2003, Vetter, Daniel, Kissmehl, Roland, Treptau, Tilman, Hauser, Karin, Kellermann, Josef, Plattner, Helmut

We have previously described the occurrence in Paramecium of a casein kinase (CK) activity (EC 2.7.1.37) with some unusual properties, including inhibition by Ca2+ (R. Kissmehl, T. Treptau, K. Hauser, and H. Plattner, FEBS Lett. 402:227-235, 1995). We now have cloned four genes, PtCK2α1 to PtCK2α4, all of which encode the catalytic α subunit of type 2 CK (CK2) with calculated molecular masses ranging from 38.9 to 39.4 kDa and pI values ranging from 8.8 to 9.0. They can be classified into two groups, which differ from each other by 28% on the nucleotide level and by 18% on the derived amino acid level. One of them, PtCK2α3, has been expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized in vitro. As we also have observed with the isolated CK, the recombinant protein preferentially phosphorylates casein but also phosphorylates some Paramecium specific substrates, including the exocytosis-sensitive phosphoprotein pp63/parafusin. Characteristically, Ca2+ inhibits the phosphorylation at elevated concentrations occurring during stimulation of a cell. Reconstitution with a recombinant form of the regulatory subunit from Xenopus laevis, XlCK2β, confirms Ca2+ sensitivity also under conditions of autophosphorylation. This is unusual for CK2 but correlates with the presence of two EF-hand calcium-binding motifs, one of which is located in the N-terminal segment essential for constitutive activity, as well as with an aberrant composition of normally basic domains recognizing acidic substrate domains. Immunogold localization reveals a considerable enrichment in the outermost cell cortex layers, excluding cilia. We discuss a potential role of this Ca2+-inhibited PtCK2α species in a late step of signal transduction.

1999, Kussmann, Martin, Hauser, Karin, Kissmehl, Roland, Breed, Jason, Plattner, Helmut, Roepstorff, Peter

PP63 (parafusin) is a 63 kDa phosphoprotein, which exists in at least two different isoforms. It is very rapidly (80 ms) dephosphorylated during triggered trichocyst exocytosis. This occurs selectively in exocytosis-competent Paramecium tetraurelia strains. At least two protein kinases isolated from Paramecium, casein kinase type II kinase and cGMP-dependent kinase, are able to phosphorylate the two recombinant PP63/parafusin isoforms, both with phosphoglucomutase activity, in vitro. By performing mass spectrometric peptide mapping, we have investigated in vitro phosphorylation of recombinant PP63/ parafusin by these kinases in comparison to in vivo phosphorylation of native PP63/parafusin isolated from Paramecium homogenates. Low picomolar quantities of proteolytic digests of recombinant and native PP63/parafusin, prior to and following alkaline phosphatase treatment, were directly analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry. In native PP63-1/parafusin-1, six of 64 serine and threonine residues (S-196, T-205, T-280, T-371, T-373, and T-469) were found definitely, 27 were found possibly phosphorylated, 28 were identified as nonphosphorylated, and three were not covered by mapping. Three of the six certainly phosphorylated amino acids represent consensus phosphorylation sites for casein kinase II or cGMPdependent protein kinase. In vitro phosphorylation studies of recombinant PP63/parafusin confirm that some of the sites found were used in vivo; however, also significant differences with respect to in vivo phosphorylation of native PP63/parafusin were observed. The two Paramecium protein kinases that were used do not preferably phosphorylate expected consensus sites in vitro. Homology structure modeling of PP63/parafusin with rabbit phosphoglucomutase revealed that the majority of residues found phosphorylated is located on the surface of the molecule.

1998, Kissmehl, Roland, Huber, Sabine, Kottwitz, Brunhilde, Hauser, Karin, Plattner, Helmut

Considering increasing interest in calcium stores in protozoa, including parasitic forms, and specifically in subplasmalemmal stores in higher eukaryotes, we have isolated subplasmalemmal calcium stores (alveolar sacs) from the ciliated protozoan, Paramecium tetraurelia. Using antibodies against established sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases (SERCAs) we detected in Western blots of subcellular fractions a band of 106 kDa size selectively in alveolar sacs but not, for example, in plasma membranes and concomitant restriction of immunofluorecence labelling to the cell cortex of permeabilised cells. These results are the same as with ABs against a peptide derived from a cloned SERCA-like gene from Paramecium [Hauser K., Pavlovic N., Kissmehl R., Plattner H. Molecular characterization of a sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase gene from Paramecium tetraurelia and localisation of its gene product to subplasmalemmal calcium stores. Biochem J 1998; 334: 31 38]. When such isolated alveolar sacs were now tested for phosphoenzyme intermediate (EP) formation, a phosphoprotein of the same apparent molecular mass (106 kDa) as in blots could be identified in gel autoradiograms. This EP corresponds to that formed in the reaction cycle of different SERCA-types, with dependency on Ca2+ and Mg2+, sensitivity to La3+ or insensitivity towards calmodulin, calmodulin antagonists and vanadate. However, EP formation in alveolar sacs is not inhibited by established SERCA inhibitors (e.g. thapsigargi[ci]n tested up to 100 μM). Surprisingly, caffeine, which is frequently used to mobilise Ca2+ from intracellular stores, strongly inhibits EP formation. In parallel experiments, we did not find any similar effect with sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from skeletal muscle. We conclude that the 106 kDa protein of alveolar sacs in Paramecium may represent a SERCA-like Ca2+-ATPase with some unorthodox features, which might be relevant also for some other protozoan systems. In this case, the established Ca2+-mobilizing effect of caffeine may be amplified by inhibiting store refilling.

1997, Kissmehl, Roland, Treptau, Tilman, Hauser, Karin, Plattner, Helmut

This is the first identification of a Ca2+-inhibitable casein kinase (CPK) which we have isolated from the 100 000×g supernatant of Paramecium cell homogenates. The 1000-fold enriched CPK activity depends on millimolar Mg2+ and is inhibited by low concentrations of heparin or by ≥100 μM Ca2+. Enzyme activity is stimulated by polylysine or polyarginine with either casein or with specific casein kinase-2 (CK-2) peptide substrates (RRRDDDSDDD and RREEETEEE). The enzymic properties are similar with GTP instead of ATP. CPK does not undergo autophosphorylation. In gel kinase assays, enzyme activity is associated with a 36 kDa band. Calmodulin as another characteristic substrate for mammalian CK-2 has not been phosphorylated by this protein kinase. Besides casein, CPK phosphorylates in vitro the catalytic subunit of bovine brain calcineurin (CaN), a typical substrate of type 1 mammalian casein kinase (CK-1) in vitro. Again this phosphorylation is significantly reduced by Ca2+. Thus, CPK combines aspects of different casein kinases, but it is clearly different from any type known by its Ca2+ inhibition. Since CPK also phosphorylates the exocytosis-sensitive phosphoprotein, PP63, in Paramecium, which is known to be dephosphorylated by CaN, an antagonistic Ca2+-effect during phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycles may be relevant for exocytosis regulation.

2002, Müller, Simone, Diederichs, Kay, Breed, Jason, Kissmehl, Roland, Hauser, Karin, Plattner, Helmut, Welte, Wolfram

During exocytosis of dense-core secretory vesicles (trichocysts) in Paramecium, the protein pp63/parafusin (pp63/pf) is transiently dephosphorylated. We report here the structures of two crystal forms of one isoform of this protein which has a high degree of homology with rabbit phosphoglucomutase, whose structure has been reported. As expected, both proteins possess highly similar structures, showing the same four domains forming two lobes with an active-site crevice in between. The two X-ray structures that we report here were determined after crystallization in the presence of sulfate and tartrate, and show the lobes arranged as a closed and an open conformation, respectively. While both conformations possess a bound divalent cation, only the closed (sulfate-bound) conformation shows bound sulfate ions in the ''phosphate-transfer site'' near the catalytic serine residue and in the ''phosphate-binding site''. Comparison with the open form shows that the latter dianion is placed in the centre of three arginine residues, one contributed by subunit II and two by subunit IV, suggesting that it causes a contraction of the arginine triangle, which establishes the observed conformational closure of the lobes. It is therefore likely that the closed conformation forms only when a phosphoryl group is bound to the phosphate-binding site. The previously published structure of rabbit phosphoglucomutase is intermediate between these two conformers. Several of the known reversible phosphorylation sites of pp63/pf-1 are at positions critical for transition between the conformations and for binding of the ligands and thus give hints as to possible roles of pp63/pf-1 in the course of exocytosis.

1999, Plattner, Helmut, Flötenmeyer, Matthias, Kissmehl, Roland, Pavlovic, Nada, Hauser, Karin, Momayezi, Massoud, Braun, N., Tack, Jens, Bachmann, Luis

We localized SERCA pumps to the inner region of alveolar sac membranes, facing the cell interior, by combining ultrastructural and biochemical methods. Immunogold labeling largely predominated in the inner alveolar sac region which displayed aggregates of intramembrane particles (IMPs). On image analysis, these represented oligomeric arrangements of ~8-nm large IMP subunits, suggesting formation of SERCA aggregates (as known from sarcoplasmic reticulum). We found not only monomers of typical molecular size (~106 kD) but also oligomeric forms on Western blots (using anti-SERCA antibodies, also against endogenous SERCA from alveolar sacs) and on electrophoresis gelautoradiographs of 32P-labeled phosphoenzyme intermediates. Selective enrichment of SERCA-pump molecules in the inner alveolar sac membrane region may eliminate Ca2+ after centripetal spread observed during exocytosis activation, while the plasmalemmal Ca2+ pump may maintain or reestablish [Ca2+] in the narrow subplasmalemmal space between the outer alveolar sac membrane region and the cell membrane. We show for the first time the microzonal arrangement of SERCA molecules in a Ca2+ store of a secretory system, an intensely discussed issue in stimulus secretion coupling research.

1998, Kissmehl, Roland, Hauser, Karin, Gössringer, Markus, Momayezi, Massoud, Klauke, Norbert, Plattner, Helmut

We have localized a structure-bound fraction of the exocytosis-sensitive phosphoprotein, PP63/parafusin (PP63/pf), in Paramecium cells by widely different methods. We combined cell fractionation, western blots, as well as light and electron microscopy (pre- and postembedding immunolabeling), applying antibodies against the recombinant protein. PP63/pf is considerably enriched in certain cortical structures, notably the outlines of regular surface fields (kinetids), docking sites of secretory organelles (trichocysts) and the membranes of subplasmalemmal Ca2+-stores (alveolar sacs). From our localization studies we tentatively derive several potential functions for PP63/pf, including cell surface structuring, assembly of exocytosis sites, and/or Ca2+ homeostasis.

2000, Hauser, Karin, Haynes, W. John, Kung, Ching, Plattner, Helmut, Kissmehl, Roland

In this paper we describe the expression of green fluoresent protein (GFP) as a reporter in vivo to monitor transformation in Paramecium cells. This is not trivial because of the limited number of strong promoters available for heterologous expression and the very high AT content of the genomic DNA, the consequence of which is a very aberrant codon usage. Taking into account differences in codon usage we selected and modified the original GFP open reading frame (ORF) from Aequorea victoria and placed the altered ORF into the Paramecium expression vector pPXV. Injection of the linearized plasmid into the macronucleus resulted in a cytoplasmic fluorescence signal in the clonal descendants, which was proportional to the number of copies injected. Southern hybridization indicated the establishment and replication of the plasmid during vegetative growth. Expression was also monitored by Northern and Western analysis. The results indicate that the modified GFP can be used in Paramecium as a reporter for transformation as an alternative to selection with antibiotics and that it may also be used to construct and localize fusion proteins.

1998-08-15, Hauser, Karin, Pavlovic, Nada, Kissmehl, Roland, Plattner, Helmut

A cDNA encoding the gene for a sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum-type Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA) was isolated from a cDNA library of Paramecium tetraurelia by using degenerated primers according to conserved domains of SERCA-type ATPases. The identified nucleotide sequence (PtSERCA) is 3114 nucleotides in length with an open reading frame of 1037 amino acids. An intron of only 22 nucleotides occurs. Homology searches for the deduced amino acid sequence revealed 38-49% similarity to SERCA-type ATPases from organisms ranging from protozoans to mammals, with no more similarity to some parasitic protozoa of the same phylum. The calculated molecular mass of the encoded protein is 114.7 kDa. It contains the typical 10 transmembrane domains of SERCA-type ATPases and other conserved domains, such as the phosphorylation site and the ATP binding site. However, there are no binding sites for phospholamban and thapsigargin present in the PtSERCA. Antibodies raised against a cytoplasmic loop peptide between the phosphorylation site and the ATP binding site recognize on Western blots a protein of 106 kDa, exclusively in the fraction of sub-plasmalemmal calcium stores ('alveolar sacs'). In immunofluorescence studies the antibodies show labelling exclusively in the cell cortex of permeabilized cells in a pattern characteristic of the arrangement of alveolar sacs. When alveolar sacs where tested for phosphoenzyme-intermediate formation a phosphoprotein of the same molecular mass (106 kDa) could be identified.

1997, Hauser, Karin, Kissmehl, Roland, Linder, Jürgen, Schultz, Joachim E., Lottspeich, Friedrich, Plattner, Helmut

PP63 (parafusin) is a 63 kDa phosphoprotein which is very rapidly (within 80 ms) dephosphorylated (to P63) during triggered trichocyst exocytosis; this occurs selectively in exocytosis-competent Paramecium tetraurelia strains. In the present work, two cDNAs coding for PP63}parafusin have been isolated, one of which is a new isoform. These isoforms are 99.6% identical and are derived from two different genes. Similarity searches revealed 43±51% identity of the deduced
amino acid sequences with known phosphoglucomutases from yeast and mammals. The sequences of two proteolytic peptides obtained from PP63}parafusin isolated from Paramecium are identical to parts of the amino acid sequence deduced from the major cDNA. The major cDNA was mutated from the macronuclear ciliate genetic code into the universal genetic code and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein shows the same biochemical and immunological characteristics as the (P)P63}parafusin originally isolated from Paramecium. It has the same specifc phosphoglucomutase activity as phosphoglucomutase from chicken muscle. We also show that recombinant P63-1}parafusin 1 is a substrate of an endogenous casein kinase from Paramecium, as is the originally isolated P63}parafusin.
Polyclonal antibodies against recombinant P63-1}parafusin 1 were raised which recognized phosphoglucomutases from different sources. Thus we show that PP63}parafusin and phosphoglucomutase in Paramecium are identical.