Ahnak protein activates protein kinase C (PKC) through dissociation of the PKC-protein phosphatase 2A complex

J Biol Chem. 2008 Mar 7;283(10):6312-20. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M706878200. Epub 2008 Jan 3.

Abstract

We have previously reported that central repeated units (CRUs) of Ahnak act as a scaffolding protein networking phospholipase Cgamma and protein kinase C (PKC). Here, we demonstrate that an Ahnak derivative consisting of four central repeated units binds and activates PKC-alpha in a phosphatidylserine/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol-independent manner. Moreover, NIH3T3 cells expressing the 4 CRUs of Ahnak showed enhanced c-Raf, MEK, and Erk phosphorylation in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) compared with parental cells. To evaluate the effect of loss-of-function of Ahnak in cell signaling, we investigated PKC activation and Raf phosphorylation in embryonic fibroblast cells (MEFs) of the Ahnak knock-out (Ahnak(-/-)) mouse. Membrane translocation of PKC-alpha and phosphorylation of Raf in response to PMA or platelet-derived growth factor were decreased in Ahnak null MEF cells compared with wild type MEFs. Several lines of evidence suggest that PKC-alpha activity is regulated through association with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). A co-immunoprecipitation assay indicated that the association of PKC-alpha with PP2A was disrupted in NIH3T3 cells expressing 4 CRUs of Ahnak in response to PMA. Consistently, Ahnak null MEF cells stimulated by PMA showed enhanced PKC-PP2A complex formation, and add-back expression of Ahnak into Ahnak null MEF cells abolished the PKC-PP2A complex formation in response to PMA. These data indicate that Ahnak potentiates PKC activation through inhibiting the interaction of PKC with PP2A.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogens / pharmacology
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / physiology
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / genetics
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Multienzyme Complexes / genetics
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism*
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylserines / metabolism
  • Phospholipase C gamma / genetics
  • Phospholipase C gamma / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha / genetics
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha / metabolism*
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / genetics
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Protein Transport / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / pharmacology
  • Triglycerides / metabolism
  • raf Kinases / genetics
  • raf Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Ahnak protein, mouse
  • Carcinogens
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Phosphatidylserines
  • Triglycerides
  • 1,3-dioleoyl-2-stearoylglycerol
  • raf Kinases
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha
  • Protein Phosphatase 2
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate