Protein Phosphorylation during Coconut Zygotic Embryo Development<sup><a href="#FN1" rid="FN1" class=" fn">1</a></sup>
Plant Material
Seeds were collected from coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) groves in the Yucatán Península, México, and transported to the laboratory. The embryo developmental stages were arbitrarily defined, taking the first pollinated inflorescence as stage 0; stages 1 to 16 correspond to inflorescences of increasing maturity. Embryos were excised from the seeds in the laboratory and immediately processed.
Tissue Homogenization
Embryos were excised from seeds and immediately homogenized in buffer containing: 50 mm Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 10 mm sodium pyrophosphate, 50 mm NaCl, 250 mm Suc, 10% glycerol, 1 mm EGTA, 0.2 mm orthovanadate, 1 mm PMSF, 1 mm β-mercaptoethanol, and 1 μg/mL leupeptin and aprotinin (extraction buffer). Homogenates were centrifuged at 14,000g for 30 min. Supernatants were further centrifuged at 100,000g for 45 min at 4°C. The supernatants (5–7 mg protein/mL), referred as the soluble fraction, were snap-frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen prior to analysis.
Protein Quantification
Protein concentration of samples was measured according to the method of Smith et al. (1985), using the bicinchorinic acid protein assay reagent and BSA as the standard (Pierce).
In Vitro Phosphorylation Assay
Aliquots of soluble fractions (100 μg of protein) were incubated at 30°C with 20 mm Hepes, pH 7.0, 10 mm MgCl2, 0.1 mm orthovanadate, and 50 μm ATP plus 2 μCi/nmol [γ-P]ATP (NEN-Dupont). After 15 min, the reaction was stopped with Laemmli buffer (Laemmli, 1970) and heated for 5 min at 85°C. The samples were analyzed by 10% SDS/PAGE (40 V, overnight) and electroblotted onto Nitroplus transfer membrane (Micron Separations, Westborough, MA) for 5 h at 50 V. Phosphoprotein bands were visualized by autoradiography.
Immunoblot Analysis
Proteins in the soluble fractions were phosphorylated (or not) in vitro as described above, except that [γ-P]ATP was not added. After 15 min, the reaction was stopped with Laemmli buffer and heated for 5 min at 85°C. The samples were analyzed by 10% SDS/PAGE (40 V, overnight) and either stained with Coomassie blue or electroblotted onto Nitroplus transfer membrane for 5 h at 50 V. Filters were blocked in 5% defatted milk in TBS-T buffer (50 mm Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 150 mm NaCl, and 0.1% Tween 20) for 60 min. Membranes were washed in TBS-T buffer twice for 15 min and then probed in a 1:1000 dilution of recombinant anti-PY coupled to horseradish peroxidase RC20H (Transduction Laboratories, Lexington, KY) for 1 h at room temperature. The membranes were washed twice for 15 min in 100 mL (each time) of TBS-T buffer. Immunodetection was revelated in a dark room by exposing membranes for 1 min in enhanced chemiluminescence reagent (Amersham).
Protein Tyr Kinase Assay
This assay was done as described for in vitro phosphorylation in the presence of 10 μg of RR-SRC (GIBCO-BRL), and the reaction was stopped by precipitation with a cold solution of 10% TCA. The mixture was centrifuged at 14,000g for 10 min at 4°C. The supernatant was loaded onto phosphocellulose filters (Life Technologies). Filters were washed twice with 1% acetic acid and water and dried, and the radioactivity was determined by Cerenkov counting. Two controls were used in this assay: one with the extract alone in the absence of RR-SRC and another in the presence of RR-SRC but in the absence of protein extract. In both cases the activity was less than 1 pmol and was subtracted.
Alkaline Treatment
Proteins in the soluble fraction (100 μg) were phosphorylated in vitro in the presence of 10 μCi/nmol of [γ-P]ATP (NEN-Dupont) for 15 min, and the reaction was stopped with Laemmli buffer and heated for 5 min at 60°C. Samples were analyzed by 10% SDS/PAGE (40 V, overnight). Proteins were blotted onto a Hybond-PVDF membrane (Amersham) at 50 V for 5 h. Membranes were divided into two identical fractions that contained the same samples. One membrane was incubated in 1 m KOH at 56°C for 90 min, and the control membrane was maintained in water in the same conditions as the KOH-treated membrane. Membranes were independently washed twice (5 min each time) in 100 mL (each time) of TN buffer (10 mm Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, and 150 mm NaCl) followed by two washes in 1 m Tris-HCl, pH 7.0, and distilled water. Membranes were dried and exposed to autoradiography for 48 h at −80°C.
Protein Hydrolysis
[P]-labeled proteins were excised from PVDF membranes as strips (0.2 cm wide). The strips were rewet in methanol for 1 min and then rewet in 0.5 mL of water and placed into a glass ampule containing 300 μL of 6 n HCl (Sigma). The ampules were sealed and incubated at 110°C for 2 h in an oven (Duo-Vac, Lab-Line, Melrose Park, IL). At the end of the hydrolysis, the ampules were cooled at room temperature and centrifuged at 14,000g for 1 min. Then seals were broken and the hydrolysates were transferred to 13- × 100-mm glass tubes (Pyrex) and dried for 30 min in a Speedvac (Savant, Fullerton, CA). The dried hydrolysates were resuspended in 50 μL of distilled and deionized water and dried in the Speedvac as above. This step was repeated three times, and the hydrolysates were resuspended in 10 μL of distilled and deionized water.
Phosphoamino Acid Analyses
Protein of hydrolysate aliquots (7 μL) was loaded onto 20- × 20-cm cellulose TLC plates (Aldrich precoated TLC plates: cellulose on glass with 254-nm fluorecent indicator, 250-μm layer thickness, and fiber length of 2–20 μm). In each sample, 10 μg of internal phosphoamino acid standards (phosphoserine, phosphothreonine, and phosphotyrosine; Sigma) were included, and the phosphoamino acid standards were also loaded onto parallel lanes singly and as a mixture. The plates were developed first with n-propanol:0.5 n HCl (2:1, v/v) followed by n-butanol:acetic acid:water (100:22:50, v/v) in the same direction. The phosphoamino acid standards were located by staining with ninhydrin spray reagent (Sigma) and pencil marked. The plates were dried before autoradiography at −80°C with an intensifier.
Extracts of Cell Line A431
Extracts of the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 were used as a postive control, since it is well documented (Sorkin et al., 1991; Rodríguez-Zapata and Hernández-Sotomayor, 1998) that this line contains kinase activity for Ser, Thr, and Tyr residues and substrates for these kinases. One of these substrates, the EGF receptor, has Ser, Thr, and Tyr residues that can be phosphorylated, and it also has Tyr kinase activity. A431 cells were treated with EGF and extracted with Triton X-100 as described previously (Hernández-Sotomayor et al., 1991). A431 cells were kindly provided by Dr. Graham Carpenter (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN).
Embryo Development
Changes in size and form were observed during embryo development. Form changed from round (stages 10–12) to cylindrical (stages 14–16). Length, base width, and fresh weight increased as the embryo developed, reaching maximum values, 6.6 mm, 3.7 mm, and 90 mg respectively, at stages 13 to 14 (Fig. (Fig.1). 1).
Alkaline Treatment
[γ-P]ATP-phosphorylated proteins from the soluble fraction of developmental stages 11 and 15 were transferred to Hybond-PVDF membranes, treated with KOH, and autoradiographed (48 h at −80°C). Both the control membrane that was not treated with KOH and cell line A431 showed a complex pattern of bands from the developing embryo samples, some showing high-intensity signals (Fig. (Fig.2A).2A). After alkaline treatment a high content of P was removed, as shown by the decrease in signal intensity of bands (Fig. (Fig.2B).2B). Several of the bands disappeared, but some remained, although with a weaker signal, such as those at 175, 156, 125, 62, 44, 37, and 33 kD (stage 11), and 37 kD (stage 15). In contrast, some bands remained with a strong signal, such as those at 41 kD (stages 11 and 15). In line A431 the signal of several bands remained after alkaline treatment (Fig. (Fig.2B).2B). The signal of the EGF receptor (170 kD) was not detected before or after treatment.
Phosphoamino Acid Analysis of [P]-Labeled Protein Hydrolysates
TLC of P-labeled protein from coconut hydrolysates of the full complement proteins (developmental stages 11 and 15) showed two signals that comigrated with authentic phosphothreonine and phosphoserine, but phosphotyrosine was not detectable (Fig. (Fig.3A).3A). In cell line A431 the three phosphoamino acids were detectable. However, phosphoamino acid analysis of blotted proteins that remained [P] labeled after treatment with KOH not only revealed the occurrence of phosphothreonine and phosphoserine, but also of phosphotyrosine, which was the most abundant phosphoamino acid (Fig. (Fig.3B).3B). In hydrolysates of proteins from A431 cells the three phosphoamino acids were detected, as well as three additional bands that were not identified.
Tyr Kinase Assay
Soluble fractions from embryos of stages 10 to 16 were able to phosphorylate RR-SRC (Pike et al., 1982). This peptide is specific for Tyr kinases, because in its sequence it has a single phosphorylation site, a Tyr residue (RRLIEEDAE[Y]AARG), and it is extensively used to characterize Tyr kinase activity (Pike et al., 1982). The results showed two peaks of activity, one during early development (stages 11–12) and another during late development (stages 15–16) (Fig. (Fig.4A).4A). Extracts of A431 cells were able to phosphorylate RR-SRC as well. The ability of embryo-soluble fractions (stages 11 and 15) to phosphorylate RR-SRC was reduced with the addition of genistein (extensively used in animal cells as a specific Tyr kinase inhibitor: O'Dell et al., 1991; Fry and Bridges, 1995) to about 50% (stages 11 and 15) when used at 200 μm, and to 25% (stage 11) and 5% (stage 15) when used at 400 μm (Fig. (Fig.4B).4B). Similarly, the addition of genistein to extracts of A431 cells also reduced their ability to phosphorylate RR-SRC (Fig. (Fig.4B). 4B).
Immunoblot Analysis
Soluble fractions of developing embryos (stages 10–16) were incubated (or not for controls) for in vitro phosphorylation prior to SDS-PAGE and protein blotting. The occurrence of basal phosphorylation in Tyr residues, which was detected as anti-PY, revealed the presence of several bands in the untreated controls (Fig. (Fig.5A).5A). The intensity of some of the bands changed during development. For bands at 51, 53, and 41 kD, it was greater during early development (stages 10–12) and decreased during late development (stages 13–16). In contrast, the bands at 37, 35, and 24 kD showed low intensity during the early stages, which increased notably later (at stage 14). In samples subjected to in vitro phosphorylation, the intensity of those bands observed in the controls increased and additional bands were detectable (Fig. (Fig.5B).5B). Both basal and enhanced Tyr phosphorylation showed a differential pattern, depending on the developmental stage. The intensity of the bands at 175, 151, 125, 108, 75, 67, 62, 51, 44, and 41 kD was greater during early development (stages 10–13) than in later stages of development. In contrast, two additional major phosphotyrosine-containing bands of approximately 31 and 24 kD were observed only during late development (stages 14–16). When 1 mm phosphotyrosine was added to the antibody preparation, with the exception of two bands at 47.5 and 37 kD, the band patterns were not revealed (Fig. (Fig.5C).5C). These bands did not appear when the concentration of phosphotyrosine was increased to 2 mm (not shown). When extracts from tissue surrounding the embryo and tissues of vegetative parts (root, stem, and leaf) were assayed, no signal was observed in the immunoblots (not shown).
Immunodetection of the extract of A431 cells revealed bands at 107, 86, and 37 kD, and a major one at 170 kD corresponds to the EGF receptor (Fig. (Fig.5,5, A and B). Surprisingly, the EFG receptor Tyr phosphorylation was detected by immunoblot and not after alkaline treatment (Fig. (Fig.2).2). A possible explanation for this discrepancy is the fact that to have signal after the alkali treatment, the proteins had to incorporate P-PO4 during the in vitro phosphorylation. If those proteins, like the EGF-receptor band, were already Tyr phosphorylated in vivo, the incorporation of P expected in vitro would not be the same as for a protein that was not totally Tyr phosphorylated in vivo. It is important to remember that in this case, A431 cells were incubated in vivo with EGF to activate Tyr phosphorylation. With the addition of phosphotyrosine the pattern was not revealed (Fig. (Fig.55C).
Abstract
Evidence was obtained on the occurrence of protein threonine, serine, and tyrosine (Tyr) kinases in developing coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) zygotic embryos, based on in vitro phosphorylation of proteins in the presence of [γ-P]ATP, alkaline treatment, and thin-layer chromatography analysis, which showed the presence of [P]phosphoserine, [P]phosphothreonine, and [P]phosphotyrosine in [P]-labeled protein hydrolyzates. Tyr kinase activity was further confirmed in extracts of embryos at different stages of development using antiphosphotyrosine monoclonal antibodies and the synthetic peptide derived from the amino acid sequence surrounding the phosphorylation site in pp60 (RR-SRC), which is specific for Tyr kinases. Anti-phosphotyrosine western blotting revealed a changing profile of Tyr-phosphorylated proteins during embryo development. Tyr kinase activity, as assayed using RR-SRC, also changed during embryo development, showing two peaks of activity, one during early and another during late embryo development. In addition, the use of genistein, a Tyr kinase inhibitor, diminished the ability of extracts to phosphorylate RR-SRC. Results presented here show the occurrence of threonine, serine, and Tyr kinases in developing coconut zygotic embryos, and suggest that protein phosphorylation, and the possible inference of Tyr phosphorylation in particular, may play a role in the coordination of the development of embryos in this species.
Substantial progress in the understanding of the events that govern embryo formation has been achieved in a variety of animal and nonplant systems; however, much less is known of this subject in plants (Brownlee and Berger, 1995). During embryogenesis a precise control of events such as cell division, differentiation, and growth is required (Turner, 1991). In animal systems these events appear to be regulated by protein phosphorylation through a concerted action of kinases (Simon et al., 1993; Turner, 1994; Hou et al., 1995) and phosphatases (Cyert and Thorner, 1989; Sun and Tonks, 1994). Most of the protein phosphorylation in cells occurs in residues of Ser and Thr, and in minor proportion in residues of Tyr. In the case of Tyr phosphorylation, a role in embryogenesis in animal cells has been suggested, since changes in the levels of protein Tyr phosphorylation have been shown to accompany embryo development in vertebrates (Maher and Pasquale, 1988; Turner, 1991, 1994; Gilardi-Hebenstreit et al., 1992; Nieto et al., 1992; Snider, 1994) and invertebrates (Shilo, 1992; Perrimon, 1993).
The occurrence of protein phosphorylation and kinase activity in plants has been reported in several species (for review, see Stone and Walker, 1995). According to these reports, it seems that protein phosphorylation occurs more abundantly in Ser and Thr residues than in Tyr residues (Reddy et al., 1987; Saluja et al., 1987; Stone and Walker, 1995). Nevertheless, Tyr protein phosphorylation and Tyr kinase activity have already been reported in a few plant species, such as pea (Torruela et al., 1986; Håkansson and Allen, 1995), alfalfa (Duerr et al., 1993), tobacco (Suzuki and Shinshi, 1995; Zhang et al., 1996), and maize (Trojanek et al., 1996).
The present study reports the occurrence of protein kinase activities in developing coconut zygotic embryos, which can phosphorylate proteins in Thr, Ser, and Tyr residues. Particular changes in the patterns of phosphorylated proteins and Tyr kinase activity during coconut embryo development are also described.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank Dr. Graham Carpenter for generous assistance with reagents and advice, Dr. Roger Ashburner for revision of the manuscript, and Sue Carpenter for administrative support with the Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award grant.
Abbreviations:
A431 | human carcinoma cell line |
anti-PY | antiphosphotyrosine antibodies |
EGF | epidermal growth-factor receptor |
RR-SRC | synthetic peptide derived from the amino acid sequence surrounding the phosphorylation site in pp60src |
Footnotes
This work was supported by Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award (grant no. RO3TW00263), the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) (grant no. 0014P-N9506), the Commission of the European Communities EC-STD (grant no. ERBTS3*CT940298), and a CONACYT Fellowship to I.I.-F. (no. 89535).