upregulate heat-shock gene transcription without heat shock. In this study, we showed that both of these inhibitors induce hyperphosphorylation and DNA-binding activity of HSF1 in the absence of heat shock (at 37 degreesC). Since trimerization of HSF1 is known to precede the acquisition of HSF1-DNA binding activity, it seems that MG132- and lactacystin-induced hyperphosphorylation of HSF1 causes conformational changes of HSF1 molecules at 37 degreesC and subsequently triggers its trimerization. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide abolished the MG132- or lactacystin-induced hyperphosphorylation and DNA-binding activity of HSF1. These data suggest that the activity of a putative kinase(s) targeting HSF1 is upregulated in the presence of MG132 or lactacystin. The upregulation of the kinase activity requires de novo protein synthesis and is likely due to the inhibition of protein degradation of a short-lived, kinase(s) targeting HSF1 and/or the cofactor(s) for the kinases, through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Fibroblasts; Heat Shock Transcription Factors; Heat-Shock Proteins; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Leupeptins; Mice; Phosphorylation; Receptors, Estrogen; Transcription Factors

Plasma levels of atherogenic lipoprotein [a] (Lp[a]) vary over a 1000-fold range and are largely determined by the gene for its unique glycoprotein, apolipoprotein [a] (apo[a]). The apo[a] locus comprises more than 100 alleles, encoding proteins from <300 to >800 kDa. Using primary baboon hepatocyte cultures, we previously demonstrated that differences in the secretion efficiency of apo[a] allelic variants contribute to the variation in plasma Lp[a] levels. In the current study, we investigated the mechanism of apo[a] presecretory degradation. The proteasome inhibitors, acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal and lactacystin, prevented apo[a] degradation and increased apo[a] secretion. Transfection with an HA-tagged ubiquitin construct demonstrated the accumulation of ubiquitinated apo[a] in the presence of lactacystin. These results suggest a role for the cytoplasmic proteasome in apo[a] proteolysis. Apo[a] that accumulated intracellularly in the presence of lactacystin remained sensitive to endo-B-N-glucosaminidase H, and apo[a] degradation was reversibly inhibited by brefeldin A, suggesting that transport to a post-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pre-medial Golgi compartment is required for apo[a] degradation. Newly synthesized apo[a] bound to the ER chaperone calnexin and conditions that enhanced this interaction prevented apo[a] degradation, suggesting that calnexin can protect apo[a] from proteolysis. These studies provide further support for the role of the proteasome in endoplasmic reticulum quality control, and expand this role to one that influences plasma levels of the atherogenic lipoprotein Lp[a].-White, A. L., B. Guerra, J. Wang, and R. E. Lanford. Presecretory degradation of apolipoprotein[a] is mediated by the proteasome pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apolipoproteins A; Calnexin; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Fabaceae; Hepatocytes; Hexosaminidases; Leupeptins; Mannosidases; Molecular Chaperones; Multienzyme Complexes; Papio; Precipitin Tests; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Transfection; Ubiquitin

In eukaryotic cells, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is the major mechanism for the targeted degradation of proteins with short half-lives. The covalent attachment of ubiquitin to lysine residues of targeted proteins is a signal for the recognition and rapid degradation by the proteasome, a large multi-subunit protease. In this report, we demonstrate that the human estrogen receptor (ER) protein is rapidly degraded in mammalian cells in an estradiol-dependent manner. The treatment of mammalian cells with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 inhibits activity of the proteasome and blocks ER degradation, suggesting that ER protein is turned over through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In addition, we show that in vitro ER degradation depends on ubiquitin-activating E1 enzyme (UBA) and ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzymes (UBCs), and the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin block ER protein degradation in vitro. Furthermore, the UBA/UBCs and proteasome inhibitors promote the accumulation of higher molecular weight forms of ER. The UBA and UBCs, which promote ER degradation in vitro, have no significant effect on human progesterone receptor and human thyroid hormone receptor beta proteins.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Arabidopsis; Cloning, Molecular; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Escherichia coli; Estradiol; HeLa Cells; Humans; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Mammals; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Progesterone; Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; Recombinant Proteins; Substrate Specificity; Transfection; Ubiquitins

The retinoblastoma protein plays a critical role in regulating the G1/S transition. Less is known about the function and regulation of the homologous pocket protein p107. Here we present evidence for the posttranslational regulation of p107 by the Ca2+-activated protease calpain. Three negative growth regulators, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin, the antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil, and the cyclic nucleotide dibutyryl cAMP were found to induce cell type-specific loss of p107 protein which was reversible by the calpain inhibitor leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal but not by the serine protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, caspase inhibitors, or lactacystin, a specific inhibitor of the 26S proteasome. Purified calpain induced Ca2+-dependent p107 degradation in cell lysates. Transient expression of the specific calpain inhibitor calpastatin blocked the loss of p107 protein in lovastatin-treated cells, and the half-life of p107 was markedly lengthened in lovastatian-treated cells stably transfected with a calpastatin expression vector versus cells transfected with vector alone. The data presented here demonstrate down-regulation of p107 protein in response to various antiproliferative signals, and implicate calpain in p107 posttranslational regulation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; Bucladesine; Calpain; Cyclin B; Cyclin B1; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dipeptides; Fluorouracil; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Ketones; Leupeptins; Lovastatin; Nuclear Proteins; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Retinoblastoma Protein; Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p107; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is the principal mechanism for the degradation of short-lived proteins in eukaryotic cells. Here we examine the possibility that ubiquitin-proteasome is involved in regulating the levels of Bcl-2, which is abundantly expressed in M-07e cells, a granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-dependent human leukaemic cell line. Apoptosis in M-07e cells, induced by GM-CSF withdrawal, was associated with a gradual cleavage of Bcl-2 into a 22 kDa fragment. Treatment of M-07e cells with benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-Leu-l-leucinal (Z-LLL-CHO; MG-132), a reversible ubiquitin-proteasome inhibitor, markedly accelerated the cleavage of Bcl-2 and promoted cell death through the apoptotic pathway. The cleavage of Bcl-2 was inhibited by a caspase-3 (CPP32)-specific inhibitor [acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-CHO (DEVD-CHO)] but not caspase 1 inhibitor (acetyl-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-CHO), suggesting that Bcl-2 is a proteolytic substrate of a caspase-3-like protease activated during apoptosis. The simultaneous addition of recombinant human GM-CSF (rhGM-CSF) to M-07e cultures delayed the activation of caspase 3 and Bcl-2 cleavage triggered by Z-LLL-CHO, suggesting that the activation of the GM-CSF signalling pathway can partly overcome the apoptotic effect induced by Z-LLL-CHO. Apoptosis induced by inhibition of the proteasome pathway was verified in studies with lactacystin, a highly specific and irreversible proteasome inhibitor. Lactacystin-induced apoptosis in M-07e cells was remarkably similar to that induced by Z-LLL-CHO, which included caspase 3 activation, cleavage of Bcl-2 into a 22 kDa fragment and, ultimately, cell death. These results showed that inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathways can lead to the activation of a DEVD-CHO-sensitive caspase and induces Bcl-2 cleavage, which might have a role in mediating apoptosis in M-07e cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspase Inhibitors; Caspases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Precursors; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Leukemia; Leupeptins; Molecular Weight; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Recombinant Proteins; Signal Transduction; Time Factors; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitins

A library of Fd fragment antibody binding proteins was created by random mutation of 15 nucleotides within the CDRIII region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene and displayed as Fd coat protein fusion constructs of M13 phage. The library was screened for those VHbinding sites that bound glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). One isolate (DH27bp) inhibited G6PD activity by 85 %. The DH27bpgene was re-engineered, placed in a eukaryotic expression vector having an isopropyl-beta-delta-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) inducible promoter, and transfected and then expressed in Chinese hamster V79 cells. G6PD activity was completely inhibited. Removal of IPTG reverted the cell to full G6PD activity. The intracellular dynamics of the G6PD/DH27bpcomplex showed that when the proteasomes of cells expressing DH27bpwere inhibited (N -acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal or lactacystin) G6PD activity increased. Metabolic labelling of newly synthesized IPTG-induced proteins during/absence of proteasomal inhibitors showed that both G6PD and DH27bpare signaled for degradation when the intracellular complex is formed. Furthermore, semi-quantitative RT/PCR demonstrated that G6PD mRNA is upregulated over the time course of G6PD inactivation by DH27bpFd binding protein. These effects were not observed in those cells expressing a non-mutated Fd (UMHC) or in IPTG-treated non-transduced V79 cells. Our results demonstrate that an Fd-based intracellular binding protein can find and disable the function of a specific intracellular target and once the Fd expression is repressed the activity of intracellular targeted protein can revert to normal.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoplasm; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; Immunoglobulin Constant Regions; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; Immunoglobulin Variable Region; Inovirus; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Peptide Library; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Recombinant Proteins; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Transfection

The E6 proteins derived from tumour associated papillomavirus types target the cellular tumour suppressor protein p53 for ubiquitin mediated degradation. In cell lines derived from cervical tumours the p53 protein is present in very low amounts, but it can be activated by appropriate DNA damaging agents, indicating that functional p53 is present within these lines. Recent studies have also shown that different polymorphic forms of the p53 protein are differentially susceptible to E6 mediated degradation. Therefore we have been interested in analysing the effects of different HPV E6 proteins upon p53 levels in a variety of cervical tumour derived cell lines. We show that inhibition of E6 mediated degradation of p53 frequently results in increased levels of p53 expression. However, there are notable exceptions to this where increased p53 levels are only obtained following DNA damage and proteasome inhibition. We also show in E6 expressing cells, that as well as p53 being targeted for degradation, the localization of p53 to the nucleus is also inhibited, consistent with previous observations which indicate that degradation of p53 is not essential for E6 mediated inhibition of p53 function. These results have important implications for any potential therapies which might aim to block E6 mediated degradation of p53.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Cell Nucleus; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA Damage; DNA-Binding Proteins; Female; Fibrosarcoma; Humans; Leupeptins; Mitomycin; Oncogene Proteins, Viral; Papillomaviridae; Polymorphism, Genetic; Repressor Proteins; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Membrane-permeable proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin (LC) and N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal (ALLN), but not calpain inhibitor Z-Leu-leucinal (ZLL), prevented LFA-1/ICAM-1-dependent cellular adhesion of TPA-stimulated HL-60 cells. These proteasome inhibitors affected neither the induction of monocytic differentiation nor the accompanying protein-tyrosine phosphorylation. They suppressed the increase in the avidity of LFA-1 to ICAM-1 without changing the expression of these molecules. Immunoblotting using monoclonal antibody FK-1, which reacts specifically with polyubiquitinated proteins, demonstrated that the proteasome inhibitors caused the drastic accumulation of the polyubiquitinated proteins in the membrane fraction of TPA-treated HL-60 cells. This indicates that accompanying activation of LFA-1, TPA induces the polyubiquitination of the membrane proteins, which are rapidly degraded by proteasomes. These data taken together show that proteolysis mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system is a prerequisite for the induction of LFA-1-dependent adhesion of HL-60 cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenosine Triphosphatases; Antibody Affinity; Cell Adhesion; Cell Differentiation; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Leupeptins; Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; Monocytes; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Tretinoin; Ubiquitins

Most early-onset forms of Alzheimer's disease are due to missense mutations located on two homologous proteins named presenilin 1 and 2 (PS1 and PS2). Several lines of evidence indicate that PS1 and PS2 undergo various post-transcriptional events including endoproteolytic cleavages, giving rise to 28-30 kD N-terminal (NTF) and 18-20 kD C-terminal (CTF) fragments that accumulate in vivo. Whether the biological activity of presenilins is borne by the processed fragments or their holoprotein precursor remains in question. We have examined the putative control of beta APP maturation by CTF-PS1/PS2 and the catabolic process of the latter proteins by the multicatalytic complex, proteasome.. We transiently and stably transfected HEK293 cells with CTF-PS1 or CTF-PS2 cDNA. We examined these transfectants for their production of A beta 40, A beta 42, and APP alpha by immunoprecipitation using specific polyclonals. The effect of a series of proteases inhibitors on the immunoreactivity of CTF-PS1/PS2 was examined by Western blot. Finally, the influence of proteasome inhibitors on the generation of beta APP fragments by CTF-expressing cells was assessed by combined immunoprecipitation and densitometric analyses.. We showed that transient and stable transfection of CTF-PS1 and CTF-PS2 cDNAs in human cells leads to increased secretion of APP alpha and A beta, the maturation products of beta APP. Furthermore, we demonstrated that two proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin and Z-IE(Ot-Bu)A-Leucinal, prevent the degradation of both CTFs. Accordingly, we established that proteasome inhibitors drastically potentiate the phenotypic increased production of APP alpha and A beta elicited by CTF-PS1/PS2.. Our data establish that the C-terminal products of PS1 and PS2 maturation exhibit biological activity and in particular control beta APP maturation upstream to alpha-and beta/gamma-secretase cleavages. This function is directly controlled by the proteasome that modulates the intracellular concentration of CTFs.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glycopeptides; Humans; Leucine; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Pepstatins; Presenilin-1; Presenilin-2; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Recombinant Proteins; Sulfones; Transfection

The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBX) is essential for the establishment of HBV infection in vivo and exerts a pleiotropic effect on diverse cellular functions. The yeast two-hybrid system had indicated that HBX could interact with two subunits of the 26S proteasome. Here we demonstrate an association in vivo of HBX with the 26S proteasome complex by coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization upon sucrose gradient centrifugation. Expression of HBX in HepG2 cells caused a modest decrease in the proteasome's chymotrypsin- and trypsin-like activities and in hydrolysis of ubiquitinated lysozyme, suggesting that HBX functions as an inhibitor of proteasome. In these cells, HBX is degraded with a half-life of 30 min. Proteasome inhibitors retarded this rapid degradation and caused a marked increase in the level of HBX and an accumulation of HBX in polyubiquitinated form. Thus, the low intracellular level of HBX is due to rapid proteolysis by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Surprisingly, the proteasome inhibitors blocked the transactivation by HBX, and this effect was not a result of a squelching phenomenon due to HBX accumulation. Therefore, proteasome function is possibly required for the transactivation function of HBX. The inhibition of protein breakdown by proteasomes may account for the multiple actions of HBX and may be an important feature of HBV infection, possibly in helping stabilize viral gene products and suppressing antigen presentation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Peptide Hydrolases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Substrate Specificity; Trans-Activators; Transcriptional Activation; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitins; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins

The CDK inhibitor, p21WAF1/Cip1 blocks cell cycle progression. In vitro, the N-terminus of p21 binds and inhibits CDK-cyclin kinase activity, whereas the C-terminus binds and inhibits PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) function. PCNA is essential for processivity of both DNA polymerase delta and epsilon. We have performed a detailed analysis of growth inhibition by the N- and C-terminal regions of p21, and determined whether the N- and C-terminal regions mediate this effect by different mechanisms. Expression of either the N- or the C-terminal region of p21 inhibits DNA synthesis and cell growth, but not as efficiently as full length p21. The effectiveness of the two p21 domains is dependent on their stability which is determined by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The stabilization of the N- and C-terminal region of p21 increases their effectiveness as inhibitors of DNA synthesis to levels comparable to full length p21. Inhibition of DNA synthesis by the N-terminal region of p21 involves suppression of E2F activity. In contrast, inhibition by the C-terminal region of p21 is not accompanied by suppression of E2F activity, but is mediated via PCNA binding. The C-terminal region of p21 therefore inhibits cell growth by a mechanism distinct from that of the N-terminal region containing the CDK-cyclin inhibitory domain.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Acetylcysteine; Animals; CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Cyclins; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Gene Deletion; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Growth Inhibitors; Hemagglutinins; Humans; Leupeptins; Mice; Models, Genetic; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutagenesis; Osteosarcoma; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Time Factors; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitins

Recent studies have shown that ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis by proteasomes plays an essential role in the degradation of ER-retained proteins. We investigated the degradation of individual fibrinogen chains in transfected COS cells which express but do not secrete single chains. In transfected COS cells, the degradation of fibrinogen Bbeta and gamma chain was markedly inhibited by the proteasome inhibitors lactacystin and MG132. These specific proteasome inhibitors also partially affected the degradation of Aalpha chain. In HepG2 cells, which synthesize and secrete fibrinogen, the degradation of intracellular free gamma chain was also inhibited by MG132. We also detected high molecular weight polyubiquitinated forms of fibrinogen chains in transfected COS cells and in HepG2 cells by sequential immunoprecipitation. These results implicate proteasomes in the degradation of fibrinogen chains. In COS cells, gamma chains have a longer half-life than Bbeta chains and Aalpha chains, suggesting that the presence of surplus gamma chains in fibrinogen-producing cells is due to the unequal degradation rate of fibrinogen chains. These results indicate that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway may be a major system for the degradation of unassembled fibrinogen chains.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; COS Cells; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Fibrinogen; Immunosorbent Techniques; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Transfection; Ubiquitins

During development, tissue repair, and tumor metastasis, both cell-cell dissociation and cell migration occur and appear to be intimately linked, such as during epithelial "scattering." Here we show that cell-cell dissociation during scattering induced by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or activation of the temperature-sensitive v-Src tyrosine kinase in MDCK cells can be blocked by inhibiting the proteasome with lactacystin and MG132. Although both proteins of the tight junction and the adherens junction redistributed during cell scattering, proteasome inhibitors largely prevented this process, resulting in the stabilization of Triton X-100-insoluble tight junction proteins as well as adherens junction proteins at sites of cell-cell contact. Proteasome inhibition also led to a decrease of E-cadherin turnover in (35)S-labeled cells. In addition, proteasome inhibition partly preserved cell polarity, as determined by the subcellular distribution of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase (basolateral marker) and gp135 (apical marker), and the structure of the subcortical actin ring, both of which are normally disrupted during scattering. However, cells were able to establish focal contacts, and single cell migration toward HGF was unaffected by proteasome inhibition in quantitative assays, indicating that cell-cell dissociation during scattering occurs independently of anchorage-dependent cell migration. Thus, a proteasome-dependent step during scattering induced by HGF and pp60(v-Src) appears to be essential for cell-cell dissociation, disassembly of junctional components, and (at least indirectly) it also plays a role in the loss of protein polarity.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cadherins; Cell Line; Cell Movement; Chemotaxis; Connexins; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Dogs; Epithelial Cells; Hepatocyte Growth Factor; Immunohistochemistry; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Multienzyme Complexes; Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src); Phosphoproteins; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Tight Junctions; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein

Treatment of NIH-OVCAR-3 cells with paclitaxel, a microtubule-stabilizing agent, induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis, but also Bcl-2 phosphorylation. We report here that Bcl-2 phosphorylation precedes Bcl-2 down-regulation and that both events are closely associated with mitotic arrest, but are not sufficient for paclitaxel to trigger apoptosis. Indeed, when paclitaxel-treated cells were induced to exit mitosis in the presence of 2-aminopurine, Bcl-2 phosphorylation and Bcl-2 down-regulation were both inhibited. In contrast, when apoptosis was inhibited by a caspase inhibitor or Bcl-2 over-expression, Bcl-2 phosphorylation and down-regulation still occurred. Furthermore, we show that Bcl-2 is degraded in mitosis by the proteasome-dependent pathway since Bcl-2 down-regulation is inhibited by proteasome inhibitors such as MG132, Lactacystin and LLnL. Taken together these results indicate that mitotic spindle damage results in post-translational modifications of Bcl-2 by phosphorylation and degradation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; Apoptosis; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, bcl-2; Humans; Leupeptins; Microtubules; Mitosis; Multienzyme Complexes; Ovarian Neoplasms; Paclitaxel; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Virulence Factors, Bordetella

The cyclic expression of the period (PER) and timeless (TIM) proteins is critical for the molecular circadian feedback loop in Drosophila. The entrainment by light of the circadian clock is mediated by a reduction in TIM levels. To elucidate the mechanism of this process, the sensitivity of TIM regulation by light was tested in an in vitro assay with inhibitors of candidate proteolytic pathways. The data suggested that TIM is degraded through a ubiquitin-proteasome mechanism. In addition, in cultures from third-instar larvae, TIM degradation was blocked specifically by inhibitors of proteasome activity. Degradation appeared to be preceded by tyrosine phosphorylation. Finally, TIM was ubiquitinated in response to light in cultured cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Biological Clocks; Cells, Cultured; Circadian Rhythm; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Darkness; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Feedback; Insect Proteins; Leucine; Leupeptins; Light; Multienzyme Complexes; Neurons; Phosphorylation; Phosphotyrosine; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Ubiquitins

P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is a plasma-membrane glycoprotein that confers multi-drug resistance (MDR) on cells and displays ATP-driven drug pumping. The possible contribution of calpain-mediated proteolytic pathways to the functional regulation of the Pgp molecule was evaluated using K562/DXR, MDR cells. N-Acetyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-norleucinal was effluxed by Pgp, but N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-leucyl-L-leucinal (zLLal), an inhibitor of calpain, retarded the degradation of Pgp leading to accumulation of the molecule largely at the cell surface membrane. Treatment with brefeldin A did not obstruct the zLLal-induced Pgp accumulation. NH4Cl increased the cytoplasmic Pgp level, with a slight to significant decrease at the cell surface membrane. Ubiquitin-ELISA and western blot analysis confirmed that the Pgp molecule, which accumulated mainly at the cell surface, was ubiquitinated. However, lactacystin did not show any accumulation of Pgp in either the cytoplasm or the cell surface membrane, suggesting that the proteasome did not participate in the phenomenon. Additionally, the Pgp was limitedly proteolyzed by calpain into two 98 kDa and 69 kDa, fragments within one minute. Despite the increased accumulation of Pgp at the cell surface after treatment with calpain inhibitor, the cytoplasmic doxorubicin level of the cells treated with a calpain inhibitor was higher than that of non-treated cells and approached that of parental cells. These results indicated that calpain involved Pgp turnover and that calpain inhibition induced ubiquitinated Pgp-accumulation mainly at the cell surface membrane with a reduction in its own functions suggesting that the modulation of Pgp-turnover involves MDR-reversal by another approach.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Ammonium Chloride; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; Blotting, Western; Brefeldin A; Calpain; Cell Membrane; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dipeptides; Doxorubicin; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Glycoproteins; Humans; K562 Cells; Leucine; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Time Factors; Ubiquitins

The proteasome is a multiprotein complex involved in the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. Three proteasome inhibitors, calpain inhibitor I, lactacystin and MG132, induced apoptosis in several human malignant glioma cell lines. Although proteasome inhibitors induced p53 accumulation in a cell line retaining wild-type p53 activity, p53 activity was dispensable for apoptosis since transdominant-negative p53 abrogated p53-dependent p21 induction but did not modulate apoptosis. Further, p21 was induced by higher concentrations of proteasome inhibitors in a p53-independent manner both in p53 wild-type and in p53 mutant cell lines. Although there was a strong G2/M arrest in response to proteasome inhibition in glioma cells, this G2/M arrest was also observed in p21(-/-) colon carcinoma cells, suggesting that p21 is dispensable for the G2/M arrest associated with proteasome inhibition. Interestingly, the p21(-/-) cells were more resistant to protease inhibitors than parental p21(+/+) cells. In summary, our data indicate that proteasome inhibition induces a p21-independent G2/M arrest and p53-independent apoptosis in human malignant glioma cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Cell Cycle; Cell Division; Cell Survival; Colonic Neoplasms; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclins; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glioma; Glycoproteins; Humans; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

The human multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein (P-gp) contributes to the phenomenon of multidrug resistance during cancer and AIDS chemotherapy. A potential novel strategy to circumvent the effects of P-gp during chemotherapy is to prevent maturation of P-gp during biosynthesis so that the transporter does not reach the cell surface. Here we report that immature, core-glycosylated P-gp that is prevented from reaching the cell surface by processing mutations or by proteasome inhibitors such as lactacystin or MG-132 exhibited no detectable drug-stimulated ATPase activity. Disulfide cross-linking analysis also showed that the immature P-gp did not exhibit ATP-induced conformational changes as found in the mature enzyme. In addition, the immature P-gp was more sensitive to trypsin than the mature enzyme. These results suggest that P-gp is unlikely to be functional immediately after synthesis. These differences in the structural and enzymatic properties of the mature and core-glycosylated, immature P-gp could potentially be used during chemotherapy, and should result in the search for compounds that can specifically inhibit the maturation of P-gp.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adenosine Triphosphatases; Adenosine Triphosphate; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Biological Transport; Cell Membrane; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Glycosylation; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neoplasms; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Conformation; Protein Folding; Protein Precursors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (D3) exerts its effects by binding to and activating nuclear vitamin D3 receptors (VDRs) that regulate transcription of target genes. We have investigated regulation of VDR levels in human skin in vivo and in cultured human keratinocytes. Quantitative ligand-binding analysis revealed that human skin expressed approximately 220 VDRs per cell, which bound D3 with high affinity [(dissociation constant (Kd) = 0.22 nM]. In human skin nuclear extracts, VDR exclusively bound to DNA containing vitamin D3 response elements as heterodimers with retinoid X receptors. Topical application of D3 to human skin elevated VDR protein levels 2-fold, as measured by both ligand-binding and DNA-binding assays. In contrast, the D3 analog calcipotriene had no effect on VDR levels. Topical D3 had no effect on VDR mRNA, indicating that D3 either stimulated synthesis and/or inhibited degradation of VDRs. To investigate this latter possibility, recombinant VDRs were incubated with skin lysates in the presence or absence of D3. The presence of D3 substantially protected VDRs against degradation by human skin lysates. VDR degradation was inhibited by proteasome inhibitors, but not lysosome or serine protease inhibitors. In cultured keratinocytes, D3 or proteasome inhibitors increased VDR protein without affecting VDR mRNA levels. In cells, VDR was ubiquitinated and this ubiquitination was inhibited by D3. Proteasome inhibitors in combination with D3 enhanced VDR-mediated gene expression, as measured by induction of vitamin D3 24-hydroxylase mRNA in cultured keratinocytes. Taken together, our findings indicate that low VDR levels are maintained, in part, through ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated degradation and that low VDR levels limit D3 signaling. D3 exerts dual positive influences on its nuclear receptor, simultaneously stimulating VDR transactivation activity and retarding VDR degradation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Administration, Topical; Calcitriol; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Dermatologic Agents; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Keratinocytes; Leucine; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Receptors, Calcitriol; Skin; Steroid Hydroxylases; Ubiquitins; Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase

Recently, we have shown that two proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and lactacystin, induce hyperphosphorylation and trimerization of HSF1, and transactivate heat shock genes at 37 degrees C. Here, we examined the effects of these proteasome inhibitors and, in addition, a phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A (CCA) on the activation of HSF1 upon heat shock and during post-heat-shock recovery, with emphasis on HSF1 hyperphosphorylation and the ability of HSF1 to transactivate heat shock genes. When lactacystin, MG132, or CCA was present after heat shock, HSF1 remained hyperphosphorylated during post-heat-shock recovery at 37 degrees C. Failure of HSF1 to recover to its preheated dephosphorylated state correlated well with the suppression of the heat-induced hsp70 expression. In vitro, HSF1 from heat-shocked cells, when dephosphorylated, showed an increase in HSE-binding affinity. Taken together, these data suggest that phosphorylation of HSF1 plays an important role in the negative regulation of heat-shock response. Specifically, during post-heat-shock recovery phase, prolonged hyperphosphorylation of HSF1 suppresses heat-induced expression of heat shock genes.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA; DNA-Binding Proteins; Down-Regulation; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gene Expression Regulation; Heat Shock Transcription Factors; Heat-Shock Proteins; Hot Temperature; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Leupeptins; Marine Toxins; Mice; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Oxazoles; Phosphorylation; Transcription Factors

Overexpression or activation of insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) has been observed in many human cancers including breast, lung, colon and gastric carcinomas. We demonstrate that inhibition of the endogenous insulin-like growth factor I receptor by stable expression of a dominant-negative IGF-IR represses the transforming activity in vitro and tumorigenicity of human lung carcinoma cells A549 in vivo. The suppression of tumorigenicity in nude mice is correlated with the induction of glandular differentiation. In addition, functional inhibition of the endogenous receptor dramatically increases the sensitivity of A549 cells to a variety of apoptotic signals including UV irradiation and proteasome inhibitors. These effects are due to the formation of a stable heterocomplex of the dominant-negative receptor with the endogenous wild type receptor which reduces the kinase activity of the latter by twofold. Thus, inhibition of the IGF-IR signaling pathway not only suppresses tumorigenicity but also enhances sensitivity to apoptosis-inducing agents. Antagonizing IGF-IR signaling by promoting tumor differentiation and enhancing sensitivity to apoptotic death are potential cancer therapeutic approaches.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Apoptosis; Carcinogenicity Tests; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Genes, Dominant; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; Humans; Leupeptins; Lung Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Nude; Multienzyme Complexes; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Receptor, IGF Type 1; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ultraviolet Rays

Recent evidence supports a role for heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70) and the 26 S proteasome in regulating apoptosis, although the precise nature of their involvement is not known. In the present study, control and Bcl-x(L)-overexpressing, interleukin-3-dependent FL5.12 cell lines were treated with the proteasome inhibitor N-benzoyloxycarbonyl (Z)-Leu-Leu-leucinal (MG132). Basal proteasome activity appeared to be approximately 30% lower in bcl-x(L) cells compared with control cells using a substrate for the chymotrypsin-like activity. However, no difference in proteasome activity was detected using substrates for the trypsin-like or peptidylglutamyl peptide-hydrolysing activities. In addition, protein levels of the 20 S proteasome beta-subunit, as determined by Western blot analyses, were similar in control and bcl-x(L) cells, leading to the conclusion that proteasome activities were the same in these two cell lines. At 24 h after treatment with 500 nM MG132, apoptosis in bcl-x(L) cells (22%) was less than that observed in control cells (34%). Concomitantly, caspase activity in control cells, as assessed by N-acetyl-l-aspartyl-l-glutamyl-l-valyl-l-aspartyl-7-amino-4-methylcou marin (Ac-DEVD-AMC), was twice that observed in bcl-x(L) cells. By 48 h after MG132 treatment, apoptosis and caspase activity in bcl-x(L) cells were similar to those observed in control cells at 24 h. Proteasome inhibition stimulated increases in hsp70 protein levels in control and bcl-x(L) cells by 12 h, although the maximal increases found in bcl-x(L) cells were less. Blocking this induction with hsp70 antisense oligonucleotides potentiated apoptosis after treatment with MG132. Inhibiting caspase activity with a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, t-butoxycarbonyl-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethyl ketone, prevented MG132-induced apoptosis. The more specific caspase-3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-aldehyde, afforded less protection, although both inhibitors completely inhibited Ac-DEVD-AMC cleavage. These data indicate that both hsp70 and Bcl-x(L) provide some protection against proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; B-Lymphocytes; bcl-X Protein; Canavanine; Caspase Inhibitors; Caspases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Activation; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Interleukin-3; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligonucleotides, Antisense; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2

Recent studies suggest that sepsis stimulates ubiquitin-dependent protein breakdown in skeletal muscle. The 20S proteasome is the catalytic core of the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway. We tested the effects in vitro of the proteasome inhibitors N-acetyl-L-leucinyl-L-leucinal-L-norleucinal (LLnL) and lactacystin on protein breakdown in incubated muscles from septic rats. LLnL resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of protein breakdown in muscles from septic rats. Lactacystin blocked both total and myofibrillar muscle protein breakdown. In addition to inhibiting protein breakdown, LLnL reduced muscle protein synthesis and increased ubiquitin mRNA levels, probably reflecting inhibited proteasome-associated ribonuclease activity. Inhibited muscle protein breakdown caused by LLnL or lactacystin supports the concept that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a central role in sepsis-induced muscle proteolysis. The results suggest that muscle catabolism during sepsis may be inhibited by targeting specific molecular mechanisms of muscle proteolysis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cecum; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dactinomycin; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Male; Multienzyme Complexes; Muscle Proteins; Muscle, Skeletal; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger; Sepsis; Transcription, Genetic; Ubiquitins

We have studied the involvement of proteolytic pathways in the regulation of the Na/Pi cotransporter type II by parathyroid hormone (PTH) in opossum kidney cells. Inhibition of lysosomal degradation (by leupeptin, ammonium chloride, methylamine, chloroquine, L-methionine methyl ester) prevented the PTH-mediated degradation of the transporter, whereas inhibition of the proteasomal pathway (by lactacystin) did not. Moreover it was found (i) that whereas lysosomal inhibitors prevented the PTH-mediated degradation of the transporter they did not prevent the PTH-mediated inhibition of the Na/Pi cotransport and (ii) that treating opossum kidney cells with lysosomal inhibitors led to an increased expression of the transporter without any concomitant increase in the Na/Pi cotransport. Further analysis by subcellular fractionation and morphological techniques showed (i) that the Na/Pi cotransporter is constitutively transported to and degraded within late endosomes/lysosomes and (ii) that PTH leads to the increased degradation of the transporter in late endosomes/lysosomes.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Carrier Proteins; Cell Compartmentation; Cells, Cultured; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Kidney; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; Microscopy, Confocal; Multienzyme Complexes; Opossums; Parathyroid Hormone; Phosphates; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins; Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins, Type II; Symporters

Inhibition of the major cytosolic protease, proteasome, has been reported to induce programmed cell death in several cell lines, while with other lines, similar inhibition blocked apoptosis triggered by a variety of harmful treatments. To elucidate the mechanism of pro- and antiapoptotic action of proteasome inhibitors, their effects on U937 lymphoid and 293 kidney human tumor cells were tested. Treatment with peptidyl aldehyde MG132 and other proteasome inhibitors led to a steady increase in activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK1, which is known to initiate the apoptotic program in response to certain stresses. Dose dependence of MG132-induced JNK activation was parallel with that of apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of the JNK signaling pathway strongly suppressed MG132-induced apoptosis. These data indicate that JNK is critical for the cell death caused by proteasome inhibitors. An antiapoptotic action of proteasome inhibitors could be revealed by a short incubation of cells with MG132 followed by its withdrawal. Under these conditions, the major heat shock protein Hsp72 accumulated in cells and caused suppression of JNK activation in response to certain stresses. Accordingly, pretreatment with MG132 reduced JNK-dependent apoptosis caused by heat shock or ethanol, but it was unable to block JNK-independent apoptosis induced by TNFalpha. Therefore, proteasome inhibitors activate JNK, which initiates an apoptotic program, and simultaneously they induce Hsp72, which suppresses JNK-dependent apoptosis. A balance between these two effects might define the fate of cells exposed to the inhibitors.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apoptosis; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Activation; Heat-Shock Proteins; HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Kidney Neoplasms; Leupeptins; Lymphoma; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Multienzyme Complexes; Neoplasm Proteins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vpu gene encodes a type I anchored integral membrane phosphoprotein with two independent functions. First, it regulates virus release from a post-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) compartment by an ion channel activity mediated by its transmembrane anchor. Second, it induces the selective down regulation of host cell receptor proteins (CD4 and major histocompatibility complex class I molecules) in a process involving its phosphorylated cytoplasmic tail. In the present work, we show that the Vpu-induced proteolysis of nascent CD4 can be completely blocked by peptide aldehydes that act as competitive inhibitors of proteasome function and also by lactacystin, which blocks proteasome activity by covalently binding to the catalytic beta subunits of proteasomes. The sensitivity of Vpu-induced CD4 degradation to proteasome inhibitors paralleled the inhibition of proteasome degradation of a model ubiquitinated substrate. Characterization of CD4-associated oligosaccharides indicated that CD4 rescued from Vpu-induced degradation by proteasome inhibitors is exported from the ER to the Golgi complex. This finding suggests that retranslocation of CD4 from the ER to the cytosol may be coupled to its proteasomal degradation. CD4 degradation mediated by Vpu does not require the ER chaperone calnexin and is dependent on an intact ubiquitin-conjugating system. This was demonstrated by inhibition of CD4 degradation (i) in cells expressing a thermally inactivated form of the ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 or (ii) following expression of a mutant form of ubiquitin (Lys48 mutated to Arg48) known to compromise ubiquitin targeting by interfering with the formation of polyubiquitin complexes. CD4 degradation was also prevented by altering the four Lys residues in its cytosolic domain to Arg, suggesting a role for ubiquitination of one or more of these residues in the process of degradation. The results clearly demonstrate a role for the cytosolic ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the process of Vpu-induced CD4 degradation. In contrast to other viral proteins (human cytomegalovirus US2 and US11), however, whose translocation of host ER molecules into the cytosol occurs in the presence of proteasome inhibitors, Vpu-targeted CD4 remains in the ER in a transport-competent form when proteasome activity is blocked.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calnexin; CD4 Antigens; Cell Line; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoplasm; Cytosol; Enzyme Activation; Glycoproteins; HeLa Cells; HIV-1; Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutagenesis; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Ubiquitins; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins

Following cell surface receptor binding and membrane fusion, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) virion cores are released in the cytoplasm. Incoming viral proteins represent potential targets for cytosolic proteases. We show that treatment of target cells with the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin increased the efficiency of HIV infection. Proteasome inhibitors were active at the early steps of the viral cycle. Incoming p24Gag proteins accumulated in the cytosol, and larger amounts of proviral DNA were synthesized. In vitro, purified 20S proteasome degraded HIV virion components. Thus, degradation of incoming viral proteins by the proteasome represents an early intracellular defense against infection.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; beta-Galactosidase; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA, Viral; Gene Products, tat; HeLa Cells; HIV Core Protein p24; HIV-1; Humans; Jurkat Cells; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Improperly processed secretory proteins are degraded by a hydrolytic system that is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and appears to involve re-export of lumenal proteins into the cytoplasm for ultimate degradation by the proteasome. The chimaeric protein hGHDAF28, which contains a crippled glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) C-terminal signal peptide, is degraded by a pathway highly similar to that for other ER-retained proteins and is characterized by formation of disulphide-linked aggregates, failure to reach the Golgi complex and intracellular degradation with a half life of approximately 2 h. Here we show that N-acetyl-leucinal-leucinal-norleucinal, MG-132 and lactacystin, all inhibitors of the proteasome, protect hGHDAF28; hGHDAF28 is still proteolytically cleaved in the presence of lactacystin or MG-132, by the removal of approximately 2 kDa, but the truncated fragment is not processed further. We demonstrate that the ubiquitination system accelerates ER-degradation of hGHDAF28, but is not essential to the process. Overall, these findings indicate that GPI quality control is mediated by the cytoplasmic proteasome. We also show that the presence of a cysteine residue in the GPI signal of hGHDAF28 is required for retention and degradation, as mutation of this residue to serine results in secretion of the fusion protein, implicating thiol-mediated retention as a mechanism for quality control of some GPI signals. Removal of the cysteine also prevents inclusion of hGHDAF28 in disulphide-linked aggregates, indicating that aggregate formation is an additional retention mechanism for this class of protein. Therefore our data suggest that an unpaired terminal cysteine is the retention motif of the hGHDAF28 GPI-processing signal and that additional information may be required for efficient engagement of ER quality control systems by the majority of GPI signals which lack cysteine residues.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Cysteine; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutation; Peptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Ubiquitins

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(Cip1/WAF1) has been implicated as an inducer of differentiation. However, although expression of p21 is increased in postmitotic cells immediately adjacent to the proliferative compartment, its expression is decreased in cells further along the differentiation program. Expression of the p21 protein was decreased in terminally differentiated primary keratinocytes of mice, and this occurred by a proteasome-dependent pathway. Forced expression of p21 in these cells inhibited the expression of markers of terminal differentiation at both the protein and messenger RNA levels. These inhibitory effects on differentiation were not observed with a carboxyl-terminal truncation mutant or with the unrelated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16(INK4a), although all these molecules exerted similar inhibition of cell growth. These findings reveal an inhibitory role of p21 in the late stages of differentiation that does not result from the effects of p21 on the cell cycle.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adenoviridae; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cell Cycle; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Cyclins; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gene Expression Regulation; Keratinocytes; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mutation; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Protein Precursors; RNA, Messenger; Succinates; Transfection

gamma-Tocotrienol (gamma-T3), a HMG CoA reductase inhibitor, was previously shown to stimulate the intracellular degradation of apolipoprotein B (apoB) in HepG2 cells. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of gamma-T3 on the proteasome dependent co-translational degradation and the proteasome independent post-translational degradation of apoB. Previous studies have shown that apoB translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane governs the co-translational degradative pathway of apoB. Therefore, we first examined the effects of gamma-T3 on this pathway using a specific translocation assay derived from HepG2 cells. Our results indicated that gamma-T3 reduced the efficiency of apoB translocation across the ER membrane, suggesting that co-translational degradation may be partially involved. Evidence of an ER associated post-translational degradation was also provided upon pre-treating digitonin-permeabilized HepG2 cells with a proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin. When chased for 2h, ER degradation of apoB was observed and was further enhanced in the presence of gamma-T3 versus untreated control, in spite of proteasome inhibition. Combined with the ability of ALLN, a proteasome and cysteine protease inhibitor, to block the post-translational degradation of apoB, the data suggest that gamma-T3 diverted more apoB to a cytosolic proteasomal dependent and possibly an ER-associated proteasomal independent degradation pathways.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Apolipoproteins B; Biological Transport; Cell Membrane Permeability; Chromans; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Leupeptins; Liver; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vitamin E

To identify factors involved in the expression of ligand-gated ion channels, we expressed nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in HEK cells to characterize roles for oligosaccharide trimming, calnexin association, and targeting to the proteasome. The homologous subunits of the acetylcholine receptor traverse the membrane four times, contain at least one oligosaccharide, and are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum until completely assembled into the circular arrangement of subunits of delta-alpha-gamma-alpha-beta to enclose the ion channel. We previously demonstrated that calnexin is associated with unassembled subunits of the receptor, but appears to dissociate when subunits are assembled in various combinations. We used the glucosidase inhibitor castanospermine to block oligosaccharide processing, and thereby inhibit calnexin's interaction with the oligosaccharides in the receptor subunits. Castanospermine treatment reduces the association of calnexin with the alpha-subunit of the receptor, and diminishes the intracellular accumulation of unassembled receptor subunit protein. However, treatment with castanospermine does not appear to alter subunit folding or assembly. In contrast, co-treatment with proteasome inhibitors and castanospermine enhances the accumulation of polyubiquitin-conjugated alpha-subunits, and generally reverses the castanospermine induced loss of alpha-subunit protein. Co-transfection of cDNAs encoding the alpha- and delta-subunits, which leads to the expression of assembled alpha- and delta- subunits, also inhibits the loss of alpha-subunits expressed in the presence of castanospermine. Taken together, these observations indicate that calnexin association reduces the degradation of unassembled receptor subunits in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Biopolymers; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calnexin; Calreticulin; Cell Line; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dimerization; DNA, Complementary; Glucose; Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Hydrolysis; Indolizines; Isomerases; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Polyubiquitin; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Binding; Protein Disulfide-Isomerases; Receptors, Nicotinic; Ribonucleoproteins; Transfection; Ubiquitins

Proteasomes have been implicated in the production of the majority of peptides that associate with MHC class I molecules. We used two different proteasome inhibitors, the peptide aldehyde N-acetyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-norleucinal (LLnL) and the highly specific inhibitor lactacystin, to examine the role of proteasomes in generating peptide epitopes associated with HLA-A*0201. Neither LLnL nor lactacystin was able to completely block the expression of the HLA-A*0201. Furthermore, the effects of LLnL and lactacystin on the expression of different categories of specific epitopes, TAP independent vs TAP dependent and derived from either cytosolic or membrane proteins, were assessed. As predicted, presentation of two TAP-dependent epitopes was blocked by LLnL and lactacystin, while a TAP-independent epitope that is processed in the endoplasmic reticulum was unaffected by either inhibitor. Surprisingly, both LLnL and lactacystin increased rather than inhibited the expression of a cytosolically transcribed and TAP-dependent peptide from the influenza A virus M1 protein. Mass spectrometric analyses of in vitro proteasome digests of a synthetic 24 mer containing this epitope revealed no digestion products of any length that included the intact epitope. Instead, the major species resulted from cleavage sites within the epitope. Although cleavage at these sites was inhibitable by LLnL and lactacystin, epitope-containing species were still not produced. We conclude that proteasomes may in some cases actually destroy epitopes that would otherwise be destined for presentation by class I molecules. These results suggest that some epitopes are generated by nonproteasomal proteases in the cytosol.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Cell Line; Cell-Free System; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytosol; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; Glycine; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; HLA-A Antigens; Humans; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Time Factors; Viral Matrix Proteins

We have previously shown that the degradation of c-myc and N-myc in vitro is mediated by the ubiquitin system. However, the role of the system in targeting the myc proteins in vivo and the identity of the conjugating enzymes and possible ancillary proteins involved has remained obscure. Here we report that the degradation of the myc proteins in cells is inhibited by lactacystin and MG132, two inhibitors of the 20S proteasome. Inhibition is accompanied by accumulation of myc-ubiquitin conjugates. Dissection of the ancillary proteins involved revealed that the high-risk human papillomavirus oncoprotein E6-16 stimulates conjugation and subsequent degradation of the myc proteins in vitro. Expression of E6-16 in cells results in significant shortening of the t1/2 of the myc proteins with subsequent decrease in their cellular level. Analysis of the conjugating enzymes revealed that under basal conditions the proteins can be conjugated by two pairs of E2s and E3s-E2-14 kDa and E3alpha involved in the "N-end rule" pathway, and E2-F1 (UbcH7) and E3-Fos involved also in conjugation of c-Fos. In the presence of E6-16, a third pair, E2-F1 and E6-AP mediate conjugation of myc by means of a mechanism that appears to be similar to that involved in the targeting of p53, formation of a myc. E6.E6-AP targeting complex. It is possible that in certain cells E6-mediated targeting of myc prevents myc-induced apoptosis and thus ensures maintenance of viral infection.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Neuroblastoma; Oncogene Proteins, Viral; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; Signal Transduction; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Virus Infections; Ubiquitins

1. Burn injury stimulates ubiquitin-dependent protein breakdown in skeletal muscle. The 20S proteasome is the proteolytic core of the 26S proteasome that degrades ubiquitin conjugates. We examined the effects of the proteasome inhibitors N-acetyl-L-leucinyl-L-leucinal-L-norleucinal (LLnL), lactacystin and beta-lactone on protein breakdown in muscles from burned rats. 2. A full-thickness burn of 30% total body surface area was inflicted on the back of rats. Control rats underwent a sham procedure. After 24 h, extensor digitorum longus muscles were incubated in the absence or presence of 20S proteasome blocker and protein turnover rates and ubiquitin mRNA levels were determined. 3. LLnL resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of total protein breakdown in incubated muscles from burned rats. Lactacystin and beta-lactone blocked both total and myofibrillar muscle protein breakdown. In addition to inhibiting protein breakdown, LLnL increased ubiquitin mRNA levels, possibly reflecting inhibited proteasome-associated RNase activity. 4. Inhibited muscle protein breakdown caused by LLnL, lactacystin and beta-lactone supports the concept that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a central role in burn-induced muscle proteolysis. Because the proteasome has multiple important functions in the cell, in addition to regulating general protein breakdown, further studies are needed to test the role of proteasome blockers in the treatment or prevention of muscle catabolism.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Burns; Culture Techniques; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Lactones; Leupeptins; Male; Muscle Proteins; Muscle, Skeletal; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger; Time Factors; Tyrosine; Ubiquitins

The 26S proteasome is the macromolecular assembly that mediates ATP- and ubiquitin-dependent extralysosomal intracellular protein degradation in eukaryotes. However, its contribution to the regulation of osteoblast proliferation and hormonal regulation remains poorly defined. Treating osteoblasts with MG-132 or lactacystin (membrane-permeable proteasome inhibitors) attenuates proliferation. Three proteasome activities (peptidylglutamyl-peptide bond hydrolase-, chymotrypsin-, and trypsin-like) were detected in osteoblasts. Catabolic doses of PTH stim-ulated these activities, and cotreatment with PTH and MG-132 blocked stimulation. The proteasome alpha- and beta-subunits, polyubiquitins, and large ubiquitin-protein conjugates were detected by Western blotting. A 90-min treatment with 10 nM PTH had no effect on the amount of proteasome alpha or beta subunit protein, but increased the relative amount of large ubiquitin-protein conjugates by 200%. MG-132 inhibited deubiquitination of large ubiquitin-protein conjugates. The protein kinase A inhibitor SQ22536 blocked much of the PTH-induced stimulation of MCP activities, while dibutyryl cAMP stimulated it, suggesting that protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation is important in PTH stimulation of proteasome activities. In conclusion, the ubiquitin-proteasome system is essential for osteoblast proliferation under control and PTH-treated conditions. PTH mediates its metabolic effects on the osteoblast, in part, by enhancing ubiquitinylation of protein substrates and stimulating three major proteasome activities by a cAMP-dependent mechanism.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Biopolymers; Cell Division; Cell Line; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Osteoblasts; Parathyroid Hormone; Peptide Fragments; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Second Messenger Systems; Teriparatide; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitins

The present studies were performed to examine the degradation of connexin43-containing gap junctions by the lysosome or the proteasome in normal and heat-stressed cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.. Primary cultures were prepared from neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Connexin43 was detected by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, or immunoprecipitation. Gap junction profiles were detected by transmission electron microscopy.. Immunoblots of whole cell lysates demonstrated increased levels of connexin43 in cultures treated with lysosomal inhibitors (chloroquine, leupeptin, E-64, or ammonium chloride) or proteasomal inhibitors (lactacystin or ALLN). Pulse-chase experiments showed that the half-life of connexin43 was 1.4 h in control cultures, but was prolonged to 2.0 or 2.8 h in cultures treated with chloroquine or lactacystin, respectively. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy showed a significant increase in the number of gap junction profiles in myocytes treated with either chloroquine or lactacystin. Heat treatment of cultures (43.5 degrees C for 30 min) produced a rapid loss of connexin43 as detected by immunoblotting or immunofluorescence. Heat-induced connexin43 degradation was prevented by simultaneous treatment with lactacystin, ALLN, or chloroquine. Connexin43 levels and distribution returned to normal by 3 h following a heat shock and were resistant to a subsequent repeat heat stress. The heat shock also led to production of HSP70 as detected by immunoblotting.. These data suggest that Cx43 gap junctions in myocytes are degraded by the proteasome and the lysosome, that this proteolysis can be augmented by heat stress, and that inducible factors such as HSP70 may protect against Cx43 degradation.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Ammonium Chloride; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Chloroquine; Connexin 43; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gap Junctions; Hot Temperature; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Immunoblotting; Leucine; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; Microscopy, Electron; Myocardium; Oligopeptides; Precipitin Tests; Protease Inhibitors; Rats

Proteasomes generate peptides that can be presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules in vertebrate cells. Using yeast 20 S proteasomes carrying different inactivated beta-subunits, we investigated the specificities and contributions of the different beta-subunits to the degradation of polypeptide substrates containing MHC class I ligands and addressed the question of additional proteolytically active sites apart from the active beta-subunits. We found a clear correlation between the contribution of the different subunits to the cleavage of fluorogenic and long peptide substrates, with beta5/Pre2 cleaving after hydrophobic, beta2/Pup1 after basic, and beta1/Pre3 after acidic residues, but with the exception that beta2/Pup1 and beta1/Pre3 can also cleave after some hydrophobic residues. All proteolytic activities including the "branched chain amino acid-preferring" component are associated with beta5/Pre2, beta1/Pre3, or beta2/Pup1, arguing against additional proteolytic sites. Because of the high homology between yeast and mammalian 20 S proteasomes in sequence and subunit topology and the conservation of cleavage specificity between mammalian and yeast proteasomes, our results can be expected to also describe most of the proteolytic activity of mammalian 20 S proteasomes leading to the generation of MHC class I ligands.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Coumarins; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Fluorescence; Fungal Proteins; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Isocoumarins; Leupeptins; Molecular Sequence Data; Multienzyme Complexes; Peptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Substrate Specificity; Vertebrates

Cis is an Src homology 2 domain-containing protein, which binds to the erythropoietin receptor and decreases erythropoietin-stimulated cell proliferation. We show that Cis associates with the second tyrosine residue of the intracellular domain of the erythropoietin receptor (Tyr401). Two forms of Cis with molecular masses of 32 and 37 kDa were detected, and we demonstrate that the 37-kDa protein resulted from post-translational modifications of the 32-kDa form. Anti-ubiquitin antibodies recognized the 37-kDa form of Cis and the proteasome inhibitors N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal and lactacystin inhibited its degradation, showing that the 37-kDa form of Cis is a ubiquitinated protein, which seems to be rapidly degraded by the proteasome. In erythropoietin-stimulated UT-7 cells, the activation of the erythropoietin receptor and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) was transient and returned to basal levels after 30-60 min of erythropoietin stimulation. In contrast, these proteins remained strongly phosphorylated, and STAT5 remained activated for at least 120 min in the presence of proteasome inhibitors. These experiments demonstrate that the proteasomes are involved in the down-regulation of the erythropoietin receptor activation signals. Because the proteasome inhibitors induced the accumulation of both the ubiquitinated form of Cis and the Cis-erythropoietin receptor complexes, our results suggest that the ubiquitinated form of Cis could be involved in the proteasome-mediated inactivation of the erythropoietin receptor.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Humans; Immediate-Early Proteins; Leupeptins; Milk Proteins; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Binding; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Receptors, Erythropoietin; Signal Transduction; src Homology Domains; STAT5 Transcription Factor; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; Trans-Activators; Tyrosine; Ubiquitins

Phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride, lactacystin (a selective inhibitor of the proteasome) and the peptide aldehydes carbobenzoxyleucylleucylnorvalinal and carbobenzoxyleucylleucylleucinal amplify the production of prostacyclin in rat liver cells incubated for 6 h with the tumour promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and the TPA-type tumour promoters teleocidin and aplysiatoxin. Such stimulation is not dependent upon the simultaneous presence of the inhibitor and TPA. Preincubation of the cells with TPA followed by addition of the inhibitor or preincubation with the inhibitor followed by addition of TPA results in amplified prostacyclin production. Phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride, lactacystin, and carbobenzoxyleucylleucylnorvaline also enhance prostacyclin production after incubation with interleukin-1beta and transforming growth factor-alpha. The Ca2+ chelator ethyleneglycol-O,O'-bis(2-aminoethyl)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid inhibits the phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride-TPA or lactacystin-TPA amplifications. Cells, treated with phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride, TPA, interleukin-1beta, lactacystin or the peptide aldehydes exhibit increased prostaglandin endoperoxide G/H synthase activity. The increased activities as well as the constitutive prostaglandin endoperoxide G/H synthase activity are inhibited by a selective prostaglandin endoperoxide G/H synthase-2 inhibitor, 1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-cyclopenten-1-yl]-4-(methysulphonyl)-b enzene, with an IC50 of approximately 0.5 microM. These results demonstrate that the C-9 rat liver cells express prostaglandin endoperoxide G/H synthase-2 constitutively and express induced prostaglandin endoperoxide G/H synthase-2. Inhibition of proteolytic activity amplifies agonist-stimulated arachidonic acid metabolism in these cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Arachidonic Acid; Carcinogens; Cell Line; Endopeptidases; Epoprostenol; Leupeptins; Lyngbya Toxins; Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Protease Inhibitors; Rats; Signal Transduction

A major problem in assessing the role of calpains in apoptosis induction concerns the fact that calpain inhibitors can also impair the activity of the proteasome, also reported to be involved in apoptosis. Herein we showed that apoptosis induced by calphostin C in U937 human promonocytic leukemia cells was associated, at its onset, with enhanced protein (poly)ubiquitination. This observation prompted us to study whether protein degradation through the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway was involved in apoptosis induction. We found that N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal (50 microM), a proteasome as well as a calpain inhibitor, was able to reduce calphostin C-induced apoptosis by approximately 60%, whereas lactacystin (10 microM), a specific proteasome inhibitor, was ineffective. These results suggest that calphostin C-induced apoptosis is partly calpain-mediated, but does not require protein degradation through the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Apoptosis; Calpain; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Naphthalenes; Neoplasm Proteins; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; U937 Cells; Ubiquitins

We describe the effect of the proteasome specific inhibitor lactacystin on the metabolic stability of influenza nucleoprotein (NP) and on the generation of antigens presented by human and murine class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). We show that cells treated with lactacystin fail to present influenza antigens to influenza-specific CTL, but retain the capacity to present defined epitopes expressed as peptides intracellularly by recombinant vaccinia viruses. This block in antigen presentation can be overcome by expressing the viral protein within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, confirming the specificity of lactacystin for cytosolic proteases. We also show that the effect of lactacystin on antigen presentation correlates with the block of breakdown of a rapidly degraded form of the influenza NP linked to ubiquitin. These results demonstrate that proteasome-dependent degradation plays an important role in the cytosolic generation of CTL epitopes.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antigen-Presenting Cells; Antigens, Viral; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytosol; Epitopes; H-2 Antigens; Humans; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Nucleocapsid Proteins; Nucleoproteins; Orthomyxoviridae; Peptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Signal Transduction; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Vaccinia virus; Viral Core Proteins

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 encodes three genes, Vpu, Env and Nef, that decrease cellular CD4. Vpu and Env act cooperatively to accelerate degradation of CD4 in the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we report that Vpu/Env-induced CD4 degradation is inhibited by lactacystin, a specific inhibitor of the proteasome, and by other proteasome inhibitors, but not by non-proteasome protease inhibitors. We also note that Vpu has amino acid sequence homology with a segment of IkappaB known to be involved in proteasome-mediated degradation, suggesting that HIV-1 could have transduced cellular sequences to enhance down-regulation of CD4.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amino Acid Sequence; Brefeldin A; CD4 Antigens; Cyclopentanes; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Gene Products, env; HeLa Cells; HIV-1; Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Molecular Sequence Data; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Signal Transduction; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins

N-acetyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-norleucinal (LLnL), which reversibly inhibits the proteasome in addition to other proteases, and a more specific irreversible inhibitor of the proteasome, lactacystin, were found to cause the accumulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I heavy chains in the cytosol of the beta2-microglobulin-deficient cell line Daudi and the TAP-deficient cell line .174. These cell lines, which are severely impaired in their ability to fold MHC class I heavy chain, showed an accumulation of soluble class I heavy chains at different rates over a period of hours in the presence of LLnL. The accumulation of soluble class I heavy chains in the presence of either LLnL or lactacystin was easily revealed in Daudi and .174 but almost undetectable in a Daudi transfectant expressing beta2-microglobulin and in 45.1, the wild-type parent of .174. The soluble class I heavy chain was also found to be devoid of its N-linked glycan and to be located in the cytosol. When the gene for ICP47, a herpes simplex virus protein that blocks the translocation of peptides into the endoplasmic reticulum, was transfected into 45.1, a similar accumulation of soluble MHC class I heavy chain was detectable. These data suggest that in cells where the MHC class I molecule is unable to assemble properly, the misfolded heavy chain is removed from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cytosol, deglycosylated, and degraded by the proteasome.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; beta 2-Microglobulin; Blotting, Western; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytoplasm; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glycosylation; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Humans; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Folding; Solubility; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The accumulation of misfolded proteins in the cytosol leads to increased expression of heat-shock proteins, while accumulation of such proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stimulates the expression of many ER resident proteins, most of which function as molecular chaperones. Recently, inhibitors of the proteasome have been identified that can block the rapid degradation of abnormal cytosolic and ER-associated proteins. We therefore tested whether these agents, by causing the accumulation of abnormal proteins, might stimulate the expression of cytosolic heat-shock proteins and/or ER molecular chaperones and thereby induce thermotolerance. Exposure of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells to various proteasome inhibitors, including the peptide aldehydes (MG132, MG115, N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal) and lactacystin, inhibited the degradation of short-lived proteins and increased markedly the levels of mRNAs encoding cytosolic heat-shock proteins (Hsp70, polyubiquitin) and ER chaperones (BiP, Grp94, ERp72), as shown by Northern blot analysis. However, inhibitors of cysteine proteases (E64), serine proteases (leupeptin), or metalloproteases (1, 10-phenanthroline) had no effect on the levels of these mRNAs. The relative efficacies of the peptide aldehyde inhibitors in inducing these mRNAs correlated with their potencies against the proteasome. Furthermore, reduction of the aldehyde group of MG132 decreased its inhibitory effect on proteolysis and largely prevented the induction of these mRNAs. Although treatment with the proteasome inhibitors caused rapid increases in mRNA levels (as early as 2 h after treatment with MG132), the inhibitors did not detectably affect total protein synthesis, total protein secretion, ER morphology, or the retention of ER-lumenal proteins, even after 18 h of treatment. Together, the findings suggest that inhibition of proteasome function induces heat-shock proteins and ER chaperones due to the accumulation of sufficient amounts of abnormal proteins and/or the inhibition of degradation of a key regulatory factor (e.g. heat-shock factor). Since expression of heat-shock proteins can protect cells from thermal injury, we tested whether the proteasome inhibitors might also confer thermotolerance. Treatment of cells with MG132 for as little as 2 h, markedly increased the survival of cells subjected to high temperatures (up to 46 degrees C). Thus, these agents may have applications in protecting against cell injury.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Calpain; Cell Line; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dogs; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Fungal Proteins; Heat-Shock Proteins; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; Leupeptins; Membrane Glycoproteins; Membrane Proteins; Molecular Chaperones; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Conformation; RNA, Messenger

The cytochrome P-450 family of enzymes performs an incredibly diverse range of detoxification and oxidation reactions within the cell and constitutes between 5 and 10% of protein in hepatic endoplasmic reticulum. In this report it is demonstrated that constitutively expressed membranous P-450s are targeted for destruction by the proteasome, in a process which is ubiquitin-independent and is demonstrated in vitro to require prior labilization of the enzyme. This process was specific for P-450s CYP1A2, CYP2E1, CYP3A, and CYP4A and was not demonstrated to be involved in the turnover of CYP1A1, CYP2B1/2, or NADPH reductase. In reconstitution experiments using purified proteasomes and microsomal fractions, labilized P-450 conformations are protected from 20 S proteasome degradation by substrate addition, with proteolysis occurring while P-450s are still attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Cytochrome P-450 CYP4A; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Leupeptins; Microsomes, Liver; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Multienzyme Complexes; Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Mutation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 is the most common genetic abnormality detected in human cancers. Wild type p53 is a short-lived protein with very low basal intracellular levels. Most mutated forms of the protein, however, display markedly increased intracellular levels as an essential feature of their positive transforming activity. In this report, we have used selective inhibitors of the 20S proteasome to demonstrate that processing of p53 by ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation is impaired by commonly occuring mutations of the protein. We found that this impairment of p53 turnover can be reversed by treatment of tumor cells with the benzoquinone ansamycin, geldanamycin, leading to a marked reduction in intracellular p53 levels. Finally, using cells which over-express a mutant p53 protein, we were able to demonstrate that restoration of proteasome-mediated degradation by geldanamycin is accompanied by p53 polyubiquitination. Although much remains to be learned about the mechanisms involved, our data demonstrate that selective de-stabilization of mutant transforming proteins such as p53 can be achieved pharmacologically with agents such as geldanamycin which modify the function of molecular chaperone proteins within tumor cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Benzoquinones; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Detergents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Half-Life; Humans; Lactams, Macrocyclic; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutation; Octoxynol; Polyethylene Glycols; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Quinones; Rats; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Ubiquitins

Recent studies have demonstrated that cell-permeant protease inhibitors arrest human fibroblasts in late G1. The target for the inhibitors has been claimed to be either the proteasome, or a calpain-like cysteine protease activity. In the present investigation, the progression of serum-stimulated WI-38 fibroblasts into S-phase was partially inhibited by the cell-permeant general inhibitor of cysteine proteases, E64d, but not by its non-permeant anolog, E64c. Exposure of fibroblasts in late G1 to the proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin, produced only a modest inhibition of progression into S-phase, and did not influence the extensive inhibition produced by the calpain-selective inhibitor, ZLLY-DMK. ZLLnV-CHO and ZLLL-CHO, which are reportedly selective for the proteasome, were less potent than ZLLY-DMK as inhibitors of S-phase progression. These results argue for the involvement of a calpain-like protease acting in late G1 to allow transit into S-phase.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Calpain; Cell Cycle; Cell Line; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Diazomethane; Fibroblasts; G1 Phase; Humans; Leupeptins; Oligopeptides; S Phase

To examine the cellular basis for secretion defect-type antithrombin deficiency, we expressed two mutants, P --> stop (Pro429 to stop codon) and deltaGlu (deletion of Glu313). Pulse-chase experiments using stably transfected BHK cells showed that little (< 5%) of P --> stop mutant as well as deltaGlu mutant was secreted and the total amount of radioactivity was significantly reduced, suggesting an intracellular degradation. The degradation was not inhibited by brefeldin A, indicating it occurring in a preGolgi apparatus. However, the degradation was strongly inhibited by proteasomal inhibitors, such as carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucinal (LLL), carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-norvalinal (LLnV) and lactacystin. By endoglycosidase H digestion and immunofluorescence staining, these mutants were shown to localize in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These results suggest that the secretion defect-type mutants of antithrombin are degraded by proteasome through the ER-associated quality control mechanism in the cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antithrombin III; Brefeldin A; Cell Line; Cricetinae; Cyclopentanes; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Golgi Apparatus; Humans; Kidney; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Transfection

The transcription factors p53 and E2F-1 play important roles in the control of cell cycle progression. In transient transfection experiments, expression of E2F-1, other E2F family members, or p53 squelched transcription from cotransfected plasmids in a dose-dependent manner. Although the proteasome inhibitors MG-132 and lactacystin markedly increased the level of expression of E2F-1 and p53, these inhibitors completely alleviated squelching by both proteins. Several observations indicate MG-132 alleviates squelching by influencing the conformation of newly synthesized p53 and E2F-1:MG-132 increased the fraction of wild type p53 bound by a monoclonal antibody which preferentially recognizes mutant conformers of p53, increased binding of hsp70 to p53 and inhibited nuclear accumulation of both p53 and E2F-1, but not the pocket protein p107. The protease inhibitors ALLN and ALLM did not influence expression of E2F-1 or p53, nor did they alleviate squelching by either transcription factor. Because MG-132 and lactacycstin are highly specific inhibitors of the proteasome protease, our results suggest that the proteasome influences post-translational processes involved in proper folding and cytoplasmic clearing of E2F-1 and p53.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; beta-Galactosidase; Blotting, Northern; Carrier Proteins; Cell Cycle Proteins; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Cycloheximide; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; E2F Transcription Factors; E2F1 Transcription Factor; Leupeptins; Oligopeptides; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 1; RNA, Messenger; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptional Activation; Transfection; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Ubiquitins

Cells were treated with two proteolytic inhibitors, N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal and lactacystin, the latter reported to be a specific inhibitor for the proteasome. Both inhibitors retarded the maturation of endo-H-resistant forms of murine and human class I molecules from their endo-H-sensitive precursors in cell lines with functional TAP proteins. HLA-A2 maturation readily occurs in TAP-deficient T2 cells, and it has been shown that the peptides associated with A2 are derived from the leader segment of proteins in the secretory pathway. This maturation is inhibited by N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal but not lactacystin, indicating that the proteasome is not required for the generation of HLA-A2 binding peptides in these cells. The murine class Ib molecule Qa-1b presents a leader peptide derived from D-end class I molecules to alloreactive CTL. Since this presentation is dependent on the expression of TAP proteins, we determined if this requirement reflects a need for the proteasome to process this peptide. We found that lactacystin did not inhibit the maturation of endo-H-resistant forms of Qa-1b that are dependent on this leader peptide for its maturation, nor did it inhibit the expression of this peptide-Qa-1b complex in a functional assay. Thus, unlike conventional cytosolic peptides, leader peptides (regardless of whether they are dependent on TAP for their presentation) do not require the proteasome for processing.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antigen Presentation; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Biological Transport; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Epitopes; Hexosaminidases; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; HLA-A2 Antigen; Humans; Leupeptins; Mannosyl-Glycoprotein Endo-beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Protein Sorting Signals; Self Tolerance; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

The inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) is a powerful transcriptional inhibitor that plays an important role in the regulation of the cAMP-dependent transcriptional response in the neuroendocrine system. ICER activity is primarily determined by its intracellular concentration, rather than by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation. We investigated the mechanisms that regulate the levels of ICER transcript and polypeptides in cardiocytes, myogenic (C2C12) and pituitary-derived (GH3) cell lines. We show that in primary cardiocytes and GH3 cells ICER was inducible by cAMP but not by membrane depolarization. Moreover, lactacystin, a specific proteasome inhibitor, decreased the rate of ICER degradation. This effect was associated with the accumulation of ICER-ubiquitin conjugates. We conclude that the intracellular levels of ICER are controlled by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway for protein breakdown.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Ion Channels; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Myocardium; Neurons; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Repressor Proteins; Transcription, Genetic; Ubiquitins

Cell-permeant peptidyl aldehydes and diazomethylketones are frequently utilized as inhibitors of regulatory intracellular proteases. In the present study the specificities of several peptidyl inhibitors for purified human mu-calpain and 20 S proteasome were investigated. Acetyl-LLnL aldehyde, acetyl-LLM aldehyde, carbobenzyloxy-LLnV aldehyde (ZLLnVal), and carbobenzyloxy-LLY-diazomethyl ketone produced half-maximum inhibition of the caseinolytic activity of mu-calpain at concentrations of 1-5 x 10(-7) M. In contrast, only ZLLnVal was a reasonably potent inhibitor of the caseinolytic activity of 20 S proteasome, producing 50% inhibition at 10(-5) M. The other inhibitors were at least 10-fold less potent, producing substantial inhibition only at near saturating concentrations in the assay buffer. Further studies with ZLLnVal demonstrated that its inhibition of the proteasome was independent of casein concentration over a 25-fold range. Proteolysis of calpastatin or lysozyme by the proteasome was half-maximally inhibited by 4 and 22 microM ZLLnVal, respectively. Thus, while other studies have shown that ZLLnVal is a potent inhibitor of the hydrophobic peptidase activity of the proteasome, it appears to be a much weaker inhibitor of its proteinase activity. The ability of the cell permeant peptidyl inhibitors to inhibit growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied because this organism expresses proteasome but not calpains. Concentrations of ZLLnVal as high as 200 microM had no detectable effect on growth rates of overnight cultures. However, yeast cell lysates prepared from these cultures contained 2 microM ZLLnVal, an amount which should have been sufficient to fully inhibit hydrophobic peptidase activity of yeast proteasome. Degradation of ubiquitinylated proteins in yeast extracts by endogenous proteasome was likewise sensitive only to high concentrations of ZLLnVal. The higher sensitivity of the proteinase activity of calpains to inhibition by the cell permeant inhibitors suggests that calpain-like activities may be targets of these inhibitors in animal cells.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calpain; Catalysis; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Diazomethane; Enzyme Precursors; Humans; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Muramidase; Oligopeptides; Plant Proteins; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; Ubiquitins

The proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin and N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norlucinal, caused a rapid and near-complete loss of approximately 22-23-kDa ubiquitinated nucleoproteins, which we have identified as monoubiquitinated nucleosomal histones H2A and H2B by immunological and two-dimensional electrophoretic techniques. In human SKBr3 breast tumor cells, depletion of monoubiquitinated histones by the proteasome inhibitors coincided with the accumulation of high molecular weight ubiquitinated proteins in both nucleoprotein and cytosolic fractions and decreased unconjugated ubiquitin in the cytosol, without changes in the nonubiquitinated core histones. Unconjugated ubiquitin was not detected in isolated tumor cell nuclei. A similar loss in monoubiquitinated histones occurred in cells harboring a defective, temperature-sensitive mutation of the ubiquitin-activating E1 enzyme, after these cells were elevated from 33 degrees C to the non-permissive temperature of 39 degrees C. DNA replication and RNA transcription were decreased by the proteasome inhibitors most strongly after 90% of the ubiquitin had been removed from ubiquitinated histones H2A and H2B, suggesting a relationship between the nucleosomal histone ubiquitin status and the processing of genetic information. Interestingly, although both proteasome inhibitors caused a generalized decrease in methionine incorporation into proteins, they strongly induced the synthesis of the hsp72 and hsp90 stress proteins. Finally, treating cells with heat-shock at 43 degrees C, with stress response-provoking chemicals or with several other proteasome inhibitors caused ubiquitinated proteins to accumulate, depleted free ubiquitin, and concomitantly decreased nucleosomal monoubiquitinated histones. These results suggest that deubiquitination of nucleosomal histones H2A and H2B may play a previously unrecognized role in the cellular stress response, as well as in the processing of chromatin, and emphasize the important role of the proteasome in cellular homeostasis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Breast Neoplasms; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Cytosol; DNA Replication; Female; Histones; Hot Temperature; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Nucleoproteins; Nucleosomes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Biosynthesis; Transcription, Genetic; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitins

Proteasomes are one of the cellular complexes controlling protein degradation from archaebacteria to mammalian cells. We recently purified and characterized the catalytic core of the proteasome, the 20S form, from Trypanosoma brucei, a flagellated protozoa which causes African trypanosomiasis. To identify the role of proteasomes in African trypanosomes, we used lactacystin, a specific inhibitor of proteasome activity. Lactacystin showed potent inhibition of the activity of 20S proteasomes purified from both bloodstream and procyclic (insect) forms of T. brucei (IC50 = 1 microM). It also inhibited proliferation of T. brucei cells in culture assays, with 1 microM inhibiting growth of bloodstream forms, whereas 5 microM was required to block proliferation of procyclic forms. Analysis of the DNA content of these cells by flow cytometry showed that 5 microM lactacystin arrested procyclic cells in the G2 + M phases of the cell cycle. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that most of the cells had one nucleus and one kinetoplast each, indicating that the cells had replicated their DNA, but failed to undergo mitosis. This suggests that transition from G2 to M phase was blocked. On the other hand, incubation of bloodstream forms with 1 microM lactacystin led to arrest of 30-35% of the cell population in G1 and 55-60% of the cells in G2, indicating that both transition from G1 to S and from G2 to M were blocked. These observations were also confirmed by using another inhibitor of proteasome, N-carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-norvalinal (LLnV), which arrested procyclic forms in G2, and bloodstream forms in both G1 and G2. These results suggest that proteasome activity is essential for driving cell cycle progression in T. brucei, and that proteasomes may control cellular functions differently in bloodstream and procyclic forms of T. brucei.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA, Protozoan; Flow Cytometry; Interphase; Leupeptins; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; Mitosis; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; S Phase; Trypanosoma brucei brucei

The levels of the tumor suppressor protein p53 are generally quite low in normal cells, due in part to its rapid turnover. Previous studies have implicated ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis in the turnover of wild-type p53 but have not established whether or not p53 is itself a substrate of the ubiquitin system. In this study, inhibitors of the 26S proteasome have been used to further explore the role of ubiquitin proteolysis in regulating p53 turnover. Increased levels of the tumor suppressor protein p53 were observed in normal cells, as well as in cells expressing the human papillomavirus 16 E6 oncoprotein, on exposure of the cells to proteasome inhibitors. Pulse-chase experiments indicated that the increased p53 levels resulted from stabilization of the protein. Furthermore, ubiquitin-p53 conjugates were detected in untreated as well as gamma-irradiated cells, indicating that ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis plays a role in the normal turnover of p53. Increased levels of the cyclin:cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, a downstream effector of p53 function, were also observed in proteasome inhibitor-treated cells, and this increase was due in part to an increase in p2l mRNA.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Cells, Cultured; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cyclins; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Gene Expression; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Ubiquitins

Cell death in many different organisms requires the activation of proteolytic cascades involving cytosolic proteases. Here we describe a novel requirement in thymocyte cell death for the 20S proteasome, a highly conserved multicatalytic protease found in all eukaryotes. Specific inhibitors of proteasome function blocked cell death induced by ionizing radiation, glucocorticoids or phorbol ester. In addition to inhibiting apoptosis, these signals prevented the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase that accompanies many cell deaths. Since overall rates of protein degradation were not altered significantly during cell death in thymocytes, these results suggest that the proteasome may either degrade regulatory protein(s) that normally inhibit the apoptotic pathway or may proteolytically activate protein(s) than promote cell death.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dexamethasone; DNA Ligases; Leupeptins; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Multienzyme Complexes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteins; T-Lymphocytes

Sympathetic neurons undergo programmed cell death (PCD) upon deprivation of nerve growth factor (NGF). PCD of neurons is blocked by inhibitors of the interleukin-1beta converting enzyme (ICE)/Ced-3-like cysteine protease, indicating involvement of this class of proteases in the cell death programme. Here we demonstrate that the proteolytic activities of the proteasome are also essential in PCD of neurons. Nanomolar concentrations of several proteasome inhibitors, including the highly selective inhibitor lactacystin, not only prolonged survival of NGF-deprived neurons but also prevented processing of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase which is known to be cleaved by an ICE/Ced-3 family member during PCD. These results demonstrate that the proteasome is a key regulator of neuronal PCD and that, within this process, it is involved upstream of proteases of the ICE/Ced-3 family. This order of events was confirmed in macrophages where lactacystin inhibited the proteolytic activation of precursor ICE and the subsequent generation of active interleukin-1beta.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Apoptosis; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Caspase 1; Cell Survival; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA Ligases; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Nerve Growth Factors; Neurons; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Rats; Sympathetic Nervous System

We have studied whether various agents that inhibit purified yeast and mammalian 26 S proteasome can suppress the breakdown of different classes of proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The degradation of short-lived proteins was inhibited reversibly by peptide aldehyde inhibitors of proteasomes, carbobenzoxyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-leucinal (MG132) and carbobenzoxyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-norvalinal (MG115), in a yeast mutant with enhanced permeability, but not in wild-type strains. Lactacystin, an irreversible proteasome inhibitor, had no effect, but the beta-lactone derivative of lactacystin, which directly reacts with proteasomes, inhibited the degradation of short-lived proteins. These inhibitors also blocked the rapid ubiquitin-dependent breakdown of a beta-galactosidase fusion protein and caused accumulation of enzymatically active molecules in cells. The degradation of the bulk of cell proteins, which are long-lived molecules, was not blocked by proteasome inhibitors, but could be blocked by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. This agent, which inhibits multiple vacuolar proteases, did not affect the proteasome or breakdown of short-lived proteins. These two classes of inhibitors can thus be used to distinguish the cytosolic and vacuolar proteolytic pathways and to increase the cellular content of short-lived proteins.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Kinetics; Leupeptins; Mammals; Muramidase; Peptide Hydrolases; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Substrate Specificity; Ubiquitins; Vacuoles

After interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) treatment of cells the appearance of tyrosine phosphorylated Stat1 in the nucleus was maximal within 20-30 min, remained for 2-2.5 h and activated molecules disappeared by 4 h. In the absence of continued signaling from the receptor (imposed by staurosporine treatment) previously activated Stat1 disappeared completely within 60 min, implying continuous generation and removal of active molecules during extended IFN-gamma treatment. Proteasome inhibitors prolonged the time of activation of Stat1 by prolonging signaling from the receptor but not by blocking removal of already activated Stat1 molecules. By analyzing with 35S labeling the distribution of total Stat1 and activated Stat1, we concluded that the Stat1 molecules promptly cycle into the nucleus as tyrosine phosphorylated molecules and later return quantitatively to the cytoplasm as non-phosphorylated molecules. Therefore, the removal of the activated Stat1 molecules from the nucleus appears not to be proteolytic but must depend on a protein tyrosine phosphatase(s).

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Blotting, Western; Cell Nucleus; Cysteine Endopeptidases; DNA-Binding Proteins; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fibroblasts; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Nuclear Proteins; Phosphorylation; Phosphotyrosine; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; Receptors, Interferon; Signal Transduction; STAT1 Transcription Factor; Staurosporine; Trans-Activators; Vanadates

The molecular components of the quality control system that rapidly degrades abnormal membrane and secretory proteins have not been identified. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an integral membrane protein to which this quality control is stringently applied; approximately 75% of the wild-type precursor and 100% of the delta F508 CFTR variant found in most CF patients are rapidly degraded before exiting from the ER. We now show that this ER degradation is sensitive to inhibitors of the cytosolic proteasome, including lactacystin and certain peptide aldehydes. One of the latter compounds, MG-132, also completely blocks the ATP-dependent conversion of the wild-type precursor to the native folded form that enables escape from degradation. Hence, CFTR and presumably other intrinsic membrane proteins are substrates for proteasomal degradation during their maturation within the ER.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cystic Fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; Endopeptidases; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Ubiquitins