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 identities of the upstream activators of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase homologues termed stress-activated-protein (SAP) kinase-1 (also known as JNK or SAPK) and SAP kinase-2 (also known as p38, RK and CSBP) were investigated in rat PC12 cells and human KB cells after exposure to cellular stresses and cytokines. In PC12 cells, the same two upstream activators, SAP kinase kinase-1 (SAPKK-1) and SAPKK-2 were activated after exposure to osmotic shock, ultraviolet irradiation or the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin, and more weakly in response to sodium arsenite. SAPKK-1 was capable of activating both SAP kinase-1 and SAP kinase-2 and was similar, if not identical, to the previously described MAP kinase kinase homologue MKK4, as judged by immunological criteria and by its ability to be activated by MEK kinase in vitro. In contrast, SAPKK-2 activated SAP kinase-2, but not SAP kinase-1 in vitro. In KB cells, five distinct upstream activators of SAP kinase-1 and SAP kinase-2 were induced, namely SAPKK-1, SAPKK-2, SAPKK-3, SAPKK-4 and SAPKK-5, whose appearance depended on the nature of the stimulus. SAPKK-3, which was strongly induced by every stimulus tested (osmotic shock, ultraviolet irradiation, anisomycin or IL-1), accounted for about 95% of the SAP kinase-2 activator activity in these cells, did not activate SAP kinase-1 and eluted from Mono S at a lower salt concentration than SAPKK-2. SAPKK-4 and SAPKK-5 were also eluted from Mono S at higher NaC1 concentrations than SAPKK-3 and these enzymes activated SAP kinase-1 but not SAP kinase-2. SAPKK-4 was the only SAP kinase-1 activator induced by interleukin-1 or ultraviolet irradiation, while two SAP kinase-1 activators, SAPKK-1 and SAPKK-5, were induced by osmotic shock or anisomycin. SAPKK-2, SAPKK-3, SAPKK-4 and SAPKK-5, were not activated by MEK kinase in vitro, were separable from the major activator(s) of p42 MAP kinase, and were not recognised by anti-MKK4 antibodies. At least two of these enzymes are likely to be novel MAP kinase kinase homologues. Our results demonstrate unexpected complexity in the upstream regulation of stress and cytokine-stimulated kinase cascades and indicate that the selection of the appropriate SAPKK varies with both the stimulus and the cell type.
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PMID:Cellular stresses and cytokines activate multiple mitogen-activated-protein kinase kinase homologues in PC12 and KB cells. 866 97

We have identified a Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene, mkh1, that encodes a MEK kinase (MEKK) homolog. The coding region of mkh1 is contained within a single exon encoding a 1,116-amino-acid protein. The putative catalytic domain of Mkh1 is 54% identical to the catalytic domain of S. cerevisiae Bck1, the most closely related protein. Deletion of mkh1 did not significantly affect cell growth or division under standard conditions. However, mkh1delta cell growth was inhibited by high KCl or NaCl concentrations. mkh1delta cells required a longer time to reenter the cell cycle after prolonged stationary-phase arrest. Also, mkh1delta cells exhibited a round cell shape, while overexpression of Mkh1 resulted in an elongated cell shape. mkh1delta cells exhibited a more dramatic phenotype when grown in nutrient-limiting conditions at high temperature or in hyperosmotic medium. In such conditions, completion of cytokinesis was inhibited, resulting in the growth of pseudohyphal filaments with multiple septa and nuclei. Also, mkh1delta cells were hypersensitive to beta-glucanase treatment. Together these results suggest that Mkh1 regulates cell morphology, cell wall integrity, salt resistance, cell cycle reentry from stationary-phase arrest, and filamentous growth in response to stress. These phenotypes are essentially identical to those exhibited by cells lacking Pmk1/Spm1, a recently identified mitogen-activated protein kinase. Our evidence suggests that Pmk1/Spm1 acts downstream from Mkh1 in a common pathway. Our results also suggest that Mkh1 and Pck2 act independently to maintain cell wall integrity, cell morphology, and salt resistance but act in opposition to regulate filamentous growth.
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PMID:Mkh1, a MEK kinase required for cell wall integrity and proper response to osmotic and temperature stress in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. 919 86

The Arabidopsis thaliana ARAKIN (ATMEKK1) gene shows strong homology to members of the (MAP) mitogen-activated protein kinase family, and was previously shown to functionally complement a mating defect in Saccharomyces cerevisiae at the level of the MEKK kinase ste11. The yeast STE11 is an integral component of two MAP kinase cascades: the mating pheromone pathway and the HOG (high osmolarity glycerol response) pathway. The HOG signal transduction pathway is activated by osmotic stress and causes increased glycerol synthesis. Here, we first demonstrate that ATMEKK1 encodes a protein with kinase activity, examine its properties in yeast MAP kinase cascades, then examine its expression under stress in A. thaliana. Yeast cells expressing the A. thaliana ATMEKK1 survive and grow under high salt (NaCl) stress, conditions that kill wild-type cells. Enhanced glycerol production, observed in non-stressed cells expressing ATMEKK1 is the probable cause of yeast survival. Downstream components of the HOG response pathway, HOG1 and PBS2, are required for ATMEKK1-mediated yeast survival. Because ATMEKK1 functionally complements the sho1/ssk2/ssk22 triple mutant, it appears to function at the level of the MEKK kinase step of the HOG response pathway. In A. thaliana, ATMEKK1 expression is rapidly (within 5 min) induced by osmotic (NaCl) stress. This is the same time frame for osmoticum-induced effects on the electrical properties of A. thaliana cells, both an immediate response and adaptation. Therefore, we propose that the A. thaliana ATMEKK1 may be a part of the signal transduction pathway involved in osmotic stress.
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PMID:Functional characterization of ARAKIN (ATMEKK1): a possible mediator in an osmotic stress response pathway in higher plants. 1055 79

Here, the methods of continuum electrostatics are used to investigate the contribution of electrostatic interactions to the binding of four protein-protein complexes; barnase-barstar, human growth hormone and its receptor, subtype N9 influenza virus neuraminidase and the NC41 antibody, the Ras binding domain (RBD) of kinase cRaf and a Ras homologue Rap1A. In two of the four complexes electrostatics are found to strongly oppose binding (hormone-receptor and neuraminidase-antibody complexes), in one case the net effect is close to zero (barnase-barstar) and in one case electrostatics provides a significant driving force favoring binding (RBD-Rap1A). In order to help understand the wide range of electrostatic contributions that were calculated, the electrostatic free energy was partitioned into contributions of individual charged and polar residues, salt bridges and networks involving salt bridges and hydrogen bonds. Although there is no one structural feature that accounts for the differences between the four interfaces, the extent to which the desolvation of buried charges is compensated by the formation of hydrogen bonds and ion pairs appears to be an important factor. Structural features that are correlated with contribution of an individual residue to stability are also discussed. These include partial burial of a charged group in the free monomer, the formation of networks involving charged and polar amino acids, and the formation of partially exposed ion-pairs. The total electrostatic contribution to binding is found to be inversely correlated with buried total and non-polar surface area. This suggests that different interfaces can be designed to exploit electrostatic and hydrophobic forces in very different ways.
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PMID:On the role of electrostatic interactions in the design of protein-protein interfaces. 1205 76

The Arabidopsis mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 2 (MKK2) and the downstream MAPKs MPK4 and MPK6 were isolated by functional complementation of osmosensitive yeast mutants. In Arabidopsis protoplasts, MKK2 was specifically activated by cold and salt stress and by the stress-induced MAPK kinase kinase MEKK1. Yeast two-hybrid, in vitro, and in vivo protein kinase assays revealed that MKK2 directly targets MPK4 and MPK6. Accordingly, plants overexpressing MKK2 exhibited constitutive MPK4 and MPK6 activity, constitutively upregulated expression of stress-induced marker genes, and increased freezing and salt tolerance. In contrast, mkk2 null plants were impaired in MPK4 and MPK6 activation and were hypersensitive to salt and cold stress. Full genome transcriptome analysis of MKK2-overexpressing plants demonstrated altered expression of 152 genes involved in transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, cellular defense, and stress metabolism. These data identify a MAP kinase signaling cascade mediating cold and salt stress tolerance in plants.
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PMID:The MKK2 pathway mediates cold and salt stress signaling in Arabidopsis. 1522 55

Ste11 is a MAPKKK from Saccharomyces cerevisiae that helps mediate the response to mating pheromone and the ability to thrive in high-salt environments. These diverse functions are facilitated by a direct interaction between the SAM domain of Ste11 with the SAM domain of its regulatory partner, Ste50. We have solved the NMR structure of the Ste11 SAM domain (PDB 1OW5), which reveals a compact, five alpha-helix bundle and a high degree of structural similarity to the Polyhomeotic SAM domain. The combined study of Ste11 SAM rotational correlation times and crosslinking to Ste50-SAM has suggested a mode through which Ste11-SAM oligomerizes and selectively associates with Ste50-SAM. To probe homotypic and heterotypic interations, Ste11-SAM variants each containing a substitution of a surface-exposed hydrophobic residue were constructed. An I59R variant of Ste11-SAM, disrupted binding to Ste50-SAM in vitro. Yeast expressing full-length Ste11-I59R could neither respond to mating pheromone nor thrive in high salt media-demonstrating that the interaction between Ste11 and Ste50 SAM domains is a prerequisite for key signal transduction events.
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PMID:The solution structure of the S.cerevisiae Ste11 MAPKKK SAM domain and its partnership with Ste50. 1532 64

Previously we have shown that TGF-beta1 protects murine L929 fibroblasts from TNF/ActD-mediated cell death by inducing the expression of an extracellular matrix TNF-resistance triggering (TRT) protein. TRT promotes TNF-resistance via activation of tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases in L929 cells. To examine the presence of TRT activity in serum (designated STRT), human sera were diluted, treated with or without PMSF and subjected to sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation (ASP). Aliquots of the ASP protein fractions were coated onto 96-well plates, followed by thorough washing. When L929 cells were seeded and cultured on the wells coated with STRT proteins, these cells resisted killing by TNF, TNF/ActD, doxorubicin and serum deprivation, but not by anti-Fas/ActD, staurosporine and ActD. STRT activity was found at the 15% ASP fraction of untreated sera, but shifted to the 20% ASP fraction of PMSF-treated sera. Two likely STRT proteins of approximately 226 and 265 kDa were found in these fractions, compared to the corresponding nonfunctional ASP fractions. Functionally, STRT was inactivated by trypsin, but not by 5 M salt, various serine and/or cysteine protease inhibitors, and antibodies against fibronectin, vitronectin, C1q, histidine-rich glycoprotein, CD44, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid. STRT failed to alter the expression of proteins involved in apoptosis such as RIP, ICH-1L, BCL-X, TIAR and IkappaBalpha, and could not induce IkappaBalpha degradation. The induced TNF-resistance could be reversed by treatment of STRT-stimulated cells with testicular hyaluronidase, as well as with tyrosine kinase inhibitors tyrophostin, lavendustin A and AG-490 (a selective inhibitor of JAK2 kinase). However, the STRT function could not be blocked by the MEK kinase inhibitor PD98059 and the NF-kappaB inhibitors curcumin and a synthetic inhibitor peptide for NF-kappaB translocation. Together, our data suggest that tyrosine kinase activation is involved in the STRT-mediated resistance to TNF and TNF/ActD in L929 cells.
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PMID:Characterization of serum adhesive proteins that block tumor necrosis factor-mediated cell death. 1646 90

In eukaryotes, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are very important signal transduction modules that regulate various cellular processes. Although eukaryotic cells possess a number of MAP kinase pathways, normally the MAPKKs selectively activate their cognate MAPK. Recent studies suggest that the MAPK-docking site in MAPKK facilitates this specific recognition and activation. However, the role of the docking site under in vivo conditions has not been demonstrated. In yeast external high osmolarity activates HOG (high osmolarity glycerol) MAPK pathway that consists of MAPKKK (Ste11p or Ssk2p/Ssk22p), MAPKK (Pbs2p), and MAPK (Hog1p). Previously, we have isolated a Pbs2p homologue (Dpbs2p) from osmo-tolerant and salt-tolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii that complemented pbs2 mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we show, for the first time, the presence of a MAPK-docking domain in Dpbs2p that is essential for its function in vivo. Mutation in this motif completely abolished its binding to Hog1p in vitro.
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PMID:Evidence that the MAPK-docking site in MAPKK Dpbs2p is essential for its function. 1676 17

Proteins containing the PB1 domain, a protein interaction module conserved in animals, fungi, amoebas, and plants, participate in diverse biological processes. The PB1 domains adopt a ubiquitin-like beta-grasp fold, containing two alpha helices and a mixed five-stranded beta sheet, and are classified into groups harboring an acidic OPCA motif (type I), the invariant lysine residue on the first beta strand (type II), or both (type I/II). The OPCA motif of a type I PB1 domain forms salt bridges with basic residues, especially the conserved lysine, of a type II PB1 domain, thereby mediating a specific PB1-PB1 heterodimerization, whereas additional contacts contribute to high affinity and specificity of the modular interaction. The canonical PB1 dimerization is required for the formation of complexes between p40(phox) and p67(phox) (for activation of the NADPH oxidase crucial for mammalian host defense), between the scaffold Bem1 and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Cdc24 (for polarity establishment in yeasts), and between the polarity protein Par6 and atypical protein kinase C (for cell polarization in animal cells), as well as for the interaction between the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases MEKK2 or MEKK3 and the downstream target mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase MEK5 (for early cardiovascular development in mammals). PB1 domains can also mediate interactions with other protein domains. For example, an intramolecular interaction between the PB1 and PX domains of p40(phox) regulates phagosomal targeting of the microbicidal NADPH oxidase; the PB1 domain of MEK5 is likely responsible for binding to the downstream kinase ERK5, which lacks a PB1 domain; and the scaffold protein Nbr1 associates through a PB1-containing region with titin, a sarcomere protein without a PB1 domain. This Review describes various aspects of PB1 domains at the molecular and cellular levels.
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PMID:Structure and function of the PB1 domain, a protein interaction module conserved in animals, fungi, amoebas, and plants. 1772 78

An Arabidopsis mutant with improved salt tolerant germination was isolated from a T-DNA insertion library and designated as AT6. This mutant also exhibited improved salt tolerance phenotype in later developmental stages. But no apparent difference was observed in response to ABA, GA or ethylene during germination between the mutant and the wildtype. The T-DNA was inserted in the At1g73660 locus that coded for a putative MAPKKK. Genetic and multiple mutant allele analyses confirmed that the knockout of this gene resulted in improved salt tolerance phenotype and provided strong evidence that the genetic locus At1g73660 negatively regulated salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. The At1g73660 was down regulated in response to salt stress in the mutants, which is consistent with its role as a negative regulator. It is therefore hypothesized that the AT1g73660 may serve as one of the off-switches of stress responses that are required for unstressed conditions.
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PMID:The genetic locus At1g73660 encodes a putative MAPKKK and negatively regulates salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. 1829 2


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