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

We have previously shown that the IL-6R in a growth-responsive B cell line, AF10, induces activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Here we demonstrate the activation of Raf-1 and MEK-1, which act as a MAP kinase kinase kinase and a MAP kinase kinase, respectively, in the MAP kinase cascade induced by IL-6 in AF10 cells. IL-6 also induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the signaling transducing subunit of the IL-6R in AF10 cells, along with tyrosine phosphorylation of the gp130-associated tyrosine protein kinase JAK1 and the adaptor molecule p52shc. Although induction of tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinase by IL-6 in a differentiation-responsive B cell line, SKW 6.4, were below the limits of detection, the phorbol ester PMA did activate Raf-1, MEK-1, and MAP kinase without inducing the phosphorylation of gp130, JAKs, or p52shc. These results suggest that JAK kinase family members associated with the IL-6R may participate in the activation of MAP kinase in AF10 cells by way of an adaptor protein and Ras-dependent kinase cascade.
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PMID:Involvement of Janus kinases, p52shc, Raf-1, and MEK-1 in the IL-6-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade of a growth-responsive B cell line. 796 20

Grb4 is an adaptor protein consisting of three src homology (SH) 3 domains and a single SH2 domain. We previously cloned Grb4 as a direct interacting partner of Bcr-Abl and v-Abl via the Grb4 SH2 domain. We now show that overexpression of Grb4 results in significant inhibition of v-Abl-induced transcriptional activation from promitogenic enhancer elements such as activator protein 1 (AP-1) and serum-responsive element (SRE). We demonstrate that the inhibitory activity of Grb4 is independent of the direct interaction of v-Abl and Grb4: a Grb4 mutant that lacks a functional SH2 domain shows an even more pronounced inhibition of AP-1/SRE. Further mutational analysis revealed that the first two SH3 domains primarily mediate the inhibitory function. The inhibitory activity of Grb4 is specific for c-jun/c-fos-regulated promoter elements and is located downstream of MEKK1 and JNK because co-expression of Grb4 resulted in down-regulation of MEKK1-induced AP-1 activity without affecting JNK activity. Thus, the nuclear pool of Grb4 is likely to mediate this inhibition. Indeed, cell fractionation and fluorescence microscopy studies revealed that the stronger inhibitory potential of the Grb4 SH2 mutant occurred in conjunction with increased nuclear localization of this mutant. Our results suggest a novel role for Grb4 in the inhibition of promitogenic enhancer elements such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive element and SRE.
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PMID:Grb4/Nckbeta acts as a nuclear repressor of v-Abl-induced transcription from c-jun/c-fos promoter elements. 1151 78

The Basidiomycete fungus Ustilago maydis causes corn smut disease and alternates between a budding haploid saprophyte and a filamentous dikaryotic pathogen. Previous work demonstrated that haploid adenylate cyclase (uac1) mutants display a constitutively filamentous phenotype. Suppressor mutants of a uac1 disruption strain, named ubc for Ustilago bypass of cyclase, no longer require cAMP for the budding morphology. The ubc2 gene was isolated by complementation and is required for filamentous growth. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded by ubc2 shows localized homology to Sterile Alpha Motif (SAM), Ras Association (RA) and Src homology 3 (SH3) protein-protein interaction domains. A K78E missense mutation within the SAM domain, revealed a genetic interaction between ubc2 and ubc4, a pheromone-responsive MAP kinase kinase kinase. This indicates involvement of ubc2 in the pheromone-responsive MAP kinase cascade and ubc2 is required for pheromone-responsive morphogenesis. The ubc2 gene is a critical virulence factor. Thus, ubc2 encodes a putative novel adaptor protein that may act directly upstream of the pheromone-responsive MAP kinase cascade in U. maydis.
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PMID:The ubc2 gene of Ustilago maydis encodes a putative novel adaptor protein required for filamentous growth, pheromone response and virulence. 1158 Aug 41

Many fungal pathogens invade plants by means of specialized infection structures called appressoria. In the rice (Oryza sativa) blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea, the pathogenicity mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase1 (PMK1) kinase is essential for appressorium formation and invasive growth. In this study, we functionally characterized the MST7 and MST11 genes of M. grisea that are homologous with the yeast MAP kinase kinase STE7 and MAP kinase kinase kinase STE11. Similar to the pmk1 mutant, the mst7 and mst11 deletion mutants were nonpathogenic and failed to form appressoria. When a dominant MST7 allele with S212D and T216E mutations was introduced into the mst7 or mst11 mutant, appressorium formation was restored in the resulting transformants. PMK1 phosphorylation also was detected in the vegetative hyphae and appressoria of transformants expressing the MST7(S212D T216E) allele. However, appressoria formed by these transformants failed to penetrate and infect rice leaves, indicating that constitutively active MST7 only partially rescued the defects of the mst7 and mst11 mutants. The intracellular cAMP level was reduced in transformants expressing the MST7(S212D T216E) allele. We also generated MST11 mutant alleles with the sterile alpha motif (SAM) and Ras-association (RA) domains deleted. Phenotype characterizations of the resulting transformants indicate that the SAM domain but not the RA domain is essential for the function of MST11. These data indicate that MST11, MST7, and PMK1 function as a MAP kinase cascade regulating infection-related morphogenesis in M. grisea. Although no direct interaction was detected between PMK1 and MST7 or MST11 in yeast two-hybrid assays, a homolog of yeast STE50 in M. grisea directly interacted with both MST7 and MST11 and may function as the adaptor protein for the MST11-MST7-PMK1 cascade.
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PMID:A mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade regulating infection-related morphogenesis in Magnaporthe grisea. 1574 60

The multifunctional cytokine transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) exerts many of its effects through its regulation of extracellular matrix components, including fibronectin (FN). Although expression of both TGFbeta and FN are essential for embryonic development and wound healing in the adult, overexpression leads to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix observed in many fibroproliferative disorders. We previously have demonstrated that TGFbeta-stimulated FN induction requires activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway; however, the signaling molecules that link the TGFbeta receptors to the JNK pathway remain unknown. We show here that the cytosolic adaptor protein disabled-2 (Dab2) directly stimulates JNK activity, whereas stable small interfering RNA-mediated ablation of Dab2 in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts and A10 rat aortic smooth muscle cells demonstrates that its expression is required for TGFbeta-mediated FN induction. We demonstrate that TGFbeta treatment stimulates the association of Dab2 with the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, TAK1. Attenuation of cellular TAK1 levels by transient double-stranded RNA oligonucleotide transfection as well as overexpression of kinase-deficient TAK1 leads to abrogation of TGFbeta-stimulated FN induction. Furthermore, cell migration, another JNK-dependent response, is attenuated in NIH3T3-siDab2-expressing clones. We, therefore, delineate a signaling pathway proceeding from the TGFbeta receptors to Dab2 and TAK1, leading to TGFbeta-stimulated JNK activation, FN expression, and cell migration.
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PMID:Disabled-2 (Dab2) mediates transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta)-stimulated fibronectin synthesis through TGFbeta-activated kinase 1 and activation of the JNK pathway. 1589 42

CIN85 is a multi-adaptor protein involved in different cellular functions including the down-regulation of activated receptor tyrosine kinases and survival of neuronal cells. CIN85 contains three SH3 domains that specifically bind a unique proline-arginine motif (PxxxPR) found in several CIN85 effectors. In this report, we show that the MAP kinase kinase kinase MEKK4 is a new CIN85-interacting partner. This interaction is mediated by the engagement of the SH3 domains of CIN85 to three PxxxPR motifs located within MEKK4 sequence. By disrupting this interaction we demonstrated that CIN85 binding to MEKK4 enhances the activation of MKK6 and of the downstream p38 MAP kinase following oxidative stress and growth factor stimulation. CIN85 was also shown to regulate the activation of MEKK4 by GADD45 proteins and promote multi-ubiquitination of MEKK4. Taken together, these results indicate a novel role for CIN85 in the regulation of cellular stress response via the MAPK pathways.
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PMID:CIN85 regulates the ability of MEKK4 to activate the p38 MAP kinase pathway. 1625 71

Airway epithelial cells are simultaneously exposed to and produce cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in inflammatory settings. The signaling events and the physiologic outcomes of exposure to these inflammatory mediators remain to be elucidated. Previously we demonstrated that in cultured mouse lung epithelial cells exposed to bolus administration of H(2)O(2), TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activity was inhibited, whereas c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation was enhanced via a mechanism involving TNF receptor-1 (TNF-RI). In this study we used the nonphagocytic NADPH oxidase (Nox1) to study the effects of endogenously produced ROS on a line of mouse alveolar type II epithelial cells. Nox1 expression and activation inhibited TNF-alpha-induced inhibitor of kappaB kinase (IKK), and NF-kappaB while promoting JNK activation and cell death. Nox1-induced JNK activation and cell death were attenuated through expression of a dominant-negative TNF-RI construct, implicating a role for TNF-RI in Nox1 signaling. Furthermore, Nox1 used the TNF-RI adaptor protein TNF-receptor-associated factor-2 (TRAF2), and the redox-regulated JNK MAP3K, apoptosis signal kinase-1 (ASK1), to activate JNK. In addition, ASK1 siRNA attenuated both Nox1-induced JNK activity and cell death. Collectively, these studies suggest a mechanism by which ROS produced in lung epithelial cells activate JNK and cause cell death using TNF-RI and the TRAF2-ASK1 signaling axis.
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PMID:Nonphagocytic oxidase 1 causes death in lung epithelial cells via a TNF-RI-JNK signaling axis. 1707 81

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor-associated-factor-6 (TRAF6) is an adaptor protein involved in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. Recent studies using macrophages from TRAF6 knockout mice have revealed that TRAF6 is required for TLR7 signaling. However, an essential role of TRAF6 in TLR4 signaling and cytokine production is slightly controversial. Using an RNAi approach to reduce the cellular levels of TRAF6, we tested the role of this adaptor protein on the sensitivity of the various components of the ERK pathway mediated by TLR4 and -7 in Raw264.7, a mouse macrophage cell line. ERK activation in macrophages by TLR4 and -7 is mediated via a MAP3K, called TPL2/COT, which under unstimulated conditions is associated with NF kappa B1 p105, a member of the I kappa B family of proteins. Upon stimulation with TLR ligands, p105 is phosphorylated by I kappa B kinase (IKK) complex and partially degraded, which releases TPL2. The free TPL2 is active and stimulates the ERK pathway via MEK1/2. The free TPL2, however, is also unstable and is targeted for degradation. We demonstrate here that reduced level of TRAF6 ( approximately 80% decrease) in macrophages does not significantly affect any of the components of the TLR4-stimulated ERK pathway, including p105 phosphorylation, TPL2 degradation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Surprisingly, however, TLR4-induced JNK1/2 phosphorylation is significantly blocked by TRAF6 knockdown, suggesting that ERK and JNK pathways are differentially sensitive to TRAF6 levels. Furthermore, although TLR4-mediated IKK-induced p105 phosphorylation is not sensitive to TRAF6 knockdown, I kappa B alpha phosphorylation (also, IKK-induced) is significantly blocked, suggesting that TLR4 activation results in a TRAF6-sensitive and -insensitive IKK activation in macrophages. In contrast to TLR4 signaling, TLR7 activation of ERK, JNK pathways and phosphorylation of p105 and I kappa B alpha are completely inhibited in TRAF6 knockdown cells. Compared to the signaling data, while TLR4-induced TNFalpha mRNA expression is not significantly inhibited by TRAF6 knockdown, TLR7-induced TNFalpha mRNA is significantly blocked. In contrast, both TLR4- and TLR7-induced IL6 mRNA are significantly blocked by TRAF6 knockdown. These results suggest that while TRAF6 is absolutely essential for TLR7 activation of ERK, JNK and NF kappa B pathways, TLR4-induced ERK, JNK pathways and IKK-mediated phosphorylation of I kappa B family members as well as cytokine expression are differentially sensitive to the cellular levels of TRAF6. These results have important implications in terms of therapeutic targeting of TRAF6 complexes in diseases where TLR4 and -7 are involved.
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PMID:Sensitivity of TLR4- and -7-induced NF kappa B1 p105-TPL2-ERK pathway to TNF-receptor-associated-factor-6 revealed by RNAi in mouse macrophages. 1750 94

The ERK5 cascade is a MAPK pathway that transmits both mitogenic and stress signals, yet its mechanism of activation is not fully understood. Using intracellular calcium modifiers, we found that ERK5 activation by EGF is inhibited both by the depletion and elevation of intracellular calcium levels. This calcium effect was found to occur upstream of MEKK2, which is the MAP3K of the ERK5 cascade. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed that EGF increases MEKK2 binding to the adaptor protein Lad1, and this interaction was reduced by the intracellular calcium modifiers, indicating that a proper calcium concentration is required for the interactions and transmission of EGF signals to ERK5. In vitro binding assays revealed that the proper calcium concentration is required for a direct binding of MEKK2 to Lad1. The binding of these proteins is not affected by c-Src-mediated phosphorylation on Lad1, but slightly affects the Tyr phosphorylation of MEKK2, suggesting that the interaction with Lad1 is necessary for full Tyr phosphorylation of MEKK2. In addition, we found that changes in calcium levels affect the EGF-induced nuclear translocation of MEKK2 and thereby its effect on the nuclear ERK5 activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that calcium is required for EGF-induced ERK5 activation, and this effect is probably mediated by securing proper interaction of MEKK2 with the upstream adaptor protein Lad1.
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PMID:Calcium regulation of EGF-induced ERK5 activation: role of Lad1-MEKK2 interaction. 2083 Mar 10

The axons of C. elegans left and right AWC olfactory neurons communicate at synapses through a calcium-signaling complex to regulate stochastic asymmetric cell identities called AWC(ON) and AWC(OFF). However, it is not known how the calcium-signaling complex, which consists of UNC-43/CaMKII, TIR-1/SARM adaptor protein and NSY-1/ASK1 MAPKKK, is localized to postsynaptic sites in the AWC axons for this lateral interaction. Here, we show that microtubule-based localization of the TIR-1 signaling complex to the synapses regulates AWC asymmetry. Similar to unc-43, tir-1 and nsy-1 loss-of-function mutants, specific disruption of microtubules in AWC by nocodazole generates two AWC(ON) neurons. Reduced localization of UNC-43, TIR-1 and NSY-1 proteins in the AWC axons strongly correlates with the 2AWC(ON) phenotype in nocodazole-treated animals. We identified kinesin motor unc-104/kif1a mutants for enhancement of the 2AWC(ON) phenotype of a hypomorphic tir-1 mutant. Mutations in unc-104, like microtubule depolymerization, lead to a reduced level of UNC-43, TIR-1 and NSY-1 proteins in the AWC axons. In addition, dynamic transport of TIR-1 in the AWC axons is dependent on unc-104, the primary motor required for the transport of presynaptic vesicles. Furthermore, unc-104 acts non-cell autonomously in the AWC(ON) neuron to regulate the AWC(OFF) identity. Together, these results suggest a model in which UNC-104 may transport some unknown presynaptic factor(s) in the future AWC(ON) cell that non-cell autonomously control the trafficking of the TIR-1 signaling complex to postsynaptic regions of the AWC axons to regulate the AWC(OFF) identity.
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PMID:Microtubule-based localization of a synaptic calcium-signaling complex is required for left-right neuronal asymmetry in C. elegans. 2177 13


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