Boosen Meike, Vetterkind Susanne, Kubicek Jan, Scheidtmann Karl-Heinz, Illenberger Susanne, Preuss Ute
Institute of Genetics, University of Bonn, D-53117 Bonn, Germany.
Mol Biol Cell. 2009 Sep;20(18):4010-20. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e09-02-0173. Epub 2009 Jul 22.
Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) was initially identified as a gene product up-regulated in prostate cancer cells undergoing apoptosis. In rat fibroblasts, coexpression of Par-4 and its interaction partner DAP-like kinase (Dlk, which is also known as zipper-interacting protein kinase [ZIPK]) induces relocation of the kinase from the nucleus to the actin filament system, followed by extensive myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and induction of apoptosis. Our analyses show that the synergistic proapoptotic effect of Dlk/Par-4 complexes is abrogated when either Dlk/Par-4 interaction or Dlk kinase activity is impaired. In vitro phosphorylation assays employing Dlk and Par-4 phosphorylation mutants carrying alanine substitutions for residues S154, T155, S220, or S249, respectively, identified T155 as the major Par-4 phosphorylation site of Dlk. Coexpression experiments in REF52.2 cells revealed that phosphorylation of Par-4 at T155 by Dlk was essential for apoptosis induction in vivo. In the presence of the Par-4 T155A mutant Dlk was partially recruited to actin filaments but resided mainly in the nucleus. Consequently, apoptosis was not induced in Dlk/Par-4 T155A-expressing cells. In vivo phosphorylation of Par-4 at T155 was demonstrated with a phospho-specific Par-4 antibody. Our results demonstrate that Dlk-mediated phosphorylation of Par-4 at T155 is a crucial event in Dlk/Par-4-induced apoptosis.
前列腺凋亡反应蛋白4(Par-4)最初被鉴定为在经历凋亡的前列腺癌细胞中上调的一种基因产物。在大鼠成纤维细胞中,Par-4与其相互作用伴侣DAP样激酶(Dlk,也称为拉链相互作用蛋白激酶[ZIPK])的共表达会诱导该激酶从细胞核重新定位到肌动蛋白丝系统,随后是广泛的肌球蛋白轻链(MLC)磷酸化并诱导凋亡。我们的分析表明,当Dlk/Par-4相互作用或Dlk激酶活性受损时,Dlk/Par-4复合物的协同促凋亡作用会被消除。分别使用携带丙氨酸替代残基S154、T155、S220或S249的Dlk和Par-4磷酸化突变体进行的体外磷酸化测定,确定T155是Dlk的主要Par-4磷酸化位点。在REF52.2细胞中的共表达实验表明,Dlk在T155位点对Par-4的磷酸化对于体内凋亡诱导至关重要。在存在Par-4 T155A突变体的情况下,Dlk部分被募集到肌动蛋白丝,但主要位于细胞核中。因此,在表达Dlk/Par-4 T155A的细胞中未诱导凋亡。使用磷酸化特异性Par-4抗体证明了Par-4在T155位点的体内磷酸化。我们的结果表明,Dlk介导的Par-4在T155位点的磷酸化是Dlk/Par-4诱导凋亡中的关键事件。