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)

The cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) transcription factor is required for normal T cell activation following stimulation through the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). CREB is present in resting T cells in an unphosphorylated and inactive state. TCR engagement results in the rapid phosphorylation of CREB on Ser133 and its concomitant activation. In the studies described in this report, we have investigated the signaling pathway(s) that are responsible for CREB activation in normal T cells. Using pharmacological agonists, we show that protein kinase C (PKC)-, calcium/calmodulin-, and protein kinase A-dependent pathways are each capable of independently eliciting CREB phosphorylation in T cells and thymocytes. Pharmacological inhibitor studies demonstrated that the PKC-mediated signaling pathway is required for TCR-mediated activation of CREB. In contrast, inhibitors of protein kinase A and calmodulin kinases had no effect on CREB phosphorylation following TCR cross-linking. T cells lacking the p56(lck) tyrosine kinase failed to phosphorylate CREB in response to TCR engagement. Overexpression of dominant-negative mutant Ras and Raf-1 proteins in Jurkat T cells abolished TCR-mediated CREB phosphorylation, whereas overexpression of the RSK2 serine/threonine kinase significantly potentiated TCR-mediated CREB phosphorylation. Taken together, these experiments are consistent with a model in which TCR engagement leads to the rapid phosphorylation and activation of CREB via a signaling pathway involving the activation of p56(lck), PKC, Ras, Raf-1, MEK, and RSK2. Given the importance of CREB phosphorylation in normal T cell activation, this pathway may be an attractive target for the development of novel immunosuppressive agents.
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PMID:A protein kinase C-, Ras-, and RSK2-dependent signal transduction pathway activates the cAMP-responsive element-binding protein transcription factor following T cell receptor engagement. 971 19

Upon binding to its G protein-coupled transmembrane receptors, the actions of PGF2alpha on the corpus luteum are initiated by the phospholipase C/diacylglycerol-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3)/Ca2+-protein kinase C (PKC) pathway. However, little is known about the downstream intracellular signaling events that can lead to transcriptional activation in response to PGF2alpha. The present study was conducted to examine the involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade in the corpus luteum. Three isoforms of the Raf family of oncoprotein kinases (A-Raf, B-Raf, and Raf-1 or c-Raf) were detected in bovine luteal cells. Raf-1 and B-Raf, but not A-Raf, were activated by PGF2alpha (1 microM) and the pharmacological PKC activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 20 nM). Kinetic analysis revealed that PGF2alpha rapidly and transiently activated Raf-1. In vitro protein kinase assays demonstrated that activation of Raf-1 and B-Raf resulted in the phosphorylation and activation of MAPK kinase (MEK1), which subsequently phosphorylated p42mapk. As determined by hyperphosphorylation, tyrosine phosphorylation, and enzymatic activity, p42mapk and p44mapk were rapidly and transiently activated by both PGF2alpha (1 microM) and PMA (20 nM). Additionally, both PGF2alpha (1 microM) and PMA (20 nM) stimulated phosphorylation of Raf-1, MEK1, and p42mapk in 32P-labeled cells. Our data demonstrate that PGF2alpha activates the Raf/MEK1/p42/44mapk signaling cascade in bovine luteal cells and that the actions of PGF2alpha are mimicked by the PKC activator PMA. Activation of the Raf/MEK1/MAPK signaling cascade by PGF2alpha in luteal cells provides a mechanism to transduce signals initiated by PGF2alpha receptors on the cell surface into the nucleus. Activation of the Raf/MEK1/MAPK signaling cascade may be associated with transcriptional activation of luteal genes possessing activator protein-1-binding sites.
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PMID:Prostaglandin F2alpha stimulates the Raf/MEK1/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade in bovine luteal cells. 972 43

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

The cellular mechanisms that underlie nerve growth factor (NGF) induced increase in Ca(2+)-channel current in adult bullfrog sympathetic B-neurons were examined by whole cell recording techniques. Cells were maintained at low density in neuron-enriched, defined-medium, serum-free tissue culture for 6 days in the presence or absence of NGF (200 ng/ml). The increase in Ba2+ current (IBa) density induced by NGF was attenuated by the RNA synthesis inhibitor cordycepin (20 microM), by the DNA transcription inhibitor actinomycin D (0.01 microgram/ml), by inhibitors of Ras isoprenylation (perillic acid 0.1-1.0 mM or alpha-hydroxyfarnesylphosphonic acid 10-100 microM), by tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein (20 microM) or lavendustin A (1 microM), and by PD98059 (10-100 microM), an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. Inhibitors of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway (wortmannin, 100 nM, or LY29400, 100 microM) were ineffective as were inhibitors of phospholipase C gamma (U73122 or neomycin, both 100 microM). The effect of NGF persisted in Ca(2+)-free medium that contained 1.8 mM Mg2+ and 2 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. It was mimicked by a Trk antibody that was capable of inducing neurite outgrowth in explant cultures of bullfrog sympathetic ganglion. Antibodies raised against the low-affinity p75 neurotrophin receptor were ineffective in blocking the effect of NGF on IBa. These results suggest that NGF-induced increase in Ca2+ channel current in adult sympathetic neurons results, at least in part, from new channel synthesis after Trk activation of Ras and mitogen activated protein kinase by a mechanism that is independent of extracellular Ca2+.
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PMID:Involvement of Ras/MAP kinase in the regulation of Ca2+ channels in adult bullfrog sympathetic neurons by nerve growth factor. 974 44

Vascular smooth muscle cells respond to the purinergic agonist ATP by increasing intracellular calcium concentration and increasing the rate of cell proliferation. In many cells the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade plays an important role in cellular proliferation. We have studied the effect of extracellular ATP on ERK activation and cell proliferation. ATP binding to a UTP-sensitive P2Y nucleotide receptor activates ERK1/ERK2 in a time- and dose-dependent manner in coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMC). ATP-induced activation of ERK1/ERK2 is dependent on the dual-specificity kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (i.e., MEK) but independent of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity. We provide evidence that both ERK1/ERK2 and PI3K activities are required for CASMC proliferation. Thus ATP-stimulation of CASMC proliferation requires independent activation of both the ERK and PI3K signaling pathways.
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PMID:ATP-stimulated smooth muscle cell proliferation requires independent ERK and PI3K signaling pathways. 974 68

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in smooth muscle contraction by monitoring MAP kinase activation, caldesmon phosphorylation, and contractile force during agonist stimulation. Isometric tension in response to KCl and phenylephrine (PE) was measured from strips of ferret aorta. MAP kinase activation was monitored by Western blot using a phosphospecific p44/p42 MAP kinase antibody. Caldesmon phosphorylation was assessed using specific phosphocaldesmon antibodies. We report here that treatment of smooth muscle strips with PD-098059, a specific inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase, did not detectably modify the KCl-evoked contraction but significantly inhibited the contraction to PE in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. In this experimental condition, where the contraction occurs in the absence of increases in 20-kDa myosin light chain phosphorylation, PD-098059 also inhibited significantly MAP kinase and caldesmon phosphorylation. Collectively, these results demonstrate a direct cause-and-effect relationship between MAP kinase activation and Ca2+-independent smooth muscle contraction and support the concept of caldesmon phosphorylation as the missing link between both events.
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PMID:A role for MAP kinase in differentiated smooth muscle contraction evoked by alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation. 975 61

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

Primary cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons underwent apoptosis when switched from medium containing 25 mM K+ to one containing 5 mM K+. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) protected granule neurons from apoptosis in medium containing 5 mM K+. Inhibition of apoptosis by NMDA was blocked by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor LY294002, but it was unaffected by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor PD 98059. The antiapoptotic action of NMDA was associated with an increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), an increase in the binding of the regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase to IRS-1, and a stimulation of PI 3-kinase activity. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, NMDA was unable to prevent apoptosis or to phosphorylate IRS-1 and activate PI 3-kinase. Significant inhibition of NMDA-mediated neuronal survival by ethanol (10-15%) was observed at 1 mM, and inhibition was half-maximal at 45-50 mM. Inhibition of neuronal survival by ethanol corresponded with a marked reduction in the capacity of NMDA to increase the concentration of intracellular Ca2+, phosphorylate IRS-1, and activate PI 3-kinase. These data demonstrate that the neurotrophic action of NMDA and its inhibition by ethanol are mediated by alterations in the activity of a PI 3-kinase-dependent antiapoptotic signaling pathway.
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PMID:N-Methyl-D-aspartate inhibits apoptosis through activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in cerebellar granule neurons. A role for insulin receptor substrate-1 in the neurotrophic action of n-methyl-D-aspartate and its inhibition by ethanol. 975 98

Brown adipose tissue hyperplasia is a fundamental response to low ambient temperature. We show here that cold exposure of an animal markedly increased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (p42/p44) Erk1 and Erk2 in brown adipose tissue, and protected cells in the tissue from apoptosis. We also show that cessation of the sympathetic stimulus, by transferring cold-adapted animals to 28 degreesC, caused an increased rate of apoptosis in the tissue. In primary cultures of brown adipose tissue, norepinephrine (NE) stimulated both the phosphorylation and the activity of Erk1/2 via the Erk kinase MEK, and protected the cells form apoptosis. Similarly, agonist stimulation of alpha1- and beta-adrenergic receptors and increases in the intracellular level of Ca2+ and cAMP stimulated the phosphorylation of Erk1/2. Agonist stimulation of alpha1- and beta-adrenergic receptors, and increased intracellular cAMP level also promoted the cell survival. Furthermore, NE stimulated the expression and secretion of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which further promoted the cell survival via MEK-dependent activation of Erk1/2. In essence, we show that Erk1/2 has a critical role in promoting NE- and bFGF-dependent survival of brown adipocytes, and propose that NE- and bFGF-dependent regulation of the cell survival is involved in the cold-induced hyperplasia of brown adipose tissue.
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PMID:Ambient temperature regulation of apoptosis in brown adipose tissue. Erk1/2 promotes norepinephrine-dependent cell survival. 980 70

We have previously reported that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced a considerable increase of phospholipase D (PLD) activity and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in PC12 cells. H2O2-induced PLD activation and MAP kinase phosphorylation were dose-dependently inhibited by a specific MAP kinase kinase inhibitor, PD 098059. In contrast, carbachol-mediated PLD activation was not inhibited by the PD 098059 pretreatment whereas MAP kinase phosphorylation was prevented. These findings indicated that MAP kinase is implicated in the PLD activation induced by H2O2, but not by carbachol. In the present study, H2O2 also caused a marked release of oleic acid (OA) from membrane phospholipids in PC12 cells. As we have previously shown that OA stimulates PLD activity in PC12 cells, the mechanism of H2O2-induced fatty acid liberation and its relation to PLD activation were investigated. Pretreatment of the cells with methylarachidonyl fluorophosphonate (MAFP), a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, almost completely prevented the release of [3H]OA by H2O2 treatment. From the preferential release of OA and sensitivity to other PLA2 inhibitors, the involvement of a Ca2+-independent cytosolic PLA2-type enzyme was suggested. In contrast to OA release, MAFP did not inhibit PLD activation by H2O2. The inhibitory profile of the OA release by PD 098059 did not show any correlation with that of MAP kinase. These results lead us to suggest that H2O2-induced PLD activation may be mediated by MAP kinase and also that H2O2-mediated OA release, which would be catalyzed by a Ca2+-independent cytosolic PLA2-like enzyme, is not linked to the PLD activation in PC12 cells.
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PMID:Possible involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase in phospholipase D activation induced by H2O2, but not by carbachol, in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. 983 25


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