Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P05412 (c-Jun)
 11,453 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The two MAP kinases JNK and ERK direct distinct cellular activities even though they share a number of common substrates, including several transcription factors. Here we have compared JNK and ERK signalling during PC12 cell differentiation and investigated how activation of c-Jun by the MAPKs contributes to this cellular response. Exposure to nerve growth factor, or expression of constitutively active MEK1-two treatments which cause differentiation of PC12 cells into a neuronal phenotype-result in activation of ERK-type MAP kinases and phosphorylation of c-Jun on several sites including Ser63 and Ser73. Constitutively activated c-Jun, which mimics the MAPK-phosphorylated form of the protein, can induce neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells independently of upstream signals. Conversely, expression of dominant-negative c-JunbZIP prevents neurite outgrowth induced by activated MEK1. Activation of MEKK1, which stimulates the JNK pathway, is not sufficient for PC12 cell differentiation but can induce apoptosis. However, neurite outgrowth is triggered when c-Jun is co-expressed with activated MEKK1 or SEK1. Consistently, MEK-induced ERK activation in PC12 cells induces c-Jun expression, while JNK signalling does not. Therefore, dual input of expression and phosphorylation of c-Jun provided by the ERK pathway is required to direct neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells.
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PMID:Differential regulation of c-Jun by ERK and JNK during PC12 cell differentiation. 968 8

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways are believed to act as critical signal transducers between stress stimuli and transcriptional responses in mammalian cells. However, it is not known whether these signaling cascades also participate in the response to injury in human tissues. To determine whether injury to the vastus lateralis muscle activates MAP kinase signaling in human subjects, two needle biopsies or open muscle biopsies were taken from the same incision site 30-60 min apart. The muscle biopsy procedures resulted in striking increases in dual phosphorylation of the extracellular-regulated kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) and in activity of the downstream substrate, the p90 ribosomal S6 kinase. Raf-1 kinase and MAP kinase kinase, upstream activators of ERK, were also markedly stimulated in all subjects. In addition, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and p38 kinase, components of two parallel MAP kinase pathways, were activated following muscle injury. The stimulation of the three MAP kinase cascades was present only in the immediate vicinity of the injury, a finding consistent with a local rather than systemic activation of these signaling cascades in response to injury. These data demonstrate that muscle injury induces the stimulation of the three MAP kinase cascades in human skeletal muscle, suggesting a physiological relevance of these protein kinases in the immediate response to tissue injury and possibly in the initiation of wound healing.
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PMID:Extracellular-regulated protein kinase cascades are activated in response to injury in human skeletal muscle. 968 10

Overexpression of the c-Jun transcription factor in rodent fibroblasts may result in cell transformation or in apoptosis. The mechanisms whereby c-Jun induces transformation are unknown. We show here that the expression of high-molecular weight tropomyosin-2 (TM-2) is down-regulated in c-jun-transformed FR3T3 rat fibroblasts. However, down-regulation did not seem to be a direct effect of c-Jun on TM-2 gene expression. Thus, TM down-regulation in c-jun-transformed cells was alleviated by inhibitors of Ras (BZA-5B) or MEK1 (PD98059). Furthermore, medium conditioned by c-jun-transformed cells induced TM-2 down-regulation in untransformed cells by a mechanism requiring MEK1. Consistent with a central role for the MEK/ERK, but not SEK/JNK, pathway for TM down-regulation, constitutively active mutants of Raf induced TM down-regulation, whereas constitutively active Rac did not. We also show that anchorage-independent growth of c-jun-transformed cells requires MEK1. These findings suggest that indirect induction of the MEK/ERK pathway is central to c-Jun-induced transformation of rat fibroblasts.
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PMID:Down-regulation of tropomyosin-2 expression in c-Jun-transformed rat fibroblasts involves induction of a MEK1-dependent autocrine loop. 969 Jun 24

Among its diverse biological actions, the vasoactive peptide bradykinin (BK) induces the transcription factor AP-1 and proliferation of mesangial cells (S. S. El-Dahr, S. Dipp, I. V. Yosipiv, and W. H. Baricos. Kidney Int. 50: 1850-1855, 1996). In the present study, we examined the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the mitogen-activated protein kinases, ERK1/2,in mediating BK-induced AP-1 and DNA replication in cultured rat mesangial cells. BK (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) stimulated a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple proteins with an estimated molecular mass of 120-130, 90-95, and 44-42 kDa. Immunoblots using antibodies specific for ERK or tyrosine-phosphorylated ERK revealed a shifting of p42 ERK2 to a higher molecular weight that correlated temporally with an increase in tyrosine-phosphorylated ERK2. Genistein, a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, prevented the phosphorylation of ERK2 by BK. In-gel kinase assays indicated that BK-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK2 is accompanied by fourfold activation of its phosphotransferase activity toward the substrate PHAS-I (P < 0.05). Furthermore, BK stimulated a 2.5-fold increase (P < 0.05) in phosphorylation of Elk-1, a transcription factor required for growth factor-induced c-fos transcription. In accord with the stimulation of Elk-1 phosphorylation, BK induced c-fos gene expression and the production of Fos/AP-1 complexes. In addition, thymidine incorporation into DNA increased twofold (P < 0. 05) following BK stimulation. Each of these effects was blocked by tyrosine kinase inhibition with genistein or herbimycin A. Similarly, antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting of ERK1/2 mRNA inhibited BK-stimulated DNA synthesis. In contrast, protein kinase C inhibition or depletion had no effect on BK-induced c-fos mRNA, AP-1-DNA binding activity, or DNA synthesis. Collectively, these data demonstrate that BK activates the ERK-->Elk-1-->AP-1 pathway and that BK mitogenic signaling is critically dependent on protein tyrosine phosphorylation.
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PMID:Bradykinin stimulates the ERK-->Elk-1-->Fos/AP-1 pathway in mesangial cells. 972 6

Theileria parasitises bovine leukocytes and transforms them into proliferating, metastatic tumours, where the infection resembles a leukaemia-like disease. We have studied the signal transduction pathways leading to activation of the transcription factor AP-1 in different transformed leukocytes. Parasite infection leads to an up-regulation of all members of the Jun/Fos family of proteins and surprisingly, this occurs in the absence of any detectable ERK, or p38 MAP kinase activity. In the parasitised B-sarcoma TBL3, AP-1 induction occurs in the absence of any JNK activity. In contrast, in infected macrophage and B-cell lines, AP-1 transcriptional activity is strictly associated with the parasite-induced constitutive activation of JNK and subsequent c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation. Thus, constant AP-1 transcriptional activity involves both an upregulation in the levels of Jun and Fos proteins and constitutive JNK activation.
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PMID:Upregulation of Jun and Fos family members and permanent JNK activity lead to constitutive AP-1 activation in Theileria-transformed leukocytes. 974 72

Adherent cells assemble fibronectin into a fibrillar matrix on their apical surface. The fibril formation is initiated by fibronectin binding to the integrins alpha5 beta1 and alphav beta3, and is completed by a process that includes fibronectin self-assembly. We found that a 76- amino acid fragment of fibronectin (III1-C) that forms one of the self-assembly sites caused disassembly of preformed fibronectin matrix without affecting cell adhesion. Treating attached fibroblasts or endothelial cells with III1-C inhibited cell migration and proliferation. Rho-dependent stress fiber formation and Rho-dependent focal contact protein phosphorylation were also inhibited, whereas Cdc42 was activated, leading to actin polymerization into filopodia. ACK (activated Cdc42-binding kinase) and p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), two downstream effectors of Cdc42, were activated, whereas PAK (p21-activated kinase) and JNK/SAPK (c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase/ stress-activated protein kinase) were inhibited. III1-C treatment also modulated activation of JNK and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinases) in response to growth factors, and reduced the activity of the cyclin E-cdk2 complex. These results indicate that the absence of fibronectin matrix causes activation of Cdc42, and that fibronectin matrix is required for Rho activation and cell cycle progression.
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PMID:Fibronectin matrix regulates activation of RHO and CDC42 GTPases and cell cycle progression. 976 37

We investigated the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways in human endothelial cells in response to shear stress and alterations of these kinases in in vitro-propagated endothelial cells (ECs). Potent activation (10-fold) of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK2), a member of the MAPK family, occurred within 10 min of shear stress (5 dynes/cm2), whereupon rapid inactivation ensued. Shear stress also induced activation of stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) or c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK) in ECs. Suramin pretreatment completely inhibited shear stress stimulation of ERK2, but not SAPK/JNK, highlighting a role for growth factor receptors in ERK activation. Translocation of ERK2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus was observed in shear-stressed endothelial cells. In addition, we compared activities of MAPKs in shear-stressed cells derived from passages 4 and 10 (older). The magnitude of ERK2 activation was significantly lower in aged ECs compared to those of passage 4, while SAPK/JNK was not altered in the in vitro aged ECs. A similar level of ERK2 activation was found in both young and older cells stimulated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), indicating an age-related alteration of the plasma membrane. Taken together, these findings suggest that MAP kinase activation may be crucial for the expression of many genes in ECs stimulated by shear stress, and that an alteration in MAPK activities could contribute to the age-related decline in proliferative capacity.
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PMID:Decline of shear stress-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases, but not stress-activated protein kinases, in in vitro propagated endothelial cells. 978 37

Previous studies have suggested that the contribution of inducible phosphatases to ERK MAPK deactivation is both cell-type- and agonist-specific. The aim of this study was to define the role of inducible phosphatases in ERK MAPK regulation in cardiac myocytes. We examined the kinetics of activation/deactivation of ERK MAPKs following the exposure of cardiac myocytes to endothelin-1 or phorbol ester. Deactivation was prevented by inhibition of protein synthesis indicating a contribution of inducible phosphatases. In contrast, okadaic acid failed to prolong ERK MAPK activation, but activated three myelin basic protein kinases (MBPKs, 55, 62, and 87 kDa) and two c-Jun kinases (46 and 55 kDa). Although the identity of the MBPKs is unknown, the c-Jun kinases corresponded to JNK MAPKs. Simultaneous exposure of cardiac myocytes to okadaic acid and osmotic shock potentiated JNK MAPK activation. Thus, inducible phosphatases regulate ERK MAPK deactivation, whereas okadaic acid-sensitive phosphatases regulate JNK MAPKs and three novel MBPKs.
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PMID:Differential regulation of parallel mitogen-activated protein kinases in cardiac myocytes revealed by phosphatase inhibition. 979 Sep 55

4-Hydroxy-2,3-nonenal (HNE) is an aldehydic end product of lipid peroxidation which has been detected in vivo in clinical and experimental conditions of chronic liver damage. HNE has been shown to stimulate procollagen type I gene expression and synthesis in human hepatic stellate cells (hHSC) which are known to play a key role in liver fibrosis. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying HNE actions in cultured hHSC. HNE, at doses compatible with those detected in vivo, lead to an early generation of nuclear HNE-protein adducts of 46, 54, and 66 kD, respectively, as revealed by using a monoclonal antibody specific for HNE-histidine adducts. This observation is related to the lack of crucial HNE-metabolizing enzymatic activities in hHSC. Kinetics of appearance of these nuclear adducts suggested translocation of cytosolic proteins. The p46 and p54 isoforms of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNKs) were identified as HNE targets and were activated by this aldehyde. A biphasic increase in AP-1 DNA binding activity, associated with increased mRNA levels of c-jun, was also observed in response to HNE. HNE did not affect the Ras/ERK pathway, c-fos expression, DNA synthesis, or NF-kappaB binding. This study identifies a novel mechanism linking oxidative stress to nuclear signaling in hHSC. This mechanism is not based on redox sensors and is stimulated by concentrations of HNE compatible with those detected in vivo, and thus may be relevant during chronic liver diseases.
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PMID:HNE interacts directly with JNK isoforms in human hepatic stellate cells. 983 19

The antimitotic nucleoside cytosine arabinoside (araC) causes apoptosis in postmitotic neurons for which two mechanisms have been suggested: (1) araC directly inhibits a trophic factor-maintained signaling pathway required for survival, effectively mimicking trophic factor withdrawal; and (2) araC induces apoptosis by a p53-dependent mechanism distinct from trophic factor withdrawal. In rat sympathetic neurons, we found that araC treatment for 12 hr induced approximately 25% apoptosis without affecting NGF-maintained signaling; there was neither reduction in the activity of mitogen activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) or protein kinase B/Akt, a kinase implicated in NGF-mediated survival, nor was there c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation or c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation, events implicated in apoptosis induced by NGF withdrawal. However, araC treatment, but not NGF-withdrawal, elevated expression of p53 protein before and during apoptosis. Additionally, araC-induced apoptosis was suppressed in sympathetic neurons from p53 null mice. Although MAPK/ERK activity is not necessary for NGF-induced survival, it protected against toxicity by araC, because inhibition of the MAPK pathway by PD98059 resulted in a significant increase in the rate of apoptosis induced by araC in the presence of NGF. Consistent with this finding, ciliary neurotrophic factor, which does not cause sustained activation of MAPK/ERK, did not protect against araC toxicity. Our data show that, in contrast to NGF deprivation, araC induces apoptosis via a p53-dependent, JNK-independent mechanism, against which MAPK/ERK plays a substantial protective role. Thus, NGF can suppress apoptotic mechanisms in addition to those caused by its own deprivation.
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PMID:A role for MAPK/ERK in sympathetic neuron survival: protection against a p53-dependent, JNK-independent induction of apoptosis by cytosine arabinoside. 988 May 87


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