Work

Controlling Phosphate Removal with Light: The Development of Optochemical Tools to Probe Protein Phosphatase Function

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Protein phosphatases play an essential role in cell signaling; however, they remain understudied compared with protein kinases, in part due to a lack of appropriate tools. In order to provide conditional control over phosphatase function, we developed two different approaches for rendering MKP3 (a dual-specific phosphatase, also termed DUSP6) activatable by light. Specifically, we expressed the protein with strategically placed light-removable protecting groups in cells with an expanded genetic code. This allowed for the acute perturbation of the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway upon photoactivation in live cells. In doing so, we confirmed that MKP3 does not act as a thresholding gate for growth factor stimulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ESRK) pathway.

Source: SLAS DISCOVERY

DOI: 10.1177/2472555220918519

Authors: Taylor M. Courtney, Alexander Deiters

Institution: University of Pittsburgh

Language: English

Topic: Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000

Funders: National Science Foundation, Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems