title: Aberrant stress-induced phosphorylation of perikaryal neurofilaments.
abstract: The aberrant phosphorylation of the neurofilament high molecular weight subunit (NFH) in the neuronal perikaryon is a common feature of several neurological diseases. We demonstrated a strong correlation between hyperphosphorylation of the NFH carboxyl-terminal domain and activation of stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) -gamma in PC12 cells. Agents that activated SAPKgamma in PC12 cells also caused the hyperphosphorylation of perikaryal NFH in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons. The NFH carboxyl-terminal domain was phosphorylated by SAPKgamma in vitro, and the use of peptide substrates indicated that this event occurred preferentially at KSPXE motifs. We propose that SAPKgamma, perhaps in concert with other SAPKs, is involved in the abnormal phosphorylation of perikaryal NFH. This finding could lead to new insights into the etiology of several neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Giasson
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Mushynski
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048291:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 12; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007976:Leupeptins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C063261:acetylleucyl-leucyl-norleucinal; D011494:Protein Kinases; D048291:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 12; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases