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)

Rho family GTPases Rac and Cdc42 are pivotal regulators of apoptosis in multiple cell types. However, little is known about the mechanism by which these GTPases are regulated in response to apoptotic stimuli. Here, we demonstrate that TIAM1, a Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is cleaved by caspases during apoptosis. TIAM1 cleavage occurs in multiple cell lines in response to diverse apoptotic stimuli such as ceramide, Fas, and serum deprivation. Processing occurs at residue 993 of TIAM1 and removes the NH(2)-terminal of TIAM's two pleckstrin homology domains, leaving a stable fragment containing the Dbl homology and COOH-terminal pleckstrin homology domains. This leads to functional inactivation of TIAM1, as determined by failure of the cleavage product to stimulate GTP loading of Rac in vivo. Furthermore, this product is defective in signaling to two independent Rac effectors, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase and serum response factor. Finally, we demonstrate that in cells treated with ceramide, cleavage of TIAM1 coincided with the inactivation of endogenous Rac. These results reveal a novel mechanism for regulating guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity and GTPase-mediated signaling pathways.
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PMID:Caspase-mediated cleavage of the TIAM1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor during apoptosis. 1175 55

The hair cells (HCs) are the most vulnerable elements in the cochlea and damage to them is the most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss. Understanding the intracellular events that lead to the death of HCs is a key to developing protective strategies. Recently, it has been shown that the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is activated in HCs in response to aminoglycosides (J. Neurosci. 20 (2000) 43). We have studied the upstream events leading to JNK activation in aminoglycoside toxicity in vitro. The small GTPases Rac and Cdc42 are well known upstream activators of JNK in other cell types. Clostridium difficile toxin B monoglucosylates all members of the Rho GTPase subfamily (Rho, Rac and Cdc42 isoforms) and inhibits GTP binding by steric interference (Nature 341 (1989) 209). Organ of Corti explants from p5 rat basal turns were maintained in tissue culture and treated with C. difficile toxin B for 12 h. They were then treated with toxin B plus gentamicin for 72 h. Significantly less HC death was observed compared to with gentamicin alone. Toxin B alone had no effect on HCs at the highest concentration used. Using antibodies against phospho-c-Jun, we observed background immunoreactivity in control explants, strong staining of outer hair cell nuclei in gentamicin treated explants, and weaker immunostaining in explants treated with gentamicin and C. difficile toxin B. We conclude that Rho family small GTPases play a role in aminoglycoside toxicity signaling as upstream activators of the JNK signaling pathway.
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PMID:Rescue of auditory hair cells from aminoglycoside toxicity by Clostridium difficile toxin B, an inhibitor of the small GTPases Rho/Rac/Cdc42. 1236 69

Rho family GTPases activate intracellular kinase cascades to modulate transcription of multiple genes. Previous studies have examined the roles of the ubiquitously expressed Rho GTPase, Rac1, in regulation of gene expression in cell lines and implicated NF-kappaB, serum response factor, and kinase signaling pathways in this regulation. To understand the role of the closely related but hematopoiesis-specific Rho GTPase, Rac2, in regulation of gene transcription, we compared the gene expression profiles between wild-type and Rac2(-/-) bone marrow-derived mast cells. Our data demonstrate remarkable specificity in the regulation of gene expression by Rac2 versus Rac1. Microarray analysis demonstrated that expression of 38 known genes was significantly altered in Rac2(-/-) mast cells after cytokine stimulation compared with those in wild-type cells. Of these, the expression of the mouse mast cell protease 7 (MMCP-7) gene in wild-type cells was highly induced at the transcriptional level after stimulation with stem cell factor (SCF). In spite of compensatorily increased expression of Rac1 in Rac2-deficient cells, SCF-induced MMCP-7 transcription did not occur. Surprisingly, the loss of MMCP-7 induction was not due to decreased activation of NF-kappaB, a transcription factor postulated to lie downstream of Rac1 and known to play a critical role in hematopoietic cell differentiation and proliferation. However, the activities of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) were markedly decreased in Rac2(-/-) mast cells. Our results suggest that cytokine-stimulated activation of MMCP-7 gene transcription is selectively regulated by a Rac2-dependent JNK signaling pathway in primary mast cells and imply a remarkable specificity in the regulation of transcriptional activity by these two highly related Rho GTPases.
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PMID:Rac2, a hematopoiesis-specific Rho GTPase, specifically regulates mast cell protease gene expression in bone marrow-derived mast cells. 1237 Mar 11

Rac1, a Rho family GTPase, is a mediator of diverse cellular functions including membrane ruffling, cell cycle progression, and transformation. Rac3, a close relative of Rac1, is less well characterized. Posttranslational addition of geranylgeranyl isoprenoid lipids to Rac proteins is required for biological activity. Inhibitors of geranylgeranyl transferase I (GGTIs) are currently under investigation as a possible anticancer therapy, although the targets of GGTIs have not been determined. We created COOH-terminal mutants of Rac1 and Rac3 that are farnesylated and used them to characterize Rac1 and Rac3 as physiological targets of GGTIs. We show that, like Rac1, activated Rac3 causes transformation and leads to membrane ruffling. Farnesylated versions of Rac1 and Rac3 retain the ability to signal to the transcription factor c-Jun and cause membrane ruffling and transformation, indicating that switching isoprenoid modification does not alter function. Finally, treatment with GGTIs led to the inhibition of membrane-ruffling and transforming activities of both activated and wild-type Rac1 and Rac3. However, the farnesylated versions of both activated and wild-type Rac1 and Rac3 were resistant to the inhibitory effects of GGTIs. These results illustrate that Rac1 and Rac3 are potential physiological targets for these novel drugs.
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PMID:Rac1 and Rac3 are targets for geranylgeranyltransferase I inhibitor-mediated inhibition of signaling, transformation, and membrane ruffling. 1463 27

The beta and gamma subunits of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (Gbetagamma) were found to bi-directionally regulate the UV-induced activation of p38 and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, and the UV-induced activation of p38 was reported to enhance the resistance of normal keratinocytes to apoptosis. However, the signaling pathway downstream of Gbetagamma for this UV-induced p38 activation is not known. Thus, we examined the role of the Rho GTPase family in the regulation of UV-induced p38 activation by Gbetagamma. We found that overexpression of Gbetagamma increased the UV-induced activation of Cdc42 and that overexpression of constitutively active V12 Cdc42 increased the UV-induced p38 activation. Transfection of dominant negative N17 Cdc42 or small interfering RNA for Cdc42 blocked UV-induced p38 activation mediated by Gbetagamma in COS-1 and HaCaT cells. UV-induced p38 activation by Gbetagamma was blocked by overexpression of dominant negative p21-activated kinase (PAK)-interacting exchange factor beta (betaPix), and wild type betaPix stimulated the UV-induced p38 activation, which was blocked by N17 Cdc42. Gbetagamma increased the UV-induced activation of Ras, and the overexpression of V12 Ras increased UV-induced p38 activation, which was blocked by dominant negative betaPix. UV-induced p38 activation was inhibited by N17 Ras and a farnesyltransferase inhibitor, manumycin A. Gbetagamma also increased the UV-induced phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and the UV-induced p38 activation was blocked by an EGFR kinase inhibitor, AG1478. From these results, we conclude that Gbetagamma mediates UV-induced activation of p38 in a Cdc42-dependent way and that EGFR, Ras, and betaPix act sequentially upstream of Cdc42 in COS-1 and HaCaT cells.
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PMID:Cdc42-dependent mediation of UV-induced p38 activation by G protein betagamma subunits. 1497 Feb 10

Rho GTPases are key transducers of integrin/extracellular matrix and growth factor signaling. Although integrin-mediated adhesion and trophic support suppress neuronal apoptosis, the role of Rho GTPases in neuronal survival is unclear. Here, we have identified Rac as a critical pro-survival GTPase in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) and elucidated a death pathway triggered by its inactivation. GTP-loading of Rac1 was maintained in CGNs by integrin-mediated (RGD-dependent) cell attachment and trophic support. Clostridium difficile toxin B (ToxB), a specific Rho family inhibitor, induced a selective caspase-mediated degradation of Rac1 without affecting RhoA or Cdc42 protein levels. Both ToxB and dominant-negative N17Rac1 elicited CGN apoptosis, characterized by cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-9 and -3, whereas dominant-negative N19RhoA or N17Cdc42 did not cause significant cell death. ToxB stimulated mitochondrial translocation and conformational activation of Bax, c-Jun activation, and induction of the BH3-only protein Bim. Similarly, c-Jun activation and Bim induction were observed with N17Rac1. A c-jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK)/p38 inhibitor, SB203580, and a JNK-specific inhibitor, SP600125, significantly decreased ToxB-induced Bim expression and blunted each subsequent step of the apoptotic cascade. These results indicate that Rac acts downstream of integrins and growth factors to promote neuronal survival by repressing c-Jun/Bim-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis.
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PMID:Inhibition of Rac GTPase triggers a c-Jun- and Bim-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic cascade in cerebellar granule neurons. 1609 44

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the major pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia. The respiratory epithelium constitutes the first line of defense against invading lung pathogens, including pneumococci. We analyzed the involvement of Toll-like receptors (TLR) and Rho-GTPase signaling in the activation of human lung epithelial cells by pneumococci. S. pneumoniae induced release of interleukin-8 (IL-8) by human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. Specific inhibition of Rac1 by Nsc23766 or a dominant-negative mutant of Rac1 strongly reduced cytokine release. In addition, pneumococci-related cell activation (IL-8 release, NF-kappaB-activation) depended on MyD88, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Cdc42 but not on RhoA. Pneumococci enhanced TLR1 and TLR2 mRNA expression in BEAS-2B cells, whereas TLR4 and TLR6 expression was constitutively high. TLR1 and 2 synergistically recognized pneumococci in cotransfection experiments. TLR4, TLR6, LPS-binding protein, and CD14 seem not to be involved in pneumococci-dependent cell activation. At the IL-8 gene promoter, recruitment of phosphorylated NF-kappaB subunit p65 was blocked by inhibition of Rac1, whereas binding of the phosphorylated activator protein-1 subunit c-Jun to the promoter was not diminished. In summary, these results suggest that S. pneumoniae activate human epithelial cells by TLR1/2 and a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase- and Rac1-dependent NF-kappaB-recruitment to the IL-8 promoter.
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PMID:Pneumococci induced TLR- and Rac1-dependent NF-kappaB-recruitment to the IL-8 promoter in lung epithelial cells. 1629 55

We have used microarray technology to identify the transcriptional targets of Rho subfamily guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)ases in NIH3T3 cells. This analysis indicated that murine fibroblasts transformed by these proteins show similar transcriptomal profiles. Functional annotation of the regulated genes indicate that Rho subfamily GTPases target a wide spectrum of functions, although loci encoding proteins linked to proliferation and DNA synthesis/transcription are upregulated preferentially. Rho proteins promote four main networks of interacting proteins nucleated around E2F, c-Jun, c-Myc and p53. Of those, E2F, c-Jun and c-Myc are essential for the maintenance of cell transformation. Inhibition of Rock, one of the main Rho GTPase targets, leads to small changes in the transcriptome of Rho-transformed cells. Rock inhibition decreases c-myc gene expression without affecting the E2F and c-Jun pathways. Loss-of-function studies demonstrate that c-Myc is important for the blockage of cell-contact inhibition rather than for promoting the proliferation of Rho-transformed cells. However, c-Myc overexpression does not bypass the inhibition of cell transformation induced by Rock blockage, indicating that c-Myc is essential, but not sufficient, for Rock-dependent transformation. These results reveal the complexity of the genetic program orchestrated by the Rho subfamily and pinpoint protein networks that mediate different aspects of the malignant phenotype of Rho-transformed cells.
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PMID:Transcriptomal profiling of the cellular transformation induced by Rho subfamily GTPases. 1721 2

Total tyrosine kinase activity is often elevated in both cytosolic and membrane fractions of malignant breast tissue and correlates with a decrease in disease-free survival. Breast tumor kinase (Brk; protein tyrosine kinase 6) is a soluble tyrosine kinase that was cloned from a metastatic breast tumor and found to be overexpressed in a majority of breast tumors. Herein, we show that Brk is overexpressed in 86% of invasive ductal breast tumors and coexpressed with ErbB family members in breast cancer cell lines. Additionally, the ErbB ligand, heregulin, activates Brk kinase activity. Knockdown of Brk by stable expression of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in T47D breast cancer cells decreases proliferation and blocks epidermal growth factor (EGF)- and heregulin-induced activation of Rac GTPase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 5, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) but not Akt, ERK1/2, or c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase. Furthermore, EGF- and heregulin-induced cyclin D1 expression is dependent on p38 signaling and inhibited by Brk shRNA knockdown. The myocyte enhancer factor 2 transcription factor target of p38 MAPK and ERK5 signaling is also sensitive to altered Brk expression. Finally, heregulin-induced migration of T47D cells requires p38 MAPK activity and is blocked by Brk knockdown. These results place Brk in a novel signaling pathway downstream of ErbB receptors and upstream of Rac, p38 MAPK, and ERK5 and establish the ErbB-Brk-Rac-p38 MAPK pathway as a critical mediator of breast cancer cell migration.
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PMID:Breast tumor kinase (protein tyrosine kinase 6) regulates heregulin-induced activation of ERK5 and p38 MAP kinases in breast cancer cells. 1748 31

Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer and a serious health problem worldwide because of its increasing incidence and the lack of satisfactory chemotherapy for late stages of the disease. The marine depsipeptide Aplidin (plitidepsin) is an antitumoral agent under phase II clinical development against several neoplasias, including melanoma. We report that plitidepsin has a dual effect on the human SK-MEL-28 and UACC-257 melanoma cell lines; at low concentrations (</=45 nM), it inhibits the cell cycle by inducing G(1) and G(2)/M arrest, whereas at higher concentrations it induces apoptosis as assessed by poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and the appearance of a hypodiploid peak in flow cytometry analyses. Plitidepsin activates Rac1 GTPase and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK). In addition, it induces AKT and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. By using inhibitors, we found that JNK and p38 MAPK activation depends on Rac1 but not on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), whereas AKT activation is independent of Rac1 but requires PI3K activity. Plitidepsin cytotoxicity diminishes by Rac1 inhibition or by the blockage of JNK and p38 MAPK using 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)1H-imidazole (SB203580), but not by PI3K inhibition using wortmannin or 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002). It is remarkable that plitidepsin and dacarbazine, the alkylating agent most active for treating metastatic melanoma, show a synergistic antiproliferative effect that was paralleled at the level of JNK activation. These results indicate that Rac1/JNK activation is critical for cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction by plitidepsin in melanoma cells. They also support the combined use of plitidepsin and dacarbazine in in vivo studies.
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PMID:Plitidepsin has a dual effect inhibiting cell cycle and inducing apoptosis via Rac1/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation in human melanoma cells. 1808 42


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