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)

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.
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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

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular signal-related kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2, regulate cellular responses by mediating extracellular growth signals toward cytoplasmic and nuclear targets. A potential target for ERK is topoisomerase IIalpha, which becomes highly phosphorylated during mitosis and is required for several aspects of nucleic acid metabolism, including chromosome condensation and daughter chromosome separation. In this study, we demonstrated interactions between ERK2 and topoisomerase IIalpha proteins by coimmunoprecipitation from mixtures of purified enzymes and from nuclear extracts. In vitro, diphosphorylated active ERK2 phosphorylated topoisomerase IIalpha and enhanced its specific activity by sevenfold, as measured by DNA relaxation assays, whereas unphosphorylated ERK2 had no effect. However, activation of topoisomerase II was also observed with diphosphorylated inactive mutant ERK2, suggesting a mechanism of activation that depends on the phosphorylation state of ERK2 but not on its kinase activity. Nevertheless, activation of ERK by transient transfection of constitutively active mutant MAP kinase kinase 1 (MKK1) enhanced endogenous topoisomerase II activity by fourfold. Our findings indicate that ERK regulates topoisomerase IIalpha in vitro and in vivo, suggesting a potential target for the MKK/ERK pathway in the modulation of chromatin reorganization events during mitosis and in other phases of the cell cycle.
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PMID:Extracellular signal-regulated kinase activates topoisomerase IIalpha through a mechanism independent of phosphorylation. 1020 78

Integrin engagement generates cellular signals leading to the recruitment of structural and signalling molecules which, in concert with rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton, leads to the formation of focal adhesion complexes. Using antisera reactive either with total ERK or with phosphorylated/activated forms of ERK, in rat embryo fibroblasts and embryonic avian cells that express v-Src, we found that active ERK is targeted to newly forming focal adhesions after integrin engagement or activation of v-Src. UO126, an inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), suppressed focal adhesion targeting of active ERK and cell spreading. Also, integrin engagement and v-Src induced myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)-dependent phosphorylation of myosin light chain downstream of the MEK/ERK pathway, and MLCK and myosin activities are required for the focal adhesion targeting of ERK. The translocation of active ERK to newly forming focal adhesions may direct specificity towards appropriate downstream targets that influence adhesion assembly. These findings support a role for ERK in the regulation of the adhesion/cytoskeletal network and provide an explanation for the role of ERK in cell motility.
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PMID:Active ERK/MAP kinase is targeted to newly forming cell-matrix adhesions by integrin engagement and v-Src. 1085 36

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to have important functions in neuronal survival, differentiation, and plasticity. In addition to its role as a survival-promoting factor, BDNF reportedly can enhance neuronal cell death in some cases, for example, the death caused by excitotoxicity or glucose deprivation. The cellular mechanism of the death-enhancing effect of BDNF remains unknown, in contrast to that of its survival-promoting effect. In this work, we found that BDNF markedly accelerated the nitric oxide (NO) donor-induced death of cultured embryonic cortical neurons. BDNF increased the number of cells with nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation 24 h after treatment with the NO donor, but it did not change the number of those cells 36 h after the treatment. The BDNF-accelerated death of cortical neurons was inhibited by the addition of actinomycin D or cycloheximide. These results suggest that BDNF can accelerate apoptotic cell death elicited by NO donor. TrkB-IgG and K252a blocked the BDNF-induced acceleration of the death, indicating that the death-accelerating effect by BDNF is mediated by TrkB. In addition, the BDNF-accelerated apoptosis was inhibited by the addition of SB202190 and SB203580, specific inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and U0126, a specific inhibitor of MAPK/ERK kinase 1, indicating that the activation of both p38 MAPK and ERK is involved in the signaling cascade of the BDNF-accelerated, NO donor-induced apoptosis.
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PMID:Brain-derived neurotrophic factor accelerates nitric oxide donor-induced apoptosis of cultured cortical neurons. 1089 24

We reported previously that nerve growth factor (NGF) up-regulates activity of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NR1) promoter. We have explored the pathways and nuclear targets of NGF signaling in regulating the NR1 promoter. PD98059 and wortmannin, but not rapamycin, significantly attenuated NGF-induced transcriptional activity from an NR1 promoter-luciferase construct. Coexpressing constitutively active forms of Ras, Raf, or MAPK/ERK kinase 1 (MEK1) increased promoter activity dramatically. The MEK1-induced increase was largely prevented by mutations of the tandem GC boxes in the promoter. Promoter activity was also increased significantly by coexpressed GC box-binding proteins (Sp1, 3, or 4) in nonstimulated PC12 cells. Either an extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 (ERK1)- or Sp1-specific antibody coprecipitated Sp1 with ERKs, and the coprecipitation was enhanced significantly by NGF treatment of PC12 cells. ERK2 also incorporated radioactivity of [gamma(32)P]ATP into recombinant Sp1. However, ERK2-treated Sp1 and PC12 nuclear extracts or nuclear extracts from NGF-treated cells exhibited reduced binding to the promoter or a consensus GC box. Our results suggest that NGF utilizes both the Ras/ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways to up-regulate NR1 promoter activity and that Sp1 is a novel substrate of NGF-activated ERKs. NGF-increased NR1 promoter activity may involve a complicated mechanism of Sp1 phosphorylation and possible transcription factor exchange.
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PMID:Nerve growth factor uses Ras/ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase cascades to up-regulate the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 promoter. 1157 Dec 88

Gastric infection, as well as inflammation, caused by Helicobacter pylori, activates the production of cytokines and chemokines by mononuclear cells; interleukin-8 (IL-8) is one of the major inflammatory chemokines. Since H. pylori does not invade mucosal tissue, we observed the effect of the water extract of H. pylori (HPE), containing shed factors, on the production of IL-8 by human peripheral blood monocytes and the human monocyte cell line THP-1. HPE-treatment induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), p38 and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), an effect which was not dependent on the presence of the cag pathogenicity island. p38 MAPK activation was sustained. The specific inhibitors, U0126 (for ERK1/2 signalling) and SB203580 (for p38 MAPK signalling), both abrogated IL-8 secretion from HPE-treated THP-1. Dominant-negative mutants of the upstream kinases MEK1 (MAPK/ERK kinase 1), MKK (MAPK kinase) 6 and MKK7 also inhibited IL-8 secretion, pointing to a role of all three MAPKs in HPE-mediated IL-8 release. The inhibitory effects of polymyxin B and anti-CD14 antibody suggested that the effect of HPE on MAPKs was mediated by H. pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS). By analysis of IL-8-promoter-driven luciferase gene expression, we observed that the effects of HPE-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and MAPK signalling were mediated at the level of the IL-8 promoter. While ERK1/2 activation could be linked to enhanced DNA binding of activator protein-1 (AP-1), p38 MAPK signalling did not affect AP-1 DNA binding. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence that LPS from H. pylori stimulates IL-8 release from cells of the monocytic lineage through activation of NF-kappaB and signalling along MAPK cascades. The stimulation of MAPK signalling in macrophages by LPS of H. pylori amplifies the inflammatory response associated with gastric H. pylori infection and needs to be taken into consideration when developing therapeutics based on these signalling pathways.
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PMID:Mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-kappaB regulate Helicobacter pylori-mediated interleukin-8 release from macrophages. 1215 Jul 10

Although it is known that diabetic nephropathy is accelerated by hypertension, the mechanisms involved in this process are not clear. In this study we aimed to clarify these mechanisms using male Wistar fatty rats (WFR) as a type 2 diabetic model and male Wistar lean rats (WLR) as a control. Each group was fed a normal or high sodium diet from the age of 6 to 14 weeks. We determined the blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion (UAE). At the end of the study, the expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were examined in the isolated glomeruli by Western blot analysis, and the number of glomerular lesions was determined by conventional histology. High sodium load caused hypertension and a marked increase in UAE in the WFR but not in the WLR. Glomerular volume was increased in the hypertensive WFR. There was no difference among the four groups in the expression of c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). In contrast, the expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and its upstream regulator, MAPK/ERK kinase 1 (MEK1), were augmented in the hypertensive WFR. Expression of p38 MAPK was increased in the normotensive WFR, and further enhanced in the hypertensive WFR. Moreover, administration of high sodium load to WFR augmented the expression of TGF-beta1. In conclusion, systemic hypertension in WFR accelerates the diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes via MEK-ERK and p38 MAPK cascades. TGF-beta1 is also involved in this mechanism.
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PMID:Hypertension accelerates diabetic nephropathy in Wistar fatty rats, a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, via mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and transforming growth factor-beta1. 1273 3

ATF3 (Activating transcription factor 3), a member of the CREB/ATF family, can be induced by stress and growth factors in mammalian cells, and is thought to play an important role in the cardiovascular system. However, little is currently known about how the induction of ATF3 is regulated, except that the JNK pathway is involved. Here, we investigated the differential roles of the MAPK pathways involved in TNFalpha (tumour necrosis factor alpha)-induced ATF3 expression in vascular endothelial cells. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the expression of constitutively active MKK7 (MAPK kinase 7) increased the number of ATF3-positive cells, and dominant negative MKK7 suppressed the TNFalpha-induced expression of ATF3, indicating a requirement for the JNK pathway. In contrast, the expression of constitutively active or dominant negative MEK1/2 (MAPK/ERK kinase 1/2) suppressed or enhanced TNFalpha-mediated induction of ATF3, respectively. In support of this, the MEK1/2 specific inhibitor U0126 enhanced the expression of ATF3 induced by TNFalpha. Furthermore, the ERK pathway inhibits the TNFalpha-mediated induction of ATF3 mRNA, but not its stability, suggesting the involvement of ERK activity in the transcriptional regulation of the ATF3 gene. Our results suggest that TNFalpha-induced ATF3 gene expression is bidirectionally regulated by the JNK and ERK pathways in vascular endothelial cells.
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PMID:TNFalpha-induced ATF3 expression is bidirectionally regulated by the JNK and ERK pathways in vascular endothelial cells. 1472 8

The receptor tyrosine kinase FLK1 and the transcription factor SCL play crucial roles in the establishment of hematopoietic and endothelial cell lineages in mice. We have previously used an in vitro differentiation model of embryonic stem (ES) cells and demonstrated that hematopoietic and endothelial cells develop via sequentially generated FLK1(+) and SCL(+) cells. To gain a better understanding of cellular and molecular events leading to hematopoietic specification, we examined factors necessary for FLK1(+) and SCL(+) cell induction in serum-free conditions. We demonstrate that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4 was required for the generation of FLK1(+) and SCL(+) cells, and that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was necessary for the expansion and differentiation of SCL-expressing hematopoietic progenitors. Consistently, Flk1-deficient ES cells responded to BMP4 and generated TER119(+) and CD31(+) cells, but they failed to expand in response to VEGF. The Smad1/5 and map kinase pathways were activated by BMP4 and VEGF, respectively. The overexpression of SMAD6 in ES cells resulted in a reduction of FLK1(+) cells. In addition, a MAP kinase kinase 1 specific inhibitor blocked the expansion of SCL(+) cells in response to VEGF. Finally, VEGF mediated expansion of hematopoietic and endothelial cell progenitors was inhibited by TGFbeta1, but was augmented by activin A. Our studies suggest that hematopoietic and endothelial commitment from the mesoderm occurs via BMP4-mediated signals and that expansion and/or differentiation of such progenitors is achieved by an interplay of VEGF, TGFbeta1 and activin A signaling.
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PMID:A hierarchical order of factors in the generation of FLK1- and SCL-expressing hematopoietic and endothelial progenitors from embryonic stem cells. 1514 4

Our previous studies demonstrate that GnRH-induced ERK activation required influx of extracellular Ca2+ in alphaT3-1 and rat pituitary cells. In the present studies, we examined the hypothesis that calmodulin (Cam) plays a fundamental role in mediating the effects of Ca2+ on ERK activation. Cam inhibition using W7 was sufficient to block GnRH-induced reporter gene activity for the c-Fos, murine glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit, and MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-2 promoters, all shown to require ERK activation. Inhibition of Cam (using a dominant negative) was sufficient to block GnRH-induced ERK but not c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity activation. The Cam-dependent protein kinase (CamK) II inhibitor KN62 did not recapitulate these findings. GnRH-induced phosphorylation of MAPK/ERK kinase 1 and c-Raf kinase was blocked by Cam inhibition, whereas activity of phospholipase C was unaffected, suggesting that Ca2+/Cam modulation of the ERK cascade potentially at the level of c-Raf kinase. Enrichment of Cam-interacting proteins using a Cam agarose column revealed that c-Raf kinase forms a complex with Cam. Reconstitution studies reveal that recombinant c-Raf kinase can associate directly with Cam in a Ca2+-dependent manner and this interaction is reduced in vitro by addition of W7. Cam was localized in lipid rafts consistent with the formation of a Ca2+-sensitive signaling platform including the GnRH receptor and c-Raf kinase. These data support the conclusion that Cam may have a critical role as a Ca2+ sensor in specifically linking Ca2+ flux with ERK activation within the GnRH signaling pathway.
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PMID:Gonadotropin-releasing hormone induction of extracellular-signal regulated kinase is blocked by inhibition of calmodulin. 1589 Jun 71


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