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Query: UNIPROT:P05412 (
c-Jun
)
11,453
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
The cell cycle inhibitor protein
p21
(WAF1/Cip1) (
p21
) is a critical downstream effector in p53-dependent mechanisms of growth control and p53-independent pathways of terminal differentiation. We have recently reported that the transforming growth factor-beta pathway-specific Smad3 and Smad4 proteins transactivate the human
p21
promoter via a short proximal region, which contains multiple binding sites for the ubiquitous transcription factor Sp1. In the present study we show that the Sp1-occupied promoter region mediates transactivation of the
p21
promoter by
c-Jun
and the related proteins JunB, JunD, and ATF-2. By using gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays we show that this region does not contain a binding site for
c-Jun
. In accordance with the DNA binding data,
c-Jun
was unable to transactivate the
p21
promoter when overexpressed in the Sp1-deficient Drosophila-derived SL2 cells. Coexpression of
c-Jun
and Sp1 in these cells resulted in a strong synergistic transactivation of this promoter. In addition, a chimeric promoter consisting of six tandem high affinity Sp1-binding sites fused with the CAT gene was transactivated by overexpressed
c-Jun
in HepG2 cells. The above data propose functional cooperation between
c-Jun
and Sp1. Physical interactions between the two factors were demonstrated in vitro by using GST-Sp1 hybrid proteins expressed in bacteria and in vitro transcribed-translated
c-Jun
. The region of
c-Jun
mediating interaction with Sp1 was mapped within the basic region leucine zipper domain. In vivo, functional interactions between
c-Jun
and Sp1 were demonstrated using a GAL4-based transactivation assay. Overexpressed
c-Jun
transactivated a chimeric promoter consisting of five tandem GAL4-binding sites only when coexpressed with GAL4-Sp1-(83-778) fusion proteins in HepG2 cells. By utilizing the same assay, we found that the glutamine-rich segment of the B domain of Sp1 (Bc, amino acids 424-542) was sufficient for
c-Jun
-induced transactivation of the
p21
promoter. In conclusion, our data support a mechanism of superactivation of Sp1 by
c-Jun
, which is based on physical and functional interactions between these two transcription factors on the human
p21
and possibly other Sp1-dependent promoters.
...
PMID:c-Jun transactivates the promoter of the human p21(WAF1/Cip1) gene by acting as a superactivator of the ubiquitous transcription factor Sp1. 1050 25
The stress-activated protein kinase JNK plays an important role in the stability and activities of key regulatory proteins, including
c-Jun
, ATF2, and p53. To better understand mechanisms underlying the regulation of JNK activities, we studied the effect of expression of the amino-terminal JNK fragment (N-JNK; amino acids 1-206) on the stability and activities of JNK substrates under nonstressed growth conditions, as well as after exposure to hydrogen peroxide. Mouse fibroblasts that express N-JNK under tetracycline-off (tet-off) inducible promoter exhibited elevated expression of
c-Jun
, ATF2, and p53 upon tetracycline removal. This increased coincided with elevated transcriptional activities of p53, but not of
c-Jun
or ATF2, as reflected in luciferase activities of
p21
(Waf1/Cip1)-Luc, AP1-Luc, and Jun2-Luc, respectively. Expression of N-JNK in cells that were treated with H(2)O(2) impaired transcriptional output as reflected in a delayed and lower level of
c-Jun
-, limited ATF2-, and reduced p53-transcriptional activities. N-JNK elicited an increase in H(2)O(2)-induced cell death, which is p53-dependent, because it was not seen in p53 null cells yet could be observed upon coexpression of p53 and N-JNK. The ability to alter the activity of ATF2,
c-Jun
, and p53 and the degree of stress-induced cell death by a JNK-derived fragment identifies new means to elucidate the nature of JNK regulation and to alter the cellular response to stress.
...
PMID:Amino-terminal-derived JNK fragment alters expression and activity of c-Jun, ATF2, and p53 and increases H2O2-induced cell death. 1074 85
Stimulation of growth factor signaling has been implicated in the development of invasive phenotype and
p21
-activated kinase (PAK1) activation in human breast epithelial cancer cells. To further explore the roles of PAK1 in the invasive behavior of breast cancer cells, in the present study we investigated the influence of inhibition of PAK1 activity on the reorganization of cytoskeleton components that control motility and invasiveness of cells, using a highly invasive breast cancer MDA-MB435 as a model system. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of a kinase dead K299R PAK1 mutant leads to suppression of motile phenotypes as well as invasiveness of cells both in the absence or presence of exogenous heregulin-beta1. In addition, these phenotypic changes were accompanied by a blockade of disassembly of focal adhesion points, stabilization of stress fibers, and enhanced cell spreading and were dependent on the presence of the kinase dead domain but independent of the presence of the Rac/cdc42 intact (Cdc42/Rac interactive binding) domain of PAK1. We also demonstrated that in K299R PAK1-expressing cells, F-actin filaments were stabilized by persistent co-localization with the actin-binding proteins tropomyosin and caldesmon. Extension of these studies to invasive breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells illustrated that conditional expression of kinase-defective K299R PAK1 was also accompanied by persistent cell spreading, multiple focal adhesion points, and reduced invasiveness. Furthermore, inhibition of PAK1 activity in breast cancer cells was associated with a reduction in c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity, inhibition of DNA binding activity of
transcription factor AP-1
, and suppression of in vivo transcription driven by AP-1 promoter (known to be involved in breast cancer invasion). These findings suggest that PAK1 downstream pathways have a role in the development and maintenance of invasive phenotypes in breast cancer cells.
...
PMID:Regulation of microfilament reorganization and invasiveness of breast cancer cells by kinase dead p21-activated kinase-1. 1076 36
X-linked mental retardation is a very common condition that affects approximately 1 in 600 males. Despite recent progress, in most cases the molecular defects underlying this disorder remain unknown. Recently, a study using the candidate gene approach demonstrated the presence of mutations in PAK3 (
p21
-activating kinase) associated with nonspecific mental retardation. PAK3 is a member of the larger family of PAK genes. PAK proteins have been implicated as critical downstream effectors that link Rho-GTPases to the actin cytoskeleton and to MAP kinase cascades, including the
c-Jun
amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38. We screened 12 MRX pedigrees that map to a large region overlying Xq21-q24. Mutation screening of the whole coding region of the PAK3 gene was performed by using a combination of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing. We have identified a novel missense mutation in exon 2 of PAK3 gene (R67C) in MRX47. This confirms the involvement of PAK3 in MRX following the report of a nonsense mutation recently reported in MRX30. In the MRX47 family, all affected males show moderate to severe mental retardation. No seizures, statural growth deficiency, or minor facial or other abnormal physical features were observed. This mutation R67C is located in a conserved polybasic domain (AA 66-68) of the protein that is predicted to play a major role in the GTPases binding and stimulation of Pak activity.
...
PMID:Missense mutation in PAK3, R67C, causes X-linked nonspecific mental retardation. 1094 56
Curcumin (CCM), a major yellow pigment of turmeric obtained from powdered rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa Linn, is commonly used as coloring agent in foods, drugs and cosmetics. In this study we report that gavage administration of 200 mg/kg or 600 mg/kg CCM effectively suppressed diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver inflammation and hyperplasia in rats, as evidenced by histopathological examination. Immunoblotting analysis showed that CCM strongly inhibited DEN-mediated the increased expression of oncogenic
p21
(ras) and p53 proteins in liver tissues of rats. In cell-cycle-related proteins, CCM selectively reduced the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin E and p34(cdc2), but not Cdk2 or cyclin D1. Moreover, CCM also inhibited the DEN-induced increase of transcriptional factor NF-kappa B. However, CCM failed to affect DEN-induced
c-Jun
and c-Fos expression. It has become widely recognized that the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is predominantly due to the chronic inflammation by virus, bacteria or chemical. Our results suggest a potential role for CCM in the prevention of HCC.
...
PMID:Inhibition by curcumin of diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic hyperplasia, inflammation, cellular gene products and cell-cycle-related proteins in rats. 1103 36
The mammalian UV response results in rapid and dramatic induction of c-jun. Induction of a protooncogene, normally involved in mitogenic responses, by a genotoxic agent that causes growth arrest seems paradoxical. We now provide an explanation for the role of
c-Jun
in the UV response of mouse fibroblasts.
c-Jun
is necessary for cell-cycle reentry of UV-irradiated cells, but does not participate in the response to ionizing radiation. Cells lacking
c-Jun
undergo prolonged cell-cycle arrest, but resist apoptosis, whereas cells that express
c-Jun
constitutively do not arrest and undergo apoptosis. This function of
c-Jun
is exerted through negative regulation of p53 association with the
p21
promoter. Cells lacking
c-Jun
exhibit prolonged
p21
induction, whereas constitutive
c-Jun
inhibits UV-mediated
p21
induction.
...
PMID:The mammalian UV response: c-Jun induction is required for exit from p53-imposed growth arrest. 1113 75
Vinblastine is an important antitumor agent that induces G(2)-M arrest and subsequent apoptosis in a wide variety of cell lines, but the molecular mechanisms that link mitotic arrest and apoptosis are poorly understood. The AP-1 transcription factor has been implicated in many critical cellular processes, including apoptosis, and is a major target of the
c-Jun
NH(2)-terminal kinase signaling pathway that is activated by vinblastine and other microtubule inhibitors. In this study we sought to determine the role of
c-Jun
NH(2)-terminal kinase/AP-1 in the response of KB3 carcinoma cells to vinblastine. For this purpose, we generated KB3 cell lines that stably expressed the
c-Jun
dominant-negative deletional mutant TAM67, which lacks the NH(2)-terminal transactivation domain. KB3-TAM67 cell lines displayed normal growth kinetics and essentially unaltered basal AP-1 activity, but vinblastine-induced phosphorylation of
c-Jun
and activating transcription factor-2, and AP-1 activation, were strongly inhibited. KB3-TAM67 cell lines arrested normally at G(2)-M in response to vinblastine, but were significantly more resistant to the drug, exhibiting markedly delayed apoptosis and increased overall survival, relative to control cells. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, differential expression of apoptotic regulatory genes was monitored by immunoblot and cDNA microarray analysis. We found that vinblastine treatment caused down-regulation of p53 and its target
p21
and up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha, Bak, and several other genes in control but not in KB3-TAM67 cells, identifying these genes as putative targets of vinblastine-inducible AP-1. These results demonstrate that vinblastine-inducible AP-1 plays a destructive, proapoptotic role and may do so by regulating the expression of a specific subset of target genes that promotes efficient apoptotic cell death following mitotic arrest.
...
PMID:The c-Jun NH(2)-terminal protein kinase/AP-1 pathway is required for efficient apoptosis induced by vinblastine. 1138 75
Our previous works demonstrated that ligands of macrophage scavenger receptor (MSR) induce protein kinases (PKs) including protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) and up-regulate urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression (Hsu, H. Y., Hajjar, D. P., Khan, K. M., and Falcone, D. J. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 1240--1246). To continue to investigate MSR ligand-mediated signal transductions, we focus on ligands, oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL), and fucoidan induction of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1). In brief, in murine macrophages J774A.1, OxLDL and fucoidan up-regulate TNF production; additionally, fucoidan but not OxLDL induces IL-1 secretion, prointerleukin 1 (proIL-1, precursor of IL-1) protein, and proIL-1 message. Simultaneously, fucoidan stimulates activity of interleukin 1-converting enzyme. We further investigate the molecular mechanism by which ligand binding-induced PK-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in regulation of expression of proIL-1 and IL-1. Specifically, fucoidan stimulates activity of
p21
-activated kinase (PAK) and of the MAPKs extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK),
c-Jun
NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Combined with PK inhibitors and genetic mutants of Rac1 and JNK in PK activity assays, Western blotting analyses, and IL-1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the role of individual PKs in the regulation of proIL-1/IL-1 was extensively dissected. Moreover, tyrosine phosphorylation of pp60Src as well as association between pp60Src and Hsp90 play important roles in fucoidan-induced proIL-1 expression. We are the first to establish two fucoidan-mediated signaling pathways: PTK(Src)/Rac1/PAK/JNK and PTK(Src)/Rac1/PAK/p38, but not PTK/phospholipase C-gamma 1/PKC/MEK1/ERK, playing critical roles in proIL-1/IL-1 regulation. Our current results indicate and suggest a model for MSR ligands differentially modulating specific PK signal transduction pathways, which regulate atherogenesis-related inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1.
...
PMID:Ligands of macrophage scavenger receptor induce cytokine expression via differential modulation of protein kinase signaling pathways. 1139 Mar 74
A plethora of physiological and pathological stimuli induce and activate a group of DNA binding proteins that form AP-1 dimers. These proteins include the Jun, Fos and ATF subgroups of transcription factors. Recent studies using cells and mice deficient in individual AP-1 proteins have begun to shed light on their physiological functions in the control of cell proliferation, neoplastic transformation and apoptosis. Above all such studies have identified some of the target genes that mediate the effects of AP-1 proteins on cell proliferation and death. There is evidence that AP-1 proteins, mostly those that belong to the Jun group, control cell life and death through their ability to regulate the expression and function of cell cycle regulators such as Cyclin D1, p53,
p21
(cip1/waf1), p19(ARF) and p16. Amongst the Jun proteins,
c-Jun
is unique in its ability to positively regulate cell proliferation through the repression of tumor suppressor gene expression and function, and induction of cyclin D1 transcription. These actions are antagonized by JunB, which upregulates tumor suppressor genes and represses cyclin D1. An especially important target for AP-1 effects on cell life and death is the tumor suppressor p53, whose expression as well as transcriptional activity, are modulated by AP-1 proteins.
...
PMID:AP-1 in cell proliferation and survival. 1140 35
Interactions between the checkpoint abrogator UCN-01 and several pharmacological inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK)/MAPK pathway have been examined in a variety of human leukemia cell lines. Exposure of U937 monocytic leukemia cells to a marginally toxic concentration of UCN-01 (e.g., 150 nM) for 18 h resulted in phosphorylation/activation of p42/44 MAPK. Coadministration of the MEK inhibitor PD184352 (10 microM) blocked UCN-01-induced MAPK activation and was accompanied by marked mitochondrial damage (e.g., cytochrome c release and loss of DeltaPsi(m)), caspase activation, DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis. Similar interactions were noted in the case of other MEK inhibitors (e.g., PD98059; U0126) as well as in multiple other leukemia cell types (e.g., HL-60, Jurkat, CCRF-CEM, and Raji). Coadministration of PD184352 and UCN-01 resulted in reduced binding of the cdc25C phosphatase to 14-3-3 proteins, enhanced dephosphorylation/activation of p34(cdc2), and diminished phosphorylation of cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein. The ability of UCN-01, when combined with PD184352, to antagonize cdc25C/14-3-3 protein binding, promote dephosphorylation of p34(cdc2), and potentiate apoptosis was mimicked by the ataxia telangectasia mutation inhibitor caffeine. In contrast, cotreatment of cells with UCN-01 and PD184352 did not substantially increase
c-Jun
-NH(2)-terminal kinase activation nor did it alter expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), Bax, or X-inhibitor of apoptosis. However, coexposure of U937 cells to UCN-01 and PD184352 induced a marked increase in p38 MAPK activation. Moreover, SB203580, which inhibits multiple kinases including p38 MAPK, partially antagonized cell death. Lastly, although UCN-01 +/- PD184352 did not induce
p21
(CIP1), stable expression of a
p21
(CIP1) antisense construct significantly increased susceptibility to this drug combination. Together, these findings indicate that exposure of leukemic cells to UCN-01 leads to activation of the MAPK cascade and that interruption of this process by MEK inhibition triggers perturbations in several signaling and cell cycle regulatory pathways that culminate in mitochondrial injury, caspase activation, and apoptosis. They also raise the possibility that disrupting multiple signaling pathways, e.g., by combining UCN-01 with MEK inhibitors, may represent a novel antileukemic strategy.
...
PMID:Pharmacological inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase/MAPK cascade interact synergistically with UCN-01 to induce mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in human leukemia cells. 1143 48
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