Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.11.26 (GSK)
6,788 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The interaction between beta-catenin and LEF-1/TCF transcription factors plays a pivotal role in the Wnt-1 signaling pathway. The level of beta-catenin is regulated by partner proteins, including glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) and the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor protein. Genetic defects in APC are responsible for a heritable predisposition to colon cancer. APC protein and GSK-3beta bind beta-catenin, retain it in the cytoplasm, and facilitate the proteolytic degradation of beta-catenin. Abrogation of this negative regulation allows beta-catenin to translocate to the nucleus and to form a transcriptional activator complex with the DNA-binding protein lymphoid-enhancing factor 1 (LEF-1). This complex is thought to be involved in tumorigenesis. Here we show that covalent linkage of LEF-1 to beta-catenin and to transcriptional activation domains derived from the estrogen receptor or the herpes simplex virus protein VP16 generates transcriptional regulators that induce oncogenic transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts. The chimeras between LEF-1 and beta-catenin or VP16 are constitutively active, whereas fusions of LEF-1 to the estrogen receptor are regulatable by estrogen. These experiments document the oncogenicity of transactivating LEF-1 and show that the transactivation domain normally provided by beta-catenin can be replaced by heterologous activation domains. These results suggest that the transactivating function of the LEF-1/beta-catenin complex is critical for tumorigenesis and that this complex transforms cells by activating specific LEF-1 target genes.
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PMID:Nuclear endpoint of Wnt signaling: neoplastic transformation induced by transactivating lymphoid-enhancing factor 1. 987 85

In breast cancer cells, 17-beta-estradiol (E2) upregulates the expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), a molecule transmitting insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) signals through the PI-3K/Akt survival pathways. The stimulation of IRS-1 by E2 has been documented on the transcriptional level. Here we studied whether the expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha affects IRS molecules post-transcriptionally. We used ER-alpha-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and MDA-MB-231 cells with re-expressed ER-alpha. In MDA-MB-231 cells cultured under serum-free conditions, IRS-1 and IRS-2 were degraded through the 26S proteasome and calpain pathways. Re-expression of ER-alpha in MDA-MB-231 cells correlated with enhanced stability of IRS molecules. This effect coincided with significantly reduced ubiquitination of IRS-1 and IRS-2, but did not involve increased IRS-1 and IRS-2 transcription. The interference of ER-alpha with IRS-1 and IRS-2 turnover could rely on the competition for common degradation pathways, as in MDA-MB-231/ER cells, ER-alpha processing was blocked by proteasome and calpain inhibitors. Notably, a fraction of the cytosolic ER-alpha colocalized and coprecipitated with IRS-1 and IRS-2, indicating a possible common destination for these proteins. The stabilization of IRS-1 in MDA-MB-231/ER cells was paralleled by the upregulation of the IRS-1/Akt/GSK-3 pathway and improved survival in the presence of IGF-I, whereas IRS-2 was not involved in IGF-I signaling.
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PMID:Estrogen receptor-alpha regulates the degradation of insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 in breast cancer cells. 1282 35

Human and animal models have evidenced how estrogen insufficiency is associated with abnormal spermatogenesis and male infertility. We previously demonstrated that estradiol is able to influence both capacitation and acrosome reaction in human ejaculated spermatozoa. It remains to be elucidated whether the biochemical changes induced by estradiol, in a rapid nongenomic way, are mediated by a single estrogen receptor (ER) or by the two ER subtypes, ER alpha and ER beta. In the present study, we have first demonstrated the concomitant expression of ER beta and ER alpha in human ejaculated spermatozoa. By RT-PCR and Southern blot, transcripts of both ERs were detected. Western blot analysis showed ER alpha and ER beta proteins at the same size as the "classical" ERs. The localization of ER alpha and ER beta with the immunocytochemistry shows a differential distribution of the two ER subtypes, the former being prevalently located in the midpiece, but the latter being in the tail. Estradiol has been associated with sperm longevity; however, the mechanism through which estradiol acts in sperm survival was never investigated. Upon estradiol exposure, we observed an enhanced phosphorylation of the proteins involved in the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway like PDK1, Akt, GSK-3, Bcl-2, together with ERK1/2, which was also involved in cell survival signals. Moreover, such phosphorylations were reduced in the presence of ICI 182, 780, addressing the role of estradiol and ERs in sperm survival. For instance we have provided, for the first time, a different interaction of the two ERs with the PI3K/Akt pathway, because ER alpha interacts with the p55 regulatory subunit of PI3K, whereas ER beta interacts with Akt1. However, it still remains to be elucidated whether the functional role of each of the ER subtypes in sperm survival signaling is redundant or distinct.
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PMID:Estrogen receptor (ER)alpha and ER beta are both expressed in human ejaculated spermatozoa: evidence of their direct interaction with phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase/Akt pathway. 1500 46

Estrogen exerts many of its receptor-mediated neuroprotective functions through the activation of various intracellular signal transduction pathways including the mitogen activating protein kinase (MAPK), phospho inositol-3 kinase and protein kinase C pathways. Here we have used a hippocampal slice culture model of kainic acid-induced neurotoxic cell death to show that estrogen can protect against oxidative cell death. We have previously shown that MAPK and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) are involved in the cell death/cell survival induced by kainic acid. In this model and other cellular and in vivo models we have shown that estrogen can also cause the phosphorylation and hence inactivation of GSK-3beta, a known mediator of neuronal cell death. The effect of estrogen on GSK-3beta activity is estrogen receptor mediated. Further, this estrogen/GSK-3beta interaction may have functional consequences in cellular models of some key pathogenic pathways associated with Alzheimer's disease. More specifically, estrogen affects the basal levels of tau phosphorylation at a site known to be phosphorylated by GSK-3beta. Taken together, these data indicate a novel molecular and functional link between estrogen and GSK-3beta and may have implications for estrogen receptor modulation as a target for the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders.
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PMID:Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta links neuroprotection by 17beta-estradiol to key Alzheimer processes. 1583 20

Like other steroid hormone receptors, estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) is a substrate for protein kinases, and phosphorylation has profound effects on the function and activity of this receptor. A number of different kinases have been implicated in ERalpha regulation. In this report we show by mutational analysis and in vitro kinase assays that ERalpha is a substrate for glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) in vitro and is phosphorylated on two sites, the Ser-102, -104, and -106 motif and Ser-118, both located in the N-terminal transcription activation function (AF-1) domain. GSK-3 forms a complex with ERalpha in vivo as demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation from cell lysates. The GSK-3 inhibitor lithium chloride was used to determine the role of GSK-3 in phosphorylation of Ser-102, -104, and -106 and Ser-118 in vivo and to explore the role of these serines in the regulation of ERalpha function. Treatment of cells with lithium chloride resulted in dephosphorylation of Ser-104 and -106 and Ser-118, which suggests these serine residues as targets for GSK-3 in vivo. Our results further suggest that ERalpha phosphorylation by GSK-3 stabilizes ERalpha under resting conditions and modulates ERalpha transcriptional activity upon ligand binding. Inhibition and constitutive activation of GSK-3, both, resulted in inhibition of ERalpha transcriptional activity, indicating a function of active as well as inactive GSK-3 in ERalpha regulation. These findings uncover a novel mechanism for the regulation of ERalpha-mediated estrogen signaling controlled by a dual action of GSK-3.
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PMID:Glycogen synthase kinase-3 interacts with and phosphorylates estrogen receptor alpha and is involved in the regulation of receptor activity. 1607 40

Phytoestrogens prevent neuronal damage, however, mechanism of their neuroprotective action has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of genistein on glutamate-induced apoptosis in mouse primary neuronal cell cultures. Glutamate (1 mM) enhanced caspase-3 activity and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in the hippocampal, neocortical and cerebellar neurons in time-dependent manner, and these data were confirmed at the cellular level with Hoechst 33342 and calcein AM staining. Genistein (10-10,000 nM) significantly inhibited glutamate-induced apoptosis, and the effect of this isoflavone was most prominent in the hippocampal cells. Next, we studied an involvement of estrogen and aryl hydrocarbon receptors in anti-apoptotic effects of genistein. A high-affinity estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI 182, 780 (1 microM), reversed, whereas less specific antagonist/partial agonist, tamoxifen (1 microM), either intensified or partially inhibited genistein effects. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist, alpha-naphthoflavone (1 microM), exhibited a biphasic action: it enhanced genistein action toward a short-term exposure (3 h) to glutamate, but antagonized genistein action toward prolonged exposure (24 h) to that insult. SB 216763 (1 microM), which preferentially inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), potentiated genistein effects. These data point to strong effects of genistein at low micromolar concentrations in various brain tissues against glutamate-evoked apoptosis. Moreover, this study provided evidence for involvement of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and estrogen receptor/GSK-3beta intracellular signaling pathway in anti-apoptotic action of genistein.
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PMID:Genistein inhibits glutamate-induced apoptotic processes in primary neuronal cell cultures: an involvement of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and estrogen receptor/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta intracellular signaling pathway. 1726 53

The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway has been implicated in bone cell response to their mechanical environment. This response is the origin of the mechanism by which bone cells adjust bone architecture to maintain bone strength. Osteoporosis is the most widespread failure of this mechanism. The degree of osteoporotic bone loss in men and women is related to bio-available estrogen. Here we report that in osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells and primary osteoblast cultures, a single short period of dynamic mechanical strain, as well as the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) inhibitor LiCl, increased nuclear accumulation of activated beta-catenin and stimulated TCF/LEF reporter activity. This effect was blocked by the estrogen receptor (ER) modulators ICI 182,780 and tamoxifen and was absent in primary osteoblast cultures from mice lacking ERalpha. Microarray expression data for 25,000 genes from total RNA extracted from tibiae of wild-type mice within 24 h of being loaded in vivo showed differential gene regulation between loaded and contralateral non-loaded bones of 10 genes established to be involved in the Wnt pathway. Only 2 genes were involved in loaded tibiae from mice lacking ERalpha (ERalpha(-/-)). Together these data suggest that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling contributes to bone cell early responses to mechanical strain and that its effectiveness requires ERalpha. Reduced effectiveness of bone cell responses to bone loading, associated with estrogen-related decline in ERalpha, may contribute to the failure to maintain structurally appropriate bone mass in osteoporosis in both men and women.
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PMID:Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is a component of osteoblastic bone cell early responses to load-bearing and requires estrogen receptor alpha. 1749 Oct 24

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) plays a key role in the regulation of transcription factors including steroid receptors. Having identified estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) as substrate for GSK-3, the impact of GSK-3 on ERalpha function and activity upon 17beta-estradiol (E2)-dependent activation remains to be clarified. Here we show by using small interfering technology in combination with immunoblot, gene expression analysis, and luciferase reporter assays that silencing of GSK-3alpha or GSK-3beta results in the reduction of ERalpha levels and transcriptional activity in ERalpha-positive breast cancer cells. Using MCF-7 cells we demonstrate that reduction of ERalpha levels upon GSK-3 silencing was due to increased proteasomal degradation of ERalpha rather than inhibition of ERalpha protein synthesis. Indeed, under this condition, ERalpha protein was rescued using the proteasome inhibitor MG132 in presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. In addition, strong accumulation of ubiquitinated ERalpha was obtained after GSK-3 silencing in the presence of MG132. We conclude that GSK-3 protects ERalpha from proteasomal degradation and plays a crucial role in ERalpha protein stabilization and turnover. Furthermore, in vitro kinase assay depicted that GSK-3beta phosphorylates ERalpha at Ser-118. GSK-3 silencing resulted in decrease of E2-induced nuclear ERalpha phosphorylation at Ser-118 and E2-induced estrogen response element-dependent luciferase reporter gene expression. Neither Ser-118 phosphorylation nor luciferase activity was restored by use of MG132. Moreover, the expression of estrogen-responsive genes (pS2 and progesterone receptor) was decreased upon GSK-3 silencing. These findings demonstrated that GSK-3 is required for E2-induced ERalpha phosphorylation at Ser-118 and full transcriptional activity of the receptor upon E2 stimulation.
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PMID:Glycogen synthase kinase-3 protects estrogen receptor alpha from proteasomal degradation and is required for full transcriptional activity of the receptor. 1760 34

Wogonin is a plant monoflavonoid which has been reported to inhibit cell growth and/or induce apoptosis in various tumors. Herein, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects and associated mechanisms of wogonin in human breast cancer. Effects of wogonin were examined in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and -negative human breast cancer cells in culture for proliferation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. The in vivo effect of oral wogonin was examined on tumor xenograft growth in athymic nude mice. The molecular changes associated with the biological effects of wogonin were analyzed by immunoblotting. Cell growth was attenuated by wogonin (50-200 microM), independently of its ER status, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Apoptosis was enhanced and accompanied by upregulation of PARP and Caspase 3 cleavages as well as proapoptotic Bax protein. Akt activity was suppressed and reduced phosphorylation of its substrates, GSK-3beta and p27, was observed. Suppression of Cyclin D1 expression suggested the downregulation of the Akt-mediated canonical Wnt signaling pathway. ER expression was downregulated in ER-positive cells, while c-ErbB2 expression and its activity were suppressed in ER-negative SK-BR-3 cells. Wogonin feeding to mice showed inhibition of tumor growth of T47D and MDA-MB-231 xenografts by up to 88% without any toxicity after 4 weeks of treatment. As wogonin was effective both in vitro and in vivo, our novel findings open the possibility of wogonin as an effective therapeutic and/or chemopreventive agent against both ER-positive and -negative breast cancers, particularly against the more aggressive and hormonal therapy-resistant ER-negative types.
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PMID:Anticancer effects of wogonin in both estrogen receptor-positive and -negative human breast cancer cell lines in vitro and in nude mice xenografts. 1795 84

There is general acceptance that the estrogen receptor can act as a transcription factor. However, estrogens can also bind to receptors that are located at the plasma membrane and stimulate rapid intracellular signaling processes. We recently showed that a membrane-associated estrogen receptor (mER) is present within myelin and at the oligodendrocyte (OL) plasma membrane. To understand the physiological function of mER in OLs, we investigated its cellular localization and involvement in rapid signaling in CG4 cells and OL primary cultures. An ERalpha was expressed along the lacy network of veins in the membrane sheets and in the perikaryon and nucleus in OLs. ERbeta was located in the nucleus, and to a lesser extent along the veins. The expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in OL membranes was confirmed by Western analysis of isolated membranes. OL membranes mainly had truncated forms of ERalpha, 53 and 50 kDa, in addition to some 65 kDa form, whereas ERbeta was a 54 kDa form. CG4 cells and OLs were pulsed with 17alpha- and 17beta-estradiol for various times and the total lysates were analyzed for phosphorylated kinases. Both 17alpha- and 17beta-estradiol elicited rapid phosphorylation of p42/44MAPK, Akt, and GSK-3beta within 8 min. This rapid signaling is consistent with estradiol ligation of a membrane form of ER. Since 17alpha-estradiol is produced at higher concentrations than 17beta-estradiol in the brain of both sexes, signaling via 17alpha-estradiol-liganded mER may have an important function in OLs.
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PMID:The localization and non-genomic function of the membrane-associated estrogen receptor in oligodendrocytes. 1870 47


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