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 c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) form a subfamily of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). These signalling pathways regulate various processes such as mitosis, cellular differentiation, stress response or apoptosis in multicellular organisms. There is rising evidence about the role of JNKs activities in neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases as well as in immunological disorders. The physiological functions of JNKs, however, remain to be elucidated. Recent data have demonstrated an essential role of JNKs in the cardiovascular system and the regulation of carbon hydrate and glucose metabolism. Therefore, we have investigated the contractility of blood vessels in mice with genetically deleted JNK1, JNK2, JNK3 and JNK2+3 isoforms and their respective wildtypes. The contractility of the isolated segments from A. carotis communis was measured by small blood vessel wire myograph. Contraction induced by 80 mM KCl was significantly increased in arteries from JNK2+3 double knockout compared to controls and single knockouts. The maximal contraction generated by the alpha-agonists phenylephrine or noradrenaline (10 microM) was significantly enhanced in JNK2+3 knockout arteries compared with arteries from the remaining strains. Inhibition of NOS by Nw-nitro-l-arginine did not change the pattern of vasoconstriction, but vasoconstriction by noradrenaline following NOS inhibition was significantly enhanced in the arteries from JNK2+3 double knockout mice. In conclusion, genetic deletion of JNK2+3 in mice results in altered contractility of carotid arteries and this might depend on the function of the smooth muscles rather than on the endothelium. These findings have implications for the long-term treatment with pharmacological JNK inhibitors for neurodegenerative or metabolic diseases such as stroke or diabetes.
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PMID:Enhanced contractility of small blood vessels in JNK knockout mice. 1694 3

Cerebral ischemia induces kainate receptor glutamate receptor 6 (GluR6) binding to the postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), which in turn anchors mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) via SH3 domain in rat brain. MLK3 subsequently activates c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) via MAP kinase kinases (MKKs). In this study, we investigated the association of PSD95 with GluR6 and MLK3, the autophosphorylation of MLK3, the combination of MLK3 with JNK3, and the phosphorylation of JNK3 during cerebral ischemia in rat hippocampus CA1. Our results indicate that the GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 complex quickly enhanced at 5 min of ischemia and peaked at 10 min of ischemia, and then gradually reduced with the prolonged time of ischemia. Interestingly, the combination of MLK3 and JNK3 gradually increased from 5 min to 30 min of ischemia. JNK3 phosphorylation first increased and then attenuated in cytosol, suggesting the translocation of activated JNK3 to nucleus during ischemia. To further investigate the possible mechanism of JNK3 activation, antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was given to the rats 20 min prior to ischemia. Results indicate that NAC distinctly inhibited the association of PSD95 with GluR6 and MLK3, the autophosphorylation of MLK3, the combination of MLK3 with JNK3 and JNK3 activation. Taken together, these finding indicate that ischemic stimulation results in JNK3 activation through the GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module, and that the activation of JNK3 is closely related to oxidative stress.
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PMID:Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine inhibits the activation of JNK3 mediated by the GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module during cerebral ischemia in rat hippocampus. 1703 Apr 33

JNK signaling pathway is activated and involved in the selective neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 subfield following cerebral ischemia. However, little is known about upstream partner controlling the pathway. Here we reported that ischemia/reperfusion significantly elevated Cdc42 activity, enhanced assembly of the Cdc42-MLK3 complex and activation of JNK pathway. Most importantly, knock-down endogenous Cdc42 selectively suppressed the MLK3/MKK7/JNK3 cascade, and subsequently blocked the phosphorylation of c-Jun and FasL expression. Meanwhile, Bcl-2 was inactivated and the release of cytochrome c was diminished. These alterations eventually perturbed the caspase-3 activation as well as post-ischemic neuronal cell death. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that Cdc42 serves as an upstream activator and modulates JNK-mediated apoptosis machinery in vivo, which ultimately results in neuronal apoptosis via nuclear and non-nuclear pathways. Thus, Cdc42 may be a potential therapeutic target in ischemic brain injury.
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PMID:Down-regulation Cdc42 attenuates neuronal apoptosis through inhibiting MLK3/JNK3 cascade during ischemic reperfusion in rat hippocampus. 1716 86

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are a family of serine/threonine kinases that play an essential role in signal transduction by modulating gene transcription in the nucleus in response to changes in the cellular environment. They include the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1 and ERK2); c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK1, JNK2, JNK3); p38s (p38alpha, p38beta, p38gamma, p38delta) and ERK5. The molecular events in which MAPKs function can be separated in discrete and yet interrelated steps: activation of the MAPK by their upstream kinases, changes in the subcellular localization of MAPKs, and recognition, binding and phosphorylation of MAPK downstream targets. The resulting pattern of gene expression will ultimately depend on the integration of the combinatorial signals provided by the temporal activation of each group of MAPKs. This review will focus on how the specificity of signal transmission by MAPKs is achieved by scaffolding molecules and by the presence of structural motifs in MAPKs that are dynamically regulated by phosphorylation and protein-protein interactions. We discuss also how MAPKs recognize and phosphorylate their target nuclear proteins, including transcription factors, co-activators and repressors and chromatin-remodeling molecules, thereby affecting an intricate balance of nuclear regulatory molecules that ultimately control gene expression in response to environmental cues.
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PMID:MAP kinases and the control of nuclear events. 1749 19

Retinoblastoma-deficient mice show massive neuronal damage and deficits in both CNS and PNS tissue. Previous work in the field has shown that death is regulated through distinct processes where CNS tissue undergoes death regulated by the tumor suppressor p53 and the apoptosome component, APAF1. Death in the PNS, however, is independent of p53 and reliant on the death protease, caspase 3. In the present study, we more carefully delineated the common and distinct mechanisms of death regulation by examining the stress-activated kinases, JNK2 and 3, the conserved Bcl-2 member Bax, and the relationship among these elements including p53. By use of genetic modeling, we show that death in various regions of the CNS and DRGs of the PNS is reliant on Bax. In the CNS, Bax acts downstream of p53. The relevance of the JNKs is more complex, however. Surprisingly, JNK3 deficiency by itself does not inhibit c-Jun phosphorylation and instead, aggravates death in both CNS and PNS tissue. However, JNK2/3 double deficiency blocks death due to Rb loss in both the PNS and CNS. Importantly, the relationships between JNKs, p53, and Bax exhibit regional differences. In the medulla region of the hindbrain in the CNS, JNK2/3 deficiency blocks p53 activation. Moreover, Bax deficiency does not affect c-Jun phosphorylation. This indicates that a JNK-p53-Bax pathway is central in the hindbrain. However, in the diencephalon regions of the forebrain (thalamus), Bax deficiency blocks c-Jun activation, indicating that a Bax-JNK pathway of death is more relevant. In the DRGs of the PNS, a third pathway is present. In this case, a JNK-Bax pathway, independent of p53, regulates damage. Accordingly, our results show that a death regulator Bax is common to death in both PNS and CNS tissue. However, it is regulated by or itself regulates different effectors including the JNKs and p53 depending upon the specific region of the nervous system.
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PMID:Required roles of Bax and JNKs in central and peripheral nervous system death of retinoblastoma-deficient mice. 1798 95

Kainate receptor containing GluR6 subunit (KAR) is involved in the neuronal cell death induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Hypothermia is an effective neuroprotectant in brain ischemia, whereas the neuroprotective mechanisms have not been clearly established. The present study was set out to examine whether hypothermia would cause the alternation of the assembly of the GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module and the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway through KAR. Hypothermia (32 degrees C) was induced 10 min before ischemia and was maintained for 3 h after ischemia. Our results indicated that hypothermia could inhibit the assembly of GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module and suppressed the activation of MLK3, MKK4/7, and JNK3. The inhibition of JNK3 activation by hypothermia diminished the phosphorylation of the transcription factor c-Jun and downregulated FasL expression in hippocampal CA1. Meanwhile, the inhibition of JNK3 activation by hypothermia attenuated bax translocation, the release of cytochrome c, and the activation of caspase-3 in CA1 subfields. Both GluR6 antagonist NS102 and GluR6 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides partly blocked the aforementioned effects of hypothermia, which was further confirmed by histology. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that hypothermia decreased the increased assembly of the GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module and the activation of JNK pathway induced by I/R through KAR, which gave a new insight into the ischemic therapy.
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PMID:Neuroprotection of hypothermia against neuronal death in rat hippocampus through inhibiting the increased assembly of GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. 1817 94

Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) is a hematopoietic cell-restricted member of the Ste20 serine/threonine kinase super family. We recently reported that HPK1 is involved in c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway by sequential activation of MLK3-MKK7-JNK3 after cerebral ischemia. Here, we used 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl) pyrazolo [3,4-d] pyrimidine (PP2) and MK801 to investigate the events upstream of HPK1 in ischemic brain injury. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblot results showed that PP2 and MK801 significantly decreased the activation of Src, HPK1, MLK3, JNK3 and c-Jun, respectively, during ischemia/reperfusion. Histology and TUNEL staining showed PP2 or MK801 protects against neuron death after brain ischemia. We speculate that this unique signaling pathway through the tyrosine phosphorylation of HPK1 promotes ischemic brain injury by activated Src via N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and, ultimately, the activation of the MLK3-MKK7-JNK3 pathway after cerebral ischemia.
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PMID:Tyrosine phosphorylation of HPK1 by activated Src promotes ischemic brain injury in rat hippocampal CA1 region. 1849 70

Pneumococcal meningitis is associated with caspase 3-dependent apoptosis of recently post-mitotic immature neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. The death of these cells is implicated in the learning and memory deficits in patients surviving the disease. The stress-activated protein kinase c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) has been shown to be an important mediator of caspase 3-dependent neuronal apoptosis. However, whether JNK is involved in hippocampal apoptosis caused by pneumococcal meningitis has so far not been investigated. Here we show in a neonatal rat model of pneumococcal meningitis that JNK3 but not JNK1 or JNK2 is activated in the hippocampus during the acute phase of infection. At the cellular level, JNK3 activation was accompanied in the dentate gyrus by markedly increased phosphorylation of its major downstream target c-Jun in early immature (Hu-positive) neurons, but not in migrating (doublecortin-positive) neurons, the cells that do undergo apoptosis. These findings suggested that JNK may not be involved in pneumococcal meningitis-induced hippocampal apoptosis. Indeed, although intracerebroventricular administration of D-JNKI-1 or AS601245 (two highly specific JNK inhibitors) inhibited c-Jun phosphorylation and protein expression in the hippocampus, hippocampal apoptosis was unaffected. Collectively, these results demonstrate that JNK does not mediate hippocampal apoptosis in pneumococcal meningitis, and that JNK may be involved in processes unrelated to apoptosis in this disease.
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PMID:JNK is activated but does not mediate hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in experimental neonatal pneumococcal meningitis. 1870 44

Amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Abeta neurotoxicity remain to be elucidated. This study showed that Abeta treatment resulted in the increased phosphorylation (activation) of MLK3, MKK7, and JNK3 in cultured cortical neurons, which characterized as biphasic activation (first peaked at 1 hr and second peaked at 12 hr after Abeta treatment). K252a blocked Abeta-induced neuronal apoptosis, both early and late phases of MLK3-MKK7-JNK3 activation, as well as downstream signal events involving p-JNKs nuclear translocation, c-Jun phosphorylation, and Bad translocation to the mitochondria. The neuroprotective effect of K252a on Abeta-induced apoptosis was partially dependent on Akt activation. In contrast, antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) reduced early, but not late, MLK3-MKK7-JNK3 activation by Abeta treatment and provided a weak neuroprotective ability in Abeta-induced apoptosis. Taken together, Abeta neurotoxicity is mainly due to MLK3-MKK7-JNK3 signal cascades. The late signal events of MLK3 activation after Abeta treatment may play an important role in AD neuronal loss and will be a promising pharmacological target for AD therapeutic intervention.
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PMID:Different protection of K252a and N-acetyl-L-cysteine against amyloid-beta peptide-induced cortical neuron apoptosis involving inhibition of MLK3-MKK7-JNK3 signal cascades. 1895 97

The classical concept of linear pathways is being increasingly challenged by network representations, which emphasize the importance of interactions between components of a biological system, and motivates for adopting a system-level approach in biology. We have developed a dynamical system that integrates quantitative, dynamic and topological representation of network of ERK5 (Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 5), JNK(c-Jun N-terminal kinases) and P38 kinase cascades. We have observered that, the transient activation of ERK5, JNK1 and P38beta kinase, and the persistent activation of JNK2, JNK3 and P38 delta kinase does not get affected due to the cross-talks between ERK5, JNK and P38 kinase cascades. But it is due to the cross - talks, the transiently activated P38alpha kinase become inactivated, and the transiently activated P38gamma kinase become persistently activated. The impacts of one-way cross-talks between the cascades are insignificant and differ from the impact of two-way cross-talks. We generate a hypothesis that, signaling pathways should be studied as a system by considering the cross-talks between the two adjacent cascades.
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PMID:Analysis of the impact of ERK5, JNK, and P38 kinase cascades on each other: a systems approach. 1925 43


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