Many intracellular signalling events are accompanied by generation of reactive oxygen species in cells. Oxidation of protein thiol groups is an emerging theme in signal-transduction research. We have found that MEKK1 [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) kinase kinase 1], an upstream activator of the SAPK/JNK (stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase) pathway, is directly inhibited by cysteine alkylation using NEM (N-ethylmaleimide). The related kinase, ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1), was not inhibited, but was instead activated by NEM. Inhibition of MEKK1 requires a single unique cysteine residue (Cys1238) in the ATP-binding domain of MEKK1. Oxidative stress induced by menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) also inhibited MEKK1, but activated ASK1, in cells. MEKK1 inhibition by menadione also required Cys1238. Oxidant-inhibited MEKK1 was re-activated by dithiothreitol and glutathione, supporting reversible cysteine oxidation as a mechanism. Using various chemical probes, we excluded modification by S-nitrosylation or oxidation of cysteine to sulphenic acid. Oxidant-inhibited MEKK1 migrated normally on non-reducing gels, excluding the possibility of intra- or inter-molecular disulphide bond formation. MEKK1 was inhibited by glutathionylation in vitro, and MEKK1 isolated from menadione-treated cells was shown by MS to be modified by glutathione on Cys1238. Our results support a model whereby the redox environment within the cell selectively regulates stress signalling through MEKK1 versus ASK1, and may thereby participate in the induction of apoptosis by oxidative stress.
Analysis of the Ras p21/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in vitro and in Xenopus oocytes
