Signaling by Serine/Threonine Kinase Receptors

Major Classes of Protein Ser/Thr Kinases (not a complete list) 2 nd -Messenger-dependent protein kinases cAMP-dependent protein kinase cGMP-dependent protein kinase Ca 2+ /CaM-dependent protein kinases Protein kinase C 2 nd -Messenger-independent protein kinases MAPK kinase cascade and target kinases Raf, MEK kinases, MEKs, SEKs, ERKs, JNKs, SAPKs, RSKs

Major Classes of Protein Ser/Thr Kinases (cont’d) Cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) and CDK regulating kinases Cdc-2, CAK, CAK kinase GPCR kinases GRK2 (βARK1), GRK3 (βARK2), GRK5, GRK6 P21-activated kinases (PAK) Kinases involved in cytoskeletal organization and development ROCK/Rho kinase Transmembrane receptor protein ser/thr kinases TGFβ receptor protein kinase Casein kinases CK1, CK2

Receptors with intrinsic serine/threonine kinase activity

Smad 6/7 are inhibitory - they act as decoys and occupy the sites that would normally be utilized by other activating Smads. Other proteins such as noggin and chordin bind BMPs and inhibit their ability to activate receptors Follistatin inhibits signaling via activins

Ser/Thr Protein Kinases 2 Major Types: 1.2 nd -messenger-dependent protein kinases. 2.2 nd -messenger-independent protein kinases.

2 nd -Messenger-Dependent Protein Kinases All kinases in this category share common design: Several functional domains that can reside on the same pp chain or on separate ones. Each kinase has a catalytic domain (intrinsically active), which is kept inactive by a regulatory domain. Regulatory domain have auto-inhibitory regions and binding sites for 2 nd messengers. Interaction with the 2 nd messenger dissociates the auto-inhibitory site from the cat domain  dis- inhibiting it. Additional regions of the kinases may be responsible for oligomerization or for targeting the kinases to distinct cellular locations.

The function of cAMP Targeting PKA (cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase A) PKA

Schematic view of the different domains of 2 nd -messenger- dependent protein kinases. The different kinases contain a regulatory domain that encodes specialized functional domains and a conserved cat domain kept inactive by the auto-inhibitory region (black).

PKA Binding affinities of reg subunits to cAMP: RIIβ < RIIα < RIα < RIβ Necessary for decoding the cAMP signals that differ in intensity and duration: PKAI activated transiently by weak cAMP signals PKAII activated by persistent and strong cAMP levels. RIα may be protective against proteolytic degradation (as in, say, when one of the other subunits are removed (gene targeting)).

Ca 2+ /CaM kinases (next slide) (A) Domains and holoenzyme structure of CaMKII. (B) Mechanism of autophosphorylation. Thr286. Displacement of the autoinhibitory domain by calmodulin exposes T286, which can then be phosphorylated if its proximate neighbor is active. (C) Trapping of calmodulin to the CaMKII subunits increases the P(autophosphorylation) during successive Ca 2+ spikes at high frequency.

Ca 2+ /CaM kinases Autophosphorylation of Thr286/287 has 2 consequences: 1.Calmodulin remains bound to the phosphorylated subunit for extended periods of time even at low [Ca 2+ ] (trapped state) because the autophosphorylation greatly decreases the calmodulin dissociation. 2.Autophosphorylated α and β subunits are rendered Ca/CaM-independent (autonomous), but still retain substantial kinase activity. Both these consequences (calmodulin trapping and autonomy) allow the phosphorylated kinase subunits to remain active beyond the limited duration of a Ca 2+ spike. Transgenic mice carrying Thr286A1a point mutation in αCaMKII do not exhibit LTP. NMDAR subunits (NR2B) remain active even after dissociation of Ca 2+ /CaM.

PKC Family consists of at least 10 structurally related phospholipid-dependent protein kinases. Most are expressed in brain. All isozymes grouped into 3 subclasses according to their regulatory properties (conferred by specific domains of the protein): “Conventional”: (cPKCs; α, βI, βII, γ) are regulated by Ca 2+, DAG, or phorbol esters and PS. “Novel”: (nPKCs; δ, ε, θ, η) activated by DAG or phorbol esters and PS, but are Ca 2+ -independent. “Atypical”: (aPKC; μ) unresponsive to DAG, Ca 2+, or phorbol esters.

PKC Refer to Schematic view of PKC (earlier slide): Single polypeptide chain = N-term regulatory domain and C-term cat (kinase) domain. Regulatory: auto-inhibitory or pseudo-substrate site and 1-2 membrane targeting motifs (C1 and C2). C1 binds phorbol esters and DAG. C2 binds acidic phospholipids and Ca 2+ (in the cPKCs).

PKC Regulation of PKC isozymes: requires removal of the auto-inhibitory pseudo-substrate from the active site (high specific binding of DAG and PS to the C1 and C2 domains)  conformational Δ This allows translocation of PKCs from cytoplasm to the membrane  enzyme is maximally activated. But, both phosphorylation of PKCs and specific protein-protein interactions are also important for their activation.

PKC One critical protein-protein interaction is with PDK- 1: PDK-1 phosphorylates PKC  auto-phosphorylation of 2 additional residues. Necessary for the newly synthesized PKC isozymes to achieve catalytically competent conformation. Inactive conformation: binds AKAPs (anchoring kinase associated proteins) and Active conformation: RACKs (receptors for activated C kinase) Both kinds of binding proteins aid in shuttling PKC to specific compartments.

PKG A dimer of 2 identical subunits. Compared to the other kinases, very limited cellular distribution. The 2 nd messenger, cGMP, very limited in its actions.

2 nd -Messenger- Independent Protein Kinases MAPK Cascade. See next slide for repertoire of neuronal GEFs that convey on Ras and Rap the extranuclear signals leading to MAPK activation and gene expresion.

Neuronal Substrates of Kinases Neurotransmitter Release E.g., PKA and CaMKII phosphorylate synapsin I in the N-terminus. CaMKII phosphorylates synapsin I in the C- terminus. ERKs phosphorylate synapsin I in both N- and C-terminus.

Neuronal Substrates of Kinases Ligand-gated ion channels and K + channels E.g., CaMKII phosphorylates AMPARs (LTP). E.g., PKA phosphorylates GluR1 subunits.  incr P(opening) of AMPARs. E.g. PKC phosphorylates GluR2 subunits  differentially regulates its interaction with PDZ domain proteins, GRIP1 and PICK1. E.g., PKC, PKA, CaMKII, and ERK all phosphorylate Kv4.2 (VG K + channel). E.g., PKC and PKA phosphorylate the Kir1 channel.

Neuronal Substrates of Kinases Transcription Factors Many Different Kinases Phosphorylate CREB CREB – end-point of several signaling pathways

Role of the Kinases in Synaptic Transmission and Cross-Talk Between the Different kinase Pathways

Role of Kinases in Synaptic Plasticity PKA CaMKII PKC MAPKs

Post-synaptic Signaling by Glutamate Release in an Excitatory Synapse

Serine Threonine Phosphatases Critical for signaling and regulating complex neuronal functions (e.g., synaptic plasticity) activated by phosphorylation. Arise from different genes with no homology. Impossible to i.d. consensus sequences for their specificity of substrate recognition. The same phosphatases can dephos substrates that have been phos by different kinases. A limited number of multifunctional phosphatases (PP1 and PP2B) account for most phosphatase activity.

Serine Threonine Phosphatases Protein Phosphatase 2B (PP2B, Calcineurin) Ca/CaM-dependent phosphatase. Highly enriched in brain. Heterodimer [A (60 kDal) and B (19 kDal ) subunits]. A subunit: N-term cat domain and C-term reg domain. B subunit: CaCaM binding domain. PP2B activated by low [Ca 2+ ].

Serine Threonine Phosphatases Protein Phosphatase 2B (PP2B, Calcineurin) At least 3 PP2B binding proteins have been identified as inhibitors of the enzyme: CAIN, AKAP 79, and FKBP12. E.g., FKBP12 promotes the assoc of PP2B to ryanodine and IP3 receptors allowing PP2B to regulate [Ca 2+ ] free cyto. E.g., AKAP 79 binds both PP2B and PKA, bringing them close together for the regulation of receptors and ion channels.

Serine Threonine Phosphatases Protein Phosphatase 2B (PP2B, Calcineurin) PP2B expressed highly in hipp: in dendritic spines, but is virtually absent in glia and interneurons. PP2B is specific for CREB’s ser133. In mice over-expressing the auto-inhibitory domain of PP2B, LTP, at subsaturating tetanization, but not saturating conditions, was enhanced  Inhibition of PP2B facilitates LTP formation.

Serine Threonine Phosphatases Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) Several subunit catalytic isoforms, α, β, γ1, and γ2, interacts with other proteins in subcellular targeting. E.g., PP1 binds Yotiao, which, in turn, also binds NR1 receptors and the RII reg subunit of PKA so that PP1 and PKA activity are target to the NMDARs. PP1 activity can be regulated in various ways, including direct inhibition:

Serine Threonine Phosphatases Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) There are at least 4 known PP1 inhibitory proteins: Inhibitor-1 (I1), inhibitor-2 (I2), dopamine, and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARP-32), and nuc inhibitor (NIPP1). PP1 activity is differentially regulated by the phosphorylation of proteins: Phos of I1 and DARP-32 inhibits PP1 activity; Phos of I2 and NIPP1 activate PP1.

PKA I1 (T35) and DARP-32 (T34) ATP ADP PP2B ADP ATP Gating Mechanism for PP1 Regulation cAMP pathway activation would phosphorylate and activate DARP32 Ca 2+ pathways activation would dephosphorylate and inactivate DARP-32 Signals