Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:2.7.12.2 (MEK)
18,161 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The mechanism of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, ERK) stimulation by the GnRH analog [D-Trp6]GnRH (GnRH-a) was investigated in the gonadotroph-derived alphaT3-1 cell line. GnRH-a as well as the protein kinase C (PKC) activator 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated a sustained response of MAPK activity, whereas epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated a transient response. MAPK kinase (MEK) is also activated by GnRH-a, but in a transient manner. GnRH-a and TPA apparently activated mainly the MAPK isoform ERK1, as revealed by Mono-Q fast protein liquid chromatography followed by Western blotting as well as by gel kinase assay. GnRH-a and TPA stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, and this effect as well as the stimulation of MAPK activity were inhibited by the PKC inhibitor GF 109203X. Similarly, down-regulation of TPA-sensitive PKC subspecies nearly abolished the effect of GnRH-a and TPA on MAPK activity. Furthermore, the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor genistein inhibited protein tyrosine phosphorylation and reduced GnRH-a-stimulated MAPK activity by 50%, suggesting the participation of genistein-sensitive and insensitive pathways in GnRH-a action. Although Ca2+ ionophores have only a marginal stimulatory effect, the removal of Ca2+ markedly reduced MAPK activation by GnRH-a and TPA, but had no effect on GnRH-a and TPA stimulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Interestingly, the removal of Ca2+ also partly inhibited the activation of MAPK by EGF and vanadate/H2O2. Thus, a calcium-dependent component(s) downstream of PKC and PTK might also participate in MAPK activation. Elevation of cAMP by forskolin exerted partial inhibition on EGF, but not on TPA or GnRH-a action, suggesting that MEK activators other than Raf-1 might be involved in GnRH action. We conclude that Ca2+, PTK, and PKC participate in the activation of MAPK by GnRH-a, with Ca2+ being necessary downstream to PKC and PTK.
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PMID:Mechanism of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation by gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the pituitary of alphaT3-1 cell line: differential roles of calcium and protein kinase C. 907 30

MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1) shares sequence identity with the yeast kinases Ste11 and Byr2, and is capable of phosphorylation and activation of both mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-related protein kinase (MAP/ERK) kinase (MEK) and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/ERK kinase (SEK) in vitro. In vivo, however, MEKK1 predominantly activates the SEK/SAPK kinase cascade. Mechanisms of activation of MEKK1 are unclear. We have identified a major site of autophosphorylation (Thr-575) within the 'activation loop' of MEKK1 between the kinase subdomains VII and VIII. Phosphatase treatment of a constitutively active MEKK1 decreased kinase activity by 59%. Dephosphorylated T575 was rapidly re-(auto)phosphorylated by MEKK1. Mutation of T575 to alanine decreased MEKK1 transphosphorylation activity with a SEK substrate to approx. 30% of wild-type. Mutation of a second threonine residue (Thr-587) to alanine eliminated the phosphorylation of MEK or SEK substrate but not autophosphorylation. MEKK1 autophosphorylation is an intramolecular reaction because active MEKK1 cannot transphosphorylate a kinase-inactive MEKK1. Inactive MEKK1 was not phosphorylated on Thr-575 within cells, suggesting that the phosphorylation of Thr-575 in vivo results from autophosphorylation rather than phosphorylation by an upstream kinase. Autoactivation of MEKK1 via autophosphorylation of Thr-575 might be an immediate response to initial kinase activation through non-phosphorylation mechanisms.
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PMID:Regulation of the activity of MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1) by autophosphorylation within the kinase activation domain. 907 60

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are components of sequential kinase cascades that are activated in response to a variety of extracellular signals. Members of the MAPK family include the extracellular response kinases (ERKs or p42/44(MAPK)), the c-Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNKs), and the p38/Hog 1 protein kinases. MAPKs are phosphorylated and activated by MAPK kinases (MKKs or MEKs), which in turn are phosphorylated and activated by MKK/MEK kinases (Raf and MKKK/MEKKs). We have isolated two cDNAs encoding splice variants of a novel MEK kinase, MEKK4. The MEKK4 mRNA is widely expressed in mouse tissues and encodes for a protein of approximately 180 kDa. The MEKK4 carboxyl-terminal catalytic domain is approximately 55% homologous to the catalytic domains of MEKKs 1, 2, and 3. The amino-terminal region of MEKK4 has little sequence homology to the previously cloned MEKK proteins. MEKK4 specifically activates the JNK pathway but not ERKs or p38, distinguishing it from MEKKs 1, 2 and 3, which are capable of activating the ERK pathway. MEKK4 is localized in a perinuclear, vesicular compartment similar to the Golgi. MEKK4 binds to Cdc42 and Rac; kinase-inactive mutants of MEKK4 block Cdc42/Rac stimulation of the JNK pathway. MEKK4 has a putative pleckstrin homology domain and a proline-rich motif, suggesting specific regulatory functions different from those of the previously characterized MEKKs.
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PMID:Cloning of a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, MEKK4, that selectively regulates the c-Jun amino terminal kinase pathway. 907 50

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) significantly influences renal cellular function through the induction of several gene products. The molecular mechanisms involved in gene regulation by IL-1beta are poorly understood; however, the appearance of novel tyrosine phosphoproteins in IL-1beta-treated cells suggests that IL-1beta may function through tyrosine phosphoprotein intermediates. The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are tyrosine phosphoproteins that could potentially mediate the effects of IL-1beta. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation following IL-1beta treatment may be dependent on redox changes since the IL-1beta receptor is not a protein-tyrosine kinase and oxidation has been shown to induce tyrosine phosphorylation. In this report we demonstrate that conditioning human glomerular mesangial cells with IL-1beta results in the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of two members of the MAP kinase family, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 2 (ERK2) and p54 Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). This effect of IL-1beta is abrogated by pretreating cells with the antioxidants N-acetyl-L-cysteine or dithiothreitol. Furthermore, the effects of IL-1beta on ERK and JNK activation are reproduced by treating mesangial cells with membrane-permeable oxidants. IL-1beta and oxidants also cause phosphorylation and activation of the upstream ERK regulatory element MAP kinase kinase. Interestingly, IL-1beta, but not exogenous oxidants, causes phosphorylation of the upstream JNK activator, JNK kinase. These data indicate that IL-1beta activates ERK2 through an oxidation-dependent pathway. Exogenous oxidants and IL-1beta activate JNK through different upstream mechanisms; however, antioxidant inhibition of JNK activation indicates that endogenous oxidants may play a role in IL-1beta-induced JNK activation. Thus IL-1beta may affect mesangial cell function by activating MAP kinases, which can then regulate gene transcription. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species released during inflammatory glomerular injury may also affect mesangial function through a MAP kinase signal.
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PMID:Interleukin-1beta induction of mitogen-activated protein kinases in human mesangial cells. Role of oxidation. 909 44

Recently, constitutively active mutants of MEK (MAP/ERK kinase) were shown to be capable of transforming cells to tumorigenicity suggesting that MEK can function as a dominant oncogene and potentially play a role in human carcinogenesis. Human lung cancer cells exhibit mutations in other components of the MAP kinase signaling pathway such as the Her-2/neu and ras oncogenes. Thus, the coding sequences of both MEK-1 and MEK-2 cDNAs from human lung cancer cell lines were screened by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing for alterations in these two genes. In 37 lung cancer cell lines we found: an allelic variant in MEK-1 cDNA, nt 783 G-->A, (no amino acid change); a MEK-2 cDNA change (nt 977 C-->T mutation leading to 298 Pro-->Leu change); a MEK-2 cDNA change nt 537 C-->T (no amino acid change); and a frequent MEK-2 cDNA germline polymorphism nt 744, A-->C (no amino acid change) with an allele frequency of 0.5 for each form. These results suggest that mutations in the MEK-1 and MEK-2 gene occur at a very low frequency in human lung cancer.
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PMID:Mutation analysis of the coding sequences of MEK-1 and MEK-2 genes in human lung cancer cell lines. 912 73

Cell interaction with adhesive proteins or growth factors in the extracellular matrix initiates Ras/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling. Evidence is provided that MAP kinase (ERK1 and ERK2) influences the cells' motility machinery by phosphorylating and, thereby, enhancing myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) activity leading to phosphorylation of myosin light chains (MLC). Inhibition of MAP kinase activity causes decreased MLCK function, MLC phosphorylation, and cell migration on extracellular matrix proteins. In contrast, expression of mutationally active MAP kinase kinase causes activation of MAP kinase leading to phosphorylation of MLCK and MLC and enhanced cell migration. In vitro results support these findings since ERK-phosphorylated MLCK has an increased capacity to phosphorylate MLC and shows increased sensitivity to calmodulin. Thus, we define a signaling pathway directly downstream of MAP kinase, influencing cell migration on the extracellular matrix.
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PMID:Regulation of cell motility by mitogen-activated protein kinase. 912 57

The activation of protein kinase C (PKC) found in diabetic glomeruli and glomerular mesangial cells cultured under high glucose conditions has been proposed to contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy. However, the abnormalities distal to PKC have not been fully elucidated yet. Herein, we provide the evidence that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, an important kinase cascade downstream to PKC and an activator of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) by direct phosphorylation, is activated in glomeruli isolated from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. MAPK cascade was also activated in glomerular mesangial cells cultured under high glucose (27.8 mmol/l) conditions for 5 days, and the activation of MAPK cascade was inhibited by treating the cells with calphostin C, an inhibitor of PKC. Furthermore, the activities of cPLA2 also increased in cells cultured under the same conditions and this activation was inhibited by both calphostin C and PD 098059, an inhibitor of MEK (MAPK or extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK] kinase). These results indicate that MAPK cascade is activated in glomeruli and mesangial cells under the diabetic state possibly through the activation of PKC. Activated MAPK, in turn, may induce various functional changes of mesangial cells at least through the activation of cPLA2 and contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy.
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PMID:Mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade is activated in glomeruli of diabetic rats and glomerular mesangial cells cultured under high glucose conditions. 913 54

Stimulation of the ERK family of protein kinases ('extracellular signal regulated kinases', also known as MAP kinases) plays an important role in the activation of many cell types, including T lymphocytes. ERKs are activated when they are phosphorylated by an upstream activator, the dual-specific protein kinase MEK. To see if aging leads to an impairment of MEK activation in mouse T cells, we used a mobility shift assay in which activation of MEK leads to phosphorylation and altered mobility of ERK-2 kinase. Similarly, we monitored mobility of pp90rsk, a known ERK substrate, as an indication of ERK function. We found an age-related decline in the ability of mouse T cells to activate both MEK and ERK function in response to stimulation by antibodies to the CD3 chain of the T cell receptor. Aging did not alter the kinetics of enzyme activation, but did diminish (by about 2-fold) the maximal level of substrate converted into the slower migrating form. Naive and memory CD4 T cells from young mice were equally able to convert ERK2 to its slower migrating form, suggesting that the decline in MEK function is not likely to be attributable to the shift, with age, from naive to memory T cell predominance. Our data suggest that age-dependent declines in gene activation, including genes for key cytokines like IL-2, may be due to declines in the upstream signals that lead to activation of the MEK/ERK protein kinase cascade.
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PMID:Diminished activation of the MAP kinase pathway in CD3-stimulated T lymphocytes from old mice. 914 61

Stimulation of Rat-1 cells with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) results in a biphasic, sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1). Pretreatment of Rat-1 cells with either cycloheximide or sodium orthovanadate had little effect on the early peak of ERK1 activity but potentiated the sustained phase. Cycloheximide also potentiated ERK1 activation in Rat-1 cells expressing DeltaRaf-1:ER, an estradiol-regulated form of the oncogenic, human Raf-1. Since cycloheximide did not potentiate MEK activity but abrogated the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase (MKP-1) normally seen in response to EGF and LPA, we speculated that the level of MKP-1 expression may be an important regulator of ERK1 activity in Rat-1 cells. Inhibition of LPA-stimulated MEK and ERK activation with PD98059 and pertussis toxin, a selective inhibitor of Gi-protein-coupled signaling pathways, reduced LPA-stimulated MKP-1 expression by only 50%, suggesting the presence of additional MEK- and ERK-independent pathways for MKP-1 expression. Specific activation of the MEK/ERK pathway by DeltaRaf-1:ER had little or no effect on MKP-1 expression, suggesting that activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is necessary but not sufficient for MKP-1 expression in Rat-1 cells. Activation of PKC played little part in growth factor-stimulated MKP-1 expression, but LPA- and EGF-induced MKP-1 expression was blocked by buffering [Ca2+]i, leading to a potentiation of the sustained phase of ERK1 activation without potentiating MEK activity. In Rat-1DeltaRaf-1:ER cells, we observed a strong synergy of MKP-1 expression when cells were stimulated with estradiol in the presence of ionomycin, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or okadaic acid under conditions where these agents did not synergize for ERK activation. These results suggest that activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is insufficient to induce expression of MKP-1 but instead requires other signals, such as Ca2+, to fully reconstitute the response seen with growth factors. In this way, ERK-dependent and -independent signals may regulate MKP-1 expression, the magnitude of sustained ERK1 activity, and therefore gene expression.
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PMID:Regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 expression by extracellular signal-related kinase-dependent and Ca2+-dependent signal pathways in Rat-1 cells. 914 52

We have developed a novel expression screening method for identifying protein kinase substrates. In this method, a lambda phage cDNA expression library is screened by in situ, solid-phase phosphorylation using purified protein kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP. Screening a HeLa cDNA library with ERK1 MAP kinase yielded cDNAs of previously characterized ERK substrates, c-Myc and p90RSK, demonstrating the utility of this method for identifying physiological protein kinase substrates. A novel clone isolated in this screen, designated MNK1, encodes a protein-serine/threonine kinase, which is most similar to MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAP-K2), 3pK/MAPKAP-K3 and p90RSK. Bacterially expressed MNK1 was phosphorylated and activated in vitro by ERK1 and p38 MAP kinases but not by JNK/SAPK. Further, MNK1 was activated upon stimulation of HeLa cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, fetal calf serum, anisomycin, UV irradiation, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, or osmotic shock, and the activation by these stimuli was differentially inhibited by the MEK inhibitor PD098059 or the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB202190. Together, these results indicate that MNK1 is a novel class of protein kinase that is activated through both the ERK and p38 MAP kinase signaling pathways.
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PMID:MNK1, a new MAP kinase-activated protein kinase, isolated by a novel expression screening method for identifying protein kinase substrates. 915 18


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