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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)

MEK-1 is a dual threonine and tyrosine recognition kinase that phosphorylates and activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). MEK-1 is in turn activated by phosphorylation. Raf and MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEKK) independently phosphorylate and activate MEK-1. Recombinant MEK-1 is also capable of autoactivation. Purified recombinant wild type MEK-1 and a mutant kinase inactive MEK-1 were used as substrates for MEKK, Raf, and autophosphorylation. MEK-1 phosphorylation catalyzed by Raf, MEKK, or autophosphorylation resulted in activation of MEK-1 kinase activity measured by phosphorylation of a mutant kinase inactive MAPK. Phosphoamino acid analysis and peptide mapping identified similar MEK-1 tryptic phosphopeptides after phosphorylation by MEK kinase, Raf, or MEK-1 autophosphorylation. MEK-1 is phosphorylated by MAPK at sites different from that for Raf and MEKK. Phosphorylation of MEK-1 by MAPK does not affect MEK-1 kinase activity. Several phosphorylation sites present in MEK-1 immunoprecipitated from 32P-labeled cells after stimulation with epidermal growth factor were common to the in vitro phosphorylated enzyme. The major site of MAPK phosphorylation in MEK-1 is threonine 292. Mutation of threonine 292 to alanine eliminates 90% of MAPK catalyzed phosphorylation of MEK-1 but does not influence MEK-1 activity. The results demonstrate that MEKK and Raf regulate MEK-1 activity by phosphorylation of common residues and thus, two independent protein kinases converge at MEK-1 to regulate the activity of MAPK.
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PMID:MEK-1 phosphorylation by MEK kinase, Raf, and mitogen-activated protein kinase: analysis of phosphopeptides and regulation of activity. 801 5

Src homology/collagen (SHC) proteins are thought to participate in signaling through both receptor tyrosine kinases, such as the insulin receptor and the EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptor, and cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases, such as v-src and v-fps. Here we approached the insulin-induced and the insulin-like-growth-factor-I-induced (IGF-I-induced) phosphorylation of SHC proteins, and the possible role of these proteins in insulin and IGF-I signaling. First, we showed that SHC proteins are phosphorylated on tyrosine residues upon insulin and IGF-I treatment of fibroblasts transfected with a SHC cDNA construct. More important, ligand-activated insulin and IGF-I receptors phosphorylate SHC proteins in vitro, indicating that SHC proteins could be direct substrates for insulin and IGF-I receptors. Further, insulin or IGF-I treatment of SHC-transfected fibroblasts leads to immunoprecipitation of SHC proteins with insulin-receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1). We next looked at the possible effect of SHC proteins on biological responses in SHC-transfected fibroblasts. We found that the expression of exogenous SHC proteins results in an increased basal MEK (MAPK/ERK-activating kinase) activity. Further, neither the basal nor the insulin-induced or IGF-I-induced PtdIns-3-kinase activity were modified by expression of exogenous SHC proteins. These results illustrate that SHC proteins are implicated in the MAP (mitogen-activated protein)-kinase pathway, but not in that of PtdIns-3-kinase. Finally, we show that SHC-transfected cells, unlike control cells, are able to advance into the early phases of the cell cycle, and are more sensitive to the growth-promoting effect of insulin. In conclusion, SHC proteins are substrates for insulin and IGF-I receptors, and would appear to function as early post-receptor signaling components.
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PMID:Involvement of Src-homology/collagen (SHC) proteins in signaling through the insulin receptor and the insulin-like-growth-factor-I-receptor. 803 92

Intracellular signalling following mitogenic stimulation of quiescent cells involves the initiation of a phosphorylation cascade that leads to the rapid and reversible activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases ERK1 and ERK2. MAP kinase activation is mediated by dual phosphorylation within the motif Thr-Glu-Tyr by MAP kinase kinase (MEK). Following activation, the MAP kinases translocate into the nucleus where they phosphorylate several transduction targets, including transcription factors. We have previously identified PAC1 as an immediate-early mitogen-inducible tyrosine phosphatase in nuclei of T cells. Here we present several lines of evidence indicating that PAC1 is a physiologically relevant MAP kinase phosphatase. Recombinant PAC1 in vitro is a dual-specific Thr/Tyr phosphatase with stringent substrate specificity for MAP kinase. Constitutive expression of PAC1 in vivo leads to inhibition of MAP kinase activity normally stimulated by epidermal growth factor, phorbol myristyl acetate, or T-cell receptor crosslinking. The inactivation of MAP kinase by PAC1 results in inhibition of MAP kinase-regulated reporter gene expression.
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PMID:Control of MAP kinase activation by the mitogen-induced threonine/tyrosine phosphatase PAC1. 810 50

Although a pathway that requires sequential activation of Ras, Raf, and MAP kinase kinase has been proposed as the major mechanism for stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase), alternative pathways also exist. A wide variety of extracellular stimuli have been shown to activate MAP kinase; however, the precise mechanisms by which these stimuli mediate the signaling events have not been elucidated. Using a Balb/c-derived cell line expressing a dominant-negative mutant of Raf, we determined whether Raf is required for the activation of MAP kinase by growth factors, phorbol esters, and calcium. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate activated Ras in both mutant and control cells. However, stimulation of MAP kinase by IGF-I was nearly abolished in the dominant-negative Raf mutant. Stimulation of MAP kinase by the Ca2+ mobilizer thapsigargin was also inhibited in the presence of the Raf mutant. In contrast, EGF and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate remained potent stimulators of MAP kinase in the dominant-negative Raf cells. The activation of MAP kinase by these stimuli can be further distinguished by differential requirements for Ca2+ and protein kinase C. These results suggest that Raf is required for the activation of MAP kinase by IGF-I and calcium, whereas EGF and possibly phorbol esters may employ alternative Raf-independent pathways for MAP kinase activation.
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PMID:Differential Raf requirement for activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by growth factors, phorbol esters, and calcium. 812 50

MEK is a family of dual specific protein kinases which activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinases by phosphorylation of threonine and tyrosine residues. MEK itself is activated via serine phosphorylation by upstream activator kinases, including c-raf, mos and MEK kinase. Here, we report the activation phosphorylation sites of human MEK1 and yeast STE7 kinase as determined by a combination of biochemical and genetic approaches. In human MEK1, substitution of either serine residue 218 or 222 with alanine completely abolished its activation by epidermal growth factor-stimulated Swiss 3T3 cell lysates or immunoprecipitated c-raf, suggesting that both serine residues are required for MEK1 activation. Phosphopeptide analysis demonstrated that serine residues 218 and 222 of human MEK1 are the primary sites for phosphorylation by c-raf. These two serine residues are highly conserved in all members of the MEK family, including the yeast STE7 gene product, a MEK homolog in the yeast mating pheromone response pathway. Mutation of the corresponding residues in STE7 completely abolished the biological functions of this gene. These data demonstrate that MEK is activated by phosphorylation of two adjacent serine/threonine residues and this activation mechanism is conserved in the MEK family kinases.
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PMID:Activation of MEK family kinases requires phosphorylation of two conserved Ser/Thr residues. 813 46

Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) is a common event of many signal transduction pathways. MAPKs are phosphorylated and activated by an immediate upstream activating kinase, MEK. The proto-oncogene c-raf, encoding a serine/threonine kinase, has been reported to be a direct activator of MEK. In this paper, it is shown that growth factors activate MEK by stimulating c-raf and a raf-independent MEK activator. Treatment of Swiss3T3 cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF) rapidly increased the activity of MEK activator. Maximal activation was detected by 2.5 min and declined to the prestimulated level within 10 min. This stimulation of the MEK activator was temporally followed by increased activities of MEK and MAPK. The activation of MEK was accompanied by phosphorylation of this protein. To determine the relationship of this MEK activator and the c-raf kinase, cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-raf antibody and assayed for MEK activation. Only a fraction (< 20%) of the MEK activating activity was detected in anti-raf immunoprecipitates from EGF-stimulated Swiss3T3 cells. Similar experiments with nerve growth factor stimulated pheochromocytoma 12 (PC-12) cells revealed that the raf kinase contributed less than 5% of the total MEK activating activity while the overwhelming majority of MEK activating activity remained in the postimmunoprecipitation supernatant in which the raf protein had been quantitatively depleted. These data demonstrate that Swiss3T3 and PC-12 cells contain at least two different growth factor sensitive MEK activators, one residing in anti-raf immunoprecipitates and a second activity that is separate from raf.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Growth factor induced MEK activation is primarily mediated by an activator different from c-raf. 818 Jan 83

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or mitogen-activated protein kinase by MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase) is an essential event in the mitogenic growth factor signal transduction. We now demonstrate that three recombinant MEKs (MEK1, MEK2, MEK3) show remarkably different activity toward recombinant ERK1 and ERK2. MEK2 is the most active ERK activator. The recombinant MEK1 has an activity approximately seven times lower than that of MEK2. MEK3, which is identical to MEK1 except for missing an internal 26-amino acid residue and probably represents an alternative splicing product of MEK1, shows neither autophosphorylation nor ERK-activating activity. Recombinant MEK1 and MEK2 can be activated by epidermal growth factor-stimulated SWISS3T3 cell lysate. MEK1 and MEK2 can also be activated by autophosphorylation. Autophosphorylation of MEKs correlates with their ability to phosphorylate and activate ERKs. Phosphorylation of MEK is also stimulated by ERK. Phosphoamino acid analysis showed that ERK1 preferentially phosphorylated threonine residue of MEKs. MEKs complex with ERKs in vitro. Interestingly, MEK3 also forms a complex with ERK1, although it is totally inactive as an ERK activator.
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PMID:Properties of MEKs, the kinases that phosphorylate and activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinases. 822 33

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) or meiosis-activated myelin basic protein kinase (p44mpk) are known to be activated by a mechanism involving dual phosphorylation at both tyrosine and serine/threonine in response to many extracellular stimuli. There has been considerable speculation as to whether MAP kinases are autophosphorylated and activated by an upstream protein kinase (MAP kinase kinase) or an activator of autophosphorylation or both. Here we report that the ets-related proteins elk-1 and delta elk-1 to be potential physiological substrates and activators of MAP kinases. Our results demonstrate for the first time that MAP kinase activators can also be non-kinase proteins that enhance the autophosphorylation and activation of MAP kinase. These findings could establish a general mechanism wherein specific MAP kinase activator protein(s) may function by interacting with MAP kinases ensuring a conformational change and stimulating their autophosphorylation and activation property. Our results also suggest that the amino-terminal truncated elk-1 proteins are better activators of MAP kinase than full length proteins indicating the presence of a potential negative regulatory region which may control the kinase activator function of elk-1 proteins. Our results suggest differential regulation of elk-1 and delta elk-1 proteins in fibroblasts stimulated by epidermal growth factor implicating a key role for these proteins in the signal transduction pathway. These results establish the presence of an alternative pathway for activation of MAP kinases. Thus we propose that elk-1 proteins may represent key intermediates which would transmit signals arriving at the surface of the cell from activated receptors to downstream MAP kinases in the cytoplasm to reach the transcriptional factors in the nucleus.
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PMID:Elk-1 proteins are phosphoproteins and activators of mitogen-activated protein kinase. 833 45

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase is an enzyme that activates the growth factor-regulated MAP kinase in vitro by a mechanism that involves direct phosphorylation of MAP kinase on tyrosine and threonine residues. MAP kinase kinase is stimulated by growth factor treatment of cells and has been shown to be inactivated with protein phosphatases, suggesting that it is regulated by protein phosphorylation. Analysis of two epidermal growth factor-stimulated forms of MAP kinase kinase, purified from 32P-labeled A431 cells, shows that the kinase is phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues and that treatment with protein phosphatases leads to serine dephosphorylation. Under conditions that lead to complete inactivation, only partial dephosphorylation of MAP kinase kinase is observed. Consistent with this finding, inactive forms of MAP kinase kinase, which separate from active forms during the course of purification, are also observed to be phosphorylated in intact cells.
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PMID:Metabolic labeling of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase in A431 cells demonstrates phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues. 838 70

p74raf-1, a serine/threonine kinase, is structurally related to the protein kinase C (PKC) family and contains a cysteine motif in its N-terminal domain, which is essential for its regulation. It has been shown that p74raf-1 functions upstream of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase. We have constructed a p74raf-1 mutant (N delta raf) that only contains the N-terminal regulatory domain. When transiently expressed in COS-M6 cells, N delta raf efficiently blocked the activation of the MAP extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK2), induced by either epidermal growth factor, phorbol ester, serum, or oncogenic p21ras. Similar constructs with the cysteine motifs from either PKC-alpha or diacylglycerol kinase did not inhibit activation of ERK2. Overexpression of full-length p74raf-1 rescued the inhibition of ERK2 by N delta raf in a stimulus dependent manner, indicating that N delta raf acts as a competitive inhibitor of wild-type p74raf-1. In contrast, overexpression of either PKC-alpha, -epsilon, or -zeta in N delta raf-containing cells could not rescue the inhibition of ERK2. We conclude that p74raf-1 is an essential mediator of epidermal growth factor- and phorbol ester-induced ERK2 activation and that the MAP kinase kinase activity of p74raf-1 cannot be substituted with either PKC-alpha, -epsilon or -zeta.
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PMID:A dominant-negative mutant of raf blocks mitogen-activated protein kinase activation by growth factors and oncogenic p21ras. 839 1


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