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Query: EC:2.7.11.1 (
protein kinase
)
81,284
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
The differentiated phenotype of chondrocyte is rapidly lost during in vitro culture by a process designated "dedifferentiation." In this study, we investigate the roles of protein kinase C (PKC) and extracellular signal-regulated
protein kinase
(ERK) in the maintenance of the differentiated chondrocyte phenotype. Chondrocytes isolated from rabbit articular cartilage underwent dedifferentiation upon serial monolayer culture with cessation of type II collagen expression and proteoglycan synthesis, which was reversed by culturing dedifferentiated cells in alginate gel. The expression pattern of PKC alpha was essentially the same as that of type II collagen during de- and redifferentiation, in that expression was decreased during dedifferentiation and increased during redifferentiation. In contrast to PKC alpha, ERK activity increased 15-fold during dedifferentiation. This enhanced activity was terminated during redifferentiation. Down-regulation of PKC alpha in passage 0 chondrocytes resulted in dedifferentiation. However, overexpression of PKC alpha did not affect type II collagen levels, suggesting that PKC alpha expression is not sufficient to maintain the differentiated phenotype. However, inhibition of ERK by PD98059 enhanced type II collagen expression and proteoglycan synthesis in passage 0 cells, retarded dedifferentiation during monolayer cultures, and reversed dedifferentiation caused by down-regulation of PKC. Unlike PKC-dependent ERK regulation of chondrogenesis, PKC and ERK independently modulated chondrocyte dedifferentiation, as confirmed by observations that PKC down-regulation and ERK inhibition did not alter ERK phosphorylation and PKC expression, respectively. In addition, expression of N-cadherin, alpha-catenin, and
beta-catenin
, which are oppositely regulated to type II collagen during phenotype alterations, were modulated by PKC and ERK during chondrogenesis but not dedifferentiation, supporting distinct mechanisms for the regulation of chondrocyte differentiation and maintenance of differentiated phenotype by these two protein kinases.
...
PMID:Maintenance of differentiated phenotype of articular chondrocytes by protein kinase C and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase. 1174 31
Lithium inhibits
glycogen synthase kinase
-3 (GSK-3), which leads to an increase of cytoplasmic
beta-catenin
levels. In some cell types, but not in others, activated
beta-catenin
interacts with members of the lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (LEF)/T-cell factor (TCF) family of transcription factors and induces gene expression. Lithium effect on LEF/TCF-mediated gene expression has never been evaluated in cells with a neuronal phenotype. We have constructed a LEF/TCF-dependent luciferase reporter gene to investigate lithium effects on transcription in PC12 cells. In transiently transfected PC12 cells, lithium induced a time-dependent increase in LEF/TCF-mediated luciferase activity. These results are consistent with the known inhibitory effects of lithium on GSK-3 and represent the first demonstration that a LEF/TCF responsive element also mediates lithium-induced gene expression in PC12 cells.
...
PMID:Lithium induces gene expression through lymphoid enhancer-binding factor/T-cell factor responsive element in rat PC12 cells. 1175 Sep 94
beta-Catenin plays an important role in signal transduction pathways that regulate cellular differentiation and proliferation. The increased concentration of this protein in the cytoplasm favors its binding to the T-cell factor (TCF) family of DNA-binding proteins, and it subsequently translocates to the nucleus, where it induces transcription of specific genes. We explored mechanisms that lead to activation of
beta-catenin
/TCF-dependent transcription in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) independent of adenomatous polyposis coli and
beta-catenin
mutation. Electrophoresis mobility shift assay demonstrated that TCF4 and
beta-catenin
form a complex and have DNA binding activity. However, there was no constitutive activation of
beta-catenin
/TCF-dependent transcription. Coculture experiments demonstrated that Wnt-1, but not Wnt-5A and Wnt-7A, activated the TCF reporter gene. Additionally, when cultured with Wnt-1-conditioned media, ESCC cell lines showed an accumulation of
beta-catenin
in the cytoplasm. Although both Wnt and epidermal growth factor inactivate
glycogen synthase kinase
3beta, activation of epidermal growth factor receptor did not stabilize
beta-catenin
. A comparison of extracellular stimuli suggests that specific Wnt family members stabilize
beta-catenin
with resulting activation of TCF-dependent transcription in ESCC.
...
PMID:Wnt-1 but not epidermal growth factor induces beta-catenin/T-cell factor-dependent transcription in esophageal cancer cells. 1178 88
Wnt signaling plays a key role in cell proliferation and development. Recently,
casein kinase I
(
CKI
) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) have emerged as positive and negative regulators of the Wnt pathway, respectively. However, it is not clear how these two enzymes with opposing functions regulate Wnt signaling. Here we show that both
CKI
delta and
CKI
epsilon interacted directly with Dvl-1, and that
CKI
phosphorylated multiple components of the Wnt-regulated
beta-catenin
degradation complex in vitro, including Dvl-1, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), axin, and
beta-catenin
. Comparison of peptide maps from in vivo and in vitro phosphorylated
beta-catenin
and axin suggests that
CKI
phosphorylates these proteins in vivo as well.
CKI
abrogated
beta-catenin
degradation in Xenopus egg extracts. Notably,
CKI
decreased, whereas inhibition of
CKI
increased, the association of PP2A with the
beta-catenin
degradation complex in vitro. Additionally, inhibition of
CKI
in vivo stabilized the
beta-catenin
degradation complex, suggesting that
CKI
actively destabilizes the complex in vivo. The ability of
CKI
to induce secondary body axes in Xenopus embryos was reduced by the B56 regulatory subunit of PP2A, and kinase-dead
CKI
epsilon acted synergistically with B56 in inhibiting Wnt signaling. The data suggest that
CKI
phosphorylates and destabilizes the
beta-catenin
degradation complex, likely through the dissociation of PP2A, providing a mechanism by which
CKI
stabilizes
beta-catenin
and propagates the Wnt signal.
...
PMID:Casein kinase I phosphorylates and destabilizes the beta-catenin degradation complex. 1181 47
At the heart of the canonical Wnt signaling cascade, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), axin, and GSK3 constitute the so-called destruction complex, which controls the stability of
beta-catenin
. It is generally believed that four conserved Ser/Thr residues in the N terminus of
beta-catenin
are the pivotal targets for the constitutively active
serine kinase
GSK3. In cells that do not receive Wnt signals,
glycogen synthase kinase
(
GSK
) is presumed to phosphorylate
beta-catenin
, thus marking the latter for proteasomal degradation. Wnt signaling inhibits GSK3 activity. As a consequence,
beta-catenin
would no longer be phosphorylated and accumulate to form nuclear complexes with TCF/LEF factors. Although mutations in or near the N-terminal Ser/Thr residues stabilize
beta-catenin
in several types of cancer, the hypothesis that Wnt signaling controls phosphorylation of these residues remains unproven. We have generated a monoclonal antibody that recognizes an epitope containing two of the four residues when both are not phosphorylated. The epitope is generated upon Wnt signaling as well as upon pharmacological inhibition of GSK3 by lithium, providing formal proof for the regulated phosphorylation of the Ser/Thr residues of
beta-catenin
by Wnt signaling. Immunohistochemical analysis of mouse embryos utilizing the antibody visualizes sites that transduce Wnt signals through the canonical Wnt cascade.
...
PMID:Wnt signaling controls the phosphorylation status of beta-catenin. 1183 40
The DF3/MUC1 mucin-like glycoprotein is aberrantly overexpressed in most human carcinomas. The MUC1 cytoplasmic domain interacts directly with
beta-catenin
, a component of the adherens junction of mammalian epithelial cells. The present results demonstrate that MUC1 associates with
protein kinase
Cdelta (PKCdelta). A TDR sequence adjacent to the
beta-catenin
binding motif in the MUC1 cytoplasmic domain functions as a site for PKCdelta phosphorylation. We show that phosphorylation of MUC1 by PKCdelta increases binding of MUC1 and
beta-catenin
in vitro and in vivo. The functional significance of the MUC1-PKCdelta interaction is further supported by the demonstration that mutation of the PKCdelta phosphorylation site abrogates MUC1-mediated decreases in binding of
beta-catenin
to E-cadherin. We also show that the stimulatory effects of MUC1 on anchorage-independent growth are abrogated by mutation of the PKCdelta phosphorylation site. These findings support a novel role for PKCdelta in regulating the interaction between MUC1 and the
beta-catenin
signaling pathway.
...
PMID:Protein kinase C delta regulates function of the DF3/MUC1 carcinoma antigen in beta-catenin signaling. 1187 40
Hepatic adenomas are strongly linked to excess hormonal exposure, but little else is known about their pathogenesis. The Wnt signaling pathway, which is activated in both hepatocellular carcinomas and hepatoblastomas, has not been studied in hepatic adenomas. Fifteen hepatic adenomas were studied by immunohistochemistry for estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptors (ER, PR, AR, respectively) and correlated with the results of immunostaining for
beta-catenin
. Direct sequencing was performed to look for mutations in key genes involved in the Wnt signaling pathway: Exon 3 of
beta-catenin
encompassing the
glycogen synthase kinase
3beta (GSK-3beta) phosphorylation region and the mutational cluster region of the adenomatosis polyposis coli protein (APC). Analysis for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome 5q was also performed. Immunostaining for both ER and PR was present in 11/15 (73%) adenomas, and staining with one hormone receptor was positively associated with staining for the other receptor. AR positivity was present in 3/15 cases. Nuclear accumulation of
beta-catenin
was present in 7/15 (46%) of adenomas, indicating activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. However, no
beta-catenin
mutations, no APC mutations in the mutational cluster region, and no 5q LOH were detected. Two APC polymorphisms of unknown significance were seen. No clear association between
beta-catenin
nuclear accumulation and hormone receptor positivity was discerned. Activation of the Wnt signaling pathway appears to be important in a subset of hepatic adenomas but does not result from common
beta-catenin
or APC mutations and does not appear to be directly linked to hormonal receptor status.
...
PMID:Hepatic adenomas: analysis of sex steroid receptor status and the Wnt signaling pathway. 1190 35
Mutations in the
glycogen synthase kinase
3beta (GSK3beta) phosphorylation sites of the
beta-catenin
gene exon 3 are found in 20-30% of human primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas mutations in the APC or AXIN genes are found in other HCC populations. These data strongly suggest that the Wnt signaling pathway is involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. To determine the role of
beta-catenin
in intestinal tumorigenesis, we earlier constructed a mutant mouse strain Catnb(lox(ex3)), in which exon 3 of the
beta-catenin
gene was sandwiched by loxP sequences. By genetic crosses of these mice with the Fabpl-cre transgenic mice that express the cre gene controlled by the fatty acid binding protein gene promoter, we introduced the
beta-catenin
stabilizing mutation into the small intestine and liver. Although numerous polyps were formed in the small intestine, we did not find any neoplastic (i.e., dysplastic) foci in the liver, and the mice died in 5 weeks after birth because of acute liver damage accompanying mitochondrial swelling. When a recombinant adenovirus that expresses the cre gene from a human cytomegalovirus early gene promoter was constructed and inoculated at a high multiplicity (10(9) plaque-forming units/mouse), the Catnb(lox(ex3)) mice showed marked hepatomegaly, with similar mitochondrial swelling in the hepatocytes, and died within 3 weeks after infection. On the other hand, when inoculated at lower multiplicities of infection (10(7) and 10(8) plaque-forming units/mouse, respectively), the Catnb(lox(ex3)) mice survived >6 months without any neoplastic foci in the liver, although the nuclear localization of
beta-catenin
was found in some hepatocytes even after 6 months. These results suggest that, in contrast to intestinal polyposis, the Wnt pathway activation by stabilized
beta-catenin
is not sufficient for hepatocarcinogenesis, but additional mutations or epigenetic changes may be required.
...
PMID:Lack of tumorigenesis in the mouse liver after adenovirus-mediated expression of a dominant stable mutant of beta-catenin. 1192 13
The Wnt pathway regulates cell fate, proliferation, and apoptosis, and defects in the pathway play a key role in many cancers. Although Wnts act to stabilize
beta-catenin
levels in the cytosol and nucleus, a multiprotein complex containing adenomatous polyposis coli,
glycogen synthase kinase
3beta, and Axin1 or its homolog Axin2/Axil/conductin promotes
beta-catenin
phosphorylation and subsequent proteasomal degradation. We found that the rat Axil gene was strongly induced upon neoplastic transformation of RK3E cells by mutant
beta-catenin
or gamma-catenin or after ligand-induced activation of a
beta-catenin
-estrogen receptor fusion protein. Expression of Wnt1 in murine breast epithelial cells activated the conductin gene, and human cancers with defective
beta-catenin
regulation had elevated AXIN2 gene and protein expression. Expression of AXIN2/Axil was strongly repressed in cancer cells by restoration of wild type adenomatous polyposis coli function or expression of a dominant negative form of T cell factor (TCF)-4. TCF binding sites in the AXIN2 promoter played a key role in the ability of
beta-catenin
to activate AXIN2 transcription. In contrast to AXIN2/Axil, expression of human or rat Axin1 homologs was nominally affected by
beta-catenin
-TCF. Because Axin2 can inhibit
beta-catenin
abundance and function, the data implicate AXIN2 in a negative feedback pathway regulating Wnt signaling. Additionally, although Axin1 and Axin2 have been thought to have comparable functions, the observation that Wnt pathway activation elevates AXIN2 but not AXIN1 expression suggests that there may be potentially significant functional differences between the two proteins.
...
PMID:Activation of AXIN2 expression by beta-catenin-T cell factor. A feedback repressor pathway regulating Wnt signaling. 1194 May 74
beta-Catenin plays a fundamental role in the regulation of the E-cadherin-catenin cell adhesion complex. It also plays a role in the Wnt signaling pathway by activating T-cell factor- and lymphoid enhancer factor-regulated gene transcription. The level of
beta-catenin
in cells is tightly controlled in a multiprotein complex, and mutations in the
glycogen synthase kinase
3beta (GSK-3beta) phosphorylation sites of the
beta-catenin
gene (CTNNB1) result in nuclear and/or cytoplasmic accumulation of
beta-catenin
and constitutive transactivation of T-cell factor and lymphoid enhancer factor target genes, a mechanism occurring in many cancers. Melanoma cell lines may harbor
beta-catenin
mutations; in vivo, however, cellular accumulation of
beta-catenin
is rarely caused by CTNNB1 mutations. In our study, 43 primary cutaneous melanoma and 30 metastases were screened for CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations by using a denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis technique and sequencing. beta-Catenin mutations were found in 2 primary melanomas and 1 metastatic melanoma and were not correlated with nuclear accumulation of
beta-catenin
in these cases. Cellular expression of
beta-catenin
was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and by reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 80 and 70 cases, respectively. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant loss of membranous
beta-catenin
staining between the primary and metastatic melanomas as well as between radial and vertical growth phase. RT-PCR showed a significant inverse correlation between the amount of RNA and the proportion of cells with membranous expression of
beta-catenin
(P =.0015); no correlation existed between the amount of RNA and the number of cells with nuclear or cytoplasmic expression of
beta-catenin
. In conclusion, nuclear expression of
beta-catenin
is seen in cutaneous melanoma but, in contrast to the case of many other cancers, does not correlate with tumor stage or mutation status. A combination of immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR showed that down-regulation of membranous
beta-catenin
was associated with an increased amount of
beta-catenin
RNA in primary or metastatic melanoma. Our results suggest that posttranslational events, rather than CTNNB1 mutations, are responsible for the altered distribution of
beta-catenin
in cutaneous melanoma.
...
PMID:Loss of membranous expression of beta-catenin is associated with tumor progression in cutaneous melanoma and rarely caused by exon 3 mutations. 1195 Sep 21
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