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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)
4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) is one of the major end-products of lipid peroxidation and is increased in response to cellular stress and in many chronic and/or inflammatory diseases. HNE can in turn function as a potent signaling molecule to induce the expression of many genes including
glutamate
cysteine ligase (GCL), the rate-limiting enzyme in de novo glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis. GSH, the most abundant nonprotein thiol in the cell, plays a key role in antioxidant defense. HNE exposure causes an initial depletion of GSH due to formation of conjugates with GSH, followed by a marked increase in GSH resulting from the induction of GCL. GCL is a heterodimeric protein with a catalytic (or heavy, GCLC) subunit and a modulatory (or light, GCLM) subunit. HNE-mediated induction of both GCL subunits and mRNAs has been reported in rat and human cells in vitro; however, the mechanisms or the signaling pathways mediating the induction of Gclc and Gclm mRNAs by HNE differ between rat and human cells. Activation of the
ERK
pathway is involved in GCL regulation in rat cells while both the
ERK
and the JNK pathways appear to be involved in human cells. Downstream, MAPK activation leads to increased AP-1 binding, which mediates GCL induction. Some studies suggest a role for the EpRE element as well. As the concentrations of HNE used in all of the studies reviewed are comparable to what may be found in vivo, this makes the findings summarized in this review potentially relevant to GCL regulation in human health and disease.
...
PMID:Mechanisms of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) induction by 4-hydroxynonenal. 1568 10
Group I metabotropic
glutamate
receptors (mGluRs) increase cellular levels of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) and thereby trigger intracellular Ca2+ release. Also, group I mGluRs are organized with members of Homer scaffold proteins into multiprotein complexes involved in postreceptor signaling. In this study, we investigated the relative importance of the IP3/Ca2+ signaling and novel Homer proteins in group I mGluR-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in cultured rat striatal neurons. We found that selective activation of mGluR5, but not mGluR1, increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Whereas the IP3/Ca2+ cascade transmits a small portion of signals from mGluR5 to ERK1/2, the member of Homer family Homer1b/c forms a central signaling pathway linking mGluR5 to ERK1/2 in a Ca2+-independent manner. This was demonstrated by the findings that the mGluR5-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation was mostly reduced by a cell-permeable Tat-fusion peptide that selectively disrupted the interaction of mGluR5 with the Homer1b/c and by small interfering RNAs that selectively knocked down cellular levels of Homer1b/c proteins. Furthermore, ERK1/2, when only coactivated by both IP3/Ca2+- and Homer1b/c-dependent pathways, showed the ability to phosphorylate two transcription factors,
Elk
-1 and cAMP response element-binding protein, and thereby facilitated c-Fos expression. Together, we have identified two coordinated signaling pathways (a conventional IP3/Ca2+ vs a novel Homer pathway) that differentially mediate the mGluR5-
ERK
coupling in neurons. Both the Ca2+-dependent and -independent pathways are corequired to activate ERK1/2 to a level sufficient to achieve the mGluR5-dependent synapse-to-nucleus communication imperative for the transcriptional regulation.
...
PMID:The scaffold protein Homer1b/c links metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 to extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase cascades in neurons. 1575 84
Chloroplast genes of higher plants are transcribed by two types of RNA polymerase that are encoded by nuclear (
NEP
(nuclear-encoded plastid RNA polymerase)) or plastid (PEP (plastid-encoded plastid RNA polymerase)) genomes.
NEP
is largely responsible for the transcription of housekeeping genes during early chloroplast development. Subsequent light-dependent chloroplast maturation is accompanied by repression of
NEP
activity and activation of PEP. Here, we show that the plastid-encoded transfer RNA for
glutamate
, the expression of which is dependent on PEP, directly binds to and inhibits the transcriptional activity of
NEP
in vitro. The plastid tRNA(Glu) thus seems to mediate the switch in RNA polymerase usage from
NEP
to PEP during chloroplast development.
...
PMID:Glutamyl-tRNA mediates a switch in RNA polymerase use during chloroplast biogenesis. 1587 80
In several neurological disorders including hyperhomocysteinemia, homocysteine (Hcy) accumulates in the brain, and acts as a potent neurotoxin. However, the molecular mechanisms induced by increased levels of Hcy in brain are not well understood. Here we show an activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) and the downstream nuclear targets
Elk
-1 and calcium/cAMP response element binding protein, in the hippocampus of cystathionine beta synthase deficient mice, a murine model of hyperhomocysteinemia. An ex vivo model of hippocampal slices allowed us to reproduce Hcy -induced
ERK
activation and to unravel the mechanisms responsible of this activation. Of interest, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), non-NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists all blocked Hcy -induced
ERK
activation. Moreover, the
ERK
activation was blocked in the presence of Na+-channel blocker tetrodotoxin, indicating the existence of a trans-synaptic activity in
ERK
activation by Hcy in hippocampal slices. The effects of Hcy on
ERK
cascade activation were also dependent on calcium influx, CaMK-II, PKC as well as PKA activation. Thus, altogether these data support a role of Hcy on
ERK
activation, via complex mechanisms, starting with a control of
glutamate
release, which in turn activates ionotropic and metabotropic receptor subtypes and produces increases in intracellular calcium levels.
...
PMID:Regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase by homocysteine in hippocampus. 1591 60
The molecular events controlling glutamate receptor ion channel gating are complex. The movement of transmembrane domain M3 within N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits has been suggested to be one structural determinant linking agonist binding to channel gating. Here we report that covalent modification of NR1-A652C or the analogous mutation in NR2A, -2B, -2C, or -2D by methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium (MT-SEA) occurs only in the presence of
glutamate
and glycine, and that modification potentiates recombinant NMDA receptor currents. The modified channels remain open even after removing
glutamate
and glycine from the external solution. The degree of potentiation depends on the identity of the NR2 subunit (NR2A < NR2B < NR2C,D) inversely correlating with previous measurements of channel open probability. MTSEA-induced modification of channels is associated with increased
glutamate
potency, increased mean single-channel open time, and slightly decreased channel conductance. Modified channels are insensitive to the competitive antagonists D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) and 7-Cl-kynurenic acid, as well as allosteric modulators of gating (extracellular protons and Zn(2+)). However, channels remain fully sensitive to Mg(2+) blockade and partially sensitive to pore block by (+)MK-801, (-)MK-801, ketamine, memantine, amantadine, and dextrorphan. The partial sensitivity to (+)MK-801 may reflect its ability to stimulate agonist unbinding from MT-
SEA
-modified receptors. In summary, these data suggest that the SYTANLAAF motif within M3 is a conserved and critical determinant of channel gating in all NMDA receptors.
...
PMID:Conserved structural and functional control of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor gating by transmembrane domain M3. 1597 May 96
Stem cell factor (SCF) is a highly expressed cytokine in the central nervous system. In the present study, we demonstrate a neuroprotective role for SCF and its tyrosine kinase receptor, c-kit, against camptothecin-induced apoptosis and
glutamate
excitotoxicity in rat cortical neurons. This protection was blocked by pharmacological or molecular inhibition of either the MEK/
ERK
or PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. The importance of these pathways was further confirmed by the activation of both
ERK
, in a MEK-dependent manner, and Akt, via PI3K. Activation of Akt increased the binding of the p50 and p65 subunits of NFkappaB, which was also important for neuroprotection. Akt inhibition prevented NFkappaB binding, suggesting a role for Akt in SCF-induced NFkappaB. Pharmacological inhibition of NFkappaB or dominant negative IkappaB also prevented neuroprotection by SCF. SCF up-regulated the anti-apoptotic genes, bcl-2 and bcl-xL in an NFkappaB-dependent manner. Together, these findings demonstrate a neuroprotective role for SCF in cortical neurons, an effect that was mediated by Akt and
ERK
, as well as NFkappaB-mediated gene transcription. SCF represents a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
...
PMID:Neuroprotection by stem cell factor in rat cortical neurons involves AKT and NFkappaB. 1618 9
Brief glutamatergic stimulation of neurons from fetal mice, cultured in vitro for 6 days, activates the mTOR-S6 kinase, ERK1/2 and Akt pathways, to an extent approaching that elicited by brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In contrast, sustained glutamatergic stimulation inhibits
ERK
, Akt, and S6K. Glutamatergic activation of S6K is calcium/calmodulin-dependent and is prevented by inhibitors of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2, phosphatidylinositol 3-OH-kinase and by rapamycin. 2-Amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid, an inhibitor of N'-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, abolishes glutamatergic activation of ERK1/2 but not the activation of mTOR-S6K; the latter is completely abolished by inhibitors of voltage-dependent calcium channels. Added singly, dopamine gives slight, and norepinephrine a more significant, activation of
ERK
and S6K; both catecholeamines, however, enhance glutamatergic activation of S6K but not
ERK
. After 12 days in culture, the response to direct glutamatergic activation is attenuated but can be uncovered by suppression of gamma-aminobutyric acid interneurons with bicuculline in the presence of the weak K(+) channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). This selective synaptic activation of mTOR-S6K is also resistant to APV and inhibited by Ca(2+) channel blockers and higher concentrations of
glutamate
. Elongation factor 2 (EF2) is phosphorylated and inhibited by the eEF2 kinase (CaM kinase III); the latter is inhibited by the S6K or Rsk. Bicuculline/4-AP or KCl-induced depolarization reduces, whereas higher concentrations of
glutamate
increases, EF2 phosphorylation. Thus the mTOR-S6K pathway in neurons, a critical component of the late phase of LTP, is activated by glutamatergic stimulation in a calcium/calmodulin-dependent fashion through a calcium pool controlled by postsynaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels, whereas sustained stimulation of extrasynaptic
glutamate
receptors is inhibitory.
...
PMID:Glutamatergic regulation of the p70S6 kinase in primary mouse neurons. 1618 39
Tributyltin, an endocrine-disrupting chemical, has been used as a heat stabilizer, agricultural pesticide, and component of antifouling paints. In this study, the neurotoxicity of tributyltin was investigated in cultured rat cortical neurons. Tributyltin caused marked time- and dose-dependent increases in the number of trypan blue-stained cells. Measurement of extracellular
glutamate
concentration showed that
glutamate
release was induced by tributyltin. Application of the glutamate receptor antagonists MK-801 and CNQX decreased the neurotoxicity. These results suggest that released
glutamate
and
glutamate
receptors are involved in tributyltin toxicity. Next, we examined whether various factors, believed to be involved in
glutamate
excitotoxicity also influence tributyltin toxicity. Cell death induced by tributyltin was found to be reduced by alpha-tocopherol (a membrane-permeable antioxidant), SB202190 (a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor), and U-0126 (an extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase kinase inhibitor). MK-801 and CNQX decreased the phosphorylation of
ERK
, but not that of p38. A caspase-3 inhibitor had no effect on tributyltin toxicity, and tributyltin did not change the nuclear morphology. These results suggest that the
glutamate
excitotoxicity caused by tributyltin is unrelated to apoptosis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that tributyltin induced
glutamate
release and subsequent activation of
glutamate
receptors, leading to neuronal death. We propose two independent neuronal death pathways by tributyltin; one is glutamate receptor-dependent cell death via
ERK
phosphorylation, and the other may be glutamate receptor-independent cell death via p38 activation.
...
PMID:Glutamate excitotoxicity is involved in cell death caused by tributyltin in cultured rat cortical neurons. 1620 39
Insulin and cholesterol play important roles in basic metabolic processes in peripheral tissues. Both insulin and cholesterol can also act as signalling molecules in the central nervous system that participate in neuronal function, memory and neurodegenerative diseases. A high-cholesterol diet improves spatial memory in experimental animals. beta-Amyloid, the toxic peptide in neurons of AD (Alzheimer's disease) patients, binds cholesterol and catalyses its oxidation to 7beta-hydroxycholesterol, a highly toxic oxysterol that is a potent inhibitor of alpha-PKC (alpha-protein kinase C), an enzyme critical in memory consolidation and synaptic plasticity and implicated in AD. Oxidized cholesterol also can act as a second messenger for insulin. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein inhibits insulin-dependent phosphorylation of the signalling kinases
ERK
(extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) and PKB/Akt. In sporadic AD patients, insulin levels are decreased, suggesting links between AD and diabetes. Insulin signalling is also important in synaptic plasticity. Insulin receptors are up-regulated and undergo translocation after spatial learning. Insulin modulates the activity of excitatory and inhibitory receptors including the
glutamate
and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors and activates two biochemical pathways: the shc-ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/PKC pathway, both of which are involved in memory processing. These findings point to a convergence at the biochemical level between pathways involved in AD and those important for normal memory.
...
PMID:Insulin and cholesterol pathways in neuronal function, memory and neurodegeneration. 1624 39
Cocaine is an addictive psychostimulant that induces fos and opioid gene expression by activating the dopamine receptors and the PKA pathways in dopamine D1 and a
glutamate
NMDA-dependent mechanisms in the striatum. In this study, we show that a single cocaine administration induces
ERK
phosphorylation in the caudate/putamen of Fischer rats. This increase in Phospho-
ERK
is diminished by pre-administration of SCH23390, or MK801 but not with pre-administration of eticlopride. Furthermore, this single cocaine administration does not alter the levels of phospho-CREB protein or CREB-DNA bindings in the caudate/putamen protein extracts but does increase phospho-
Elk
-1 protein levels in the same extracts.
...
PMID:Cocaine induction of ERK proteins in dorsal striatum of Fischer rats. 1627 98
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