Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.12.2 (MEK)
 18,161 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Bacterially encoded proteins are known to affect eukaryotic signalling pathways and thus cell growth and differentiation. The enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (YP) can translocate Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) into eukaryotic cells. Recently, MKK proteins have been identified as tentative targets of YopJ-mediated inhibition of ligand receptor-dependent signal transduction in mammalian cells. These results prompted us to assess whether multiple signal transduction pathways and their downstream target genes would also be subject to regulation by YopJ. Here, we show that YopJ effectively blocks the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor, the interleukin (IL)-1beta receptor and the UVC-induced activation of the transcription receptor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). In addition, by abrogating the phosphorylation of CREB and thus activating protein (AP)-1-dependent transcription, YopJ can block LPS-induced clonal expansion that is associated with an adaptive immune response. Thus, YopJ interferes with multiple pathways converging on the transcription factor CREB. Our data are discussed in the context of YopJ acting as an antagonist to circumvent innate and adaptive immune responses at multiple levels.
 ...
PMID:The bacterial protein YopJ abrogates multiple signal transduction pathways that converge on the transcription factor CREB. 1120 79

The major invasive factor of Yersinia enterocolitica, the invasin (Inv) protein, induces proinflammatory host cell responses, including interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion from human epithelial cells, by engagement of beta1 integrins. The Inv-triggered beta1 integrin signaling involves the small GTPase Rac; the activation of MAP kinases, such as p38, MEK1, and JNK; and the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. In the present study, we demonstrate that Y. enterocolitica YadA, which is a major adhesin of Y. enterocolitica with pleiotropic virulence effects, induces IL-8 secretion in epithelial cells. The abilities of YadA and Inv to promote adhesion to and invasion of HeLa cells and to induce IL-8 production by the cells were investigated by expression of YadA and Inv in Escherichia coli. While YadA mediates efficacious adhesion to HeLa cells, it mediates marginal invasion compared with Inv. Both YadA and Inv trigger comparable levels of IL-8 production. Conformational changes of the YadA head domain by mutation of NSVAIG-S motifs, which abolish collagen binding, also abolish adhesion of Yersinia to HeLa cells and YadA-mediated IL-8 secretion. Furthermore, experiments in which blocking antibodies against beta1 integrins were used demonstrate that beta1 integrins are crucial for YadA-mediated IL-8 secretion. Inhibitor studies demonstrate the involvement of small GTPases and MAP kinases, such as p38, MEK1, and JNK, indicating that beta1 integrin-dependent signaling mediated by Inv or YadA involves similar signaling pathways. These data present YadA, in addition to Inv, YopB, and Yersinia lipopolysaccharide, as a further inducer of proinflammatory molecules by which Y. enterocolitica might promote inflammatory tissue reactions.
 ...
PMID:Yersinia enterocolitica adhesin A induces production of interleukin-8 in epithelial cells. 1555 98

The YadA protein of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis promotes tight adhesion and invasion into mammalian cells through beta(1)-integrins. In this work, we demonstrate that YadA also triggers the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in host cells and we identify intracellular signal transduction mechanisms involved in YadA-initiated cell invasion and/or IL-8 synthesis. Tyrosine protein kinases, including the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and c-Src, as well as the small GTPase Ras, were shown to play a significant role in both YadA-promoted cell processes. YadA-mediated cell contact led to autophosphorylation of FAK at position Tyr397 and induced GTP-loading of Ras. Furthermore, IL-8 production and invasion induced by YadA were strongly reduced in FAK- and c-Src-deficient cells and in cells overexpressing dominant interfering forms of FAK, c-Src or Ras. We also demonstrate that YadA activates the Ras-dependent Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) p38 and JNK. Moreover, inhibition of ERK1/2 by pharmacological agents or overexpression of dominant negative FAK, c-Src or Ras abrogated IL-8 release, whereas invasion remained unaffected. In contrast, actin polymerization and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity is essential for YadA-promoted cell entry, but not for cytokine secretion. We conclude that YadA triggers FAK-Src complex formation and subsequent Ras activation, which leads to the stimulation of MAPKs-dependent IL-8 production or to PI3K-dependent invasion.
 ...
PMID:Cell invasion and IL-8 production pathways initiated by YadA of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis require common signalling molecules (FAK, c-Src, Ras) and distinct cell factors. 1561 24

The Fraction 1 (F1) antigen of Yersinia pestis is known to induce thymocyte proliferation. It serves as a major protective antigen against challenge of Y. pestis. Recently, we reported rF1-induced activation of macrophages. Current investigation elucidates the role of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)-mediated signal transduction in murine peritoneal macrophages on stimulation with rF1 (10 microg/ml) in vitro. The p42/44 MAPK activation was determined by studying the expression of the phosphorylated p42/44 MAPK in rF1-treated macrophages. PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibited the p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation, indicating the specificity of the above response. Furthermore, the rF1-induced phosphorylation of p42/44 MAPK is found to blocked by upstream protein kinase C inhibitor H7, tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein and phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor wortmannin. Additionally, phosphorylation of JNK and activation of the transcription factor, c-jun and c-fos was also observed in response to rF1 treatment. The rF1-induced activation of p42/44 MAPK was correlated to the functional activation of macrophages by demonstrating the inhibition of actin rearrangement, IL-1, TNF-alpha and NO production caused by PD98059 in the rF1-treated macrophages.
 ...
PMID:Phosphorylation of p42/44 MAP kinase is required for rF1-induced activation of murine peritoneal macrophages. 1595 Jul 34

To overcome host defenses, bacterial pathogens of the genus Yersinia inject specific effector proteins into colonized mammalian cells. One such virulence factor, YopJ, inhibits the host inflammatory response and induces apoptosis of immune cells by blocking multiple signaling pathways, including the MAPK and NF-kappaB pathways. In this study, we show that YopJ exerts its deleterious effects by catalyzing the acetylation of two serine residues in the activation loop of the MAP kinase kinase, MEK2. This covalent modification prevents the phosphorylation of these serine residues that is required for activation of MEK2 and downstream signal propagation. We also show that YopJ causes acetylation of a threonine residue in the activation loop of both the alpha and beta subunits of the NF-kappaB pathway kinase, IKK. These results establish a hitherto uncharacterized mode of action for bacterial toxins and suggest the possibility that serine/threonine acetylation may occur even under nonpathogenic conditions and may be a widespread protein modification regulating protein function in eukaryotic cells.
 ...
PMID:Acetylation of MEK2 and I kappa B kinase (IKK) activation loop residues by YopJ inhibits signaling. 1711 58

The Yersinia pestis virulence factor YopJ is a potent inhibitor of the NF-kappaB and MAPK signalling pathways, however, its molecular mechanism and relevance to pathogenesis are the subject of much debate. In this report, we characterize the effects of this type III effector protein on bone fide signalling events downstream of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), critical sensors in innate immunity. YopJ inhibited TLR-mediated NF-kappaB and MAP kinase activation, as suggested by previous studies. In addition, induction of the TLR-mediated interferon response was blocked by YopJ, indicating that YopJ also inhibits IRF3 signalling. Examination of the NF-kappaB signalling pathway in detail suggested that YopJ acts at the level of TAK1 (MAP3K7) activation. Further studies revealed a YopJ-dependent decrease in the ubiquitination of TRAF3 and TRAF6. These data support the hypothesis that YopJ is a deubiquitinating protease that acts on TRAF proteins to prevent or remove the K63-polymerized ubiquitin conjugates required for signal transduction. Our data do not directly address the alternative hypothesis that YopJ is an acetyltransferase that acts on the activation loop of IKK and MKK proteins, but support the conclusion that the critical function of YopJ is to deubiquinate TRAF proteins.
 ...
PMID:YopJ targets TRAF proteins to inhibit TLR-mediated NF-kappaB, MAPK and IRF3 signal transduction. 1760 43