scholarly journals Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) Activation and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase 1 Induction by Pulsatile Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone in Pituitary Gonadotrophs

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruhiko Kanasaki ◽  
Indri Purwana ◽  
Aki Oride ◽  
Tselmeg Mijiddorj ◽  
Kohji Miyazaki
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Calcium Influx ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Erk Activation ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

The frequency of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse secreted from the hypothalamus differently regulates the expressions of gonadotropin subunit genes, luteinizing hormone β (LHβ) and follicle-stimulating hormone β (FSHβ), in the pituitary gonadotrophs. FSHβ is preferentially stimulated at slower GnRH pulse frequencies, whereas LHβ is preferentially stimulated at more rapid pulse frequencies. Several signaling pathways are activated, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C, calcium influx, and calcium-calmodulin kinases, and these may be preferentially regulated under certain conditions. Previous studies demonstrated that MAPK pathways, especially the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), play an essential role for induction of gonadotropin subunit gene expression by GnRH, whereas, MAPK phosphatases (MKPs) inactivate MAPKs through dephosphorylation of threonine and/or tyrosine residues. MKPs are also induced by GnRH, and potential feedback regulation between MAPK signaling and MKPs within the GnRH signaling pathway is evident in gonadotrophs. In this paper, we reviewed and mainly focused on our observations of the pattern of ERK activation and the induction of MKP by different frequencies of GnRH stimulation.

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.

scholarly journals Novel Molecular Basis for Synapse Formation: Small Non-coding Vault RNA Functions as a Riboregulator of MEK1 to Modulate Synaptogenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuji Wakatsuki ◽  
Toshiyuki Araki
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Synapse Formation ◽  
Regulatory Mechanism ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Kinase Activation ◽  
Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

Small non-coding vault RNAs (vtRNAs) have been described as a component of the vault complex, a hollow-and-barrel-shaped ribonucleoprotein complex found in most eukaryotes. It has been suggested that the function of vtRNAs might not be limited to simply maintaining the structure of the vault complex. Despite the increasing research on vtRNAs, little is known about their physiological functions. Recently, we have shown that murine vtRNA (mvtRNA) up-regulates synaptogenesis by activating the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. mvtRNA binds to and activates mitogen activated protein kinase 1 (MEK1), and thereby enhances MEK1-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation. Here, we introduce the regulatory mechanism of MAPK signaling in synaptogenesis by vtRNAs and discuss the possibility as a novel molecular basis for synapse formation.

scholarly journals Activation of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase/Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase) Cascade by Aldosterone

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3042-3054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunan Hendron ◽  
James D. Stockand
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Glucocorticoid Receptor ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase ◽  
Gtp Binding ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Kinase Cascade ◽  
Subsequent Activation

Aldosterone in some tissues increases expression of the mRNA encoding the small monomeric G protein Ki-RasA. Renal A6 epithelial cells were used to determine whether induction of Ki-ras leads to concomitant increases in the total as well as active levels of Ki-RasA and whether this then leads to subsequent activation of its effector mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase) cascade. The molecular basis and cellular consequences of this action were specifically investigated. We identified the intron 1-exon 1 region (rasI/E1) of the mouse Ki-ras gene as sufficient to reconstitute aldosterone responsiveness to a heterologous promotor. Aldosterone increased reporter gene activity containing rasI/E1 threefold. Aldosterone increased the absolute and GTP-bound levels of Ki-RasA by a similar extent, suggesting that activation resulted from mass action and not effects on GTP binding/hydrolysis rates. Aldosterone significantly increased Ki-RasA and MAPK activity as early as 15 min with activation peaking by 2 h and waning after 4 h. Inhibitors of transcription, translation, and a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist attenuated MAPK signaling. Similarly, rasI/E1-driven luciferase expression was sensitive to glucocorticoid receptor blockade. Overexpression of dominant-negative RasN17, addition of antisense Ki-rasA and inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase also attenuated steroid-dependent increases in MAPK signaling. Thus, activation of MAPK by aldosterone is dependent, in part, on a genomic mechanism involving induction of Ki-ras transcription and subsequent activation of its downstream effectors. This genomic mechanism has a distinct time course from activation by traditional mitogens, such as serum, which affect the GTP-binding state and not absolute levels of Ras. The result of such a genomic mechanism is that peak activation of the MAPK cascade by adrenal corticosteroids is delayed but prolonged.

scholarly journals Activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase by complement C5b-9

2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. F593-F603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey V. Cybulsky ◽  
Tomoko Takano ◽  
Joan Papillon ◽  
Krikor Bijian ◽  
Julie Guillemette
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Protein Kinases ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Glomerular Epithelial Cell ◽  
Erk Activation ◽  
Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Constitutively Active

Extracellular signals may be transmitted to nuclear or cytoplasmic effectors via the mitogen-activated protein kinases. In the passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) model of membranous nephropathy, complement C5b-9 induces glomerular epithelial cell (GEC) injury, proteinuria, and activation of phospholipases and protein kinases. This study addresses the complement-mediated activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). C5b-9 induced ERK threonine202/tyrosine204 phosphorylation (which correlates with activation) in GEC in culture and PHN in vivo. Expression of a dominant-inhibitory mutant of Ras reduced complement-mediated activation of ERK, but activation was not affected significantly by downregulation of protein kinase C. Complement-induced ERK activation resulted in phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and was, in part, responsible for phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase-associated protein kinase-2, but did not induce phosphorylation of the transcription factor, Elk-1. Activation of ERK was attenuated by drugs that disassemble the actin cytoskeleton (cytochalasin D, latrunculin B), and these compounds interfered with the activation of ERK by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK). Overexpression of a constitutively active RhoA as well as inhibition of Rho-associated kinase blocked complement-mediated ERK activation. Complement cytotoxicity was enhanced after disassembly of the actin cytoskeleton but was unaffected after inhibition of complement-induced ERK activation. However, complement cytotoxicity was enhanced in GEC that stably express constitutively active MEK. Thus complement-induced ERK activation depends on cytoskeletal remodelling and affects the regulation of distinct downstream substrates, while chronic, constitutive ERK activation exacerbates complement-mediated GEC injury.

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