Precise Ca cycling through the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), a Ca storage organelle, is critical for proper cardiac muscle function. This cycling initially involves SR release of Ca via the ryanodine receptor, which is regulated by its interacting proteins junctin and triadin. The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca ATPase (SERCA) pump then refills SR Ca stores. Histidine-rich Ca-binding protein (HRC) resides in the lumen of the SR, where it contributes to the regulation of Ca cycling by protecting stressed or failing hearts. The common Ser96Ala human genetic variant of HRC strongly correlates with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. However, the underlying molecular pathways of this disease remain undefined. Here, we demonstrate that family with sequence similarity 20C (Fam20C), a recently characterized protein kinase in the secretory pathway, phosphorylates HRC on Ser96. HRC Ser96 phosphorylation was confirmed in cells and human hearts. Furthermore, a Ser96Asp HRC variant, which mimics constitutive phosphorylation of Ser96, diminished delayed aftercontractions in HRC null cardiac myocytes. This HRC phosphomimetic variant was also able to rescue the aftercontractions elicited by the Ser96Ala variant, demonstrating that phosphorylation of Ser96 is critical for the cardioprotective function of HRC. Phosphorylation of HRC on Ser96 regulated the interactions of HRC with both triadin and SERCA2a, suggesting a unique mechanism for regulation of SR Ca homeostasis. This demonstration of the role of Fam20C-dependent phosphorylation in heart disease will open new avenues for potential therapeutic approaches against arrhythmias.

The modification of proteins by phosphorylation occurs in all life forms and is catalyzed by a large superfamily of enzymes known as protein kinases. We recently discovered a family of secretory pathway kinases that phosphorylate extracellular proteins. One member, family with sequence similarity 20C (Fam20C), is the physiological Golgi casein kinase. While examining distantly related protein sequences, we observed low levels of identity between the spore coat protein H (CotH), and the Fam20C-related secretory pathway kinases. CotH is a component of the spore in many bacterial and eukaryotic species, and is required for efficient germination of spores in Bacillus subtilis; however, the mechanism by which CotH affects germination is unclear. Here, we show that CotH is a protein kinase. The crystal structure of CotH reveals an atypical protein kinase-like fold with a unique mode of ATP binding. Examination of the genes neighboring cotH in B. subtilis led us to identify two spore coat proteins, CotB and CotG, as CotH substrates. Furthermore, we show that CotH-dependent phosphorylation of CotB and CotG is required for the efficient germination of B. subtilis spores. Collectively, our results define a family of atypical protein kinases and reveal an unexpected role for protein phosphorylation in spore biology.

The family with sequence similarity 20, member C (Fam20C) has recently been identified as the Golgi casein kinase. Fam20C phosphorylates secreted proteins on Ser-x-Glu/pSer motifs and loss-of-function mutations in the kinase cause Raine syndrome, an often-fatal osteosclerotic bone dysplasia. Fam20C is potentially an upstream regulator of the phosphate-regulating hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), because humans with FAM20C mutations and Fam20C KO mice develop hypophosphatemia due to an increase in full-length, biologically active FGF23. However, the mechanism by which Fam20C regulates FGF23 is unknown. Here we show that Fam20C directly phosphorylates FGF23 on Ser180, within the FGF23 R176XXR179/S180AE subtilisin-like proprotein convertase motif. This phosphorylation event inhibits O-glycosylation of FGF23 by polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3 (GalNAc-T3), and promotes FGF23 cleavage and inactivation by the subtilisin-like proprotein convertase furin. Collectively, our results provide a molecular mechanism by which FGF23 is dynamically regulated by phosphorylation, glycosylation, and proteolysis. Furthermore, our findings suggest that cross-talk between phosphorylation and O-glycosylation of proteins in the secretory pathway may be an important mechanism by which secreted proteins are regulated.

Most eukaryotic cells elaborate several proteoglycans critical for transmitting biochemical signals into and between cells. However, the regulation of proteoglycan biosynthesis is not completely understood. We show that the atypical secretory kinase family with sequence similarity 20, member B (Fam20B) phosphorylates the initiating xylose residue in the proteoglycan tetrasaccharide linkage region, and that this event functions as a molecular switch to regulate subsequent glycosaminoglycan assembly. Proteoglycans from FAM20B knockout cells contain a truncated tetrasaccharide linkage region consisting of a disaccharide capped with sialic acid (Siaα2–3Galβ1–4Xylβ1) that cannot be further elongated. We also show that the activity of galactosyl transferase II (GalT-II, B3GalT6), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the tetrasaccharide linkage region, is dramatically increased by Fam20B-dependent xylose phosphorylation. Inactivating mutations in the GALT-II gene (B3GALT6) associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome cause proteoglycan maturation defects similar to FAM20B deletion. Collectively, our findings suggest that GalT-II function is impaired by loss of Fam20B-dependent xylose phosphorylation and reveal a previously unappreciated mechanism for regulation of proteoglycan biosynthesis.

The family with sequence similarity 20 (Fam20) kinases phosphorylate extracellular substrates and play important roles in biomineralization. Fam20C is the Golgi casein kinase that phosphorylates secretory pathway proteins within Ser-x-Glu/pSer motifs. Mutations in Fam20C cause Raine syndrome, an osteosclerotic bone dysplasia. Here we report the crystal structure of the Fam20C ortholog from Caenorhabditis elegans. The nucleotide-free and Mn/ADP-bound structures unveil an atypical protein kinase-like fold and highlight residues critical for activity. The position of the regulatory αC helix and the lack of an activation loop indicate an architecture primed for efficient catalysis. Furthermore, several distinct elements, including the presence of disulfide bonds, suggest that the Fam20 family diverged early in the evolution of the protein kinase superfamily. Our results reinforce the structural diversity of protein kinases and have important implications for patients with disorders of biomineralization.

Protein degradation by the 26S proteasome is a fundamental process involved in a broad range of cellular activities, yet how proteasome activity is regulated remains poorly understood. We report here that ubiquitin-like domain-containing C-terminal domain phosphatase 1 (UBLCP1) is a 26S proteasome phosphatase that regulates nuclear proteasome activity. UBLCP1 directly interacts with the proteasome via its UBL domain and is exclusively localized in the nucleus. UBLCP1 dephosphorylates the 26S proteasome and inhibits proteasome activity in vitro. Knockdown of UBLCP1 in cells promotes 26S proteasome assembly and selectively enhances nuclear proteasome activity. Our results describe the first identified proteasome-specific phosphatase and uncover a unique mechanism for phosphoregulation of the proteasome.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDC) is a key regulatory point in cellular metabolism linking glycolysis to the citric acid cycle and lipogenesis. Reversible phosphorylation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme is a critical regulatory mechanism and an important point for monitoring metabolic activity. To directly determine the regulation of the PDC by phosphorylation, we developed a complete set of phospho-antibodies against the three known phosphorylation sites on the E1 alpha subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHE1α). We demonstrate phospho-site specificity of each antibody in a variety of cultured cells and tissue extracts. In addition, we show sensitivity of these antibodies to PDH activity using the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-specific inhibitor dichloroacetate. We go on to use these antibodies to assess PDH phosphorylation in a patient suffering from Leigh’s syndrome. Finally, we observe changes in individual phosphorylation states following a small molecule screen, demonstrating that these reagents should be useful for monitoring phosphorylation of PDHE1α and, therefore, overall metabolism in the disease state as well as in response to a myriad of physiological and pharmacological stimuli.

Phosphatidylinositol lipids play diverse physiological roles, and their concentrations are tightly regulated by various kinases and phosphatases. The enzymatic activity of Ciona intestinalis voltage sensor-containing phosphatase (Ci-VSP), recently identified as a member of the PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) family of phosphatidylinositol phosphatases, is regulated by its own voltage-sensor domain in a voltage-dependent manner. However, a detailed mechanism of Ci-VSP regulation and its substrate specificity remain unknown. Here we determined the in vitro substrate specificity of Ci-VSP by measuring the phosphoinositide phosphatase activity of the Ci-VSP cytoplasmic phosphatase domain. Despite the high degree of identity shared between the active sites of PTEN and Ci-VSP, Ci-VSP dephosphorylates not only the PTEN substrate, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P3], but also, unlike PTEN, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2]. Enzymatic action on PI(4,5)P2 removes the phosphate at position 5 of the inositol ring, resulting in the production of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate [PI(4)P]. The active site Cys-X5-Arg (CX5R) sequence of Ci-VSP differs with that of PTEN only at amino acid 365 where a glycine residue in Ci-VSP is replaced by an alanine in PTEN. Ci-VSP with a G365A mutation no longer dephosphorylates PI(4,5)P2 and is not capable of inducing depolarization-dependent rundown of a PI(4,5)P2-dependent potassium channel. These results indicate that Ci-VSP is a PI(3,4,5)P3/PI(4,5)P2 phosphatase that uniquely functions in the voltage-dependent regulation of ion channels through regulation of PI(4,5)P2 levels.

Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 4B (CMT4B) is a severe, demyelinating peripheral neuropathy characterized by slowed nerve conduction velocity, axon loss, and distinctive myelin outfolding and infolding. CMT4B is caused by recessive mutations in either myotubularin-related protein 2 (MTMR2; CMT4B1) or MTMR13 (CMT4B2). Myotubularins are phosphoinositide (PI) 3-phosphatases that dephosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P) and PtdIns(3,5)P 2, two phosphoinositides that regulate endosomal–lysosomal membrane traffic. Interestingly, nearly half of the metazoan myotubularins are predicted to be catalytically inactive. Both active and inactive myotubularins have essential functions in mammals and in Caenorhabditis elegans. MTMR2 and MTMR13 are active and inactive PI 3-phosphatases, respectively, and the two proteins have been shown to directly associate, although the functional significance of this association is not well understood. To establish a mouse model of CMT4B2, we disrupted the Mtmr13 gene. Mtmr13-deficient mice develop a peripheral neuropathy characterized by reduced nerve conduction velocity and myelin outfoldings and infoldings. Dysmyelination is evident in Mtmr13-deficient nerves at 14 days and worsens throughout life. Thus, loss of Mtmr13 in mice leads to a peripheral neuropathy with many of the key features of CMT4B2. Although myelin outfoldings and infoldings occur most frequently at the paranode, our morphological analyses indicate that the ultrastructure of the node of Ranvier and paranode is intact in Mtmr13-deficient nerve fibers. We also found that Mtmr2 levels are decreased by ≈50% in Mtmr13-deficient sciatic nerves, suggesting a mode of Mtmr2 regulation. Mtmr13-deficient mice will be an essential tool for studying how the loss of MTMR13 leads to CMT4B2.

Bacteriocins represent a large family of ribosomally produced peptide antibiotics. Here we describe the discovery of a widely conserved biosynthetic gene cluster for the synthesis of thiazole and oxazole heterocycles on ribosomally produced peptides. These clusters encode a toxin precursor and all necessary proteins for toxin maturation and export. Using the toxin precursor peptide and heterocycle-forming synthetase proteins from the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, we demonstrate the in vitro reconstitution of streptolysin S activity. We provide evidence that the synthetase enzymes, as predicted from our bioinformatics analysis, introduce heterocycles onto precursor peptides, thereby providing molecular insight into the chemical structure of streptolysin S. Furthermore, our studies reveal that the synthetase exhibits relaxed substrate specificity and modifies toxin precursors from both related and distant species. Given our findings, it is likely that the discovery of similar peptidic toxins will rapidly expand to existing and emerging genomes.

Members of the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class of insulin-sensitizing drugs are extensively used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone, a member of the TZD family, has been shown to bind specifically to a protein named mitoNEET [Colca JR, McDonald WG, Waldon DJ, Leone JW, Lull JM, Bannow CA, Lund ET, Mathews WR (2004) Am J Physiol 286:E252–E260]. Bioinformatic analysis reveals that mitoNEET is a member of a small family of proteins containing a domain annotated as a CDGSH-type zinc finger. Although annotated as a zinc finger protein, mitoNEET contains no zinc, but instead contains 1.6 mol of Fe per mole of protein. The conserved sequence C-X-C-X2-(S/T)-X3-P-X-C-D-G-(S/A/T)-H is a defining feature of this unique family of proteins and is likely involved in iron binding. Localization studies demonstrate that mitoNEET is an integral protein present in the outer mitochondrial membrane. An amino-terminal anchor sequence tethers the protein to the outer membrane with the CDGSH domain oriented toward the cytoplasm. Cardiac mitochondria isolated from mitoNEET-null mice demonstrate a reduced oxidative capacity, suggesting that mito- NEET is an important iron-containing protein involved in the control of maximal mitochondrial respiratory rates.

A newly emerging family of phosphatases that are members of the haloacid dehalogenase superfamily contains the catalytic motif DXDX(T/V). A member of this DXDX(T/V) phosphatase family known as Dullard was recently shown to be a potential regulator of neural tube development in Xenopus [Satow R, Chan TC, Asashima M (2002) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 295:85–91]. Herein, we demonstrate that human Dullard and the yeast protein Nem1p perform similar functions in mammalian cells and yeast cells, respectively. In addition to similarity in primary sequence, Dullard and Nem1p possess similar domains and show similar substrate preferences, and both localize to the nuclear envelope. Additionally, we show that human Dullard can rescue the aberrant nuclear envelope morphology of nem1Δ yeast cells, functionally replacing Nem1p. Finally, Nem1p, has been shown to deposphorylate the yeast phosphatidic acid phosphatase Smp2p [Santos-Rosa H, Leung J, Grimsey N, Peak-Chew S, Siniossoglou S (2005) EMBO J 24:1931–1941], and we show that Dullard dephosphorylates the mammalian phospatidic acid phosphatase, lipin. Therefore, we propose that Dullard participates in a unique phosphatase cascade regulating nuclear membrane biogenesis, and that this cascade is conserved from yeast to mammals.

Myotubularins, a large family of catalytically active and inactive proteins, belong to a unique subgroup of protein tyrosine phosphatases that use inositol phospholipids, rather than phosphoproteins, as physiological substrates. Here, by integrating crystallographic and deuterium-exchange mass spectrometry studies of human myotubularin-related protein-2 (MTMR2) in complex with phosphoinositides, we define the molecular basis for this unique substrate specificity. Phosphoinositide substrates bind in a pocket located on a positively charged face of the protein, suggesting an electrostatic mechanism for membrane targeting. A flexible, hydrophobic helix makes extensive interactions with the diacylglycerol moieties of substrates, explaining the specificity for membrane-bound phosphoinositides. An extensive H-bonding network and charge–charge interactions within the active site pocket determine phosphoinositide headgroup specificity. The conservation of these specificity determinants within the active, but not the inactive, myotubularins provides insight into the functional differences between the active and inactive members.

Lafora disease (LD) is a fatal form of progressive myoclonus epilepsy caused by recessive mutations in either a gene encoding a dual-specificity phosphatase, known as laforin, or a recently identified gene encoding the protein known as malin. Here, we demonstrate that malin is a single subunit E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase and that its RING domain is necessary and sufficient to mediate ubiquitination. Additionally, malin interacts with and polyubiquitinates laforin, leading to its degradation. Missense mutations in malin that are present in LD patients abolish its ability to polyubiquitinate and signal the degradation of laforin. Our results demonstrate that laforin is a physiologic substrate of malin, and we propose possible models to explain how recessive mutations in either malin or laforin result in LD. Furthermore, these data distinguish malin as an E3 Ub ligase whose activity is necessary to prevent a neurodegenerative disease that involves formation of nonproteinacious inclusion bodies.

The myotubularin (MTM) family constitutes one of the most highly conserved protein-tyrosine phosphatase subfamilies in eukaryotes. MTM1, the archetypal member of this family, is mutated in X-linked myotubular myopathy, whereas mutations in the MTM-related (MTMR)2 gene cause the type 4B1 Charcot–Marie-Tooth disease, a severe hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. In this study, we identified a protein that specifically interacts with MTMR2 but not MTM1. The interacting protein was shown by mass spectrometry to be MTMR5, a catalytically inactive member of the MTM family. We also demonstrate that MTMR2 interacts with MTMR5 via its coiled-coil domain and that mutations in the coiled-coil domain of either MTMR2 or MTMR5 abrogate this interaction. Through this interaction, MTMR5 increases the enzymatic activity of MTMR2 and dictates its subcellular localization. This article demonstrates an active MTM member being regulated by an inactive family member.

Enteropathogenic E. coli establish close contact with host cells by nucleating localized actin rearrangements and directly evading phagocytosis. Iizumi et al. now show in a recent issue of Cell Host and Microbe that the type III secretion effector EspB, initially thought to be involved in the translocation of other bacterial effectors, mediates antiphagocytosis and microvilli lesions by inhibiting myosin function.

Pathogenic bacteria have evolved several clever survival strategies for manipulating host cell signaling pathways to establish beneficial replicative niches within the host. Recent literature has revealed novel mechanisms adopted by bacteria to manipulate host responses. For instance, host signaling pathways that were traditionally thought to be regulated by phosphorylation events have now been shown to be irreversibly blocked by bacterially-mediated acetylation, β-elimination, and lytic modifications. This review highlights some of the common host proteins and signaling cascades targeted by such pathogens.

Pathogenic bacteria of the genus Yersinia employ a type III secretion system to inject bacterial effector proteins directly into the host cytosol. One of these effectors, the Yersinia serine/threonine protein kinase YpkA, is an essential virulence determinant involved in host actin cytoskeletal rearrangements and in inhibition of phagocytosis. Here we report that YpkA inhibits multiple Gαq signaling pathways. The kinase activity of YpkA is required for Gαq inhibition. YpkA phosphorylates Ser47, a key residue located in the highly conserved diphosphate binding loop of the GTPase fold of Gαq. YpkA-mediated phosphorylation of Ser47 impairs guanine nucleotide binding by Gαq. Y. pseudotuberculosis expressing wild-type YpkA, but not a catalytically inactive YpkA mutant, interferes with Gαq-mediated signaling pathways. Identification of a YpkA-mediated phosphorylation site in Gαq sheds light on the contribution of the kinase activity of YpkA to Yersinia pathogenesis.