scholarly journals Gi2-mediated activation of the MAP kinase cascade.

1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 1685-1695 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Pace ◽  
M Faure ◽  
H R Bourne

The Gi class of heterotrimeric G proteins has been implicated in transmitting mitogenic signals from a variety of seven-transmembrane domain receptors. In addition, the alpha subunit of Gi2 (alpha i2) is oncogenic when mutated to a constitutively active form (gip2). The mechanism by which Gi2 stimulates cellular proliferation is unknown, but is believed to involve activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade. To study Gi2 activation of the cascade, we transiently expressed a mutant, pertussis toxin (PTX)-resistant alpha i2 in Chinese hamster ovary cells. After PTX treatment of these cells, Gi-coupled receptors specifically activated PTX-resistant Gi2 without activating other Gi proteins. Receptor-mediated activation of Gi2 led to activation of MAPK and its upstream activator, MAPK/ERK-activating kinase (MEK). Activation of MAPK and MEK by Gi2 was blocked by expression of a dominant-negative mutant of Ras. Gi2 activation did not, however, detectably increase the proportion of Ras protein in the GTP-bound form. Additional experiments suggest that Gi2 stimulates the MAPK pathway, at least in part, by mechanisms that involve release of its beta gamma subunit, as well as activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase.

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 299-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alana M. O'Reilly ◽  
Scott Pluskey ◽  
Steven E. Shoelson ◽  
Benjamin G. Neel

ABSTRACT In Xenopus ectodermal explants (animal caps), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) evokes two major events: induction of ventrolateral mesodermal tissues and elongation. TheXenopus FGF receptor (XFGFR) and certain downstream components of the XFGFR signal transduction pathway (e.g., members of the Ras/Raf/MEK/mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK] cascade) are required for both of these processes. Likewise, activated versions of these signaling components induce mesoderm and promote animal cap elongation. Previously, using a dominant negative mutant approach, we showed that the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 is necessary for FGF-induced MAPK activation, mesoderm induction, and elongation of animal caps. Taking advantage of recent structural information, we now have generated novel, activated mutants of SHP-2. Here, we show that expression of these mutants induces animal cap elongation to an extent comparable to that evoked by FGF. Surprisingly, however, activated mutant-induced elongation can occur without mesodermal cytodifferentiation and is accompanied by minimal activation of the MAPK pathway and mesodermal marker expression. Our results implicate SHP-2 in a pathway(s) directing cell movements in vivo and identify potential downstream components of this pathway. Our activated mutants also may be useful for determining the specific functions of SHP-2 in other signaling systems.


2006 ◽  
Vol 203 (7) ◽  
pp. 1651-1656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidetoshi Sumimoto ◽  
Fumie Imabayashi ◽  
Tomoko Iwata ◽  
Yutaka Kawakami

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is frequently activated in human cancers, leading to malignant phenotypes such as autonomous cellular proliferation. Here, we demonstrate a novel role of the activated MAPK pathway in immune evasion by melanoma cells with the mutation of BRAF, which encodes a MAPKKs, (BRAFV600E). MEK inhibitor U0126 or RNA interference (RNAi) for BRAFV600E decreased production of the immunosuppressive soluble factors interleukin (IL)-10, VEGF, or IL-6 from melanoma cells to levels comparable to those after signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 inactivation. The suppressive activity of the culture supernatants from the melanoma cells on the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor α by dendritic cells upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation was markedly reduced after transduction with BRAFV600E RNAi, comparable to the effects observed with STAT3 RNAi transduction. No additive or synergistic effects were observed by the simultaneous transduction of RNAi for both BRAFV600E and STAT3. Furthermore, specific DNA binding and transcriptional activity of STAT3 were not affected by down-regulation of the MAPK signaling with the BRAF RNAi. These results indicate that the MAPK signal, along with the STAT3 signal, is essential for immune evasion by human melanomas that have constitutively active MAPK signaling and is a potential molecular target for overcoming melanoma cell evasion of the immune system.


2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 819-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoram Altschuler ◽  
Carol L. Kinlough ◽  
Paul A. Poland ◽  
James B. Bruns ◽  
Gerard Apodaca ◽  
...  

MUC1 is a mucin-like type 1 transmembrane protein associated with the apical surface of epithelial cells. In human tumors of epithelial origin MUC1 is overexpressed in an underglycosylated form with truncated O-glycans and accumulates in intracellular compartments. To understand the basis for this altered subcellular localization, we compared the synthesis and trafficking of various glycosylated forms of MUC1 in normal (Chinese hamster ovary) cells and glycosylation-defective (ldlD) cells that lack the epimerase to make UDP-Gal/GalNAc from UDP-Glc/GlcNAc. Although the MUC1 synthesized in ldlD cells was rapidly degraded, addition of GalNAc alone to the culture media resulted in stabilization and near normal surface expression of MUC1 with truncated but sialylatedO-glycans. Interestingly, the initial rate of endocytosis of this underglycosylated MUC1 was stimulated by twofold compared with fully glycosylated MUC1. However, the half-lives of the two forms were not different, indicating that trafficking to lysosomes was not affected. Both the normal and stimulated internalization of MUC1 could be blocked by hypertonic media, a hallmark of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. MUC1 endocytosis was also blocked by expression of a dominant-negative mutant of dynamin-1 (K44A), and MUC1 was observed in both clathrin-coated pits and vesicles by immunoelectron microscopy of ultrathin cryosections. Our data suggest that the subcellular redistribution of MUC1 in tumor cells could be a direct result of altered endocytic trafficking induced by its aberrant glycosylation; potential models are discussed. These results also implicate a new role for O-glycans on mucin-like membrane proteins entering the endocytic pathway through clathrin-coated pits.


2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2629-2645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Qiao ◽  
Elaine Studer ◽  
Kevin Leach ◽  
Robert McKinstry ◽  
Seema Gupta ◽  
...  

Previous studies have argued that enhanced activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway can promote tumor cell survival in response to cytotoxic insults. In this study, we examined the impact of MAPK signaling on the survival of primary hepatocytes exposed to low concentrations of deoxycholic acid (DCA, 50 μM). Treatment of hepatocytes with DCA caused MAPK activation, which was dependent upon ligand independent activation of EGFR, and downstream signaling through Ras and PI3 kinase. Neither inhibition of MAPK signaling alone by MEK1/2 inhibitors, nor exposure to DCA alone, enhanced basal hepatocyte apoptosis, whereas inhibition of DCA-induced MAPK activation caused ∼25% apoptosis within 6 h. Similar data were also obtained when either dominant negative EGFR-CD533 or dominant negative Ras N17 were used to block MAPK activation. DCA-induced apoptosis correlated with sequential cleavage of procaspase 8, BID, procaspase 9, and procaspase 3. Inhibition of MAPK potentiated bile acid-induced apoptosis in hepatocytes with mutant FAS-ligand, but did not enhance in hepatocytes that were null for FAS receptor expression. These data argues that DCA is causing ligand independent activation of the FAS receptor to stimulate an apoptotic response, which is counteracted by enhanced ligand-independent EGFR/MAPK signaling. In agreement with FAS-mediated cell killing, inhibition of caspase function with the use of dominant negative Fas-associated protein with death domain, a caspase 8 inhibitor (Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-p-nitroanilide [IETD]) or dominant negative procaspase 8 blocked the potentiation of bile acid-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of bile acid-induced MAPK signaling enhanced the cleavage of BID and release of cytochrome cfrom mitochondria, which were all blocked by IETD. Despite activation of caspase 8, expression of dominant negative procaspase 9 blocked procaspase 3 cleavage and the potentiation of DCA-induced apoptosis. Treatment of hepatocytes with DCA transiently increased expression of the caspase 8 inhibitor proteins c-FLIP-S and c-FLIP-L that were reduced by inhibition of MAPK or PI3 kinase. Constitutive overexpression of c-FLIP-s abolished the potentiation of bile acid-induced apoptosis. Collectively, our data argue that loss of DCA-induced EGFR/Ras/MAPK pathway function potentiates DCA-stimulated FAS-induced hepatocyte cell death via a reduction in the expression of c-FLIP isoforms.


2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1129-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Antonelli ◽  
Francesca Bernasconi ◽  
Yung H. Wong ◽  
Lucia Vallar

Many receptors coupled to the pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/o proteins stimulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The role of the α chains of these G proteins in MAPK activation is poorly understood. We investigated the ability of Gαo to regulate MAPK activity by transient expression of the activated mutant Gαo-Q205L in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Gαo-Q205L was not sufficient to activate MAPK but greatly enhanced the response to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. This effect was not associated with changes in the state of tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. Gαo-Q205L also potentiated MAPK stimulation by activated Ras. In Chinese hamster ovary cells, EGF receptors activate B-Raf but not Raf-1 or A-Raf. We found that expression of activated Gαo stimulated B-Raf activity independently of the activation of the EGF receptor or Ras. Inactivation of protein kinase C and inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase abolished both B-Raf activation and EGF receptor-dependent MAPK stimulation by Gαo. Moreover, Gαo-Q205L failed to affect MAPK activation by fibroblast growth factor receptors, which stimulate Raf-1 and A-Raf but not B-Raf activity. These results suggest that Gαo can regulate the MAPK pathway by activating B-Raf through a mechanism that requires a concomitant signal from tyrosine kinase receptors or Ras to efficiently stimulate MAPK activity. Further experiments showed that receptor-mediated activation of Gαo caused a B-Raf response similar to that observed after expression of the mutant subunit. The finding that Gαo induces Ras-independent and protein kinase C- and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-dependent activation of B-Raf and conditionally stimulates MAPK activity provides direct evidence for intracellular signals connecting this G protein subunit to the MAPK pathway.


2000 ◽  
Vol 192 (7) ◽  
pp. 1015-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Brouard ◽  
Leo E. Otterbein ◽  
Josef Anrather ◽  
Edda Tobiasch ◽  
Fritz H. Bach ◽  
...  

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) inhibits apoptosis by regulating cellular prooxidant iron. We now show that there is an additional mechanism by which HO-1 inhibits apoptosis, namely by generating the gaseous molecule carbon monoxide (CO). Overexpression of HO-1, or induction of HO-1 expression by heme, protects endothelial cells (ECs) from apoptosis. When HO-1 enzymatic activity is blocked by tin protoporphyrin (SnPPIX) or the action of CO is inhibited by hemoglobin (Hb), HO-1 no longer prevents EC apoptosis while these reagents do not affect the antiapoptotic action of bcl-2. Exposure of ECs to exogenous CO, under inhibition of HO-1 activity by SnPPIX, substitutes HO-1 in preventing EC apoptosis. The mechanism of action of HO-1/CO is dependent on the activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling transduction pathway. Expression of HO-1 or exposure of ECs to exogenous CO enhanced p38 MAPK activation by TNF-α. Specific inhibition of p38 MAPK activation by the pyridinyl imidazol SB203580 or through overexpression of a p38 MAPK dominant negative mutant abrogated the antiapoptotic effect of HO-1. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the antiapoptotic effect of HO-1 in ECs is mediated by CO and more specifically via the activation of p38 MAPK by CO.


2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Langlais ◽  
Lily Q. Dong ◽  
Fresnida J. Ramos ◽  
Derong Hu ◽  
Yunhua Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Grb10 is a Pleckstrin homology and Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein that binds to the tyrosine-phosphorylated insulin receptor in response to insulin stimulation. Loss of Grb10 function in mice results in fetal and placental overgrowth; however, the molecular mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, we show that overexpression of Grb10 in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the insulin receptor or in 3T3-L1 adipocytes reduced insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of MAPK. Overexpression of Grb10 in rat primary adipocytes also inhibited insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the MAPK downstream substrate Elk1. To determine the mechanism by which Grb10 inhibited insulin-stimulated MAPK signaling, we examined whether Grb10 affects the phosphorylation of MAPK upstream signaling components. We found that overexpression of Grb10 inhibited the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Shc, a positive regulator of the MAPK signaling pathway. The inhibitory effect was diminished when the SH2 domain of Grb10 was deleted. The negative role of Grb10 in insulin signaling was established by suppression of endogenous Grb10 by RNA interference in HeLa cells overexpressing the insulin receptor, which enhanced insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of MAPK, Shc, and Akt. Taken together, our findings suggest that Grb10 functions as a negative regulator in the insulin-stimulated MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, the inhibitory effect of Grb10 on the MAPK pathway is most likely due to a direct block of insulin-stimulated Shc tyrosine phosphorylation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (03) ◽  
pp. 418-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaharu Aritomi ◽  
Naoko Watanabe ◽  
Rika Ohishi ◽  
Komakazu Gomi ◽  
Takao Kiyota ◽  
...  

SummaryRecombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhs-TM), having no transmembrane domain or chondroitin sulfate, was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Interactions between rhs-TM, thrombin (Th), protein C (PC) and antithrombin III (ATIII) were studied. Equilibrium between rhs-TM and Th had no detectable time lag in clotting inhibition (K d = 26 nM) or PC activation (K d = 22 nM), while ATIII inhibited Th at a bimolecular rate constant = 5,200 M-1s-1 (K d <0.2 nM). A mixture of ATIII, Th and rhs-TM showed that ATIII reacted with Th slower than rhs-TM, whose presence did not affect the reaction between ATIII and Th. In a mixture of rhs-TM, ATIII and PC, the repeated addition of Th caused the repeated activation of PC; which was consistent with the Simulation based on the assumption that rhs-TM is recycled as a Th cofactor. From these results, we concluded that upon inhibition of the rhs-TM-Th complex by ATIII, rhs-TM is released to recombine with free Th and begins to activate PC, while the Th-ATIII complex does not affect rhs-TM-Th equilibrium.


2002 ◽  
Vol 365 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine CHOUINARD ◽  
Kristoffer VALERIE ◽  
Mahmoud ROUABHIA ◽  
Jacques HUOT

Human keratinocytes respond to UV rays by developing a fast adaptive response that contributes to maintaining their functions and survival. We investigated the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in transducing the UV signals in normal human keratinocytes. We found that UVA, UVB or UVC induced a marked and persistent activation of p38, whereas c-Jun N-terminal kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase were less or not activated respectively. Inhibition of p38 activity by expression of a dominant-negative mutant of p38 or with SB203580 impaired cell viability and led to an increase in UVB-induced apoptosis. This sensitization to apoptosis was independent of caspase activities. Inhibition of p38 did not sensitize transformed HaCaT keratinocytes to UVB-induced apoptosis. In normal keratinocytes, expression of a dominant-negative mutant of p53 increased UVB-induced cell death, pointing to a role for p53. In these cells, UVB triggered a p38-dependent phosphorylation of p53 on Ser-15. This phosphorylation was associated with an SB203580-sensitive accumulation of p53, even in the presence of a serine phosphatase inhibitor. Accumulated p53 was localized mainly in the cytoplasm, independently of CRM1 nuclear export. In HaCaT cells, p53 was localized exclusively in the nucleus and its distribution and level were not affected by UVB or p38 inhibition. However, UVB induced an SB203580-insensitive phosphorylation on Ser-15 of mutated p53. Overall, our results suggest that, in normal human keratinocytes, protection against UVB depends on p38-mediated phosphorylation and stabilization of p53 and is tightly associated with the cytoplasmic sequestration of wild-type p53. We conclude that the p38/p53 pathway plays a key role in the adaptive response of normal human keratinocytes against UV stress.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document