title: Inhibition of nuclear import of LIMK2 in endothelial cells by protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation at Ser-283.
abstract: LIM kinases (LIMKs) are mainly in the cytoplasm and regulate actin dynamics through cofilin phosphorylation. Recently, it has been reported that nuclear localization of LIMKs can mediate suppression of cyclin D1 expression. Using immunofluorescence monitoring of enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged LIMK2 in combination with photobleaching techniques and leptomycin B treatment, we demonstrate that LIMK2 shuttles between the cytoplasm and the nucleus in endothelial cells. Sequence analysis predicted two PKC phosphorylation sites in LIMK2 but not in LIMK1. One site at Ser-283 is present between the PDZ and the kinase domain, and the other site at Thr-494 is within the kinase domain. Activation of PKC by phorbol ester treatment of endothelial cells stimulated LIMK2 phosphorylation at Ser-283 and inhibited nuclear import of LIMK2 and the PDZ kinase construct of LIMK2 (amino acids 142-638) but not of LIMK1. The PKC-delta isoform phosphorylated LIMK2 at Ser-283 in vitro. Mutational analysis indicated that LIMK2 phosphorylation at Ser-283 but not Thr-494 was functional. Serum stimulation of endothelial cells also inhibited nuclear import of PDZK-LIMK2 by protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of Ser-283. Our study shows that phorbol ester and serum stimulation of endothelial cells inhibit nuclear import of LIMK2 but not LIMK1. This effect was dependent on PKC-delta-mediated phosphorylation of Ser-283. Since phorbol ester enhanced cyclin D1 expression and subsequent G1-to-S-phase transition of endothelial cells, we suggest that the PKC-mediated exclusion of LIMK2 from the nucleus might be a mechanism to relieve suppression of cyclin D1 expression by LIMK2.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Munich, 80336 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Dharmendra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Behring
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Siess
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D001665:Binding Sites; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D036681:Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching; D016193:G1 Phase; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D054461:Lim Kinases; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010843:Pichia / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle; D016196:S Phase; D012694:Serine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013912:Threonine / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019938:Cyclin D1; D013912:Threonine; D012694:Serine; C102895:LIMK2 protein, human; D054461:Lim Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; C038753:leptomycin B