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Query: EC:3.1.3.16 (
calcineurin
)
17,112
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
A new facet of calcium signalling involves the nuclear import of the NF-AT transcription factors from their dormant position in the cytoplasm. The
protein phosphatase
calcineurin
appears to play an essential role in activating NF-AT nuclear import, as the
calcineurin
inhibitors cyclosporin A and FK506 block dephosphorylation and nuclear import of NF-AT (refs 4-7). Here we show that calcium signalling induces an association between
NF-AT4
and
calcineurin
, and that these molecules are transported, as a complex, to the nucleus, where
calcineurin
continues to dephosphorylate
NF-AT4
. We propose that a nuclear complex of
NF-AT4
and
calcineurin
maintains calcium signalling by counteracting a vigorous nuclear NF-AT kinase.
...
PMID:Role of kinases and the phosphatase calcineurin in the nuclear shuttling of transcription factor NF-AT4. 868 69
The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) group of transcription factors is retained in the cytoplasm of quiescent cells. NFAT activation is mediated in part by induced nuclear import. This process requires calcium-dependent dephosphorylation of NFAT caused by the phosphatase
calcineurin
. The c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylates
NFAT4
on two sites. Mutational removal of the JNK phosphorylation sites caused constitutive nuclear localization of
NFAT4
. In contrast, JNK activation in
calcineurin
-stimulated cells caused nuclear exclusion of
NFAT4
. These findings show that the nuclear accumulation of
NFAT4
promoted by
calcineurin
is opposed by the JNK signal transduction pathway.
...
PMID:Nuclear accumulation of NFAT4 opposed by the JNK signal transduction pathway. 937 67
T cell activation requires the import of NF-AT transcription factors to the nucleus, a process promoted by
calcineurin
-dependent dephosphorylation and inhibited by poorly understood protein kinases. Here, we report the identification of two protein kinases that oppose
NF-AT4
nuclear import. Casein kinase Ialpha directly binds and phosphorylates
NF-AT4
, resulting in the inhibiton of
NF-AT4
nuclear translocation. MEKK1 indirectly suppresses
NF-AT4
nuclear import by stabilizing the interaction between
NF-AT4
and CKIalpha. CKIalpha thus acts to establish an intramolecular masking of the nuclear location signal on
NF-AT4
, while MEKK1 augments this mechanism, and may further provide a link to signal transduction pathways regulating
NF-AT4
.
...
PMID:Intramolecular masking of nuclear import signal on NF-AT4 by casein kinase I and MEKK1. 963 Feb 28
The family of genuine NF-AT transcription factors consists of four members (NF-AT1 [or NF-ATp], NF-AT2 [or NF-ATc], NF-AT3 and
NF-AT4
[or NF-ATx]) which are characterized by a highly conserved DNA binding domain (is designated as Rel similarity domain) and a
calcineurin
binding domain. The binding of the Ca(2+)-dependent phosphatase
calcineurin
to this region controls the nuclear import and exit of NF-ATs. This review deals (1) with the structure of NF-AT proteins, (2) the DNA binding of NF-AT factors and their interaction with AP-1, (3) NF-AT target genes, (4) signalling pathways leading to NF-AT activation: the role of protein kinases and
calcineurin
, (5) the nuclear entry and exit of NF-AT factors, (6) transcriptional transactivation by NF-AT factors, (7) the structure and expression of the chromosomal NF-AT2 gene, and (8) NF-AT factors in Th cell differentiation. The experimental data presented and discussed in the review show that NF-AT factors are major players in the control of T cell activation and differentiation and, in all likelihood, also of the cell cycle and apoptosis of T lymphocytes.
...
PMID:The role of NF-AT transcription factors in T cell activation and differentiation. 1104 46
The transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) plays a central role in mediating Ca(2+)-dependent gene transcription in a variety of cell types. Sustained increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) are presumed to be required for NFAT dephosphorylation by the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein
calcineurin
and its subsequent nuclear translocation. Here, we provide the first identification and characterization of NFAT in native smooth muscle, showing that
NFAT4
is the predominant isoform detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. PDGF induces
NFAT4
translocation in smooth muscle, leading to an increase in NFAT transcriptional activity.
NFAT4
activation by PDGF depends on Ca(2+) entry through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels, because its nuclear accumulation is prevented by the Ca(2+) channel blocker nisoldipine and the K(+) channel opener pinacidil. Interestingly, elevation of [Ca(2+)]i by membrane depolarization or ionomycin treatment are not effective stimuli for
NFAT4
nuclear accumulation, indicating that Ca(2+) influx is necessary but not sufficient for
NFAT4
activation. In contrast, membrane depolarization readily activates the Ca(2+)-dependent transcription factor CREB (cAMP-responsive element-binding protein). The
calcineurin
blockers CsA and FK506 also prevented the PDGF-induced
NFAT4
nuclear localization. These results indicate that both the nature of the calcium signal and PDGF-induced modulation of nuclear import-export of NFAT are critical for
NFAT4
activation in this tissue.
...
PMID:NFAT4 movement in native smooth muscle. A role for differential Ca(2+) signaling. 1127 65
The Ca(2+) signal facilitates nuclear translocation of NFAT through the dephosphorylation of clustered serine residues in the calcium regulatory domain by the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase
calcineurin
. The conformation of dephosphorylated NFAT exposes the nuclear localization signal for translocation into the nucleus and masks the nuclear export sequence to keep the protein in the nucleus. It has been reported that deletion of some serine-rich motifs masking the nuclear localization signal results in the translocation of NFAT into the nucleus, but that the nuclear export sequence located at the N terminus also needs to be deleted for NFATx (
NFAT4
/NFATc3) to exert efficient transactivation function. Here, we report that deletion of the critical serine-rich motifs of NFATx leads to a conformation that efficiently exposes the nuclear localization signal and that has stronger transcription activity compared with the fully activated wild-type protein in the presence of the nuclear export sequence. This also suggests that the regulation of the transactivation domain by phosphorylation observed in NFAT1 may not contribute significantly to the transcription activity of NFATx. The expression of this constitutively nuclear form of NFATx in the CD4(+)CD8(+) T cell line facilitates differentiation into the CD4 single-positive stage upon stimulation with phorbol ester. Our data suggest that NFATx is involved in the regulation of co-receptor expression during differentiation into the CD4 single-positive stage.
...
PMID:A constitutively nuclear form of NFATx shows efficient transactivation activity and induces differentiation of CD4(+)CD8(+) T cells. 1199 92
Nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) and
calcineurin
are essential regulators of immune cell and mesenchymal cell differentiation. Here we show that elevated intracellular calcium induces chondrogenesis through a
calcineurin
/NFAT signaling axis that activates bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) expression. The calcium ionophore, ionomycin, induced chondrogenesis through activation of
calcineurin
. The
calcineurin
substrate,
NFAT4
, also induced chondrogenesis and chondrocyte gene expression. Significantly, the BMP antagonist, noggin, or dominant negative BMP receptors blocked the effects of elevated intracellular calcium on chondrogenesis. This suggested that
calcineurin
/
NFAT4
activates BMP expression. Consistent with this, BMP2 gene expression was increased by ionomycin and suppressed by the calcineurin inhibitor, cyclosporine A. Furthermore, activated
NFAT4
induced BMP2 gene expression. These results have important implications for the effects of NFATs during development and adaptive responses.
...
PMID:Calcineurin and NFAT4 induce chondrogenesis. 1223 9
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and bone morphogenetic proteins strongly regulate chondrogenesis and chondrocyte gene expression. The interactions of the signaling pathways initiated by these factors are central to the control of chondrocyte differentiation. Here we show that calcium-dependent signals induce expression of FGF18, an essential regulator of bone and cartilage differentiation. The induction of FGF18 expression required the calcium-dependent phosphatase,
calcineurin
. The activated forms of
calcineurin
or the
calcineurin
-dependent transcription factor,
NFAT4
(nuclear factor of activated T-cell 4), induced FGF18 expression. FGF18 or a constitutive active FGF receptor suppressed noggin gene induction and thereby increased chondrocyte gene expression and chondrogenesis by facilitating bone morphogenetic protein-dependent signals. These findings reinforce the interdependence of bone morphogenetic protein and FGF signaling and provide a rational explanation for abnormal bone development occurring in humans or mice with constitutively active FGF receptors.
...
PMID:FGF18 represses noggin expression and is induced by calcineurin. 1525 29
GHRH plays a pivotal role in the regulation of both synthesis and secretion of GH in the anterior pituitary. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanism of depolarization-induced GHRH gene transcription using the hypothalamus cell line, Gsh+/+, revealing the involvement of the transcription factor called nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). GHRH, NFAT1,
NFAT4
, and related genes were endogenously expressed in Gsh+/+ cells and the rat arcuate nucleus, where NFAT1 and GHRH were colocalized. Cellular excitation with high potassium potently stimulated endogenous GHRH gene 5'-promoter activity as well as the NFAT-mediated gene transcription, the former being further enhanced by coexpression of NFAT. On the other hand, cyclosporin A (a
calcineurin
-NFAT inhibitor) or EGTA (a calcium chelator) significantly blocked the depolarization-induced GHRH gene transcription. EMSA and site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed the direct binding of NFAT at five sites of the GHRH promoter, among which the relative importance of three distal sites (-417/-403, -402/-387, -317/-301) was suggested. Finally, elimination of all five sites completely abolished the NFAT-induced GHRH gene up-regulation. Altogether, our results suggest that the transcription factor NFAT is involved in the depolarization-induced transcriptional activation of GHRH gene in the neuronal cells.
...
PMID:Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is involved in the depolarization-induced activation of growth hormone-releasing hormone gene transcription in vitro. 1531 55
Transcription factors activated in response to T cell receptor (TCR) signaling include nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family, which is highly phosphorylated and thereby maintained in the cytoplasm of resting T cells, the nuclear factor NF-kappaB, which is kept in the cytoplasm of resting cells through its association with the inhibitor protein IkappaB, and activating protein-1 (AP-1), which is only transcribed after TCR stimulation. Negative regulators of TCR signaling can be divided into two groups: Class 1 regulators help maintain the quiescent state of unstimulated T cells, whereas class 2 regulators are themselves transcriptionally induced in response to TCR signaling and serve to limit and terminate the activating signal. Class 1 regulators include the autoinhibitory domain of the phosphatase
calcineurin
; IkappaB and its transcriptional activators Foxj1 and Foxo3a; and various transcriptional coregulators that inhibit interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. Class 2 regulators include the calcipressins, which, like NFATp and
NFAT4
are feedback inhibitors of
calcineurin
-NFAT signaling, IkappaB, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatases, which inhibit MAPK signaling and thus the nuclear localization of AP-1 components.
...
PMID:The yins of T cell activation. 1563 17
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