Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.12.2 (MEK)
18,161 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Protein phosphorylation has evolved as the most versatile posttranslational modification widely used by cells. Signal transduction pathways mediated by activation of MAP kinases and protein kinase C trigger the exit of cells from the quiscence (Go-->G1 transition). Indeed, binding of growth factors at the cell surface triggers their receptors, usually possessing a tyrosine kinase on the cytoplasmic side, to phosphorylate other molecules passing on the information sequentially to GRB2 protein, to p21ras, to c-Raf-1, to MAP kinase kinase, to MAP kinase, to p90rsk, to transcription factors. Activated PKC, MAP kinase, and pp90src can translocate to the nucleus where they phosphorylate a number of protein transcription regulators in a cell cycle-dependent manner or in response to cell stimulation for exit from quiescence. The cell cycle is mainly regulated by p34cdc2 or otherwise called cdc2 in association with cyclins B at G2/M and by Cdk2 in association with cyclins A, D1, and E at G1/S checkpoints; phosphorylation of histone H1 and lamins by cdc2 triggers chromosome assembly and nuclear envelope breakdown, respectively, as a prelude to mitosis. Cdc2 activities functioning as a G2/M regulator are controlled by its phosphorylation and dephosphorylation at Ser/Thr residues. MAP kinases might be the missing link in the chain connecting the Go to G1 transition with the cell cycle regulation, whereas phosphorylation of replication protein factors, retinoblastoma, and p53 might link the G1 to S transition with the control of DNA synthesis. A number of transcription factors are known to stimulate DNA replication, including p53, c-Myc, AP-1, Oct-1, T-antigen; the DNA binding activities of all these proteins and their interaction with other transcription factors are controlled by phosphorylation. The nuclear import of several proteins including NF kappa B, Dorsal, glucocorticoid receptor, ISGF3, rNFIL-6, T antigen, and the kinases PKC, MAP, and p90rsk, are dependent on their phosphorylation at specific sites. Histone phosphorylation stimulated at discrete stages of the cell cycle or in response to cAMP or other stimuli might induce profound changes in chromatin organization.
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PMID:Phosphorylation of transcription factors and control of the cell cycle. 754 80

It is known that mechanical stress directly changes the conformation of the functional proteins, or directly activates enzymes such as phospholipase in the plasma membrane. The integrin-cytoskeleton complex may be an alternative candidate structure for a mechanoreceptor and a transducer. The cytoskeleton has been also shown to play an important role in secretion. Mechanical stress may stimulate the secretion of some cytokines or angiotensin II, which may generate multiple intracellular signals as a secondary event. External stimuli are generally transduced into the nucleus through the activation of protein kinase cascade. Stretching of cardiac myocytes stimulates the activity of PKC, Raf-1 kinase, MAP kinase kinase. MAP kinase and S6 kinase. In cardiac myocytes, mechanical stress directly induces gene expression as well as protein synthesis. Immediate early genes are first induced, and then fetal-type genes are reinduced. Both in hypertrophied hearts and in the experimental model of cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload. Ca(2+)-ATPase content of cardiac myocytes is depressed. Reduced function of sarcoplasmic reticulum causes insufficient decrease of intracellular calcium in diastole and induces slowing of ventricular relaxation. In the interstitium of pressure overloaded hearts, the accumulation of collagen fiber is increased. The abnormal deposit leads to increased chamber stiffness and diastolic dysfunction. Furthermore, TGF-beta and tissue renin-angiotensin system are up-regulated in pressure overloaded hearts, both of which accelerate the interstitial fibrosis.
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PMID:Interaction of cardiac myocytes and non-myocytes in mechanical stress-induced hypertrophy. 777 62

The zeta isotype of protein kinase C (zeta PKC), a distinct PKC unable to bind phorbol esters, is required during NF-kappa B activation as well as in mitogenic signalling in Xenopus oocytes and mammalian cells. To investigate the mechanism(s) for control of cellular functions by zeta PKC, this enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein (MBP), to allow immobilization on amylose beads to study signalling proteins in cell extracts that might form complex(es) with zeta PKC. The following evidence for interaction with the NF-kappa B/I kappa B pathway was obtained. MBP-zeta PKC, but not MBP, bound and activated a potentially novel I kappa B kinase of approximately 50 kDa molecular weight able to regulate I kappa B-alpha function. Activation of the I kappa B kinase was dependent on zeta PKC enzymatic activity and ATP, suggesting that zeta PKC controls, directly or indirectly, the activity of a functionally significant I kappa B kinase. Importantly, zeta PKC immunoprecipitates from TNF-alpha-stimulated NIH-3T3 fibroblasts displayed a higher I kappa B phosphorylating activity than untreated controls, indicating the in vivo relevance of these findings. We also show here that zeta PKC associates with and activates MKK-MAPK in vitro, suggesting that one of the mechanisms whereby overexpression of zeta PKC leads to deregulation of cell growth may be accounted for at least in part by activation of the MKK-MAPK complex. However, neither MKK nor MAPK is responsible for the putative I kappa B phosphorylating activity. These data provide a decisive step towards understanding the functions of zeta PKC.
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PMID:zeta PKC induces phosphorylation and inactivation of I kappa B-alpha in vitro. 802 69

Protein kinase C zeta (zeta PKC) is critically involved in the control of a number of cell functions, including proliferation and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activation. Previous studies indicate that zeta PKC is an important step downstream of Ras in the mitogenic cascade. The stimulation of Ras initiates a kinase cascade that culminates in the activation of MAP kinase (MAPK), which is required for cell growth. MAPK is activated by phosphorylation by another kinase named MAPK kinase (MEK), which is the substrate of a number of Ras-activated serine/threonine kinases such as c-Raf-1 and B-Raf. We show here that MAPK and MEK are activated in vivo by an active mutant of zeta PKC, and that a kinase-defective dominant negative mutant of zeta PKC dramatically impairs the activation of both MEK and MAPK by serum and tumour necrosis factor (TNF alpha). The stimulation of other kinases, such as stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) or p70S6K, is shown here to be independent of zeta PKC. The importance of MEK/MAPK in the signalling mechanisms activated by zeta PKC was addressed by using the activation of a kappa B-dependent promoter as a biological read-out of zeta PKC.
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PMID:Evidence for a role of MEK and MAPK during signal transduction by protein kinase C zeta. 855 35

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

Mitogen activated protein kinase in extracts of U-937 macrophage-like cells was stimulated by LDL and oxLDL. A maximum value (161% of the basal phosphotransferase activity) was obtained after 6 min exposure to oxidized LDL (27 microgram/ml) using APRTPGGRR peptide substrate. The activatory effect was more pronounced (LDL 181%, oxLDL 201%) when MAPK of stimulated cells was immunoprecipitated with anti-p42MAPK antibodies and phosphotransferase activity was assayed in immune complexes. Stimulation produced by oxLDL was inhibited by poly I, fucoidan, dextran sulfate and by the MAPKK inhibitor PD 098059 but not by PMA-mediated depletion of PKC or by pre-treatment with chloroquine or with pertussis toxin. These results suggest a direct mitogenic effect of LDL which, in the case of oxLDL, is dependent on scavenger receptor ligation but not on G-protein mediated or PKC-dependent signal transduction.
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PMID:Stimulation of mitogen activated protein kinase by LDL and oxLDL in human U-937 macrophage-like cells. 864 40

Understanding transmembrane signalling process is one of the major challenge of the decade. In most tissues, since Fisher and Krebs's discovery in the 1950's, protein phosphorylation has been widely recognized as a key event of this cellular function. Indeed, binding of hormones or neurotransmitters to specific membrane receptors leads to the generation of cytosoluble second messengers which in turn activate a specific protein kinase. Numerous protein kinases have been so far identified and roughly classified into two groups, namely serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases on the basis of the target acid although some more recently discovered kinases like MEK (or MAP kinase kinase) phosphorylate both serine and tyrosine residues. Protein kinase C is a serine/threonine kinase that was first described by Takai et al. [1] as a Ca- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase. Later on, Kuo et al. [2] found that PKC was expressed in most tissues including the heart. The field of investigation became more complicated when it was found that the kinase is not a single molecular entity and that several isoforms exist. At present, 12 PKC isoforms and other PKC-related kinases [3] were identified in mammalian tissues. These are classified into three groups. (1) the Ca-activated alpha-, beta-, and gamma-PKCs which display a Ca-binding site (C2); (2) the Ca-insensitive delta-, epsilon-, theta-, eta-, and mu-PKCs. The kinases that belong to both of these groups display two cysteine-rich domains (C1) which bind phorbol esters (for recent review on PKC structure, see [4]). (3) The third group was named atypical PKCs and include zeta, lambda, and tau-PKCs that lack both the C2 and one cysteine-rich domain. Consequently, these isoforms are Ca-insensitive and cannot be activated by phorbol esters [5]. In the heart, evidence that multiple PKC isoforms exist was first provided by Kosaka et at. [6] who identified by chromatography at least two PKC-related isoenzymes. Numerous studies were thus devoted to the biochemical characterization of these isoenzymes (see [7] for review on cardiac PKCs) as well as to the identification of their substrates. This overview aims at updating the present knowledge on the expression, activation and functions of PKC isoforms in cardiac cells.
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PMID:Signalling by protein kinase C isoforms in the heart. 873 30

Renal nephron segments are heterogeneous, and receptors for endothelin (ET)-1, ET-3, Angiotensin II (AII), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and insulin-like growth factor I distribute differently along the nephron segments. Recently, growth factors and vasoactive substances are reported to stimulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-K). In this study, we showed that mRNA and proteins of MEK-K, Raf-1-K, MAPK-K, MAP-K (p42 and p44), and S6-K are expressed ubiquitously in intact nephron segment. We demonstrated that four tiers of a cascade composed of the Raf-1-K, MAP-K, MAP-K, and S6-K are stimulated by ET-1 and ET-3 in rat intact glomeruli (Glm) via primarily B-type ET receptors and PKC. The stimulatory effect of EGF and IGF-I to MAP-K activity is inhibited by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor in Glm. IGF-I significantly stimulates MAP-K activity and EGF and All moderately stimulate MAP-K activity in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). EGF significantly increased MAP-K cascades and ET-1 and ET-3 slightly increased MAP-K cascades in the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL). EGF significantly stimulated MAP-K cascades, and ET-1 and ET-3 moderately stimulate MAP-K cascades in the outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD) and the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). MAPK-K and S6-K are similarly stimulated by these agonists in each segment. This study shows that MAP-K cascades are expressed in every nephron segment. ET-1, ET-3, All, EGF, and IGF-I stimulate MAP-K cascades heterogeneously along the nephron segment. It was concluded that MAP-K cascades play an important role in the regulation of renal function.
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PMID:Presence and regulation of Raf-1-K (Kinase), MAPK-K, MAP-K, and S6-K in rat nephron segments. 874 82

We have investigated the effect of glucose deprivation treatment on the activation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the drug-sensitive human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) and its drug resistant variant (MCF-7/ADR) cells. Western blots and in-gel kinase assays showed that glucose free medium was a strong stimulus for the activation of MAPK in MCF-7/ADR cells. No activation was seen in MCF-7 cells. MAPK was activated within 3 min of being in glucose free medium and it remained activated for over 1 h in MCF-7/ADR cells. After being returned to complete medium, 1 h was required for the MAPK to become deactivated. To investigate whether alternative sources of ATP could inhibit glucose deprivation induced MAPK activation, we added glutamine and glutamate to glucose deprived medium. The addition of glutamine did not reverse glucose deprivation induced MAPK activation in MCF-7/ADR cells. The addition of glutamate, however, decreased the MAPK activation and the length of time of activation. We observed an increase greater than three fold in MEK, Raf, Ras, and PKC activity with glucose deprivation in MCF-7/ADR cells. This suggests that glucose deprivation-induced MAPK activation is mediated through this signal transduction pathway.
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PMID:Differential effect of glucose deprivation on MAPK activation in drug sensitive human breast carcinoma MCF-7 and multidrug resistant MCF-7/ADR cells. 914 15

Stimulation of Rat-1 cells with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) results in a biphasic, sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1). Pretreatment of Rat-1 cells with either cycloheximide or sodium orthovanadate had little effect on the early peak of ERK1 activity but potentiated the sustained phase. Cycloheximide also potentiated ERK1 activation in Rat-1 cells expressing DeltaRaf-1:ER, an estradiol-regulated form of the oncogenic, human Raf-1. Since cycloheximide did not potentiate MEK activity but abrogated the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase (MKP-1) normally seen in response to EGF and LPA, we speculated that the level of MKP-1 expression may be an important regulator of ERK1 activity in Rat-1 cells. Inhibition of LPA-stimulated MEK and ERK activation with PD98059 and pertussis toxin, a selective inhibitor of Gi-protein-coupled signaling pathways, reduced LPA-stimulated MKP-1 expression by only 50%, suggesting the presence of additional MEK- and ERK-independent pathways for MKP-1 expression. Specific activation of the MEK/ERK pathway by DeltaRaf-1:ER had little or no effect on MKP-1 expression, suggesting that activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is necessary but not sufficient for MKP-1 expression in Rat-1 cells. Activation of PKC played little part in growth factor-stimulated MKP-1 expression, but LPA- and EGF-induced MKP-1 expression was blocked by buffering [Ca2+]i, leading to a potentiation of the sustained phase of ERK1 activation without potentiating MEK activity. In Rat-1DeltaRaf-1:ER cells, we observed a strong synergy of MKP-1 expression when cells were stimulated with estradiol in the presence of ionomycin, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or okadaic acid under conditions where these agents did not synergize for ERK activation. These results suggest that activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is insufficient to induce expression of MKP-1 but instead requires other signals, such as Ca2+, to fully reconstitute the response seen with growth factors. In this way, ERK-dependent and -independent signals may regulate MKP-1 expression, the magnitude of sustained ERK1 activity, and therefore gene expression.
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PMID:Regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 expression by extracellular signal-related kinase-dependent and Ca2+-dependent signal pathways in Rat-1 cells. 914 52


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