Positive regulation of Wee1 by Chk1 and 14-3-3 proteins

Mol Biol Cell. 2001 Mar;12(3):551-63. doi: 10.1091/mbc.12.3.551.

Abstract

Wee1 inactivates the Cdc2-cyclin B complex during interphase by phosphorylating Cdc2 on Tyr-15. The activity of Wee1 is highly regulated during the cell cycle. In frog egg extracts, it has been established previously that Xenopus Wee1 (Xwee1) is present in a hypophosphorylated, active form during interphase and undergoes down-regulation by extensive phosphorylation at M-phase. We report that Xwee1 is also regulated by association with 14-3-3 proteins. Binding of 14-3-3 to Xwee1 occurs during interphase, but not M-phase, and requires phosphorylation of Xwee1 on Ser-549. A mutant of Xwee1 (S549A) that cannot bind 14-3-3 is substantially less active than wild-type Xwee1 in its ability to phosphorylate Cdc2. This mutation also affects the intranuclear distribution of Xwee1. In cell-free kinase assays, Xchk1 phosphorylates Xwee1 on Ser-549. The results of experiments in which Xwee1, Xchk1, or both were immunodepleted from Xenopus egg extracts suggested that these two enzymes are involved in a common pathway in the DNA replication checkpoint response. Replacement of endogenous Xwee1 with recombinant Xwee1-S549A in egg extracts attenuated the cell cycle delay induced by addition of excess recombinant Xchk1. Taken together, these results suggest that Xchk1 and 14-3-3 proteins act together as positive regulators of Xwee1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 14-3-3 Proteins
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Cycle Proteins*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Checkpoint Kinase 1
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA Replication
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Female
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Spodoptera
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / genetics
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism*
  • Xenopus
  • Xenopus Proteins

Substances

  • 14-3-3 Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Protein Kinases
  • WEE1 protein, Xenopus
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Checkpoint Kinase 1
  • Chek1 protein, Xenopus
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase