p62 forms a ternary complex with PKCζ and PAR-4 and antagonizes PAR-4-induced PKCζ inhibition

It has been reported that prostate apoptosis response-4 (PAR-4) binds to and inhibits protein kinase Czeta (PKCzeta) which phosphorylates IkappaB kinase beta (IKKbeta) for nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activation, while p62 binds to and recruits PKCzeta to the NFkappaB signaling complex. Thus, a mechanism to coordinate the two binding proteins for the regulation of PKCzeta is expected to exist. The present data show that p62 and PAR-4 do not compete for PKCzeta binding but directly interact each other and form a ternary complex with PKCzeta. Furthermore, p62 not only enhances the catalytic activity of PKCzeta but also reactivates catalytically inactive PAR-4-bound PKCzeta. As the result, overexpression of p62 protects cells front PAR-4-mediated inactivation of NFkappaB and apoptotic death. Thus, the regulatory role of p62 for free and PAR-4-bound PKCzeta is important in activation of NFkappaB. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.