scholarly journals Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 7 (ERK7), a Novel ERK with a C-Terminal Domain That Regulates Its Activity, Its Cellular Localization, and Cell Growth

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 1301-1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark K. Abe ◽  
Wen-Liang Kuo ◽  
Marc B. Hershenson ◽  
Marsha Rich Rosner

ABSTRACT Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases play distinct roles in a variety of cellular signaling pathways and are regulated through multiple mechanisms. In this study, a novel 61-kDa member of the MAP kinase family, termed extracellular signal-regulated kinase 7 (ERK7), has been cloned and characterized. Although it has the signature TEY activation motif of ERK1 and ERK2, ERK7 is not activated by extracellular stimuli that typically activate ERK1 and ERK2 or by common activators of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase. Instead, ERK7 has appreciable constitutive activity in serum-starved cells that is dependent on the presence of its C-terminal domain. Interestingly, the C-terminal tail, not the kinase domain, of ERK7 regulates its nuclear localization and inhibition of growth. Taken together, these results elucidate a novel type of MAP kinase whereby interactions via its C-terminal tail, rather than extracellular signal-mediated activation cascades, regulate its activity, localization, and function.

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (13) ◽  
pp. 4542-4558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Coulombe ◽  
Geneviève Rodier ◽  
Stéphane Pelletier ◽  
Johanne Pellerin ◽  
Sylvain Meloche

ABSTRACT Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are stable enzymes that are mainly regulated by phosphorylation and subcellular targeting. Here we report that extracellular signal-regulated kinase 3 (ERK3), unlike other MAP kinases, is an unstable protein that is constitutively degraded in proliferating cells with a half-life of 30 min. The proteolysis of ERK3 is executed by the proteasome and requires ubiquitination of the protein. Contrary to other protein kinases, the catalytic activity of ERK3 is not responsible for its short half-life. Instead, analysis of ERK1/ERK3 chimeras revealed the presence of two destabilization regions (NDR1 and -2) in the N-terminal lobe of the ERK3 kinase domain that are both necessary and sufficient to target ERK3 and heterologous proteins for proteasomal degradation. To assess the physiological relevance of the rapid turnover of ERK3, we monitored the expression of the kinase in different cellular models of differentiation. We observed that ERK3 markedly accumulates during differentiation of PC12 and C2C12 cells into the neuronal and muscle lineage, respectively. The accumulation of ERK3 during myogenic differentiation is associated with the time-dependent stabilization of the protein. Terminal skeletal muscle differentiation is accompanied by cell cycle withdrawal. Interestingly, we found that expression of stabilized forms of ERK3 causes G1 arrest in NIH 3T3 cells. We propose that ERK3 biological activity is regulated by its cellular abundance through the control of protein stability.


2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 922-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Almudena Porras ◽  
Susana Zuluaga ◽  
Emma Black ◽  
Amparo Valladares ◽  
Alberto M. Alvarez ◽  
...  

p38α mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is a broadly expressed signaling molecule that participates in the regulation of cellular responses to stress as well as in the control of proliferation and survival of many cell types. We have used cell lines derived from p38α knockout mice to study the role of this signaling pathway in the regulation of apoptosis. Here, we show that cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts lacking p38α are more resistant to apoptosis induced by different stimuli. The reduced apoptosis of p38α-deficient cells correlates with decreased expression of the mitochondrial proapoptotic protein Bax and the apoptosis-inducing receptor Fas/CD-95. Cells lacking p38α also have increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERKs) MAP kinase activity, and the up-regulation of this survival pathway seems to be at least partially responsible for the reduced levels of apoptosis in the absence of p38α. Phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT3 on Ser-727, mediated by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase MAP kinase pathway, may contribute to the decrease in both Bax and Fas expression in p38α-/- cells. Thus, p38α seems to sensitize cells to apoptosis via both up-regulation of proapoptotic proteins and down-regulation of survival pathways.


1998 ◽  
Vol 188 (7) ◽  
pp. 1287-1295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ari Hashimoto ◽  
Hidetaka Okada ◽  
Aimin Jiang ◽  
Mari Kurosaki ◽  
Steven Greenberg ◽  
...  

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family members, including extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (  JNK), and p38 MAP kinase, have been implicated in coupling the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) to transcriptional responses. However, the mechanisms that lead to the activation of these MAP kinase family members have been poorly elucidated. Here we demonstrate that the BCR-induced ERK activation is reduced by loss of Grb2 or expression of a dominant-negative form of Ras, RasN17, whereas this response is not affected by loss of Shc. The inhibition of the ERK response was also observed in phospholipase C (PLC)-γ2–deficient DT40 B cells, and expression of RasN17 in the PLC-γ2–deficient cells completely abrogated the ERK activation. The PLC-γ2 dependency of ERK activation was most likely due to protein kinase C (PKC) activation rather than calcium mobilization, since loss of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors did not affect ERK activation. Similar to cooperation of Ras with PKC activation in ERK response, both PLC-γ2–dependent signal and GTPase are required for BCR-induced JNK and p38 responses. JNK response is dependent on Rac1 and calcium mobilization, whereas p38 response requires Rac1 and PKC activation.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (1) ◽  
pp. C350-C360 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Elzi ◽  
A. Jason Bjornsen ◽  
Todd MacKenzie ◽  
Travis H. Wyman ◽  
Christopher C. Silliman

Many receptor-linked agents that prime or activate the NADPH oxidase in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) elicit changes in cytosolic Ca2+concentration and activate mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. To investigate the role of Ca2+in the activation of p38 and p42/44 MAP kinases, we examined the effects of the Ca2+-selective ionophore ionomycin on priming and activation of the PMN oxidase. Ionomycin caused a rapid rise in cytosolic Ca2+that was due to both a release of cytosolic Ca2+stores and Ca2+influx. Ionomycin also activated (2 μM) and primed (20–200 nM) the PMN oxidase. Dual phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase and phosphorylation of its substrate activating transcription factor-2 were detected at ionomycin concentrations that prime or activate the PMN oxidase, while dual phosphorylation of p42/44 MAP kinase and phosphorylation of its substrate Elk-1 were elicited at 0.2–2 μM. SB-203580, a p38 MAP kinase antagonist, inhibited ionomycin-induced activation of the oxidase (68 ± 8%, P < 0.05) and tyrosine phosphorylation of 105- and 72-kDa proteins; conversely, PD-98059, an inhibitor of MAP/extracellular signal-related kinase 1, had no effect. Treatment of PMNs with thapsigargin resulted in priming of the oxidase and activation of p38 MAP kinase. Chelation of cytosolic but not extracellular Ca2+completely inhibited ionomycin activation of p38 MAP kinase, whereas chelation of extracellular Ca2+abrogated activation of p42/44 MAP kinase. These results demonstrate the importance of changes in cytosolic Ca2+for MAP kinase activation in PMNs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masamichi Imajo ◽  
Kunio Kondoh ◽  
Takuya Yamamoto ◽  
Kei Nakayama ◽  
May Nakajima-Koyama ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Deregulated activation of RAS/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling and defects in retinoic acid receptor (RAR) signaling are both implicated in many types of cancers. However, interrelationships between these alterations in regulating cancer cell fates have not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that RAS/ERK and RAR signaling pathways antagonistically interact with each other to regulate colorectal cancer (CRC) cell fates. We show that RAR signaling activation promotes spontaneous differentiation of CRC cells, while ERK activation suppresses it. Our microarray analyses identify genes whose expression levels are upregulated by RAR signaling. Notably, one of these genes, MKP4, encoding a member of dual-specificity phosphatases for mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, mediates ERK inactivation upon RAR activation, thereby promoting the differentiation of CRC cells. Moreover, our results also show that RA induction of RAR target genes is suppressed by the ERK pathway activation. This suppression results from the inhibition of RAR transcriptional activity, which is shown to be mediated through an RIP140/histone deacetylase (HDAC)-mediated mechanism. These results identify antagonistic interactions between RAS/ERK and RAR signaling in the cell fate decision of CRC cells and define their underlying molecular mechanisms.


2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1554-1564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Giurisato ◽  
Joseph Lin ◽  
Angus Harding ◽  
Elisa Cerutti ◽  
Marina Cella ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT KSR1 is a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase scaffold that enhances the activation of the MAP kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). The function of KSR1 in NK cell function is not known. Here we show that KSR1 is required for efficient NK-mediated cytolysis and polarization of cytolytic granules. Single-cell analysis showed that ERK is activated in an all-or-none fashion in both wild-type and KSR1-deficient cells. In the absence of KSR1, however, the efficiency of ERK activation is attenuated. Imaging studies showed that KSR1 is recruited to the immunological synapse during T-cell activation and that membrane recruitment of KSR1 is required for recruitment of active ERK to the synapse.


2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1026-1032
Author(s):  
MILITZA KIROYCHEVA ◽  
FAYYAZ AHMED ◽  
GILLIAN M. ANTHONY ◽  
CSABA SZABO ◽  
GARRY J. SOUTHAN ◽  
...  

Abstract. Previous studies in βs sickle cell mice demonstrated renal immunostaining for nitrotyrosine, which is putative evidence of peroxynitrite (ONOO-) formation. ONOO- is known to nitrate tyrosine residues of various enzymes, thereby interfering with phosphorylation and inactivating them. The present study examined the state of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signal transduction enzymes, i.e., p38, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Western blot performed with antibodies directed against specific phosphorylated threonine/tyrosine residues of these enzymes demonstrated reduced phosphorylation of renal p38 and a trend toward reduced phosphorylation of ERK. In contrast, phosphorylation of renal JNK was markedly increased compared with normal mice. The abundance of MAP kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), a key upstream enzyme that modulates phosphorylation of MAP kinases, was not different in βsversus normal mice. To determine whether nitration of tyrosine by ONOO- was responsible for reduced phosphorylation of p38 and ERK, mercaptoethylguanidine (MEG), a compound known to reduce inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase activity and to scavenge ONOO-, was administered to βs mice for 5 d. MEG was found to restore phosphorylation of p38 and ERK toward normal levels. These observations provide evidence that ONOO- (or closely related reaction products of NO) contributes to dephosphorylation of p38 and ERK, and presumably reduces activity of these enzymes. The increased phosphorylation of JNK, which suggests activation of this signaling pathway by extracellular stress signals, may play a role in apoptosis in the kidneys of these mice. The changes in phosphorylation of MAP kinase pathways found in this study could have important consequences for regulation of nuclear transcription factors, and thus renal function and pathology in sickle cell kidneys.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 3695-3704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motoyuki Itoh ◽  
Yuichi Yoshida ◽  
Keigo Nishida ◽  
Masahiro Narimatsu ◽  
Masahiko Hibi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Gab1 is a member of the Gab/DOS (Daughter of Sevenless) family of adapter molecules, which contain a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and potential binding sites for SH2 and SH3 domains. Gab1 is tyrosine phosphorylated upon stimulation of various cytokines, growth factors, and antigen receptors in cell lines and interacts with signaling molecules, such as SHP-2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, although its biological roles have not yet been established. To reveal the functions of Gab1 in vivo, we generated mice lacking Gab1 by gene targeting. Gab1-deficient embryos died in utero and displayed developmental defects in the heart, placenta, and skin, which were similar to phenotypes observed in mice lacking signals of the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and epidermal growth factor pathways. Consistent with these observations, extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein (ERK MAP) kinases were activated at much lower levels in cells from Gab1-deficient embryos in response to these growth factors or to stimulation of the cytokine receptor gp130. These results indicate that Gab1 is a common player in a broad range of growth factor and cytokine signaling pathways linking ERK MAP kinase activation.


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