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)

DNA topoisomerase II (topo II) is an essential nuclear enzyme required for chromatin condensation and chromosome segregation during mitosis. Forced overexpression of topo IIalpha was found to cause morphological changes in recipient cells associated with apoptosis. This induction of apoptosis required nuclear localization of topo IIalpha, yet was independent of the DNA cleavage-religation activity of the enzyme. Apoptosis mediated by topo IIalpha deregulation was blocked by overexpression of crmA, a specific inhibitor of certain caspases, but not by bcl-2. topo IIalpha-induced apoptosis was also blocked by overexpression of a dominant-acting mutant of stress-activated protein kinase kinase (SEK1/MKK4) but not by the overexpression of its normal counterpart. Furthermore, apoptosis was blocked by coexpression of a dominant-negative form of the cyclin-dependent kinase cdk2 but not by dominant-negative cdc2. These results provide a rationale for the tight regulation of topo IIalpha levels through the cell cycle in that deregulation of topo IIalpha expression results in apoptotic cell death.
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PMID:Induction of apoptosis by deregulated expression of DNA topoisomerase IIalpha. 978 93

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular signal-related kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2, regulate cellular responses by mediating extracellular growth signals toward cytoplasmic and nuclear targets. A potential target for ERK is topoisomerase IIalpha, which becomes highly phosphorylated during mitosis and is required for several aspects of nucleic acid metabolism, including chromosome condensation and daughter chromosome separation. In this study, we demonstrated interactions between ERK2 and topoisomerase IIalpha proteins by coimmunoprecipitation from mixtures of purified enzymes and from nuclear extracts. In vitro, diphosphorylated active ERK2 phosphorylated topoisomerase IIalpha and enhanced its specific activity by sevenfold, as measured by DNA relaxation assays, whereas unphosphorylated ERK2 had no effect. However, activation of topoisomerase II was also observed with diphosphorylated inactive mutant ERK2, suggesting a mechanism of activation that depends on the phosphorylation state of ERK2 but not on its kinase activity. Nevertheless, activation of ERK by transient transfection of constitutively active mutant MAP kinase kinase 1 (MKK1) enhanced endogenous topoisomerase II activity by fourfold. Our findings indicate that ERK regulates topoisomerase IIalpha in vitro and in vivo, suggesting a potential target for the MKK/ERK pathway in the modulation of chromatin reorganization events during mitosis and in other phases of the cell cycle.
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PMID:Extracellular signal-regulated kinase activates topoisomerase IIalpha through a mechanism independent of phosphorylation. 1020 78

The cytokine scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (HGF/SF) protects epithelial, carcinoma, and other cell types against cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by DNA-damaging agents such as ionizing radiation and adriamycin (ADR, a topoisomerase IIalpha inhibitor). We investigated the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling in HGF/SF-mediated protection of human prostate cancer (DU-145) and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells against ADR. HGF/SF caused the rapid nuclear translocation of the p65 (RelA) subunit of NF-kappaB associated with the transient loss of the inhibitory subunit IkappaB-alpha. Exposure to HGF/SF caused the activation of an NF-kappaB luciferase reporter that was blocked or attenuated by the expression of a mutant 'super-repressor' IkappaB-alpha. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay supershift assays revealed that HGF/SF treatment induced the transient binding of various NF-kappaB family proteins (p65, p50, c-Rel, and RelB) with radiolabeled NF-kappaB-binding oligonucleotides. The HGF/SF-mediated protection of DU-145 and MDCK cells against ADR (demonstrated using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays) was abrogated by the IkappaB-alpha super-repressor. The ability of HGF/SF to activate NF-kappaB signaling was dependent on c-Akt --> Pak1 (p21-associated kinase-1) signaling (with Pak1 downstream of c-Akt) and was inhibited by the tumor suppressor PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog). Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase and Src family kinases significantly inhibited HGF/SF-mediated activation of NF-kappaB, while inhibitors of MEK, protein kinase C, and p70 S6 kinase had a modest effect or no effect on NF-kappaB activity. HGF/SF induced the expression of several known NF-kappaB target genes (cIAP-1 (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis-1), cIAP-2, and TRAF-2 (TNF receptor-associated factor-2)) in an NF-kappaB-dependent manner; HGF/SF blocked the inhibition of expression of these genes by ADR. Experimental manipulation of expression of these genes suggests that they (particularly TRAF-2 and cIAP-2) contribute to the protection against ADR by HGF/SF. These findings suggest that HGF/SF activates NF-kappaB through a c-Akt --> Pak1 signaling pathway that is also dependent on Src, and that NF-kappaB contributes to HGF/SF-mediated protection against ADR.
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PMID:Role of NF-kappaB signaling in hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor-mediated cell protection. 1568 34

Scatter factor (SF) (hepatocyte growth factor) is a pleiotrophic cytokine that accumulates within tumors in vivo and protects tumor cells against cytotoxicity and apoptosis due to DNA damaging agents in vitro. Previous studies have established that SF-mediated cell protection involves antiapoptotic signaling from its receptor (c-Met) to PI3 kinase --> c-Akt --> Pak1 (p21-activated kinase -1) --> NF-kappaB (nuclear factor-kappa B). Here, we found that Ras proteins (H-Ras and R-Ras) enhance SF-mediated activation of NF-kappaB and protection of DU-145 and MDCK (Madin-Darby canine kidney) cells against the topoisomerase IIalpha inhibitor adriamycin. Studies of Ras effector loop mutants and their downstream effectors suggest that Ras/PI3 kinase and Ras/Raf1 pathways contribute to SF stimulation of NF-kappaB signaling and cell protection. Further studies revealed that Raf1 positively regulates the ability of SF to stimulate NF-kappaB activity and cell protection. The ability of Raf1 to stimulate NF-kappaB activity was not due to the classical Raf1 --> MEK1/2 --> ERK1/2 pathway. However, we found that a MEK3/6 --> p38 pathway contributes to SF-mediated activation of NF-kappaB. In contrast, RalA, a target of the Ras/RalGDS pathway negatively regulated the ability of SF to stimulate NF-kappaB activity and cell protection. Ras, Raf1 and RalA modulate SF stimulation of NF-kappaB activity, in part, by regulating IkappaB kinase (IKK)-beta kinase activity. These findings suggest that Ras/Raf1/RalA pathways may converge to modulate NF-kappaB activation and SF-mediated survival signaling at the IKK complex and/or a kinase upstream of this complex.
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PMID:Ras effector pathways modulate scatter factor-stimulated NF-kappaB signaling and protection against DNA damage. 1729 51

Ras-GTPase-activating proteins (Ras-GAPs) have been implicated both as suppressors of Ras and as effectors in regulating cellular activities. To study whether Ras-GAPs have roles in tumor cell survival or not, mRNA levels of ras-related genes were measured in v-Ki-ras-transformed (DT) and the parental NIH/3T3 cells, using real-time PCR. mRNA levels of p120-Gap, Gap1(m), and PIK3CA were increased in DT cells compared with NIH/3T3 cells. p120-Gap and PIK3CA genes were induced by addition of serum or epidermal growth factor to serum-starved DT cells. Three anti-cancer drugs, an ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059, a topoisomerase II poison doxorubicin (adriamycin), and a histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A, selectively blocked the overexpression of p120-Gap and Gap1(m) genes in DT cells. These drugs also caused reversion of DT cells to the adherent shape associated with growth arrest. Our results suggest that p120-Gap and Gap1(m) genes provide important biomarkers for cancer therapies.
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PMID:Up-regulation of ras-GAP genes is reversed by a MEK inhibitor and doxorubicin in v-Ki-ras-transformed NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. 1736 62

The proved radio- and chemo-sensitizing capacity of genistein supports the potential use of this isoflavone in antitumour therapies. In this regard, we recently reported that genistein potentiates apoptosis induction by the anti-leukaemic agent arsenic trioxide (ATO) via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and p38-MAPK activation. In the present study we analyze the action of agents sharing functional similarities with the isoflavone, namely 17-beta-estradiol, the DNA topoisomerase II poison etoposide, and the tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors herbimycin A, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and adaphostin, in U937 and other human acute myeloid leukaemia cell lines. Co-treatment with 17-beta-estradiol or etoposide failed to stimulate ROS production and potentiate ATO-provoked apoptosis, although etoposide caused G(2)/M cycle arrest, in the same manner as genistein. By contrast, all PTK inhibitors increased ATO-provoked apoptosis, with similar efficacy as genistein. Daidzein, a genistein analogue without PTK-inhibiting activity, failed to potentiate apoptosis, and co-treatment with orthovanadate attenuated the sensitizing capacity of genistein. Apoptosis potentiation by PTK inhibitors was associated to ROS over-accumulation and stimulation of p38-MAPK phosphorylation, was mimicked by conventional pro-oxidant agents (exogenous H(2)O(2) and the glutathione-depleting agent dl-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine), and was attenuated by the antioxidant agent N-acetyl-l-cysteine, and by the p38-MAPK inhibitor SB203580 or p38-MAPK-directed siRNAs. On the other hand, the PTK inhibitors caused disparate effects on ERK phosphorylation, and co-treatment with the MEK/ERK inhibitor PD98059 enhanced the pro-apoptotic capacity of the PTK inhibitors. These results suggest that PTK inhibition, together with ROS generation and p38-MAPK activation, are responsible for the chemo-sensitizing action of genistein and functionally related agents in leukaemia cells.
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PMID:Modulation of arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis by genistein and functionally related agents in U937 human leukaemia cells. Regulation by ROS and mitogen-activated protein kinases. 1972 55

Etoposide (VP-16), a topoisomerase II inhibitor, is an effective anticancer drug currently used for the treatment of a wide range of cancers. Excision repair cross-complementary 1 (ERCC1) is a key protein involved in the process of nucleotide excision repair. High level of ERCC1 expression in cancers is associated with resistance to DNA damage-based chemotherapy. In this study, the effects of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal on the ERCC1 expression induced by etoposide in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines was investigated. Etoposide increased phosphorylated MAPK kinase 3/6 (MKK3/6)-p38 MAPK and ERCC1 protein and mRNA levels in A549 and H1975 cells. Moreover, SB202190, a p38 inhibitor, or knockdown of p38 expression by specific short interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly decreased the etoposide-induced ERCC1 protein levels and DNA repair capacity in etoposide-exposed NSCLC cells. Enhancement of p38 activation by constitutively active MKK6 (MKK6E) increased ERCC1 protein levels. Specific inhibition of ERCC1 by siRNA significantly enhanced the etoposide-induced cytotoxicity and hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) gene mutation rate. Moreover, the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) could decrease the etoposide-induced p38 MAPK-mediated ERCC1 expression and augment the cytotoxic effect and growth inhibition by etopsoside. 17-AAG and etoposide-induced synergistic cytotoxic effect and DNA repair capacity decrease could be abrogated in lung cancer cells with MKK6E or HA-p38 MAPK expression vector transfection. Our results suggest that in human NSCLC cells, ERCC1 is induced by etoposide through the p38 MAPK pathway, and this phenomenon is required for NSCLC survival and resistant DNA damage.
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PMID:Inhibition of p38 MAPK-dependent excision repair cross-complementing 1 expression decreases the DNA repair capacity to sensitize lung cancer cells to etoposide. 2205 10

The systematic translation of cancer genomic data into knowledge of tumour biology and therapeutic possibilities remains challenging. Such efforts should be greatly aided by robust preclinical model systems that reflect the genomic diversity of human cancers and for which detailed genetic and pharmacological annotation is available. Here we describe the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE): a compilation of gene expression, chromosomal copy number and massively parallel sequencing data from 947 human cancer cell lines. When coupled with pharmacological profiles for 24 anticancer drugs across 479 of the cell lines, this collection allowed identification of genetic, lineage, and gene-expression-based predictors of drug sensitivity. In addition to known predictors, we found that plasma cell lineage correlated with sensitivity to IGF1 receptor inhibitors; AHR expression was associated with MEK inhibitor efficacy in NRAS-mutant lines; and SLFN11 expression predicted sensitivity to topoisomerase inhibitors. Together, our results indicate that large, annotated cell-line collections may help to enable preclinical stratification schemata for anticancer agents. The generation of genetic predictions of drug response in the preclinical setting and their incorporation into cancer clinical trial design could speed the emergence of 'personalized' therapeutic regimens.
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PMID:The Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia enables predictive modelling of anticancer drug sensitivity. 3055 81

Mutant KRAS is a feature of more than 25% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and represents one of the most prevalent oncogenic drivers in this disease. NSCLC tumors with oncogenic KRAS respond poorly to current therapies, necessitating the pursuit of new treatment strategies. Targeted inhibition of the molecular chaperone Hsp90 results in the coordinated blockade of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways in tumor cells and has thus emerged as an attractive avenue for therapeutic intervention in human malignancies. Here, we examined the activity of ganetespib, a small-molecule inhibitor of Hsp90 currently in clinical trials for NSCLCs in a panel of lung cancer cell lines harboring a diverse spectrum of KRAS mutations. In vitro, ganetespib was potently cytotoxic in all lines, with concomitant destabilization of KRAS signaling effectors. Combinations of low-dose ganetespib with MEK or PI3K/mTOR inhibitors resulted in superior cytotoxic activity than single agents alone in a subset of mutant KRAS cells, and the antitumor efficacy of ganetespib was potentiated by cotreatment with the PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 in A549 xenografts in vivo. At the molecular level, ganetespib suppressed activating feedback signaling loops that occurred in response to MEK and PI3K/mTOR inhibition, although this activity was not the sole determinant of combinatorial benefit. In addition, ganetespib sensitized mutant KRAS NSCLC cells to standard-of-care chemotherapeutics of the antimitotic, topoisomerase inhibitor, and alkylating agent classes. Taken together, these data underscore the promise of ganetespib as a single-agent or combination treatment in KRAS-driven lung tumors.
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PMID:Targeting KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer with the Hsp90 inhibitor ganetespib. 2301 48

Recent investigations have suggested that anticancer therapeutics may be enhanced by co-targeting the primary anticancer target and the corresponding drug escape pathways. Whether this strategy confers statistically significant clinical advantage has not been systematically investigated. This question was probed by the evaluation of the clinical status and the multiple targets of 23 approved and 136 clinical trial multi-target anticancer drugs with particular focus on those co-targeting EGFR, HER2, Abl, VEGFR2, mTOR, PI3K, Alk, MEK, KIT, and DNA topoisomerase, and some of the 14, 7, 13, 20, 6, 5, 7, 2, 4 and 10 cancer drug escape pathways respectively. Most of the approved (73.9%) and phase III (75.0%), the majority of the Phase II (62.8%) and I (53.6%), and the minority of the discontinued (35.3%) multi-target drugs were found to co-target cancer drug escape pathways. This suggests that co-targeting anticancer targets and drug escape pathways confer significant clinical advantage and such strategy can be more extensively explored.
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PMID:Co-targeting cancer drug escape pathways confers clinical advantage for multi-target anticancer drugs. 2643 71


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