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)

Because the catalytic domain of dual leucine zipper-bearing kinase (DLK) bears sequence similarity to members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase subfamily, this protein kinase was investigated for its ability to activate MAP kinase pathways. When transiently transfected and overexpressed in either COS 7 cells or NIH3T3 cells, wild type DLK potently activated p46(SAPK) (SAPK/JNK) but had no detectable effect in activating p42/44(MAPK). DLK also activated p38(mapk) when overexpressed in NIH3T3 cells. A catalytically inactive point mutant of DLK had no effect in these experiments. Consistent with its specificity in activating SAPK, DLK activated Elk-1 but not Sap1a-mediated transcription. In NIH3T3 cells, activation of SAPK by v-Src was markedly attenuated by coexpression of K185A, a catalytically inactive mutant of DLK, suggesting that this mutant could function in a dominant negative fashion in a pathway that leads from v-Src to SAPKs. In a series of co-transfection experiments, activation of p46(SAPK) by DLK was not inhibited by dominant negative mutants of Rac1 and Cdc42Hs, PAK65-R, or PAK65-A, but was attenuated by MEKK1(K432M). DLK(K185A) did not inhibit the ability of constitutively active MEKK1 to activate SAPK. Moreover, K185A significantly inhibited the activation of SAPK by constitutively active V-12 Rac1 and V-12 Cdc42Hs. These results suggest that DLK lies distal to Rac1 and/or Cdc42Hs but proximal to MEKK1 in a pathway leading from v-Src to SAPKs activation.
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PMID:Dual leucine zipper-bearing kinase (DLK) activates p46SAPK and p38mapk but not ERK2. 879 50

Events controlling differentiation to insulin-secreting beta-cells in the pancreas are not well understood, although beta-cells are thought to arise from pluripotent ductal precursor cells. To search for signaling proteins that might be involved in beta-cell maturation, we analyzed protein kinase expression in two developmentally and functionally distinct pancreatic beta-cell lines, RIN-5AH and RIN-A12, by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. A number of tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases were identified in both lines. One protein kinase, mixed lineage kinase-1 (MLK-1), was expressed at both the RNA and protein levels in RIN-5AH cells, which display an immature beta-cell phenotype, but was not detected in the more mature RIN-A12 cells. Furthermore, levels of MLK-1 mRNA and protein were increased after brief stimulation of RIN-5AH cells with either the differentiation inducer, sodium butyrate, or with serum after serum starvation. These increases in expression were independent of phenotypic markers such as insulin secretion or surface expression of major histocompatibility class I- and A2B5-reactive ganglioside. In addition, increases in MLK-1 expression in the stimulated RIN-5AH cells were accompanied by phosphorylation of MLK-1 on serine but not tyrosine. Antisense oligonucleotides to two distinct regions of MLK-1 caused RIN-5AH cells, but not RIN-A12 cells, to adopt a highly undifferentiated morphology, with a reduction in DNA synthesis and MLK-1 protein levels and elevated glucagon mRNA levels, but with no effect on insulin mRNA. In an immunohistochemical survey of embryonic mouse tissues, we found that temporal expression of MLK-1 was regulated in a tissue-specific manner. In the embryonic pancreas, MLK-1 expression was evident in ductal cells from day 13 to 16 but was not detected in late stage gestation or neonatal pancreas. These data suggest that MLK-1 is regulated in immature pancreatic beta-cells and their ductal precursors at the level of functional maturity and may therefore play a role in beta-cell development.
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PMID:Expression of mixed lineage kinase-1 in pancreatic beta-cell lines at different stages of maturation and during embryonic pancreas development. 919 43

We have cloned a novel protein kinase from human cerebellum and named it LZK (leucine zipper-bearing kinase). The LZK cDNA encoded a 966-amino acid polypeptide that contains a kinase catalytic domain and double leucine/isoleucine zippers separated by a short spacer region. The amino acid sequence of the kinase catalytic domain was a hybrid between those in serine/threonine and tyrosine protein kinases, indicating that LZK belongs to the subfamily of the mixed lineage kinase (MLK) family. The kinase catalytic domain of LZK was most similar to DLK (Holtzman, L. B., Merritt, S.E., and Fan, G. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 30808-30817), MUK (Hirai, S., Izawa, M., Osada, S., Spyrou, G., and Ohno, S. (1996) Oncogene 12, 641-650), and ZPK (Reddy, U. R., and Presure, D. (1994) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 202, 613-620), which belong to the same subfamily of the MLK family. However, besides the kinase catalytic domain and double leucine/isoleucine zippers, there was no significant homology with known proteins. The recombinant LZK autophosphorylated in the presence of ATP and divalent cations, and exhibited serine/threonine kinase catalytic activity. Northern blot analysis revealed that LZK is expressed most strongly in the pancreas, with a pattern that differs from other MLKs. Expression of LZK in COS7 cells induced phosphorylation of c-Jun and activation of JNK-1, indicating the association of LZK in the c-Jun amino-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase pathway. The expressed LZK was detected primarily in the membrane fraction, suggesting that LZK interacts with other cellular components in vivo.
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PMID:Molecular cloning and functional expression of a cDNA encoding a new member of mixed lineage protein kinase from human brain. 935 28

Mixed lineage kinase-3 (MLK-3) is a mitogen-activated kinase kinase kinase that mediates stress-activating protein kinase (SAPK)/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation. MLK-3 and other MLK family kinases are characterized by the presence of multiple protein-protein interaction domains including a tandem leucine/isoleucine zipper (LZs) motif. Leucine zippers are known to mediate protein dimerization raising the possibility that the tandem leucine/isoleucine zippers may function as a dimerization motif of MLK-3. Using both co-immunoprecipitation and nonreducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we demonstrated that MLK-3 forms disulfide bridged homo-dimers and that the LZs motif is sufficient for MLK-3 homodimerization. We next asked whether MLK-3 utilizes a dimerization-based activation mechanism analogous to that of receptor tyrosine kinases. We found that dimerization via the LZs motif is a prerequisite for MLK-3 autophosphorylation. We then demonstrated that co-expression of Cdc42 lead to a substantial increase in MLK-3 dimerization, indicating that binding by this GTPase may induce MLK-3 dimerization. Moreover, the LZs minus form of MLK-3 failed to activate the downstream target SAPK, and expression of a MLK-3 LZs polypeptide was found to block SAPK activation by wild type MLK-3. Taken together, these findings indicate that dimerization plays a pivotal role in MLK-3 activation.
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PMID:Dimerization via tandem leucine zippers is essential for the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, MLK-3. 982 70

Mitogen-activated protein kinase upstream kinase/dual leucine zipper-bearing kinase/leucine-zipper protein kinase (MUK/DLK/ZPK) is a MAPKKK class protein kinase that induces JNK/SAPK activation. We report here a protein named MBIP that binds to MUK/DLK/ZPK. MUK-binding inhibitory protein (MBIP) contains two tandemly orientated leucine-zipper-like motifs with a cluster of basic amino acids located between the two motifs. MBIP interacts with one of the two leucine-zipper-like motifs of MUK/DLK/ZPK and inhibits the activity of MUK/DLK/ZPK to induce JNK/SAPK activation. Notably, no similar effect was observed with another JNK/SAPK-inducing MAPKKK, COT/Tpl-2, showing the specificity of MBIP action. Furthermore, the overexpression of MBIP partially inhibits the activation of JNK by 0.3 m sorbitol in 293T cells. Taken together, these observations indicate that MBIP can function as a regulator of MUK/DLK/ZPK, a finding that may provide a clue to understanding the molecular mechanism of JNK/SAPK activation by hyperosmotic stress.
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PMID:MAPK upstream kinase (MUK)-binding inhibitory protein, a negative regulator of MUK/dual leucine zipper-bearing kinase/leucine zipper protein kinase. 1080 14

The mixed lineage kinase (MLK) family is a recently described protein kinase family. The MLKs contain a kinase domain followed by a dual leucine zipper-like motif. We previously reported the molecular cloning of LZK (leucine zipper-bearing kinase), a novel MLK, and that LZK activated the c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase (JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) pathway through MKK7 in cells. Here, we reveal that LZK forms dimers/oligomers through its dual leucine zipper-like motif, and that this is necessary for activation of the JNK/SAPK pathway. We also identify the C-terminal functional region of LZK, which is indispensable for the activation of SEK1, but not that of MKK7.
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PMID:Identification and characterization of functional domains in a mixed lineage kinase LZK. 1116 70

Leucine zipper-bearing kinase (LZK) is a new member of the mixed lineage protein kinase family. We previously cloned a cDNA encoding LZK from a human cerebellum cDNA library. The following studies indicated that LZK serves as a MAPKKK in the JNK/SAPK pathway in cells, and a scaffold protein, JIP-1, enhances LZK-induced JNK/SAPK pathway activation via physical association. Here we report characterization of the gene structure and fine chromosomal mapping of the human LZK gene. Polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) studies indicated that the human LZK coding sequence is composed of 13 exons, and that all the splice acceptor and donor sequences obey the GT-AG rule. Chromosomal localization studies involving FISH mapping demonstrated that the human LZK gene is located at 3q27.
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PMID:Genomic organization and fine-mapping of the human leucine zipper-bearing kinase (LZK) gene. 1218 66

The MLK family of mitogen activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKK) has been shown to activate Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase 1 (JNK/SAPK1). However, little is known of the in vivo functions of the MLKs. We have identified a Xenopus laevis MLK that shows highest homology with mammalian MLK2 (62%) and, like MLK2, interacts preferentially with the Rho-family GTPase Rac. xMLK2 was expressed zygotically from late gastrula/early neurula. Surprisingly, this expression was restricted to the cement gland, the brain, and the pronephros. In the differentiating cement gland, xMLK2 expression correlated with cell elongation and the onset of a previously unobserved apoptotic phase, while in the pronephros, expression corresponded with the differentiation and opening of the nephric tubules. Overexpression of xMLK2 in COS7 cells led to a SEK1/MKK4 (MAPKK)-dependent hyperactivation of JNK in response to UV irradiation. xMLK2 was shown to be required for normal cement gland development and pronephric tubule formation using antisense inactivation and a dominant negative xMLK2. The data suggest a novel role for the MLKs as tissue-restricted mediators of signal transduction. They also suggest that tissue-specific responses to common extracellular signals may in part result from the programmed expression of MAPKKKs with differing specificities.
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PMID:A tissue restricted role for the Xenopus Jun N-terminal kinase kinase kinase MLK2 in cement gland and pronephric tubule differentiation. 1259 Dec 41

The Rho GTPases are a family of molecular switches that are critical regulators of signal transduction pathways in eukaryotic cells. They are known principally for their role in regulating the cytoskeleton, and do so by recruiting a variety of downstream effector proteins. Kinases form an important class of Rho effector, and part of the biological complexity brought about by switching on a single GTPase results from downstream phosphorylation cascades. Here we focus on our current understanding of the way in which different Rho-associated serine/threonine kinases, denoted PAK (p21-activated kinase), MLK (mixed-lineage kinase), ROK (Rho-kinase), MRCK (myotonin-related Cdc42-binding kinase), CRIK (citron kinase) and PKN (protein kinase novel), interact with and are regulated by their partner GTPases. All of these kinases have in common an ability to dimerize, and in most cases interact with a variety of other proteins that are important for their function. A diversity of known structures underpin the Rho GTPase-kinase interaction, but only in the case of PAK do we have a good molecular understanding of kinase regulation. The ability of Rho GTPases to co-ordinate spatial and temporal phosphorylation events explains in part their prominent role in eukaryotic cell biology.
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PMID:PAK and other Rho-associated kinases--effectors with surprisingly diverse mechanisms of regulation. 1554 36

Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase member that activates the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Aberrant activation of MLK3 has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Similarly, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta has also been shown to activate JNK and contribute to neuronal apoptosis. Here, we show a functional interaction between MLK3 and GSK-3beta during nerve growth factor (NGF) withdrawal-induced cell death in PC-12 cells. The protein kinase activities of GSK-3beta, MLK3, and JNK were increased upon NGF withdrawal, which paralleled increased cell death in NGF-deprived PC-12 cells. NGF withdrawal-induced cell death and MLK3 activation were blocked by a GSK-3beta-selective inhibitor, kenpaullone. However, the MLK family inhibitor, CEP-11004, although preventing PC-12 cell death, failed to inhibit GSK-3beta activation, indicating that induction of GSK-3beta lies upstream of MLK3. In GSK-3beta-deficient murine embryonic fibroblasts, ultraviolet light was unable to activate MLK3 kinase activity, a defect that was restored upon ectopic expression of GSK-3beta. The activation of MLK3 by GSK-3beta occurred via phosphorylation of MLK3 on two amino acid residues, Ser(789) and Ser(793), that are located within the C-terminal regulatory domain of MLK3. Furthermore, the cell death induced by GSK-3beta was mediated by MLK3 in a manner dependent on its phosphorylation of the specific residues within the C-terminal domain by GSK-3beta. Taken together, our data provide a direct link between GSK-3beta and MLK3 activation in a neuronal cell death pathway and identify MLK3 as a direct downstream target of GSK-3beta. Inhibition of GSK-3 is thus a potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases caused by trophic factor deprivation.
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PMID:Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta induces neuronal cell death via direct phosphorylation of mixed lineage kinase 3. 1771 61


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