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

Twenty-one invasive squamous-cell carcinomas (SCC) of the bladder from Schistosoma-hematobium-infected patients were examined immunohistochemically for the expression of p53, Rb, EGFR and c-erbB-2 proteins; and screened by single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing for mutations in the ras (H, N, K) codon hotspots (12, 13, 61) and p53 (exons 4-9) genes. Positive staining for p53, EGFR and c-erbB-2 was reported in 38, 67 and 28% of tumors respectively. Only one of the tumors, the only one that was poorly differentiated, displayed an absence of nuclear Rb staining. Ras alterations were detected in the H-ras gene in 3 tumors, 2 of which harbored a codon-13 (Gly-->Arg) and one a codon-12 (Gly-->Ser) point mutation. p53 mutations were recorded in 12 tumors (57%), 6 of which stained positively for p53. Four tumors had exon-7 mutations (codons 235, 241 and 249; one tumor had 2 exon-7 mutations). Eight tumors were mutated in exon 8 (codons 264, 271, 273, 285, 286, 288 and 294), 5 of which harbored multiple mutations. One tumor had an insertion/deletion event in exon 9. The frequency of detection of over-expression of EGFR and c-erbB-2 in bilharzial-bladder lesions is comparable to that reported in TCC, contrasting with the infrequent loss of Rb expression found in invasive lesions associated with schistosomiasis infection. However, the detection of multiple p53 mutations in these lesions is suggestive of the involvement of a carcinogenic agent with maintenance of preferential activation of the H-ras gene.
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PMID:Molecular events underlying schistosomiasis-related bladder cancer. 762 66

Germ-like and somatic mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are associated with inherited and sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The majority of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC) carry germ-line point mutations that result in the substitution of one of five cysteine residues. We investigated exons 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16 of the RET proto-oncogene in 33 unrelated Japanese patients with MTC. Eleven of the 33 cases (33%) were found to have germ-line mutations. Three previously unreported mutations in exon 10 and 11 were identified: one in codon 620, (TGC-->GGC), resulting in a cysteine to glycine substitution, and two in codon 630, (TGC-->TCC) and (TGC-->TAC), resulting in cysteine to serine and cysteine to tyrosine changes, respectively. The new mutations were present in the germ-line DNA of four unrelated patients for whom a family history of MTC had not been documented. Because the new RET alleles described here involve cysteine residues in a region of protein previously associated with FMTC and MEN2A, it is very likely that they represent mutations that predispose to the development of MTC.
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PMID:Novel germline RET proto-oncogene mutations associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC): mutation analysis in Japanese patients with MTC. 922 75

We report on a sporadic case of Pfeiffer syndrome in a male newborn with complex craniosynostosis, broad thumbs and great toes and early demise. SSCP and direct sequencing revealed a missense mutation at position 1037 of the exon B (or IIIc) of the FGFR2 gene (codon 342) resulting in a cysteine to serine modification (TGC-TCC). Genotype-phenotype correlations between the FGFRs mutations and the different craniosynostotic syndromes are discussed.
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PMID:A new case of Pfeiffer syndrome with mutation in FGFR2. 945 99

Large conductance, calcium-activated potassium (maxiK) channels are expressed in nerve, muscle, and other cell types and are important determinants of smooth muscle tone. To determine the mechanisms involved in the transcriptional regulation of maxiK channels, we characterized the promoter regions of the pore forming (alpha) and regulatory (beta) subunits of the human channel complex. Maximum promoter activity (up to 12.3-fold over control) occurred between nucleotides -567 and -220 for the alpha subunit (hSlo) gene. The minimal promoter is GC-rich with 5 Sp-1 binding sites and several TCC repeats. Other transcription factor-binding motifs, including c/EBP, NF-kB, PU.1, PEA-3, Myo-D, and E2A, were observed in the 5'-flanking sequence. Additionally, a CCTCCC sequence, which increases the transcriptional activity of the SM1/2 gene in smooth muscle, is located 27 bp upstream of the TATA-like sequence, a location identical to that found in the SM1/2 5'-flanking region. However, the promoter directed equivalent expression when transfected into smooth muscle and other cell types. Analysis of the hSlo beta subunit 5'-flanking region revealed a TATA box at position -77 and maximum promoter activity (up to 11.0-fold) in a 200 bp region upstream from the cap site. Binding sites for GATA-1, Myo-D, c-myb, Ets-1/Elk-1, Ap-1, and Ik-2 were identified within this sequence. Two CCTCCC elements are present in the hSlo beta subunit promoter, but tissue-specific transcriptional activity was not observed. The lack of tissue-specific promoter activity, particularly the finding of promoter activity in cells from tissues in which the maxiK gene is not expressed, suggests a complex channel regulatory mechanism for hSlo genes. Moreover, the lack of similarity of the promoters of the two genes suggests that regulation of coordinate expression of the subunits does not occur through equivalent cis-acting sequences.
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PMID:Cloning and characterization of the promoters of the maxiK channel alpha and beta subunits. 1002 76

A permanent cell line, U-BLC1, was established from a primary transitional-cell carcinoma, TCC, of the urinary bladder. Karyotype analysis showed the line to be highly aberrant, with a near-triploid chromosome number of 68 to 73. Comparative genomic hybridization revealed some distinct differences between the primary tumor and the established cell line. Karyotype analysis showed 3 marker chromosomes with homogeneously staining regions, HSRs, in the cell line. The HSRs were isolated by microdissection and the microdissection probes were hybridized to normal metaphase chromosomes. The HSRs contain sequences known to be frequently involved in amplification in transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder, 6p22, 7p11-p12, 9p23-pter, and one region not yet reported to be amplified in primary TCC of the bladder, 1p31-p32. A candidate-gene approach showed that in the region 7p11-p12 the EGFR locus is amplified and highly expressed.
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PMID:Detailed marker chromosome analysis in cell line U-BLC1, established from transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder. 1007 25

Carcinogenesis involves inactivation or subversion of the normal controls of proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. However, these controls are robust, redundant, and interlinked at the gene expression levels, regulation of mRNA lifetimes, transcription, and recycling of proteins. One of the central systems of control of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis is retinoid signaling. The hRAR alpha nuclear receptor occupies a central position with respect to induction of gene transcription in that when bound to appropriate retinoid ligands, its homodimers and heterodimers with hRXR alpha regulate the transcription of a number of retinoid-responsive genes. These include genes in other signaling pathways, so that the whole forms a complex network. In this study we showed that simple, cause-effect interpretations in terms of hRAR alpha gene transcription being the central regulatory event would not describe the retinoid-responsive gene network. A set of cultured bladder-derived cells representing different stages of bladder tumorigenesis formed a model system. It consisted of 2 immortalized bladder cell lines (HUC-BC and HUC-PC), one squamous cell carcinoma cell line (SCaBER), one papilloma line (RT4), and 4 transitional cell carcinomas (TCC-Sup, 5637, T24, J82) of varying stages and grades. This set of cells were used to model the range of behaviors of bladder cancers. Relative gene expression before (constitutive) and after treatment with 10 microM all-trans-retinoic acid (aTRA) was measured for androgen and estrogen receptor; a set of genes involved with retinoid metabolism and action, hRAR alpha nd beta, hRXR alpha and beta CRBP, CRABP I and II; and for signaling genes that are known to be sensitive to retinoic acid, EGFR, cytokine MK, ICAM I and transglutaminase. The phenotype for inhibition of proliferation and for apoptotic response to both aTRA and the synthetic retinoid 4-HPR was determined. Transfection with a CAT-containing plasmid containing an aTRA-sensitive promoter was used to determine if the common retinoic acid responsive element (RARE)-dependent pathway for retinoid regulation of gene expression was active. Each of the genes selected is known from previous studies to react to aTRA in a certain way, either by up- or down-regulation of the message and protein. A complex data set not readily interpretable by simple cause and effect was observed. While all cell lines expressed high levels of the mRNAs for hRXR alpha and beta that were not altered by treatment with exogenous aTRA, constitutive and stimulated responses of the other genes varied widely among the cell lines. For example, CRABP I was not expressed by J82, T24, 5637 and RT4, but was expressed at low levels that did not change in SCaBER and at moderate levels that decreased, increased, or decreased sharply in HUC-BC, TCC-Sup and HUC-PC, respectively. The expression of hRAR alpha, which governs the expression of many retinoid-sensitive genes, was expressed at moderate to high levels in all cell lines, but in some it was sharply upregulated (TCC-Sup, HUC-PC and J82), remained constant (5637 and HUC-BC), or was down-regulated (SCaBER, T24 and RT4). The phenotypes for inhibition of proliferation showed no obvious relationship to the expression of any single gene, but cell lines that were inhibited by aTRA (HUC-BC and TCC-Sup) were not sensitive to 4-HPR, and vice versa. One line (RT4) was insensitive to either retinoid. Transfection showed very little retinoid-stimulated transfection of the CAT reporter gene with RT4 or HUC-PC. About 2-fold enhancement transactivation was observed with SCaBER, HUC-BC, J82 and T24 cells and 3-8 fold with 5637, TCC-Sup cells. In HUC-BC, a G to T point mutation was found at position 606 of the hRAR alpha gene. This mutation would substitute tyrosine for asparagine in a highly conserved domain. These data indicate that retinoid signaling is probably a frequent target of inactivation in bladder carcinogenesis. (ABSTRAC
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PMID:Complexity, retinoid-responsive gene networks, and bladder carcinogenesis. 1059 47

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) occurs usually in sporadic form, but about a quarter of the cases are hereditary and appear as part of one of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) syndromes. Mutations in the RET protooncogene are known to be the cause of the MEN2A and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC) syndromes in the majority of the families. Direct DNA testing allows prophylactic thyroidectomy to be offered to individuals carrying a mutation in the above codons, and in mutation-negative cases it reduces the yearly screening-related burden on family members at risk of the disease. By DNA sequencing and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms, 65 MTC probands were examined for mutations in residues 609, 611, 618, 620 of exon 10, and in residues 634, 768, 804 of exons 11, 13, and 14 respectively of the RET protooncogene. In our study, mutations in the above codons were detected in all of the 14 clinically MEN2A and FMTC families. One of these mutations, TGC609 TCC has not been reported previously. Of the 14 probands with the mutation, 25 relatives also had the identified mutation and 18 relatives proved to be non-carriers. Among the 51 probands with clinically sporadic MTC, none was found to carry a mutation in the above positions even if indirect signs of MTC, pheochromocytoma or hyperparathyroidism could be detected in some families. The frequency of the TGC634AGC mutation is unexpectedly high in our samples, which can probably be attributed to a founder effect. We conclude that screening for mutations in these codons is effective in families fulfilling the strict clinical criteria of MEN2A or FMTC.
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PMID:Molecular genetic diagnostic program of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma syndromes in Hungary. 1152 47

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) is associated with specific germline missense mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. This locus encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase whose activation requires the formation of a multimeric receptor complex including GDNF as a ligand and GFR alpha 1 as a coreceptor. In order to explore the role of RET, GFR alpha 1 and GDNF genes in the variation of phenotypes observed in MEN2A families, we analysed germline mutations of these genes in 4 unrelated Spanish MEN2A families (23 cases studied). We found 2 novel variants corresponding to a single change in position + 47 (intron 12) of RET and position +22 (intron 7) of GFR alpha 1. Furthermore, we observed strong co-segregation between 2 polymorphisms of RET [G691S (exon 11) and S904S (TCC-TCG, exon 15) (100%, Fisher's exact test, p< 0.001)]. More interestingly, we found that these polymorphisms occurred at a significantly high frequency in patients with age at onset < 20 years old (Kruskal-Wallis's and Fisher's exact test, p = 0.007). These findings suggest that the G691S and S904S variants of RET may somehow play a role on the age of onset of MEN 2A.
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PMID:Genetic analysis of RET, GFR alpha 1 and GDNF genes in Spanish families with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A. 1197 48

It is often assumed that MAPK pathways drive proliferation of normal uroepithelial (UEC) and urothelial carcinoma (TCC) cells. To check this assumption, activities and inducibilities of promoters containing serum-response elements (SRE) or AP-1 binding sites were investigated in cultured UEC and seven TCC lines. Reporter plasmids dependent on SRE or AP-1 sites were highly active in UEC, but significantly less so in TCC lines. Reporter activity in TCC lines could be induced by constitutively active MEKK4 or TPA. Accordingly, phosphorylation of the MAPK pathway components MEK, ERK, and ELK1 was most pronounced in UEC and lower in TCC lines. MAPK-dependent promoter activities and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation decreased in UEC upon withdrawal of growth factors, but less so in TCC lines, in which serum diminution increased apoptosis. Likewise, E2F-dependent promoters responded to growth factors in UEC, but were more serum-independent in the TCC lines, which lack either RB1 or p16(INK4A). MEK inhibitors inhibited BrdU incorporation in UEC more strongly than in TCC lines. Thus, proliferation of normal uroepithelial cells is indeed associated with activation of MAPK pathways. However, autonomous proliferation of TCC lines--unexpectedly--appears much less dependent on MAPK activation and may rather be promoted by defects in cell cycle regulation.
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PMID:Activities of MAP-kinase pathways in normal uroepithelial cells and urothelial carcinoma cell lines. 1249 Jan 93

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) is associated with specific germ-line missense mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. Only a minor fraction of human disorders are simple monogenic diseases, and the identification of polymorphisms that increase susceptibility, including variations in pathological phenotypes, to human diseases is one of the key problems in medical genetics. To explore this idea, we analyzed the polymorphisms G691S (exon 11) and S904S (TCC-TCG, exon 15) of RET in 198 individuals corresponding to 35 unrelated Spanish MEN 2A families (104 patients with oncogenic MEN 2A mutation and 94 healthy relatives). We found strong cosegregation between both polymorphisms (100% Fisher's exact test, P < 0.001) using a control population containing 653 healthy individuals (362 females and 291 males). Interestingly, we found that the homozygous for these polymorphisms were, on average, 10 years younger at diagnosis compared with heterozygous and wild-type homozygous (P = 0.037). Taken together, all these findings could indicate that the G691S and S904S variants of RET have a modifier effect on the age at onset of MEN 2A. Moreover, compared with the control population, the homozygote status was significantly more prevalent in a series of 110 sporadic thyroid carcinoma (odds ratio = 2.36), suggesting that these polymorphisms may play a role as a low penetrance risk factor.
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PMID:Polymorphisms G691S/S904S of RET as genetic modifiers of MEN 2A. 1270 67


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