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)

Mechanical stress induces cardiac hypertrophy and expression of specific genes in the cardiac myocytes. External stimuli are generally transduced into the nucleus through the activation of a protein kinase cascade. We have previously shown that stretching cardiomyocytes stimulates the activity of protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and S6 protein kinase. In the present study, we examined two other kinases, Raf-1 kinase and MAP kinase kinase, which are supposed to lie between PKC and MAP kinase in the protein kinase cascade. Stretching cardiocytes by using the in vitro system induced hyperphosphorylation of Raf-1 kinase and activation of MAP kinase kinase. The protein kinases activated by mechanical stress are similar to those activated by growth factors. We examined the possible involvement of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the protein synthesis and gene expression induced by mechanical stress. CV11974, an Ang II-receptor antagonist, partially suppressed the increases in amino acid incorporation, c-fos gene expression and MAP kinase activity induced by stretching. These results suggest that a variety of protein kinases are activated by mechanical stress and that locally produced Ang II may in part play important roles in converting mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals.
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PMID:Protein kinase cascade activated by mechanical stress in cardiocytes: possible involvement of angiotensin II. 755 78

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a potent regulator of proximal tubule functions, including transport, metabolism, and cell proliferation. The opossum kidney (OK) cell line is a useful model of renal proximal tubule. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are rapidly phosphorylated and activated in response to various agonists. We investigated Ang II effects on serine/threonine kinase cascades in OK cells. The major findings of the present study are that Ang II stimulated MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK), MAP kinase (MAPK), and S6 kinase activities, and that it increased phosphorylation of Raf-1 kinase and p42 MAP kinase in OK cells. These stimulations of kinases were dose-dependent (from 10(-6) to 10(-11) M). The time course of activation was sequential; the peak stimulation was reached at 5 to 10 minutes for Raf-1 kinase, MAPKK and MAPK, and at 20 minutes for S6 kinase. The activation of MAPK was inhibited by approximately 70% with prolonged 24-hour PMA pretreatment or in the presence of calphostin C or H-7. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and herbimycin) did not inhibit AngII-induced MAPK activity. This activation of MAPK was also inhibited via AT1 receptor antagonist, Dup753 and pertussis toxin. This evidence suggests that the activation of serine/threonine cascades by Ang II is largely dependent on PMA-sensitive PKC, and is not dependent on tyrosine kinase and pertussis toxin.
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PMID:Sequential activation of MAP kinase cascade by angiotensin II in opossum kidney cells. 858 39

Both angiotensin II (Ang II) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) rapidly increase intracellular Ca2+ and activate protein kinase C (PKC) and MAP kinase in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, Ang II causes cell hypertrophy, whereas PDGF causes hyperplasia. These findings indicate that VSMCs are a good model for studying the relationship between cell growth and the MAP kinase pathway. In this study, we investigated the role of Raf in activation of 42- and 44-kD MAP kinases. Western blot analysis showed that c-Raf-1 was the predominant Raf isozyme in cultured rat aortic VSMCs. In response to Ang II, there was translocation of Raf to the membrane, which occurred significantly earlier than MAP kinase activation, suggesting that Raf activation precedes MAP kinase activation. Translocation of Raf to the membrane resulted in association with H-Ras as shown by c-Raf-1 coprecipitation with anti-Ras anti-bodies. Western blot analysis of H-Ras immunoprecipitates revealed c-Raf-1, but c-mos, MEK (MAP kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase) kinase-1 (MEKK-1), and Raf-B were not present. MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) activity was assayed in c-Raf-1 and H-Ras immunoprecipitates by MAP kinase kinase-dependent phosphorylation of catalytically inactive 42-kD MAP kinase. In Ras immunoprecipitates, MAPKKK activity was stimulated approximately threefold by both Ang II and PDGF, with a peak at 5 minutes. Downregulation of PKC by 24-hour exposure to phorbol ester significantly inhibited Ang II-stimulated and PDGF-stimulated MAPKKK activity (approximately 80% decrease) and Raf translocation (approximately 90% decrease), suggesting that a phorbol-responsive PKC is upstream from MAPKKK and Raf. In contrast, Ang II (but not PDGF) stimulation of MAP kinase was unaffected by PKC downregulation or pharmacological PKC inhibition. These findings demonstrate for the first time that Ang II stimulation of MAP kinase may occur via a pathway independent of c-Raf-1 and of the phorbol-responsive PKC isozymes. The differing effects of Ang II and PDGF on VSMC growth may be a consequence of specific signal transduction events, as demonstrated here for activation of MAP kinase.
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PMID:Angiotensin II stimulates MAP kinase kinase kinase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells, Role of Raf. 888 93

The neuronal angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 (AT1) receptor is coupled to the Ras-Raf-1-mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signal-transduction pathway (Yang H, Lu D, Yu K, Raizada MK. Regulation of neuromodulatory actions of angiotensin II in the brain neurons by the Ras-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. J Neurosci. 1996;16:4047-4058). In this study we compared the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) on AT1 receptor phosphorylation and the ability of the phosphorylated receptor to bind Ang II in neuronal cultures of Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) brains to further our understanding of the Ang II signaling mechanism. Ang II caused a time-dependent phosphorylation of AT1 receptors in both WKY and SHR brain neurons. The level of phosphorylation was higher in the SHR brain neurons; this finding was consistent with increased AT1 receptors in these cells. MAP kinase was involved in this phosphorylation, a conclusion supported by the following evidence: (1) exogenous MAP kinase phosphorylated the AT1 receptor; (2) PD98059, a MAP kinase kinase inhibitor, attenuated Ang II-stimulated AT1 receptor phosphorylation; and (3) MAP kinase and AT1 receptors were coimmunoprecipitated in Ang II-stimulated neurons. Finally, MAP kinase phosphorylation was associated with the loss of 125I-[Sar1-Ile8]-Ang II binding ability of the AT1 receptor in both strains of neurons. These observations show that Ang II stimulates phosphorylation of the neuronal AT1 receptor by a mechanism involving MAP kinase and that the phosphorylated neuronal AT1 receptor does not exhibit Ang II binding activity in the brains of either WKY or SHR.
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PMID:Angiotensin II-induced phosphorylation of the AT1 receptor from rat brain neurons. 931 16

This study investigated the signal transduction mechanisms of angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)]- and Ang II-stimulated arachidonic acid (AA) release for prostaglandin (PG) production in rabbit aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Ang II and Ang-(1-7) enhanced AA release in cells prelabeled with [3H]AA. However, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthesis produced by Ang II was much less than that caused by Ang-(1-7). In the presence of the lipoxygenase inhibitor baicalein, Ang II enhanced production of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha to a greater degree than Ang-(1-7). Angiotensin type (AT)1 receptor antagonist DUP-753 inhibited only Ang II-induced [3H]AA release, whereas the AT2 receptor antagonist PD-123319 inhibited both Ang II- and Ang-(1-7)-induced [3H]AA release. Ang-(1-7), receptor antagonist D-Ala7-Ang-(1-7) inhibited the effect of Ang-(1-7), but not of Ang II. In cells transiently transfected with cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase or Ca(++)-/cal-modulin-dependent protein (CAM) kinase II antisense oligonucleotides, Ang-(1-7)- and Ang II-induced [3H]AA release was attenuated. The CaM kinase II inhibitor KN-93 and the MAP kinase kinase inhibitor PD-98059 attenuated both Ang-(1-7)- and Ang II-induced cPLA2 activity and [3H]AA release. Ang-(1-7) and Ang II also increased CaM kinase II and MAP kinase activities. Although KN-93 attenuated MAP kinase activity, PD-98059 did not affect CaM kinase II activity. Both Ang II and Ang-(1-7) caused translocation of cytosolic PLA2 to the nuclear envelope. These data show that Ang-(1-7) and Ang II stimulate AA release and prostacyclin synthesis via activation of distinct types of AT receptors. Both peptides appear to stimulate CaM kinase II, which in turn, via MAP kinase activation, enhances cPLA2 activity and release of AA for PG synthesis.
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PMID:Signal transduction mechanisms involved in angiotensin-(1-7)-stimulated arachidonic acid release and prostanoid synthesis in rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells. 943 2

Vasoconstrictors, such as angiotensin II (Ang II), are involved in the regulatory mechanisms of post myocardial infarction (MI) hypertrophy. Arginine vasopressin (AVP), may be another vasoconstrictor that influences the mechanisms that lead to post MI hypertrophy. In these studies we investigated the possible activation of the 42/44 kDa mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), also referred as extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs), in cultured cardiomyocytes. Treatment of rat cardiomyocytes with AVP, Ang II and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increases the activation of ERKs. The activity of the 42/44 kDa MAPKs was tested using the phosphorylation of: (1) EGF receptor peptide (EGFR-P); (2) myelin basic protein (MBP) immobilized in poly acrylamide gels; and (3) T183 and Y185 residues of these proteins. The activity of the MAPKs, induced by AVP or PMA was inhibited by downregulation of protein kinase C (PKC), by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein and by MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, PD98059. In addition, the AVP-induced stimulation of MAPKs was shown to be mediated through a V1 receptor. We suggest that AVP activates the 42/44kDa MAPKs through a signal transduction pathway that involves stimulation of AVP-V1 receptor, tyrosine kinase, PKC and MEK. These results suggest that AVP may be involved in ERKs dependent regulatory functions of cardiomyocytes growth.
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PMID:Stimulation of 42/44 kDa mitogen-activated protein kinases by arginine vasopressin in rat cardiomyocytes. 945 90

The activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) are discussed in reference to activation of different protein kinases and growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of angiotensin (Ang) II-induced increase in [Ca2+]i for activation of 44-kD/42-kD MAP kinase (p44mapk/p42mapk) and DNA synthesis in VSMCs. Experiments were performed by chelation of [Ca2+]i by the intracellular chelator 1,2-bis-(o-amino-5-methylphenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetraacetoxymethyl ester (MAPTAM). Ca2+ was measured by the fura 2 method. MAP kinase activation was determined by the Western blotting method. DNA synthesis was determined by measurement of [3H]thymidine incorporation into the cell DNA. Treatment of VSMCs with 20 micromol/L MAPTAM for 30 minutes resulted in a complete abolishment of the maximal Ang II-induced increase at 10 seconds. Ang II phosphorylated the p44mapk/p42mapk in a time-dependent manner, showing a maximum at 3 minutes. In MAPTAM-treated cells, the maximal phosphorylation of MAP kinase isoforms was shifted to 5 minutes, and dephosphorylation was delayed compared with untreated cells. In concordance with this finding, the induction of the MAP kinase phosphatase-1 was markedly impaired in MAPTAM-treated cells. Ang II induced a 2.3-fold increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA synthesis in untreated cells. This effect was not reduced in MAPTAM-treated cells. Treatment of the cells with PD 98059 (10 micromol/L), a MAP kinase kinase inhibitor, caused 85% inhibition of the Ang II-induced activation of MAP kinases but did not inhibit the Ang II-induced DNA synthesis. In conclusion, the Ang II-induced stimulation of the MAP kinase is a Ca2+-dependent process. Furthermore, blockade of the Ang II-induced stimulation of the early intracellular events, such as increase in [Ca2+]i or phosphorylation of the MAP kinase, is not accompanied by an inhibition of the Ang II-induced DNA synthesis.
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PMID:Role of mitogen-activated protein kinase in the angiotensin II-induced DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells. 957 28

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a potent pressor hormone, a stimulus for vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy and an activator of multiple tyrosine kinases. The physiological effects of Ang II are mediated through activation of AT1 and AT2 receptors, receptors that have been coupled to tyrosine kinase(s) and tyrosine phosphatases, respectively. Agonists of G protein-coupled receptors, of which Ang II is one, have recently been shown to stimulate smooth muscle contraction in part via activation tyrosine kinases. We tested the hypothesis that Ang II-induced contraction in the rat aorta was dependent on activation of tyrosine kinase(s) and specifically investigated the role of the tyrosine kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), a kinase important to the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Rat thoracic aortic strips denuded of endothelium and cultured aortic smooth muscle cells were used in isolated tissue baths for measurement of isometric contractile force and Western analyses of protein tyrosyl-phosphorylation. Ang II (0.1-100 nM)-induced contraction in the aorta was completely blocked by the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan (1 microM) but unaffected by the AT2 receptor antagonist PD123319 (100 nM) or tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate (1 microM), indicating an AT1 receptor mediates aortic contraction to Ang II. Neither the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein (5 microM), inactive tyrosine kinase inhibitor daidzein (5 microM) nor MEK inhibitor PD098059 (10 microM) reduced Ang II-induced contraction; the concentrations of inhibitors used maximally reduced contraction stimulated by other agonists of G protein-coupled receptors such as serotonin. Moreover, Ang II-induced contraction was not altered by the combination of PD098059 and PD123319, indicating that it is unlikely AT2 receptor stimulation masks activation of the MAPK pathway through AT1 receptor activation. The nonflavone tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin B42 (30 microM) reduced Ang II-induced maximal contraction (to 11.2% control) but, unlike the other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, also reduced KCl-induced contraction (to 55.2% control), indicating a probable nonselectivity of tyrphostin B42. Ang IIinduced maximal contraction was reduced by the L-type voltage gated calcium channel antagonist nifedipine (50 nM), consistent with the activation of calcium channels by Ang II. In cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells, Ang II (0.1-1000 nM) stimulated concentration-dependent tyrosyl-phosphorylation of the extracellular signal regulated kinase (Erk) mitogen activated protein kinases (maximal stimulation, fold basal: Erk-1 = 17-fold, Erk-2 = 3-fold), indicating that Ang II can activate MEK. Losartan (1 microM) abolished Ang II (10 nM)-induced Erk tyrosyl-phosphorylation and PD098059 (10 microM), which did not diminish Ang II-induced aortic contraction, reduced Ang II (10 nM)-stimulated phosphorylation of Erk-2 by 72%. Finally, Ang II (1 microM) increased tyrosyl-phosphorylation of the Erk proteins in isolated aorta exposed to Ang II for 5 min. Thus, while Ang II can stimulate both MEK activation and vascular contraction via interaction with AT1 receptors, stimulation of MEK does not appear to be important for Ang II-induced contraction. These findings dissociate the process of Ang II-stimulated Erk protein tyrosyl-phosphorylation from Ang II-induced contraction in the rat aorta.
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PMID:Dissociation of angiotensin II-stimulated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase from vascular contraction. 973 8

Angiotensin II (Ang II), via its interaction with the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor subtype, causes enhanced stimulation of norepinephrine (NE) neuromodulation. This involves increased transcription of NE transporter, tyrosine hydroxylase, and dopamine ss-hydroxylase genes in Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) brain neurons. AT1 receptor-mediated regulation of certain signaling events (such as activation of the Ras-Raf-1-mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway, nuclear translocation of transcription factors such as Fos and Jun, and the interactions of these factors with AP-1 binding sites) is involved in this NE neuromodulation (Lu et al. J Cell Biol. 1996;135:1609-1617). The aim of this study was to compare the signal transduction mechanism of Ang II regulation of NE neuromodulation in WKY and spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) brain neurons, in view of the fact that AT1 receptor expression and Ang II stimulation of NE neuromodulation are higher in SHR neurons compared with WKY neurons. Despite this hyperactivity, Ang II stimulation of Ras, Raf-1, and MAP kinase activities was comparable between the neurons from WKY and SHR. Similarly, central injections of Ang II caused a comparable stimulation of MAP kinase in the hypothalamic and brain stem areas of adult WKY and SHR. Inhibition of MAP kinase by either an MAP kinase kinase inhibitor (PD98059) or an MAP kinase antisense oligonucleotide completely attenuated the stimulatory effects of Ang II on [3H]-NE uptake, NE transporter mRNA, and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels in WKY neurons. These treatments resulted in only 43% to 50% inhibition of [3H]-NE uptake and NE transporter and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNAs in SHR neurons. Thus, Ang II stimulation of NE neuromodulation was completely blocked by MAP kinase inhibition in WKY neurons and only partially blocked in the SHR neurons. These observations suggest the presence of an additional signal transduction pathway involved in NE neuromodulation in SHR neurons that is independent of the MAP kinase pathway.
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PMID:MAP kinase-independent signaling in angiotensin II regulation of neuromodulation in SHR neurons. 974 Jun 13

This study was performed to investigate a mechanism of angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated activation of the fibronectin (FN) gene in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Actinomycin D and CV11974 completely inhibited Ang II-mediated increase in FN mRNA levels. Inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK), phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, Ras, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, p70 S6 kinase, and Ca2+/calmodulin kinase also decreased Ang II-induced activation of FN mRNA. In contrast, cycloheximide; PD123319; or inhibitors of Gi, protein kinase A, or mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase did not affect the induction. FN promoter contained a putative AP-1 binding site (rFN/AP-1; -463 to -437), and the results of a transient transfection and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that Ang II enhanced rFN/AP-1 activity. CV11974 and inhibitors of PKC or PTK suppressed Ang II-mediated increases in rFN/AP-1 activity, although neither PD123319 nor a protein kinase A inhibitor affected the induction. Furthermore, mutation of rFN/AP-1 that disrupted nuclear binding suppressed Ang II-induced transcription in the native FN promoter (-1908 to +136) context. Thus, Ang II activates transcription of the FN gene through the Ang II type 1 receptor in vascular smooth muscle cells, at least in part, via the activation of AP-1 by a signaling mechanism dependent on PKC and PTK.
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PMID:Mechanism of angiotensin II-mediated regulation of fibronectin gene in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. 975 84


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