H Yokokura

Nagoya University, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan

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Publications (14)37.08 Total impact

  • Article: Symmetric covalent linkage of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7) results in novel derivatives with increased inhibitory activities against calcium/calmodulin complex.
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    ABSTRACT: A useful calmodulin (CaM) antagonist, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), was invented by Hidaka et al. in 1978 (J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 207, 8-15). Here, we have designed new CaM antagonists on the basis of the three-dimensional structure of Ca2+/CaM complexed with W-7. Eleven new compounds all share a similar architecture, in which two W-7 molecules are linked between their aminohexyl termini by a linker with different functionalities. A wide range of inhibitory activities against Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase I (CaM kinase I) has been observed with these self-crosslinked W-7 analogs, (W-7)2. In vitro competitive CaM kinase I assays using CaM kinase I and nuclear magnetic resonance studies indicated that one (W-7)2 molecule binds to one CaM molecule as expected, with the two chloronaphthalene rings of (W-7)2 being anchored separately to the N- and C-terminal hydrophobic pockets of Ca2+/CaM. The most potent compound, N,N'-bis[6-(5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonyl)-amino-1-hexyl]-p-xylen e-diamine ((W-7)2 - 10), inhibits CaM kinase I activity at an IC50 value of 0.23 microM; about 75 times more effectively than W-7. The length and basicity of the linker sequence in (W-7)2 significantly contribute to inhibitory activity. The present study opens an avenue for developing powerful CaM antagonists that could be used at low doses in vivo.
    Drug Design and Discovery 12/1999; 16(3):203-16.
  • Article: Regulation of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase by calmodulin kinases.
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    ABSTRACT: Phosphorylation of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) by Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinases (CaM kinases) including CaM kinase Ialpha (CaM-K Ialpha), CaM kinase IIalpha (CaM-K IIalpha), and CaM kinase IV (CaM-K IV), was studied. It was found that purified recombinant nNOS was phosphorylated by CaM-K Ialpha, CaM-K IIalpha, and CaM-K IV at Ser847 in vitro. Replacement of Ser847 with Ala (S847A) prevented phosphorylation by CaM kinases. Phosphorylated recombinant wild-type nNOS at Ser847 (approximately 0.5 mol of phosphate incorporation into nNOS) exhibited a 30% decrease of Vmax with little change of both the Km for L-arginine and Kact for CaM relative to unphosphorylated enzyme. The activity of mutant S847D was decreased to a level 50-60% as much as the wild-type enzyme. The decreased NOS enzyme activity of phosphorylated nNOS at Ser847 and mutant S847D was partially due to suppression of CaM binding, but not to impairment of dimer formation which is thought to be essential for enzyme activation. Inactive nNOS lacking CaM-binding ability was generated by mutation of Lys732-Lys-Leu to Asp732-Asp-Glu (Watanabe, Y., Hu, Y., and Hidaka, H. (1997) FEBS Lett. 403, 75-78). It was phosphorylated by CaM kinases, as was the wild-type enzyme, indicating that CaM-nNOS binding was not required for the phosphorylation reaction. We developed antibody NP847, which specifically recognize nNOS in its phosphorylated state at Ser847. Using the antibody NP847, we obtained evidence that nNOS is phosphorylated at Ser847 in rat brain. Thus, our results suggest that CaM kinase-induced phosphorylation of nNOS at Ser847 alters the activity control of this enzyme.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 08/1999; 274(29):20597-602. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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    Article: Evidence for calmodulin inter-domain compaction in solution induced by W-7 binding.
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    ABSTRACT: Small-angle X-ray scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance were used to investigate the structural change of calcium-bound calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM) in solution upon binding to its antagonist, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7). The radius of gyration was 17.4+/-0.3 A for Ca2+/CaM-W-7 with a molar ratio of 1:5 and 20.3+/-0.7 A for Ca2+/CaM. Comparison of the radius of gyration and the pair distance distribution function of the Ca2+/CaM-W-7 complex with those of other complexes indicates that binding of two W-7 molecules induces a globular shape for Ca2+/CaM, probably caused by an inter-domain compaction. The results suggest a tendency for Ca2+/CaM to form a globular structure in solution, which is inducible by a small compound like W-7.
    FEBS Letters 02/1999; 442(2-3):173-7. · 3.54 Impact Factor
  • Article: Unique inhibitory action of the synthetic compound 2-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)] amino-N-(4-chlorocinnamyl)-N-methylbenzylamine (CKA-1306) against calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I.
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    ABSTRACT: A newly synthesized compound, 2-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)]amino-N-(4-chlorocinnamyl )-N-methylbenzylamine (CKA-1306), was found to inhibit cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaMK I) with IC50 values of 1.6+/-0.14 and 2.5+/-0.16 microM, respectively. In contrast, the established PKA inhibitors H-8 and H-89 inhibited CaMK I with relatively high IC50 values of >100 and 24.4+/-3.2 microM, respectively. An additional inhibitor, KN-62, against Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) did not inhibit either PKA or CaMK I at the concentrations tested. In our library of many isoquinolinesulfonamide derivatives, only CKA-1306 inhibited CaMK I to a satisfactory degree, suggesting a unique mode of action. Indeed, the inhibition of CaMK I by CKA-1306 was competitive in every respect to Mg2+/ATP, peptide substrate (syntide-2), and Ca2+/calmodulin. This phenomenon may be understood from the context of the recently determined structure of the enzyme in its autoinhibited state. Such kinetic analysis was also extended to cases using a phosphorylated and activated enzyme at Thr177 or a constitutively active, COOH-terminal truncated mutant at Gln293. CKA-1306 still competed with Mg2+/ATP for the two enzymes, but it no longer achieved any competitive advantage over syntide-2. These results may reflect some differences in the active conformation of CaMK I. However, the compound should be constant in its recognition of an Mg2+/ATP-binding site of the enzyme. Though CKA-1306 is not specific to CaMK I, the compound will be useful in studying the enzyme further under limited conditions.
    Biochemical Pharmacology 09/1998; 56(3):329-34. · 4.70 Impact Factor
  • Article: Isoform-specific activation and structural diversity of calmodulin kinase I.
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    ABSTRACT: We earlier confirmed that there are isoforms of Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase I (CaM kinase I) (CaM kinase Ibeta1 and Igamma) beside CaM kinase Ialpha by cDNA cloning (Yokokura, H., Terada, O., Naito, Y., and Hidaka, H. (1997) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1338, 8-12). Here, we demonstrate the existence of an isoform-specific activation mechanism of CaM kinase I and alternative splicing specifically regulating CaM kinase I (CaM kinase Ibeta2) in the central nervous system. To cast light on isoform structure-enzyme activity relationships, CaM kinase Ibeta1, Ibeta2, and Ialpha were expressed separately using a baculovirus/Sf9 cell expression system. The novel CaM kinase Ibeta2 isoform demonstrated similar catalytic activity to those of CaM kinase Ibeta1 and Ialpha. Interestingly, CaM kinase Ibeta1 and Ibeta2 both can activate CaM kinase Ialpha activity via phosphorylation at Thr177. Reverse transcribed-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that CaM kinase Ibeta2 is dominant in the cerebrum and cerebellum, whereas CaM kinase Ibeta1 is present in peripheral tissues such as liver, heart, lung, kidney, spleen, and testis. CaM kinase Ibeta2 was also detected with an anti-CaM kinase Ibeta2 antibody in PC12 cells. The results indicate that alternative splicing is a means for tissue-specific expression of CaM kinase Ibeta. Thus the Thr177 residue of CaM kinase Ialpha is phosphorylated by not only CaM kinase kinase but also CaM kinase Ibeta for activation of the enzyme.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 01/1998; 272(51):32704-8. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Isolation and comparison of rat cDNAs encoding Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I isoforms.
    H Yokokura, O Terada, Y Naito, H Hidaka
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    ABSTRACT: For possible multiple isoforms of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaM kinase I), only one cDNA (CaM kinase I alpha) hitherto has to been cloned. By screening of embryonic (E18) rat brain cDNA libraries, we have now isolated two additional examples (CaM kinase I beta and gamma). Northern blot analysis revealed CaM kinase I alpha to predominate over I beta and gamma in rat brain. Analysis of the tissue distribution of the isoforms by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) protocols demonstrated CaM kinase I alpha in a variety of tissues while the expression of CaM kinase I beta and gamma was more limited to the brain. The obtained results support the idea that CaM kinase I exists as a set of isoforms.
    Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 04/1997; 1338(1):8-12. · 4.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: Cascade activation of the calmodulin kinase family.
    Advances in second messenger and phosphoprotein research 02/1997; 31:151-7.
  • Article: HMN-709, a chlorobenzenesulfonamide derivative, is a new membrane-permeable calmodulin antagonist.
    H Yokokura, Y Okada, O Terada, H Hidaka
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    ABSTRACT: Our objective is to describe the basic chemical and biological properties of the new calmodulin antagonist HMN-709 (2-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(4-chlorobenzenesulfonyl)]amino-N-(4-flu orocinnamyl)-N-methylbenzylamine). This newly synthesized compound was found to inhibit the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent activation of calmodulin kinase I, smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase and Ca2+-phosphodiesterase with IC50 values of 1.57+/-0.21, 2.29+/-0.09 and 0.30+/-0.08 microM (mean+/-S.E.), respectively. This compound showed little or no effect on the Ca2+/calmodulin-independent activation of protein kinase A, protein kinase C and basal phosphodiesterase. In addition, HMN-709 inhibited calmodulin kinase I competitively with respect to calmodulin (Ki=0.88 microM) and non-competitively with respect to ATP. Affinity chromatography, with HMN-709-coupled Sepharose HP, showed that the compound bound to calmodulin in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner and did not bind to calmodulin kinase I. These results suggest that HMN-709 antagonizes calmodulin by binding to Ca2+/calmodulin. HMN-709 inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation with an IC50 value of 11.80+/-0.86 microM (mean+/-S.E.) without inhibiting phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-induced aggregation at doses up to 12 microM. HMN-709 appears to be a new, membrane-permeable calmodulin antagonist that may be used for studying the involvement of calmodulin in cellular processes.
    The Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 11/1996; 72(2):127-35.
  • Article: Ca2+ signaling and intracellular Ca2+ binding proteins.
    I Niki, H Yokokura, T Sudo, M Kato, H Hidaka
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    ABSTRACT: Changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations evoke a wide range of cellular responses and intracellular Ca(2+)-binding proteins are the key molecules to transduce Ca2+ signaling via enzymatic reactions or modulation of protein/protein interations (Fig.1). The EF hand proteins, like calmodulin and S100 proteins, are considered to exert Ca(2+)-dependent actions in the nucleus or the cytoplasm. The Ca2+/phospholipid binding proteins are classified into two groups, the annexins and the C2 region proteins. These proteins, distributed mainly in the cytoplasm, translocate to the plasma membrane in response to an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ and function in the vicinity of the membrane. Ca2+ storage proteins in the endoplasmic or sarcoplasmic reticulum provide the high Ca2+ capacity of the Ca2+ store sites, which regulate intracellular Ca2+ distribution. The variety and complexity of Ca2+ signaling result from the cooperative actions of specific Ca(2+)-binding proteins. This review describes biochemical properties of intracellular Ca(2+)-binding proteins and their proposed roles in mediating Ca2+ signaling.
    Journal of Biochemistry 11/1996; 120(4):685-98. · 2.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: A new and potent calmodulin antagonist, HF-2035, which inhibits vascular relaxation induced by nitric oxide synthase.
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    ABSTRACT: HF-2035, 2-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2,4,5-trichlorobenzenesulfonyl)] amino-N-(4-chlorocinnamyl)-N-methylbenzylamine, was synthesized and its effects on calmodulin-dependent enzymes were investigated. HF-2035 inhibited calmodulin kinase I, calmodulin kinase II and myosin light-chain kinase with IC50 values of 1.3 microM, 1.6 microM and 68 microM, respectively. HF-2035 also inhibited the activity of recombinant rat neuronal nitric oxide synthase, one of the calmodulin-dependent enzymes, with a Ki of 0.78 microM. Partially purified nitric oxide synthase of rat brain was also inhibited by HF-2035 with an IC50 of 3.2 microM. Kinetic analysis indicated that this inhibitory effect of HF-2035 was competitive with respect to calmodulin. We examined the effects of HF-2035 on constitutive nitric oxide synthase in a bioassay using vascular strips of rabbit carotid artery with and without endothelium. HF-2035 inhibited acetylcholine- and calcium ionophore, A23187 (6S-[6 alpha (2S*,3S*),8 beta (R*),9 beta, 11 alpha]-5- (methylamino)-2-[[3,9,11-trimethyl-8-[1-methyl-2-oxo-2-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)- ethyl]-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undec-2-yl]methyl]-4-benzoxazol ecarboxylic acid)-induced relaxation of endothelium-intact strips with an ED50 of 1.5 +/- 0.5 microM and 2.8 +/- 1 microM, respectively. This compound, however, did not inhibit N-nitroso-N-morpholinoaminoacetonitrile (SIN-1A), an exogenous nitric oxide donor, -induced relaxation of endothelium-denuded strips. W-7 (N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1- naphthalenesulfonamide) inhibited acetylcholine-induced relaxation with an ED50 of 46 +/- 7 microM, which was 30-fold less potent than HF-2035. HF-2035 was unable to inhibit the activity of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase in isolated thoracic aorta of rat treated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. These findings suggest that HF-2035 is a new and potent calmodulin antagonist, and may be used as a mother compound to develop more selective inhibitors of constitutive nitric oxide synthase.
    European Journal of Pharmacology 04/1996; 299(1-3):119-26. · 2.52 Impact Factor
  • Article: Molecular and cellular pharmacology of a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) inhibitor, KN-62, and proposal of CaM kinase phosphorylation cascades.
    H Hidaka, H Yokokura
    Advances in pharmacology (San Diego, Calif.) 02/1996; 36:193-219.
  • Article: The regulatory region of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I contains closely associated autoinhibitory and calmodulin-binding domains.
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    ABSTRACT: The mechanism for the regulation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaM kinase I) was investigated using a series of COOH-terminal truncated mutants. These mutants were expressed in bacteria as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase and purified by affinity chromatography using glutathione Sepharose 4B. A mutant (residues 1-332) showed complete Ca2+/CaM-dependent activity. Truncation mutants (residues 1-321, 1-314, and 1-309) exhibited decreasing affinities for Ca2+/CaM and also exhibited decreasing Ca2+/CaM-dependent activities. Truncation mutants (residues 1-305 or 1-299) were unable to bind Ca2+/CaM and were inactive. In contrast, truncation mutants (residues 1-293 or 1-277) were constitutively active at a slightly higher level (2-fold) than fully active CaM kinase I. These results indicate the location of the Ca2+/CaM-binding domain on CaM kinase I (residues 294-321) and predict the existence of an autoinhibitory domain near, or overlapping, the Ca2+/CaM-binding domain. These conclusions were supported by studies which showed that a synthetic peptide (CaM kinase I (294-321)) corresponding to residues 294-321 of CaM kinase I inhibited the fully active kinase in a manner that was competitive with Ca2+/CaM and also inhibited the constitutively active mutant (residues 1-293) in a manner that was competitive with Syntide-2, a peptide substrate, (Ki = 1.2 microM) but was non-competitive with ATP. Thus, these results suggest that CaM kinase I is regulated through an intrasteric mechanism common to other members of the family of Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinases.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 11/1995; 270(40):23851-9. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase cascade.
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    ABSTRACT: Recently we obtained evidence for the existence of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK), which was partially purified in the process of the purification step of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase V (CaM kinase V). This enzyme promoted phosphorylation of the autophosphorylation site on CaM kinase V and activated the activity (Mochizuki, H. et al. (1993) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 197, 1595-1600). Present study revealed that CaMKK also phosphorylated CaM kinase IV associated with the activation of its activity. Phosphorylation of CaM kinase IV by CaMKK occurred on multiple sites. Furthermore, CaM kinase IV and CaM kinase V phosphorylated each other which resulted in their activation. The phosphorylation site of CaM kinase V by CaM kinase IV was the same as the autophosphorylation site. Our study suggests the existence of a heretofore CaM kinases cascade consisting of a sequential activation of each CaM kinase.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 09/1994; 203(1):694-701. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase V and I may form a family of isoforms.
    T Ito, H Yokokura, A C Nairn, Y Nimura, H Hidaka
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    ABSTRACT: We reported that polyclonal antibody against Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase V (CaM kinase V) reacted to two proteins of rat cerebrum with a molecular mass of 40 and 41 kDa. This antibody revealed the immunoreactivity with CaM kinase I expressed in E. coli (recombinant CaM kinase I), of which molecular mass was 40 kDa, whereas 41 kDa mainly with purified CaM kinase V. The immunoreactive bands of recombinant CaM kinase I and CaM kinase V did not shift by phosphorylation or dephosphorylation. These results suggest that CaM kinase V and CaM kinase I may form a family of isoforms.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 07/1994; 201(3):1561-6. · 2.48 Impact Factor