Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: DrugBank:APRD00631 (Gel)
 14,881 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The P-450 side chain cleavage (CYP11A1) gene encodes the enzyme that catalyzes the initial step in steroid biosynthesis, resulting in the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. Expression of the CYP11A1 gene is increased by hormones, such as adrenocorticotropin and luteinizing hormone, as well as by a number of growth factors, suggesting that its promoter may contain regulatory elements that respond to multiple signal transduction pathways. Using transient expression assays of the ovine CYP11A1 promoter in JEG-3 placental cells, distinct regulatory elements were found to mediate transcriptional stimulation by cAMP and epidermal growth factor (EGF). The cAMP response was mediated through a GC-rich sequence localized between -117 and -92. In contrast, EGF induced CYP11A1 transcription through an adjacent but distinct sequence (-92 to -77 base pairs) that was shown previously to bind nuclear proteins in DNase I footprinting reactions. This EGF-responsive element (EGF-RE) resembles an activator protein-1 (AP-1) site and was also required for transactivation by co-transfected c-Jun. A point mutation within the EGF-RE impaired stimulation by both EGF and c-Jun, suggesting that these pathways converge on a common regulatory element. Transfer of single or multiple copies of the EGF-RE upstream of an heterologous promotor conferrd EGF and c-Jun responses, providing further evidence that this element is sufficient for both responses. Transfection studies employing mutant c-Jun proteins confirmed a requirement for its DNA binding, leucine zipper and amino-terminal domains, each of which are required for activation of a classical AP-1 reporter. Gel shift studies demonstrated that protein binding to the CYP11A1 EGF-RE was competed specifically by a canonical AP-1 site, and the addition of an anti-JUN antibody confirmed the presence of AP-1 proteins. Consistent with the possibility that EGF may act in part via c-Jun, EGF stimulated the activity of a chimeric GAL4 c-Jun protein, indicating that JUN can serve as a potential target of EGF in JEG-3 cells. EGF also induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activity, and a dominant negative mutant of mitogen-activated protein kinase partially blocked EGF stimulation of GAL4 c-Jun activity. We conclude that EGF stimulates the CYP11A1 promoter through an AP-1 like element and that c-Jun is one of the targets of EGF action.
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PMID:Epidermal growth factor and c-Jun act via a common DNA regulatory element to stimulate transcription of the ovine P-450 cholesterol side chain cleavage (CYP11A1) promoter. 762 50

Nerve growth factor (NGF) activates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade through a p21ras-dependent signal transduction pathway in PC12 cells. The linkage between p21ras and MEK1 was investigated to identify those elements which participate in the regulation of MEK1 activity. We have screened for MEK activators using a coupled assay in which the MAP kinase cascade has been reconstituted in vitro. We report that we have detected a single NGF-stimulated MEK-activating activity which has been identified as B-Raf. PC12 cells express both B-Raf and c-Raf1; however, the MEK-activating activity was found only in fractions containing B-Raf. c-Raf1-containing fractions did not exhibit a MEK-activating activity. Gel filtration analysis revealed that the B-Raf eluted with an apparent M(r) of 250,000 to 300,000, indicating that it is present within a stable complex with other unidentified proteins. Immunoprecipitation with B-Raf-specific antisera quantitatively precipitated all MEK activator activity from these fractions. We also demonstrate that B-Raf, as well as c-Raf1, directly interacted with activated p21ras immobilized on silica beads. NGF treatment of the cells had no effect on the ability of B-Raf or c-Raf1 to bind to activated p21ras. These data indicate that this interaction was not dependent upon the activation state of these enzymes; however, MEK kinase activity was found to be associated with p21ras following incubation with NGF-treated samples at levels higher than those obtained from unstimulated cells. These data provide direct evidence that NGF-stimulated B-Raf is responsible for the activation of the MAP kinase cascade in PC12 cells, whereas c-Raf1 activity was not found to function within this pathway.
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PMID:The mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade is activated by B-Raf in response to nerve growth factor through interaction with p21ras. 793 11

PC12-E2 cells, a stable variant subcloned from native cell populations, produce neurites in a rapid, transcription-independent manner upon exposure to nerve growth factor (NGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). They also give a similar morphological response to interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is, however, transcription-dependent and with a slower onset, a phenomenon basically not observed in native PC12 cells. The response profile of PC12-E2 cells to NGF and bFGF is similar to that observed for native PC12 cells pre-exposed (primed) to NGF, and such cells also respond to IL-6 in a fashion indistinguishable from PC12-E2 cells. Mechanistically, NGF and bFGF induce a sustained phosphorylation and activation of ERK1 and ERK2 in both cells, while IL-6 produces only a transient and weak tyrosine phosphorylation. However, it does stimulate a prolonged and biphasic tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Stat3 (signal transducers and activators of transcription 3; at least 24 h) and, to a lesser extent, Stat1. Gel shift and supershift analyses confirm that IL-6 predominantly activates Stat3 (and some Stat1) and stimulates sis-inducible element binding activity. Other members of the same cytokine subfamily, including ciliary neurotrophic factor and leukemia inhibitory factor, also cause a transient initial phase of tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Stat1 and Stat3 (up to 1 h) but fail to stimulate a second phase of response and do not produce significant neurites. These results suggest that sustained signaling of either STAT or ERK pathways in PC12-E2 cells leads to induction of neuronal differentiation. However, only the latter is effective in native PC12 cells as the activation of Stat3 and Stat1 in native PC12 cells by IL-6 fails to induce neuronal differentiation. Thus, the response of PC12-E2 cells to IL-6 suggests the constitutive expression of a required factor(s) for differentiation, that is induced in native PC12 cells by NGF or bFGF (possibly by ERK activation), but not by IL-6 via Janus kinase/STAT activation. This factor(s), which has a sufficient half-life to allow primed cells to remain responsive to IL-6 for several days, is necessary but not sufficient for differentiation (as measured by neurite proliferation) to occur.
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PMID:Induction of neurite outgrowth by interleukin-6 is accompanied by activation of Stat3 signaling pathway in a variant PC12 cell (E2) line. 866 45

Phosphatidic acid (PA), generated by phospholipase D activation, has been linked to the activation of the neutrophil respiratory burst enzyme, NADPH oxidase; however, the intracellular enzyme targets for PA remain unclear. We have recently shown (McPhail, L. C., Qualliotine-Mann, D., and Waite, K. A. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92, 7931-7935) that a PA-activated protein kinase is involved in the activation of NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system. This protein kinase phosphorylates numerous endogenous proteins, including p47-phox, a component of the NADPH oxidase complex. Phospholipids other than PA were less effective at inducing endogenous protein phosphorylation. Several of these endogenous substrates were also phosphorylated during stimulation of intact cells by opsonized zymosan, an agonist that induces phospholipase D activation. We sought to identify the PA-activated protein kinase that phosphorylates p47-phox. The PA-dependent protein kinase was shown to be cytosolic. cis-Unsaturated fatty acids were poor inducers of protein kinase activity, suggesting that the PA-activated protein kinase is not a fatty acid-regulated protein kinase (e.g. protein kinase N). Chromatographic techniques separated the PA-activated protein kinase from a number of other protein kinases known to be activated by PA or to phosphorylate p47-phox. These included isoforms of protein kinase C, p21 (Cdc42/Rac)-activated protein kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase. Gel filtration chromatography indicated that the protein kinase has an apparent molecular size of 125 kDa. Screening of cytosolic fractions from several cell types and rat brain suggested the enzyme has widespread cell and tissue distribution. The partially purified protein kinase was sensitive to the same protein kinase inhibitors that diminished NADPH oxidase activation and was independent of guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate and Ca2+. Phosphoamino acid analysis showed that serine and tyrosine residues were phosphorylated on p47-phox by this kinase(s). These data indicate that one or more potentially novel protein kinases are targets for PA in neutrophils and other cell types. Furthermore, a PA-activated protein kinase is likely to be an important regulator of the neutrophil respiratory burst by phosphorylation of the NADPH oxidase component p47-phox.
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PMID:Phosphatidic acid-mediated phosphorylation of the NADPH oxidase component p47-phox. Evidence that phosphatidic acid may activate a novel protein kinase. 918 94

Research over the past few years has demonstrated the central role of protein phosphorylation in regulating mitosis and the cell cycle. However, little is known about how the mechanisms regulating the entry into mitosis contribute to the positional and temporal regulation of the actomyosin-based contractile ring formed during cytokinesis. Recent studies implicate p34cdc2 as a negative regulator of myosin II activity, suggesting a link between the mitotic cycle and cytokinesis. In an effort to study the relationship between protein phosphorylation and cytokinesis, we examined the in vivo and in vitro phosphorylation of actin-associated cortical cytoskeletal (CSK) proteins in an isolated model of the sea urchin egg cortex. Examination of cortices derived from eggs or zygotes labeled with 32P-orthophosphate reveals a number of cortex-associated phosphorylated proteins, including polypeptides of 20, 43 and 66 kDa. These three major phosphoproteins are also detected when isolated cortices are incubated with [32P]ATP in vitro, suggesting that the kinases that phosphorylate these substrates are also specifically associated with the cortex. The kinase activities in vivo and in vitro are stimulated by fertilization and display cell cycle-dependent activities. Gel autophosphorylation assays, kinase assays and immunoblot analysis reveal the presence of p34cdc2 as well as members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, whose activities in the CSK peak at cell division. Nocodazole, which inhibits microtubule formation and thus blocks cytokinesis, significantly delays the time of peak cortical protein phosphorylation as well as the peak in whole-cell histone H1 kinase activity. These results suggest that a key element regulating cortical contraction during cytokinesis is the timing of protein kinase activities associated with the cortical cytoskeleton that is in turn regulated by the mitotic apparatus.
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PMID:Microtubule-entrained kinase activities associated with the cortical cytoskeleton during cytokinesis. 921 23

The involvement of serine/threonine protein phosphatases in signaling pathways that control the expression of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene in human chondrocytes was examined. Okadaic acid (OKA), an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 (PP-1) and 2A (PP-2A), induced a delayed, time-dependent increase in the rate of COX-2 gene transcription (runoff assay) resulting in increased steady-state mRNA levels and enzyme synthesis. The latter response was dose dependent over a narrow range of 1-30 nmol/L with declining expression and synthesis of COX-2 at higher concentrations due to cell toxicity. The delayed increase in COX-2 mRNA expression was accompanied by the induction of the proto-oncogenes c-jun, junB, junD, and c-fos (but not FosB or Fra-1). Increased phosphorylation of CREB-1/ATF-1 transcription factors was observed beginning at 4 h and reached a zenith at 8 h. Gel-shift analysis confirmed the up-regulation of AP-1 and CRE nuclear binding proteins, though there was little or no OKA-induced nuclear protein binding to SP-1, AP-2, NF-kappaB or NF-IL-6 regulatory elements. OKA-induced nuclear protein binding to 32P-CRE oligonucleotides was abrogated by a pharmacological inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), KT-5720; the latter compound also inhibited OKA-induced COX-2 enzyme synthesis. Calphostin C (CalC), an inhibitor of PKC isoenzymes, had little effect in this regard. Inhibition of 12P-CRE binding was also observed in the presence of an antibody to CREB-binding protein (265-kDa CBP), an integrator and coactivator of cAMP-responsive genes. The binding to 32P-CRE was unaffected in the presence of excess radioinert AP-1 and COX-2 NF-IL-6 oligonucleotides, although a COX-2 CRE-oligo competed very efficiently. 32P-AP-1 consensus sequence binding was unaffected by incubation of chondrocytes with KT-5720 or CalC, but was dramatically diminished by excess radioinert AP-1 and CRE-COX-2 oligos. Supershift analysis in the presence of antibodies to c-Jun, c-Fos, JunD, and JunB suggested that AP-1 complexes were composed of c-Fos, JunB, and possibly c-Jun. OKA has no effect on total cellular PKC activity but caused a delayed time-dependent increase in total PKA activity and synthesis. OKA suppressed the activity of the MAP kinases, ERK1/2 in a time-dependent fashion, suggesting that the Raf-1/MEKK1/MEK1/ERK1,2 cascade was compromised by OKA treatment. By contrast, OKA caused a dramatic increase in SAPK/JNK expression and activity, indicative of an activation of MEKK1/JNKK/SAPK/JNK pathway. OKA stimulated a dose-dependent activation of CAT activity using transfected promoter-CAT constructs harboring the regulatory elements AP-1 (c-jun promoter) and CRE (CRE-tkCAT). We conclude that in primary phenotypically stable human chondrocytes, COX-2 gene expression may be controlled by critical phosphatases that interact with phosphorylation dependent (e.g., MAP kinases:AP-1, PKA:CREB/ATF) signaling pathways. AP-1 and CREB/ATF families of transcription factors may be important substrates for PP-1/PP-2A in human chondrocytes.
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PMID:Transcriptional induction of cyclooxygenase-2 gene by okadaic acid inhibition of phosphatase activity in human chondrocytes: co-stimulation of AP-1 and CRE nuclear binding proteins. 962 Jan 67

FSH is an alpha/beta heterodimeric glycoprotein, the formation of which is regulated primarily by expression of its beta-subunit. Recent studies on transcriptional regulation of the ovine FSH beta-subunit gene (oFSHbeta) have defined two functional activating protein-1 (AP-1) enhancers in the proximal promoter (located at -120 and -83 bp) that are probably physiologically important for FSHbeta expression. As GnRH is a major regulator of FSHbeta expression and is also known to stimulate the synthesis of Jun and Fos family members (AP-1), we investigated the possibility that oFSHbeta transcription may be regulated by GnRH through AP-1. Here we report the use of an in vitro cell system involving transient transfection of GnRH receptors (GnRHR) into HeLa cells to define regulatory elements involved in GnRH-mediated induction of oFSHbeta. This system was used to show that expression of luciferase constructs containing either the -4741/+759 region of the oFSHbeta gene (-4741oFSHbeta-Luc) or the -846/+44 region of the human alpha gene (alpha-Luc; a positive control) was stimulated 3.1 +/- 0.3- and 7.7 +/- 1.9-fold, respectively, by 100 nM GnRH. Another luciferase expression plasmid containing the Rous sarcoma virus promoter (a negative control) showed no response to GnRH. Similar results with these constructs were obtained in COS-7 cells. Studies with progressive 5'-deletion constructs and site-specific mutations demonstrated that this stimulation was dependent on each AP-1 site in the proximal promoter of oFSHbeta. Gel shift assays demonstrated the ability of GnRHR in HeLa cells to increase AP-1 binding activity. Responses in the HeLa cell system were dependent on GnRH (ED50 = 0.5 nM) and GnRHR, which was identified by photoaffinity labeling. In addition, GnRHR-expressing HeLa cells exhibited a normal GnRH-dependent mobilization of intracellular calcium. Finally, as protein kinase C (PKC) is a known target of GnRH action in gonadotropes, the role of PKC in transcriptional regulation of oFSHbeta and alpha-subunit genes by GnRH in HeLa cells was investigated. Although 12-O-tetradecanoyl 13-acetate induction of alpha-Luc and -215oFSHbeta-Luc could be completely blocked in a dose-dependent manner by the specific PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I, only 57-65% of the GnRH-mediated stimulation of these promoters was blocked, demonstrating the involvement of PKC as well as other signaling systems in GnRH induction. These data define a molecular action of GnRH on oFSHbeta gene transcription that involves two proximal AP-1 enhancer elements and PKC activation. Furthermore, these studies establish the usefulness of HeLa and COS-7 cells to investigate specific aspects of GnRH action on gonadotropin subunit gene expression, as similar signaling pathways and transcription factors that are activated by GnRH in gonadotropes (such as PKC, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Ca2+, and AP-1) exist in these cells.
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PMID:Transcriptional activation of the ovine follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit gene by gonadotropin-releasing hormone: involvement of two activating protein-1-binding sites and protein kinase C. 979 52

The M26 meiotic recombination hot spot in the ade6 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is activated by the heterodimeric M26 binding protein Mts1-Mts2. The individual Mts1 (Atf1, Gad7) and Mts2 (Pcr1) proteins are also transcription factors involved in developmental decisions. We report that the Mts proteins are key effectors of at least two distinct classes of developmental decisions regulated by the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade. The first class (osmoregulation, spore viability, and spore quiescence) requires the Spc1 MAP kinase and the Mts1 protein but does not require the Mts2 protein. The second class (mating, meiosis, and recombination hot spot activation) requires the Spc1 kinase and the Mts1-Mts2 heterodimer. Northern and Western blotting eliminated any significant role for the Spc1 kinase in regulating the expression levels of the Mts proteins. Gel mobility shift experiments indicated that the Mts1-Mts2 heterodimer does not need to be phosphorylated to bind to ade6-M26 DNA in vitro. However, in vivo dimethyl sulfate footprinting demonstrated that protein-DNA interaction within cells is dependent upon the Spc1 MAP kinase, which phosphorylates the Mts1 protein. Thus, the Spc1 kinase helps regulate the effector activities of the Mts1-Mts2 heterodimer in part by modulating its ability to occupy the M26 DNA site in vivo. Meiotic recombination hot spot function is likely the result of DNA conformational changes imparted by binding of the Mts1-Mts2 meiotic transcription factor.
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PMID:Regulation of the Mts1-Mts2-dependent ade6-M26 meiotic recombination hot spot and developmental decisions by the Spc1 mitogen-activated protein kinase of fission yeast. 981 43

1. We have previously found that human chymase cleaves big endothelins (ETs) at the Tyr31-Gly32 bond and produces 31-amino acid ETs (1-31), without any further degradation products. In this study, we investigated the effect of synthetic ET-1 (1-31) on the proliferation of cultured human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs). 2. ET-1 (1-31) increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell numbers to a similar extent as ET-1 at 100 nM. This ET-1 (1-31)-induced [3H]-thymidine uptake was not affected by phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of ET-converting enzyme. It was, however, inhibited by BQ123, an endothelin ET(A) receptor antagonist, but not by BQ788, an endothelin ET(B) receptor antagonist. 3. By using an in-gel kinase assay, we demonstrated that ET-1 (1-31) activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in a concentration-dependent manner (100 pM to 1 microM) in HCASMCs. ET-1 (1-31)-induced ERK1/2 activation was inhibited by BQ123, but not by BQ788 and phosphoramidon. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) and ERK kinase also caused a reduction of ET-1 (1-31)-induced ERK1/2 activation, whereas tyrosine kinase inhibition had little effect. 4. Gel-mobility shift analysis revealed that the ERK1/2 activation was followed by an increase in transcription factor activator protein-1 DNA binding activity in HCASMCs. 5. Our results strongly suggest that ET-1 (1-31) itself stimulates HCASMC proliferation probably through endothelin ET(A) or ET(A)-like receptors. The underlining mechanism of cell growth by ET-1 (1-31) may be explained in part by PKC-dependent ERK1/2 activation. Since human chymase has been proposed to play a role in atherosclerosis, ET-1 (1-31) may be one of the mediators.
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PMID:Effect of endothelin-1 (1-31) on extracellular signal-regulated kinase and proliferation of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. 984 40

Rat-2 fibroblasts demonstrate specific binding of 125I-labelled rat adrenomedullin (KD=0.43 nM; Bmax=50 fmol/mg of protein) in the absence of 125I-labelled calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) binding. Therefore Rat-2 cells were used to examine the pharmacology and signal transduction pathways of adrenomedullin receptors. We examined the effects of adrenomedullin, the CGRP receptor antagonist CGRP-(8-37) and the amylin antagonists AC187 and AC253 on receptor binding and cAMP production. AC253, AC187 and CGRP-(8-37) inhibited 125I-adrenomedullin binding, with respective IC50 values of 25+/-8, 129+/-39 and 214+/-56 nM. Adrenomedullin dose-dependently increased intracellular cAMP (approximate EC50=1.0 nM). CGRP-(8-37), AC253 and AC187 antagonized adrenomedullin-stimulated cAMP production at micromolar concentrations. Using kinase-substrate assays, Mono Q FPLC and 'phospho-specific' Western blotting, we found that adrenomedullin alone abolished basal mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and dose-dependently inhibited platelet-derived-growth-factor-stimulated MAPK activity. Radioimmunoassay for adrenomedullin of media from Rat-2 cells showed a linear release of adrenomedullin-like immunoreactivity of 3.1 fmol/h per 2x10(6) cells. Gel-filtration chromatography showed that this adrenomedullin-like immunoreactivity co-eluted with synthetic rat adrenomedullin. Northern blotting with a rat adrenomedullin cDNA probe was used to confirm the presence of adrenomedullin mRNA. However, neither Northern blotting nor reverse transcriptase-PCR showed the presence of the cloned adrenomedullin receptor (L1). We conclude that the Rat-2 cell line expresses a specific adrenomedullin receptor (coupled to cAMP production and regulation of MAPK) and secretes adrenomedullin, which may participate in a regulatory control loop.
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PMID:Rat-2 fibroblasts express specific adrenomedullin receptors, but not calcitonin-gene-related-peptide receptors, which mediate increased intracellular cAMP and inhibit mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. 993 Dec 92


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