PKA-induced F-actin rearrangement requires phosphorylation of Hsp27 by the MAPKAP kinase MK5

Cell Signal. 2009 May;21(5):712-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2009.01.009. Epub 2009 Jan 8.

Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways can play a role in F-actin dynamics. In particular, the p38 MAPK/MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2)/heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) pathway is involved in F-actin alternations. Previously, we showed that MK5 is implicated in F-actin rearrangement induced by the cAMP/cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway in PC12 cells, while others found Hsp27 to be a good in vitro MK5 substrate. Here we demonstrate that MK5 can specifically interact with Hsp27 in vivo and can induce phosphorylation at serine residues 78 and 82 in cells. siRNA-mediated depletion of Hsp27 protein levels, as well as overexpression of the non-phosphorylatable Hsp27-3A mutant prevented forskolin-induced F-actin reorganization. While ectopic expression of a constitutive active MK5 mutant was sufficient to induce F-actin rearrangement in PC12 cells, co-expression of Hsp27-3A could ablate this process. Our results imply that MK5 is involved in Hsp27-controlled F-actin dynamics in response to activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway. These findings render the MK5/Hsp27 connection into a putative therapeutic target for conditions with aberrant Hsp27 phosphorylation such as metastasis, cardiovascular diseases, muscle atrophy, autoimmune skin disease and neuropathology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Colforsin / pharmacology
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • PC12 Cells
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Rats

Substances

  • Actins
  • HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Colforsin
  • MAP-kinase-activated kinase 5
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 2