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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)
Population studies have revealed that treatment with the antidiabetic drug metformin significantly associates with reduced breast cancer risk. Animal studies have shown that metformin suppresses the development of mammary carcinomas in transgenic female mice carrying a
HER2
oncogene, but not that of spontaneous tumors. We herein demonstrate that
HER2
oncoprotein itself may represent a key cellular target involved in the anti-breast cancer actions of metformin. First, ectopical overexpression of
HER2
oncogene significantly enhances metformin-induced breast cancer cell growth inhibition. Second, metformin treatment drastically downregulates
HER2
protein levels (up to 85% reduction) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Metformin-induced inhibition of
HER2
take places regardless the molecular mechanism contributing to
HER2
overexpression (i.e., human
HER2
cDNA exogenously driven by a viral promoter and naturally occurring endogenous
HER2
gene amplification). Mechanistically, metformin-induced suppression of
HER2
overexpression appears to occur via direct (
AMPK
-independent) inhibition of p70S6K1 activity. Compound C- and small interference RNA (siRNA)-induced blockade of
AMPK
activity/expression fail to prevent the anti-
HER2
effect of metformin while
AMPK
hyperactivation following exposure to the AMP analog AICAR is not sufficient to downregulate
HER2
expression.
HER2
-positive breast cancer cells transfected with p70S6K1 siRNA become completely refractory to metformin-induced
HER2
suppression. Of note, co-incubation with agents that block reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (e.g., N-acetylcysteine) dramatically enhanced the ability of metformin to decrease
HER2
expression. From the perspective of chemoprevention, these findings altogether suggest that metformin might exert a protective mostly confined to the
HER2
-positive breast cancer subtype. From the perspective of intervention, the presence/absence of molecular hallmarks such as
HER2
overexpression and/or p70S6K1 hyperactivation might dictate alternative responses in metformin-based treatment of early breast cancer. The importance of mTOR/p70S6K1-sensed ROS status at mediating the anti-oncogenic effects of metformin might represent a previously unrecognized linkage molecularly connecting its anti-aging and anti-cancer actions.
...
PMID:The antidiabetic drug metformin suppresses HER2 (erbB-2) oncoprotein overexpression via inhibition of the mTOR effector p70S6K1 in human breast carcinoma cells. 1910 26
Protein kinase B (PKB) is known to mediate a number of biological responses to insulin and growth factors, its role in glucose uptake being one of the most extensively studied. In this work, we have employed a recently described allosteric inhibitor of PKB, Akti, to clarify the role of PKB in lipid metabolism in adipocytes-a subject that has received less attention. Pretreatment of primary rat and 3T3L1 adipocytes with Akti resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of PKB phosphorylation and activation in response to insulin, without affecting upstream insulin signaling [insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate (IRS)] or the insulin-induced phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent activation of the
ERK
/p90 ribosomal kinase (RSK) pathway. PKB activity was required for the insulin-induced activation of phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) and for the antilipolytic action of insulin. Moreover, inhibition of PKB activity resulted in a reduction in de novo lipid synthesis and in the ability of insulin to stimulate this process. The regulation of the rate-limiting lipogenic enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) by insulin through dephosphorylation of S79, which is a target for
AMP-activated protein kinase
(
AMPK
), was dependent on the presence of active PKB. Finally,
AMPK
was shown to be phosphorylated by PKB on S485 in response to insulin, and this was associated with a reduction in
AMPK
activity. In summary, we propose that PKB is required for the positive effects of insulin on lipid storage and that regulation of PDE3B and
AMPK
by PKB is important for these effects.
...
PMID:Protein kinase B activity is required for the effects of insulin on lipid metabolism in adipocytes. 1915 25
The LKB1-
AMPK
signaling pathway serves as a critical cellular sensor coupling energy homeostasis to cell growth, proliferation, and survival. However, how tumor cells suppress this signaling pathway to gain growth advantage under conditions of energy stress is largely unknown. Here, we show that
AMPK
activation is suppressed in melanoma cells with the B-RAF V600E mutation and that downregulation of B-RAF signaling activates
AMPK
. We find that in these cells LKB1 is phosphorylated by
ERK
and Rsk, two kinases downstream of B-RAF, and that this phosphorylation compromises the ability of LKB1 to bind and activate
AMPK
. Furthermore, expression of a phosphorylation-deficient mutant of LKB1 allows activation of
AMPK
and inhibits melanoma cell proliferation and anchorage-independent cell growth. Our findings provide a molecular linkage between the LKB1-
AMPK
and the RAF-MEK-
ERK
pathways and suggest that suppression of LKB1 function by B-RAF V600E plays an important role in B-RAF V600E-driven tumorigenesis.
...
PMID:Oncogenic B-RAF negatively regulates the tumor suppressor LKB1 to promote melanoma cell proliferation. 1918 64
The isolated perfused heart is an important model in cardiovascular research. We hypothesized that the perfusion procedure per se will phosphorylate some protein kinases important in pre- and postconditioning. Isolated hearts were Langendorff-perfused for 20 min with or without an intraventricular balloon (rats and mice), or in the working heart mode (mice) and compared to non-perfused controls with respect to protein phosphorylation. Rat hearts were also perfused for 20 and 50 min in the Langendorff mode to investigate the effect of perfusion time on phosphorylation. Western blot analysis showed that perfusion per se induced a massive phosphorylation of
ERK
1/2, P38-MAPK, JNK,
AMPK
, but decreased phosphorylation of AKT in the isolated rat and mouse heart. However, during ongoing perfusion the phosphorylation of these kinases was reduced. Langendorff-perfusion without the intraventricular balloon caused less phosphorylation of
ERK
1/2, P38-MAPK and JNK, but had no effect on
AMPK
. In working hearts phosphorylation of kinases was similar to that of Langendorff-perfused hearts without the balloon. Our findings indicate that excising, handling and perfusion induce a time dependent phosphorylation of stress kinases. The presence of the intraventricular balloon caused the strongest phosphorylation, thus Langendorff-perfused hearts might be partly protected by the perfusion procedure if stress kinases are protective in pre- and postconditioning. This might explain conflicting results obtained with different models of both pre- and postconditioning, and the isolated heart might in some situations be suboptimal for such studies.
...
PMID:Inadvertent phosphorylation of survival kinases in isolated perfused hearts: a word of caution. 1919 17
Berberine (BBR) has been shown to improve several metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia, by stimulating
AMP-activated protein kinase
(
AMPK
). However, the effects of BBR on proinflammatory responses in macrophages are poorly understood. Here we show that BBR represses proinflammatory responses through
AMPK
activation in macrophages. In adipose tissue of obese db/db mice, BBR treatment significantly downregulated the expression of proinflammatory genes such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Consistently, BBR inhibited LPS-induced expression of proinflammatory genes including IL-1beta, IL-6, iNOS, MCP-1, COX-2, and matrix metalloprotease-9 in peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7 cells. Upon various proinflammatory signals including LPS, free fatty acids, and hydrogen peroxide, BBR suppressed the phosphorylation of MAPKs, such as p38,
ERK
, and JNK, and the level of reactive oxygen species in macrophages. Moreover, these inhibitory effects of BBR on proinflammatory responses were abolished by
AMPK
inhibition via either compound C, an
AMPK
inhibitor, or dominant-negative
AMPK
, implying that BBR would downregulate proinflammatory responses in macrophages via
AMPK
stimulation.
...
PMID:Berberine suppresses proinflammatory responses through AMPK activation in macrophages. 1920 54
Previous studies have shown that administration of fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19) reverses diabetes, hepatic steatosis, hyperlipidemia, and adipose accretion in animal models of obesity. To investigate the mechanism for this effect, we determined whether FGF-19 modulated hepatic fatty acid synthesis, a key process controlling glucose tolerance and triacylglycerol accumulation in liver, blood, and adipose tissue. Incubating primary hepatocyte cultures with recombinant FGF-19 suppressed the ability of insulin to stimulate fatty acid synthesis. This effect was associated with a reduction in the expression of lipogenic enzymes. FGF-19 also suppressed the insulin-induced expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), a key transcriptional activator of lipogenic genes. FGF-19 inhibition of lipogenic enzyme expression was not mediated by alterations in the activity of the insulin signal transduction pathway or changes in the activity of
ERK
, p38 MAPK, and
AMP-activated protein kinase
(
AMPK
). In contrast, FGF-19 increased the activity of STAT3, an inhibitor of SREBP-1c expression and decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1beta (PGC-1beta), an activator of SREBP-1c activity. FGF-19 also increased the expression of small heterodimer partner (SHP), a transcriptional repressor that inhibits lipogenic enzyme expression via a SREBP-1c-independent mechanism. Inhibition of SREBP-1c activity by changes in STAT3 and PGC-1beta activity and inhibition of gene transcription by an elevation in SHP expression can explain the inhibition of lipogenesis caused by FGF-19. In summary, the inhibitory effect of FGF-19 on insulin activation of hepatic fatty acid synthesis constitutes a mechanism that would explain the beneficial effect of FGF-19 on metabolic syndrome.
...
PMID:Fibroblast growth factor-19, a novel factor that inhibits hepatic fatty acid synthesis. 1923 43
Recent evidence suggests that ovarian hormones contribute to altered function of skeletal muscle, however the signaling processes thought to regulate muscle function remain undefined in females. Thus, the purpose of this investigation is to determine if ovarian hormone status is critical for contraction-induced activation of
AMPK
or MAPK in skeletal muscle. Female mice were divided into two groups, ovariectomy (OVX) and SHAM, which were then subjected to in situ isometric contractile protocols.
AMPK
,
ERK
1/2, p38, and JNK phosphorylation were measured in the control and contracting limb. In the in situ protocol, OVX muscles were significantly more resistant to fatigue compared to the SHAM animals. In addition, the muscles from OVX mice demonstrated significantly lower levels of normalized
AMPK
phosphorylation at rest.
AMPK
phosphorylation was not increased in the muscles from SHAM mice after the in situ contractile protocol, while the OVX demonstrated significant increases in
AMPK
phosphorylation. After contraction, normalized ERK2 phosphorylation was significantly higher in the OVX group compared to the SHAM group. Both p38 and JNK phosphorylation increased in response to contraction; but no group differences were detected. A second set of SHAM and OVX animals were subjected to fatigue stimulated under in vitro conditions. Significant increases in
AMPK
and ERK2 phosphorylation were detected, but no differences were found between groups. In conclusion, removal of the ovaries results in different responses to contraction-induced changes in phosphorylation of
AMPK
and ERK2 in female mice and suggests hormones secreted from the ovaries significantly impacts cellular signaling in skeletal muscle.
...
PMID:Changes in contraction-induced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinases in skeletal muscle after ovariectomy. 1925 49
Cardiac energy metabolism depends mainly on fatty acid (FA) oxidation; however, regulation of FA metabolism in acromegalic (Acro) heart is unknown. The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiac expression of key proteins of FA metabolism in young and elder transgenic mice overexpressing bovine GH Acro. Expression of proteins regulating FA entry into the cells, their uptake by mitochondria and beta-oxidation were evaluated by western blot, while FA content by Fourier transform infrared microspectrometry. Regulatory mechanisms of key steps of FA metabolism were also studied. The expression of plasma-membrane FA carriers (fatty acid-binding protein and fatty acid transport protein-1) and acylCoA synthetase was higher in young and lower in elder Acro than in corresponding controls; likewise, expression of cytoplasm to mitochondria-1 (CPT-1), the key enzyme of mitochondrial FA uptake, and that of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, two regulatory beta-oxidation dehydrogenases, followed a similar pattern. FA content was lower in young and higher in elder Acro than in wild-type, suggesting an increased utilisation in young animals. GH regulated expression of key proteins of FA metabolism through changes in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) expression, which varied accordingly. GH effect was confirmed by treatment of Acro mice with a receptor antagonist, which abolished changes in key proteins of FA metabolism in young Acro. GH increased phosphorylation of
AMP-activated protein kinase
and anti-acetyl-CoA-carboxylase, two regulatory kinases, leading to lower CPT-1 inhibition by malonyl-CoA, and intervened in regulating PPARalpha expression through the
ERK
1/2 pathway. In conclusion, chronic GH excess increased FA metabolism in the young age, whereas its action was overwhelmed in elder ages likely by GH-independent mechanisms, leading to reduced expression of key enzyme of FA metabolism.
...
PMID:Regulation of cardiac fatty acids metabolism in transgenic mice overexpressing bovine GH. 1934 98
AMP-activated protein kinase
(
AMPK
) serves as a fuel-sensing enzyme that is activated by binding of AMP and subsequent phophorylation by upstream kinases such as the tumor suppressor LKB1, when cells sense an increase in the ratio of AMP to ATP. Acute activation of
AMPK
stimulates fatty acid oxidation to generate more ATP and simultaneously inhibits ATP-consuming processes including fatty acid and protein syntheses, thereby preserving energy for acute cell-surviving program, whereas chronic activation leads to inhibition of cell growth. The goal of the present study is to explore the mechanisms by which
AMPK
regulates cell growth. Toward this end, we established stable cell lines by introducing a dominant-negative mutant of
AMPK
alpha1 subunit or its shRNA into the prostate cancer C4-2 cells and other cells, or wild type LKB1 into the lung adenocarcinoma A549 and breast MB-MDA-231 cancer cells, both of which lack functional LKB1. Our results showed that the inhibition of
AMPK
accelerated cell proliferation and promoted malignant behavior such as increased cell migration and anchorage-independent growth. This was associated with decreased G1 population, downregulation of p53 and p21, and upregulation of S6K, IGF-1 and
IGF1R
. Conversely, treatment of the C4-2 cells with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-D-ribonucleoside (AICAR), a prototypical
AMPK
activator, caused opposite changes. In addition, our study using microarray and RT-PCR revealed that
AMPK
regulated gene expression involved in tumor cell growth and survival. Thus, our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms of
AMPK
action in cancer cells and presents
AMPK
as an ideal drug target for cancer therapy.
...
PMID:Inactivation of AMPK alters gene expression and promotes growth of prostate cancer cells. 1934 29
Genomic copy number aberrations and corresponding transcriptional deregulation in the cancer genome have been suggested to have regulatory roles in cancer development and progression. However, functional evaluation of individual genes from lengthy lists of candidate genes from genomic data sets presents a significant challenge. Here, we report effective gene selection strategies to identify potential driver genes based on systematic integration of genome scale data of DNA copy numbers and gene expression profiles. Using regional pattern recognition approaches, we discovered the most probable copy number-dependent regions and 50 potential driver genes. At each step of the gene selection process, the functional relevance of the selected genes was evaluated by estimating the prognostic significance of the selected genes. Further validation using small interference RNA-mediated knockdown experiments showed proof-of-principle evidence for the potential driver roles of the genes in hepatocellular carcinoma progression (i.e., NCSTN and SCRIB). In addition, systemic prediction of drug responses implicated the association of the 50 genes with specific signaling molecules (mTOR,
AMPK
, and
EGFR
). In conclusion, the application of an unbiased and integrative analysis of multidimensional genomic data sets can effectively screen for potential driver genes and provides novel mechanistic and clinical insights into the pathobiology of hepatocellular carcinoma.
...
PMID:Identification of potential driver genes in human liver carcinoma by genomewide screening. 1936 92
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