scholarly journals Phosphorylation of the α subunit of initiation factor 2 correlates with the inhibition of translation following transient cerebral ischaemia in the rat

1994 ◽  
Vol 302 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Burda ◽  
M E Martín ◽  
A García ◽  
A Alcázar ◽  
J L Fando ◽  
...  

Rats were subjected to the standard four-vessel occlusion model of cerebral transient ischaemia (vertebral and carotid arteries) for 15 and 30 min. After a 30 min recirculation period, protein synthesis rate, initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) and guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activities, and the level of phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eIF-2 (eIF-2 alpha) were determined in the neocortex region of the brain from sham-operated controls and ischaemic animals. Following reversible cerebral ischaemia, the protein synthesis rate, as measured in a cell-free system, was significantly inhibited (70%) in the ischaemic animals. eIF-2 activity, as measured by its ability to form a ternary complex, also decrease parallel to the decrease in protein synthesis. As eIF-2 activity was assayed in the presence of Mg2+ and GTP-regenerating capacity, the decrease in ternary-complex formation indicated the possible impairment of GEF activity. Since phosphorylated eIF-2 [eIF-2(alpha P)] is a powerful inhibitor of GEF, the levels of phosphorylated eIF-2 alpha were determined, and an increase from 7% phosphorylation in sham control rats to 20% phosphorylation in 15 min and 29% phosphorylation in 30 min in ischaemic rats was observed, providing evidence for a tight correlation of phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha and inhibition of protein synthesis. Moreover, GEF activity measured in the GDP-exchange assay was in fact inhibited in the ischaemic animals, proving that protein synthesis is impaired by the presence of eIF-2(alpha P), which blocks eIF-2 recycling.

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jozef Burda ◽  
M. Elena Martín ◽  
Miroslav Gottlieb ◽  
Mikulas Chavko ◽  
Jozef Marsala ◽  
...  

Rats were subjected to the standard four-vessel occlusion model of transient cerebral ischemia (vertebral and carotid arteries). The effects of normothermic ischemia (37°C) followed or not by 30-minute reperfusion, as well as 30-minute postdecapitative ischemia, on translational rates were examined. Protein synthesis rate, as measured in a cell-free system, was significantly inhibited in ischemic rats, and the extent of inhibition strongly depended on duration and temperature, and less on the model of ischemia used. The ability of reinitiation in vitro (by using aurintricarboxylic acid) decreased after ischemia, suggesting a failure in the synthetic machinery at the initiation level. Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) presented almost basal activity and levels after 30-minute normothermic ischemia, and the amount of phosphorylated eIF-2α in these samples, as well as in sham-control samples, was undetectable. The decrease in the levels of phosphorylated initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) after 30-minute ischemia (from 32% to 16%) could explain, at least partially, the impairment of initiation during transient cerebral ischemia. After reperfusion, eIF-4E phosphorylation was almost completely restored to basal levels (29%), whereas the level of phosphorylated eIF-2α was higher (13%) than in controls and ischemic samples (both less than 2%). eIF-2α kinase activity in vitro as measured by phosphorylation of endogenous eIF-2 in the presence of ATP/Mg2+, was higher in ischemic samples (8%) than in controls (4%). It seems probable that the failure of the kinase in phosphorylating eIF-2 in vivo during ischemia is due to the depletion of ATP stores. The levels of the double-stranded activated eIF-2α kinase were slightly higher in ischemic animals than in controls. Our results suggest that the modulation of eIF-4E phosphorylation could be implicated in the regulation of translation during ischemia. On the contrary, phosphorylation of eIF-2α, by an eIF-2α kinase already activated during ischemia, represents a plausible mechanism for explaining the inhibition of translation during reperfusion


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 7134-7146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Zhan ◽  
Krishna M. Vattem ◽  
Bettina N. Bauer ◽  
Thomas E. Dever ◽  
Jane-Jane Chen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Protein synthesis is regulated by the phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) in response to different environmental stresses. One member of the eIF2α kinase family, heme-regulated inhibitor kinase (HRI), is activated under heme-deficient conditions and blocks protein synthesis, principally globin, in mammalian erythroid cells. We identified two HRI-related kinases from Schizosaccharomyces pombe which have full-length homology with mammalian HRI. The two HRI-related kinases, named Hri1p and Hri2p, exhibit autokinase and kinase activity specific for Ser-51 of eIF2α, and both activities were inhibited in vitro by hemin, as previously described for mammalian HRI. Overexpression of Hri1p, Hri2p, or the human eIF2α kinase, double-stranded-RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), impeded growth of S. pombe due to elevated phosphorylation of eIF2α. Cells from strains with deletions of the hri1+ and hri2+ genes, individually or in combination, exhibited a reduced growth rate when exposed to heat shock or to arsenic compounds. Measurements of in vivo phosphorylation of eIF2α suggest that Hri1p and Hri2p differentially phosphorylate eIF2α in response to these stress conditions. These results demonstrate that HRI-related enzymes are not unique to vertebrates and suggest that these eIF2α kinases are important participants in diverse stress response pathways in some lower eukaryotes.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Martin ◽  
A. M. Garcia ◽  
L. Blanco ◽  
E. Herrera ◽  
M. Salinas

To study the effect of diabetes on hepatic protein synthesis and polysomal aggregation in pregnant rats, female rats were treated with streptozotocin prior to conception. Some animals were mated, and studied at day 20 of pregnancy, whereas, others were studied in parallel under non pregnant conditions. The protein synthesis rate measured with an “in vitro” cell-free system was higher in pregnant than in virgin control rats. It decreased with diabetes in both groups, although values remained higher in diabetic pregnant rats than in the virgin animals. The fetuses of diabetic rats had a lower protein synthesis rate than those from controls, although they showed a higher protein synthesis rate than either their respective mothers or virgin rats. Liver RNA concentration was higher in control and diabetic, pregnant rats than in virgin rats, and the effect of diabetes decreasing this parameter was only significant for pregnant rats. Liver RNA concentration in fetuses was lower than in their mothers, and did not differ between control and diabetic animals. The decreased protein synthesis found in diabetic animals was accompanied by disaggregation of heavy polysomes into lighter species, indicating an impairment in peptide-chain initiation.


eLife ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmela Sidrauski ◽  
Diego Acosta-Alvear ◽  
Arkady Khoutorsky ◽  
Punitha Vedantham ◽  
Brian R Hearn ◽  
...  

Phosphorylation of the α-subunit of initiation factor 2 (eIF2) controls protein synthesis by a conserved mechanism. In metazoa, distinct stress conditions activate different eIF2α kinases (PERK, PKR, GCN2, and HRI) that converge on phosphorylating a unique serine in eIF2α. This collection of signaling pathways is termed the ‘integrated stress response’ (ISR). eIF2α phosphorylation diminishes protein synthesis, while allowing preferential translation of some mRNAs. Starting with a cell-based screen for inhibitors of PERK signaling, we identified a small molecule, named ISRIB, that potently (IC50 = 5 nM) reverses the effects of eIF2α phosphorylation. ISRIB reduces the viability of cells subjected to PERK-activation by chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress. eIF2α phosphorylation is implicated in memory consolidation. Remarkably, ISRIB-treated mice display significant enhancement in spatial and fear-associated learning. Thus, memory consolidation is inherently limited by the ISR, and ISRIB releases this brake. As such, ISRIB promises to contribute to our understanding and treatment of cognitive disorders.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 1291-1302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald J. DeGracia ◽  
Jonathon M. Sullivan ◽  
Robert W. Neumar ◽  
Sarah S. Alousi ◽  
Katie R. Hikade ◽  
...  

Postischemic brain reperfusion is associated with a substantial and long-lasting reduction of protein synthesis in selectively vulnerable neurons. Because the overall translation initiation rate is typically regulated by altering the phosphorylation of serine 51 on the α-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2α), we used an antibody specific to phosphorylated eIF-2α [eIF-2(αP)] to study the regional and cellular distribution of eIF-2(αP) in normal, ischemic, and reperfused rat brains. Western blots of brain postmitochondrial supernatants revealed that ~1% of all eIF-2α is phosphorylated in controls, eIF-2(αP) is not reduced by up to 30 minutes of ischemia, and eIF-2(αP) is increased ~20-fold after 10 and 90 minutes of reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry shows localization of eIF-2(αP) to astrocytes in normal brains, a massive increase in eIF-2(αP) in the cytoplasm of neurons within the first 10 minutes of reperfusion, accumulation of eIF-2(αP) in the nuclei of selectively vulnerable neurons after 1 hour of reperfusion, and morphology suggesting pyknosis or apoptosis in neuronal nuclei that continue to display eIF-2(αP) after 4 hours of reperfusion. These observations, together with the fact that eIF-2(αP) inhibits translation initiation, make a compelling case that eIF-2(αP) is responsible for reperfusion-induced inhibition of protein synthesis in vulnerable neurons.


1992 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-370
Author(s):  
V.Y. Brodsky ◽  
P.Y. Boikov ◽  
N.V. Nechaeva ◽  
Y.G. Yurovitsky ◽  
T.E. Novikova ◽  
...  

A rhythm of the [3H]leucine incorporation rate with a period of about one hour (circahoralian rhythm) has been found in rat hepatocytes grown in vitro as a monolayer and in liver organ culture. The periodicity of the incorporation rate remained after correction for changes in leucine pool size. A similar periodicity of the leucine incorporation rate was detected in a cell-free system prepared from rat hepatocytes. We have also found circahoralian oscillations of the ATP level and similar oscillations of the leucine tRNA aminoacylation rate in a hepatocyte monolayer. The addition of 1 mM ADP to the culture resulted in a considerable increase in the ATP level in the cells, but the rhythm of protein synthesis was retained under these conditions. The conclusion that there is a flexible association between changes in the ATP and GTP levels on the one hand, and oscillations of the protein synthesis rate on the other, is also supported by experiments with a cell-free system, in which the rhythm of protein synthesis rate was observed in the presence of excess ATP and GTP. We propose an hypothesis to explain the fractal pattern of circahoralian metabolic rhythms.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 7499-7509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuguang Shi ◽  
Krishna M. Vattem ◽  
Ruchira Sood ◽  
Jie An ◽  
Jingdong Liang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In response to various environmental stresses, eukaryotic cells down-regulate protein synthesis by phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF-2α). In mammals, the phosphorylation was shown to be carried out by eIF-2α kinases PKR and HRI. We report the identification and characterization of a cDNA from rat pancreatic islet cells that encodes a new related kinase, which we term pancreatic eIF-2α kinase, or PEK. In addition to a catalytic domain with sequence and structural features conserved among eIF-2α kinases, PEK contains a distinctive amino-terminal region 550 residues in length. Using recombinant PEK produced inEscherichia coli or Sf-9 insect cells, we demonstrate that PEK is autophosphorylated on both serine and threonine residues and that the recombinant enzyme can specifically phosphorylate eIF-2α on serine-51. Northern blot analyses indicate that PEK mRNA is expressed in all tissues examined, with highest levels in pancreas cells. Consistent with our mRNA assays, PEK activity was predominantly detected in pancreas and pancreatic islet cells. The regulatory role of PEK in protein synthesis was demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. The addition of recombinant PEK to reticulocyte lysates caused a dose-dependent inhibition of translation. In theSaccharomyces model system, PEK functionally substituted for the endogenous yeast eIF-2α kinase, GCN2, by a process requiring the serine-51 phosphorylation site in eIF-2α. We also identified PEK homologs from both Caenorhabditis elegans and the puffer fish Fugu rubripes, suggesting that this eIF-2α kinase plays an important role in translational control from nematodes to mammals.


Neonatology ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. García ◽  
M.E. Martín ◽  
L. Blanco ◽  
A. Martín-Hidalgo ◽  
J.L. Fando ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (4) ◽  
pp. E923-E931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen L. Eley ◽  
Steven T. Russell ◽  
Jeffrey H. Baxter ◽  
Pradip Mukerji ◽  
Michael J. Tisdale

To investigate the mechanism by which β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) attenuates the depression of protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle of cachectic mice, a study has been carried out in murine myotubes in the presence of proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF). PIF inhibited protein synthesis by 50% within 4 h, and this was effectively attenuated by HMB (25–50 μM). HMB (50 μM) alone stimulated protein synthesis, and this was attenuated by rapamycin (27 nM), an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Further evidence for an involvement of this pathway was shown by an increased phosphorylation of mTOR, the 70-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6k), and initiation factor 4E-binding protein (4E-BP1) and an increased association of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF4E) with eIF4G. PIF alone induced a transient (1–2 h) stimulation of phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6k. However, in the presence of HMB, phosphorylation of mTOR, p70S6k, and 4E-BP1 was increased, and inactive 4E-BP1-eIF4E complex was reduced, whereas the active eIF4G·eIF4E complex was increased, suggesting continual stimulation of protein synthesis. HMB alone reduced phosphorylation of elongation factor 2, but this effect was not seen in the presence of PIF. PIF induced autophosphorylation of the double-strand RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), leading to phosphorylation of eIF2 on the α-subunit, which would inhibit protein synthesis. However, in the presence of HMB, phosphorylation of PKR and eIF2α was attenuated, and this was also observed in skeletal muscle of cachectic mice administered HMB (0.25 g/kg). These results suggest that HMB attenuates the depression of protein synthesis by PIF in myotubes through multiple mechanisms.


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