Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.10.1 (ERK)
95,504 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

TGF-beta1 has been implicated in glomerular extracellular matrix accumulation, although the precise cellular mechanism(s) by which this occurs is not fully understood. The authors have previously shown that the Smad signaling pathway is present and functional in human glomerular mesangial cells and plays a role in activating type I collagen gene expression. It also was determined that TGF-beta1 activates ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase in mesangial cells to enhance Smad activation and collagen expression. Here, it was shown that TGF-beta1 rapidly induces cytoskeletal rearrangement in human mesangial cells, stimulating smooth muscle alpha-actin detection in stress fibers and promoting focal adhesion complex assembly and redistribution. Disrupting the actin cytoskeleton with cytochalasin D (Cyto D) selectively decreased basal and TGF-beta1-induced cell-layer collagen I and IV accumulation. The balance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and inhibitors was altered by Cyto D or TGF-beta1 alone, increasing MMP activity, increasing MMP-1 expression, and decreasing tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression. Cyto D also decreased basal and TGF-beta1-stimulated alpha1(I) collagen mRNA but did not inhibit TGF-beta-stimulated alpha1(IV) mRNA expression. A similar decrease in alpha1(I) mRNA expression caused by the actin polymerization inhibitor latrunculin B was partially blocked by the addition of jasplakinolide, which promotes actin assembly. The Rho-family GTPase inhibitor C. difficile toxin B or the Rho-associated kinase inhibitor Y-27632 also blocked TGF-beta1-stimulated alpha1(I) mRNA expression. Cytoskeletal disruption reduced Smad2 phosphorylation but had little effect on mRNA stability, TGF-beta receptor number, or receptor affinity. Thus, TGF-beta1-mediated collagen I accumulation is associated with cytoskeletal rearrangement and Rho-GTPase signaling.
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PMID:Cytoskeletal rearrangement and signal transduction in TGF-beta1-stimulated mesangial cell collagen accumulation. 1287 50

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a serum-borne phospholipid with hormone and growth factor-like properties. LPA has been shown to modulate tumor cell invasion and malignant cell growth. Here, we report that two human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, PANC-1 and BxPC-3, express functionally active LPA receptors coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/o-proteins. In contrast to other cell types, LPA does not act as a mitogen, but is an efficacious stimulator of cell migration of these tumor cells. LPA-induced chemotaxis is markedly dependent on activation of PTX-sensitive heterotrimeric G-proteins, on activation of the small GTPases Ras, Rac and RhoA, and on GTPase-dependent activation of ERK. LPA-induced ERK activation results in a transient translocation of the phosphorylated ERK to newly forming focal contact sites at the leading edge of the migrating cells. Inhibition of ERK activation and its subsequent translocation impaired LPA-induced chemotaxis and LPA-induced actin reorganization. Thus, pancreatic tumor cell migration in response to LPA is essentially controlled by activation of a Gi/o-ERK pathway and requires the LPA-induced activation of Ras, Rac1 and RhoA.
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PMID:Mechanisms in LPA-induced tumor cell migration: critical role of phosphorylated ERK. 1290 1

Previous studies from our laboratory and others have demonstrated that treatment of breast cancer cells with exogenous maspin led to a significant decrease in cell motility, and an increase in cell adhesion to human fibronectin. However, the signaling mechanisms by which maspin, a putative tumor suppressor gene, might regulate cell motility and adhesion have not been previously addressed. In this study, we hypothesized that maspin could inhibit cell motility through the Rho GTPase pathway, specifically by affecting Rac activity. To test this intriguing hypothesis we utilized an experimental approach where invasive and metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were either treated exogenously with recombinant maspin protein, or stably transfected with maspin. The data revealed decreased Rac1 activity within 4 h, and a decrease in the Rac1 effector, PAK1, within 12 h. In addition, an increase in PI3K and ERK1/2 activities within 1 h of recombinant maspin (rMaspin) treatment was observed, which returned to baseline level after 12 h. ERK activity was shown to be downstream of PI3K, as pretreatment with the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, inhibited the stimulation of ERK activity by rMaspin. Furthermore, rMaspintreated cells displayed approximately a 30% increase in cell adhesion which was abrogated by pretreatment with LY294002. Increased focal adhesions and stress fibers were observed after 12 h of rMaspin treatment, when the cells were least motile and had reverted to a more epithelial-like phenotype. These data suggest that maspin may inhibit cell motility by regulating Rac1 and subsequently PAK1 activity, and promote cell adhesion via PI3K/ERK pathways. This study provides new insights into the diverse signaling pathways affected by maspin to suppress the metastatic phenotype, and could contribute to novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of invasive and metastatic breast cancer.
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PMID:Maspin regulates different signaling pathways for motility and adhesion in aggressive breast cancer cells. 1450 14

The yeast proteins Msb3p and Msb4p are two Ypt/Rab-specific GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) involved in cell growth polarization. Both proteins share with a wide variety of other proteins the highly conserved TBC domain forming the catalytically active RabGAP domain. In particular, Msb3p and Msb4p are similar to the human proteins oncTre210p (the 786-amino-acid product of the human Tre2 oncogene, implicated in Ewing's sarcoma) and RN-tre (a Rab5-GAP controlling endocytosis of the EGFR). To further understand the biochemical function of Tre2 oncogene, we expressed its cDNA and, as a control, the RN-tre cDNA, in an msb3 msb4 double mutant yeast strain. Complementation data show that RN-tre can, unlike Tre2, replace the function of the MSB3 and MSB4 genes. As two highly conserved amino acids, including the catalytic arginine, are mutated in the oncTre210p TBC domain, we restored these two amino acids and expressed the modified Tre2 cDNA in the yeast mutant.
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PMID:Expression in a RabGAP yeast mutant of two human homologues, one of which is an oncogene. 1452 38

In pituitary cells, transcriptional regulation of the prolactin (PRL) gene and prolactin secretion are controlled by multiple transduction pathways through the activation of G protein coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases. In the somatolactotrope GH4C1 cell line, we have previously identified crosstalk between the MAPKinase cascade ERK1/2 and the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway after the activation of the VPAC2 receptor by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) or pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP38). In the present study, we focus on the involvement of the GTPases Ras and Rap1 as downstream components of signal transmission initiated by activation of the VPAC2 receptor. By using pull-down experiments, we show that VIP and PACAP38 preferentially activate Rap1, whereas thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) mainly activate Ras GTPase. Experiments involving the expression of the dominant-negative mutants of Ras and Rap1 signaling (RasN17 or Rap1N17) indicate that both GTPases Ras and Rap1 are recruited for the ERK activation by VIP and PACAP38, whereas Rap1 is poorly involved in TRH or EGF-induced ERK activation. The use of U0126, a selective inhibitor of MAPKinase kinase, provides evidence that MAPKinase contributes to the regulation of the PRL gene. Moreover, cotransfection of RasN17 or Rap1N17 with the PRL proximal promoter luciferase reporter construct indicates that Rap1 may be responsible for VIP/PACAP-induced activation of the PRL promoter. Interestingly, Ras would be involved as a negative regulator of VIP/PACAP-induced PRL gene activation, in contrast to its stimulatory role in the regulation of the PRL promoter by TRH and EGF.
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PMID:Differential involvement of the Ras and Rap1 small GTPases in vasoactive intestinal and pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptides control of the prolactin gene. 1455 Dec

Rap1 is a member of the Ras family of small GTPases that is activated by diverse extracellular stimuli in many cell types. It is activated by distinct types of Rap1 guanine nucleotide exchange factors coupled with various receptors or second messengers, while activated Rap1 is down-regulated by Rap1 GTPase-activating proteins, through which Rap1 activation is controlled spatio-temporally. Functionally, Rap1 either interferes with Ras-mediated ERK activation or activates ERK independently of Ras in a cell-context dependent manner. Accumulating evidence also indicates that Rap1 is a major activator of integrins, playing important roles in the regulation of a variety of integrin-dependent cellular functions. Most recently, significant evidence has emerged that dysregulation of Rap1 activation is responsible for the development of malignancy. Recent extensive research has begun to unveil the roles of this controversial small G protein in physiology and diseases.
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PMID:Rap1 GTPase: functions, regulation, and malignancy. 1460 72

Vav1 is a signaling protein required for both positive and negative selection of CD4(+)CD8(+) double positive thymocytes. Activation of the ERK MAPK pathway is also required for positive selection. Previous work has shown that Vav1 transduces T cell receptor (TCR) signals leading to an intracellular calcium flux. We now show that in double positive thymocytes Vav1 is required for TCR-induced activation of the ERK1 and ERK2 kinases via a pathway involving the Ras GTPase, and B-Raf, MEK1, and MEK2 kinases. Furthermore, we show that Vav1 transduces TCR signals to Ras by controlling the membrane recruitment of two guanine nucleotide exchange factors. First, Vav1 transduces signals via phospholipase Cgamma1 leading to the membrane recruitment of RasGRP1. Second, Vav1 is required for recruitment of Sos1 and -2 to the transmembrane adapter protein LAT. Finally, we show that Vav1 is required for TCR-induced LAT phosphorylation, a key event for the activation of both phospholipase Cgamma1 and Sos1/2. We propose that reduced LAT phosphorylation is the key reason for defective TCR-induced calcium flux and ERK activation in Vav1-deficient cells.
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PMID:Vav1 transduces T cell receptor signals to the activation of the Ras/ERK pathway via LAT, Sos, and RasGRP1. 1476 85

Gab2 (Grb2-associated binder-2), a member of the IRS (insulin receptor substrate)/Gab family of adapter proteins, undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in response to cytokine or growth factor stimulation and serves as a docking platform for many signal transduction effectors, including the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 [SH2 (Src homology 2)-domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase]. Here, we report that, following IL-2 (interleukin-2) stimulation of human T lymphocytes, SHP-2 binds tyrosine residues 614 and 643 of human Gab2 through its N- and C-terminal SH2 domains respectively. However, the sole mutation of Tyr-614 into phenylalanine is sufficient to prevent Gab2 from recruiting SHP-2. Expression of the Gab2 Tyr-614-->Phe (Y614F) mutant, defective in SHP-2 association, prevents ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) activation and expression of a luciferase reporter plasmid driven by the c-fos SRE (serum response element), indicating that interaction of SHP-2 with Gab2 is required for ERK activation in response to IL-2. Further investigation of IL-2-dependent induction of SRE showed that expression of a constitutively active mutant of the RhoA GTPase synergizes with IL-2 for SRE-driven transcription, whereas a dominant-negative mutant reduces the IL-2 response. Thus, in response to IL-2, full induction of the SRE requires ERK-dependent as well as Rho-dependent signals that target the Ets-box and the CArG-box respectively. We also report that the synergy between Gab2/SHP-2 and RhoA for IL-2-dependent CArG-box-driven transcription depends upon MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase) activation, and is likely to involve regulation of the serum response factor co-activator MAL. Our studies thus provide new insights into the role of Gab2 and SHP-2 in IL-2 signal transduction.
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PMID:Interaction of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 with Gab2 regulates Rho-dependent activation of the c-fos serum response element by interleukin-2. 1517 Mar 89

Loss of tumor suppressor function dramatically alters the cellular response to chemicals. The phorbol ester tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), stimulates cell proliferation through rapid activation of protein kinase C (PKC), followed by gradual degradation of the kinase. TPA also activates the GTPase Rap1 in some cell types. The tumor suppressor protein Tsc2 has a proposed GTPase activating protein (GAP) function for Rap1, providing a common mechanistic target for Tsc2 and TPA. We compared the cellular response of Tsc2-null (ERC-18) and Tsc2-competent (NRK-52E) renal epithelial cells to TPA treatment. Treatment of ERC-18 cells with 100 ng/ml TPA for 24 h resulted in loss of cell-cell contact, retraction of the cell periphery and rounding. These changes were reversed 1 h after treatment in NRK-52E cells and were apparent 24 h after treatment of ERC-18 cells. Expression of Tsc2 in ERC-18 cells abrogated the prolonged morphologic response. TPA treatment rapidly increased phosphorylation of ERK, a reported downstream effector of both PKC and Rap1, in ERC-18 cells, but induced weak Rap1 activation. TPA-induced ERK phosphorylation was prolonged in ERC-18 cells compared to NRK-52E cells and expression of Tsc2 in ERC-18 cells did not inhibit prolonged ERK activation. The selective PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide VIII, however, inhibited TPA-induced changes in morphology and ERK activation. These results imply that TPA-induced changes in morphology and ERK activation are mediated primarily through PKC and not Rap1 in renal epithelial cells. These data also imply that Tsc2 expression modulates TPA-induced changes in renal epithelial cell morphology via an ERK-independent mechanism.
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PMID:The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) provokes a prolonged morphologic response and ERK activation in Tsc2-null renal tumor cells. 1517 7

The B cell adaptor molecule of 32 kDa (Bam32) is an adaptor that links the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) to ERK and JNK activation and ultimately to mitogenesis. After BCR cross-linking, Bam32 is recruited to the plasma membrane and accumulates within F-actin-rich membrane ruffles. Bam32 contains one Src homology 2 and one pleckstrin homology domain and is phosphorylated at a single site, tyrosine 139. To define the function of Bam32 in membrane-proximal signaling events, we established human B cell lines overexpressing wild-type or mutant Bam32 proteins. The basal level of F-actin increased in cells expressing wild-type or myristoylated Bam32 but decreased in cells expressing either an Src homology-2 or Tyr-139 Bam32 mutant. Overexpression of wild-type Bam32 also affected BCR-induced actin remodeling, which was visualized as increases in F-actin-rich membrane ruffles. In contrast, Bam32 mutants largely blocked the BCR-induced increase in cellular F-actin. The positive and negative effects of Bam32 variants on F-actin levels were closely mirrored by their effects on the activation of the GTPase Rac1, which is known to regulate actin remodeling in lymphocytes. Bam32-deficient DT40 B cells showed decreased Rac1 activation and a failure of Rac1 to co-localize with the BCR, whereas cells overexpressing Bam32 had increased constitutive Rac1 activation. These results suggest that Bam32 regulates the cytoskeleton through Rac1. Bam32 variants also affected downstream signaling to JNK in a manner similar to that of Rac1, suggesting that the effect of Bam32 on JNK activation may be at least partially mediated through Rac1. Our results demonstrate a novel phosphorylation-dependent function of Bam32 in regulating Rac1 activation and actin remodeling.
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PMID:The adaptor protein Bam32 regulates Rac1 activation and actin remodeling through a phosphorylation-dependent mechanism. 1524 5


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