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)

Saccharomyces cerevisiae FUS3/DAC2 protein kinase, a homolog of mammalian mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, inactivates a G1 cyclin encoded by the CLN3 gene to arrest cell division in the G1 phase and activates a transcriptional factor STE12 in response to mating pheromone during sexual conjugation. To elucidate the role of the FUS3/DAC2 gene product in the mating process, I constructed and characterized dac2 cln3 double mutants. Here, I show that FUS3/DAC2 is required for completion of cell fusion even in the dac2 cln3 double mutants in which the pheromone response is restored, suggesting that FUS3/DAC2 plays a positive role in cell fusion during conjugation. In addition, the cdc dac2 and cdc37 ste double mutants were constructed and investigated for their phenotypes to clarify the relationship between FUS3/DAC2, STE7 or STE11 and CDC gene products (CDC28, 36, 37 and 39). The results indicate that FUS3/DAC2 may act upstream of CDC28 and provide evidence that the G1 arrest and morphological changes conferred by the cdc37 mutation may require FUS3/DAC2 (MAP kinase), STE7(MEK) and STE11 (MEK kinase).
...
PMID:Yeast homolog of mammalian mitogen-activated protein kinase, FUS3/DAC2 kinase, is required both for cell fusion and for G1 arrest of the cell cycle and morphological changes by the cdc37 mutation. 784 75

Antioxidant response element (ARE) regulates the induction of a number of cellular antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. However, the signaling pathways that lead to ARE activation remain unknown. Here, we report that the expression of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1), transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase (TAK1), and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK1) in HepG2 cells activated the ARE reporter gene, whereas the expression of their dominant-negative mutants impaired ARE activation by the chemicals sodium arsenite and mercury chloride. Coexpression of downstream kinases, MAP kinase kinase 4, MAP kinase kinase 6, and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase-1, but not MAP kinase kinase 3 and p38, augmented ARE activation by MEKK1, TAK1, and ASK1. The coexpression of a basic leucine zipper transcription factor Nrf2 but not c-Jun also greatly enhanced the activation of reporter gene by MEKK1, TAK1, and ASK1; however, a dominant-negative mutant of Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) blocked this event. Furthermore, when overexpressed, MEKK1, TAK1, and ASK1 induced the expression of heme oxygenase-1, a gene regulated by ARE, and the cotransfection with the dominant-negative mutant of Nrf2 abolished the induction. Taken together, these results suggest that MAP kinase pathways that are activated by MEKK1, TAK1, and ASK1 may link chemical signals to Nrf2, leading to the activation of ARE-dependent genes.
...
PMID:Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways induces antioxidant response element-mediated gene expression via a Nrf2-dependent mechanism. 1098 82

Although cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)- and extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK)-mediated pathways have been linked to each other in neuronal differentiation, involvement of these in hippocampal neuronal cell line has not been defined. Using an immortalized hippocampal cell line, HiB5, we have tried a pairing of forskolin with KCl depolarization, which acts as an ERK and CREB kinase activator in hippocampal neurons, to investigate if an activation of ERK and phosphorylation of CREB at the critical regulatory site, serine 133 might be coupled in differentiation. Differentiation toward a neuronal phenotype was synergistically and markedly increased by the pairing of forskolin and KCl depolarization. The synergistic effect was accompanied by an increase in phosphorylation of CREB Ser-133, but not phosphorylation of ERK, and was not inhibited by MEK inhibitor, PD98059. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of the transcriptional factor CREB may function to facilitate differentiation of HiB5 cells.
...
PMID:Pairing of forskolin and KCl increases differentiation of immortalized hippocampal neurons in a CREB Serine 133 phosphorylation-dependent and extracellular-regulated protein kinase-independent manner. 1144 80

Previous studies demonstrate that interleukin-6 (IL-6) mediates growth and survival in human multiple myeloma (MM) cells via the MEK/MAPK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways, respectively. IL-6 also confers protection against Dexamethasone (Dex)-induced apoptosis via activation of protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHP2). In the current study, we characterized IL-6 triggered phophatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt kinase (PI3-K/Akt) signaling in MM cells. IL-6 induces Akt/PKB phosphorylation in a time and dose dependent manner in MM.1S MM cells. IL-6 also induced phosphorylation of downstream targets of Akt, including Bad, GSK-3beta, and FKHR, confirming Akt activation. Inhibition of Akt activation by the PI3-K inhibitor LY294002 partially blocked IL-6 triggered MEK/MAPK activation and proliferation in MM.1S cells, suggesting cross-talk between PI3-K and MEK signaling. We demonstrate that Dex-induced apoptosis in MM.1S cells is mediated by downstream activation of caspase-9, with resultant caspase-3 cleavage; and conversely, that IL-6 triggers activation of PI3-K and its association with SHP2, inactivates caspase-9, and protects against Dex-induced apoptosis. LY294002 completely abrogates this signaling cascade, further confirming the importance of PI3-K/Akt signaling in conferring the protective effect of IL-6 against Dex-induced apoptosis. Finally, we show that IL-6 triggered PI3-K/Akt signaling in MM.1S cells inactivates forkhead transcriptional factor (FKHR), with related G1/S phase transition, whereas LY294002 blocks this signaling, resulting in upregulation of p27(KIP1) and G1 growth arrest. Our data therefore suggest that PI3-K/Akt signaling mediates growth, survival, and cell cycle regulatory effects of IL-6 in MM.
...
PMID:Biologic sequelae of interleukin-6 induced PI3-K/Akt signaling in multiple myeloma. 1159 6

The signal pathway mediating induction of p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) during HepG2 growth inhibition triggered by the phorbol ester tumor promoter TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate) and the Chinese herb Saikosaponin a was investigated. Western blot of three activated forms of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38) demonstrated that phosphorylation of ERK is dramatically induced (11.6-fold ) by TPA during 15 min to 1 h and significantly induced (2.5-fold) by Saikosaponin alpha at 30 min, whereas phosphorylation of JNK was induced only by TPA during 30 min to 1 h. Phosphorylation of p38 was not induced by either drug. During this period, phosphorylation of one of the downstream transcriptional factors of MAPK cascade, ATF2, was 3.2- and 2.0-fold induced by TPA and Saikosaponin a, respectively, whereas that of another transcriptional factor, c-jun, was induced by TPA only. On the other hand, expressions of proto-oncogene c-jun, junB and c-fos were induced by TPA and Saikosaponin a during 30 min to 6 h of treatment. Pretreatment of 20 microg/ml PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK which is the upstream kinase of ERK, prevents the TPA- and Saikosaponin a-triggered HepG2 growth inhibition by 50 and 30%, respectively, accompanied by a 50 - 85% decrease of the p15(INK4b)/p16(INK4a) RNAs and proteins induced by both drugs. Inductions of c-fos RNA by both drugs and c-jun phosphorylation by TPA were also significantly reduced by PD98059 pretreatment. In addition, AP-1 DNA-binding assay using nonisotopic capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence (CE/LIF) demonstrated that the AP-1-related DNA-binding activity was significantly induced by TPA and Saikosaponin a, which can be reduced by PD98059 pretreatment. These results suggested that activation of ERK together with its downstream transcriptional machinery mediated p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) expression that led to HepG2 growth inhibition.
...
PMID:ERK signaling pathway is involved in p15INK4b/p16INK4a expression and HepG2 growth inhibition triggered by TPA and Saikosaponin a. 1259 82

The molecular mechanism of hypoxia-induced apoptosis has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we investigated the involvement of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK 1/2) in hypoxia-induced apoptosis using cobalt chloride in HeLa human cervical cancer cells. The cobalt chloride was used for the induction of hypoxia, and its IC(50) was 471.4 microM. We demonstrated the DNA fragmentation after incubation with concentrations more than 50 microM cobalt chloride for 24 h, and also evidenced the morphological changes of the cells undergoing apoptosis with electron microscopy. Next, we examined the signaling pathway of cobalt chloride-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. ERK1/2 activation occurred 6 and 9 h after treatment with 600 microM cobalt chloride. Meanwhile, the pretreatment of the MEK 1 inhibitor (PD98059) completely blocked the cobalt chloride-induced ERK 1/2 activation. At the same time, the activated ERK 1/2 translocated into the nucleus and phosphorylated its transcriptional factor, c-Jun. In addition, the pretreatment of PD98059 inhibited the cobalt chloride-induced DNA fragmentation and apoptotic cell death. These results suggest that cobalt chloride is able to induce apoptotic activity in HeLa cells, and its apoptotic mechanism may be associated with signal transduction via ERK 1/2.
...
PMID:Cobalt chloride-induced apoptosis and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase activation in human cervical cancer HeLa cells. 1453 30

Neurotrophin 3 (NT3) induces mouse cortical stem cells to an asymmetric division from a symmetric division, suggesting that NT3 may work as an early differentiative signal for neural stem cells (NSCs). Here, using cultured post-natal hippocampal stem cells as a model, we demonstrated that NT3-stimulation causes NSCs to differentiate into oligodendrocyte precursors (OLPs) through an extracellular signal-related kinase1/2 (Erk1/2)-dependent pathway. Following the treatment of NT3 for 24 h, NSCs differentiated into more OLPs and fewer neurons, whereas the proliferation and survival of OLPs were not affected. NT3 induced a series of intracellular responses including enhancement of phosphorylation of Erk1/2 or Akt and increase of expression of oligodendrocyte lineage gene (Olig)-1, a transcriptional factor known to participate in oligodendrocyte development. Application of U0126, a specific inhibitor of MEK1/2 which are upstream to Erk1/2, blocked the phosphorylation of Erk1/2, suppressed the expression of Olig-1 and prevented NSC differentiation into OLPs in response to NT3 stimulation. Blockade of TrkC also inhibited the differentiation of NSCs to OLPs induced by NT3. However, administration of LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), blocked the phosphorylation of Akt but did not affect the effect of NT3 on the expression of Olig-1 and on NSC differentiation into OLPs. Taken together, these results suggest that NT3 induce NSCs to differentiate into OLPs by enhancing the expression of Olig-1 through an Erk1/2-dependent pathway.
...
PMID:Erk1/2 but not PI3K pathway is required for neurotrophin 3-induced oligodendrocyte differentiation of post-natal neural stem cells. 1534 18

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is critical in the modulation of tumour angiogenesis in response to hypoxia. In the present study, the mechanisms underlying basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced activation of HIF-1 and the subsequent release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a human breast cancer cell line (T47D) under normoxic conditions were explored. The data show that HIF-1alpha expression is induced by bFGF in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, while increased HIF-1alpha protein expression and transactivity of HIF-1 are due to the phosphorylation of Akt by bFGF, as indicated by application of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitor LY294002. The data also show that the MEK1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1)/ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway is only involved in bFGF-induced transactivity of HIF-1, but not HIF-1alpha expression, indicating roles for both the PI-3K/Akt and the MEK1/ERK pathways in bFGF activity. In addition, the translation inhibitor cycloheximide confirmed that bFGF-induced HIF-1alpha protein expression was due to de novo protein synthesis. In contrast, p38 was not required for the expression of HIF-1alpha or HIF-1 transactivity, although significant phosphorylation of p38 was observed after bFGF treatment. Treatment of the cells with bFGF increased the amount of VEGF release, and this could be suppressed by either PD98059 or LY294002, suggesting the presence of a HIF-1alpha-dependent pathway for bFGF-induced VEGF production. In conclusion, the PI-3K/Akt and MEK1/ERK pathways, in a potentially independent and co-operative fashion, can modulate HIF-1 activation by bFGF. Further studies will pinpoint whether HIF-1 is the transcriptional factor responsible for the increased VEGF production following bFGF treatment of breast tumour cells.
...
PMID:In vitro study of HIF-1 activation and VEGF release by bFGF in the T47D breast cancer cell line under normoxic conditions: involvement of PI-3K/Akt and MEK1/ERK pathways. 1571 61

The survival of cardiomyocytes is regulated by growth factors and cytokines such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2 and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). BMP2 and LIF induce distinct signal transduction pathways that each activate a different transcription factor [Smad1 and signal transducing activating transcriptional factor (Stat) 3, respectively] and common signal pathway [mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)]. We previously demonstrated that BMP2 and LIF protect cardiomyocytes via Smad1 and STAT3 signaling pathways, respectively. On the other hand, these signals are known to act in synergy via synergistic integration of signaling pathways. Here, we examined interaction between BMP2 and LIF in primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. LIF sustained phosphorylation/activation of Smad1 by BMP2. The role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 cascade activated by LIF was highlighted by the use of a MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) 1/2 inhibitor, U0126, or overexpression of dominant-negative form of MEK1 that abolished sustained phosphorylation of Smad1 and cell survival effect induced by co-stimulation of LIF with BMP2, while BMP2 alone did not activate ERK1/2. Conversely, overexpression of the constitutive-active form of MEK1 increased BMP2-induced phosphoration of Smad1 without additional LIF. Moreover, BMP2 and LIF synergistically induced bcl-xL mRNA in doxorubicin (DOX)-injured cardiomyocytes. These findings suggest that the ERK1/2 pathway downstream of LIF is involved in sustained phosphorylation/activation of Smad1 by BMP2 and provide a possible mechanism for cooperation between intracellular signals activated by LIF and BMP2 in protection against DOX-induced injury of cardiomyocytes.
...
PMID:Cross-talk between bone morphogenetic protein 2 and leukemia inhibitory factor through ERK 1/2 and Smad1 in protection against doxorubicin-induced injury of cardiomyocytes. 1642 75

The ability of human neutrophils to express a variety of genes encoding inflammatory mediators is well documented, and mounting evidence suggests that neutrophil-derived cytokines and chemokines contribute to the recruitment of discrete leukocyte populations at inflammatory sites. Despite this, our understanding of the signaling intermediates governing the generation of inflammatory cytokines by neutrophils remains fragmentary. Here, we report that inhibitors of the p38 MAPK and MEK pathways substantially diminish the release of (and in the case of p38 inhibitors, the gene expression of) several inflammatory cytokines in neutrophils stimulated with LPS or TNF. In addition, various NF-kappaB inhibitors were found to profoundly impede the inducible gene expression and release of inflammatory cytokines in these cells. The MAPK inhibitors did not affect NF-kappaB activation; instead, the transcriptional effects of the p38 MAPK inhibitor appear to involve transcriptional factor IID. Conversely, the NF-kappaB inhibitors failed to affect the activation of MAPKs. Finally, the MAPK inhibitors were found to prevent the activation a key component of the translational machinery, S6 ribosomal protein, in keeping with their post-transcriptional impact on cytokine generation. To our knowledge, this constitutes the first demonstration that in neutrophils, the inducible expression of proinflammatory cytokines by physiological stimuli largely reflects the ability of the latter to activate NF-kappaB and selected MAPK pathways. Our data also raise the possibility that NF-kappaB or MAPK inhibitors could be useful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders in which neutrophils predominate.
...
PMID:Differential involvement of NF-kappaB and MAP kinase pathways in the generation of inflammatory cytokines by human neutrophils. 1706 2


1 2 3 4 5 Next >>