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Query: UNIPROT:P05412 (c-Jun)
 11,453 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

c-Jun belongs to a family of proteins that require dimerization for activity. Dimerization occurs through a leucine-rich region near the carboxy terminus called the leucine zipper. Jun can form dimeric complexes with other Jun family as well as Fos family members. The relative proportion of these different dimeric complexes is determined by the relative abundance of each family member at a particular time. Overexpression of v-Jun or c-Jun alone will lead to cell transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts, albeit with varying efficiencies. Upon overexpression, v-Jun or c-Jun presumably becomes the predominant AP-1 component in the cell. Theoretically, this should lead to a larger proportion of homodimers than heterodimers. It is not clear what role, if any, the other Jun and Fos family proteins play during cell transformation. We have examined the ability of Jun to induce cell transformation in chicken embryo fibroblasts in the absence of interaction with other Jun or Fos family proteins. To this end, we have constructed a chicken v-Jun mutant that is incapable of heterodimerization. This was accomplished by replacing the leucine zipper region of Jun with that of the yeast transcription factor GCN4. This chimeric protein, VJ-GLZ, retains all of the DNA binding and transcriptional activation domains of v-Jun. As expected, in vitro translated VJ-GLZ was found to be incapable of forming heterodimers with c-Fos, FosB, and JunD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Heterodimerization with c-Fos is not required for cell transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts by Jun. 147 69

c-Jun is a typical member of the bZIP (basic zipper) family of dimeric transcriptional activators. These proteins contain a basic region responsible for DNA sequence recognition and a leucine zipper that mediates dimerization. bZIP proteins regulate a large number of important physiological functions and, therefore, present an interesting target for molecular interference and mimicry. As a step toward the development of peptide and nonpeptide analogs of such proteins, we constructed a derivative of c-Jun that binds DNA as a monomer. This construction was done by connecting a second basic region to the natural basic region of c-Jun by means of a short peptide loop. Although the polypeptide backbone of the second basic region has an inverted polarity relative to that of the natural basic region, the monomeric c-Jun protein binds DNA with reasonably high affinity and indistinguishable specificity from the wild-type, dimeric c-Jun protein. Furthermore, the monomeric c-Jun protein can activate transcription in vivo. These findings indicate that the polypeptide backbone of the basic region contributes little to sequence recognition and that the leucine zipper is not directly involved in transcriptional activation.
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PMID:Construction and expression of a monomeric c-Jun protein that binds and activates transcription of AP-1-responsive genes. 152 63

We have investigated the role of the two AP-1 sites, located at approximately -150 and -180 bp relative to the transcription start site, in induction of the IL-2 promoter through the TCR/CD3 complex. We show that only the proximal (-150 bp) AP-1 site is functional in vitro, as judged by its ability to bind nuclear proteins from T cells stimulated with Ag or anti-CD3 epsilon. The inducible nuclear proteins binding to this site have the characteristics of AP-1, as judged by their kinetics of induction, the ability to compete and be competed efficiently by a metallothionein AP-1 site oligonucleotide, and their reaction with antibodies to Fos and Jun proteins. Mutations in the proximal AP-1 site greatly diminish or abrogate induction of the IL-2 promoter, indicating that the site is also functional in vivo. Although the distal (-180 bp) AP-1 site is incapable of direct binding to nuclear proteins from activated T cells, a mutation in this site diminishes IL-2 promoter induction, suggesting that this site may also be functional in vivo. Cotransfection of a 5' IL-2-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid with c-Fos and/or c-Jun enhances the induction of IL-2-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity, confirming that the IL-2 promoter contains a functional AP-1 site. Both AP-1 sites may be targets for c-Fos action, as inferred from the results of experiments in which c-Fos was cotransfected with internal deletion mutants of the IL-2 promoter lacking either AP-1 site. Northern analysis indicates that mRNAs for at least six members of the Fos/Jun family (c-fos, fosB, fra-1, c-jun, junB, and junD) are expressed in activated Ar-5 cells; thus the AP-1 sites of the IL-2 promoter may bind different dimeric Fos/Jun complexes at different times after T cell activation, perhaps mediating both positive and negative regulation of the IL-2 promoter.
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PMID:Analysis of the AP-1 sites in the IL-2 promoter. 173 37

Leucine zippers constitute a widely observed structural motif which serves to promote both homo- and heterodimerization in a number of DNA-binding proteins. As part of our ongoing efforts to characterize both the structure and the dynamical properties of this dimerization domain as they relate to biological function, we report here the secondary structure in solution of a recombinant dimeric peptide (rJunLZ) comprising residues Arg276-Asn314 of the leucine zipper domain of c-Jun. Two- and three-dimensional homo- and heteronuclear NMR experiments have allowed definition of the secondary structure of rJunLZ and have provided a total of approximately 1500 interproton distance and 62 phi dihedral angle constraints for tertiary structure calculations. Amide proton protection factors, calculated from hydrogen-deuterium exchange experiments, have identified 62 hydrogen bonds in the rJunLZ dimer. We have also examined the role of Asn22, the only polar residue situated at the hydrophobic dimer interface. Virtually all leucine zipper sequences contain such a polar residue (usually Asn) near the center of the motif. X-ray crystallographic studies showed that, in the case of the GCN4 homodimer, the polar residue (Asn) adopts an asymmetric conformation in an otherwise essentially symmetric structure. In contrast, all NMR studies of leucine zipper homodimers to date have suggested that the dimers are completely symmetric in solution. We present evidence that the side-chain amide protons of Asn22 are hydrogen-bonded in solution and that this side chain exchanges rapidly between two distinct conformations. On the basis of these observations, we propose a dynamic model which can explain the apparent differences in symmetry observed in NMR and X-ray crystallographic studies of leucine zipper homodimers. We show that mutation of Asn22 to a hydrophobic Leu residue markedly increases the thermal stability of the rJunLZ homodimer, consistent with a destabilizing role for this residue. However, at temperatures below 30 degrees C, the Asn22-->Leu mutant rearranges to form oligomers larger than the dimer, as was previously observed for the corresponding Asn-->Val mutation in the GCN4 leucine zipper. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the polar Asn residue commonly observed at the interface of leucine zippers imposes specificity for the dimer structure at the expense of stability [Harbury, P.B., Zhang, T., Kim, P.S., & Alber, T. (1993) Science 262, 1401-1407].
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PMID:Nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of the Jun leucine zipper domain: unusual properties of coiled-coil interfacial polar residues. 774 21

Jun and Fos are major components of the transcriptional complex AP-1 (Activator Protein-1), a collection of dimeric transcriptional activators composed of members of the Jun and Fos family of bZIP proteins, that bind to a common site known as TRE (TPA Responsive Element) or the AP-1 site. Transcription of c-jun is rapidly induced by exposure to different extra-cellular signals like growth factors, cytokines, tumor promoters (TPA), UV and other DNA-damaging agents. Transcriptional activation of c-jun is a two step mechanism. First, the pre-existing c-Jun protein is activated by posttranscriptional modifications, and second, modified c-Jun activates its own transcription, and the expression of AP-1-dependent genes. Modifications of c-Jun include dephosphorylations, phosphorylations and oxydo-reduction. The transcriptional activation by c-Jun is modulated by heterodimerization with other members of the bZIP family of proteins, and by transcriptional interference with other transcription factors like some members of the hormone nuclear receptors, or MyoD. AP-1 is tightly associated to both the control of cell proliferation and the oncogenic process. Constitutive activation of AP-1 leads to cell transformation in vitro, probably due to the accumulation of homodimeric c-Jun:c-Jun complexes. This hypothesis has been directly confirmed by constructing c-Jun hybrid proteins capable to form only homodimers. Deregulated expression of such proteins efficiently transforms primary cells in culture. These hybrid proteins constitute a powerful tool in order to identify new cellular functions AP-1-dependent, involved in the control of cell proliferation.
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PMID:[The C-Jun oncoprotein]. 820 56

c-Jun and c-Fos belong to the bZIP class of transcriptional activator proteins, many of which have been implicated in the neoplastic transformation of cells. We are interested in engineering dominant-negative leucine zipper (LZ) peptides as a means of sequestering these proteins in vivo in order to suppress their transcriptional regulatory activity. Toward this end, we have developed a novel immunoassay for measuring the dimerization affinities of dimeric Jun and Fos complexes. This peptide-based ELISA relies on the fact that Jun and Fos preferentially form heterodimers via their leucine zipper domains. Recombinant Jun leucine zipper peptides (either native JunLZ or a V36 --> E point mutant) were labeled with biotin and specifically bound through a leucine zipper interaction to a FosLZ-glutathione S-transferase fusion protein adsorbed onto the wells of an ELISA tray. Jun:Fos complexes were subsequently detected using a recently developed streptavidin-based amplification system known as enzyme complex amplification [Wilson, M. R., & Easterbrook-Smith, S.B. (1993) Anal. Biochem. 209, 183-187]. This ELISA system can detect subnanomolar concentrations of Jun and Fos, thus allowing determination of the dissociation constants for complex formation. The dissociation constant for formation of the native JunLZ:FosLZ heterodimer at 37 degrees C was determined to be 0.99 +/- 0.30 nM, while that for JunLZ(V36E):FosLZ heterodimer was 0.90 +/- 0.13 microM. These results demonstrate that the novel peptide-based ELISA described herein is simple and sensitive and can be used to rapidly screen for potential dominant-negative leucine zipper peptides.
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PMID:Development of a sensitive peptide-based immunoassay: application to detection of the Jun and Fos oncoproteins. 870 10

Activation of the transcriptional regulator AP-1, a dimeric complex formed of various combinations of Fos and Jun proteins, is a key step in the cellular response to mitogens. Because different dimers are believed to display different regulatory functions, we hypothesized that transformed cells that lack normal growth constraints might display AP-1 dimers that are different from those of normal cells. We therefore compared in primary and transformed rat hepatocytes (1) the composition of AP-1 dimers under basal conditions and (2) AP-1 induction by epidermal growth factor (EGF). Under basal conditions, AP-1 contained predominantly Jun homodimers in both cell types. However, whereas normal hepatocytes contained only JunD, both JunD and JunB were present in the AP-1 complex of 7777 cells. EGF treatment triggered almost identical programs of fos and jun gene activation at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level in both cell types, with an early accumulation of c-fos, c-jun, and junB mRNAs, but no change in junD mRNA levels. In both cell types, c-Fos and Fra-1 proteins increased after EGF treatment, but differences in the induction of Jun proteins were noted, with an increase of c-Jun in hepatocytes and an increase of JunB in 7777 cells. In both cell types, activation of AP-1 DNA binding activity by EGF was accompanied by the recruitment of Fra-1 into AP-1, detected earlier in 7777 cells than in hepatocytes, and with the transient appearance of c-Fos in 7777 cells only. Finally, EGF activated AP-1-dependent transcription in 7777 cells but not in hepatocytes. These data indicate important differences in the functional activity of AP-1 in transformed hepatocytes.
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PMID:Presence of distinct AP-1 dimers in normal and transformed rat hepatocytes under basal conditions and after epidermal growth factor stimulation. 939 87

Cellular transformation can be achieved by constitutive activation of growth-regulatory signaling pathways, which, in turn, activate nuclear transcription factors thought to execute a transformation-specific program of gene expression. Members of the dimeric transcription factor family AP-1 are at the receiving end of such growth-regulating pathways and the viral form of the AP-1 subunit Jun establishes one important aspect of transformation in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEFs): enhanced growth in agar and in low serum. Enhanced Jun activity is likely to target several different genetic programs as Jun forms heterodimers with one of several members of the Fos and ATF2 subfamilies, resulting in transcription factors with different sequence specificities. To identify the programs relevant for transformation, we have reduced the complexity of AP-1 factors by constructing Jun bZip mutants that can efficiently dimerize and transactivate with only a restricted set of partner subunits. Upon introduction into CEFs, a Jun mutant selective for the Fos family induced anchorage-independent growth but no growth factor-independence. In contrast, a c-Jun mutant with preference for ATF2-like proteins caused growth factor-independence, but no growth in agar. Coexpression of both mutants reestablished the combined transformation program as induced by wild-type Jun. These data show that Jun-dependent cell transformation can be resolved into at least two distinct and independent processes, anchorage and growth factor independence, obviously triggered by two classes of Jun heterodimers likely regulating different sets of target genes.
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PMID:Autocrine growth and anchorage independence: two complementing Jun-controlled genetic programs of cellular transformation. 955 51

A rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the enzyme activity measurement of three well-known mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, JNK2, ERK2, and p38 is described. The assay involves immobilization of the respective kinase substrates c-Jun, Elk1, or ATF2 on microtiter plates, addition of the kinase reaction mixture, and measurement of substrate phosphorylation using phospho-epitope-specific antibodies. This novel procedure represents a marked improvement to conventional radioactive MAP kinase assays in terms of quantification, precision, performance at physiological ATP concentration, high throughput, time consumption and amenability to automation. In addition to the standard solid phase assay using plastic-bound protein substrates, we developed an alternative solution phase protocol using soluble protein substrates. By comparing the results of the two assays, we found that MAP kinases retained much of their substrate specificity in the phosphorylation of immobilized protein substrates. Interestingly, we observed a strong preference of JNK2 and p38 for the phosphorylation of dimeric over monomeric substrates. We further characterized the kinase inhibitory activity of olomoucine, staurosporine, and SB 203580 for JNK2, ERK2, and p38. Taken together, this assay could assist in the biochemical characterization of MAP kinases and in identifying potent and specific inhibitors of these enzymes.
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PMID:Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of JNK, ERK, and p38 kinase activities. 979 43

This article reviews findings up to the end of 1997 about the inducible transcription factors (ITFs) c-Jun, JunB, JunD, c-Fos, FosB, Fra-1, Fra-2, Krox-20 (Egr-2) and Krox-24 (NGFI-A, Egr-1, Zif268); and the constitutive transcription factors (CTFs) CREB, CREM, ATF-2 and SRF as they pertain to gene expression in the mammalian nervous system. In the first part we consider basic facts about the expression and activity of these transcription factors: the organization of the encoding genes and their promoters, the second messenger cascades converging on their regulatory promoter sites, the control of their transcription, the binding to dimeric partners and to specific DNA sequences, their trans-activation potential, and their posttranslational modifications. In the second part we describe the expression and possible roles of these transcription factors in neural tissue: in the quiescent brain, during pre- and postnatal development, following sensory stimulation, nerve transection (axotomy), neurodegeneration and apoptosis, hypoxia-ischemia, generalized and limbic seizures, long-term potentiation and learning, drug dependence and withdrawal, and following stimulation by neurotransmitters, hormones and neurotrophins. We also describe their expression and possible roles in glial cells. Finally, we discuss the relevance of their expression for nervous system functioning under normal and patho-physiological conditions.
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PMID:Inducible and constitutive transcription factors in the mammalian nervous system: control of gene expression by Jun, Fos and Krox, and CREB/ATF proteins. 985 69


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