Extracellular stimuli elicit changes in gene expression in target cells by activating intracellular protein kinase cascades that phosphorylate transcription factors within the nucleus. One of the best characterized stimulus-induced transcription factors, cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB), activates transcription of target genes in response to a diverse array of stimuli, including peptide hormones, growth factors, and neuronal activity, that activate a variety of protein kinases including protein kinase A (PKA), pp90 ribosomal S6 kinase (pp90RSK), and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs)[corrected]. These kinases all phosphorylate CREB at a particular residue, serine 133 (Ser133), and phosphorylation of Ser133 is required for CREB-mediated transcription. Despite this common feature, the mechanism by which CREB activates transcription varies depending on the stimulus. In some cases, signaling pathways target additional sites on CREB or proteins associated with CREB, permitting CREB to regulate distinct programs of gene expression under different conditions of stimulation. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms by which Ser133-phosphorylated CREB activates transcription, intracellular signaling pathways that lead to phosphorylation of CREB at Ser133, and features of each signaling pathway that impart specificity at the level of CREB activation.

CREB: a stimulus-induced transcription factor activated by a diverse array of extracellular signals.

Guanylate cyclase and the ⋅NO/cGMP signaling pathway

Molecular cloning has permitted identification of several novel isoforms of mammalian adenylyl cyclase; these proteins now comprise a family of at least 10. All of the membrane-bound enzymes are activated by the alpha subunit of G alpha, a receptor-regulated, heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein, and by the diterpene forskolin. Certain cyclases are also activated by Ca(2+)-calmodulin, while some are inhibited by the alpha subunits of the three Gi proteins. The discovery of new isoforms has also revealed unanticipated mechanisms of regulation, including activation or inhibition by the G-protein beta gamma subunit complex, inhibition by G(o) alpha, inhibition by Ca2+, and phosphorylation by protein kinases C and A. The effects of activators are often highly synergistic or conditional, suggesting function of these enyzmes as coincidence detectors. The plethora of receptors, G proteins, and adenylyl cyclases permits assembly of very complex signaling systems with a wide variety of integrative characteristics.

Complexity and Diversity of Mammalian Adenylyl Cyclases

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is implicated in multiple biological processes including metabolism, gene expression, cell fate determination, proliferation, and survival. GSK-3 activity is inhibited through phosphorylation of serine 21 in GSK-3 alpha and serine 9 in GSK-3 beta. These serine residues of GSK-3 have been previously identified as targets of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), a serine/threonine kinase located downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Here, we show that serine 21 in GSK-3 alpha and serine 9 in GSK-3 beta are also physiological substrates of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A. Protein kinase A physically associates with, phosphorylates, and inactivates both isoforms of GSK-3. The results indicate that depending on the stimulatory context, the activity of GSK-3 can be modulated either by growth factors that work through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B cascade or by hormonal stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors that link to changes in intracellular cAMP levels.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/97/22/11960.full.pdf

Phosphorylation and inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 by protein kinase A

Activation of adenylate cyclase by the diterpene forskolin does not require the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein.

The diterpene, forskolin [half-maximal effective concentration (EC50), 5-10 microM] activates adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] in rat cerebral cortical membranes in a rapid and reversible manner. Activation is not dependent on exogenous guanyl nucleotides and is not inhibited by guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) when assayed with adenosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate as substrate. GTP and GDP potentiate responses to forskolin. The activations of adenylate cyclase by forskolin and guanosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate p[NH]ppG are not additive, whereas activations by forskolin and fluoride are additive or partially additive. The responses of adenylate cyclase to forskolin or fluoride are not inhibited by manganese ions, whereas the response to p[NH]ppG is completely blocked. Activation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin is considerably greater than the activation by fluoride in membranes from rat cerebellum, striatum, heart, and liver, while being about equal or less than the activation by fluoride in other tissues. Forskolin (EC50, 25 microM) causes a rapid and readily reversible 35-fold elevation of cyclic AMP in rat cerebral cortical slices that is not blocked by a variety of neurotransmitter antagonists. Low concentrations of forskolin (1 microM) augment the response of cyclic AMP-generating systems in brain slices to norepinephrine, isoproterenol, histamine, adenosine, prostaglandin E2, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Forskolin would appear to activate adenylate cyclase through a unique mechanism involving both direct activation of the enzyme and facilitation or potentiation of the modulation of enzyme activity by receptors or the guanyl nucleotide-binding subunit, or both.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/78/6/3363.full.pdf

Forskolin: unique diterpene activator of adenylate cyclase in membranes and in intact cells.

https://www.cell.com/trends/pharmacological-sciences/pdf/S0165-6147(89)80008-2.pdf

Forskolin: a specific stimulator of adenylyl cyclase or a diterpene with multiple sites of action?

https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/0014-5793%2880%2980942-2

A 113Cd NMR study of calmodulin and its interaction with calcium, magnesium and trifluoperazine

A frog used for "hunting magic" by several groups of Panoan-speaking Indians in the borderline between Brazil and Peru is identified as Phyllomedusa bicolor. This frog's skin secretion, which the Indians introduce into the body through fresh burns, is rich in peptides. These include vasoactive peptides, opioid peptides, and a peptide that we have named adenoregulin, with the sequence GLWSKIKEVGKEAAKAAAKAAGKAALGAVSEAV as determined from mass spectrometry and Edman degradation. The natural peptide may contain a D amino acid residue, since it is not identical in chromatographic properties to the synthetic peptide. Adenoregulin enhances binding of agonists to A1 adenosine receptors; it is accompanied in the skin secretion by peptides that inhibit binding. The vasoactive peptide sauvagine, the opioid peptides, and adenoregulin and related peptides affect behavior in mice and presumably contribute to the behavioral sequelae observed in humans.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/89/22/10960.full.pdf

Kenneth B. Seamon

Papers

Forskolin: unique diterpene activator of adenylate cyclase in membranes and in intact cells.

Forskolin: a specific stimulator of adenylyl cyclase or a diterpene with multiple sites of action?

A 113Cd NMR study of calmodulin and its interaction with calcium, magnesium and trifluoperazine

Frog secretions and hunting magic in the upper Amazon: identification of a peptide that interacts with an adenosine receptor.

Forskolin photoaffinity labels with specificity for adenylyl cyclase and the glucose transporter