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)

We have previously shown that osmotic stress activates both the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade and the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK, also known as JNK) cascade in rat fibroblastic 3Y1 cells and rat PC12 cells. Here, we show that treatment of these cells with sodium arsenite, a chemical compound that mimics the effects of heat shock, or anisomycin, a protein synthesis inhibitor, induces activation of SAPKs potently. These chemical compounds also stimulated the activity of SEK1/MKK4/JNKK, SAPK activator, and the activity of MEKK, SEK1 activator. Expression of a dominant negative mutant of Ras blocked the anisomycin-induced activation of SAPK and SEK1, but did not affect markedly the arsenite-induced or heat shock-induced activation in PC12 cells. The osmotic-stress-induced activation of SAPK was insensitive to the expression of a dominant negative Ras, but was partly sensitive to down-regulation of protein kinase C. These results suggest the existence of Ras-dependent and Ras-independent activation pathways for the SAPK cascade triggered by environmental stresses including chemical stress in PC12 cells. Cell staining with a specific anti-SAPK serum showed that SAPKs were present in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus under normal conditions, and became located mainly in the nucleus after osmotic stress or ultraviolet treatment, suggesting the nuclear translocation of SAPKs.
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PMID:Ras-dependent and Ras-independent activation pathways for the stress-activated-protein-kinase cascade. 891 25

The purpose of this investigation was to pharmacologically probe the signaling pathways thought to be involved in protein kinase C (PKC)-stimulated superoxide anion (O2-) generation in all-trans retinoic acid-treated human promyelocytic HL-60 cell line (HL-60), targeting PKC, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), MAPK kinase (MEK), protein serine-threonine phosphatase(s) (PSP), protein tyrosine kinase(s) (PTK) and phosphatase(s) (PTP), secretory phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase (CO) and 5-lipoxygenase with selected inhibitors. The following agents inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated O2- generation significantly in the all-trans retinoic acid-treated HL-60 cells (expressed as percentage of control, P < .05): 1) PKC inhibitors: staurosporine (100 nM, 3 +/- 1%); Ro 31-8220 (1 microM, 3 +/- 2%); sphingosine (100 microM, 15 +/- 7%); 2) PSP 1 and 2a inhibitors, okadaic acid (10 microM, 35 +/- 1%); calyculin A (10 microM, 73 +/- 1%); 3) MAPK inhibitor: SB-203580 (100 microM, 62 +/- 1%); 4) PTP inhibitors: phenylarsine oxide (1 microM, 12 +/- 9%); diamide (1 mM, 21 +/- 11%); and 5) secretory phospholipase A2 inhibitors: manoalide (1 microM, 24 +/- 10%); scalaradial (1 microM, 11 +/- 4%). Exogenously added arachidonic acid-stimulated O2- generation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The following inhibitors enhanced or did not significantly affect phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated O2- generation (expressed as percentage of control): 1) PTK inhibitors: genistein (100 microM, 69 +/- 12%); CGP 53716 (100 microM, 67 +/- 10%); herbimycin A (10 microM, 67.4 +/- 1%); 2) PSP 2b inhibitors: cyclosporin A (30 microM, 71 +/- 5%); FK506 (30 microM, 88 +/- 7%); 3) CO inhibitor: indomethacin (100 microM, 111 +/- 12%); 4) 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor: WY 50,295 (100 microM, 140 +/- 23%); 5) MEK inhibitor: PD98059 (100 microM, 94 +/- 6.7%); and 6) the PTP inhibitor: orthovanadate (100 microM, 131 +/- 25%). Our pharmacological study suggests that, in neutrophil-like HL-60 cells, the signaling pathways leading to PMA-stimulated O2- generation appear to involve PKC, MAPK, phospholipase A2, arachidonic acid, PSP 1 and 2a and PTP. Furthermore, PTK, MEK, CO, 5-lipoxygenase and PSP 2b do not appear to participate in the modulation of PKC-stimulated O2- generation.
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PMID:Pharmacological targeting of signaling pathways in protein kinase C-stimulated superoxide generation in neutrophil-like HL-60 cells: effect of phorbol ester, arachidonic acid and inhibitors of kinase(s), phosphatase(s) and phospholipase A2. 893 Jan 66

In cardiac myocytes, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) expression is induced with the rapid kinetics of a primary response gene. Like many other primary response gene transcripts, the BNP mRNA possesses destabilizing elements and is believed to be short-lived. The rapid induction of a short-lived transcript could be achieved partty by agonist-mediated increases in mRNA t1/2. Accordingly, the present study was undertaken to evaluate whether the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor agonist, phenylephrine (PE), a known inducer of BNP expression, could stabilize the BNP mRNA and, if so, what signaling pathways might be involved. In primary myocardial cells treated with a transcription inhibitor, the t1/2 of the BNP mRNA was found to be about 1 h in the absence of PE; however, in the presence of PE, the t1/2 increased to 5 h. It was shown that neither the calmodulin kinase inhibitor, KN-62, nor the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tyrphostin, blocked PE-mediated stabilization of the BNP mRNA. However, either the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, GF 109203X, or the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) inhibitor, PD 098059, effected some blockade of the stabilizing effects of PE. While maximal doses of PD 098059 nearly completely blocked PE-activated MAPK, stabilization was only partially inhibited. Moreover, maximal doses of GF 109203X, which only partially blocked PE-activated MAPK, nearly completely inhibited stabilization. Thus, while MAPK appears to be required for maximal agonist-mediated stabilization, PKC seems to play a dominant role, participating through both MAPK-dependent and -independent pathways. These results establish roles for both the PKC and MAPK families in alpha 1-adrenergic receptor-mediated stabilization of the BNP mRNA, suggesting that the rapid induction of BNP expression might be due, in part, to this agonist-mediated increase in mRNA t1/2.
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PMID:Stabilization of the B-type natriuretic peptide mRNA in cardiac myocytes by alpha-adrenergic receptor activation: potential roles for protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase. 896 Dec 80

Mechanisms of neutrophil activation in response to chemoattractants remain incompletely understood. We have recently reported a Ras-mediated c-Raf pathway leading to the activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in human neutrophils stimulated with the chemoattractant formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP). However, concern that Raf activation may not fully account for the early FMLP-mediated human neutrophil responses prompted us to investigate the activation of MAP kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) by MEK kinase (MEKK). In cell lysates we identified protein species at 180, 160, 110, 72, and 54 kDa with a monoclonal antibody to MEKK. Activation of MEKK was determined on immunoprecipitates from FMLP-stimulated neutrophils by in vitro kinase assay, which utilized both MEK1 and MEK2 as substrates. It was rapid, detectable at 30 s and reaching a plateau at 5 min, and it was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by a specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin. Partial inhibition by pertussis toxin was observed. We were unable to show inhibition of the MEKK response by GF 109203X, a protein kinase C-specific inhibitor. These data indicate that in neutrophils activation of MEKK in addition to Raf may underlie stimulation of MAP kinase and other MAP kinase homologues by FMLP.
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PMID:Activation of MEKK by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine in human neutrophils. Mapping pathways for mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. 896 28

Cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) mediates gene expression in response to cAMP stimulation. The transcriptional activity of CREB depends on both the phosphorylation of Ser133 and the recruitment of cofactor for assembly of transcriptional complex. Extensive Ser133 phosphorylation of CREB was induced during T cell activation. This phosphorylation event is essential for IL-2 gene expression. However, phosphorylation of CREB at Ser133 was not sufficient for transcriptional activity by CREB. The presence of a second signal from CD28, a potent costimulatory molecule on T cells, stimulated CREB-mediated gene expression. CD28, an effective costimulator of T cell activation and IL-2 gene expression, is shown to induce CREB activation in the presence of anti-CD3 or O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. These two signals together stimulated a CRE-dependent reporter gene, the proliferating cell nuclear Ag promoter, and transactivation by the GAL4-CREB fusion protein. Thus optimal induction of CREB, similar to the full activation of T lymphocytes, may be mediated by two distinct signal transductions. Using the specific kinase inhibitor, one of the two pathways appeared to involve mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase but not protein kinase C, protein kinase A, or p70 S6 kinase.
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PMID:CD28-costimulation activates cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein in T lymphocytes. 897 78

To understand how extracellular signals may produce long-term effects in neural cells, we have analyzed the mechanism by which neurotransmitters and growth factors induce phosphorylation of the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in cortical oligodendrocyte progenitor (OP) cells. Activation of glutamate receptor channels by kainate, as well as stimulation of G-protein-coupled cholinergic receptors by carbachol and tyrosine kinase receptors by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), rapidly leads to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation and ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) activation. Kainate and carbachol activation of the MAPK pathway requires extracellular calcium influx and is accompanied by protein kinase C (PKC) induction, with no significant increase in GTP binding to Ras. Conversely, growth factor-stimulated MAPK phosphorylation is independent of extracellular calcium and is accompanied by Ras activation. Both basal and stimulated MAPK activity in OP cells are influenced by cytoplasmic calcium levels, as shown by their sensitivity to the calcium chelator bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid. The kinetics of CREB phosphorylation in response to the various agonists corresponds to that of MAPK activation. Moreover, CREB phosphorylation and MAPK activation are similarly affected by calcium ions. The MEK inhibitor PD 098059, which selectively prevents activation of the MAPK pathway, strongly reduces induction of CREB phosphorylation by kainate, carbachol, bFGF, and the phorbol ester TPA. We propose that in OPs the MAPK/RSK pathway mediates CREB phosphorylation in response to calcium influx, PKC activation, and growth factor stimulation.
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PMID:Neurotransmitter- and growth factor-induced cAMP response element binding protein phosphorylation in glial cell progenitors: role of calcium ions, protein kinase C, and mitogen-activated protein kinase/ribosomal S6 kinase pathway. 900 73

Activation of 44 and 42 kDa extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2 by angiotensin II (angII) plays an important role in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function. The dual specificity mitogen-actived protein (MAP) kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) activates ERK1/2 in response to angII, but the MEK activating kinases remain undefined. Raf is a candidate MEK kinase. However, a kinase other than Raf appears responsible for angII-mediated signal transduction because we showed previously that treatment with 1 microM phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBU) for 24 h completely blocked Raf-Ras association in VSMC but did not inhibit activation of MEK and ERK1/2 by angII. We hypothesized that an atypical protein kinase C (PKC) isoform, which lacks a phorbol ester binding domain, mediated ERK1/2 activation by angII. Western blot analysis of rat aortic VSMC with PKC isoform-specific antibodies showed PKC-alpha, -beta1, -delta, -epsilon, and -zeta in relative abundance. All isoforms except PKC-zeta were down-regulated by 1 microM PDBU for 24 h suggesting that PKC-zeta was responsible for angII-mediated ERK1/2 activation. In response to angII, PKC-zeta associated with Ras as shown by co-precipitation of PKC-zeta with anti-H-Ras antibody. To characterize further the role of PKC-zeta, PKC-zeta protein was depleted specifically by transfection with antisense PKC-zeta oligonucleotides. Antisense PKC-zeta oligonucleotide treatment significantly decreased PKC-zeta protein expression (without effect on other PKC isoforms) and angII-mediated ERK1/2 activation in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, ERK1/2 activation by platelet-derived growth factor and phorbol ester was not significantly inhibited. These results demonstrate an important difference in signal transduction by angII compared with PDGF and phorbol ester in VSMC, and suggest a critical role for PKC-zeta and Ras in angII stimulation of ERK1/2.
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PMID:Protein kinase C-zeta mediates angiotensin II activation of ERK1/2 in vascular smooth muscle cells. 904 26

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

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a CC chemokine that attracts monocytes and T lymphocytes. Its receptor (CCR2) is a heptahelical G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) whose signal transduction pathways for chemotaxis have not been completely defined. Because other GPCRs stimulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, we examined this pathway's activity in response to MCP-1. MCP-1 induced rapid and transient activation of MAPK in human monocytes and in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing CCR2B. This effect was largely insensitive to pertussis toxin and wortmannin, and was protein kinase C-dependent and protein tyrosine kinase-independent. PD 098059, an inhibitor of MEK activation, not only prevented MAPK activation but also inhibited MCP-1-induced chemotaxis. Because pertussis toxin and wortmannin also efficiently inhibit chemotaxis but do not completely inhibit MAPK activation, these data may define non-overlapping signal transduction pathways that all must be activated to produce chemokine-mediated chemotaxis.
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PMID:MCP-1-mediated chemotaxis requires activation of non-overlapping signal transduction pathways. 910 41

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


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