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)

TCR engagement stimulates the activation of the protein kinase Raf-1. Active Raf-1 phosphorylates and activates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), which in turn phosphorylates and activates the MAP kinases/extracellular signal regulated kinases, ERK1 and ERK2. Raf-1 activity promotes IL-2 production in activated T lymphocytes. Therefore, we sought to determine whether MEK1 and ERK activities also stimulate IL-2 gene transcription. Expression of constitutively active Raf-1 or MEK1 in Jurkat T cells enhanced the stimulation of IL-2 promoter-driven transcription stimulated by a calcium ionophore and PMA, and together with a calcium ionophore the expression of each protein was sufficient to stimulate NF-AT activity. Expression of MEK1-interfering mutants inhibited the stimulation of IL-2 promoter-driven transcription and blocked the ability of constitutively active Ras and Raf-1 to costimulate NF-AT activity with a calcium ionophore. Expression of the MAP kinase-specific phosphatase, MKP-1, which blocks ERK activation, inhibited IL-2 promoter and NF-AT-driven transcription stimulated by a calcium ionophore and PMA, and in addition, MKP-1 neutralized the transcriptional enhancement caused by active Raf-1 and MEK1 expression. We conclude that the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway consisting of Raf-1, MEK1, and ERK1 and ERK2 functions in the stimulation IL-2 gene transcription in activated T lymphocytes.
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PMID:MEK1 and the extracellular signal-regulated kinases are required for the stimulation of IL-2 gene transcription in T cells. 855 75

Signaling via the Ras pathway involves sequential activation of Ras, Raf-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK), and the extracellular signal-regulated (ERK) group of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Expression from the c-Fos, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), and myosin light chain-2 (MLC-2) promoters during phenylephrine-induced cardiac muscle cell hypertrophy requires activation of this pathway. Furthermore, constitutively active Ras or Raf-1 can mimic the action of phenylephrine in inducing expression from these promoters. In this study, we tested whether constitutively active MKK, the molecule immediately downstream of Raf, was sufficient to induce expression. Expression of constitutively active MKK induce ERK2 kinase activity and caused expression from the c-Fos promoter, but did not significantly activate expression of reporter genes under the control of either the ANF or MLC-2 promoters. Expression of CL100, a phosphatase that inactivates ERKs, prevented expression from all of the promoters. Taken together, these data suggest that ERK activation is required for expression from the Fos, ANF, and MLC-2 promoters but MKK and ERK activation is sufficient for expression only from the Fos promoter. Constitutively active MKK synergized with phenylephrine to increase expression from a c-Fos- or an AP1-driven reporter. However, active MKK inhibited phenylephrine- and Raf-1-induced expression from the ANF and MLC-2 promoters. A DNA sequence in the MLC-2 promoter that is a target for inhibition by active MKK, but not CL100, was mapped to a previously characterized DNA element (HF1) that is responsible for cardiac specificity. Thus, activation of cardiac gene expression during phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy requires ERK activation but constitutive activation by MKK can inhibit expression by targeting a DNA element that controls the cardiac specificity of gene expression.
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PMID:Inhibition of a signaling pathway in cardiac muscle cells by active mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. 858 50

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases require dual phosphorylation on threonine and tyrosine residues in order to gain enzymatic activity. This activation is carried out by a family of enzymes known as MAP kinase kinases (MKKs or MEKs). It appears that there are at least four subgroups in this family; MEK1/MEK2 subgroup that activates ERK1/ERK2, MEK5 that activates ERK5/BMK1, MKK3 that activates p38, and MKK4 that activates p38 and Jun kinase. Here we describe the characteristics of a new MKK termed MKK6. The clones we isolated encode two splice isoforms of human MKK6 comprised of 278 and 334 amino acids, respectively, and one murine MKK6 with 237 amino acids. Sequence information derived from cDNA cloning indicated that MKK6 is most closely related to MKK3. The functional data revealed from co-transfection assays suggests that MKK6, like MKK3, selectively phosphorylates p38. Unlike the previously described MKKs (or MEKs), MKK6 exists in a variety of alternatively spliced isoforms with distinct patterns of tissue expression. This suggests novel mechanisms regulating activation and/or function of various forms of MKK6.
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PMID:Characterization of the structure and function of a novel MAP kinase kinase (MKK6). 862 75

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family is comprised of key regulatory proteins that control the cellular response to both proliferation and stress signals. In this study we investigated the factors controlling MAPK activation by H2O2 and explored the impact of altering the pathways to kinase activation on cell survival following H2O2 exposure. Potent activation (10-20-fold) of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK2) occurred within 10 min of H2O2 treatment, whereupon rapid inactivation ensued. H2O2 activated ERK2 in several cell types and also moderately activated (3-5-fold) both c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38/RK/CSBP. Additionally, H2O2 increased the mRNA expression of MAPK-dependent genes c-jun, c-fos, and MAPK phosphatase-1. Suramin pretreatment completely inhibited H2O2 stimulation of ERK2, highlighting a role for growth factor receptors in this activation. Further, ERK2 activation by H2O2 was blocked by pretreatment with either N-acetyl-cysteine, o-phenanthroline, or mannitol, indicating that metal-catalyzed free radical formation mediates the initiation of signal transduction by H2O2. H2O2-stimulated activation of ERK2 was abolished in PC12 cells by inducible or constitutive expression of the dominant negative Ras-N-17 allele. Interestingly, PC12/Ras-N-17 cells were more sensitive than wild-type PC12 cells to H2O2 toxicity. Moreover, NIH 3T3 cells expressing constitutively active MAPK kinase (MEK, the immediate upstream regulator of ERK) were more resistant to H2O2 toxicity, while those expressing kinase-defective MEK were more sensitive, than cells expressing wild-type MEK. Taken together, these studies provide insight into mechanisms of MAPK regulation by H2O2 and suggest that ERK plays a critical role in cell survival following oxidant injury.
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PMID:Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by H2O2. Role in cell survival following oxidant injury. 862 53

We report that recombinant glia maturation factor (GMF), a 17-kDa brain protein, inhibits the activity of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in the test tube assay, in particular the ERK1/ERK2 isoforms. A preliminary phosphorylation of GMF by protein kinase A (PKA) dramatically increases its inhibitory effect by over 600-fold (Ki approximately 3 nM), making it the most potent MAP kinase inhibitor ever reported. Immunoprecipitation of GMF from cell extracts using its specific antibody coprecipitates ERK (and vice versa), suggesting the association of the two proteins in the cell. The inhibitory effect of PKA-phosphorylated GMF is specific, as it does not suppress the activity of cdc2 kinase, another proline-directed kinase. Nor does it inhibit MAP kinase kinase (MEK) and MAP kinase-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase-2, the two enzymes immediately upstream and downstream, respectively, of ERK. Of the other three enzymes that can phosphorylate GMF, only p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) enhances the inhibitory function of GMF on ERK; protein kinase C (PKC) and casein kinase II (CKII) are without effect. The inhibition of ERK by PKA-phosphorylated GMF suggests that GMF could be one of the mediators of the suppressive effect of the PKA pathway on the MAP kinase pathway. On the other hand, that RSK-phosphorylated GMF also inhibits ERK implies a negative feedback loop in the regulation of MAP kinase activity.
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PMID:In vitro inhibition of MAP kinase (ERK1/ERK2) activity by phosphorylated glia maturation factor (GMF). 863 70

Age-related changes in the functional properties of human T cells are well described, but less is known about possible changes in T cell signaling pathways. The signaling pathways mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) are considered essential for normal cellular growth and function. Several stimuli trigger MAPK activation in human T cells and MEK (MAPK or ERK kinases) are immediate upstream inducers of MAPK activation. The current study investigated if aging might influence the activation and expression of MAPK and MEK in human T cells. Exposure of peripheral blood T cells from young subjects to PHA or cross-linked anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies stimulated rapid increases in MAPK and MEK enzymatic activity. By contrast, significant reductions of MAPK and MEK activation were observed in stimulated T cells from 7 of 13 elderly subjects. Kinetic studies showed that the age-related impairments represented reduction in both the levels and duration of MAPK activation. In addition, Western immunoblot analysis did not reveal significant age-related differences in T cell expression of p42mapk/ERK2, p44mapk/ERK1, or MEK, suggesting impairments in upstream inducers of MEK/MAPK activation. Other experiments determined if agents that directly stimulate upstream Ras or Raf kinase components of the early MAPK cascade might reverse the age-related impairments of MAPK activation. Treatment of elderly T cells with fluoroaluminate (AlF(-)4), phorbol esters/Ca2+ ionophores, or okadaic acid stimulated increased MAPK activation compared to anti-CD3. However, these agents failed to restore MAPK activation in elderly T cells to the levels seen in young T cells. These results suggest that aberrancies in the MAPK activation cascade may underlie the age-related reductions of MAPK activation in human T cells stimulated via the TCR/CD3 complex.
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PMID:Age-related reductions in the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases p44mapk/ERK1 and p42mapk/ERK2 in human T cells stimulated via ligation of the T cell receptor complex. 864 Aug 66

The Ras-GTPase-activating protein (RasGAP) is an important modulator of p21ras - dependent signal transduction in Xenopus oocytes and in mammalian cells. We investigated the role of the RasGAP SH3 domain in signal transduction with a monoclonal antibody against the SH3 domain of RasGaP. This antibody prevented the activation of the maturation-promoting factor complex (cyclin B-p34cdc2) by oncogenic Ras. The antibody appears to be specific because as little as 5 ng injected per oocyte reduced the level of Cdc2 activation by 50% whereas 100 ng of nonspecific immunoglobulin G did not affect Cdc2 activation. The antibody blocked the Cdc2 activation induced by oncogenic Ras but not that induced by progesterone, which acts independently of Ras. A peptide corresponding to positions 317 to 326 of a sequence in the SH3 domain of human RasGAP blocked Cdc2 activation, whereas a peptide corresponding to positions 273 to 305 of a sequence in the N-terminal moiety of the SH3 domain of RasGAP had no effect. The antibody did not block the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade (activation of MAPK/ERK kinase [MEK], MAP kinase, and S6 kinase p90rsk). Surprisingly, injection of the negative MAP kinase mutant protein ERK2 K52R (containing a K-to-R mutation at position 52) blocked the Cdc2 activation induced by oncogenic Ras as well as blocking the activation of MAP kinase. Thus, MAP kinase is also implicated in the regulation of Cdc2 activity. In this study, we further investigated the regulation of the synthesis of the c-mos oncogene product, which is necessary for the activation of Cdc2. We report that the synthesis of the c-mos oncogene product, which is necessary for the activation antibody to the SH3 domain of RasGAP and by injecting the negative MAP kinase mutant protein ERK2 K52R. These results suggest that oncogenic Ras activates two signaling mechanisms: the MAP kinase cascade and a signaling pathway implicating the SH3 domain of RasGAP. These mechanisms might control Mos protein expression implicated in Cdc2 activation.
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PMID:The Ras-GTPase-activating protein SH3 domain is required for Cdc2 activation and mos induction by oncogenic Ras in Xenopus oocytes independently of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. 864 28

A novel protein kinase activity present in nuclear and cytosolic extracts has been identified and partially purified as a consequence of its tight binding to and phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 3. This novel protein kinase is inactivated by treatment with phosphoprotein phosphatase 2A. The ERK3 protein kinase was immunologically distinct from mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/ERK kinases (MEK) 1 and 2 which phosphorylate the ERK3-related MAP kinases ERK1 and ERK2. This ERK3 kinase phosphorylated a single site on ERK3, Ser189, comparable to Thr183, one of the two activating phosphorylation sites of ERK2. To test the specificity of the ERK3 kinase, mutants of ERK3 and ERK2 were made in which the phosphorylated residues were exchanged. The double mutant S189T,G191Y ERK3, in which the phosphorylated residues from ERK2 replaced the comparable residues in ERK3, was phosphorylated by the ERK3 kinase but only on threonine. The ERK3 kinase did not phosphorylate ERK2 or ERK2 mutants. These findings indicate that although the ERK3 kinase is highly specific for ERK3, it does not recognize tyrosine, a feature that distinguishes it from MEKs that phosphorylate other ERK/MAP kinase family members.
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PMID:Characterization of a protein kinase that phosphorylates serine 189 of the mitogen-activated protein kinase homolog ERK3. 866 49

The chemotactic peptide f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) stimulates leukocyte functions through binding and activation of a specific G-protein-coupled formyl peptide receptor (FPR). Recent studies have shown that stimulation of neutrophils with fMLP induces the activation of two members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) family, ERK1 and ERK2, through mechanisms that are not completely understood but may involve the phosphorylation of the adapter protein SHC by the Src-related kinase Lyn. In this study, transfected fibroblasts expressing the rabbit FPR were used to investigate further the role of Lyn and SHC phosphorylation in fMLP-stimulated MAP kinase activation. Stimulation of transfected cells with fMLP resulted in the time- and dose-dependent increase in tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of ERK1 and ERK2 and the activation of MEK, the MAP kinase/ERK kinase. The activation of both ERKs and MEK was inhibited by preincubation of the cells with pertussis toxin, indicating that activation was dependent upon a Gi/Go-like protein that couples to the receptor. Our data also show that, unlike neutrophils, FPR-transfected fibroblasts do not express the Src-related kinase Lyn. In the absence of Lyn, fMLP stimulation did not result in an increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the adapter protein SHC, whereas it was still able to induce MAP kinase activation. These data suggest that Lyn and SHC are not the only upstream signals for activation of the MAP kinase/ERK pathway by fMLP and demonstrate the potential application of the FPR-transfected cells for the delineation of additional signaling mechanisms stimulated by fMLP.
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PMID:Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by fMet-leu-Phe in the absence of Lyn and tyrosine phosphorylation of SHC in transfected cells. 866 60

The transcription factor, Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT) is a major target for p21ras and calcium signalling pathways in the IL-2 gene and is induced by p21ras signals acting in synergy with calcium/calcineurin signals. One p21ras effector pathway involves the MAP kinase ERK-2, and we have examined its role in NFAT regulation. Expression of dominant negative MAPKK-1 prevents NFAT induction. Constitutively active MAPKK-1 fully activates ERK-2 and the transcription factor Elk-1, but does not substitute for activated p21ras and synergize with calcium/calcineurin signals to induce NFAT. Expression of dominant negative N17Rac also prevents TCR and p21ras activation of NFAT, but without interfering with the ERK-2 pathway. The transcriptional activity of the NFAT binding site is mediated by a complex comprising a member of the NFAT group and AP-1 family proteins. The induction of AP-1 by p21ras also requires Rac-1 function. Activated Rac-1 could mimic activated p21ras to induce AP-1 but not to induce NFAT. Moreover, the combination of activated MAPKK-1 and Rac-1 could not substitute for activated p21ras and synergize with calcium signals to induce NFAT. Thus, p21ras regulation of NFAT in T cells requires the activity of multiple effector pathways including those regulated by MAPKK-1/ERK-2 and Rac-1.
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PMID:Multiple p21ras effector pathways regulate nuclear factor of activated T cells. 867 Aug 97


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