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)

Exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) light is a major cause of skin cancer, the most common human neoplasm. The earth's upper atmosphere absorbs the high energy UV-C wavelengths (100-280 nm), while allowing transmission of UV-B (280-320 nm) and UV-A (320-400 nm). It is therefore UV-B and to some extent UV-A, that contributes to most human skin malignancies. We report that the exposure of cultured keratinocytes or skin to UV-C radiation causes activation of MAP kinases (ERK and JNK). In contrast, the solar radiation associated with skin cancer (UV-B) was an ineffective activator of the ERK and JNK signal transduction pathways. Therefore, while exposure of epidermal cells to UV-C radiation under laboratory conditions causes marked activation of MAP kinase signal transduction pathways, only a low level of MAP kinase signaling is involved in the response of skin to biologically relevant solar radiation.
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PMID:Differential effects of UV-B and UV-C components of solar radiation on MAP kinase signal transduction pathways in epidermal keratinocytes. 747 12

Apoptosis plays an important role during neuronal development, and defects in apoptosis may underlie various neurodegenerative disorders. To characterize molecular mechanisms that regulate neuronal apoptosis, the contributions to cell death of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family members, including ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), JNK (c-JUN NH2-terminal protein kinase), and p38, were examined after withdrawal of nerve growth factor (NGF) from rat PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells. NGF withdrawal led to sustained activation of the JNK and p38 enzymes and inhibition of ERKs. The effects of dominant-interfering or constitutively activated forms of various components of the JNK-p38 and ERK signaling pathways demonstrated that activation of JNK and p38 and concurrent inhibition of ERK are critical for induction of apoptosis in these cells. Therefore, the dynamic balance between growth factor-activated ERK and stress-activated JNK-p38 pathways may be important in determining whether a cell survives or undergoes apoptosis.
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PMID:Opposing effects of ERK and JNK-p38 MAP kinases on apoptosis. 748 20

The transcriptional activity of the IL-2 promoter requires T-cell costimulation delivered by the TCR and the auxiliary receptor CD28. Several transcription factors participate in IL-2 promoter activation, among which are AP-1-like factors and NF-kappa B. Protein phosphorylation has an important role in the regulation of these two factors: (1) it induces the transactivating capacity of the AP-1 protein c-Jun; and (2) it is involved in the release of the cytoplasmic inhibitor, I kappa B, from NF-kappa B, allowing translocation of the latter into the nucleus. We have recently shown that both phosphorylation processes require T-cell costimulation. Furthermore, in activated T cells, the kinetics of the two phosphorylation events are essentially similar. According to our results, however, the kinases responsible for the two processes are distinct entities. Whereas TPCK inhibits phosphorylation of I kappa B and, consequently, activation of NF-kappa B, it markedly enhances the activity of JNK, the MAP kinase-related kinase that phosphorylates the transactivation domain of c-Jun. We, therefore, propose the activation scheme presented in FIGURE 3 for T-cell costimulation. Costimulation results in the activation of a signaling pathway that leads to the simultaneous induction of the two transcription factors, AP-1 and NF-kappa B. Integration of the signals generated by TCR and CD28 engagement occurs along this pathway, which then bifurcates to induce I kappa B phosphorylation and NF-kappa B activation on the one hand, and JNK activation and c-Jun phosphorylation on the other. We are currently engaged in defining where the two signals integrate along the AP-1/NF-kappa B pathway.
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PMID:Costimulation requirement for AP-1 and NF-kappa B transcription factor activation in T cells. 748 67

A consensus cyclic AMP response element (CRE) in the murine prostaglandin synthase-2 (PGS2) promoter is essential for pgs2 gene expression induced by pp60v-src, the v-src oncogene product. In this study, we investigate (i) the transcription factors active at the PGS2 "CRE site" in response to v-src activation and (ii) the signal transduction pathways by which pp60v-src activates these transcription factors. Transient transfection assays with pgs2 promoter/luciferase reporter chimeric genes suggest that c-Jun mediates v-src-induced pgs2 gene expression. Antibody supershift experiments demonstrate that c-Jun can participate in a complex with the pgs2 promoter CRE site. Moreover, in vitro immuno-complex assays demonstrate that pp60v-src expression strongly activates c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK1) enzyme activity. Serines 63 and 73, the sites of c-Jun phosphorylation by JNK, are essential for v-src-induced, pgs2 promoter-mediated luciferase expression. Cotransfection studies with plasmids expressing wild-type JNK, dominant-negative JNK, and dominant-negative MEKK-1 confirm that activation of the Ras/MEKK-1/JNK/c-Jun pathway is required for v-src-induced pgs2 gene expression. Overexpression of either wild-type ERK-1 or ERK-2 proteins also potentiate v-src-mediated luciferase expression driven by the pgs2 promoter, and expression of dominant-negative mutants of ERK-1, ERK-2, or Raf-1 attenuate this response. Thus, in response to v-src expression, a Ras/MEKK-1/JNK signal transduction pathway activating c-Jun and a Ras/Raf-1/ERK pathway converge to mediate pgs2 gene expression via the CRE site in the pgs2 promoter.
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PMID:v-src induces prostaglandin synthase 2 gene expression by activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase and the c-Jun transcription factor. 749 26

The PAK family of protein kinases has been suggested as a potential target of the Cdc42 and Rac GTPases based on studies in vitro. We show that PAK-3 is activated by Cdc42 in vivo. Both, activated (GTPase-defective) Cdc42 and a constitutively active PAK-3 mutant stimulated the activity of Jun kinase 1 (JNK1) in transfected cells. Activated Cdc42 also stimulated the activity of the related p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase but was a less effective activator of ERK2. The effect of Cdc42 on JNK activity was similar to that of the potent inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1). The observation that a dominant-negative Cdc42 mutant inhibited IL-1 activation of JNK1 indicates a role for Cdc42 in IL-1 signaling. These results suggest that Cdc42 and PAK may mediate the effects of cytokines on transcriptional regulation.
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PMID:Cdc42 and PAK-mediated signaling leads to Jun kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. 749 79

The prototype mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase module is a three-kinase cascade consisting of the MAP kinase, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1 or ERK2, the MAP/ERK kinase (MEK) MEK1 or MEK2, and the MEK kinase, Raf-1 or B-Raf. This and other MAP kinase modules are thought to be critical signal transducers in major cellular events including proliferation, differentiation, and stress responses. To identify novel mammalian MAP kinase modules, polymerase chain reaction was used to isolate a new MEK family member, MEK5, from the rat. MEK5 is more closely related to MEK1 and MEK2 than to the other known mammalian MEKs, MKK3 and MKK4. MEK5 is thought to lie in an uncharacterized MAP kinase pathway, because MEK5 does not phosphorylate the ERK/MAP kinase family members ERK1, ERK2, ERK3, JNK/SAPK, or p38/HOG1, nor will Raf-1, c-Mos, or MEKK1 highly phosphorylate it. Alternative splicing results in a 50-kDa alpha and a 40-kDa beta isoform of MEK5. MEK5 beta is ubiquitously distributed and primarily cytosolic. MEK5 alpha is expressed most highly in liver and brain and is particulate. The 23 amino acids encoded by the 5' exon in the larger alpha isoform are similar to a sequence found in certain proteins believed to associate with the actin cytoskeleton; this alternatively spliced modular domain may lead to the differential subcellular localization of MEK5 alpha.
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PMID:Isolation of MEK5 and differential expression of alternatively spliced forms. 749 18

Protein kinases activated by dual phosphorylation on Tyr and Thr (MAP kinases) can be grouped into two major classes: ERK and JNK. The ERK group regulates multiple targets in response to growth factors via a Ras-dependent mechanism. In contrast, JNK activates the transcription factor c-Jun in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines and exposure of cells to several forms of environmental stress. Recently, a novel mammalian protein kinase (p38) that shares sequence similarity with mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases was identified. Here, we demonstrate that p38, like JNK, is activated by treatment of cells with pro-inflammatory cytokines and environmental stress. The mechanism of p38 activation is mediated by dual phosphorylation on Thr-180 and Tyr-182. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that p38 MAP kinase is present in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of activated cells. Together, these data establish that p38 is a member of the mammalian MAP kinase group.
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PMID:Pro-inflammatory cytokines and environmental stress cause p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation by dual phosphorylation on tyrosine and threonine. 753 70

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) activates the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs, also known as Jun nuclear kinases or JNKs) resulting in the stimulation of AP-1-dependent gene transcription and induces the translocation of NF kappa B to the nucleus resulting in the stimulation of NF kappa B-dependent gene transcription. A potential second messenger for these signaling pathways is ceramide, which is generated when TNF alpha activates sphingomyelinases. We show that treatment of HL-60 human promyelocytic cells with exogenous sphingomyelinase leads to rapid stimulation of JNK/SAPK activity, an effect not mimicked by treatment with phospholipase A2, C, or D. Further, JNK/SAPK activity is stimulated 2.7- and 2.8-fold, respectively, in cells exposed to C2-ceramide (5 microM) or TNF alpha (10 ng/ml). The prolonged stimulation of this kinase activity by C2-ceramide is similar to that previously reported for TNF alpha. In contrast, the related mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1 and ERK2 are weakly stimulated following TNF alpha treatment (1.5-fold) and are inhibited by C2-ceramide treatment. TNF alpha also potently stimulates NF-kappa B DNA binding activity and transcriptional activity, but these effects are not mimicked by addition of C2-ceramide or sphingomyelinase to intact cells. Furthermore, TNF alpha, sphingomyelinase, and C2-ceramide induce c-jun, a gene that is stimulated by the ATF-2 and c-Jun transcription factors. These data suggest that ceramide may act as a second messenger for a subset of TNF alpha's biochemical and biological effects.
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PMID:Ceramide activates the stress-activated protein kinases. 755 90

Mammalian MEK1 and MEK2 contain a proline-rich (PR) sequence that is absent both from the yeast homologs Ste7 and Byr1 and from a recently cloned activator of the JNK/stress-activated protein kinases, SEK1/MKK4. Since this PR sequence occurs in MEKs that are regulated by Raf family enzymes but is missing from MEKs and SEKs activated independently of Raf, we sought to investigate the role of this sequence in MEK1 and MEK2 regulation and function. Deletion of the PR sequence from MEK1 blocked the ability of MEK1 to associate with members of the Raf family and markedly attenuated activation of the protein in vivo following growth factor stimulation. In addition, this sequence was necessary for efficient activation of MEK1 in vitro by B-Raf but dispensable for activation by a novel MEK1 activator which we have previously detected in fractionated fibroblast extracts. Furthermore, we found that a phosphorylation site within the PR sequence of MEK1 was required for sustained MEK1 activity in response to serum stimulation of quiescent fibroblasts. Consistent with this observation, we observed that MEK2, which lacks a phosphorylation site at the corresponding position, was activated only transiently following serum stimulation. Finally, we found that deletion of the PR sequence from a constitutively activated MEK1 mutant rendered the protein nontransforming in Rat1 fibroblasts. These observations indicate a critical role for the PR sequence in directing specific protein-protein interactions important for the activation, inactivation, and downstream functioning of the MEKs.
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PMID:A proline-rich sequence unique to MEK1 and MEK2 is required for raf binding and regulates MEK function. 756 70

The stress-activated p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase defines a subgroup of the mammalian MAP kinases that appear to play a key role in regulating inflammatory responses. Co-expression of constitutively active forms of Rac and Cdc42 leads to activation of p38 while dominant negative Rac and Cdc42 inhibit the ability of interleukin-1 to increase p38 activity. p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) is a potential mediator of Rac/Cdc42 signaling, and we observe that Pak1 stimulates p38 activity. A dominant negative Pak1 suppresses both interleukin-1- and Rac/Cdc42-induced p38 activity. Rac and Cdc42 appear to regulate a protein kinase cascade initiated at the level of Pak and leading to activation of p38 and JNK.
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PMID:Rho family GTPases regulate p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase through the downstream mediator Pak1. 759 86


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