scholarly journals Pseudokinases from a structural perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 981-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan S. Taylor ◽  
Andrey Shaw ◽  
Jiancheng Hu ◽  
Hiruy S. Meharena ◽  
Alexandr Kornev
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
General Strategy ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Adenine Ring ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
C Subunit ◽  
Kinase Structure

The catalytic (C) subunit of PKA was the first protein kinase structure to be solved, and it continues to serve as the prototype for the protein kinase superfamily. In contrast, by comparing many active and inactive kinases, we developed a novel ‘spine’ concept where every active kinase is composed of two hydrophobic spines anchored to a hydrophobic F-helix. The R-spine (regulatory spine) is dynamically assembled, typically by activation loop phosphorylation, whereas the C-spine (catalytic spine) is completed by the adenine ring of ATP. In the present paper, we show how the spine concept can be applied to B-Raf, specifically to engineer a kinase-dead pseudokinase. To achieve this, we mutated one of the C-spine residues in the N-lobe (N-terminal lobe), Ala481, to phenylalanine. This mutant cannot bind ATP and is thus kinase-dead, presumably because the phenylalanine ring fills the adenine-binding pocket. The C-spine is thus fused. However, the A481F mutant is still capable of binding wild-type B-Raf and wild-type C-Raf, and dimerization with a wild-type Raf leads to downstream activation of MEK [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) kinase] and ERK. The mutant requires dimerization, but is independent of Ras and does not require enzymatic activity. By distinguishing between catalytic and scaffold functions of B-Raf, we define kinases as being bifunctional and show that, at least in some cases, the scaffold function is sufficient for downstream signalling. Since this alanine residue is one of the most highly conserved residues in the kinome, we suggest that this may be a general strategy for engineering kinase-dead pseudokinases and exploring biological functions that are independent of catalysis.

scholarly journals TRAF6-Dependent Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation Differentially Regulates the Production of Interleukin-12 by Macrophages in Response to Toxoplasma gondii

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 5662-5667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola J. Mason ◽  
Jim Fiore ◽  
Takashi Kobayashi ◽  
Katherine S. Masek ◽  
Yongwon Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Kinase Activation ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT The production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) is critical to the development of innate and adaptive immune responses required for the control of intracellular pathogens. Many microbial products signal through Toll-like receptors (TLR) and activate NF-κB family members that are required for the production of IL-12. Recent studies suggest that components of the TLR pathway are required for the production of IL-12 in response to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii; however, the production of IL-12 in response to this parasite is independent of NF-κB activation. The adaptor molecule TRAF6 is involved in TLR signaling pathways and associates with serine/threonine kinases involved in the activation of both NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). To elucidate the intracellular signaling pathways involved in the production of IL-12 in response to soluble toxoplasma antigen (STAg), wild-type and TRAF6−/− mice were inoculated with STAg, and the production of IL-12(p40) was determined. TRAF6−/− mice failed to produce IL-12(p40) in response to STAg, and TRAF6−/− macrophages stimulated with STAg also failed to produce IL-12(p40). Studies using Western blot analysis of wild-type and TRAF6−/− macrophages revealed that stimulation with STAg resulted in the rapid TRAF6-dependent phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-related kinase, which differentially regulated the production of IL-12(p40). The studies presented here demonstrate for the first time that the production of IL-12(p40) in response to toxoplasma is dependent upon TRAF6 and p38 MAPK.

scholarly journals Rac-PAK Signaling Stimulates Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) Activation by Regulating Formation of MEK1-ERK Complexes

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 6023-6033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott T. Eblen ◽  
Jill K. Slack ◽  
Michael J. Weber ◽  
Andrew D. Catling
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Erk Activation ◽  
Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase ◽  
Signaling Complex ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT Utilizing mutants of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) that are defective for intrinsic mitogen-activated protein kinase or ERK kinase (MEK) binding, we have identified a convergent signaling pathway that facilitates regulated MEK-ERK association and ERK activation. ERK2-Δ19-25 mutants defective in MEK binding could be phosphorylated in response to mitogens; however, signaling from the Raf-MEK pathway alone was insufficient to stimulate their phosphorylation in COS-1 cells. Phosphorylation of ERK2-Δ19-25 but not of wild-type ERK2 in response to Ras V12 was greatly inhibited by dominant-negative Rac. Activated forms of Rac and Cdc42 could enhance the association of wild-type ERK2 with MEK1 but not with MEK2 in serum-starved adherent cells. This effect was p21-activated kinase (PAK) dependent and required the putative PAK phosphorylation sites T292 and S298 of MEK1. In detached cells placed in suspension, ERK2 was complexed with MEK2 but not with MEK1. However, upon replating of cells onto a fibronectin matrix, there was a substantial induction of MEK1-ERK2 association and ERK activation, both of which could be inhibited by dominant-negative PAK1. These data show that Rac facilitates the assembly of a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling complex required for ERK activation and that this facilitative signaling pathway is active during adhesion to the extracellular matrix. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which adhesion and growth factor signals are integrated during ERK activation.

The Ser186 phospho-acceptor site within ERK4 is essential for its ability to interact with and activate PRAK/MK5

2008 ◽  
Vol 411 (3) ◽  
pp. 613-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Perander ◽  
Espen Åberg ◽  
Bjarne Johansen ◽  
Bo Dreyer ◽  
Ingrid J. Guldvik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Acceptor Site ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Sds Page ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Reduced Mobility

ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) 4 [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) 4] and ERK3 (MAPK6) are atypical MAPKs. One major difference between these proteins and the classical MAPKs is substitution of the conserved T-X-Y motif within the activation loop by a single phospho-acceptor site within an S-E-G motif. In the present study we report that Ser186 of the S-E-G motif in ERK4 is phosphorylated in vivo. Kinase-dead ERK4 is also phosphorylated on Ser186, indicating that an ERK4 kinase, rather than autophosphorylation, is responsible. Co-expression of MK5 [MAPK-activated protein kinase 5; also known as PRAK (p38-regulated/activated kinase)], a physiological target of ERK4, increases phosphorylation of Ser186. This is not dependent on MK5 activity, but does require interaction between ERK4 and MK5 suggesting that MK5 binding either prevents ERK4 dephosphorylation or facilitates ERK4 kinase activity. ERK4 mutants in which Ser186 is replaced with either an alanine residue or a phospho-mimetic residue (glutamate) are unable to activate MK5 and Ser186 is also required for cytoplasmic anchoring of MK5. Both defects seem to reflect an impaired ability of the ERK4 mutants to interact with MK5. We find that there are at least two endogenous pools of wild-type ERK4. One form exhibits reduced mobility when analysed using SDS/PAGE. This is due to MK5-dependent phosphorylation and only this retarded ERK4 species is both phosphorylated on Ser186 and co-immunoprecipitates with wild-type MK5. We conclude that binding between ERK4 and MK5 facilitates phosphorylation of Ser186 and stabilization of the ERK4–MK5 complex. This results in phosphorylation and activation of MK5, which in turn phosphorylates ERK4 on sites other than Ser186 resulting in the observed mobility shift.

scholarly journals Exercise-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling in skeletal muscle

2004 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Chau Long ◽  
Ulrika Widegren ◽  
Juleen R. Zierath
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Muscle Contraction ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Mapk Cascades ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mapk Signalling ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Response To Exercise

Exercise training improves glucose homeostasis through enhanced insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. Muscle contraction through physical exercise is a physiological stimulus that elicits multiple biochemical and biophysical responses and therefore requires an appropriate control network. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathways constitute a network of phosphorylation cascades that link cellular stress to changes in transcriptional activity. MAPK cascades are divided into four major subfamilies, including extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2, p38 MAPK, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5. The present review will present the current understanding of parallel MAPK signalling in human skeletal muscle in response to exercise and muscle contraction, with an emphasis on identifying potential signalling mechanisms responsible for changes in gene expression.

scholarly journals The Insulin Receptor: A Potential Target of Amarogentin Isolated from Gentiana rigescens Franch That Induces Neurogenesis in PC12 Cells

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 581
Author(s):  
Lihong Cheng ◽  
Hiroyuki Osada ◽  
Tianyan Xing ◽  
Minoru Yoshida ◽  
Lan Xiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Insulin Receptor ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Neurite Outgrowth ◽  
Pc12 Cells ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Potential Target ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Gentiana Rigescens

Amarogentin (AMA) is a secoiridoid glycoside isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine, Gentiana rigescens Franch. AMA exhibits nerve growth factor (NGF)-mimicking and NGF-enhancing activities in PC12 cells and in primary cortical neuron cells. In this study, a possible mechanism was found showing the remarkable induction of phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (INSR) and protein kinase B (AKT). The potential target of AMA was predicted by using a small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and the cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). The AMA-induced neurite outgrowth was reduced by the siRNA against the INSR and the results of the CETSA suggested that the INSR showed a significant thermal stability-shifted effect upon AMA treatment. Other neurotrophic signaling pathways in PC12 cells were investigated using specific inhibitors, Western blotting and PC12(rasN17) and PC12(mtGAP) mutants. The inhibitors of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), phospholipase C (PLC) and protein kinase C (PKC), Ras, Raf and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) significantly reduced the neurite outgrowth induced by AMA in PC12 cells. Furthermore, the phosphorylation reactions of GR, PLC, PKC and an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were significantly increased after inducing AMA and markedly decreased after treatment with the corresponding inhibitors. Collectively, these results suggested that AMA-induced neuritogenic activity in PC12 cells potentially depended on targeting the INSR and activating the downstream Ras/Raf/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In addition, the GR/PLC/PKC signaling pathway was found to be involved in the neurogenesis effect of AMA.

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