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The serine/threonine kinase Unc-51-like kinase-1 (Ulk1) is thought to be essential for induction of autophagy, an intracellular bulk degradation process that is activated by various stresses. Although several proteins have been suggested as Ulk1 substrates during autophagic process, it still remains largely unknown about Ulk1's physiological substrates. Here, by performing in vitro and in vivo phosphorylation assay, we report that the co-chaperone cell division cycle protein 37 (Cdc37) is a Ulk1 substrate. Ulk1-mediated phosphorylation of Ser-339 in Cdc37 compromised the recruitment of client kinases to a complex comprising Cdc37 and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) but only modestly affected Cdc37 binding to Hsp90. Because the recruitment of protein kinase clients to the Hsp90 complex is essential for their stability and functions, Ser-339 phosphorylation of Cdc37 disrupts its ability as a co-chaperone to coordinate Hsp90. Hsp90 inhibitors are cancer chemotherapeutic agents by inducing depletion of clients, many of which are oncogenes. Upon treatment with an Hsp90 inhibitor in cancer cells, Ulk1 promoted the degradation of Hsp90-Cdc37 client kinases, resulting in increased cellular sensitivity to Hsp90 inhibitors. Thus, our study provides evidence for an anti-proliferative role of Ulk1 in response to Hsp90 inhibition in cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoproteins can induce complement activation resulting in opsonization and binding of these complexes to complement receptors. We investigated the binding of opsonized native LDL and acetylated LDL (acLDL) to the complement receptor 1 (CR1). Binding of complement factors C3b, IgM, C1q, mannose-binding lectin (MBL), and properdin to LDL and acLDL were investigated by ELISA. Subsequent binding of opsonized LDL and acLDL to CR1 on CR1-transfected Chinese Hamster Ovarian cells (CHO-CR1) was tested by flow cytometry. Both native LDL and acLDL induced complement activation with subsequent C3b opsonization upon incubation with normal human serum. Opsonized LDL and acLDL bound to CR1. Binding to CHO-CR1 was reduced by EDTA, whereas MgEGTA only reduced the binding of opsonized LDL, but not of acLDL suggesting involvement of the alternative pathway in the binding of acLDL to CR1. In vitro incubations showed that LDL bound C1q, whereas acLDL bound to C1q, IgM, and properdin. MBL did neither bind to LDL nor to acLDL. The relevance of these findings was demonstrated by the fact that ex vivo up-regulation of CR1 on leukocytes was accompanied by a concomitant increased binding of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins to leukocytes without changes in LDL-receptor expression. In conclusion, CR1 is able to bind opsonized native LDL and acLDL. Binding of LDL to CR1 is mediated via the classical pathway, whereas binding of acLDL is mediated via both the classical and alternative pathways. Binding of lipoproteins to CR1 may be of clinical relevance due to the ubiquitous cellular distribution of CR1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) integrates multiple extracellular and intracellular signals to regulate cell growth and survival. Hyperactivation of mTOR has been observed in various cancers. Regulation of mTOR activity is thus of importance in physiological processes and tumor development. Here, we present pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) as a novel regulator of mTORC1 signaling. mTORC1 activity was augmented with PDK4 overexpression and reduced by PDK4 suppression in various cell lines. Furthermore, PDK4 bound to cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) and prevented its degradation. The enhanced CREB consequently transactivated the expression of Ras homolog enriched in brain (RHEB), a direct key activator of mTORC1, independent of AMP-activated protein kinase or tuberous sclerosis complex protein 2. PDK4 potentiated the mTORC1 effectors hypoxiainducible factor 1α and pyruvate kinase isozymes M2 and promoted aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect). Knockdown ofPDK4 suppressed the tumor development of cancer cells with activated mTORC1. The abundance of PDK4 dictated the responsiveness of cells to the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin. Combinatory suppression of mTOR and PDK4 exerted synergistic inhibition on cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, PDK4 promotes tumorigenesis through activation of the CREB-RHEBmTORC1 signaling cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]