scholarly journals Selective deficiency in protein kinase C isoenzyme expression and inadequacy in mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in cord blood T cells

2003 ◽  
Vol 370 (2) ◽  
pp. 497-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S.T. HII ◽  
Maurizio COSTABILE ◽  
George C. MAYNE ◽  
Channing J. DER ◽  
Andrew W. MURRAY ◽  
...  

The biochemical basis for the reduced lymphokine production by neonatal T cells compared with adult T cells remains poorly defined. Previous studies have raised the possibility that neonatal T cells could be deficient in their ability to transmit signals via protein kinase (PK) C. We now report that while PKC-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase and the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/ERK2, was deficient in cord blood T cells compared with adult blood T cells, marked activation of the MAP kinases in cord blood T cells was achieved via PKC-independent means. Consistent with a deficiency in the signalling capability of PKC, cord blood T cells were selectively deficient in the expression of PKCβI, ∊, θ and ζ. Stimulation of cord blood T cells resulted in a time-dependent increase in PKC expression, with increases detectable by 4h. This was accompanied by an enhancement in MAP kinase activation via PKC-dependent means. These novel data suggest that an inadequacy in PKC-MAP kinase signalling may be responsible, at least in part, for the phenotype of cord blood T cells.

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 5662-5667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola J. Mason ◽  
Jim Fiore ◽  
Takashi Kobayashi ◽  
Katherine S. Masek ◽  
Yongwon Choi ◽  
...  

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.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5738-5748
Author(s):  
B M Yashar ◽  
C Kelley ◽  
K Yee ◽  
B Errede ◽  
L I Zon

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases comprise an evolutionarily conserved family of proteins that includes at least three vertebrate protein kinases (p42, p44, and p55 MAPK) and five yeast protein kinases (SPK1, MPK1, HOG1, FUS3, and KSS1). Members of this family are activated by a variety of extracellular agents that influence cellular proliferation and differentiation. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, there are multiple physiologically distinct MAP kinase activation pathways composed of structurally related kinases. The recently cloned vertebrate MAP kinase activators are structurally related to MAP kinase activators in these yeast pathways. These similarities suggest that homologous kinase cascades are utilized for signal transduction in many, if not all, eukaryotes. We have identified additional members of the MAP kinase activator family in Xenopus laevis by a polymerase chain reaction-based analysis of embryonic cDNAs. One of the clones identified (XMEK2) encodes a unique predicted protein kinase that is similar to the previously reported activator (MAPKK) in X. laevis. XMEK2, a highly expressed maternal mRNA, is developmentally regulated during embryogenesis and expressed in brain and muscle. Expression of XMEK2 in yeast cells suppressed the growth defect associated with loss of the yeast MAP kinase activator homologs, MKK1 and MKK2. Partial sequence of a second cDNA clone (XMEK3) identified yet another potential MAP kinase activator. The pattern of expression of XMEK3 is distinct from that of p42 MAPK and XMEK2. The high degree of amino acid sequence similarity of XMEK2, XMEK3, and MAPKK suggests that these three are related members of an amphibian family of protein kinases involved in the activation of MAP kinase. Discovery of this family suggests that multiple MAP kinase activation pathways similar to those in yeast cells exist in vertebrates.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5738-5748 ◽  
Author(s):  
B M Yashar ◽  
C Kelley ◽  
K Yee ◽  
B Errede ◽  
L I Zon

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases comprise an evolutionarily conserved family of proteins that includes at least three vertebrate protein kinases (p42, p44, and p55 MAPK) and five yeast protein kinases (SPK1, MPK1, HOG1, FUS3, and KSS1). Members of this family are activated by a variety of extracellular agents that influence cellular proliferation and differentiation. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, there are multiple physiologically distinct MAP kinase activation pathways composed of structurally related kinases. The recently cloned vertebrate MAP kinase activators are structurally related to MAP kinase activators in these yeast pathways. These similarities suggest that homologous kinase cascades are utilized for signal transduction in many, if not all, eukaryotes. We have identified additional members of the MAP kinase activator family in Xenopus laevis by a polymerase chain reaction-based analysis of embryonic cDNAs. One of the clones identified (XMEK2) encodes a unique predicted protein kinase that is similar to the previously reported activator (MAPKK) in X. laevis. XMEK2, a highly expressed maternal mRNA, is developmentally regulated during embryogenesis and expressed in brain and muscle. Expression of XMEK2 in yeast cells suppressed the growth defect associated with loss of the yeast MAP kinase activator homologs, MKK1 and MKK2. Partial sequence of a second cDNA clone (XMEK3) identified yet another potential MAP kinase activator. The pattern of expression of XMEK3 is distinct from that of p42 MAPK and XMEK2. The high degree of amino acid sequence similarity of XMEK2, XMEK3, and MAPKK suggests that these three are related members of an amphibian family of protein kinases involved in the activation of MAP kinase. Discovery of this family suggests that multiple MAP kinase activation pathways similar to those in yeast cells exist in vertebrates.


2001 ◽  
Vol 359 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunke HIMPEL ◽  
Pascal PANZER ◽  
Klaus EIRMBTER ◽  
Hanna CZAJKOWSKA ◽  
Muhammed SAYED ◽  
...  

Protein kinases of the DYRK (‘dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase’) family are characterized by a conserved Tyr-Xaa-Tyr motif (Tyr-319–Tyr-321) in a position exactly corresponding to the activation motif of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) family (Thr-Xaa-Tyr). In a molecular model of the catalytic domain of DYRK1A, the orientation of phosphorylated Tyr-321 is strikingly similar to that of Tyr-185 in the known structure of the activated MAP kinase, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 2. Consistent with our model, substitution of Tyr-321 but not of Tyr-319 by phenylalanine markedly reduced the enzymic activity of recombinant DYRK1A expressed in either Escherichia coli or mammalian cells. Direct identification of phosphorylated residues by tandem MS confirmed that Tyr-321, but not Tyr-319, was phosphorylated. When expressed in COS-7 cells, DYRK1A was found to be fully phosphorylated on Tyr-321. A catalytically inactive mutant of DYRK1A contained no detectable phosphotyrosine, indicating that Tyr-321 is autophosphorylated by DYRK1A. MS identified Tyr-111 and Ser-97 as additional autophosphorylation sites in the non-catalytic N-terminal domain of bacterially expressed DYRK1A. Enzymic activity was not affected in the DYRK1A-Y111F mutant. The present experimental data and the molecular model indicate that the activity of DYRK1A is dependent on the autophosphorylation of a conserved tyrosine residue in the activation loop.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 7593-7602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy M. Delaney ◽  
John A. Printen ◽  
Huifen Chen ◽  
Eric B. Fauman ◽  
David T. Dudley

ABSTRACT Utilizing a genetic screen in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we identified a novel autoactivation region in mammalian MEK1 that is involved in binding the specific MEK inhibitor, PD 184352. The genetic screen is possible due to the homology between components of the yeast pheromone response pathway and the eukaryotic Raf-MEK-ERK signaling cascade. Using the FUS1::HIS3 reporter as a functional readout for activation of a reconstituted Raf-MEK-ERK signaling cascade, randomly mutagenized MEK variants that were insensitive to PD 184352 were obtained. Seven single-base-change mutations were identified, five of which mapped to kinase subdomains III and IV of MEK. Of the seven variants, only one, a leucine-to-proline substitution at amino acid 115 (Leu115Pro), was completely insensitive to PD 184352 in vitro (50% inhibitory concentration >10 μM). However, all seven mutants displayed strikingly high basal activity compared to wild-type MEK. Overexpression of the MEK variants in HEK293T cells resulted in an increase in mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation, a finding consistent with the elevated basal activity of these constructs. Further, treatment with PD 184352 failed to inhibit Leu115Pro-stimulated MAP kinase activation in HEK293T cells, whereas all other variants had some reduction in phospho-MAP kinase levels. By using cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (1CDK) as a template, an MEK homology model was generated, with five of the seven identified residues clustered together, forming a potential hydrophobic binding pocket for PD 184352. Additionally, the model allowed identification of other potential residues that would interact with the inhibitor. Directed mutation of these residues supported this region's involvement with inhibitor binding.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 3670-3681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Brancho ◽  
Juan-Jose Ventura ◽  
Anja Jaeschke ◽  
Beth Doran ◽  
Richard A. Flavell ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Mixed-lineage protein kinase 3 (MLK3) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase group that has been implicated in multiple signaling cascades, including the NF-κB pathway and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAP kinase pathways. Here, we examined the effect of targeted disruption of the murine Mlk3 gene. Mlk3 −/− mice were found to be viable and healthy. Primary embryonic fibroblasts prepared from these mice exhibited no major signaling defects. However, we did find that MLK3 deficiency caused a selective reduction in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-stimulated JNK activation. Together, these data demonstrate that MLK3 contributes to the TNF signaling pathway that activates JNK.


2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 2818-2829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole Valente Mortensen ◽  
Mads Breum Larsen ◽  
Balakrishna M. Prasad ◽  
Susan G. Amara

The antidepressant and cocaine sensitive plasma membrane monoamine transporters are the primary mechanism for clearance of their respective neurotransmitters and serve a pivotal role in limiting monoamine neurotransmission. To identify molecules in pathways that regulate dopamine transporter (DAT) internalization, we used a genetic complementation screen in Xenopus oocytes to identify a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphatase, MKP3/Pyst1/DUSP6, as a molecule that inhibits protein kinase C–induced (PKC) internalization of transporters, resulting in enhanced DAT activity. The involvement of MKP3 in DAT internalization was verified using both overexpression and shRNA knockdown strategies in mammalian cell models including a dopaminergic cell line. Although the isolation of MKP3 implies a role for MAP kinases in DAT internalization, MAP kinase inhibitors have no effect on internalization. Moreover, PKC-dependent down-regulation of DAT does not correlate with the phosphorylation state of several well-studied MAP kinases (ERK1/2, p38, and SAPK/JNK). We also show that MKP3 does not regulate PKC-induced ubiquitylation of DAT but acts at a more downstream step to stabilize DAT at the cell surface by blocking dynamin-dependent internalization and delaying the targeting of DAT for degradation. These results indicate that MKP3 can act to enhance DAT function and identifies MKP3 as a phosphatase involved in regulating dynamin-dependent endocytosis.


1997 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Min Wang ◽  
Ye Zhai ◽  
James E. Ferrell

The spindle assembly checkpoint prevents cells whose spindles are defective or chromosomes are misaligned from initiating anaphase and leaving mitosis. Studies of Xenopus egg extracts have implicated the Erk2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) in this checkpoint. Other studies have suggested that MAP kinases might be important for normal mitotic progression. Here we have investigated whether MAP kinase function is required for mitotic progression or the spindle assembly checkpoint in vivo in Xenopus tadpole cells (XTC). We determined that Erk1 and/or Erk2 are present in the mitotic spindle during prometaphase and metaphase, consistent with the idea that MAP kinase might regulate or monitor the status of the spindle. Next, we microinjected purified recombinant XCL100, a Xenopus MAP kinase phosphatase, into XTC cells in various stages of mitosis to interfere with MAP kinase activation. We found that mitotic progression was unaffected by the phosphatase. However, XCL100 rendered the cells unable to remain arrested in mitosis after treatment with nocodazole. Cells injected with phosphatase at prometaphase or metaphase exited mitosis in the presence of nocodazole—the chromosomes decondensed and the nuclear envelope re-formed—whereas cells injected with buffer or a catalytically inactive XCL100 mutant protein remained arrested in mitosis. Coinjection of constitutively active MAP kinase kinase-1, which opposes XCL100's effects on MAP kinase, antagonized the effects of XCL100. Since the only known targets of MAP kinase kinase-1 are Erk1 and Erk2, these findings argue that MAP kinase function is required for the spindle assembly checkpoint in XTC cells.


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.


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