title: Pin1-dependent prolyl isomerization modulates the stress-induced phosphorylation of high molecular weight neurofilament protein.
abstract: Aberrant phosphorylation of neuronal cytoskeletal proteins is a key pathological event in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Previous studies have shown that Pin1, a peptidylprolyl cis/trans-isomerase, may be actively involved in the regulation of Tau hyperphosphorylation in AD. Here, we show that Pin1 modulates oxidative stress-induced NF-H phosphorylation. In an in vitro kinase assay, the addition of Pin1 substantially increased phosphorylation of NF-H KSP repeats by proline-directed kinases, Erk1/2, Cdk5/p35, and JNK3 in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo, dominant-negative (DN) Pin1 and Pin1 small interfering RNA inhibited epidermal growth factor-induced NF-H phosphorylation. Because oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, we studied the role of Pin1 in stressed cortical neurons and HEK293 cells. Both hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and heat stresses induce phosphorylation of NF-H in transfected HEK293 cells and primary cortical cultures. Knockdown of Pin1 by transfected Pin1 short interference RNA and DN-Pin1 rescues the effect of stress-induced NF-H phosphorylation. The H(2)O(2) and heat shock induced perikaryal phospho-NF-H accumulations, and neuronal apoptosis was rescued by inhibition of Pin1 in cortical neurons. JNK3, a brain-specific JNK isoform, is activated under oxidative and heat stresses, and inhibition of Pin1 by Pin1 short interference RNA and DN-Pin1 inhibits this pathway. These results implicate Pin1 as a possible modulator of stress-induced NF-H phosphorylation as seen in neurodegenerative disorders like AD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Thus, Pin1 may be a potential therapeutic target for these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurochemistry, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Parvathi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rudrabhatla
authors.forename: Ya-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Niranjana D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Sashi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kesavapany
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: Harish C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pant
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D000072340:NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019696:Peptidylprolyl Isomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000072340:NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D016877:Oxidants; C414604:PDZD2 protein, rat; D016875:tau Proteins; C051774:neurofilament protein H; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D011494:Protein Kinases; C000606846:PIN1 protein, human; D019696:Peptidylprolyl Isomerase