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)

Protein tyrosine kinase-7 (PTK7) is a receptor protein tyrosine kinase (RPTK)-like molecule that contains a catalytically inactive tyrosine kinase domain. We report here the genomic structure of the human PTK7 gene by screening a BAC library and DNA sequencing. The PTK7 gene is organized into 20 exons. All of the splicing junctions followed the conserved GT/AG rule. The exon-intron structure of the PTK7 gene in the region that encodes the catalytic domain was distinct from those of other RPTKs with strong homology. The 5'-flanking sequence of the PTK7 gene contains two GC boxes that concatenate Sp1 binding motifs, but does not contain either the TATA or CAAT consensus sequence. Using a luciferase reporter assay, it was demonstrated that the 883-bp 5'-flanking sequence is functional as a promoter of the PTK7 gene. We identified four new splicing variants in testis that could be derived from alternative splicing of exons 8-10, 10, a part of 12-13, and 16. The expression patterns of the splicing variants in the hepatoma and colon cancer cells were different from those of the testis. Our findings suggest that PTK7 is evolutionarily distinct from other RPTKs, and that the alternative splicing of PTK7 mRNA may contribute to its diverse function in cell signaling.
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PMID:Organization of the human PTK7 gene encoding a receptor protein tyrosine kinase-like molecule and alternative splicing of its mRNA. 1242 50

Human tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (hTFPI-2) is a 32-kDa serine protease inhibitor that is associated with the extracellular matrix. hTFPI-2 inhibits several extracellular matrix-degrading serine proteases and may play a role in tumor invasion and metastasis. To study the signal transduction pathway that leads to the activation of the hTFPI-2, we cloned the potential promoter region of this gene adjacent to a heterologous luciferase reporter gene. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced the luciferase reporter gene in HEK293 cells and other epithelial cell lines, such as the human lung carcinoma A549 cells, the breast carcinoma MCF7 cells, and the cervical HeLa cells. This PMA induction was blocked with the MEK inhibitor UO126, suggesting that the PMA-induced activation of the hTFPI-2 promoter is mediated through MEK. Furthermore, epidermal growth factor induced the luciferase reporter gene in HeLa cells. Cotransfection of the luciferase construct with constitutively active components of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in EcR-293 cells lead to a 7- to 92-fold induction of the luciferase reporter gene, indicating that regulation of hTFPI-2 is mediated through this pathway. A series of luciferase reporter gene constructs with progressive deletions of the 5'-flanking region suggested that the minimal basal promoter activity is located between nucleotide positions -89 and -384, whereas the minimal inducible promoter activity is between -89 and -222. We have used the computer program TFSEARCH and mutagenesis to analyze potential transcription factor binding sites. We identified an AP-1 binding site at nucleotide position -156 (inducible activity) and a Sp1 site at position -134 (basal activity) as potential cis-acting elements in the promoter region of the hTFPI-2.
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PMID:The ERK/MAPK pathway regulates the activity of the human tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 promoter. 1244 83

To determine treatment strategies and predict the clinical outcome of patients with melanoma it is important to understand the etiology of this disease. Recently, there has been some insight into molecular basis of melanoma including identification of a few of the regulatory factors and genes involved in this disease. For instance, the transcription factor AP-2 plays a tumor suppressor-like role in melanoma progression by regulating genes involved in tumor growth and metastasis. Previously, we have shown that the progression of human melanoma to the metastatic phenotype is associated with loss of AP-2 expression and deregulation of target genes such as MUC18/MCAM, c-KIT, and MMP-2. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the thrombin receptor (protease-activated receptor-1, PAR-1) plays a major role in tumor invasion and contributes to the metastatic phenotype of human melanoma. This review focuses on the role of the thrombin receptor in melanoma and its regulation by AP-2. We show that loss of AP-2 expression in metastatic melanoma cells correlates with overexpression of the thrombin receptor. Our analysis of AP-2/Sp1 complexes within the regulatory region of the thrombin receptor demonstrates that AP-2 binds the proximal 3' region of the promoter and diminishes PAR-1 expression. Levels of AP-2 and Sp1 proteins in a panel of melanoma cell lines demonstrated a marked decrease in the ratio of AP-2/Sp1, a decrease that correlated with overexpression of PAR-1 in metastatic melanoma cells. We propose that loss of AP-2 results in increased expression of the thrombin receptor, which subsequently contributes to the metastatic phenotype of melanoma by upregulating the expression of adhesion molecules, proteases, and angiogenic molecules.
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PMID:Role and regulation of the thrombin receptor (PAR-1) in human melanoma. 1278 89

MLN64, is invariably coamplified and coexpressed with erbB-2 in breast cancers. The human MLN64 and ERBB2 genes are positioned at less than 50 kb from each other, on chromosome 17q12. To understand the molecular basis of MLN64 overexpression in cancer, the genomic region containing the MLN64 and ERBB2 genes was isolated and mapped. The two genes, DARPP32 and Telethonin, flanking MLN64 respectively on its centromeric and telomeric sides, although coamplified, are not overexpressed in breast cancer cells, indicating that gene amplification is not sufficient to allow overexpression. The MLN64 minimal promoter was isolated and found to be a housekeeping gene promoter containing four potential Sp1 binding elements. Using Sp1-deficient Drosophila SL2 cells, MLN64 promoter activity was induced in a dose-dependent manner by exogenous Sp1 addition. Furthermore, mutation of each individual Sp1 element resulted in a significant decrease in reporter gene activity, indicating that all the Sp1 binding elements are functional and act together to promote gene expression. Since the ERBB2 promoter is also positively regulated by Sp1, this study indicates that MLN64 and ERBB2 genes share common transcriptional controls together with a physical link on chromosome 17q. We speculate that, in addition to the oncogenic potential of erbB-2 overexpression, the unbalanced action of MLN64 contributes to the poor clinical outcome of breast tumors bearing this amplified region.
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PMID:Metastatic lymph node 64 (MLN64), a gene overexpressed in breast cancers, is regulated by Sp/KLF transcription factors. 1280 84

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen and chemoattractant for vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) whose biological activity is mediated via its high affinity interaction with specific cell surface receptors. The molecular mechanisms governing the expression of PDGF receptor-alpha (PDGFR-alpha) are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that PDGFR-alpha protein and transcriptional regulation in SMCs is under the positive regulatory influence of the zinc finger nuclear protein, Sp1. Electrophoretic mobility shift, competition, and supershift analysis revealed the existence of an atypical G-rich Sp1-binding element located in the PDGFR-alpha promoter -61 to -52 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site. Mutation of this sequence ablated endogenous Sp1 binding and activation of the PDGFR-alpha promoter. PDGFR-alpha transcription, mRNA, and protein expression were repressed in SMCs exposed to fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). This inhibition was rescued by the blockade of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2). FGF-2 repression of PDGFR-alpha transcription was abrogated upon mutation of this Sp1-response element. FGF-2 stimulated Sp1 phosphorylation in an ERK1/2- but not p38-dependent manner, the growth factor enhancing Sp1 interaction with the PDGFR-alpha promoter. Mutation of residues Thr(453) and Thr(739) in Sp1 (amino acids phosphorylated by ERK) blocked FGF-2 repression of PDGFR-alpha transcription. These findings, taken together, demonstrate that FGF-2 stimulates ERK1/2-dependent Sp1 phosphorylation, thereby repressing PDGFR-alpha transcription via the -61/-52 element in the PDGFR-alpha promoter. Phosphorylation triggered by FGF-2 switches Sp1 from an activator to a repressor of PDGFR-alpha transcription, a finding previously unreported in any Sp1-dependent gene.
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PMID:Fibroblast growth factor-2 represses platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFR-alpha) transcription via ERK1/2-dependent Sp1 phosphorylation and an atypical cis-acting element in the proximal PDGFR-alpha promoter. 1459 15

Activation of telomerase, which stabilizes the telomere length of chromosomes, is crucial for the continued growth or progression of cancer cells. In a previous study, we showed that telomerase is frequently activated in skin tumors. Because epidermal growth factor plays an important role during the tumorigenesis of epithelial tissue, we have now examined the role of epidermal growth factor signaling in regulating telomerase activity using HSC-1 human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells. Treatment of HSC-1 cells with AG 1478, an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor, or with a neutralizing antibody to the epidermal growth factor receptor, significantly suppressed their telomerase activity, in association with inhibiting their growth. The suppression of telomerase activity was obvious at day 3 and was maximal at day 5 after treatment with AG 1478. The suppression of telomerase activity correlated with the decreased expression of human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) mRNA, the rate-limiting determinant of its enzyme activity. The expression of c-Myc and of Sp1 proteins, transcription factors for hTERT, were also suppressed by AG 1478 in HSC-1 cells, but the expression of Ets-2 protein, another transcription factor, was not affected. The expression of Mad-1, a competitor of c-Myc, was increased. Inhibition of ERK, Src, or Akt suppressed telomerase activity in HSC-1 cells, but to a lesser extent than did treatment with AG 1478. Serum starvation suppressed telomerase activity, but addition of epidermal growth factor or transforming growth factor alpha did not increase it, indicating the involvement of other epidermal growth factor receptor ligands in the activation of telomerase in HSC-1 cells. These data indicate that blockade of the epidermal growth factor receptor might be effective in inhibiting telomerase activity of squamous cell carcinomas, which would lead to the suppression of tumor growth.
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PMID:Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor suppresses telomerase activity in HSC-1 human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells. 1470 11

The prolonged treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) of a human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, MEG-O1, induced increase of sphingosine kinase (SPHK) enzyme activity and SPHK1 protein expression as well as SPHK1 message. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor prevented the PMA-induced SPHK1 gene expression. To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of this gene expression, we examined the promoter area (distal to the first exon) and its binding proteins. Luciferase analyses showed that the area of 300 bp from the first exon was sufficient for PMA-responsiveness, and that specificity protein 1 (Sp1)- and two activator protein 2 (AP-2)-binding motifs within this area were necessary for responsiveness. Inhibitors for PKC and MEK1 decreased this PMA-induced promoter activity. Electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that Sp1 protein was originally bound to the Sp1 site and that two additional bands bound to the two AP-2 motifs were observed only when stimulated with PMA in MEG-O1 cells. The appearance of these bands resulted from binding to an unknown protein rather than AP-2. These results indicated that PMA up-regulates SPHK1 gene expression through PMA-responsive elements of the 5' promoter area of the gene, and suggested that PMA-mediated SPHK1 gene expression would be mediated via PKC- and ERK-dependent signal transduction pathway by binding the transcription factor to AP-2 motifs.
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PMID:Regulation of sphingosine kinase 1 gene expression by protein kinase C in a human leukemia cell line, MEG-O1. 1472 73

Changes in expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, MET, are associated with formation and malignant progression of human tumors. In the present study, 10 of 11 human fibrosarcoma cell lines tested expressed significantly higher levels of MET than were found in a series of normal human fibroblast lines. Still more significant, MET was constitutively phosphorylated in all 11 fibrosarcoma lines, whereas the normal fibroblasts exhibited very low levels of the phosphorylated form. All the cell lines expressed HGF mRNA. To determine the role of MET and/or HGF in tumorigenesis, a fibrosarcoma line expressing high levels of MET protein and low levels of HGF/NK2 mRNA was stably transfected with a hammerhead ribozyme targeting MET. In addition, a fibrosarcoma line expressing high levels of both MET protein and HGF/NK2 mRNA was transfected with a ribozyme targeting MET, or with a ribozyme targeting MET and another targeting HGF. The transfectant cell lines no longer formed tumors, or did so at a greatly reduced frequency and/or longer latency. Because Sp1 is a transcription factor for MET, we assayed the cell lines for their level of Sp1 protein. Sp1 was markedly overexpressed in 7 of the 11 fibrosarcoma lines compared to normal fibroblast lines. Deletion analysis and site-directed mutagenesis of the MET promoter revealed that tandem Sp1 sites in the proximal promoter are critical for transcription of MET. Increased expression of Sp1 in a normal human fibroblast line containing a MET promoter-luciferase construct resulted in a dose-dependent increase in luciferase. Conversely, inhibition of Sp1 binding to DNA in a fibrosarcoma cell line, using an Sp1 decoy, dramatically reduced MET expression. Taken together, these results indicate that in human fibrosarcoma cells, high levels of the phosphorylated form of MET are required for tumor formation and that Sp1 can function to control the level of MET.
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PMID:Sp1 regulates expression of MET, and ribozyme-induced down-regulation of MET in fibrosarcoma-derived human cells reduces or eliminates their tumorigenicity. 1506 26

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (KDR) plays a critical role in mediating a variety of vasculogenic and angiogenic processes, including diabetic retinopathy. We previously demonstrated that the promoter activity of the KDR gene in retinal capillary endothelial cells (RCECs) was regulated in part by the relative concentration of positive/negative transcription factors Sp1/Sp3. We also reported that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma ligand could inhibit intraocular angiogenesis. In the present study, the role of PPARgamma1 in KDR gene regulation in RCECs was examined. PPARgamma1 protein physically interacted with both Sp1 and Sp3. Transactivation and electrophoretic mobility shift assays clearly demonstrated novel findings that PPARgamma1 increased KDR promoter activity by enhancing the interaction between Sp1, but not Sp3, and KDR promoter region without its ligand in RCECs. The ligand-binding site but not the DNA binding site of PPARgamma1 enhanced the interaction between Sp1 and KDR promoter region. Conversely, PPARgamma1 ligand 15-deoxy Delta (12,14)-prostaglandin J2 dose-dependently suppressed the binding of KDR promoter region with both Sp1 and Sp3, resulting an inhibition of KDR gene expression. In conclusion, PPARgamma1 has bifunctional properties in the regulation of KDR gene expression mediated via interaction with both Sp1 and Sp3.
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PMID:Bifunctional properties of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma1 in KDR gene regulation mediated via interaction with both Sp1 and Sp3. 1511 90

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) play an integral role in normal tissue growth and maintenance as well as many human pathological states including atherosclerosis, fibrosis, and tumorigenesis. The PDGF family of ligands is comprised of A, B, C, and D chains. Here, we provide the first functional characterization of the PDGF-C promoter. We examined 797 bp of the human PDGF-C promoter and identified several putative recognition elements for Sp1, Ets Egr-1, and Smad. The proximal region of the PDGF-C promoter bears a remarkable resemblance to a comparable region of the PDGF-A promoter (1). Binding and transient transfection analysis in primary vascular smooth muscle cells revealed that PDGF-C, like PDGF-A, is under the transcriptional control of the zinc finger nuclear protein Egr-1 (early growth response-1). Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis using both smooth muscle cell nuclear extracts and recombinant protein revealed that Egr-1 and Sp1 bind this region of the PDGF-C promoter (Oligo C, -35 to -1). Egr-1 competes with Sp1 for overlapping binding sites even when the former is at a stoichiometric disadvantage. Reverse transcriptase PCR and supershift analysis demonstrate that fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) stimulates both Egr-1 and PDGF-C mRNA expression in a time-dependent and transient manner and that FGF-2-inducible Egr-1 binds the proximal PDGF-C promoter. FGF-2-inducible PDGF-C expression was completely abrogated using catalytic DNA (DNAzymes) targeting Egr-1 but not by its scrambled counterpart. Moreover, using pharmacological inhibitors we demonstrate the critical role of ERK but not JNK in FGF-2-inducible PDGF-C expression. These findings thus demonstrate that PDGF-C transcription, activated by FGF-2, is mediated by Egr-1 and its upstream kinase ERK.
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PMID:Fibroblast growth factor-2 induction of platelet-derived growth factor-C chain transcription in vascular smooth muscle cells is ERK-dependent but not JNK-dependent and mediated by Egr-1. 1524 55


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