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

---

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

The signal transduction cascade initiated by the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3 kinase) is implicated in mitogenic and antiapoptotic signaling generated by growth factors in a variety of cell types. We have examined the consequences of an inhibition of this pathway in human diploid fibroblasts. We find that a specific PI-3 kinase inhibitor (LY294002) causes growth arrest in these cells accompanied by changes in gene expression that are similar to those seen during cellular senescence. A second inhibitor, PD58029, which is specific for the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK-1), also induces a growth arrest but does not induce the same spectrum of gene expression. The pattern of gene expression in the presence the MEK-1 inhibitor is similar to that seen during growth arrest induced by serum starvation. The specific phenotypic changes seen following inhibition of PI-3 kinase are: an increase in beta-galactosidase activity; a decrease in EPC-1 gene expression; and a dramatic increase in collagenase gene expression. Thus, growth arrest with a PI-3 kinase inhibitor induces a senescent-like phenotype that is not seen when cells are growth arrested by either serum starvation or a MEK-1 inhibitor.
...
PMID:A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor induces a senescent-like growth arrest in human diploid fibroblasts. 981 8

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm in men. LNCaP cells continue to possess many of the molecular characteristics of in situ prostate cancer. These cells lack ras mutations, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is not extensively phosphorylated in these cells. To determine the effects of ras/raf/MAPK pathway activation in these cells, we transfected LNCaP cells with an activatable form of c-raf-1(deltaRaf-1:ER). Activation of deltaRaf-1:ER, with resultant MAPK activation, reduced plating efficiency and soft agarose cloning efficiency 30-fold in LNCaP cells. Cell cycle distribution showed an accumulation of cells in G1 and was associated with the induction of CDK inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 at the protein and mRNA levels. p21WAF1/CIP1 mRNA stability was increased after deltaRaf-1:ER activation. In addition, activated deltaRaf-1:ER induced the senescence associated-beta-galactosidase in LNCaP cells. These data demonstrate that raf activation can activate growth inhibitory pathways leading to growth suppression in prostate carcinoma cells and also suggest that raf/MEK/MAPK pathway activation, rather than inhibition, may be a therapeutic target for some human prostate cancer cells.
...
PMID:Raf-1-induced cell cycle arrest in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. 1002 6

In response to extracellular stimuli, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, also known as ERK) translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK, also know as MEK), which possesses a nuclear export signal (NES), acts as a cytoplasmic anchor of MAPK. Here we show evidence that tyrosine (Tyr190 in Xenopus MPK1/ERK2) phosphorylation of MAPK by MAPKK is necessary and sufficient for the dissociation of the MAPKK-MAPK complex, and that the dissociation of the complex is required for the nuclear translocation of MAPK. We then show that nuclear entry of MAPK through a nuclear pore occurs via two distinct mechanisms. Nuclear import of wild-type MAPK (mol. wt 42 kDa) was induced by activation of the MAPK pathway even in the presence of wheat germ agglutinin or dominant-negative Ran, whereas nuclear import of beta-galactosidase (beta-gal)-fused MAPK (mol. wt 160 kDa), which occurred in response to stimuli, was completely blocked by these inhibitors. Moreover, while a dimerization-deficient mutant of MAPK was able to translocate to the nucleus upon stimulation, this mutant MAPK, when fused to beta-gal, became unable to enter the nucleus. These results suggest that monomeric and dimeric forms of MAPK enter the nucleus by passive diffusion and active transport mechanisms, respectively.
...
PMID:Two co-existing mechanisms for nuclear import of MAP kinase: passive diffusion of a monomer and active transport of a dimer. 1050 67

We have previously shown that CO(2) stimulation of the renal Na-HCO(3) cotransporter (NBC) activity is abrogated by general inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases. The more selective inhibitor herbimycin also blocked this effect at concentrations known to preferentially inhibit Src family kinases (SFKs). We therefore examined a role for SFKs in CO(2)-stimulated NBC activity. To this end, we engineered OK cells to express the COOH-terminal Src kinase (Csk), a negative regulator of SFKs. CO(2) stimulated NBC activity normally in beta-galactosidase-expressing and untransfected control cells. In contrast, Csk-expressing cells had normal baseline NBC activity that was not stimulated by CO(2). CO(2) stimulation increased both total SFK activity and specific tyrosine phosphorylation of Src. The specific MEK1/2 inhibitor PD-98059 completely inhibited the CO(2) stimulation of NBC activity as well as the accompanying phosphorylation and activation of ERK1/2. Our data suggest the involvement of both SFKs, probably Src, and the "classic" MAPK pathway in mediating CO(2)-stimulated NBC activity in renal epithelial cells.
...
PMID:Regulation of the renal Na-HCO(3) cotransporter. XI. Signal transduction underlying CO(2) stimulation. 1051 83

In order to investigate the role of signal transduction and the related changes of actin cytoskeleton organization in the process of cellular senescence, H-ras double mutants--V12S35, V12G37 and V12C40--proteins were expressed constitutively in human diploid fibroblast (HDF) cells by retrovirus infection at PD26. Constitutive expression of V12S35, V12G37 and V12C40 proteins induced premature senescence at PD38, PD47 and PD50, respectively, in contrast to the control cells at PD59. Premature senescence was evidenced by the slow cellular growth rate and SA-beta-galactosidase expression accompanied by morphological changes such as flat and large cell shape. Senescent HDF cells as well as the H-ras mutant expressers accumulated p-Erk1/2 in the cytoplasm with increased MEK activity and failed to translocate it to nuclei on EGF stimulation. Senescent HDF cells as well as V12S35 and V12G37 expressers were unable to export actin fibers from nucleus to cytoplasm, form stress fibers through the MAPK and Ral.GDS pathways. Perinuclear expression of Racl was prominent in the HDF cells and V12C40 expresser, while translocation of Racl from perinucleus to nucleus and strong expression of RhoA were observed in the V12S35 expresser. In summary, the induced premature senescence by H-ras double mutants were accompanied by nuclear accumulation of actin and Racl proteins, cytoplasmic retention of p-Erk1/2 and marked induction of RhoA expression mainly through dysregulation of the MEK pathway.
...
PMID:Cytoplasmic retention of p-Erk1/2 and nuclear accumulation of actin proteins during cellular senescence in human diploid fibroblasts. 1108 May 32

Normal human fibroblasts have been shown to undergo a p16(Ink4a)-associated senescence-like growth arrest in response to sustained activation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway. We noted a similar p16(Ink4a)-associated, senescence-like arrest in normal human astrocytes in response to expression of a conditional form of Raf-1. While HPV16 E7-mediated functional inactivation of the p16(Ink4a)/pRb pathway in astrocytes blocked the p16(Ink4a)-associated growth arrest in response to activation of Raf-1, it also revealed a second p21(Cip1)-associated, senescence-associated, beta-galactosidase-independent growth arrest pathway. Importantly, the p21(Cip1)-associated pathway was present not only in normal astrocytes but also in p53-, p14(ARF)-, and p16(Ink4a)/pRb-deficient high grade glioma cells that lacked the p16(Ink4a)-dependent arrest mechanism. These results suggest that normal human cells have redundant arrest pathways, which can be activated by Raf-1, and that even tumors that have dismantled p16(Ink4a)-dependent growth arrest pathways are potentially regulated by a second p21(Cip1)-dependent growth arrest pathway.
...
PMID:Dual growth arrest pathways in astrocytes and astrocytic tumors in response to Raf-1 activation. 1127 20

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates gastric acid secretion and H(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit gene expression. Because EGF activates the serine-threonine protein kinase Akt, we explored the role of Akt in gastric acid secretion. Akt phosphorylation and activation were measured by kinase assays and by Western blots with an anti-phospho-Akt antibody, using lysates of purified (>95%) canine gastric parietal cells in primary culture. EGF induced Akt phosphorylation and activation, whereas carbachol had no effect. LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, completely blocked EGF induction of Akt phosphorylation, whereas the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 and the protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X had no effect. We examined the role of Akt in H(+)/K(+)-ATPase gene expression by Northern blotting using a canine H(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit cDNA probe. The parietal cells were transduced with a multiplicity of infection of 100 of the adenoviral vector Ad.Myr-Akt, which overexpresses a constitutively active Akt gene, or with the control vector Ad.CMV-beta-gal, which expresses beta-galactosidase. Ad.Myr-Akt induced H(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit gene expression 3-fold, whereas it failed to stimulate the gene cyclooxygenase-2, which was potently induced by carbachol in the same parietal cells. Ad.Myr-Akt induced aminopyrine uptake 4-fold, and it potentiated the stimulatory action of carbachol 3-fold. In contrast, Ad.Myr-Akt failed to induce changes in either parietal cell actin content, measured by Western blots with an anti-actin antibody or in the organization of the actin cellular cytoskeleton, visualized by fluorescein phalloidin staining and confocal microscopy. Transduction of the parietal cells with a multiplicity of infection of 100 of the adenoviral vector Ad.dom.neg.Akt, which overexpresses an inhibitor of Akt, blocked the stimulatory effect of EGF on both aminopyrine uptake and H(+)/K(+)-ATPase production, measured by Western blots with an anti-H(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit antibody. Thus, EGF induces a cascade of events in the parietal cells that results in the activation of Akt. The functional role of Akt appears to be stimulation of gastric acid secretion through induction of H(+)/K(+)-ATPase expression.
...
PMID:Functional role of protein kinase B/Akt in gastric acid secretion. 1156 30

Cellular senescence, initially observed during subculturing of normal diploid fibroblasts, can also be induced by chronic exposure to cellular stress, such as UV light, oxidative stress, or DNA damaging agents. Here we demonstrate that stable expression of an activated form of MKK6 (MKK6EE), a direct activator of the stress-induced p38(HOG) mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, is sufficient for inducing features of senescence including a flattened, vacuolated, and irregular morphology, staining for acidic beta-galactosidase, and accumulation of age-associated pigments. Consistent with the senescent phenotype, p38(HOG) activation induces a G(1) cell cycle arrest, which is permanent and irreversible after 4 days. MKK6EE also induces biochemical features of senescence in a p38-dependent manner, including enhanced expression of p21(CIP), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Microarray analysis of MKK6EE cells showed a pattern of gene expression noted previously in Werner Syndrome and senescent fibroblasts. These results define p38(HOG) as an intracellular pathway that activates a senescence checkpoint in tumor cells and may play a role in Ras- or stress-induced senescence.
...
PMID:Constitutive p38HOG mitogen-activated protein kinase activation induces permanent cell cycle arrest and senescence. 1220 64

In this report we demonstrate that soluble peptides, elastin degradation products stimulate proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells. We show that these effects are due to generation of intracellular signals transduced through the cell surface elastin receptor, which consists of peripheral 67-kDa elastin-binding protein (EBP) (spliced variant of beta-galactosidase), immobilized to the transmembrane sialidase and the protective protein. We found that elastin receptor-transduced signaling triggers activation of G proteins, opening of l-type calcium channels, and a sequential activation of tyrosine kinases: FAK, c-Src, platelet-derived growth factor-receptor kinase and then Ras-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 phosphorylation cascade. This, in turn, causes an increase in expression of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases, and a consequent increase in cellular proliferation. The EBP-transduced signals also induce tyrosine kinase-dependent phosphorylation of beta-tubulin, LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1, and alpha-actin and troponin-T, which could be linked to reorganization of cytoskeleton. We have also disclosed that induction of these signals can be abolished by anti-EBP antibody or by galactosugars, which cause shedding of EBP from the cell surface. Moreover, elastin-derived peptides did not induce proliferation of EBP-deficient cells derived from patients bearing a nonsense mutation of the beta-galactosidase gene or sialidase-deficient cells from patients with congenital sialidosis.
...
PMID:Signaling pathways transduced through the elastin receptor facilitate proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells. 1224 48

Exposure of WI38 human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced premature senescence. The senescent HDFs were permanently arrested and exhibited a senescent phenotype including enlarged and flattened cell morphology and increased senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) activity. The induction of HDF senescence was associated with an activation of p53, increased expression of p21Cip1/WAF1, and hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb), while no changes in the expression of p16Ink4a, p27Kip1, and p14Arf were observed. Exposure of WI38 cells to H2O2 also selectively activated phosphatidylinostol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK), while no changes in p38 MAPK and Jun kinase (JNK) activities were observed. Selective inhibition of PI3 kinase activity with LY294002 abrogated H2O2-induced cell enlargement and flattened morphology and significantly attenuated the increase in SA-beta-gal activity, but did not affect H2O2-induced cell cycle arrest. In contrast, selective inhibition of MEK and p38 MAPK with PD98059 and SB203580, respectively, produced no significant effect on H2O2-induced senescent phenotype and cell cycle arrest. These findings demonstrate that expression of the senescent phenotype can be uncoupled from cell cycle arrest in prematurely senescent cells induced by H2O2 and does not contribute to the maintenance of permanent cell cycle arrest.
...
PMID:Inhibition of phosphatidylinostol 3-kinase uncouples H2O2-induced senescent phenotype and cell cycle arrest in normal human diploid fibroblasts. 1524 73


1 2 Next >>

---