Browsing by Subject "Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II"

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    Activation State-Dependent Substrate Gating in Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II
    (Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2017) Johnson, D. E.; Hudmon, A.; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine
    Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is highly concentrated in the brain where its activation by the Ca2+ sensor CaM, multivalent structure, and complex autoregulatory features make it an ideal translator of Ca2+ signals created by different patterns of neuronal activity. We provide direct evidence that graded levels of kinase activity and extent of T287 (T286α isoform) autophosphorylation drive changes in catalytic output and substrate selectivity. The catalytic domains of CaMKII phosphorylate purified PSDs much more effectively when tethered together in the holoenzyme versus individual subunits. Using multisubstrate SPOT arrays, high-affinity substrates are preferentially phosphorylated with limited subunit activity per holoenzyme, whereas multiple subunits or maximal subunit activation is required for intermediate- and low-affinity, weak substrates, respectively. Using a monomeric form of CaMKII to control T287 autophosphorylation, we demonstrate that increased Ca2+/CaM-dependent activity for all substrates tested, with the extent of weak, low-affinity substrate phosphorylation governed by the extent of T287 autophosphorylation. Our data suggest T287 autophosphorylation regulates substrate gating, an intrinsic property of the catalytic domain, which is amplified within the multivalent architecture of the CaMKII holoenzyme.
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    The effects of CaMKII signaling on neuronal viability
    (2013-12-10) Ashpole, Nicole M.; Hudmon, Andrew; Brustovetsky, Nickolay; Hurley, Thomas D., 1961-; Russell, Weihua Lee, 1956-; Oxford, G. S.
    Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a critical modulator of synaptic function, plasticity, and learning and memory. In neurons and astrocytes, CaMKII regulates cellular excitability, cytoskeletal structure, and cell metabolism. A rapid increase in CaMKII activity is observed within the first few minutes of ischemic stroke in vivo; this calcium-dependent process is also observed following glutamate stimulation in vitro. Activation of CaMKII during pathological conditions is immediately followed by inactivation and aggregation of the kinase. The extent of CaMKII inactivation is directly correlated with the extent of neuronal damage. The studies presented here show that these fluctuations in CaMKII activity are not correlated with neuronal death; rather, they play a causal role in neuronal death. Pharmacological inhibition of CaMKII in the time immediately surrounding glutamate insult protects cultured cortical neurons from excitotoxicity. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of CaMKII during excitotoxic insult also prevents the aggregation and prolonged inactivation of the kinase, suggesting that CaMKII activity during excitotoxic glutamate signaling is detrimental to neuronal viability because it leads to a prolonged loss of CaMKII activity, culminating in neuronal death. In support of this, CaMKII inhibition in the absence of excitotoxic insult induces cortical neuron apoptosis by dysregulating intracellular calcium homeostasis and increasing excitatory glutamate signaling. Blockade of the NMDA-receptors and enzymatic degradation of the extracellular glutamate signal affords neuroprotection from CaMKII inhibition-induced toxicity. Co-cultures of neurons and glutamate-buffering astrocytes also exhibit this slow-induced excitotoxicity, as CaMKII inhibitors reduce glutamate uptake within the astrocytes. CaMKII inhibition also dysregulates calcium homeostasis in astrocytes and leads to increased ATP release, which was neurotoxic when applied to naïve cortical neurons. Together, these findings indicate that during aberrant calcium signaling, the activation of CaMKII is toxic because it supports aggregation and prolonged inactivation of the kinase. Without CaMKII activity, neurons and astrocytes release stores of transmitters that further exacerbate neuronal toxicity.
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    Metabolic activation of CaMKII by coenzyme A
    (Elsevier, 2013-11-07) McCoy, Francis; Darbandi, Rashid; Lee, Hoi Chang; Bharatham, Kavitha; Moldoveanu, Tudor; Royappa, Grace; Dodd, Keela; Lin, Wenwei; Chen, Si-Ing; Tangallapally, Rajendra P.; Kurokawa, Manabu; Lee, Richard E.; Shelat, Anang; Chen, Taosheng; Green, Douglas R.; Harris, Robert A.; Lin, Sue-Hwa; Fissore, Rafael A.; Colbran, Roger J.; Nutt, Leta K.; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Medicine
    Active metabolism regulates oocyte cell death via calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-mediated phosphorylation of caspase-2, but the link between metabolic activity and CaMKII is poorly understood. Here we identify coenzyme A (CoA) as the key metabolic signal that inhibits Xenopus laevis oocyte apoptosis by directly activating CaMKII. We found that CoA directly binds to the CaMKII regulatory domain in the absence of Ca(2+) to activate CaMKII in a calmodulin-dependent manner. Furthermore, we show that CoA inhibits apoptosis not only in X. laevis oocytes but also in Murine oocytes. These findings uncover a direct mechanism of CaMKII regulation by metabolism and further highlight the importance of metabolism in preserving oocyte viability.
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    Proteomic Analysis of Postsynaptic Protein Complexes Underlying Neuronal Plasticity
    (American Chemical Society, 2017-04-19) Baucum, Anthony J., II; Biology, School of Science
    Normal neuronal communication and synaptic plasticity at glutamatergic synapses requires dynamic regulation of postsynaptic molecules. Protein expression and protein post-translational modifications regulate protein interactions that underlie this organization. In this Review, we highlight data obtained over the last 20 years that have used qualitative and quantitative proteomics-based approaches to identify postsynaptic protein complexes. Herein, we describe how these proteomics studies have helped lay the foundation for understanding synaptic physiology and perturbations in synaptic signaling observed in different pathologies. We also describe emerging technologies that can be useful in these analyses. We focus on protein complexes associated with the highly abundant and functionally critical proteins: calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, the N-methyl-d-aspartate, and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid glutamate receptors, and postsynaptic density protein of 95 kDa.