1. Multiple PKCδ Tyrosine Residues Are Required for PKCδ-Dependent Activation of Involucrin Expression—a Key Role of PKCδ-Y311 
Ling Zhu, Chaya Brodie, Sivaprakasam Balasubramanian, Richard L. Eckert 
Journal of Investigative Dermatology 
Volume 128, Issue 4, Pages (April 2008)
DOI: /sj.jid
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

2. Figure 1
PKCδ regulatory domain is required for PKCδ activation of hINV promoter activity. (a) hINV promoter-luciferase reporter gene constructs. The narrow line represents the hINV promoter sequence and the dark box represents the luciferase gene. The arrow indicates the start site and the direction of transcription. The plasmids are named (pINV-2473, pINV-241, etc.) on the basis of the length of the segment, as measured backward from the hINV transcription start site (Eckert and Green, 1986). The scale at the top is in nucleotides. (b) Twenty-five percent confluent keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of the indicated involucrin promoter reporter plasmid+1μg of empty expression vector (EV) or plasmids encoding PKCα, PKCδ, PKCα/δ, or PKCδ/α. At 48hours post-transfection, the cells were harvested and lysed for luciferase activity assay. The results depict the mean±SEM, n=4. (c) Detection of expressed proteins. Keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of empty vector (EV) or plasmid encoding the indicated protein. After 48hours, the cells were harvested and total cell extracts were prepared for electrophoresis and immunodetection of the C-terminus of PKCδ, the C-terminus of PKCα, and β-actin.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

3. Figure 2
Impact of tyrosine mutation on the ability of PKCδ to drive hINV promoter activity. (a) Twenty-five percent confluent keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of indicated involucrin promoter reporter plasmid+1μg of empty expression vector (EV) or plasmids encoding PKCδ, PKCδ-Y52F, PKCδ-Y64F, PKCδ-Y155F, PKCδ-Y187F, PKCδ-Y565F, or PKCδ-Δ5(Y52,64,155,187,565F). At 48hours post-transfection, the cells were harvested and lysed for luciferase activity assay. The results show the mean±SEM, n=6. (b) Detection of expressed PKCδ proteins. Keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of empty expression plasmid (EV) or plasmid encoding the indicated PKCδ protein. After 48hours, the cells were harvested and total cell extracts were prepared for electrophoresis and immunodetection of vector-delivered PKCδ using anti-PKCδ.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

4. Figure 3
Restoration of one or two tyrosine residues in the PKCδ-Δ5 mutant restores hINV promoter activity. (a) Expression of vector-delivered proteins. Keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of empty plasmid vector (EV) or plasmid encoding the indicated protein. After 48hours, the cells were harvested and total cell extracts were prepared for electrophoresis and immunodetection of vector-delivered PKCδ. (b) Twenty-five percent confluent keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of pINV-241 promoter reporter plasmid+1μg of empty expression vector (EV) or the indicated PKCδ-encoding plasmid. At 48hours post-transfection, the cells were harvested and lysed for luciferase activity assay. The results show the mean±SEM, n=4.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

5. Figure 4
Phosphorylation level of PKCδ and PKCδ tyrosine mutants at Y311. (a) Keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of pINV-241 plus 1μg of EV or plasmid encoding the indicated protein. After 48hours, the cells were harvested and total cell extracts were prepared for luciferase activity assay. Results show the mean±SEM, n=3. (b) Keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of the indicated construct. After 48hours, extracts were prepared and the level of phosphorylated PKCδ-Y311 and total PKCδ was monitored by immunoblot. β-Actin level was monitored as a control to normalize gel loading.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

6. Figure 5
Impact of restoration of tyrosine residues on Y311 phosphorylation. (a) Structure of PKCδ tyrosine mutants. The overall structure of PKCδ is indicated, including the regulatory and catalytic domains and the hinge region. The locations of the C1, C2, C3, and C4 domains are indicated, as are the positions of the tyrosine residues targeted (tyrosines 52, 64, 155, 187, 311, and 565) in this study. (b) Impact of tyrosine mutations on Y311 phosphorylation. Keratinocytes were transfected with EV or plasmids encoding the indicated PKCδ proteins. After 48hours, the cells were harvested and the total level of each protein and the extent of phosphorylation at Y311 were assessed by immunoblot. (c) Ratio of Y311 phosphorylation to total PKCδ. The blots shown in (b) were scanned and the results expressed as a ratio of PKCδ-P-Y311 to total PKCδ. Similar phosphorylation differences were observed in each of the four independent experiments.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

7. Figure 6
PKCδ activity assay. (a) Mutants with reduced phosphorylation of PKCδ-Y311 have reduced activity. Keratinocytes in 3 × 60mm dishes were transfected with 3μg per dish of the indicated plasmid. After 48hours, the PKCδ-GFP fusion protein was precipitated from 400μg of total protein with anti-GFP (ab1218), and the precipitated PKCδ-GFP proteins were assayed for kinase activity. The precipitate was resuspended in 20μl of kinase buffer, and 5μl was used in the kinase reaction. Details of this method are provided in the text. Background kinase activity, in the EV control group, was negligible (0.3pmol ATP minute−1). Similar results were observed in each of the three experiments. The results are presented as PKCδ activity normalized to PKCδ level (pmol ATP per minute per PKCδ level). (b) PKCδ-GFP immunoprecipitation. Keratinocytes were transfected with wild-type and mutant PKCδ forms as indicated. After 48hours, total cell lysate (upper panel) and anti-GFP immunoprecipitates (lower panel) were electrophoresed and immunoblotted with anti-PKCδ. The expected migration position of endogenous PKCδ is shown. It is important to note that it is not precipitated (see EV lane) by anti-GFP and therefore does not contribute to the PKC activity assay. Similar results were observed in three separate experiments.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

8. Figure 7
Subcellular distribution of PKCδ mutants in keratinocytes. (a) Distribution of PKCδ-GFP fusion proteins in keratinocytes. Keratinocytes, growing on glass coverslips, were transfected with plasmids encoding the indicated PKCδ forms, each having GFP fused to the C-terminus. After 48hours, the cells were treated with 50ng ml−1 TPA for the indicated time and then harvested and fixed. The distribution of EGFP fluorescence was then examined by confocal microscopy. (b) The distribution pattern of EGFP. The lower panel shows the distribution pattern of GFP in cells transfected with pEGFP-N1. No change in distribution was observed in response to treatment with TPA.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

9. Figure 8
Redistribution of PKCδ and PKCδ mutants in TPA-treated keratinocytes. (a) Twenty-five percent confluent cultures of keratinocytes were transfected with 3μg of EV (pEGFP-N1) or plasmids encoding PKCδ, PKCδ-Y311F, or PKCδ-Δ5. Each of the transfected PKCδ forms included GFP fused at the PKCδ C-terminus. After 48hours, the cells were treated for 60minutes in the presence or absence of 50ng ml−1 TPA. Soluble and particulate (membrane) fractions were prepared and the distribution of transfected and endogenous PKCδ was monitored by immunoblot using anti-PKCδ. (b) Involucrin distributes in the soluble fraction. Keratinocytes were treated as above and then hINV level was monitored using anti-hINV. It should be noted that these samples were loaded on the basis of total protein concentration and that, if the samples were loaded on the basis of cell equivalents, the amount of membrane-associated PKCδ and hINV would be decreased threefold.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

10. Figure 9
Increased phosphorylation of PKCδ-Y311 is associated with increased ability to PKCδ to increase hINV promoter activity. (a) Twenty-five percent confluent keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of hINV-241+1μg of empty expression vector (EV) or 1μg of the indicated PKCδ-encoding plasmid. At 24hours post-transfection, the cells were treated with apigenin or curcumin for an additional 24hours and then harvested and lysed for luciferase activity assay. The results show the mean±SEM, n=4. (b) Keratinocytes were transfected with 1μg of EV or the indicated PKCδ-encoding plasmid. After 24hours, the cells were treated with apigenin or curcumin for an additional 24hours. Total cell extracts were prepared for immunodetection of vector-expressed total PKCδ and phosphorylated PKCδ-Y311. (c) Apigenin and curcumin suppress Y311 phosphorylation of endogenous PKCδ. Keratinocytes were incubated with 20μM curcumin or apigenin for 24hours. Total extracts were prepared and electrophoresed, and total PKCδ and tyrosine-phosphorylated PKCδ were detected by immunoblot.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

11. Figure 10
Src family kinase inhibitor reduces hINV promoter activity and PKCδ-Y311 phosphorylation. (a) Twenty-five percent confluent keratinocyte cultures were transfected with 1μg of pINV-41 or pINV-241 plus 1μg of empty expression vector (EV) or plasmids encoding PKCδ-wt, PKCδ-Δ5(Y52,64,155,187,565F), or PKCδ-Δ6(Y52,64,155,187,311,565F). After 12hours, the cells were treated with 0 or 5μM PP2. After an additional 36hours, the cells were harvested for assay of luciferase activity. The results show the mean±SEM, n=3. (b) PP2 treatment suppresses phosphorylation of transfected PKCδ-Y311. Keratinocytes were treated with 10μM PP2 for 60minutes followed by transfection with 2μg of PKCδ-wt or PKCδ-Y311F. After 24hours, the cells were harvested for assay of PKCδ-P-Y311 and total PKCδ level by immunoblot. (c) PP2 treatment suppresses phosphorylation of endogenous PKCδ at Y311. Keratinocytes were pretreated for 60minutes with 10μM PP2 and then treated for 0–120minutes with 10mM H2O2. At the indicated times, the cells were harvested and assayed for β-actin, total PKCδ, and PKCδ-P-Y311 levels by immunoblot.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

12. Figure 11
Impact of PKCδ mutants on the levels of endogenous involucrin protein. (a and b) Subconfluent cultures of normal human keratinocytes were transfected with 2μg of EV or vector encoding the indicated PKCδ form per 10cm2 dish. At 48hours post-transfection, the cells were harvested and extracts separated by electrophoresis and immunoblotted with anti-involucrin.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology  , DOI: ( /sj.jid )
Copyright © 2008 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions