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)

Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met (WKYMVm) has been reported to stimulate monocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (DCs). However, although WKYMVm has been reported to function as a DC chemoattractant, its role on DC maturation has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the effects of WKYMVm on human DC maturation. The costimulation of DCs with WKYMVm and LPS dramatically inhibited LPS-induced IL-12 production, CD86 and HLA-DR surface expression, and DC-mediated T cell proliferation. However, DC phagocytic activity was increased by WKYMVm stimulation. These findings demonstrate that WKYMVm inhibits DC maturation by LPS. In terms of the mechanism underlying DC maturation inhibition by WKYMVm, we found that LPS-induced DC maturation was negatively regulated by WKYMVm-stimulated ERK activity. Moreover, the costimulation of DCs with WKYMVm and LPS dramatically inhibited the LPS-induced accumulations of IL-12 mRNA, thus suggesting that WKYMVm inhibits LPS-induced IL-12 production at the transcriptional level. We also found that DCs express two WKYMVm receptors, formyl peptide receptor (FPR) and FPR-like 2 (FPRL2). In addition, formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (a FPR ligand), Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-Met, Hp(2-20) peptide, and F2L (three FPRL2 ligands) inhibited LPS-induced IL-12 production in DCs. Taken together, our findings indicate that the activations of FPR and FPRL2 inhibit LPS-induced DC maturation, and suggest that these two receptors should be regarded as important potential therapeutic targets for the modulation of DC maturation.
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PMID:The synthetic peptide Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met inhibits human monocyte-derived dendritic cell maturation via formyl peptide receptor and formyl peptide receptor-like 2. 1600 63

We previously found that EGF (epidermal growth factor) increases the EGFR (EGF receptor) kinase-binding affinity towards the major tyrosine phosphorylation sites in downstream adaptor proteins such as Gab1 (Grb2-associated binding protein 1) and Shc [Src homology 2 (SH2) domain and collagen containing protein], but not that towards EGFR autophosphorylation sites [Fan, Wong, Deb and Johnson (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279 , 38143-38150]. EGFR activation can also result in transphosphorylation of tyrosine resides in the C-terminal region of the related receptors ErbB2, ErbB3 and ErbB4 in heterodimers which are formed upon ligand stimulation. In the present study, we investigated the specificity of EGFR kinase by comparing the steady state kinetic parameters for peptides derived from all four ErbBs in the absence or presence of EGF. Our results demonstrated that (i) EGFR kinase can efficiently phosphorylate a broad range of diverse peptide sequences representing ErbB sites; (ii) certain ErbB2, ErbB3 and ErbB4 sites had higher specificity constants than any EGFR sequence and (iii) EGF stimulation consistently increases the k(cat) approx. 5-fold, but does not significantly alter the K(m) for any ErbB peptides. Furthermore, peptides containing lysine at position -2 or -3 N-terminal to the target tyrosine were found to be poor EGFR kinase substrates, and substitution of these lysines with glutamine decreased the K(m) and increased the k(cat) for these substrates. We conclude that EGFR kinase-mediated ErbB transphosphorylations are mostly controlled at the level of oligomerization, and not by a preference of the EGFR kinase for phosphorylation sites in any particular ErbB. The results also demonstrated that, unlike phosphorylation sites in select downstream targets, EGF does not regulate the recognition of phosphorylation sites in the C-terminal region of any of the ErbBs.
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PMID:EGFR kinase possesses a broad specificity for ErbB phosphorylation sites, and ligand increases catalytic-centre activity without affecting substrate binding affinity. 1612 76

An angle Omega is defined to serve as a metric for global side-chain orientations, which reflects the orientation of the side chain relative to the radial vector from the center of the protein to an amino acid. The side-chain orientations of buried residues exhibit characteristically different orientations than do exposed residues, in both monomeric and dimeric structures. Overall, buried side chains point mostly inward, whereas surface side chains tend to point outward from the surface. This difference in behavior also correlates well with the residue hydrophobicity; so a global side-chain orientation can be viewed as a direct structural manifestation of hydrophobicity. When various solvent-accessible layers are considered, the behavior is relatively continuous between centrally located and exposed residues. In the case of interfacial residues between subunits, there are statistically significant differences between exposed residues and interface residues for ALA, ARG, ASN, ASP, GLU, HIS, LYS, THR, VAL, MET, PRO, and overall the interface residues have an increased tendency to point inward. Presumably, these substantial differences in orientations of side chains may be a manifestation of hydrophobic forces.
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PMID:How do side chains orient globally in protein structures? 1615 44

In studies of gene regulation of keratin 16, we reported previously that simian virus 40 promoter factor 1 shows a functional cooperation with c-Jun and coactivators p300/CBP in driving the transcriptional regulation of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced keratin 16 gene expression. In the present study, we found that the stimulated expression of keratin 16 by EGF was mediated mainly through the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway. Ser63 and Ser73 on the c-Jun NH(2)-terminal transactivation domain could be phosphorylated in cells treated with EGF; nevertheless, we found that the c-Jun COOH terminus played a pivotal role in EGF-induced expression of keratin 16. The activation of keratin 16 by EGF treatment could not be enhanced by the overexpression of myc-c-JunK3R, in which three putative acetylation lysine residues on the c-Jun COOH terminus were all mutated into arginines, suggesting that c-Jun acetylation on the COOH terminus might partially play a functional role in this system. In addition, by using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and a DNA affinity precipitation assay, EGF treatment up-regulated the p300 recruitment through ERK signaling to the promoter region in regulating keratin 16 transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the enhancement of acetyl-histone H3 to the keratin 16 chromatin promoter induced by EGF was also mediated via ERK activation. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that both c-Jun induction and p300 recruitment to gene promoter, mediated through ERK activation, played an essential role in regulating keratin 16 gene expression by EGF. p300 mediated and regulated EGF-induced keratin 16 gene expression, at least in part, through multiple mechanisms, including a selective acetylation of c-Jun and histone H3.
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PMID:Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling by epidermal growth factor mediates c-Jun activation and p300 recruitment in keratin 16 gene expression. 1621 53

A novel mode of crosstalk between the EGFR-Ras-MAPK and LIN-12/Notch pathways occurs during the patterning of a row of vulval precursor cells (VPCs) in Caenorhabditis elegans: activation of the EGFR-Ras-MAPK pathway in the central VPC promotes endocytosis and degradation of LIN-12 protein. LIN-12 downregulation in the central VPC is a prerequisite for the activity of the lateral signal, which activates LIN-12 in neighboring VPCs. Here we characterize cis-acting targeting sequences in the LIN-12 intracellular domain and find that in addition to a di-leucine motif, serine/threonine residues are important for internalization and lysine residues are important for post-internalization trafficking and degradation. We also identify two trans-acting factors that are required for post-internalization trafficking and degradation: ALX-1, a homolog of yeast Bro1p and mammalian Alix and the WWP-1/Su(dx)/Itch ubiquitin ligase. By examining the effects of mutated forms of LIN-12 and reduced wwp-1 or alx-1 activity on subcellular localization and activity of LIN-12, we provide evidence that the lateral signal-inhibiting activity of LIN-12 resides in the extracellular domain and occurs at the apical surface of the VPCs.
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PMID:LIN-12/Notch trafficking and regulation of DSL ligand activity during vulval induction in Caenorhabditis elegans. 1623 69

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Activating KIT or PDGFRA (platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha) mutations have been shown to be a major force in GIST pathogenesis. Recently, a previously undescribed N659K PDGFRA exon 14 mutation has been reported in GISTs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of GISTs with PDGFRA exon 14 mutations and define the clinicopathologic profile of such tumors. In all, 200 GISTs negative for mutations in KIT exons 9, 11, 13 and 17 and PDGFRA exons 12 and 18 were evaluated for PDGFRA exon 14 mutations by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Mutations were found in 11 of 119 (9%) gastric GISTs. None of the 81 GISTs from other than gastric location had such a PDGFRA mutation. A majority of these mutations (eight cases) represented simple 2125C>A or C>G missense mutations, leading to substitution of the lysine for asparagine (N659K). However, in two cases, 2123A>T missense mutations leading to substitution of the tyrosine for asparagine (N659Y) was found instead. Of 11 PDGFRA N659-mutant GISTs, 10 had pure epithelioid morphology. One tumor had mixed, predominantly spindle and focally epithelioid cell morphology. Frequency of PDGFRA N659-mutant GISTs among pure epithelioid GISTs was almost 19%. Immunohistochemically, the majority (64%) of these tumors lacked KIT expression or showed only focal scattered KIT positivity. Tumor size ranged from 2.5 to 16 cm (average 7.1 cm). Low mitotic activity, <or=5 mitoses/50 high power field was detected in six GISTs including larger, >5 cm tumors. Based on mitotic activity and tumor size, six tumors were classified as probably benign with very low malignant potential. Low to moderate malignant potential and high malignant potential was suggested in three and two tumors, respectively. In four cases with moderate or high malignant potential GISTs, a long-term follow-up (average 235.5 months) showed favorable course of disease.
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PMID:GISTs with PDGFRA exon 14 mutations represent subset of clinically favorable gastric tumors with epithelioid morphology. 1625 21

Mutations in the DNA glycosylase/lyase ROS1 cause transcriptional silencing of the linked RD29A-LUC and 35S-NPTII transgenes in Arabidopsis. We report here that mutations in the Arabidopsis RPA2 locus release the silencing of 35S-NPTII but not RD29A-LUC in the ros1 mutant background. The rpa2 mutation also leads to enhanced expression of some transposons. Neither DNA methylation nor siRNAs at any of the reactivated loci are blocked by rpa2. Histone H3 methylation at lysine 4 was increased and histone H3 methylation at lysine 9 was decreased at the 35S promoter in the ros1rpa2 mutant compared to the ros1 background. RPA2 encodes a nuclear protein similar to the second subunit of the replication protein A conserved from yeast to mammals. Ectopic expression of the Arabidopsis RPA2 could complement the yeast rfa2 (rpa2) mutant. These results suggest an essential role of RPA2 in the maintenance of transcriptional gene silencing at specific loci in a DNA-methylation-independent manner. In addition, we found that rpa2 mutants are hypersensitive to the genotoxic agent methyl methanesulphonate, and the RPA2 protein interacts with ROS1 in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that RPA2 also functions together with ROS1 in DNA repair.
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PMID:Mutations in a conserved replication protein suppress transcriptional gene silencing in a DNA-methylation-independent manner in Arabidopsis. 1627 67

The EGFR/Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is a major pathway involved in the control of growth signals, cell survival and differentiation. Mutations of signaling components, such as EGFR (c-erbB1), Ras, and B-Raf, have been shown to play roles in the genesis of human cancer, while point mutation of ERK has not been reported. In this study, we present evidence for a mutation in an oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line, HSC6. PCR-amplification of cDNA, cloning and sequencing resulted in the identification of glutamic acid to lysine substitution at codon 322 (E322K) that occurred in the common docking (CD) domain of ERK2. The mutant protein contributed towards faster-migration in SDS-PAGE, and constitutive phosphorylation in a MEK-dependent manner. The transient transfection of the mutant ERK2 in 293T cells resulted in the expression of the same faster-migrating band in SDS-PAGE as was detected in HSC6 cells, which was preferentially phosphorylated relative to endogenous wild-type ERK2. The present study is the first to report ERK2 substitution mutation in a human cancer cell line which resulted in constitutive phosphorylation.
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PMID:A mutation in the common docking domain of ERK2 in a human cancer cell line, which was associated with its constitutive phosphorylation. 1627 4

Bioresorbable linear poly(ester-ether urethane)s with different hydrophilic character were synthesized from block copolymers of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL-PEO-PCL) as macrodiols, and L-lysine diisocyanate (LDI). A series of PCL-PEO-PCL triblock copolymers with different PEO and PCL chain length was obtained by reacting PEO with epsilon-caprolactone. Polyurethanes were synthesized by reacting the triblock copolymers with LDI in solution using stannous 2-ethylhexanoate as catalyst. The prepared triblock copolymers and polyurethanes were fully characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Water uptake, hydrolytic stability, and tensile properties of polyurethanes with different composition were evaluated and discussed in terms of the chain length and molecular weight of the polymers and its block components. Water uptake seems to depend on the ethylene oxide unit content of the polyurethane regardless of the triblock structure. Mechanical properties of the synthesized polymers were strongly affected by the molecular weight achieved during polymerization. The use of triblock macrodiols with different hydrophilicity allowed the preparation of a series of polyurethanes having a broad range of properties.
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PMID:Bioresorbable poly(ester-ether urethane)s from L-lysine diisocyanate and triblock copolymers with different hydrophilic character. 1631 20

Recent efforts in scientific research in the field of peripheral nerve regeneration have been directed towards the development of artificial nerve guides. We have studied various materials with the aim of obtaining a biocompatible and biodegradable two layer guide for nerve repair. The candidate materials for use as an external layer for the nerve guides were poly(caprolactone) (PCL), a biosynthetic blend between PCL and chitosan (CS) and a synthesised poly(ester-urethane) (PU). Blending PCL, which is a biocompatible synthetic polymer, with a natural polymer enhanced the system biocompatibility and biomimetics, fastened the degradation rates and reduced the production costs. Various novel block poly(ester-urethane)s are being synthesised by our group with tailored properties for specific tissue engineering applications. One of these poly(ester-urethane)s, based on a low molecular weight poly(caprolactone) as the macrodiol, cycloesandimethanol as the chain extender and hexamethylene diisocyanate as the chain linker, was investigated for the production of melt extruded nerve guides. We studied natural polymers such as gelatin (G), poly(L-lysine) (PL) and blends between chitosan and gelatin (CS/G) as internal coatings for nerve guides. In vitro and in vivo tests were performed on PCL guides internally coated either with G or PL to determine the differences in the quality of nerve regeneration associated with the type of adhesion protein. CS/G natural blends combined the good cell adhesion properties of the protein phase with the ability to promote nerve regeneration of the polysaccharide phase. Natural blends were crosslinked both by physical and chemical crosslinking methods. In vitro neuroblast adhesion tests were performed on CS/G film samples, PCL/CS and PU guides internally coated with G to evaluate the ability of such materials towards nerve repair.
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PMID:Materials for peripheral nerve regeneration. 1637 66


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