Protein phosphorylation-mediated regulation of signaling, growth and transcription is not only key to normal cellular regulation, but also is commonly dysregulated in cancers. Many anti-cancer drugs are specifically directed at kinases. Protein GlcNAcylation (O-GlcNAc) is nearly as abundant as Ser(Thr) phosphorylation. O- GlcNAc cycles like phosphorylation, and is often competitive with it. O-GcNAc regulates signaling, transcription, and cytoskeletal functions in response to nutrients and stress. Recent glycoproteomic studies have revealed surprisingly extensive crosstalk or interplay between GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation. This crosstalk results not only from competition for occupancy at the same or proximal sites, but also by each modification regulating the activities of the other's enzymes. For example, O-GlcNAc Transferase is regulated by phosphorylation and kinases are regulated by GlcNAcylation. The goal of this study is to elucidate the global crosstalk between GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation at the individual site level and to understand the extent and mechanisms as to how GlcNAcylation regulates kinases.
Aim 1 : Elucidate the Dynamic Crosstalk Between GlcNAcylation and Phosphorylation. A. Using short-term treatments of HeLa cells with a general kinase inhibitor or a general phosphatase inhibitor, combined with novel quantitative glyco-proteomic methods, we will determine the changes in O-GlcNAc site occupancy on hundreds of proteins induced by a global increase or decrease in phosphorylation. These studies will not only reveal details of interplay, but will also identify many rapidly cycling O-GlcNAc sites on key regulatory proteins. B. A similar glyco-proteomic quantification of site occupancy will be performed to examine the affects of inhibiting single kinases (aurora kinase, mTOR, GSK32, Akt, PKC1) using specific inhibitors.
Aim 2 : Regulation of Kinases by GlcNAcylation. We will continue to identify GlcNAcylated kinases and study their regulation by O-GlcNAc, focusing initially on CAMKIV, PKC1, AKT, and Src.
Aim 3 : Study the Roles of O-GlcNAc in Cytokinesis. OGT transiently co-localizes with kinases, phosphatases, and O-GlcNAcase at the cell's mid-body during cytokinesis. Over-expression of OGT prevents cytokinesis causing polyploidy. We are elucidating the roles of the interplay of these enzymes and their substrates in regulating cytokinesis. Without a better understanding of the interplay between GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation, we will not understand the full picture of the regulation of signaling cascades that are key to cellular functions and that are dysregulated in cancer. Until recently, we have not had the technology required to study this interplay on a global level at individual sites. Data from these studies will set the foundation and lead to tools for future biological investigations that will lead to totally new avenues of therapeutic development.

Public Health Relevance

Many cancers are caused by dysregulation of signaling cascades in cells. While most research is focused on phosphorylation, we know little about a potentially equally important regulator of signaling involving the attachment of sugar to cellular proteins. This study will reveal the interplay between this sugar and phosphate in the regulation of signaling cascades important to cancer, and will open new avenues for drug development.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA042486-29
Application #
8209284
Study Section
Membrane Biology and Protein Processing (MBPP)
Program Officer
Spalholz, Barbara A
Project Start
1986-05-01
Project End
2014-01-31
Budget Start
2012-02-01
Budget End
2013-01-31
Support Year
29
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$349,566
Indirect Cost
$136,416
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Ma, Junfeng; Hart, Gerald W (2017) Analysis of Protein O-GlcNAcylation by Mass Spectrometry. Curr Protoc Protein Sci 87:24.10.1-24.10.16
Bullen, John W; Balsbaugh, Jeremy L; Chanda, Dipanjan et al. (2014) Cross-talk between two essential nutrient-sensitive enzymes: O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). J Biol Chem 289:10592-606
Hardivillé, Stéphan; Hart, Gerald W (2014) Nutrient regulation of signaling, transcription, and cell physiology by O-GlcNAcylation. Cell Metab 20:208-13
Copeland, Ronald J; Han, Guanghui; Hart, Gerald W (2013) O-GlcNAcomics--Revealing roles of O-GlcNAcylation in disease mechanisms and development of potential diagnostics. Proteomics Clin Appl 7:597-606
Hart, Gerald W (2013) Nutrient regulation of immunity: O-GlcNAcylation regulates stimulus-specific NF-?B-dependent transcription. Sci Signal 6:pe26
Hart, Gerald W (2013) How sugar tunes your clock. Cell Metab 17:155-6
Ma, Junfeng; Hart, Gerald W (2013) Protein O-GlcNAcylation in diabetes and diabetic complications. Expert Rev Proteomics 10:365-80
Banerjee, Partha S; Hart, Gerald W; Cho, Jin Won (2013) Chemical approaches to study O-GlcNAcylation. Chem Soc Rev 42:4345-57
Alfaro, Joshua F; Gong, Cheng-Xin; Monroe, Matthew E et al. (2012) Tandem mass spectrometry identifies many mouse brain O-GlcNAcylated proteins including EGF domain-specific O-GlcNAc transferase targets. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:7280-5
Tarrant, Mary Katherine; Rho, Hee-Sool; Xie, Zhi et al. (2012) Regulation of CK2 by phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation revealed by semisynthesis. Nat Chem Biol 8:262-9

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