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)

We have previously reported that immobilized p21ras forms a GMPPNP-dependent complex with a MEK activity. Furthermore, the association of the MEK activity was found to be independent of the presence of Raf-1. We have extended those observations to show that MEK1 is the MEK activity previously described to associate with immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP. The association between MEK1 and immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP increased its specific activity towards p42MAPK. We detected the specific association of B-Raf with immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP. In contrast to Raf-1-immunodepleted lysates, preclearance of the cytosolic B-Raf significantly reduced, by 96%, the amount of MEK1 activity associated with immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP. The decrease in MEK1 activity correlated with complete loss in the binding of both B-Raf and MEK1 proteins with immobilized p21ras.GMPPNP. These data suggest that the p21ras.GMPPNP-dependent activation of MEK1 in brain extracts is dependent on the presence of the B-Raf protein kinase.
Mol Cell Biol 1994 Nov
PMID:Association of MEK1 with p21ras.GMPPNP is dependent on B-Raf. 793 30

LTE1 belongs to the CDC25 family that encodes a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for GTP-binding proteins of the ras family. Previously we have shown that LTE1 is essential for termination of M phase at low temperatures. We have identified TEM1 as a gene that, when present on a multicopy plasmid, suppresses the cold-sensitive phenotype of lte1. Sequence analysis of TEM1 and GTP-binding analysis of the gene product revealed that TEM1 encodes a novel low-molecular-weight GTP-binding protein. The defect of TEM1 was lethal, and the tem1-defective cells were arrested at telophase with high H1-kinase activity under restrictive conditions, indicating that TEM1 is required to exit from M phase. The defect of TEM1 was suppressed by a high dose of CDC15, which encodes a protein kinase homologous to mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases. The genetic interaction among LTE1, TEM1, and CDC15 indicates that they cooperatively play an essential role for termination of M phase.
Mol Cell Biol 1994 Nov
PMID:The yeast TEM1 gene, which encodes a GTP-binding protein, is involved in termination of M phase. 793 62

We have recently described the properties of delta Raf-1:ER, a fusion protein consisting of an oncogenic form of human Raf-1 and the hormone binding domain of the human estrogen receptor. In this study, we demonstrate that activation of delta Raf-1:ER in quiescent 3T3 cells (C2 cells), while sufficient to promote morphological oncogenic transformation, was insufficient to promote the entry of cells into DNA synthesis. Indeed, activation of delta Raf-1:ER potently inhibited the mitogenic response of cells to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) treatment. Addition of beta-estradiol to quiescent C2 cells led to rapid, sustained activation of delta Raf-1:ER and MEK but only two- to threefold activation of p42 mitogen-activating protein (MAP) kinase activity. Addition of PDGF or EGF to quiescent C2 cells in which delta Raf-1:ER was inactive led to rapid activation of Raf-1, MEK, and p42 MAP kinase activities, and entry of the cells into DNA synthesis. In contrast, when delta Raf-1:ER was activated in quiescent C2 cells prior to factor addition, there was a significant inhibition of certain aspects of the signaling response to subsequent treatment with PDGF or EGF. The expression and activation of PDGF receptors and the phosphorylation of p70S6K in response to PDGF treatment were unaffected by prior activation of delta Raf-1:ER. In contrast, PDGF-mediated activation of Raf-1 and p42 MAP kinases was significantly inhibited compared with that of controls. Interestingly, the mitogenic and signaling responses of quiescent C2 cells to stimulation with fetal bovine serum or phorbol myristate acetate were unaffected by prior activation of delta Raf-1:ER. It seems likely that at least two mechanisms contribute to the effects of delta Raf-1:ER in these cells. First, activation of delta Raf-1:ER appeared to uncouple the activation of Raf-1 from the activation of the PDGF receptor at the cell surface. This may be due to the fact that mSOS1 is constitutively phosphorylated as a consequence of the activation of delta Raf-1:ER. Second, quiescent C2 cells expressing activated delta Raf-1:ER appear to contain an inhibitor of the MAP kinase pathway that, because of its apparent sensitivity to sodium orthovanadate, may be a phosphotyrosine phosphatase. It is likely that the inhibitory effects of delta Raf-1:ER observed in these cells are a manifestation of the activation of some of the feedback inhibition pathways that normally modulate a cell's response to growth factors. 3T3 cells expressing delta Raf-1:ER will be a useful tool in unraveling the role of Raf-1 kinase activity in the regulation of such pathways.
Mol Cell Biol 1994 Dec
PMID:Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor- and epidermal growth factor-mediated mitogenesis and signaling in 3T3 cells expressing delta Raf-1:ER, an estradiol-regulated form of Raf-1. 796 25

Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of a physical complex containing p21ras (RAS), p74raf-1 (RAF-1), and MEK-1. Although it is clear that formation of this complex depends on the activation state of RAS, it is not known whether this complex is regulated by the activation state of the cell and whether MEK-2 is also present in the complex. To analyze the regulation and specificity of this complex, we utilized immobilized RAS to probe lysates of cultured NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and analyzed the proteins complexing with RAS following serum starvation or stimulation. Complex formation among RAS, RAF-1, and MEK-1 was dependent only on RAS:GMP-PNP and not on cell stimulation. Incubations of lysates with immobilized RAS depleted all RAF-1 from the lysate but bound only a small fraction of cytosolic MEK-1, and further MEK-1 could bind immobilized RAS only if exogenous RAF-1 was added to the lysate. This indicates that binding of MEK-1 to RAS depends on the presence of RAF-1 or an equivalent protein. In contrast to MEK-1, MEK-2 was not detected in the RAS signalling complex. A proline-rich region of MEK-1 containing a phosphorylation site appears to be essential for signalling complex formation. Consistent with the preferential binding of MEK-1 to RAS:RAF-1, the basal activity of MEK-1 in v-ras-transformed cells was found to be elevated sixfold, whereas MEK-2 was elevated only twofold, suggesting that the RAS signalling pathway favors MEK-1 activation.
Mol Cell Biol 1994 Dec
PMID:RAS and RAF-1 form a signalling complex with MEK-1 but not MEK-2. 796 58

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.
Mol Biol Cell 1994 Feb
PMID:MEK-1 phosphorylation by MEK kinase, Raf, and mitogen-activated protein kinase: analysis of phosphopeptides and regulation of activity. 801 5

The simian virus 40 small tumor antigen (small t) specifically interacts with protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A) in vivo and alters its catalytic activity in vitro. Among the substrates for PP2A in vitro are the activated forms of MEK and ERK kinases. Dephosphorylation of the activating phosphorylation sites on MEK and ERKs by PP2A in vitro results in a decrease in their respective kinase activities. Recently, it has been shown that overexpression of small t in CV-1 cells results in an inhibition of PP2A activity toward MEK and ERK2 and a constitutive upregulation of MEK and ERK2 activity. Previously, we have observed that overexpression of either ERK1, MEK1, or a constitutively active truncated form of c-Raf-1 (BXB) is insufficient to activate AP-1 in REF52 fibroblasts. We therefore examined whether overexpression of small t either alone or in conjunction with ERK1, MEK1, or BXB could activate AP-1. We found that coexpression of small t and either ERK1, MEK1, or BXB resulted in an increase in AP-1 activity, whereas expression of either small t or any of the kinases alone did not have any effect. Similarly, coexpression of small t and ERK1 activated serum response element-regulated promoters. Coexpression of kinase-deficient mutants of ERK1 and ERK2 inhibited the activation of AP-1 caused by expression of small t and either MEK1 or BXB. Coexpression of an interfering MEK, which inhibited AP-1 activation by small t and BXB, did not inhibit the activation of AP-1 caused by small t and ERK1. In contrast to REF52 cells, we observed that overexpression of either small or ERK1 alone in CV-1 cells was sufficient to stimulate AP-1 activity and that this stimulation was not enhanced by expression of small t and ERK1 together. These results show that the effects of small t on immediate-early gene expression depend on the cell type examined and suggest that the mitogen-activated protein kinase activation pathway is distinctly regulated in different cell types.
Mol Cell Biol 1994 Sep
PMID:Simian virus 40 small t antigen cooperates with mitogen-activated kinases to stimulate AP-1 activity. 806 56

MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinases are serine/threonine protein kinases and mediate intracellular phosphorylation events linking various extracellular signals to different cellular targets. MAP kinase, MAP kinase kinase and MAP kinase kinase kinase are functional protein kinase units that are conserved in several signal transduction pathways in animals and yeasts. Isolation of all three components was also shown in plants and suggests conservation of a protein kinase module in all eukaryotic cells. In plants, MAP kinase modules appear to be involved in ethylene signaling and auxin-induced cell proliferation. Therefore, coupling of different extracellular signals to different physiological responses is mediated by MAP kinase cascades and appears to have evolved from a single prototypical protein kinase module which has been adapted to the specific requirements of different organisms.
Plant Mol Biol 1994 Feb
PMID:MAP kinases: universal multi-purpose signaling tools. 812 84

We describe a novel Triton-disrupted mammalian cell system wherein the pathways for activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (MAPKs) are capable of direct biochemical manipulation in vitro. MAPKs p42mapk and p44mapk are activated in signal transduction cascade(s) initiated by occupancy of plasma membrane receptors for peptide growth factors, hormones, and neurotransmitters. One likely activation pathway for MAPKs consists of sequential activations of c-ras, c-raf-1, and a protein-tyrosine/threonine kinase, MAP kinase kinase. Triton-disrupted cells retained capacity for activation of the pathway by both peptide growth factors and by addition of GTP-loaded p21 rasVal12. Incubation of disrupted cells with an antibody that neutralized the function of c-ras (Y13-259) abolished receptor-mediated stimulation of MAPK as did acute addition of 200 microM azatyrosine. Activation of the pathway was reconstituted in a cell-free system using high-speed supernatants generated from Triton-disrupted cells together with purified plasma membranes from parental cells and as a heterogeneous system using purified plasma membranes from v-ras-transformed cells. These systems will allow biochemical dissection in vitro of the interaction(s) between c-ras and the MAPK pathway in mammalian cells.
Mol Biol Cell 1993 May
PMID:Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in Triton X-100 disrupted NIH-3T3 cells by p21 ras and in vitro by plasma membranes from NIH 3T3 cells. 833 4

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase homologue FUS3 mediates both transcription and G1 arrest in a pheromone-induced signal transduction cascade in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We report an in vitro kinase assay for FUS3 and its use in identifying candidate substrates. The assay requires catalytically active FUS3 and pheromone induction. STE7, a MAP kinase kinase homologue, is needed for maximal activity. At least seven proteins that specifically associate with FUS3 are phosphorylated in the assay. Many of these substrates are physiologically relevant and are affected by in vivo levels of numerous signal transduction components. One substrate is likely to be the transcription factor STE12. A second is likely to be FAR1, a protein required for G1 arrest. FAR1 was isolated as a multicopy suppressor of a nonarresting fus3 mutant and interacts with FUS3 in a two hybrid system. Consistent with this FAR1 is a good substrate in vitro and generates a FUS3-associated substrate of expected size. These data support a model in which FUS3 mediates transcription and G1 arrest by direct activation of STE12 and FAR1 and phosphorylates many other proteins involved in the response to pheromone.
Mol Biol Cell 1993 May
PMID:FUS3 phosphorylates multiple components of the mating signal transduction cascade: evidence for STE12 and FAR1. 833 5

Several protein kinases, including Mos, maturation-promoting factor (MPF), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK), are activated when Xenopus oocytes enter meiosis. De novo synthesis of the Mos protein is required for progesterone-induced meiotic maturation. Recently, bacterially synthesized maltose-binding protein (MBP)-Mos fusion protein was shown to be sufficient to initiate meiosis I and MPF activation in fully grown oocytes in the absence of protein synthesis. Here we show that MAP kinase is rapidly phosphorylated and activated following injection of wild-type, but not kinase-inactive mutant, MBP-Mos into fully grown oocytes. MAP kinase activation by MBP-Mos occurs within 20 min, much more rapidly than in progesterone-treated oocytes. The MBP-Mos fusion protein also activates MPF, but MPF activation does not occur until approximately 2 h after injection. Extracts from oocytes injected with wild-type but not kinase-inactive MBP-Mos contain an activity that can phosphorylate MAP kinase, suggesting that Mos directly or indirectly activates a MAPKK. Furthermore, activated MBP-Mos fusion protein is able to phosphorylate and activate a purified, phosphatase-treated, rabbit muscle MAPKK in vitro. Thus, in oocytes, Mos is an upstream activator of MAP kinase which may function through direct phosphorylation of MAPKK.
Mol Cell Biol 1993 Apr
PMID:Mos stimulates MAP kinase in Xenopus oocytes and activates a MAP kinase kinase in vitro. 838 11


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