Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.11.25 (MEKK1)
 1,856 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The protooncogene G alpha(i-2) plays a pivotal role in signaling pathways that control renal cell growth and differentiation. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are potential downstream effectors for G alpha(i-2) in these pathways. In predifferentiated LLC-PK1 renal cells, the temporal maximal expression of G alpha(i-2) coincided with maximal activation of MAPK(p42/p44). By contrast, pertussis toxin treatment of these cells inhibited cell growth and reduced MAPK(p42/p44) activity by 30%. These findings reflected upstream activation of MAPK kinase (MEK1), as transient transfection of cells with a plasmid encoding a constitutively active form of MEK1 increased MAPK(p42/p44) activity and cell growth, whereas treatment with PD-098059, an inhibitor of MEK1 activity, reduced MAPK(p42/p44) activity and cell growth. Expression of a guanosinetriphosphatase (GTPase)-deficient G alpha(i-2) in these cells increased MAPK(p42/p44) activity and correspondingly reduced cell doubling time from 24 to 10 h without altering the activity of Raf-1 or c-Jun/stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs). By contrast, expression of a GTPase-deficient G alpha(i-3) in these cells reduced both their cell doubling time by 30% and MAPK(p42/p44) activity by 60%. As the known MEKK isoforms (MEKK1, -2, and -3) can also activate SAPKs, these findings suggest the GTP-charged G alpha(i-2) subunit transduces growth signals in renal cells via activation of MAPK(p42/p44) and that such activation may be linked to pathways containing novel MEKK isoforms that preferentially activate MEKs.
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PMID:G alpha(i-2) mediates renal LLC-PK1 growth by a Raf-independent activation of p42/p44 MAP kinase. 912 7

Recent studies have revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) consists of at least three subfamilies, namely classical MAPK (also known as ERK), stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase. TGF-beta-activating kinase (TAK)-1 is a novel MAPKKK which is reported to stimulate p38K and/or the JNK pathway. To elucidate the functional roles of the TAK1 pathway, we transfected its constitutive active form (TAK1dN) and negative form (TAK1K63W) into LLC-PK1 cells. TAKdN inhibited [3H]thymidine uptake and reduced the percentages of S and G2/M phases. TAK1K63W ameliorated the inhibitory effects of TGF-beta on [3H]thymidine uptake and increased the percentages of S and G2/M phases. Western blot analysis demonstrates that the level of cyclin D1 protein was regulated negatively by overexpression of TAK1dN. Moreover, overexpression of TAK1dN inhibited cyclin D1 promoter activity. In contrast, constitutive active MKK1, the classical p42/44 MAPK activator, increased cyclin D1 promoter activity and level of protein. Overexpression of the active form of MKK1 increased [3H]thymidine uptake, while the inactive form decreased the uptake. In conclusion, cyclin D1 promoter activity and cell cycle progression are regulated negatively by the TAK1 pathway and positively by the classical MAPK pathway.
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PMID:Mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and transcription factors: the opposite role of MKK3/6-p38K and MKK1-MAPK. 1004 49

Cold acclimation is the major process that prepares plants for freezing tolerance. In addition to extensive transcription regulation by cold-inducible master transcription factors, oxidative stress signaling has been postulated to play a role in freezing tolerance. Activation of oxidative signaling through the expression of an active mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase provided benefits in transgenic tobacco at freezing temperature bypassing cold acclimation. Because involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade in oxidative stress signaling is evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotes from yeast to mammals, we tested the effect of expressing a heterologous tobacco mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (Nicotiana PK1), which can mimic H(2)O(2) signaling, in a major cereal crop. We demonstrate that low-level but constitutive expression of the Nicotiana PK1 gene enhances freezing tolerance in transgenic maize plants that are normally frost sensitive. Our results suggest that a new molecular approach can be designed to genetically enhance freezing tolerance in important crops.
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PMID:Expression of an active tobacco mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase enhances freezing tolerance in transgenic maize. 1496 Jul 27

Epidemiological studies found an increased risk for kidney cancer in hypertensive patients, of which a subgroup has high aldosterone (Ald) levels. We recently showed that Ald is genotoxic both in kidney tubular cells and in rats with mineralocorticoid-mediated hypertension. The present work investigated in vitro and in vivo, if the oxidative stress-mediated activation of the ERK1/2 pathway, and its downstream target STAT3, could be one mechanism involved in the potential oncogenic capability of excess Ald exposure. The effects of excess Ald were investigated in LLC-PK1 cells and in Ald-induced hypertensive rats. Ald caused cRaf, MEK1/2, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation both in LLC-PK1 cells and in rat kidneys. ERK1/2 activation led to an increased phosphorylation of MSK1, p90RSK, and STAT3. The involvement of ERK1/2 in the activation of STAT3 was evidenced by the capacity of the MEK inhibitor U0126 to prevent Ald-mediated ERK1/2 and STAT3 phosphorylation. Both in vitro and in vivo, the activation of ERK1/2 and STAT3 by Ald was dependent on the mineralocorticoid receptor and was triggered by an increase in cellular oxidants. Ald-mediated oxidant increase was in part due to the activation of the enzymes NADPH oxidase and NO synthase. Proliferation was significantly enhanced and apoptosis decreased in Ald-treated rat kidneys and/or LLC-PK1 cells. Results support the concept that the oxidant-mediated long-term activation of ERK1/2/STAT3 by persistently high Ald levels could trigger proliferative and prosurvival events. Ald-mediated promotion of cell survival and DNA damage could result in kidney cell transformation and initiation of cancer in hypertensive patients with hyperaldosteronism.
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PMID:Aldosterone activates the oncogenic signals ERK1/2 and STAT3 via redox-regulated mechanisms. 2827 57