Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.11.1 (protein kinase)
81,284 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have sought to determine the roles of beta-catenin and the Wnt signaling pathway in neurite outgrowth using a model cell system, the Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cell line. Activation of the Wnt signaling pathway disrupts a multiprotein complex that includes beta-catenin, Axin, and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), which would otherwise promote the phosphorylation and degradation of beta-catenin. Stabilized beta-catenin accumulates in the cytosol and in the nucleus; in the nucleus it binds to TCF family transcription factors, forming a bipartite transcriptional activator of Wnt target genes. These events can be mimicked by lithium (Li(+)), which inhibits GSK-3 activity. Both Li(+) and the GSK-3 inhibitor SB415286 induced neurite outgrowth of Neuro-2a cells. Li(+)-induced neurite outgrowth did not require beta-catenin-/TCF-dependent transcription, and increasing levels of beta-catenin either by transfection or using Wnt-3A was not sufficient to induce neurite outgrowth. Interestingly, Axin, which is also a substrate for GSK-3, was destabilized by Li(+) and ectopic expression of Axin inhibited Li(+)-induced neurite outgrowth. Deletion analysis of Axin indicated that this inhibition required the GSK-3 binding site, but not the beta-catenin binding site. Our results suggest that a signaling pathway involving Axin and GSK-3, but not beta-catenin, regulates Li(+)-induced neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2a cells.
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PMID:Glycogen synthase kinase-3 and Axin function in a beta-catenin-independent pathway that regulates neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells. 1466 17

Dishevelled (DVL) is associated with axonal microtubules and regulates microtubule stability through the inhibition of the serine/threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta). In the canonical WNT pathway, the negative regulator Axin forms a complex with beta-catenin and GSK-3beta, resulting in beta-catenin degradation. Inhibition of GSK-3beta by DVL increases beta-catenin stability and TCF transcriptional activation. Here, we show that Axin associates with microtubules and unexpectedly stabilizes microtubules through DVL. In turn, DVL stabilizes microtubules by inhibiting GSK-3beta through a transcription- and beta-catenin-independent pathway. More importantly, axonal microtubules are stabilized after DVL localizes to axons. Increased microtubule stability is correlated with a decrease in GSK-3beta-mediated phosphorylation of MAP-1B. We propose a model in which Axin, through DVL, stabilizes microtubules by inhibiting a pool of GSK-3beta, resulting in local changes in the phosphorylation of cellular targets. Our data indicate a bifurcation in the so-called canonical WNT-signaling pathway to regulate microtubule stability.
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PMID:A divergent canonical WNT-signaling pathway regulates microtubule dynamics: dishevelled signals locally to stabilize microtubules. 1473 35

The transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) belongs to the family of nuclear hormone receptors and consists of two isotypes, PPARgamma1 and PPARgamma2. Our earlier studies have shown that troglitazone (TZD)-mediated activation of PPARgamma2 in hepatocytes inhibits growth and attenuates cyclin D1 transcription via modulating CREB levels. Because this process of growth inhibition was also associated with an inhibition of beta-catenin expression at a post-translational level, our aim was to elucidate the mechanism involved. beta-Catenin is a multifunctional protein, which can regulate cell-cell adhesion by interacting with E-cadherin and other cellular processes via regulating target gene transcription in association with TCF/LEF transcription factors. Two adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)-dependent proteasomal degradation pathways, one involving glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) and the other involving p53-Siah-1, degrade excess beta-catenin in normal cells. Our immunofluorescence and Western blot studies indicated a TZD-dependent decrease in cytoplasmic and membrane-bound beta-catenin, indicating no increase in its membrane translocation. This was associated with a reduction in E-cadherin expression. PPARgamma2 activation inhibited GSK3beta kinase activity, and pharmacological inhibition of GSK3beta activity was unable to restore beta-catenin expression following PPARgamma2 activation. Additionally, this beta-catenin degradation pathway was operative in cells, with inactivating mutations of both APC and p53. Inhibition of the proteasomal pathway inhibited PPARgamma2-mediated degradation of beta-catenin, and incubation with TZD increased ubiquitination of beta-catenin. We conclude that PPARgamma2-mediated suppression of beta-catenin levels involves a novel APC/GSK3beta/p53-independent ubiquitination-mediated proteasomal degradation pathway.
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PMID:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activation can regulate beta-catenin levels via a proteasome-mediated and adenomatous polyposis coli-independent pathway. 1519 77

HNF4alpha (hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha) belongs to a complex transcription factor network that is crucial for the function of hepatocytes and pancreatic beta-cells. In these cells, it activates the expression of a very large number of genes, including genes involved in the transport and metabolism of glucose and lipids. Mutations in the HNF4alpha gene correlate with MODY1 (maturity-onset diabetes of the young 1), a form of type II diabetes characterized by an impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion. The MODY1 G115S (Gly115-->Ser) HNF4alpha mutation is located in the DNA-binding domain of this nuclear receptor. We show here that the G115S mutation failed to affect HNF4alpha-mediated transcription on apolipoprotein promoters in HepG2 cells. Conversely, in pancreatic beta-cell lines, this mutation resulted in strong impairments of HNF4alpha transcriptional activity on the promoters of LPK (liver pyruvate kinase) and HNF1alpha, with this transcription factor playing a key role in endocrine pancreas. We show as well that the G115S mutation creates a PKA (protein kinase A) phosphorylation site, and that PKA-mediated phosphorylation results in a decreased transcriptional activity of the mutant. Moreover, the G115E (Gly115-->Glu) mutation mimicking phosphorylation reduced HNF4alpha DNA-binding and transcriptional activities. Our results may account for the 100% penetrance of diabetes in human carriers of this mutation. In addition, they suggest that introduction of a phosphorylation site in the DNA-binding domain may represent a new mechanism by which a MODY1 mutation leads to loss of HNF4alpha function.
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PMID:The G115S mutation associated with maturity-onset diabetes of the young impairs hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha activities and introduces a PKA phosphorylation site in its DNA-binding domain. 1523 28

beta-Catenin plays a dual role in cells: one at cell-cell junctions and one regulating gene transcription together with TCF (T-cell Factor) in the nucleus. Recently, a role for beta-catenin in osteoblast differentiation and gene expression has begun to be elucidated. Herein we investigated the effects of fluid shear stress (FSS) on beta-catenin signaling. FSS is a well-characterized anabolic stimulus for osteoblasts; however, the molecular mechanisms for the effects of this stimulation remain largely unknown. We found that 1 hour of laminar FSS (10 dynes/cm(2)) induced translocation of beta-catenin to the nucleus and activated a TCF-reporter gene. Analysis of upstream signals that may regulate beta-catenin signaling activity revealed two potential mechanisms for increased beta-catenin signaling. First, FSS induced a transient, but significant, increase in the phosphorylation of both glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) and Akt. Second, FSS reduced the levels of beta-catenin associated with N-cadherin, suggesting that less sequestration of beta-catenin by cadherins occurs in osteoblasts subjected to FSS. Functional analysts of potential genes regulated by beta-catenin signaling in osteoblasts revealed two novel observations. First, endogenous, nuclear beta-catenin purified from osteoblasts formed a complex with a TCF -binding element in the cyclooxygenase-2 promoter, and, second, overexpression of either a constitutively active beta-catenin molecule or inhibition of GSK-3beta activity increased basal cyclooxygenase-2 levels. Together, these data demonstrate for the first time that FSS modulates the activity of both GSK-3beta and beta-catenin and that these signaling molecules regulate cyclooxygenase-2 expression in osteoblasts.
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PMID:Fluid shear stress induces beta-catenin signaling in osteoblasts. 1559 96

Members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and Wnt/wingless superfamilies regulate cell fate during development and tissue maintenance. Here we report that Smad7 interacts with beta-catenin and lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1/T-cell-specific factor (LEF1/TCF), transcriptional regulators in Wnt signaling, in a TGF-beta-dependent manner. Smad7 was found to be required for TGF-beta1-induced accumulation of beta-catenin and LEF1 in human prostate cancer (PC-3U) cells as well as in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). Moreover, when the endogenous Smad7 was repressed by specific small interfering RNA, TGF-beta-induced increase of activated p38, Akt phosphorylated on Ser473, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta phosphorylated on Ser9 was prevented, as well as the TGF-beta-induced association between beta-catenin and LEF1. Notably, the observed physical association of Smad7 and beta-catenin was found to be important for TGF-beta-induced apoptosis, since suppression of beta-catenin expression by small interfering RNA decreased the apoptotic response to TGF-beta.
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PMID:Interaction between Smad7 and beta-catenin: importance for transforming growth factor beta-induced apoptosis. 1568 97

We studied in vitro effects of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta)-inhibitor lithium on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Lithium induced strong growth inhibition (> 70%) in 75% (n = 9 of 12) of cell lines, apparently independent from the status of major genes that are mutated in HCC including p53, p16(INK4a), beta-catenin and Axin1. Comparative studies with a growth-sensitive Huh7 and growth-resistant Hep40 cell lines showed that lithium induces growth arrest in Huh7 cells but not in Hep40 cells. Lithium induced the accumulation of N-terminally phosphorylated inactive form of GSK3beta with concomitant increase in beta-catenin and beta-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity in both cell lines. This suggests that lithium-mediated HCC growth inhibition is independent of its well-known stimulatory effect on Wnt-beta-catenin signaling. The main differences between Huh7 and Hep40 responses to lithium treatment were observed at the levels PKB/Akt and cyclin E proteins. Lithium induced depletion of both proteins in growth-sensitive Huh7, but not in growth-resistant Hep40 cells. PKB/Akt and Cyclin E are 2 major proteins that are known to be constitutively active in HCC. The targeting of both proteins with lithium may be the main reason why most HCC cells are responsive to lithium-mediated growth inhibition, independent of their p53, retinoblastoma and Wnt-beta-catenin pathways. The exploration of molecular mechanisms involved in lithium-mediated growth inhibition in relation with PKB/Akt and cyclin E downregulation may provide new insights for therapy of liver tumors.
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PMID:Lithium-mediated downregulation of PKB/Akt and cyclin E with growth inhibition in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. 1572 55

The Wnt signaling pathway has recently been demonstrated to play an important role in bone cell function. In previous studies using DNA microarray analyses, we observed a change in some of the molecular components of the canonical Wnt pathway namely, frizzled-1 (FZD-1) and axil, in response to continuous parathyroid hormone (PTH) treatment in rats. In the present study, we further explored other components of the Wnt signaling pathway in rat distal metaphyseal bone in vivo, and rat osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells (UMR 106) in culture. Several Wnt pathway components, including low-density lipoprotein-receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5), LRP6, FZD-1, Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1), and Kremen-1 (KRM-1), were expressed in bone in vivo and in osteoblasts in vitro. Continuous exposure to PTH (1-38) both in vivo and in vitro upregulated the mRNA expression of LRP6 and FZD-1 and decreased LRP5 and Dkk-1. These effects in UMR 106 cells were associated with an increase in beta-catenin as measured by Western blots and resulted in functional activation (three to six-fold) of a downstream Wnt responsive TBE6-luciferase (TCF/LEF-binding element) reporter gene. Activation of the TBE6-luciferase reporter gene by PTH (1-38) in UMR 106 cells was inhibited by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H89. Activation was mimicked by PTH (1-31), PTH-related protein (1-34), and forskolin, but both PTH (3-34) and (7-34) had no effect. These findings suggest that the effect of PTH on the canonical Wnt signaling pathway occurs at least in part via the cAMP-PKA pathway through the differential regulation of the receptor complex proteins (FZD-1/LRP5 or LRP6) and the antagonist (Dkk-1). Taken together, these results reveal a possible role for the Wnt signaling pathway in PTH actions in bone.
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PMID:Effects of parathyroid hormone on Wnt signaling pathway in bone. 1596 90

The extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1 and ERK2) signal transduction pathways play a critical role in cell proliferation. Hyperactivation of the ERK proteins either through increased expression of membrane-bound growth factor receptors or genetic mutations of upstream proteins is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of many human cancers. Thus, targeted inhibition of ERK signaling is viewed as a potential approach to prevent cancer cell proliferation. Currently, no specific inhibitors of the ERK proteins exist. Moreover, most kinase inhibitors lack specificity because they target the ATP binding region, which is well conserved among the protein kinase families. Taking advantage of recently identified ERK docking domains, which are reported to facilitate substrate protein interactions, we have used computer-aided drug design (CADD) to identify novel small molecular weight ERK inhibitors. Following a CADD screen of over 800 000 molecules, 80 potential compounds were selected and tested for activity in biological assays. Several compounds inhibited ERK-specific phosphorylation of ribosomal S6 kinase-1 (Rsk-1) or the ternary complex factor Elk-1 (TCF/Elk-1), both of which are involved in promoting cell proliferation. Active compounds showed a dose-dependent reduction in the proliferation of several cancer cell lines as measured by colony survival assays. Direct binding between the active compounds and ERK2 was indicated by fluorescence quenching. These active compounds may serve as lead candidates for development of novel specific inhibitors of ERK-substrate interactions involved in cell proliferation.
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PMID:Identification of novel extracellular signal-regulated kinase docking domain inhibitors. 1599 96

The inflammatory mediator LTD4 (leukotriene D4) is present at high levels in many inflammatory conditions, and areas of chronic inflammation have an increased risk for subsequent cancer development. We demonstrate here that following LTD4 stimulation, beta-catenin is translocated to the nucleus, triggering the transcriptional activity of the TCF (T-cell factor)/LEF (lymphoid enhancer factor) family of transcription factors. These events are dependent on phosphoinositide-3 kinase activation and glycogen synthase kinase inhibition. Our data suggest that, similar to Wnt signalling, LTD4 increases free beta-catenin and targets it to the nucleus.
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PMID:Pro-inflammatory mediator leukotriene D4 induces transcriptional activity of potentially oncogenic genes. 1604 77


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