Search

Many developmental syndromes have been linked to genetic mutations that cause abnormal ERK/MAPK activity; however, the neuropathological effects of hyperactive signaling are not fully understood. Here, we examined whether hyperactivation of MEK1 modifies the development of GABAergic cortical interneurons (CINs), a heterogeneous population of inhibitory neurons necessary for cortical function. We show that GABAergic-neuron specific MEK1 hyperactivation in vivo leads to increased cleaved caspase-3 labeling in a subpopulation of immature neurons in the embryonic subpallial mantle zone. Adult mutants displayed a significant loss of parvalbumin (PV), but not somatostatin, expressing CINs and a reduction in perisomatic inhibitory synapses on excitatory neurons. Surviving mutant PV-CINs maintained a typical fast-spiking phenotype but showed signs of decreased intrinsic excitability that coincided with an increased risk of seizure-like phenotypes. In contrast to other mouse models of PV-CIN loss, we discovered a robust increase in the accumulation of perineuronal nets, an extracellular structure thought to restrict plasticity. Indeed, we found that mutants exhibited a significant impairment in the acquisition of behavioral response inhibition capacity. Overall, our data suggest PV-CIN development is particularly sensitive to hyperactive MEK1 signaling, which may underlie certain neurological deficits frequently observed in ERK/MAPK-linked syndromes., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permission@oup.com.)

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) is widely recognized for its central role in cell proliferation and motility. Although previous work has shown that Erk is localized at endosomal compartments, no role for Erk in regulating endosomal trafficking has been demonstrated. Here, we report that Erk signaling regulates trafficking through the clathrin-independent, ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) GTPase-regulated endosomal pathway. Inactivation of Erk induced by a variety of methods leads to a dramatic expansion of the Arf6 endosomal recycling compartment, and intracellular accumulation of cargo, such as class I major histocompatibility complex, within the expanded endosome. Treatment of cells with the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 reduces surface expression of MHCI without affecting its rate of endocytosis, suggesting that inactivation of Erk perturbs recycling. Furthermore, under conditions where Erk activity is inhibited, a large cohort of Erk, MEK, and the Erk scaffold kinase suppressor of Ras 1 accumulates at the Arf6 recycling compartment. The requirement for Erk was highly specific for this endocytic pathway, because its inhibition had no effect on trafficking of cargo of the classical clathrin-dependent pathway. These studies reveal a previously unappreciated link of Erk signaling to organelle dynamics and endosomal trafficking.

Subcellular targeting of kinases controls their activation and access to substrates. Although Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is known to regulate differentiated smooth muscle cell (dSMC) contractility, the importance of targeting in this regulation is not clear. The present study investigated the function in dSMCs of a novel variant of the gamma isoform of CaMKII that contains a potential targeting sequence in its association domain (CaMKIIgamma G-2). Antisense knockdown of CaMKIIgamma G-2 inhibited extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) activation, myosin phosphorylation, and contractile force in dSMCs. Confocal colocalization analysis revealed that in unstimulated dSMCs CaMKIIgamma G-2 is bound to a cytoskeletal scaffold consisting of interconnected vimentin intermediate filaments and cytosolic dense bodies. On activation with a depolarizing stimulus, CaMKIIgamma G-2 is released into the cytosol and subsequently targeted to cortical dense plaques. Comparison of phosphorylation and translocation time courses indicates that, after CaMKIIgamma G-2 activation, and before CaMKIIgamma G-2 translocation, vimentin is phosphorylated at a CaMKII-specific site. Differential centrifugation demonstrated that phosphorylation of vimentin in dSMCs is not sufficient to cause its disassembly, in contrast to results in cultured cells. Loading dSMCs with a decoy peptide containing the polyproline sequence within the association domain of CaMKIIgamma G-2 inhibited targeting. Furthermore, prevention of CaMKIIgamma G-2 targeting led to significant inhibition of ERK activation as well as contractility. Thus, for the first time, this study demonstrates the importance of CaMKII targeting in dSMC signaling and identifies a novel targeting function for the association domain in addition to its known role in oligomerization.

Low-number transplantation of pancreatic islets into the livers of diabetic rats leads to transformation of the downstream liver acini into clear-cell foci of altered hepatocytes (FAHs). These FAHs correspond to the glycogen-storing (clear-cell) phenotype of hepatocellular preneoplasias and develop into hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) within 6 to 24 months. In addition, they show metabolic alterations that resemble well-known insulin effects, most likely constituting the result of the local hyperinsulinemia. Thus, we investigated FAHs, HCAs, and HCCs for altered expression of insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), Raf-1 and Mek-1. Light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry revealed a translocation of insulin receptor from the plasma membrane (normal tissue) into the cytoplasm in clear-cell FAHs and an increase in insulin receptor expression in HCAs and HCCs. FAHs also showed an increase in IRS-1 gene expression, investigated by in situ hybridization and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. IRS-1, Raf-1, and Mek-1 proteins were strongly overexpressed in FAHs and tumors, as compared with the unaltered liver tissue. These overexpressions were closely linked to the clear-cell phenotype of preneoplastic and neoplastic hepatocytes, because basophilic FAHs (later stages) and basophilic tumors showed no overexpressions. In this endocrine model of hepatocarcinogenesis, severe alterations of insulin signaling were induced by the pathological local action of islet hormones in the livers and may substantially contribute to the carcinogenic process.