The mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR, is a central regulator of cell growth. Its activity is regulated by Rheb, a Ras-like small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase), in response to growth factor stimulation and nutrient availability. We show that Rheb regulates mTOR through FKBP38, a member of the FK506-binding protein (FKBP) family that is structurally related to FKBP12. FKBP38 binds to mTOR and inhibits its activity in a manner similar to that of the FKBP12-rapamycin complex. Rheb interacts directly with FKBP38 and prevents its association with mTOR in a guanosine 5′-triphosphate (GTP)–dependent manner. Our findings suggest that FKBP38 is an endogenous inhibitor of mTOR, whose inhibitory activity is antagonized by Rheb in response to growth factor stimulation and nutrient availability.

Enzyme localization often plays a controlling role in determining its activity and specificity. Protein kinase C (PKC) has long been known to translocate in response to physiological stimuli as well as to exogenous ligands such as the phorbol esters. We report here that different phorbol derivatives and related ligands, selected for differences in chemical structure and profile of biological activity, induce distinct patterns of redistribution of PKC δ. Localization of a PKC δ-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion construct was monitored in living Chinese hamster ovary cells as a function of ligand, concentration, and time using confocal laser scanning microscopy. δ-PKC-GFP was expressed predominantly in the cytoplasm, with some in the nucleus and perinuclear region. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced plasma membrane translocation followed by slower nuclear membrane translocation. As the concentration of PMA increased, the proportion of nuclear to plasma membrane localization increased markedly. In contrast to PMA, bryostatin 1, a unique activator of PKC that induces a subset of PMA-mediated responses while antagonizing others, at all doses induced almost exclusively nuclear membrane translocation. Like PMA, the complete tumor promoter 12-deoxyphorbol 13-tetradecanoate induced plasma membrane and slower nuclear membrane translocation, whereas the inhibitor of tumor promotion 12-deoxyphorbol 13-phenylacetate, which differs only in its side chain, induced a distinctive distribution of PKC δ-GFP. Finally, the novel constrained diacylglycerol derivative B8-DL-B8 induced a slow Golgi localization. We speculate that differential control of PKC δ localization may provide an interesting strategy for producing ligands with differential biological consequences.

Metastasis is a multistep process starting with the dissemination of tumor cells from a primary site and ending with secondary tumor development in an anatomically distant location. The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that endows epithelial tumor cells with mesenchymal properties including reduced adhesion and increased motility, is considered a critical step driving the early phase of cancer metastasis. Although significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular characteristics of EMT, the intracellular mechanisms driving transition through the various stages of EMT remain unclear. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated the involvement of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor metastasis through modulating EMT. LncRNAs and their associated signaling networks have now emerged as new players in the induction and regulation of EMT during metastasis. Here we summarize the recent findings and characterizations of several known lncRNAs involved in the regulation of EMT. We will also discuss the potential use of these lncRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets to slow down or prevent metastatic spread of malignant tumors.

Protein kinase D (PKD) is a novel family of serine/threonine kinases targeted by the second messenger diacylglycerol. It has been implicated in many important cellular processes and pathological conditions. However, further analysis of PKD in these processes is severely hampered by the lack of a PKD-specific inhibitor that can be readily applied to cells and in animal models. We now report the discovery of the first potent and selective cell-active small molecule inhibitor for PKD, benzoxoloazepinolone (CID755673). This inhibitor was identified from the National Institutes of Health small molecule repository library of 196,173 compounds using a human PKD1 (PKCμ)-based fluorescence polarization high throughput screening assay. CID755673 suppressed half of the PKD1 enzyme activity at 182 nm and exhibited selective PKD1 inhibition when compared with AKT, polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), CDK activating kinase (CAK), CAMKIIα, and three different PKC isoforms. Moreover, it was not competitive with ATP for enzyme inhibition. In cell-based assays, CID755673 blocked phorbol ester-induced endogenous PKD1 activation in LNCaP cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Functionally, CID755673 inhibited the known biological actions of PKD1 including phorbol ester-induced class IIa histone deacetylase 5 nuclear exclusion, vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein transport from the Golgi to the plasma membrane, and the ilimaquinone-induced Golgi fragmentation. Moreover, CID755673 inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation, cell migration, and invasion. In summary, our findings indicate that CID755673 is a potent and selective PKD1 inhibitor with valuable pharmacological and cell biological potential.

Protein kinase D (PKD) is a family of novel diacylglycerol/phorbol ester targets that regulate many important cellular functions including cell growth and survival. We now provide experimental evidence to indicate that PKD3 contributes to prostate cancer cell growth and survival. Expression of PKD3 as well as PKD1 was significantly higher in human prostate tumors compared with normal tissues as revealed by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, PKD3 exhibited a marked increase in nuclear localization in tumor tissues, which correlated with tumor grade. Isoforms of PKD were differentially expressed and localized between normal and human prostate cancer cells. Increased protein expression and nuclear accumulation of PKD3 were observed in the more aggressive androgen-independent PC3 and DU145 cells compared with the less aggressive androgen-dependent LNCaP cells. Overexpression of wild-type PKD3 in LNCaP cells blocked phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced apoptosis in association with inhibition of PMA-induced down-regulation of Akt activity, and prolonged extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation. Overexpression of wild-type PKD3 also promoted S phase entry, whereas depletion of endogenous PKD3 resulted in G₀-G₁ phase cell cycle arrest and inhibition of PC3 cell proliferation. In PC3 and DU145 cells, PKCε regulated PKD3 kinase activity and nuclear localization. Moreover, ectopical expression of PKD3 increased, whereas depletion of endogenous PKD3 reduced basal Akt and ERK1/2 activities. Further analysis showed that up-regulation of Akt activity induced by PKD3 required phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase and p38. In summary, our data indicate that PKD3 contributes to growth and survival of prostate cancer cells and may represent a novel therapeutic target for prostate cancer. [Cancer Res 2008;68(10):3844–53]