title: Phenylephrine promotes phosphorylation of Bad in cardiac myocytes through the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 and protein kinase A.
abstract: Studies in non-cardiomyocytic cells have shown that phosphorylation of the Bcl-2 family protein Bad on Ser-112, Ser-136 and Ser-155 decreases its pro-apoptotic activity. Both phenylephrine (100 microM) and the cell membrane-permeating cAMP analog, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (100 microM), protected against 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes as assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). In cardiac myocytes, phenylephrine primarily stimulates the alpha-adrenoceptor, but, at high concentrations (100 microM), it also increases the activity of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase A (PKA) through the beta-adrenoceptor. Phenylephrine (100 microM) promoted rapid phosphorylation of Bad(Ser-112) and Bad(Ser-155), though we were unable to detect phosphorylation of Bad(Ser-136). Phosphorylation of Bad(Ser-112) was antagonized by either prazosin or propranolol, indicating that this phosphorylation required stimulation of both alpha(1)- and beta-adrenoceptors. Phosphorylation of Bad(Ser-155) was antagonized only by propranolol and was thus mediated through the beta-adrenoceptor. Inhibitor studies and partial purification of candidate kinases by fast protein liquid chromatography showed that the p90 ribosomal S6 kinases, p90RSK2/3 [which are activated by the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2)] directly phosphorylated Bad(Ser-112), whereas the PKA catalytic subunit directly phosphorylated Bad(Ser-155). However, efficient phosphorylation of Bad(Ser-112) also required PKA activity. These data suggest that, although p90RSK2/3 phosphorylate Bad(Ser-112) directly, phosphorylation of this site is enhanced by phosphorylation of Bad(Ser-155). These phosphorylations potentially diminish the pro-apoptotic activity of Bad and contribute to the cytoprotective effects of phenylephrine and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Sciences (Cell and Molecular Biology Section), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Valks
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Fong H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clerk
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sugden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000378:metabolism; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein
chemical_list: C494821:Bad protein, rat; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D010656:Phenylephrine; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases