Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P04637 (p53)
 77,613 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The proto-oncogene, bcl-2, has various functions besides its role in protecting cells from apoptosis. One of the functions is to regulate expression of other genes. Previous studies have demonstrated that Bcl-2 regulates activities of several important transcription factors including NF-kappaB and p53, and also their downstream genes. In our recent studies, we reported that Bcl-2 substantially downregulates expression of the endogenous alphaB-crystallin gene through modulating the transcriptional activity of lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF). In the present communication, we report that human Bcl-2 can positively regulate expression of the proto-oncogenes c-jun and c-fos. Moreover, it enhances the DNA binding activity and transactivity of the activating protein-1 (AP-1). Furthermore, we present evidence to show that Bcl-2 can also activate both ERK1 and ERK2 MAP kinases. Inhibition of the activities of these kinases or the upstream activating kinases by pharmacological inhibitors or dominant-negative mutants abolishes the Bcl-2-mediated regulation of AP-1, LEDGF and their downstream genes. Together, our results demonstrate that through activation of the ERK kinase signaling pathway, Bcl-2 regulates the transcriptional activities of multiple transcription factors, and hence modulates the expression of their downstream genes. Thus, our results provide a mechanism to explain how Bcl-2 may regulate expression of other genes.
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PMID:Human Bcl-2 activates ERK signaling pathway to regulate activating protein-1, lens epithelium-derived growth factor and downstream genes. 1532 76

Activated Ras, operating through the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway, is known to regulate transcription of both Mdm2 and its inhibitor p19ARF, resulting in opposing effects on the tumor suppressor protein p53. We show here that a decrease in Ras in SW480 cells induced either by the Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) or by K-Ras antisense oligonucleotides, resulted in a similar increase in p53 protein. The increase in p53 was accompanied by an increase in p21(waf1/cip1) mRNA transcripts and protein. Consistent with the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK-mediated control of Mdm2, treatment of SW480 cells with the Ras inhibitor FTS caused a marked (80%) decrease in Mdm2, which itself would account for the increase in p53. However, FTS also caused a 1.6-fold increase in p53 mRNA, indicative of a Ras-dependent mechanism that regulates p53 transcription. Thus, oncogenic Ras appears to attenuate p53 in SW480 cells by two independent regulatory mechanisms, the one leading to increased Mdm2-dependent p53 degradation and the other leading to a decrease in p53 transcription.
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PMID:Ras inhibition leads to transcriptional activation of p53 and down-regulation of Mdm2: two mechanisms that cooperatively increase p53 function in colon cancer cells. 1533 31

A number of phenotypes persist in the progeny of irradiated cells for many generations including delayed reproductive death, cell transformation, genomic instability, and mutations. It appears likely that persistent phenotypes are inherited by an epigenetic mechanism, although very little is known about the nature of such a mechanism or how it is established. One hypothesis is that radiation causes a heritable increase in oxy-radical activity. In the present study, intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human lymphoblast clones derived from individually X-irradiated cells were monitored for about 55 generations after exposure. A number of clones derived from irradiated cells had an increase in dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence at various times. Cells with abrogated TP53 expression had a decreased oxidant response. Flow cytometry analysis of clones with increased fluorescence did not detect increases in the sub-G(1) fraction or decreased cell viability compared to nonirradiated clones, indicating that increased levels of apoptosis and cell death were not present. The oxidative stress response protein heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) was induced in some cultures derived from X-irradiated cells but not in cultures derived from unirradiated cells. The expression of the dual specificity mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphatase (MPK1/CL100), which is inducible by oxidative stress and has a role in modulating ERK signaling pathways, was also increased in the progeny of some irradiated cells. Finally, there was an increase in the phosphorylated tyrosine content of a prominent protein band of about 45 kDa. These results support the hypothesis that increased oxy-radical activity is a persistent effect in X-irradiated mammalian cells and further suggest that this may lead to changes in the expression of proteins involved in signal transduction.
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PMID:Increases in oxidative stress in the progeny of X-irradiated cells. 1544 41

The functional significance of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) p21(Cip1/WAF1) in paclitaxel-mediated lethality was examined in p53-null human leukemia cells (U937 and Jurkat). In these cells, paclitaxel exposure failed to induce p21(Cip1/Waf1) expression. Nevertheless, stable expression of U937 cells with a p21(Cip1/WAF1) antisense construct blocked paclitaxel-induced G(2)M arrest and increased mitochondrial injury, caspase activation, apoptosis, and loss of clonogenic potential. Consistent with these results, enforced expression of p21(Cip1/WAF1) in Jurkat cells increased the percentage of cells arrested in G2M and attenuated paclitaxel-mediated mitochondrial injury and apoptosis. Unexpectedly, enforced expression of p21(Cip1/WAF1) diminished paclitaxel-mediated inactivation of ERK, and reduced paclitaxel-induced activation of JNK as well as Bcl-2 phosphorylation. Together, these findings suggest that p21(Cip1/WAF1) partially protects p53-null human leukemia cells from paclitaxel-mediated lethality, and raise the possibility that p21(Cip1/WAF1)-associated perturbations in signal transduction pathways as well as Bcl-2 phosphorylation status may play a role in this phenomenon.
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PMID:The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(CIP1/WAF1) blocks paclitaxel-induced G2M arrest and attenuates mitochondrial injury and apoptosis in p53-null human leukemia cells. 1546 49

Even though RAS usually acts as a dominant transforming oncogene, in primary fibroblasts and some established cell lines Ras inhibits proliferation. This can explain the virtual absence of RAS mutations in some types of tumors, such as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We report that in the CML cell line K562 Ras induces p21Cip1 expression through the Raf-MEK-ERK pathway. Because K562 cells are deficient for p15INK4b, p16INK4a, p14ARF, and p53, this would be the main mechanism whereby Ras up-regulates p21 expression in these cells. Accordingly, we also found that Ras suppresses K562 growth by signaling through the Raf-ERK pathway. Because c-Myc and Ras cooperate in cell transformation and c-Myc is up-regulated in CML, we investigated the effect of c-Myc on Ras activity in K562 cells. c-Myc antagonized the induction of p21Cip1 mediated by oncogenic H-, K-, and N-Ras and by constitutively activated Raf and ERK2. Activation of the p21Cip1 promoter by Ras was dependent on Sp1/3 binding sites in K562. However, mutational analysis of the p21 promoter and the use of a Gal4-Sp1 chimeric protein strongly suggest that c-Myc affects Sp1 transcriptional activity but not the binding of Sp1 to the p21 promoter. c-Myc-mediated impairment of Ras activity on p21 expression required a transactivation domain, a DNA binding region, and a Max binding region. Moreover, the effect was independent of Miz1 binding to c-Myc. Consistent with its effect on p21Cip1 expression, c-Myc rescued cell growth inhibition induced by Ras. The data suggest that in particular tumor types, such as those associated with CML, c-Myc contributes to tumorigenesis by inhibiting Ras antiproliferative activity.
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PMID:Myc antagonizes Ras-mediated growth arrest in leukemia cells through the inhibition of the Ras-ERK-p21Cip1 pathway. 1552 12

Hydroxyurea is commonly used to treat hematologic disorders and some type of solid tumors, but the mechanism for its therapeutic effect is not clearly known. In this study, we examined the effect of hydroxyurea on rat hepatoma McA-RH7777 cells, specifically, on the role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signal transduction pathways and p21(Waf1), p27(Kip1) and p53. Rat hepatoma McA-RH7777 cells treated with hydroxyurea for 7 days, caused the inhibition of cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. But, this growth inhibition was not caused by necrosis or apoptosis but instead was associated with cell senescence-like change as evidenced by senescence associated-beta-galactosidase staining, and cells arrest at G1 phase of cell cycle. Phosphorylation of MAP kinases, such as ERK, JNK, and p38, was found to be decreased after treatment of cells with hydroxyurea. But, the expression of p21(Waf1) was increased, while p27(Kip1) and p53 were not detected in hydroxyurea treated rat hepatoma cells. Hydroxyurea treatment induced G1 arrest and a senescence-like changes in rat hepatoma McA-RH7777 cells may be the likely results of signal disruption of MAP kinases (ERK, JNK, and p38 MAP kinase) and p21(Waf1) over-expression.
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PMID:Involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases and p21Waf1 in hydroxyurea-induced G1 arrest and senescence of McA-RH7777 rat hepatoma cell line. 1555 22

Human WWOX gene encodes a proapoptotic WW domain-containing oxidoreductase WOX1 (also named WWOX, FOR2 or WWOXv1). Apoptotic and stress stimuli activate WOX1 via Tyr33 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. WOX1 possesses a tetrad NSYK motif in the C-terminal short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) domain, which may bind estrogen and androgen. Here, we determined that 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) activated WOX1, p53 and ERK in COS7 fibroblasts, primary lung epithelial cells, and androgen receptor (AR)-negative prostate DU145 cells, but not in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast MCF7 cells. Androgen also activated WOX1 in the AR-negative DU145 cells. These observations suggest that sex hormone-mediated Tyr33 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of WOX1 is independent of ER and AR. Stress stimuli increase physical binding of p53 with WOX1 in vivo. We determined here that E(2) increased the formation of p53/WOX1 complex and their nuclear translocation in COS7 cells; however, nuclear translocation of this complex could not occur in MCF7 cells. By immunohistochemistry, we determined that progression of prostate from normal to hyperplasia, cancerous and metastatic stages positively correlate with upregulation and activation of WOX1 and WOX2 (FOR1/WWOXv2). In contrast, breast cancer development to a premetastatic state is associated with upregulation and Tyr33 phosphorylation of cytosolic WOX1 and WOX2, followed by significant downregulation or absent expression during metastasis. These Tyr33-phosphorylated proteins are mostly located in the mitochondria without translocating to the nuclei, which is comparable to those findings in cultured breast cancer cells. Together, sex steroid hormone-induced activation of WOX1 and WOX2 is independent of ER and AR, and this activation positively correlates with cancerous progression of prostate and breast to a premetastatic state.
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PMID:17beta-Estradiol upregulates and activates WOX1/WWOXv1 and WOX2/WWOXv2 in vitro: potential role in cancerous progression of breast and prostate to a premetastatic state in vivo. 1558 Mar 10

Dmp1 prevents tumor formation by activating the Arf-p53 pathway. In cultured primary cells, the Dmp1 promoter was efficiently activated by oncogenic Ha-Ras(V12), but not by overexpressed c-Myc or E2F-1. Dmp1 promoter activation by Ras(V12) depended on Raf-MEK-ERK signaling. Induction of p19(Arf) and p21(Cip1) by oncogenic Raf was compromised in Dmp1-null cells, which were resistant to Raf-mediated premature senescence. A Ras(V12)-responsive element was mapped to the 5' leader sequence of the murine Dmp1 promoter, where endogenous Fos and Jun family proteins bind. Dmp1 promoter activation by Ras(V12) was strikingly impaired in c-Jun as well as in JunB knock-down cells, suggesting the critical role of Jun proteins in the activation of the Dmp1 promoter. A Ras(V12)-responsive element was mapped to the unique Dmp1/Ets site on the Arf promoter, where endogenous Dmp1 proteins bind upon oncogenic Raf activation. Therefore, activation of Arf by Ras/Raf signaling is indirectly mediated by Dmp1, explaining why Dmp1-null primary cells are highly susceptible to Ras-induced transformation. Our data indicate the presence of the novel Jun-Dmp1 pathway that directly links oncogenic Ras-Raf signaling and p19(Arf), independent of the classical cyclin D1/Cdk4-Rb-E2F pathway.
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PMID:Ras-Raf-Arf signaling critically depends on the Dmp1 transcription factor. 1560 44

This study first investigates the anticancer effect of asiatic acid in two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Asiatic acid exhibited effective cell growth inhibition by inducing cancer cells to undergo S-G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Blockade of cell cycle was associated with increased p21/WAF1 levels and reduced amounts of cyclinB1, cyclinA, Cdc2, and Cdc25C in a p53-independent manner. Asiatic acid also reduced Cdc2 function by increasing the association of p21/WAF1/Cdc2 complex and the level of inactivated phospho-Cdc2 and phospho-Cdc25C. Asiatic acid treatment triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway indicated by changing Bax/Bcl-2 ratios, cytochrome c release, and caspase-9 activation, but it did not act on Fas/Fas ligand pathways and the activation of caspase-8. We also found that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), and p38, but not c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), are critical mediators in asiatic acid-induced cell growth inhibition. U0126 [1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis(2-aminophenylthio)butadiene] or SB203580 [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole], specific inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase and p38 kinase activities, significantly decreased or delayed apoptosis. Asiatic acid was likely to confine the breast cancer cells in the S-G2/M phase mainly through the p38 pathway, because both SB203580 and p38 small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibition significantly attenuated the accumulation of inactive phospho-Cdc2 and phospho-Cdc25C proteins and the cell numbers of S-G2/M phase. Moreover, U0126 and ERK siRNA inhibition completely suppressed asiatic acid-induced Bcl-2 phosphorylation and Bax up-regulation, and caspase-9 activation. Together, these results imply a critical role for ERK1/2 and p38 but not JNK, p53, and Fas/Fas ligand in asiatic acid-induced S-G2/M arrest and apoptosis of human breast cancer cells.
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PMID:Asiatic acid, a triterpene, induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in human breast cancer cells. 1562 23

The 90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinases (RSK1-3) are important mediators of growth factor stimulation of cellular proliferation, survival, and differentiation and are activated via coordinated phosphorylation by ERK and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1). Here we performed the functional characterization of a predicted new human RSK homologue, RSK4. We showed that RSK4 is a predominantly cytosolic protein with very low expression and several characteristics of the RSK family kinases, including the presence of two functional kinase domains and a C-terminal docking site for ERK. Surprisingly, however, in all cell types analyzed, endogenous RSK4 was maximally (constitutively) activated under serum-starved conditions where other RSKs are inactive due to their requirement for growth factor stimulation. Constitutive activation appeared to result from constitutive phosphorylation of Ser232, Ser372, and Ser389, and the low basal ERK activity in serum-starved cells appeared to be sufficient for induction of approximately 50% of the constitutive RSK4 activity. Finally experiments in mouse embryonic stem cells with targeted deletion of the PDK1 gene suggested that PDK1 was not required for phosphorylation of Ser232, a key regulatory site in the activation loop of the N-terminal kinase domain, that in other RSKs is phosphorylated by PDK1. The unusual regulation and growth factor-independent kinase activity indicate that RSK4 is functionally distinct from other RSKs and may help explain recent findings suggesting that RSK4 can participate in non-growth factor signaling as for instance p53-induced growth arrest.
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PMID:Functional characterization of human RSK4, a new 90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase, reveals constitutive activation in most cell types. 1563 95


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