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)

Connexins are a large family of proteins that form gap junction channels allowing exchange of ions and small metabolites between neighboring cells. They have been implicated in pathological processes such as tumourigenesis in which they may act as tumour suppressors. A polymorphism in the human connexin37 (Cx37) gene (C1019T), resulting in a non-conservative amino acid change in the regulatory C-terminus (CT) of the Cx37 protein (P319S) has been suggested to be implicated in predisposition to angiosarcomas. In this study, we have used communication-deficient HeLa and SK-HEP-1 cells transfected with Cx37-319S, Cx37-319P or empty vector. We showed that the expression of Cx37-319P limited proliferation of HeLa and SK-HEP-1 cells, whereas Cx37-319S expression was without effect. Using an in vitro kinase assay, we demonstrated phosphorylation of Cx37 CT by glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), a kinase known to be implicated in cell proliferation and cancer. GSK-3-induced phosphorylation was associated with reduced gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) as measured by microinjection of the tracer neurobiotin. Inhibition of GSK-3 by LiCl or SB415286 reduced phosphorylation of Cx37-319P and increased GJIC. This latter effect on GJIC involved the beta and not the alpha isoform of GSK-3. In contrast, GSK-3 inhibitors were without effect on HeLa cells expressing Cx37-319S. In conclusion, our data indicate functional effects of the Cx37 C1019T polymorphism on GJIC that might contribute to tumour cell growth.
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PMID:Unexpected role for the human Cx37 C1019T polymorphism in tumour cell proliferation. 2070 54

MiR-19a, a member of mir-17-92 microRNA clusters, has been demonstrated to promote cell proliferation and angiogenesis via regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway, the major insulin signaling pathway. However, whether miR-19a plays an important role in glycogen synthesis in hepatocytes remains unknown. Here, we define the impact of miR-19a on glycogen synthesis and IL-6-induced reduced glycogenesis in hepatocytes and its underlying mechanisms. Our studies indicate that miR-19a was down-regulated in the livers of db/db mice and mice injected with IL-6, as well as mouse NCTC 1469 hepatocytes and HEP 1-6 hepatocytes treated by IL-6. We found that over-expression of miR-19a in NCTC 1469 cells and HEP 1-6 cells led to increased activation of the AKT/GSK pathway and synthesis of glycogen, whereas down-regulation of miR-19a impaired AKT/GSK phosphorylation and glycogenesis. Over-expression of miR-19a ameliorated IL-6-induced reduced glycogen synthesis in hepatocytes. Moreover, we identified PTEN as the target of miR-19a by a luciferase assay. Down-regulation of PTEN rescued the effects of miR-19a suppression on the activation of the AKT/GSK pathway and improved glycogenesis in NTC 1469 cells. These findings show for the first time that miR-19a might activate the AKT/GSK pathway and glycogenesis via down-regulation of PTEN expression.
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PMID:MiR-19a regulates PTEN expression to mediate glycogen synthesis in hepatocytes. 2611 69