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 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, classically associated with cell growth and dependent on tyrosine kinases such as MAPK kinase (MEK), can modulate smooth muscle contractility, and our laboratory has tested the hypothesis that 5-HT can activate the MAPK pathway in arterial smooth muscle through activation of a 5-HT2A receptor. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors including genistein and the specific MEK inhibitor PD098059, but not the inactive tyrosine kinase congener daidzein reduced and shifted 5-HT-induced contraction rightward in isolated, endothelium-denuded rat arteries. Activation of a tyrosine kinase/MEK via the 5-HT2A receptor was partially independent of two major signaling pathways typically associated with the 5-HT2A receptor--activation of L-type voltage gated calcium channels and phospholipase C. Western analyses using antibodies directed against tyrosyl-phosphorylated-, activated Erk MAPK, and MEK proteins from cultured aortic smooth muscle cells demonstrated that 5-HT activated MEK and the Erk MAPKs in a time-, concentration-, receptor- and tyrosine kinase-dependent manner. Taken together, these findings provide evidence for a novel pathway of vascular signal transduction--activation of the MAPK pathway--for the 5-HT2A receptor.
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PMID:Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway via the 5-HT2A receptor. 992 53

In the present study, we investigated the involvement of Ca2+-signaling and protein kinases in the effect of Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors on the activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils. We found that activity and mobility on electrophoresis gels of the cPLA2 protein were significantly increased by f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and the Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors, thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid. This effect was completely suppressed by staurosporine. Calphostin C partially inhibited the fMLP- and PMA-induced cPLA 2 activation, but had no influence on thapsigargin- and cyclopiazonic acid-treated cells. Thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid also showed no effect on protein kinase C activity. However, the thapsigargin- and cyclopiazonic acid-induced cPLA2 activation was completely inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, erbstatin, and Ca2+ chelator, EGTA. In addition, the cPLA2 activity was reduced after pretreatment with the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059. The arachidonic acid release was significantly reduced in cells pretreated with the cPLA2 inhibitor, AACOCF3. Furthermore, we found that the human neutrophil cPLA2 cDNA contain a Ca2+-dependent-lipid binding domain which shares homology to several other enzymes such as protein kinase C and phospholipase C. Our results suggest that tyrosine kinases and the MAP kinase cascade are involved in Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor-induced activation and phosphorylation of cPLA2. Protein kinase C is not required in this event.
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PMID:Role of Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors in activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils. 993 28

A common feature of most isolated cell systems is low or undetectable levels of bioactive cytochrome P450. We therefore developed stable transfectants of the renal epithelial cell line, LLCPKcl4, that expressed an active regio- and enantioselective arachidonic acid (AA) epoxygenase. Site-specific mutagenesis was used to convert bacterial P450 BM-3 into an active regio- and stereoselective 14S,15R-epoxygenase (F87V BM-3). In clones expressing F87V BM-3 (F87V BM-3 cells), exogenous AA induced significant 14S,15R-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) production (241. 82 ng/10(8) cells, >97% of total EETs), whereas no detectable EETs were seen in cells transfected with vector alone. In F87V BM-3 cells, AA stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation and increased cell proliferation, which was blocked by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, by the phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI-3) kinase inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, and by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, PD98059. AA also induced tyrosine phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and PI-3 kinase that was inhibited by the cytochrome P450 BM-3 inhibitor, 17-ODYA. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased EET production in F87V BM-3 cells, which was completely abolished by pretreatment with either 17-ODYA or the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, quinacrine. Compared with vector-transfected cells, F87 BM-3 transfected cells demonstrated marked increases in both the extent and sensitivity of DNA synthesis in response to EGF. These changes occurred in the absence of significant differences in EGF receptor expression. As seen with exogenous AA, EGF increased ERK tyrosine phosphorylation to a significantly greater extent in F87V BM-3 cells than in vector-transfected cells. Furthermore, in these control cells, neither 17-ODYA nor quinacrine inhibited EGF-induced ERK tyrosine phosphorylation. On the other hand, in F87V BM-3 cells, both inhibitors reduced ERK tyrosine phosphorylation to levels indistinguishable from that seen in cells transfected with vector alone. These studies provide the first unequivocal evidence for a role for the AA epoxygenase pathway and endogenous EET synthesis in EGF-mediated signaling and mitogenesis and provide compelling evidence for the PLA2-AA-EET pathway as an important intracellular-signaling pathway in cells expressing high levels of cytochrome P450 epoxygenase.
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PMID:Transfection of an active cytochrome P450 arachidonic acid epoxygenase indicates that 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid functions as an intracellular second messenger in response to epidermal growth factor. 998 14

Activation of the extracellularly regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is part of the early biochemical events that follow lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of macrophages or their infection by virulent and attenuated Salmonella strains. Phagocytosis as well as the secretion of invasion-associated proteins is dispensable for ERK activation by the pathogen. Furthermore, the pathways used by Salmonella and LPS to stimulate ERK are identical, suggesting that kinase activation might be solely mediated by LPS. Both stimuli activate ERK by a mechanism involving herbimycin-dependent tyrosine kinase(s) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Phospholipase D activation and stimulation of protein kinase C appear to be intermediates in this novel pathway of MEK/ERK activation.
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PMID:Salmonella typhimurium and lipopolysaccharide stimulate extracellularly regulated kinase activation in macrophages by a mechanism involving phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and phospholipase D as novel intermediates. 1002 37

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades underlie long-term mitogenic, morphogenic, and secretory activities of purinergic receptors. In HEK-293 cells, N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) activates endogenous A2BARs that signal through Gs and Gq/11. UTP activates P2Y2 receptors and signals only through Gq/11. The MAPK isoforms, extracellular-signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK), are activated by NECA and UTP. H-89 blocks ERK activation by forskolin, but weakly affects the response to NECA or UTP. ERK activation by NECA or UTP is unaffected by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein), attenuated by a phospholipase C inhibitor (U73122), and is abolished by a MEK inhibitor (PD098059) or dominant negative Ras. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) by GF 109203X failed to block ERK activation by NECA or UTP, however, another PKC inhibitor, Ro 31-8220, which unlike GF 109203X, can block the zeta-isoform, and prevents UTP- but not NECA-induced ERK activation. In the presence of forskolin, Ro 31-8220 loses its ability to block UTP-stimulated ERK activation. PKA has opposing effects on B-Raf and c-Raf-1, both of which are found in HEK-293 cells. The data are explained by a model in which ERK activity is modulated by differential effects of PKC zeta and PKA on Raf isoforms.
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PMID:A2B adenosine and P2Y2 receptors stimulate mitogen-activated protein kinase in human embryonic kidney-293 cells. cross-talk between cyclic AMP and protein kinase c pathways. 1002 23

We have tested the hypothesis that growth factor signaling pathways are augmented in hypertension, a disease associated with vascular smooth muscle cell growth. Thoracic aorta was dissected from deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt (DOCA-salt) and one kidney, one clip (1K, 1C) hypertensive rats and from sham normotensive rats for use in isolated tissue bath experiments. Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in DOCA-salt and 1K, 1C than in normotensive sham rats: 192 +/- 7, 185 +/- 10, and 117 +/- 4 mmHg, respectively. Although virtually no contraction to epidermal growth factor (EGF) was observed in endothelium-denuded sham rat aorta [1 +/- 1% phenylephrine (PE) (10 micromol/l)-induced contraction], the maximal EGF-induced contraction was 45 +/- 7% in endothelium-denuded aorta from DOCA-salt hypertensive rats and 39 +/- 7% in aorta from 1K, 1C rats. Although slightly attenuated, a contraction to EGF was still observed in endothelium-intact aortic strips from 28-day DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. We also conducted concentration-response curves to EGF on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 of DOCA-salt therapy. A significant contraction to EGF in aorta from DOCA-salt rats was observed on day 14, when DOCA-salt rats had significantly higher blood pressure than sham rats: 188 +/- 6 and 122 +/- 3 mmHg, respectively. Transforming growth factor-alpha, an agonist of the EGF receptor, contracted DOCA-salt rat aorta (30 +/- 7% PE-induced contraction) but not sham aorta (3 +/- 3%). The EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor 4,5-dianilinophthalimide (10 micromol/l), the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor PD-098059 (10 micromol/l), and the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel inhibitor diltiazem (1 mol/l), but not the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (10 micromol/l), virtually abolished EGF-induced contraction (85, 98, and 99% reduction, respectively). These data support a striking difference in EGF signaling between normotensive and hypertensive animals. Furthermore, they provide evidence that growth factors should be considered vasoconstrictors as well as growth modulators in hypertension.
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PMID:Epidermal growth factor: a potent vasoconstrictor in experimental hypertension. 1007 82

The stress-activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), a member of the subgroup of mammalian kinases, appears to play an important role in regulating inflammatory responses, including cytokine secretion and apoptosis. The upstream mediators that link extracellular signals with the p38 MAPK signaling pathway are currently unknown. Here we demonstrate that pp125 focal adhesion kinase-related tyrosine kinase RAFTK (also known as PYK2, CADTK) is activated specifically by methylmethane sulfonate (MMS) and hyperosmolarity but not by ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation, or cis-platinum. Overexpression of RAFTK leads to the activation of p38 MAPK. Furthermore, overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of RAFTK (RAFTK K-M) inhibits MMS-induced p38 MAPK activation. MKK3 and MKK6 are known potential constituents of p38 MAPK signaling pathway, whereas SEK1 and MEK1 are upstream activators of SAPK/JNK and ERK pathways, respectively. We observe that the dominant-negative mutant of MKK3 but not of MKK6, SEK1, or MEK1 inhibits RAFTK-induced p38 MAPK activity. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that treatment of cells with 1, 2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, tetra(acetoxymethyl)-ester, a membrane-permeable calcium chelator, inhibits MMS-induced activation of RAFTK and p38 MAPK. Taken together, these findings indicate that RAFTK represents a stress-sensitive mediator of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in response to certain cytotoxic agents.
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PMID:Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase by PYK2/related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase-dependent mechanism. 1018 97

1. Methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate (MAFP), an inhibitor of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), has been widely used to assess the roles of PLA2 in various cell functions. Here, we report on a novel action of this compound at concentrations similar to those used for PLA2 inhibition. 2. The murine macrophage J774 released a large amount of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by MAFP (1-30 microM), which was abolished by indomethacin and NS-398 but not by valeryl salicylate, and results from increased cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein levels and gene expression. 3. This PGE2 release was blocked by inhibitors of tyrosine kinase (genistein), protein kinase C (PKC) (Ro 31-8220, Go 6976 or LY 379196), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) (PD 098059) or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (SB 203580). 4. Consistent with these results, MAFP caused membrane translocation of PKCbetaI and betaII isoforms and activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK. 5. In accordance with these effects of MAFP, PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased PGE2 release and caused activation of PKCbeta, ERKs and p38 MAPK. 6. This is the first report that the PLA2 inhibitor, MAFP, can induce COX-2 gene expression and PGE2 synthesis via the PKC-, ERK- and p38 MAPK-dependent pathways. Thus, the use of MAFP as a PLA2 inhibitor should be treated with caution.
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PMID:Induction of cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression by methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate in murine J774 macrophages: roles of protein kinase C, ERKs and p38 MAPK. 1021 36

Physiological concentrations of glucose that lead to Ca2+ entry and insulin secretion activate extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) in the MIN6 pancreatic beta-cell line. Here we show that this activation is inhibited by the down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) and by genistein, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases. In contrast with results obtained in other cell types, neither the epidermal growth factor activity nor the Src family protein tyrosine kinases seem to be involved in the Ca2+-dependent activation of ERKs. inhibition of tyrosine phosphatases by vanadate leads to the activation of ERKs. As observed in the response to glucose, this activation is dependent on Ca2+ entry through L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Thus the activation of ERKs in response to glucose depends on PKC and possibly on a tyrosine kinase/tyrosine phosphatase couple. To define the role of ERK activation by glucose we studied the regulation of transcription of the insulin gene. We found that this transcription is regulated in the MIN6 cells in the same range of glucose concentration as in primary islets, and that specific inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, the direct activator of ERK, impaired the response of the insulin gene to glucose. This was observed by analysis of the transfected rat insulin I gene promoter activity and a Northern blot of endogenous insulin mRNA.
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PMID:Mode of regulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases in the pancreatic beta-cell line MIN6 and their implication in the regulation of insulin gene transcription. 1022 78

KDR/FIk-1 tyrosine kinase, one of the two VEGF receptors induces mitogenesis and differentiation of vascular endothelial cells. We have previously reported that a major target molecule of KDR/Flk-1 kinase is PLC-gamma, and that VEGF induces activation of MAP kinase, mainly mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) in the NIH3T3 cells overexpressing KDR/FIk-1 (Takahashi and Shibuya, 1997). However, the signal transduction initiated from VEGF in endothelial cells remains to be elucidated. In primary sinusoidal endothelial cells which showed strictly VEGF-dependent growth, we found that VEGF stimulated the activation of Raf-1-MEK-MAP kinase cascade. To our surprise, an important regulator, Ras was not efficiently activated to a significant level in response to VEGF. Consistent with this, dominant-negative Ras did not block the VEGF-induced phosphorylation of MAP kinase. On the other hand, PKC-specific inhibitors severely reduced VEGF-dependent phosphorylation of MEK, activation of MAP kinase and subsequent DNA synthesis. A potent PI3 kinase inhibitor, Wortmannin, could not inhibit either of them. These results suggest that in primary endothelial cells, VEGF-induced activation of Raf-MEK-MAP kinase and DNA synthesis are mainly mediated by PKC-dependent pathway, much more than by Ras-dependent or PI3 kinase-dependent pathway.
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PMID:VEGF activates protein kinase C-dependent, but Ras-independent Raf-MEK-MAP kinase pathway for DNA synthesis in primary endothelial cells. 1032 68


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