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)

ACTH treatment of Y1 adrenocortical cells induces the synthesis of Nur77, an orphan nuclear receptor that can act as a potent transactivator for such genes as 21-hydroxylase (CYP21). Nur77 has thus been proposed to be a mediator of ACTH action in activating the expression of genes that encode steroidogenic enzymes. Here we show that ACTH regulates the activity of Nur77 at the level of phosphorylation. ACTH induces the synthesis of transcriptionally active, DNA-binding Nur77 that is unphosphorylated at Ser354, which resides within the DNA-binding domain. By contrast, the Nur77 population that is constitutively present in Y1 cells is phosphorylated at Ser354 and does not bind DNA. Substitutions of Ser354 with negatively charged amino acids, such as Asp or Glu, dramatically decreased Nur77 DNA-binding and trans-activation activities, whereas mutation to the neutral Ala had no effect. Aside from phosphorylation within the DNA-binding domain, ACTH treatment does not induce modifications in the N- and C-terminal domains of Nur77 that significantly affect activity. Although the specific kinases that phosphorylate Nur77 in vivo are not known, the mitogen-activated protein kinase/pp90RSK pathway is not critical to Nur77 regulation. We propose that ACTH treatment of Y1 cells results in modulation of the activities of both kinases and phosphatases, which, in turn, regulate the activities of such transcription factors as Nur77.
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PMID:Adrenocorticotropic hormone regulates the activities of the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 through modulation of phosphorylation. 932 22

Integrins, which connect the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix and mediate a variety of signaling cascades, may transduce mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals. We studied integrin- and matrix-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK2), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK1), and p38 in response to 4% static biaxial stretch in rat cardiac fibroblasts. ERK2 and JNK1, but not p38, were rapidly activated by stretch when the fibroblasts were allowed to synthesize their own matrices. When the cells were limited to specific matrix substrates, ERK2 and JNK1 were differentially activated: ERK2 was only activated when the cells were plated on fibronectin, while JNK1 was activated when the cells were plated on fibronectin, vitronectin, or laminin. Plating cells on collagen before stretching did not activate either kinase. Adhesion to all matrices was integrin-dependent because it could be blocked by inhibitors of specific integrins. ERK2 activation could be blocked with a combination of anti-alpha4 and -alpha5 antibodies and an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide, while the antibodies or peptide used separately failed to block ERK2 activation. This result suggests that at least two integrins, alpha4beta1 and an RGD-directed, non-alpha5beta1 integrin, activate ERK2 in response to mechanical stimulation. Activation of JNK1 could not be blocked with the inhibitors, suggesting that an RGD-independent integrin or integrins other than alpha4beta1 can activate JNK1 in cells adherent to fibronectin. This study demonstrates that integrins act as mechanotransducers, providing insight into potential mechanisms for in vivo responses to mechanical stimuli.
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PMID:Extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation by mechanical stretch is integrin-dependent and matrix-specific in rat cardiac fibroblasts. 943 1

Human neutrophils undergo apoptosis spontaneously when cultured in vitro; however, the signal transduction pathways involved remain largely unknown. In some cell types, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) have been implicated in the pathways leading to stress-induced apoptosis. In this study, we begin to define two pathways leading to apoptosis in the neutrophil induced either by stress stimuli (UV, hyperosmolarity, sphingosine) or by anti-Fas antibody or overnight culture in vitro (spontaneous apoptosis). Apoptosis induced by stress stimuli activated p38 MAPK, and apoptosis was inhibited by the specific p38 MAPK inhibitor, 6-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2.3-dihydro-5-(4-puridinyl)imidazo(2, 1-beta)thiazole dihydrochloride. Furthermore, differentiation of HL-60 cells toward the neutrophil phenotype resulted in a loss in c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation with concomitant acquisition of formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine-stimulatable and stress-inducible p38 MAPK activity as well as apoptosis blockade by the p38 MAPK inhibitor. In contrast, anti-Fas-induced or spontaneous apoptosis occurred independent of p38 MAPK activation and was not blocked by the inhibitor. Both pathways appear to utilize member(s) of the caspase family, since pretreatment with either Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone or Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone inhibited apoptosis induced by each of the stimuli. We propose the presence of at least two pathways leading to apoptosis in human neutrophils, a stress-activated pathway that is dependent on p38 MAPK activation and an anti-FAS/spontaneous pathway that is p38 MAPK-independent.
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PMID:p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent and -independent intracellular signal transduction pathways leading to apoptosis in human neutrophils. 952 49

Grb10 and its close homologues Grb7 and Grb14, belong to a family of adapter proteins characterized by a proline-rich region, a central PH domain, and a carboxyl-terminal Src homology 2 (SH2) domain. Their interaction with a variety of activated tyrosine kinase receptors is well documented, but their actual function remains a mystery. The Grb10 SH2 domain was isolated from a two-hybrid screen using the MEK1 kinase as a bait. We show that this unusual SH2 domain interacts, in a phosphotyrosine-independent manner, with both the Raf1 and MEK1 kinases. Mutation of the MEK1 Thr-386 residue, which is phosphorylated by mitogen-activated protein kinase in vitro, reduces binding to Grb10 in a two-hybrid assay. Interaction of Grb10 with Raf1 is constitutive, while interaction between Grb10 and MEK1 needs insulin treatment of the cells and follows mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Random mutagenesis of the SH2 domain demonstrated that the Arg-betaB5 and Asp-EF2 residues are necessary for binding to the epidermal growth factor and insulin receptors as well as to the two kinases. In addition, we show that a mutation in Ser-betaB7 affects binding only to the receptors, while a mutation in Thr-betaC5 abrogates binding only to MEK1. Finally, transfection of Grb10 genes with specific mutations in their SH2 domains induces apoptosis in HTC-IR and COS-7 cells. These effects can be competed by co-expression of the wild type protein, suggesting that these mutants act by sequestering necessary signaling components.
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PMID:Interaction of the Grb10 adapter protein with the Raf1 and MEK1 kinases. 955 7

Nitric oxide (NO) induction through the inducible NO synthase has been demonstrated to cause cell death in macrophages. We demonstrate that, in macrophages that have been rendered resistant to apoptosis induced by inducible NO synthase (RES cells), exposure to exogenous NO donors results in a hypersensitive apoptosis reaction when compared with the parental RAW 264.7 cells. The apoptosis induced via exogenous NO donors was found to be caspase 3-independent. Although caspase 3 activity was stimulated in the apoptotic macrophages, inhibition of caspase 3 by the inhibitor DEVD-CHO (N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-aldehyde) did not reverse the apoptosis induced by the NO donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). This suggests that although caspase 3 activity is stimulated during apoptosis in macrophages, this signal is not sufficient to induce apoptosis. Cleavage of the enzyme poly(ADP ribose) polymerase mirrors our results of the caspase activity. Interestingly, we show that exogenous NO donation results in an accumulation of cells at the G2/M-phase border. Here, we demonstrate that the mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD 098059 can be used to reverse the G2/M-phase block and show that this treatment also inhibits the observed apoptosis in RES macrophages. Treatment with the MEK inhibitor also reversed both the caspase 3 activity and poly(ADP ribose) polymerase cleavage in cells treated with GSNO. This result indicates that the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway may be involved in regulation of the caspase cascade. Alternatively, it may suggest an activity for the MEK inhibitor heretofore not observed, that of a cyclin kinase inhibitor. Our results suggest that selection of macrophages by resistance to endogenously generated NO may cause hypersensitivity to exogenous NO donors. These findings have relevant implications for the treatment of apoptotic-resistant cell populations that may occur in both cancer and atheroma.
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PMID:Macrophages resistant to endogenously generated nitric oxide-mediated apoptosis are hypersensitive to exogenously added nitric oxide donors: dichotomous apoptotic response independent of caspase 3 and reversal by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD 098059. 956 Feb 25

Although the available evidence suggests that whereas the caspase family plays a major role in apoptosis, they are not the sole stimulators of death. A random yeast two-hybrid screen of a lymphocyte cDNA library (using caspase-3 as the bait) found an interaction between caspase-3 and the regulatory subunit Aalpha of protein phosphatase 2A. This protein was found to be a substrate for caspase-3, but not caspase-1, and could compete effectively against either a protein or synthetic peptide substrate. In Jurkat cells induced to undergo apoptosis with anti-Fas antibody, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity increased 4.5-fold after 6 h. By 12 h, the regulatory Aalpha subunit could no longer be detected in cell lysates. There was no change in the amount of the catalytic subunit. The effects on PP2A could be prevented by the caspase family inhibitors acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp (DEVD) aldehyde or Ac-DEVD fluoromethyl ketone. The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway is regulated by PP2A. At 12 h after the addition of anti-Fas antibody, a decrease in the amount of the phosphorylated forms of MAP kinase was observed. Again, this loss of activated MAP kinase could be prevented by the addition of DEVD-cho or DEVD-fmk. These data are consistent with a pathway whereby induction of apoptosis activates caspase-3. This enzyme then cleaves the regulatory Aalpha subunit of PP2A, increasing its activity. These data show that the activated PP2A will then effect a change in the phosphorylation state of the cell. These data provide a link between the caspases and signal transduction pathways.
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PMID:Regulation of protein phosphatase 2A activity by caspase-3 during apoptosis. 958 51

Cdc25 phosphatases activate the cell division kinases throughout the cell cycle. The 2.3 A structure of the human Cdc25A catalytic domain reveals a small alpha/beta domain with a fold unlike previously described phosphatase structures but identical to rhodanese, a sulfur-transfer protein. Only the active-site loop, containing the Cys-(X)5-Arg motif, shows similarity to the tyrosine phosphatases. In some crystals, the catalytic Cys-430 forms a disulfide bond with the invariant Cys-384, suggesting that Cdc25 may be self-inhibited during oxidative stress. Asp-383, previously proposed to be the general acid, instead serves a structural role, forming a conserved buried salt-bridge. We propose that Glu-431 may act as a general acid. Structure-based alignments suggest that the noncatalytic domain of the MAP kinase phosphatases will share this topology, as will ACR2, a eukaryotic arsenical resistance protein.
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PMID:Crystal structure of the catalytic domain of the human cell cycle control phosphatase, Cdc25A. 960 36

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a prototype of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is a potent procarcinogen generated during the combustion of fossil fuels and cigarette smoke. In addition to the carcinogenic and mutagenic effects, BaP and other PAHs, including 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo[p]dioxin, have been shown to induce programmed cell death or apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which PAHs such as BaP induce apoptosis are not clear. To investigate the molecular events leading to apoptosis induced by BaP, we studied the involvement of the interleukin 1beta-converting enzyme (ICE)/Ced-3 family of proteases (caspases) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), which have been shown to mediate numerous extracellular stimuli-induced apoptosis. On treatment of mouse Hepa 1c1c7 hepatoma cells with BaP, the induction of apoptosis, as determined by genome digestion, was observed at concentrations of 1-30 microM after 24 h of treatments. Importantly, at the apoptosis-inducing concentrations, BaP also induced the activation of an ICE/Ced-3 cysteine protease caspase-3 but not caspase-1 (ICE). The activation of caspase-3 by BaP preceded apoptosis. Furthermore, a specific inhibitor of caspase-3-like proteases, acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-aldehyde, significantly blocked caspase-3 activity and attenuated apoptosis induced by BaP. Treatment with BaP also caused a time- and dose-dependent activation of JNK1 activity. Interestingly, a much lower concentration (5 nM), as well as much earlier kinetics, were observed in JNK1 activation as compared with caspase-3 activation or induction of apoptosis by BaP. In summary, our results demonstrate that BaP induced apoptosis in the mouse hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cell line via a caspase-dependent pathway, which may be independent of JNK activation.
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PMID:Induction of apoptosis and activation of interleukin 1beta-converting enzyme/Ced-3 protease (caspase-3) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1 by benzo(a)pyrene. 960 52

Fission yeast Spc1/StyI MAPK is activated by many environmental insults including high osmolarity, oxidative stress, and heat shock. Spc1/StyI is activated by Wis1, a MAPK kinase (MEK), which is itself activated by Wik1/Wak1/Wis4, a MEK kinase (MEKK). Spc1/StyI is inactivated by the tyrosine phosphatases Pyp1 and Pyp2. Inhibition of Pyp1 was recently reported to play a crucial role in the oxidative stress and heat shock responses. These conclusions were based on three findings: 1) osmotic, oxidative, and heat stresses activate Spc1/StyI in wis4 cells; 2) oxidative stress and heat shock activate Spc1/StyI in cells that express Wis1AA, in which MEKK consensus phosphorylation sites were replaced with alanine; and 3) Spc1/StyI is maximally activated in Deltapyp1 cells. Contrary to these findings, we report: 1) Spc1/StyI activation by osmotic stress is greatly reduced in wis4 cells; 2) wis1-AA and Deltawis1 cells have identical phenotypes; and 3) all forms of stress activate Spc1/StyI in Deltapyp1 cells. We also report that heat shock, but not osmotic or oxidative stress, activate Spc1 in wis1-DD cells, which express Wis1 protein that has the MEKK consensus phosphorylation sites replaced with aspartic acid. Thus osmotic and oxidative stress activate Spc1/StyI by a MEKK-dependent process, whereas heat shock activates Spc1/StyI by a novel mechanism that does not require MEKK activation or Pyp1 inhibition.
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PMID:Heat stress activates fission yeast Spc1/StyI MAPK by a MEKK-independent mechanism. 961 78

Nef is a membrane-associated cytoplasmic phosphoprotein that is well conserved among the different human (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency viruses and has important roles in down-regulating the CD4 receptor and modulating T-cell signaling pathways. The ability to modulate T-cell signaling pathways suggests that Nef may physically interact with T-cell signaling proteins. In order to identify Nef binding proteins and map their site(s) of interaction, we targeted a highly conserved acidic sequence at the carboxyl-terminal region of Nef sharing striking similarity with an acidic sequence at the c-Raf1-binding site within the Ras effector region. Here, we used deletion and site-specific mutagenesis to generate mutant Nef proteins fused to bacterial glutathione S-transferase in in vitro precipitation assays and immunoblot analysis to map the specific interaction between the HIV-1LAI Nef and c-Raf1 to a conserved acidic sequence motif containing the core sequence Asp-Asp-X-X-X-Glu (position 174-179). Significantly, we demonstrate that substitution of the nonpolar glycine residue for either or both of the conserved negatively charged aspartic acid residues at positions 174 and 175 in the full-length recombinant Nef protein background completely abrogated binding of c-Raf1 in vitro. In addition, lysates from a permanent CEM T-cell line constitutively expressing the native HIV-1 Nef protein was used to coimmunoprecipitate a stable Nef-c-Raf1 complex, suggesting that molecular interactions between Nef and c-Raf1, an important downstream transducer of cell signaling through the c-Raf1-MAP kinase pathway, occur in vivo. This interaction may account for the Nef-induced perturbations of T-cell signaling and activation pathways in vitro and in vivo.
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PMID:Binding of c-Raf1 kinase to a conserved acidic sequence within the carboxyl-terminal region of the HIV-1 Nef protein. 962 70


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