Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.5.1.18 (glutathione S-transferase)
22,582 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The 21 kDa Ras proteins are well known for their regulatory role in oncogenic, mitogenic, and developmental signaling pathways. Less well understood are the downstream signal transduction cascades initiated by Ras in response to external stimuli. Only recently have many diverse studies in lower eukaryotes and vertebrates converged to demonstrate that Ras directly regulates multiple signaling pathways. In most eukaryotes, Ras functions as a positive regulator of an ERK/MAPK signal transduction cascade through the activation of a MEKK. In mammalian cells the primary Ras-responsive MEKK is the protein kinase Raf. Although Raf remains the most significant mediator of Ras signaling in most model systems, it does not explain all the biochemical responses observed in cells with activated Ras proteins. Yeast two hybrid and GST-fusion protein binding studies have identified new proteins distinct from Raf that could interact with Ras in other signaling pathways. In addition to Raf, other potential Ras target proteins include MEKK1, PI(3)K, p120GAP, ralGDS, and PKC zeta. This review will attempt to summarize the current literature of accepted and potential Ras-dependent signaling proteins in both lower eukaryotes and vertebrates.
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PMID:Ras target proteins in eukaryotic cells. 755 21

The Ste20p protein kinase was immunopurified from yeast cells and analyzed in an in vitro assay system. Ste20p immune complexes exhibited autophosphorylating activity at serine and threonine residues and specifically phosphorylated a bacterially expressed glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion of Ste11p (a mitogen-activated protein or extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) kinase homologue) at serine and threonine residues. In contrast, GST fusions either of Ste7p (a MEK homologue) or the beta-subunit of the mating response G-protein and immunoprecipitated Ste5p were not phosphorylated by the Ste20p immune complexes. Myelin basic protein was identified as an excellent in vitro substrate, whereas histone H1 was only poorly phosphorylated. Evidence was obtained that autophosphorylation might play a regulatory role for the in vitro kinase activity. The in vitro activity was found to be Ca(2+)-independent. Both the in vivo and in vitro activities were abolished by mutational changes of either the conserved lysine residue 649 within the ATP binding site or threonine 777 between the catalytic subdomains VII and VIII. Wild-type Ste20p and the catalytically inactive T777A mutant were identified as phosphoproteins in vivo. The phosphorylation occurred at serine and threonine residues independent of pheromone stimulation. Based on the genetically determined significance of Ste20p in pheromone signal transduction and on our in vitro studies, we propose the model that Ste20p represents a yeast MEK kinase kinase whose function is to link G-protein-coupled receptors through G beta gamma to a mitogen-activated protein kinase module.
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PMID:Molecular characterization of Ste20p, a potential mitogen-activated protein or extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) kinase kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 760 57

We previously purified a protein factor, named REKS (Ras-dependent Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase Kinase (MEK) Stimulator), from Xenopus eggs by use of a cell-free assay system in which recombinant GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate)-Ki-Ras activates recombinant MEK. By use of this assay system, we purified here bovine REKS to near homogeneity from the cytosol fraction of bovine brain by successive chromatographies of Mono S, Mono Q, GTP gamma S-glutathione S-transferase-Ha-Ras-coupled glutathione-agarose, and Mono Q columns. It was composed of three proteins with masses of about 95, 32, and 30 kDa as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 95-, 32-, and 30-kDa proteins were identified by immunoblot analysis to be B-Raf protein kinase, 14-3-3 protein, and 14-3-3 protein, respectively. Moreover, the REKS activity was specifically immunoprecipitated by an anti-B-Raf antibody. Bovine REKS was activated by lipid-modified GTP gamma S-Ki-Ras far more effectively than by a lipid-unmodified one. Lipid-modified GDP-Ki-Ras was inactive. Exogenous addition of 14-3-3 proteins stimulated further the REKS activity both in the presence and absence of GTP gamma S-Ki-Ras. These results indicate that at least one of the direct targets of Ras is B-Raf complexed with 14-3-3 proteins in bovine brain.
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PMID:Purification of a Ras-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase from bovine brain cytosol and its identification as a complex of B-Raf and 14-3-3 proteins. 774 15

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MEKK1) is a serine-threonine kinase that regulates sequential protein kinase pathways involving stress-activated protein kinases and mitogen-activated protein kinases. MEKK1 is activated in response to growth factor stimulation of cells and by expression of activated Ras. We demonstrate that the kinase domain of MEKK1 (MEKKCOOH) binds to GST-RasV12 in a GTP-dependent manner. Purified bacterially expressed MEKKCOOH binds to GST-RasV12(GTP gamma S) (GTP gamma S is guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate), demonstrating a direct interaction of the two proteins. A Ras effector domain peptide blocks the binding of MEKKCOOH to GST-RasV12(GTP gamma S). MEKKCOOH complexed with GST-RasV12(GTP gamma S) is capable of phosphorylating MEK1. These findings indicate that MEKK1 directly binds Ras.GTP. Thus, Ras interacts with protein kinases of both the Raf and MEKK families.
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PMID:Direct interaction between Ras and the kinase domain of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MEKK1). 774 23

We have previously identified a protein factor, named REKS (Ras-dependent Extracellular signal-regulated kinase/Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) Stimulator), which is necessary for Ras-dependent MEK activation. In this study, we attempted to highly purify and characterize REKS. We have highly purified REKS by successive column chromatographies using a cell-free assay system in which REKS activates recombinant extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 through recombinant MEK in a guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S)-Ki-Ras-dependent manner. REKS formed a stable complex with GTP gamma S-Ras; REKS was coimmunoprecipitated with GTP gamma S-Ki-Ras or GTP gamma S-Ha-Ras, but not with GDP-Ki-Ras or GDP-Ha-Ras by an anti-Ras antibody. REKS was absorbed to a GTP gamma S-glutathione S-transferase (GST)-Ha-Ras-coupled glutathione-agarose column but not to a GDP-GST-Ha-Ras-coupled glutathione-agarose column and was coeluted with GTP gamma S-GST-Ha-Ras by reduced glutathione. The minimum molecular mass of REKS was estimated to be about 98 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. REKS phosphorylated this 98-kDa protein as well as recombinant MEK. REKS was not recognized by any of the anti-c-Raf-1, anti-Mos, and anti-mSte11 antibodies. These results indicate that REKS is a Ras-dependent MEK kinase.
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PMID:Purification and characterization of REKS from Xenopus eggs. Identification of REKS as a Ras-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase. 785 6

c-Mil is the avian homologue of the mammalian serine/threonine kinase c-Raf-1. c-Mil/Raf is a mediator of signal transduction leading to gene expression via the c-Jun DNA-binding site, AP-1. Here we show that c-Mil immunopurified from MC29-virus-transformed quail fibroblasts phosphorylates c-Jun in vitro near its N terminus (Ser-63 and -73). Furthermore, the viral oncogene product Gag-Mil of the avian wild-type retrovirus MH2 phosphorylates c-Jun in vitro. A contribution by other known kinases phosphorylating c-Jun, such as the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the c-Jun N-terminal kinases, was excluded by control reactions. c-Raf-1 and c-Jun directly interact in vitro as shown by various immobilized glutathione S-transferase-Raf fusion proteins which specify the cysteine-rich region of c-Mil/Raf as the major N-terminal binding site. An additional minor binding site is located in the C-terminal region. The biological relevance of these results is demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation of c-Jun and c-Mil from 32P-labeled MC29- and MH2-transformed fibroblasts as well as normal quail embryo fibroblasts, whereby c-Jun was identified by tryptic phosphopeptide analysis. The complexed c-Jun exhibits a decreased electrophoretic mobility corresponding to a more highly phosphorylated state. Cell fractionation analyses indicate that the c-Mil/c-Jun complex is located in the cytoplasm. The data demonstrate that c-Jun can be a direct target of the protein kinase c-Mil/Raf, suggesting an alternative pathway, which leads to c-Jun phosphorylation independent of the MAPKs and MAPK-related proteins.
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PMID:Direct interaction and N-terminal phosphorylation of c-Jun by c-Mil/Raf. 787 94

Studies of low basal Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity in non-stressed cells led us to identify a JNK inhibitor that was purified and identified as glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTp) and was characterized as a JNK-associated protein. UV irradiation or H2O2 treatment caused GSTp oligomerization and dissociation of the GSTp-JNK complex, indicating that it is the monomeric form of GSTp that elicits JNK inhibition. Addition of purified GSTp to the Jun-JNK complex caused a dose-dependent inhibition of JNK activity. Conversely, immunodepleting GSTp from protein extracts attenuated JNK inhibition. Furthermore, JNK activity was increased in the presence of specific GSTp inhibitors and a GSTp-derived peptide. Forced expression of GSTp decreased MKK4 and JNK phosphorylation which coincided with decreased JNK activity, increased c-Jun ubiquitination and decreased c-Jun-mediated transcription. Co-transfection of MEKK1 and GSTp restored MKK4 phosphorylation but did not affect GSTp inhibition of JNK activity, suggesting that the effect of GSTp on JNK is independent of the MEKK1-MKK4 module. Mouse embryo fibroblasts from GSTp-null mice exhibited a high basal level of JNK activity that could be reduced by forced expression of GSTp cDNA. In demonstrating the relationships between GSTp expression and its association with JNK, our findings provide new insight into the regulation of stress kinases.
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PMID:Regulation of JNK signaling by GSTp. 1006 98

We have developed a quantitative scintillation proximity assay (SPA) that reproduces the Raf/MEK/ERK signal transduction pathway. The components of this assay include human cRaf1, MEK1, and ERK2 and a biotinylated peptide substrate for ERK2. cRaf1 was expressed as a his-tagged protein in insect cells in an active form. MEK1 and ERK2 were expressed in Escherichia coli as glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fusion proteins in their inactive forms. ERK2 was removed from the GST portion of the fusion protein by cleavage with thrombin protease. When the purified components are incubated together, cRaf-1 phosphorylates and activates MEK1, MEK1 phosphorylates and activates ERK2, and ERK2 phosphorylates the peptide, biotin-AAATGPLSPGPFA. Phosphorylation of the peptide using [gamma-33P]ATP is detected following binding to streptavidin-coated SPA beads. The assay detects inhibitors of cRaf1, MEK1, or ERK2, and has been used to screen large numbers of compounds. The specific target of inhibition was subsequently identified with secondary assays described herein.
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PMID:A scintillation proximity assay for the Raf/MEK/ERK kinase cascade: high-throughput screening and identification of selective enzyme inhibitors. 1007 22

The classic sterol regulatory cis element (sre-1) in the LDL receptor promoter mediates sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-binding and the effects of insulin and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). To elucidate whether SREBP-1a and SREBP-2 play a direct role in insulin and PDGF action, stable cell lines of HepG2 deficient in either SREBP-1 or SREBP-2 were used. Transfection of these cells with the wild-type promoter fragment of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene showed that the effects of insulin and PDGF were significantly reduced in both, SREBP-1- as well as SREBP-2-deficient cells. Insulin and PDGF action could be reconstituted again in these deficient cell lines by reintroducing SREBP-1a or SREBP-2. Preincubation of cells with either the phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin or the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade inhibitor PD 98059 showed that the latter abolished the stimulatory effects of insulin and PDGF on LDL receptor promoter activity completely, whereas wortmannin had no effect. Overexpression of upstream activators of the MAP kinases, like MEKK1 or MEK1, stimulated LDL receptor promoter activity several fold in an sre-1 related manner. These effects could be enhanced by coexpression of the transcriptional active N-terminal domains of SREBP-1a and SREBP-2. Using the heterologous Gal-4 system, we could show that intracellular activation of the MAP kinase cascade by ectopic expression of MEKK1 or MEK1 has a direct stimulatory effect on the transcriptional activity of SREBP-1a and SREBP-2. Experimental evidence for a direct link between MAP kinases and SREBPs was obtained due to the MAP kinases ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylating recombinant GST-fusion proteins of SREBP-1a and SREBP-2, in vitro. We conclude that SREBP-1a and SREBP-2 mediate different regulatory effects converging at sre-1 and that they appear to be linked to the MAP kinase cascade, possibly being direct substrates of ERK1 and ERK2.
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PMID:Sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBP)-1a and SREBP-2 are linked to the MAP-kinase cascade. 1062 7

Ste5 is essential for pheromone response and binds components of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade: Ste11 (MEKK), Ste7 (MEK), and Fus3 (MAPK). Pheromone stimulation releases Gbetagamma (Ste4-Ste18), which recruits Ste5 and Ste20 (p21-activated kinase) to the plasma membrane, activating the MAPK cascade. A RING-H2 domain in Ste5 (residues 177-229) negatively regulates Ste5 function and mediates its interaction with Gbetagamma. Ste5(C177A C180A), carrying a mutated RING-H2 domain, cannot complement a ste5Delta mutation, yet supports mating even in ste4Delta ste5Delta cells when artificially dimerized by fusion to glutathione S-transferase (GST). In contrast, wild-type Ste5 fused to GST permits mating of ste5Delta cells, but does not allow mating of ste4Delta ste5Delta cells. This differential behavior provided the basis of a genetic selection for STE5 gain-of-function mutations. MATa ste4Delta ste5Delta cells expressing Ste5-GST were mutagenized chemically and plasmids conferring the capacity to mate were selected. Three independent single-substitution mutations were isolated. These constitutive STE5 alleles induce cell cycle arrest, transcriptional activation, and morphological changes normally triggered by pheromone, even when Gbetagamma is absent. The first, Ste5(C226Y), alters the seventh conserved position in the RING-H2 motif, confirming that perturbation of this domain constitutively activates Ste5 function. The second, Ste5(P44L), lies upstream of a basic segment, whereas the third, Ste5(S770K), is situated within an acidic segment in a region that contacts Ste7. None of the mutations increased the affinity of Ste5 for Ste11, Ste7, or Fus3. However, the positions of these novel-activating mutations suggested that, in normal Ste5, the N terminus may interact with the C terminus. Indeed, in vitro, GST-Ste5(1-518) was able to associate specifically with radiolabeled Ste5(520-917). Furthermore, both the P44L and S770K mutations enhanced binding of full-length Ste5 to GST-Ste5(1-518), whereas they did not affect Ste5 dimerization. Thus, binding of Gbetagamma to the RING-H2 domain may induce a conformational change that promotes association of the N- and C-terminal ends of Ste5, stimulating activation of the MAPK cascade by optimizing orientation of the bound kinases and/or by increasing their accessibility to Ste20-dependent phosphorylation (or both). In accord with this model, the novel Ste5 mutants copurified with Ste7 and Fus3 in their activated state and their activation required Ste20.
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PMID:Mutational analysis suggests that activation of the yeast pheromone response mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway involves conformational changes in the Ste5 scaffold protein. 1107 25


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