title: RNAi screen in mouse astrocytes identifies phosphatases that regulate NF-kappaB signaling.
abstract: Regulation of NF-kappaB activation is controlled by a series of kinases; however, the roles of phosphatases in regulating this pathway are poorly understood. We report a systematic RNAi screen of phosphatases that modulate NF-kappaB activity. Nineteen of 250 phosphatase genes were identified as regulators of NF-kappaB signaling in astrocytes. RNAi selectively regulates endogenous chemokine and cytokine expression. Coimmunoprecipitation identified associations of distinct protein phosphatase 2A core or holoenzymes with the IKK, NF-kappaB, and TRAF2 complexes. Dephosphorylation of these complexes leads to modulation of NF-kappaB transcriptional activity. In contrast to IKK and NF-kappaB, TRAF2 phosphorylation has not been well elucidated. We show that the Thr117 residue in TRAF2 is phosphorylated following TNFalpha stimulation. This phosphorylation process is modulated by PP2A and is required for TRAF2 functional activity. These results provide direct evidence for TNF-induced TRAF2 phosphorylation and demonstrate that phosphorylation is regulated at multiple levels in the NF-kappaB pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Shitao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lingyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Martin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dorf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015723:Gene Library; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000502:physiology; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2; D034622:RNA Interference; D015398:Signal Transduction; D047992:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2 / Q000502:physiology; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; C086766:Ppp2r1b protein, mouse; D047992:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases