Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.11.24 (mitogen-activated protein kinase)
 95,810 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

WNT signaling pathway is implicated in carcinogenesis and embryogenesis. WNT signal is transduced to the beta-catenin - TCF pathway, the JNK pathway, or the Ca2+-releasing pathway through seven-transmembrane-type WNT receptors encoded by Frizzled (FZD) genes. Xenopus Strabismus (Stbm) is a tetra-spanning transmembrane protein interacting with Dishevelled, and is a negative regulator of the WNT - beta-catenin - TCF signaling pathway. STB1/KIAA1215/VANGL2 is a human orthologue of Xenopus Stbm (90.6% total-amino-acid identity). Here, STB2/VANGL1 gene fragments were identified in human genome draft sequences by using bioinformatics, and STB2 cDNAs were isolated by using cDNA-PCR. STB2 gene consisted of at lest 7 exons, and encoded a 524-amino-acid protein with 4 transmembrane domains and the C-terminal Ser/Thr-X-Val motif. Human STB2 was homologous to human STB1 (73.1% total-amino-acid identity) and Xenopus Stbm (72.7% total-amino-acid identity). STB2 gene was clustered with Calsequestrin 2 (CASQ2) gene in tail-to-tail manner (interval less than 5.0 kb), and CASQ2 gene is mapped to human chromosome 1p11-p13.3 or linked to human chromosome 1p13-p21. STB2 mRNAs of 4.8- and 6.8-kb in size were expressed almost ubiquitously in various normal tissues. STB2 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in gastric cancer cell lines MKN28, MKN74, pancreatic cancer cell lines BxPC-3, PSN-1 and Hs766T. On the other hand, STB2 mRNA was significantly down-regulated in a pancreatic cancer cell line AsPC-1. This is the first report on molecular cloning and characterization of STB2.
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PMID:Molecular cloning and characterization of Strabismus 2 (STB2). 1195 95

WNT signals are transduced to beta-catenin - TCF pathway, JNK pathway, or Ca2+-releasing pathway through WNT receptors. FRAT1, FRAT2, and PAR-1 are positive regulators of WNT - beta-catenin pathway. APC, AXIN, NKD1, NKD2, and Strabismus (STB1, STB2) are negative regulators of WNT - beta-catenin pathway. Here, biological significance of WNT3-WNT14B/WNT15 gene cluster (human chromosome 17q21) and WNT3A-WNT14 gene cluster (human chromosome 1q42) will be reviewed. Total-amino-acid identity between WNT3 and WNT3A is 84.2%, and that between WNT14 and WNT14B is 61.4%. WNT3A and WNT14B show reciprocal regulation by all-trans retinoic acid in NT2 cells and by beta-estradiol in MCF-7 cells. Exon-intron structures are well conserved between WNT3-WNT14B gene cluster and WNT3A-WNT14 gene cluster, except for the existence of an additional intron in 3'-UTR of WNT3. Capicua pseudogene and AK024248-related sequence are located within intergenic region of human WNT3A-WNT14 gene cluster, but not within intergenic regions of human WNT3-WNT14B gene cluster and mouse Wnt3a-Wnt14 gene cluster. Integration of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) into mouse Wnt3-Wnt14b gene cluster leads to carcinogenesis. Because these WNT gene clusters might be fragile sites in the human genome, implication of WNT3 or WNT3A in cancer as well as implication of WNT14 or WNT14B in connective tissue disease and congenital joint malformation should be elucidated in the future. WNT3, WNT3A, WNT14, and WNT14B might be applicable to tissue engineering of neuron and joint in the field of regenerative medicine, and as an early diagnostic marker in the field of clinical oncology.
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PMID:WNT3-WNT14B and WNT3A-WNT14 gene clusters (Review). 1201 73

WNT/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway controls tissue polarity and cell movement through the activation of RHOA, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and nemo-like kinase (NLK) signaling cascades. PCP is induced in Drosophila by the asymmetrical localization of Frizzled-Dishevelled-Diego-Starry night (Flamingo) complex and Van Gogh (Strabismus)-Prickle complex. Here, WNT/PCP signaling pathway implicated in human carcinogenesis is reviewed. Human WNT5A, WNT5B, and WNT11 are representative non-canonical WNTs transducing PCP signals through FZD3 or FZD6 receptors, and ROR1, ROR2 or PTK7 co-receptors. Human VANGL1, VANGL2 (Van Gogh homologs), CELSR1, CELSR2, CELSR3 (Starry night homologs), DVL1, DVL2, DVL3 (Dishevelled homologs), PRICKLE1, PRICKLE2 (Prickle homologs), and ANKRD6 (Diego homolog) are core PCP signaling molecules. MAGI3 assembles FZD, VANGL, PTEN, and adhesion molecules. Dishevelled-dependent WNT/PCP signals are transduced to the RHOA signaling cascade through Formin homology proteins DAAM1 and DAAM2, and to the JNK signaling cascade through MAPKKKs and MAPKK4/7. Dishevelled-independent WNT/ PCP signals are transduced to the NLK signaling cascade through MAP3K7 (TAK1). ANKRD6, NKD1 and NKD2 induce class switch from the WNT/GSK3beta signaling pathway to the WNT/PCP signaling pathway. WNT5A is up-regulated in various types of human cancer, such as gastric cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma. FZD3/FZD6 receptor and ROR2 co-receptor transduce WNT5A signal in gastric cancer. Aberrant activation of WNT/PCP signaling pathway in human cancer leads to more malignant phenotypes, such as abnormal tissue polarity, invasion, and metastasis. cDNA-PCR, microarray or ELISA reflecting aberrant activation of WNT/PCP signaling pathway could be developed as novel cancer prognostics. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and copy number polymorphism (CNP) of WNT/PCP signaling molecules mentioned above are suitable for use in screening of cancer predisposition, especially for gastric cancer. Antibody, RNAi, or small molecule compounds to regulate the function of WNT/PCP signaling molecules mentioned above are good candidates for development as novel cancer therapeutics.
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PMID:WNT/PCP signaling pathway and human cancer (review). 1627 60

During frog and fish development, convergent extension movements transform the spherical gastrula into an elongated neurula. Such transformation of a ball- into a worm-shaped embryo is an ancestral and fundamental feature of bilaterian development, yet this is modified or absent in the protostome model organisms Caenorhabditis or Drosophila. In the polychaete annelid Platynereis dumerilii, early embryonic and larval stages resemble a sphere that subsequently elongates into worm shape. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of polychaete body elongation are yet unknown. Our in vivo time-lapse analysis of Platynereis axis elongation reveals that the polychaete neuroectoderm converges and extends by mediolateral cell intercalation. This occurs on both sides of the neural midline, the line of fusion of the slit-like blastopore. Convergent extension moves apart mouth and anus that are both derived from the blastopore. Tissue elongation is actin-dependent but microtubule-independent. Dependence on JNK activity and spatially restricted expression of strabismus indicates involvement of the noncanonical Wnt pathway. We detect a morphogenetic boundary between the converging and extending trunk neuroectoderm and the anterior otx-expressing head neuroectoderm that does not elongate. Our comparative analysis uncovers striking similarities but also differences between convergent extension in the polychaete and in the frog (the classical vertebrate model for convergent extension). Based on these findings, we propose that convergent extension movements of the trunk neuroectoderm represent an ancestral feature of bilaterian development that triggered the separation of mouth and anus along the elongating trunk.
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PMID:Polychaete trunk neuroectoderm converges and extends by mediolateral cell intercalation. 1730 Dec 44

Cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFC) is a multiple congenital anomaly disorder characterized by craniofacial dysmorphia, ectodermal abnormalities, congenital heart defects, and developmental and growth delay. Neurological complications associated with CFC remain to be clearly defined. Recent discovery of causative mutations in genes of the MAPK pathway (BRAF, MEK1, and MEK2) now permit accurate molecular diagnosis of CFC. The aim of the study was to characterize neurological features of participants with molecularly-confirmed CFC. Medical records, and laboratory and imaging data were reviewed for 39 mutation-positive individuals with CFC. Participants with a clinical diagnosis of CFC but a negative result on mutation screening of the BRAF, MEK1, and MEK2 genes were excluded from the study. Mean age of participants was 9 years 4 months (range 18 mo-24 y); there were 24 females and 15 males. Mutations in B RA F were present in 32 participants, MEK1 in five, and MEK2 in two participants. Hypotonia, motor delay, speech delay, and learning disability were universally present in this cohort. Macrocephaly was present in 13 participants, ptosis in 11, strabismus in 14, and nystagmus in 11 of the 22 participants who underwent a neurological exam. Corticospinal tract findings were present in seven participants. Ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus was present in 14 of 32 participants who underwent brain imaging. Other findings on magnetic resonance imaging included prominent Virchow-Robin spaces (n=6), abnormal myelination (n=4), and structural anomalies (n=5). Seizures were present in 15 participants. No specific genotype-phenotype correlation was observed.
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PMID:Neurological complications of cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome. 1803 35

Noonan syndrome (NS), the most common of the RASopathies, is a developmental disorder caused by heterozygous germline mutations in genes encoding proteins in the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway. Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair (NSLH, including NSLH1, OMIM #607721 and NSLH2, OMIM #617506) is characterized by typical features of NS with additional findings of macrocephaly, loose anagen hair, growth hormone deficiency in some, and a higher incidence of intellectual disability. All NSLH1 reported cases to date have had an SHOC2 c.4A>G, p.Ser2Gly mutation; NSLH2 cases have been reported with a PPP1CB c.146G>C, p.Pro49Arg mutation, or c.166G>C, p.Ala56Pro mutation. True cleft palate does not appear to have been previously reported in individuals with NS or with NSLH. While some patients with NS have had growth hormone deficiency (GHD), other endocrine abnormalities are only rarely documented. We present a female patient with NSLH1 who was born with a posterior cleft palate, micrognathia, and mild hypotonia. Other findings in her childhood and young adulthood years include hearing loss, strabismus, and hypopituitarism with growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and gonadotropin deficiencies. The SHOC2 mutation may be responsible for this patient's additional features of cleft palate and hypopituitarism.
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PMID:Cleft palate and hypopituitarism in a patient with Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair-1. 3024 Jan 12

Strabismus refers to the misalignment of the eyes and occurs in 2-4% of individuals. The low-resolution label "strabismus" covers a range of heterogeneous defects, which makes it challenging to unravel this condition. Consequently a coherent understanding of the causes is lacking. Here, we attempt to gain a better understanding of the underlying genetics by combining gene curation, diverse bioinformatic analyses (including gene ontology, pathway mapping, expression and network-based methods) and literature review. Through a phenotype-based curation process, we identify high-confidence and permissive sets of 54 and 233 genes potentially involved in strabismus. These genes can be grouped into 10 modules that together span a heterogeneous set of biological and molecular functions, and can be linked to clinical sub-phenotypes. Multiple lines of evidence associate retina and cerebellum biology with the strabismus genes. We further highlight a potential role of the Ras-MAPK pathway. Independently, sets of 11 genes and 15 loci tied to strabismus with definitive genetic basis have been compiled from the literature. We identify strabismus candidate genes for 5 of the 15 reported loci (CHD7; SLC9A6; COL18A1, COL6A2; FRY, BRCA2, SPG20; PARK2). Finally, we synthesize a Strabismus Candidate Gene Collection, which together with our curated gene sets will serve as a resource for future research. The results of this informatics study support the heterogeneity and complexity of strabismus and point to specific biological pathways and brain regions for future focus.
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PMID:Curation and bioinformatic analysis of strabismus genes supports functional heterogeneity and proposes candidate genes with connections to RASopathies. 3077 22