scholarly journals Human mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase mediates the stress-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades

1998 ◽  
Vol 336 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Po-Ying CHAN-HUI ◽  
Robert WEAVER
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Mapk Cascades ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Factor Α

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades represent one of the important signalling mechanisms in response to environmental stimuli. We report the identification of a human MAPK kinase kinase, MAPKKK4, via sequence similarity with other MAPKKKs. When truncated MAPKKK4 (ΔMAPKKK4) was overexpressed in HEK293 cells, it was constitutively active and induced the activation of endogenous p38α, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)1/2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)2 in vivo. Kinase-inactive ΔMAPKKK4 partly inhibited the activation of p38α, JNK1/2 and ERK2 induced by stress, tumour necrosis factor α or epidermal growth factor, suggesting that MAPKKK4 might be physiologically involved in all three MAPK cascades. Co-expressed MAP kinase kinase (MKK)-1, MKK-4, MKK-3 and MKK-6 were activated in vivo by ΔMAPKKK4. All of the above MKKs purified from Escherichia coli were phosphorylated and activated by ΔMAPKKK4 immunoprecipitates in vitro. When expressed by lower plasmid doses, ΔMAPKKK4 preferentially activated MKK-3 and p38α in vivo. Overexpression of ΔMAPKKK4 did not activate the NF-κB pathway. Immunoprecipitation of endogenous MAPKKK4 by specific antibodies showed that MAPKKK4 was activated after the treatment of K562 cells with various stress conditions. As a broadly distributed kinase, MAPKKK4 might serve as a stress responder. MAPKKK4 is 91% identical with the recently described murine MEKK-4β and might be its human homologue. It is also identical with the recently cloned human MAP three kinase 1 except for the lack of an internal sequence homologous to the murine MEKK-4α isoform. Differences in the reported functional activities of the three kinases are discussed.

scholarly journals 3pK, a novel mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-activated protein kinase, is targeted by three MAP kinase pathways.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 6687-6697 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ludwig ◽  
K Engel ◽  
A Hoffmeyer ◽  
G Sithanandam ◽  
B Neufeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Map Kinase ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Mapk Cascades ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Stimulation Of

Recently we have identified a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase, named 3pK (G. Sithanandam, F. Latif, U. Smola, R. A. Bernal, F.-M. Duh, H. Li, I. Kuzmin, V. Wixler, L. Geil, S. Shresta, P. A. Lloyd, S. Bader, Y. Sekido, K. D. Tartof, V. I. Kashuba, E. R. Zabarovsky, M. Dean, G. Klein, B. Zbar, M. I. Lerman, J. D. Minna, U. R. Rapp, and A. Allikmets, Mol. Cell. Biol. 16:868-876, 1996). In vitro characterization of the kinase revealed that 3pK is activated by ERK. It was further shown that 3pK is phosphorylated in vivo after stimulation of cells with serum. However, the in vivo relevance of this observation in terms of involvement of the Raf/MEK/ERK cascade has not been established. Here we show that 3pK is activated in vivo by the growth inducers serum and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate in promyelocytic HL60 cells and transiently transfected embryonic kidney 293 cells. Activation of 3pK was Raf dependent and was mediated by the Raf/MEK/ERK kinase cascade. 3pK was also shown to be activated after stress stimulation of cells. In vitro studies with recombinant proteins demonstrate that in addition to ERK, members of other subgroups of the MAPK family, namely, p38RK and Jun-N-terminal kinases/stress-activated protein kinases, were also able to phosphorylate and activate 3pK. Cotransfection experiments as well as the use of a specific inhibitor of p38RK showed that these in vitro upstream activators also function in vivo, identifying 3pK as the first kinase to be activated through all three MAPK cascades. Thus, 3pK is a novel convergence point of different MAPK pathways and could function as an integrative element of signaling in both mitogen and stress responses.

scholarly journals Identification of Functional MKK3/6 and MEK1/2 Homologs from Echinococcus granulosus and Investigation of Protoscolecidal Activity of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway Inhibitors In Vitro and In Vivo

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanshan Zhang ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Tuerganaili Aji ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Xiaojuan Bi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Echinococcus Granulosus ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mapk Cascades ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. There is an urgent need to develop new drugs for the treatment of this disease. In this study, we identified two new members of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, MKK3/6 and MEK1/2 homologs (termed EgMKK1 and EgMKK2, respectively), from E. granulosus sensu stricto. Both EgMKK1 and EgMKK2 were expressed at the larval stages. As shown by yeast two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation analyses, EgMKK1 interacted with the previously identified Egp38 protein but not with EgERK. EgMKK2, on the other hand, interacted with EgERK. In addition, EgMKK1 and EgMKK2 displayed kinase activity toward the substrate myelin basic protein. When sorafenib tosylate, PD184352, or U0126-ethanol (EtOH) was added to the medium for in vitro culture of E. granulosus protoscoleces (PSCs) or cysts, an inhibitory and cytolytic effect was observed via suppressed phosphorylation of EgMKKs and EgERK. Nonviability of PSCs treated with sorafenib tosylate or U0126-EtOH, and not with PD184352, was confirmed through bioassays, i.e., inoculation of treated and untreated protoscoleces into mice. In vivo treatment of E. granulosus sensu stricto-infected mice with sorafenib tosylate or U0126-EtOH for 4 weeks demonstrated a reduction in parasite weight, but the results did not show a significant difference. In conclusion, the MAPK cascades were identified as new targets for drug development, and E. granulosus was efficiently inhibited by their inhibitors in vitro. The translation of these findings into in vivo efficacy requires further adjustment of treatment regimens using sorafenib tosylate or, possibly, other kinase inhibitors.

scholarly journals FGIN-1-27 Inhibits Melanogenesis by Regulating Protein Kinase A/cAMP-Responsive Element-Binding, Protein Kinase C-β, and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinpeng Lv ◽  
Songzhou Jiang ◽  
Ying Yang ◽  
Ximei Zhang ◽  
Rongyin Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
The Body ◽  
Tyrosinase Activity ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Mushroom Tyrosinase ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Element Binding Protein ◽  
Responsive Element

FGIN-1-27 is a synthetic mitochondrial diazepam binding inhibitor receptor (MDR) agonist that has demonstrated pro-apoptotic, anti-anxiety, and steroidogenic activity in various studies. Here we report, for the first time, the anti-melanogenic efficacy of FGIN-1-27 in vitro and in vivo. FGIN-1-27 significantly inhibited basal and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-, 1-Oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG)- and Endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced melanogenesis without cellular toxicity. Mushroom tyrosinase activity assay showed that FGIN-1-27 did not directly inhibit tyrosinase activity, which suggested that FGIN-1-27 was not a direct inhibitor of tyrosinase. Although it was not capable of modulating the catalytic activity of mushroom tyrosinase in vitro, FGIN-1-27 downregulated the expression levels of key proteins that function in melanogenesis. FGIN-1-27 played these functions mainly by suppressing the PKA/CREB, PKC-β, and MAPK pathways. Once inactivated, it decreased the expression of MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2, and inhibited the tyrosinase activity, finally inhibiting melanogenesis. During in vivo experiments, FGIN-1-27 inhibited the body pigmentation of zebrafish and reduced UVB-induced hyperpigmentation in guinea pig skin, but not a reduction of numbers of melanocytes. Our findings indicated that FGIN-1-27 exhibited no cytotoxicity and inhibited melanogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo models. It may prove quite useful as a safer skin-whitening agent.

scholarly journals A Redox-Sensitive Thiol in Wis1 Modulates the Fission Yeast Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Response to H2O2 and Is the Target of a Small Molecule

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna J. Sjölander ◽  
Agata Tarczykowska ◽  
Cecilia Picazo ◽  
Itziar Cossio ◽  
Itedale Namro Redwan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Activation Loop ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Kinase Activation ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT Oxidation of a highly conserved cysteine (Cys) residue located in the kinase activation loop of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MAPKK) inactivates mammalian MKK6. This residue is conserved in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe MAPKK Wis1, which belongs to the H2O2-responsive MAPK Sty1 pathway. Here, we show that H2O2 reversibly inactivates Wis1 through this residue (C458) in vitro. We found that C458 is oxidized in vivo and that serine replacement of this residue significantly enhances Wis1 activation upon addition of H2O2. The allosteric MAPKK inhibitor INR119, which binds in a pocket next to the activation loop and C458, prevented the inhibition of Wis1 by H2O2 in vitro and significantly increased Wis1 activation by low levels of H2O2 in vivo. We propose that oxidation of C458 inhibits Wis1 and that INR119 cancels out this inhibitory effect by binding close to this residue. Kinase inhibition through the oxidation of a conserved Cys residue in MKK6 (C196) is thus conserved in the S. pombe MAPKK Wis1.

scholarly journals PfPK6, a novel cyclin-dependent kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase-related protein kinase from Plasmodium falciparum

2000 ◽  
Vol 347 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie BRACCHI-RICARD ◽  
Sailen BARIK ◽  
Cherie DELVECCHIO ◽  
Christian DOERIG ◽  
Ratna CHAKRABARTI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Cdna Clones ◽  
Cyclin Dependent Kinase ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

We have isolated a novel protein kinase cDNA, PfPK6, by differential display RT-PCR (DDRT-PCR) of mRNA obtained from different asexual erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum, which shows sequence similarity to both cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members. The 915 bp open reading frame (ORF) is interrupted by seven introns and encodes a 305-residue polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 35848 Da. Several cDNA clones with some of the intron sequences were isolated, indicating alternate or defective splicing of PfPK6 transcripts because the gene seems to be a single copy located on chromosome 13. The similarity of the catalytic domain of PfPK6 to those of CDK2 and MAPK is 57.3% and 49.6%, respectively. The signature PSTAIRE (single-letter amino acid codes) CDK motif is changed to SKCILRE in PfPK6. The TXY residues that are phosphorylated in MAPKs for their activation are T173PT in PfPK6. Three size classes of PfPK6 transcripts of 6.5, 2.0 and 1.1 kb are up-regulated during the transition of P. falciparum from ring to trophozoite. Western blot analysis suggested the expression of a 35 kDa polypeptide in trophozoites and schizonts. Immunofluorescence studies indicated both nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of PfPK6 in trophozoite, schizont and segmenter stages. In vitro, recombinant PfPK6 phosphorylated itself and also exogenous substrates, histone and the small subunit of the malarial ribonucleotide reductase (R2). The kinase activity of PfPK6 is sensitive to CDK inhibitors such as olomoucine and roscovitine. PfPK6 showed a preference for Mn2+ over Mg2+ ions as a cofactor. The Lys38 → Arg mutant is severely defective in its interaction with ATP and bivalent cations and somewhat defective in catalytic rate for R2 phosphorylation.

scholarly journals MEKK1 activates both IκB kinase α and IκB kinase β

1998 ◽  
Vol 95 (16) ◽  
pp. 9319-9324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank S. Lee ◽  
Robert T. Peters ◽  
Luan C. Dang ◽  
Tom Maniatis
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Iκb Kinase ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Bona Fide ◽  
Factor Α

A critical step in the signal-induced activation of the transcription factor NF-κB is the site-specific phosphorylation of its inhibitor, IκB, that targets the latter for degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. We have previously shown that mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1) can induce both this site-specific phosphorylation of IκBα at Ser-32 and Ser-36 in vivo and the activity of a high molecular weight IκB kinase complex in vitro. Subsequently, others have identified two proteins, IκB kinase α (IKK-α) and IκB kinase β (IKK-β), that are present in a tumor necrosis factor α-inducible, high molecular weight IκB kinase complex. These kinases are believed to directly phosphorylate IκB based on the examination of the kinase activities of IKK immunoprecipitates, but more rigorous proof of this has yet to be demonstrated. We show herein that recombinant IKK-α and IKK-β can, in fact, directly phosphorylate IκBα at Ser-32 and Ser-36, as well as homologous residues in IκBβ in vitro, and thus are bona fide IκB kinases. We also show that MEKK1 can induce the activation of both IKK-α and IKK-β in vivo. Finally, we show that IKK-α is present in the MEKK1-inducible, high molecular weight IκB kinase complex and treatment of this complex with MEKK1 induces phosphorylation of IKK-α in vitro. We conclude that IKK-α and IKK-β can mediate the NF-κB-inducing activity of MEKK1.

Phosphorylation of Argonaute 2 at serine-387 facilitates its localization to processing bodies

2008 ◽  
Vol 413 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Zeng ◽  
Heidi Sankala ◽  
Xiaoxiao Zhang ◽  
Paul R. Graves
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Phosphorylation Site ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Processing Bodies ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

Ago (Argonaute) proteins are essential effectors of RNA-mediated gene silencing. To explore potential regulatory mechanisms for Ago proteins, we examined the phosphorylation of human Ago2. We identified serine-387 as the major Ago2 phosphorylation site in vivo. Phosphorylation of Ago2 at serine-387 was significantly induced by treatment with sodium arsenite or anisomycin, and arsenite-induced phosphorylation was inhibited by a p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) inhibitor, but not by inhibitors of JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) or MEK [MAPK/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) kinase]. MAPKAPK2 (MAPK-activated protein kinase-2) phosphorylated bacterially expressed full-length human Ago2 at serine-387 in vitro, but not the S387A mutant. Finally, mutation of serine-387 to an alanine residue or treatment of cells with a p38 MAPK inhibitor reduced the localization of Ago2 to processing bodies. These results suggest a potential regulatory mechanism for RNA silencing acting through Ago2 serine-387 phosphorylation mediated by the p38 MAPK pathway.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document