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)

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and its direct activator, MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK), comprise the MAPKK/MAP kinase cascade, which may play a pivotal role in a variety of intracellular signal transduction pathways from yeast to human. Vertebrate MAPKK, a dual-specificity kinase, is activated by serine phosphorylation catalyzed by upstream serine/threonine kinases, MAPKK kinases (MAPKK-Ks). MAPKK is, on the other hand, threonine phosphorylated by MAP kinase, although a physiological role of this MAP kinase-mediated phosphorylation of MAPKK is unknown. Biochemical fractionation of extracts from Xenopus mature oocytes revealed two major and one minor peaks for the MAPKK-K activity. One of the major peaks contained a proto-oncogene product c-Mos, while the other peaks did not. These observations, together with a recent finding that several MAPKK-Ks such as Raf-1 and MEKK may function within a cell, suggest a diversity of MAPKK-Ks. A variety of extracellular signals converge at the MAPKK/MAP kinase cascade through different MAPKK-Ks and elicit a wide spectrum of cellular responses. Therefore, mechanisms that control activation of the MAP kinase cascade temporally and spatially may be important for specification of cellular responses.
 ...
PMID:Signaling pathways mediated by the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase/MAP kinase cascade. 796 62

We have recently described the properties of delta Raf-1:ER, a fusion protein consisting of an oncogenic form of human Raf-1 and the hormone binding domain of the human estrogen receptor. In this study, we demonstrate that activation of delta Raf-1:ER in quiescent 3T3 cells (C2 cells), while sufficient to promote morphological oncogenic transformation, was insufficient to promote the entry of cells into DNA synthesis. Indeed, activation of delta Raf-1:ER potently inhibited the mitogenic response of cells to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment. Addition of beta-estradiol to quiescent C2 cells led to rapid, sustained activation of delta Raf-1:ER and MEK but only two- to threefold activation of p42 mitogen-activating protein (MAP) kinase activity. Addition of PDGF or EGF to quiescent C2 cells in which delta Raf-1:ER was inactive led to rapid activation of Raf-1, MEK, and p42 MAP kinase activities, and entry of the cells into DNA synthesis. In contrast, when delta Raf-1:ER was activated in quiescent C2 cells prior to factor addition, there was a significant inhibition of certain aspects of the signaling response to subsequent treatment with PDGF or EGF. The expression and activation of PDGF receptors and the phosphorylation of p70S6K in response to PDGF treatment were unaffected by prior activation of delta Raf-1:ER. In contrast, PDGF-mediated activation of Raf-1 and p42 MAP kinases was significantly inhibited compared with that of controls. Interestingly, the mitogenic and signaling responses of quiescent C2 cells to stimulation with fetal bovine serum or phorbol myristate acetate were unaffected by prior activation of delta Raf-1:ER. It seems likely that at least two mechanisms contribute to the effects of delta Raf-1:ER in these cells. First, activation of delta Raf-1:ER appeared to uncouple the activation of Raf-1 from the activation of the PDGF receptor at the cell surface. This may be due to the fact that mSOS1 is constitutively phosphorylated as a consequence of the activation of delta Raf-1:ER. Second, quiescent C2 cells expressing activated delta Raf-1:ER appear to contain an inhibitor of the MAP kinase pathway that, because of its apparent sensitivity to sodium orthovanadate, may be a phosphotyrosine phosphatase. It is likely that the inhibitory effects of delta Raf-1:ER observed in these cells are a manifestation of the activation of some of the feedback inhibition pathways that normally modulate a cell's response to growth factors. 3T3 cells expressing delta Raf-1:ER will be a useful tool in unraveling the role of Raf-1 kinase activity in the regulation of such pathways.
 ...
PMID:Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor- and epidermal growth factor-mediated mitogenesis and signaling in 3T3 cells expressing delta Raf-1:ER, an estradiol-regulated form of Raf-1. 796 25

Around the time of birth, cardiac muscle cells lose the capacity to divide and, from this time on, growth of the heart occurs by hypertrophy where each cells gets bigger. The hypertrophic response is characterized by changes in gene expression including expression of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and myosin light chain-2 (MLC-2) genes. In cultured neonatal ventricular myocytes, hypertrophy also involves reorganization of contractile proteins into sarcomeric units. We have investigated the role of the Raf-1 kinase in this response. Activation of an estradiol-regulated Raf-1 protein kinase led to activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and activated expression from the ANF and MLC-2 promoters. Raf-1-induced activation of these genes was inhibited by a kinase deficient mutant of the 44-kDa MAP kinase, Erk1 indicating a requirement for MAP kinases in the Raf-1-induced response. However, activation of Raf-1 was not sufficient to induce the organization of actin into sarcomeric units. Transfection of dominant negative Raf-1 inhibited phenylephrine-induced activation of the ANF and MLC-2 promoters. Transactivation was rescued by the introduction of increased amounts of c-Raf suggesting a role for Raf-1 in the response to alpha-adrenergic agonists. These results suggest that activation of Raf-1 kinase is a critical component of the signal transduction pathway leading to changes in gene expression associated with hypertrophy but that Raf-1 is not sufficient for the regulation of actin organization during the hypertrophic response.
 ...
PMID:Raf-1 kinase activity is necessary and sufficient for gene expression changes but not sufficient for cellular morphology changes associated with cardiac myocyte hypertrophy. 798 77

Growth factors activate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and Jun kinases (JNKs). Although the signaling cascade from growth factor receptors to ERKs is relatively well understood, the pathway leading to JNK activation is more obscure. Activation of JNK by epidermal growth factor (EGF) or nerve growth factor (NGF) was dependent on H-Ras activation, whereas JNK activation by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was Ras-independent. Ras activates two protein kinases, Raf-1 and MEK (MAPK, or ERK, kinase) kinase (MEKK). Raf-1 contributes directly to ERK activation but not to JNK activation, whereas MEKK participated in JNK activation but caused ERK activation only after overexpression. These results demonstrate the existence of two distinct Ras-dependent MAPK cascades--one initiated by Raf-1 leading to ERK activation, and the other initiated by MEKK leading to JNK activation.
 ...
PMID:Differential activation of ERK and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases by Raf-1 and MEKK. 799 57

Triggering of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) complex activates the serine/threonine kinase Raf-1 whose function is necessary for TCR induction of the interleukin 2 gene. Raf-1 has been identified as a candidate mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase (MKKK) and thus has the potential to couple the TCR to the activation of the MAP kinases such as ERK2. In the present study, the role of Raf-1 in ERK2 regulation of ERK2 in T cells has been explored. A constitutively active Raf-1 kinase, v-raf, or a dominant inhibitory Raf-1 mutant were expressed transiently from the pEF BOS vector in Jurkat cells and the effects of these Raf-1 mutants on a coexpressed ERK2 reporter was assessed. The action of the constitutively active Raf-1 was to stimulate the ERK2 kinase, whereas the dominant negative version of Raf-1 inhibited the ERK2 activation induced by triggering of the TCR. These data indicate a role for Raf-1 in the regulation of ERK2 in T cells.
 ...
PMID:The role of Raf-1 in the regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 by the T cell antigen receptor. 800 97

The high-affinity receptor for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) consists of a unique alpha chain and a beta c subunit that is shared with the receptors for interleukin-3 (IL-3) and IL-5. Two regions of the beta c chain have been defined; these include a membrane-proximal region of the cytoplasmic domain that is required for mitogenesis and a membrane-distal region that is required for activation of Ras, Raf-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and S6 kinase. Recent studies have implicated the cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase JAK2 in signalling through a number of the cytokine receptors, including the IL-3 and erythropoietin receptors. In the studies described here, we demonstrate that GM-CSF stimulation of cells induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 and activates its in vitro kinase activity. Mutational analysis of the beta c chain demonstrates that only the membrane-proximal 62 amino acids of the cytosolic domain are required for JAK2 activation. Thus, JAK2 activation is correlated with induction of mitogenesis but does not, alone, activate the Ras pathway. Carboxyl truncations of the alpha chain, which inactivate the receptor for mitogenesis, are unable to mediate GM-CSF-induced JAK2 activation. Using baculovirus-expressed proteins, we further demonstrate that JAK2 physically associates with the beta c chain but not with the alpha chain. Together, the results further support the hypothesis that the JAK family of kinase are critical to coupling cytokine binding to tyrosine phosphorylation and ultimately mitogenesis.
 ...
PMID:JAK2 associates with the beta c chain of the receptor for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and its activation requires the membrane-proximal region. 800 42

Expression of the GTPase-deficient G alpha 16 polypeptide G alpha 16Q212L, a member of the Gq family of heterotrimeric G proteins, constitutively activated phospholipase C beta activity in Swiss 3T3 cells. Expression of G alpha 16Q212L appears to persistently stimulte a low level of protein kinase C activity which also increases protein kinase A activity in Swiss 3T3 cells. Growth of G alpha 16Q212L expressing cells was significantly inhibited relative to wild-type Swiss 3T3 cells. Bombesin-stimulated DNA synthesis was completely inhibited in G alpha 16Q212L expressing clones, whereas the growth responses to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and serum were inhibited 50-80% relative to wild-type cells. In addition to the inhibition of cell growth, G alpha 16Q212L expression significantly inhibited the stimulation of protein kinase C, Raf-1, MEK, mitogen-activated protein kinase, phospholipase A2 activity, and Ca2+ mobilization in response to PDGF. In contrast, PDGF receptor activation of phospholipase C gamma, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Ras GTP loading was similar in wild-type and G alpha 16Q212L expressing clones. PDGF regulation of membrane ruffling and actin fiber assembly, responses mediated in part by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, were unaffected in G alpha 16Q212L expressing clones. The growth inhibitory action of G alpha 16Q212L expression in Swiss 3T3 cells is downstream of the initial SH2 domain-encoded signal transduction proteins regulated in response to PDGF receptor autophosphorylation. The findings demonstrate that constitutively activated G alpha 16Q212L persistently activates phospholipase C activity and effectively inhibits a subset of cytoplasmic signal transduction pathways involved in growth factor tyrosine kinase receptor stimulation of cell growth. G16/Gq-regulated signal transduction can acutely stimulate specific response pathways involved in mitogenesis; but persistent activation of G16/Gq-regulated effectors, including phospholipase C beta, inhibit tyrosine kinase-initiated mitogenesis. One role for G16/Gq response systems may be to modulate growth factor receptor signaling.
 ...
PMID:Expression of GTPase-deficient G alpha 16 inhibits Swiss 3T3 cell growth. 802 Dec 43

Sequential protein kinase reactions involve the phosphorylation and activation of multiple kinases in a pathway. The growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was defined in 1993. The MAPK pathway involves sequential protein kinase reactions. Notable advances were made in defining tyrosine kinase receptor regulation of Ras, and these discoveries were combined with the identification of Raf-1, a serine-threonine protein kinase in the MAPK pathway, as an effector for Ras GTP.
 ...
PMID:Sequential protein kinase reactions controlling cell growth and differentiation. 802 15

Chemoattractants bind to seven transmembrane-spanning, G-protein-linked receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils) and induce a variety of functional responses, including activation of microtubule-associated protein (MAP) kinase. Although the pathways by which MAP kinases are activated in neutrophils are unknown, we hypothesized that activation of the Ras/Raf pathway leading to activation of MAP/ERK kinase (MEK) would be induced by the chemoattractant f-met-leu-phe. Human neutrophils exposed to 10 nM FMLP for 30 s exhibited an MAP kinase kinase activity coeluting with MEK-1. Immunoprecipitation of Raf-1 kinase after stimulation with FMLP revealed an activity that phosphorylated MEK, was detectable at 30 s, and peaked at 2-3 min. Immunoprecipitation of Ras from both intact neutrophils labeled with [32P]orthophosphate and electropermeabilized neutrophils incubated with [32P]GTP was used to determine that FMLP treatment was associated with activation of Ras. Activation of both Ras and Raf was inhibited by treatment of neutrophils with pertussis toxin, indicating predominant linkage to the Gi2 protein. Although phorbol esters activated Raf, activation induced by FMLP appeared independent of protein kinase C, further suggesting that Gi2 was linked to Ras and Raf independent of phospholipase C and protein kinase C. Dibutyryl cAMP, which inhibits many neutrophil functional responses, blocked the activation of Raf by FMLP, suggesting that interruption of the Raf/MAP kinase pathway influences neutrophil responses to chemoattractants. These data suggest that Gi2-mediated receptor regulation of the Ras/Raf/MAP kinase pathway is a primary response to chemoattractants.
 ...
PMID:FMLP activates Ras and Raf in human neutrophils. Potential role in activation of MAP kinase. 804 Feb 99

Raf-1, a serine/threonine kinase, is required for the mitogenic action of ras p21. It has been recently demonstrated that ras p21 directly associates with Raf-1. The C-terminal region of ras p21 is modified by farnesylation and carboxyl methylation. This modification is necessary for ras p21 function. To elucidate the role of post-translational modification of ras p21 in Raf-1 activation, we examined ras p21-dependent Raf-1 activity in baculovirus/Sf9 cells overexpressing Raf-1 and ras p21. Coexpression of Raf-1 with v-ras p21 in Sf9 cells stimulated the autophosphorylating activity of Raf-1. The activity of Raf-1, as assessed by its ability to activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) in vitro, was also increased when Raf-1 was coexpressed with v-ras p21. However, neither the autophosphorylating activity of Raf-1 nor its ability to activate MEK was stimulated by v-ras p21 mutants which are not post-translationally modified. Raf-1 formed a complex with v-ras p21 and the v-ras p21 mutants in Sf9 cells. These results indicate that the post-translational modification of ras p21 is necessary for Raf-1 activation but that the association of Raf-1 with ras p21 is not sufficient to activate Raf-1.
 ...
PMID:The post-translational modification of ras p21 is important for Raf-1 activation. 805 Oct 91


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>