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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)
The serum response element (SRE), which is pivotal for transcriptional up-regulation of the c-fos protooncogene, is constitutively occupied by a protein complex comprising the
serum response factor
and a ternary complex factor (TCF). Phosphorylation of the TCFs
Elk
-1 and Sap-1a by the
ERK
and JNK subclasses of MAP kinases triggers c-fos transcription. We demonstrate here that
Elk
-1 is barely activated by a third subclass of MAP kinases (p38), most likely because the critical residues Ser383 and Ser389 are poorly phosphorylated by p38 MAP kinase. In contrast, the TCF Sap-1a is efficiently phosphorylated by p38 MAP kinase in vitro and in vivo on the homologous residues Ser381 and Ser387. Mutation of these sites to alanine severely reduces c-fos SRE-dependent transcription mediated by Sap-1a and p38 MAP kinase. Thus, Sap-1a may be an important target for mitogens, stress and apoptotic signals to elicit a nuclear response. However, signaling from p38 MAP kinase to Sap-1a or from Sap-1a to the basal transcription machinery does not occur in all cell types nor at promoters other than the c-fos SRE, which may ensure the specificity of signaling.
...
PMID:Convergence of MAP kinase pathways on the ternary complex factor Sap-1a. 913 Jul 7
The ternary complex factor (TCF) subfamily of ETS-domain transcription factors form ternary complexes with the
serum response factor
(
SRF
) and the c-fos SRE. Extracellular signals are relayed via MAP kinase signal transduction pathways through the TCF component of the ternary complex. Protein-protein interactions between TCFs and
SRF
play an essential role in formation of this ternary complex. A 30 amino acid sequence encompassing the TCF B-box is sufficient to mediate interactions with
SRF
. In this study we have identified amino acids which are critical for this interaction and derived a molecular model of the
SRF
binding interface. Alanine scanning of the
Elk
-1 B-box reveals five predominantly hydrophobic residues which are essential for binding to
SRF
and for ternary complex formation in vitro and in vivo. These amino acids are predicted to lie on one face of an alpha-helix. Peptides encompassing the B-box retain biological activity and have helix-forming propensity. alpha-Helix and ternary complex formation is disrupted by the introduction of helix-breaking proline residues. Our results are consistent with a model in which the
Elk
-1 B-box forms an inducible alpha-helix which presents a hydrophobic face for interaction with
SRF
. We discuss the wider applicability of our results to similar short protein-protein interaction motifs found in other transcription factors.
...
PMID:Molecular characterization of the B-box protein-protein interaction motif of the ETS-domain transcription factor Elk-1. 917 56
Calcium ions are the principal second messenger in the control of gene expression by electrical activation of neurons. However, the full complexity of calcium-signaling pathways leading to transcriptional activation and the cellular machinery involved are not known. Using the c-fos gene as a model system, we show here that the activity of its complex promoter is controlled by three independently operating signaling mechanisms and that their functional significance is cell type-dependent. The serum response element (SRE), which is composed of a ternary complex factor (TCF) and a
serum response factor
(
SRF
) binding site, integrates two calcium-signaling pathways. In PC12 cells, calcium-regulated transcription mediated by the SRE requires the TCF site and is not inhibited by expression of the dominant-negative Ras mutant, RasN17, nor by the MAP kinase kinase 1 inhibitor PD 98059. In contrast, TCF-dependent transcriptional regulation by nerve growth factor or epidermal growth factor is mediated by a Ras/MAP kinases (ERKs) pathway targeting the TCF
Elk
-1. In AtT20 cells and hippocampal neurons, calcium signals can stimulate transcription via a TCF-independent mechanism that requires the
SRF
binding site. The cyclic AMP response element (CRE), which cooperates with the TCF site in growth factor-regulated transcription, is a target of a third calcium-regulated pathway that is little affected by the expression of RasN17 or by PD 98059. Thus, calcium can stimulate gene expression via a TCF-,
SRF
-, and CRE-linked pathway that can operate independently of the Ras/MAP kinases (ERKs) signaling cascade in a cell type-dependent manner.
...
PMID:Calcium controls gene expression via three distinct pathways that can function independently of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERKs) signaling cascade. 923 30
Hypoxia is a pathophysiological condition that occurs during injury, ischemia, and stroke. It is characterized by a decrease of reactive oxygen intermediates and a change of the intracellular redox level. In tumors hypoxia is regarded as a trigger for enhanced growth and metastasis. Here we report that in HeLa cells, hypoxic conditions induce the transcriptional activation of c-fos transcription via the serum response element. Mutations in the binding site for the ternary complex factor
Elk
-1 and the
serum response factor
abolished this induction, indicating that a ternary complex at the serum response element is necessary for the induction of the c-fos gene under hypoxia. The transcription factor
Elk
-1 was covalently modified by phosphorylation in response to hypoxia. Furthermore this hyperphosphorylation of
Elk
-1, the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the induction of c-fos transcripts were blocked by PD98059, a specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase kinase 1. An in vitro kinase assay with
Elk
-1 as substrate showed that MAPK is activated under hypoxia. The activation of MAPK corresponds temporally with the phosphorylation and activation of
Elk
-1. Thus, a decrease of the intracellular reactive oxygen intermediate level by hypoxia induces c-fos via the MAPK pathway. These results suggest that the intracellular redox levels may be directly coupled to tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis via
Elk
-1-dependent induction of c-Fos controlled genes.
...
PMID:Hypoxia induces c-fos transcription via a mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent pathway. 928 59
For insight into the mechanisms of gene regulation by growth hormone (GH), the regulation of transcription factors associated with the serum response element (SRE) located upstream of c-fos was examined. The SRE can mediate induction of reporter expression in response to GH. For insight into the mechanism by which GH regulates transcription factors, regulation of SRE-associated proteins by GH was examined. In nuclear extracts from 3T3-F442A fibroblasts, several SRE-binding complexes were identified by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. GH treatment for 2-10 min transiently increased binding of two complexes; binding returned to control values within 30 min. The two GH-stimulated complexes were supershifted by antibodies against the
serum response factor
(
SRF
), indicating that they contained
SRF
or an antigenically related protein. One of the GH-stimulated complexes was supershifted by antibody against
Elk
-1, suggesting that it contains a ternary complex factor (TCF) such as
Elk
-1 in addition to
SRF
. Induction of binding by GH was lost when the
SRF
binding site in the SRE was mutated, and mutation of either the
SRF
or TCF binding site altered the pattern of protein binding to the SRE. Mutation of the
SRF
or TCF binding site in SRE-luciferase plasmids inhibited the ability of GH to stimulate reporter expression, supporting a role for both
SRF
and TCF in GH-induced transcription of c-fos via the SRE. The TCF family member
Elk
-1 is capable of mediating GH-stimulated transcription, since GH-stimulated reporter expression was mediated by the transcriptional activation domain of
Elk
-1. Consistent with this stimulation, GH rapidly and transiently stimulated the serine phosphorylation of
Elk
-1. The increase was evident within 10 min and subsided after 30 min. Taken together, these data indicate that
SRF
and TCF contribute to GH-promoted transcription of c-fos via the SRE and are consistent with GH-promoted phosphorylation of
Elk
-1 contributing to GH-promoted transcriptional activation via the SRE.
...
PMID:Growth hormone regulates ternary complex factors and serum response factor associated with the c-fos serum response element. 932 29
One important promoter element at the 5' end of the c-fos gene is the serum response element (SRE). SRE is the site of attachment of the 67-kDa protein
serum response factor
(
SRF
) and several accessory proteins (Elk1, SAP1, SAP2/
NET
), termed the ternary complex factors. The binding of
SRF
to SRE plays an integral role in c-fos transcription and may occur independently of the association of the ternary complex factors. In the current study, we found that
SRF
protein expression was increased in the hearts of the old vs young adult rats in the basal condition. The hearts of old rats may have posttranslationally modified
SRF
proteins that are different compared to that of the young adults. The
SRF
increase was present both in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus in the old hearts. To test whether
SRF
protein levels in response to acute stress might be altered with age, we studied hearts of young adult and old rats during myocardial infarction. The young adult rat hearts responded to acute ischemic stress with an increase in both p62 and p67
SRF
. The hearts of the old rats, however, did not exhibit a significant change in
SRF
protein expression. These findings demonstrate qualitative as well as quantitative age differences in
SRF
protein levels, both at baseline and following stimulation. The reduced
SRF
expression in response to acute cardiac ischemic stress in the old rats might contribute to the observed age-related decrease in the induction of immediate early genes such as c-fos in the heart.
...
PMID:SRF binding to SRE in the rat heart: influence of age. 946 16
The Mas oncogene encodes a novel G-protein-coupled receptor that was identified originally as a transforming protein when overexpressed in NIH 3T3 cells. The mechanism and signaling pathways that mediate Mas transformation have not been determined. We observed that the foci of transformed NIH 3T3 cells caused by Mas were similar to those caused by activated Rho and Rac proteins. Therefore, we determined if Mas signaling and transformation are mediated through activation of a specific Rho family protein. First, we observed that, like activated Rac1, Mas cooperated with activated Raf and caused synergistic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells. Second, both Mas- and Rac1-transformed NIH 3T3 cells retained actin stress fibers and showed enhanced membrane ruffling. Third, like Rac, Mas induced lamellipodium formation in porcine aortic endothelial cells. Fourth, Mas and Rac1 strongly activated the JNK and p38, but not
ERK
, mitogen-activated protein kinases. Fifth, Mas and Rac1 stimulated transcription from common DNA promoter elements: NF-kappaB,
serum response factor
(
SRF
), Jun/ATF-2, and the cyclin D1 promoter. Finally, Mas transformation and some of Mas signaling (
SRF
and cyclin D1 but not NF-kappaB activation) were blocked by dominant negative Rac1. Taken together, these observations suggest that Mas transformation is mediated in part by activation of Rac-dependent signaling pathways. Thus, Rho family proteins are common mediators of transformation by a diverse variety of oncogene proteins that include Ras, Dbl family, and G-protein-coupled oncogene proteins.
...
PMID:Mas oncogene signaling and transformation require the small GTP-binding protein Rac. 948 37
Prolonged culture of mesangial cells forms multifocal nodular structures, termed "hillocks," composed of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM), which may mimic the situation in the glomerular mesangium. Mesangial cells incorporated in hillocks show repressed expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, a marker of mesangial cell activation/dedifferentiation. The aim of this study is to elucidate molecular mechanisms involved in this phenomenon, focusing on the activity of CArG box elements located in 5'-flanking region of the alpha-smooth muscle actin gene. Reporter mesangial cells were created to monitor the activity of CArG elements. These clones expressed beta-galactosidase gene (lacZ) under the control of CArG boxes. Within the hillocks, reporter cells showed repressed expression of lacZ as well as alpha-smooth muscle actin compared to the cells in two-dimensional cultures. Consistent with this result, the reporter cells embedded in collagen gel exhibited down-regulation of lacZ and alpha-smooth muscle actin transcripts. Deactivation of CArG box elements by transfection with either a dominant negative mutant of
serum response factor
or a dominant negative form of ternary complex factor
Elk
-1 led to depressed expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin gene. These data suggested that three-dimensional ECM primes mesangial cells to down-regulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin via deactivation of CArG box elements.
...
PMID:Three-dimensional matrix primes mesangial cells to down-regulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin via deactivation of CArG box elements. 950 15
We previously reported that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) potentiated alpha1-adrenergic and stretch-induced c-fos mRNA expression and norepinephrine (NE)-induced amino acid incorporation in rat cultured myocardial cells (MCs). In the present study, we attempted to explore the mode of TGF-beta1 action for c-fos gene expression in MCs. In the transient transfection assay, TGF-beta1 potentiated NE- or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-activated c-fos promoter/enhancer, but not forskolin-activated c-fos promoter/enhancer. The c-fos serum response element (SRE) and the TPA response element (TRE) were responsible for TGF-beta1-induced potentiation of the NE or TPA action. Although TGF-beta1 activated not only the wild-type c-fos SRE, but also the mutated c-fos SRE, which contains an intact binding site for the
serum response factor
(
SRF
) but lacks the ternary complex factor (TCF) binding site, TPA activated the wild-type c-fos SRE but not the mutated c-fos SRE. TGF-beta1 did not potentiate the effects of TPA on the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the phosphorylation of
Elk
-1 and SAP-1a, which belong to TCF at the c-fos SRE. These results indicate that TGF-betaf potentiates the c-fos SRE activated by PKC through the
SRF
binding site. TGF-beta1 is involved in the regulation of c-fos gene expression through the c-fos SRE and is subsequently involved in the regulation of the gene which has the TRE in the promoter/enhancer region.
...
PMID:Transforming growth factor-beta1 and protein kinase C synergistically activate the c-fos serum response element in myocardial cells. 951 31
In recent years, significant progress has been made toward understanding skeletal muscle development. However, the mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle development and differentiation are presently unknown. To better understand smooth muscle-specific gene expression, we have focused our studies on the smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMHC) gene, a highly specific marker of differentiated smooth muscle cells. The goal of the present study was to isolate and characterize the mouse SMHC gene promoter, since the mouse promoter would be particularly suited for in vivo promoter analyses in transgenic mice and would serve as a tool for targeting genes of interest into smooth muscle cells. We report here the isolation and characterization of the mouse SMHC promoter and its 5' flanking region. DNA sequence analysis of a 2.6-kb portion of the promoter identified several potential binding sites for known transcription factors. Transient transfection analysis of promoter deletion constructs in primary cultures of smooth muscle cells showed that the region between -1208 and -1050 bp is critical for maximal SMHC promoter activity. A comparison of SMHC promoter sequences from mouse, rat, and rabbit revealed the presence of a highly conserved region located between -967 and -1208 bp. This region includes three CArG/CArG*-like elements, two SP-1 binding sites, a NF-1-like element, an Nkx2-5 binding site, and an
Elk
-1 binding site. Gel mobility shift assay and DNase I footprinting analyses show that all three CArG/CArG*-like elements can form DNA-protein complexes with nuclear extract from vascular smooth muscle cells. Protein binding to the CArG* elements can be competed out by either serum response element or by an authentic CArG element from the cardiac alpha-actin gene. Using a
serum response factor
(
SRF
) antibody, we demonstrate that
SRF
is part of the protein complex. In addition, we show that cotransfection with the
SRF
dominant-negative mutant expression vector abolishes SMHC promoter activity, suggesting that
SRF
protein plays a critical role in SMHC gene regulation.
...
PMID:Evolutionarily conserved promoter region containing CArG*-like elements is crucial for smooth muscle myosin heavy chain gene expression. 952 61
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