scholarly journals The Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) TDY1 Gene Encodes a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Homolog

1999 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 882-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Schoenbeck ◽  
Deborah A. Samac ◽  
Maria Fedorova ◽  
Robert G. Gregerson ◽  
J. Stephen Gantt ◽  
...  

Development of root nodules, specifically induction of cortical cell division for nodule initiation, requires expression of specific genes in the host and microsymbiont. A full-length cDNA clone and the corresponding genomic clone encoding a MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase homolog were isolated from alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The genomic clone, TDY1, encodes a 68.9-kDa protein with 47.7% identity to MMK4, a previously characterized MAP kinase homolog from alfalfa. TDY1 is unique among the known plant MAP kinases, primarily due to a 230 amino acid C-terminal domain. The putative activation motif, Thr-Asp-Tyr (TDY), also differs from the previously reported Thr-Glu-Tyr (TEY) motif in plant MAP kinases. TDY1 messages were found predominantly in root nodules, roots, and root tips. Transgenic alfalfa and Medicago truncatula containing a chimeric gene consisting of 1.8 kbp of 5′ flanking sequence of the TDY1 gene fused to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) coding sequence exhibited GUS expression primarily in the nodule parenchyma, meristem, and vascular bundles, root tips, and root vascular bundles. Stem internodes stained intensely in cortical parenchyma, cambial cells, and primary xylem. GUS activity was observed in leaf mesophyll surrounding areas of mechanical wounding and pathogen invasion. The promoter was also active in root tips and apical meristems of transgenic tobacco. Expression patterns suggest a possible role for TDY1 in initiation and development of nodules and roots, and in localized responses to wounding.

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 2603-2616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liguo New ◽  
Yong Jiang ◽  
Jiahuai Han

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway plays an important role in cellular responses to inflammatory stimuli and environmental stress. p38 regulated/activated protein kinase (PRAK, also known as mitogen-activated protein kinase activated protein kinase 5 [MAPKAPK5]) functions downstream of p38α and p38β in mediating the signaling of the p38 pathway. Immunostaining revealed that endogenous PRAK was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm. Interestingly, ectopically expressed PRAK was localized in the nucleus and can be redistributed by coexpression of p38α or p38β to the locations of p38α and p38β. Mutations in the docking groove on p38α/p38β, or the p38-docking site in PRAK, disrupted the PRAK-p38 interaction and impaired the ability of p38α and p38β to redistribute ectopically expressed PRAK, indicating that the location of PRAK could be controlled by its docking interaction with p38α and p38β. Although the majority of PRAK molecules were detected in the cytoplasm, PRAK is consistently shuttling between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. A sequence analysis of PRAK shows that PRAK contains both a putative nuclear export sequence (NES) and a nuclear localization sequence (NLS). The shuttling of PRAK requires NES and NLS motifs in PRAK and can be regulated through cellular activation induced by stress stimuli. The nuclear content of PRAK was reduced after stimulation, which resulted from a decrease in the nuclear import of PRAK and an increase in the nuclear export of PRAK. The nuclear import of PRAK is independent from p38 activation, but the nuclear export requires p38-mediated phosphorylation of PRAK. Thus, the subcellular distribution of PRAK is determined by multiple factors including its own NES and NLS, docking interactions between PRAK and docking proteins, phosphorylation of PRAK, and cellular activation status. The p38 MAPKs not only regulate PRAK activity and PRAK activation-related translocation, but also dock PRAK to selected subcellular locations in resting cells.


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.


Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 3868-3877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Rezzonico ◽  
Rachel Chicheportiche ◽  
Veronique Imbert ◽  
Jean-Michel Dayer

β2 integrins are involved in the recruitment of leukocytes to inflammatory sites and in cellular activation. We demonstrate that ligation of CD11b (Mac-1, CR3) or CD11c (p150, CR4) alpha chains of β2 integrins by mAbs or soluble chimeric CD23 (sCD23) on human freshly isolated monocytes rapidly stimulates high levels of interleukin-1β production. This induction takes place at the transcriptional level and is regulated by members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. Indeed, stimulation of monocytes through engagement of CD11b or CD11c results in the phosphorylation and activation of ERK1, ERK2, and p38/SAPK2 MAP kinases. U0126, a potent inhibitor of the upstream activator of ERK1/2, ie, MEK1/2, suppresses IL-1β messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in a dose-dependent fashion, showing the implication of this pathway in the transcriptional control of IL-1β production. On the other hand, inhibition of p38 by SB203580 indicates that this MAPK is involved in the control of IL-1β production at both transcriptional and translational levels. Together these data demonstrate that ligation of CD11b and CD11c β2 integrins by mAbs or sCD23 fusion proteins triggers the activation of 2 distinct MAPK signaling pathways that cooperate in controlling IL-1β synthesis at different levels.


2003 ◽  
Vol 178 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Mori-Abe ◽  
S Tsutsumi ◽  
K Takahashi ◽  
M Toya ◽  
M Yoshida ◽  
...  

Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) plays a major role as an initiating event of atherosclerosis. Although estrogen directly inhibits the proliferation of VSMC, the mechanism has not been firmly established. In addition, the effect of raloxifene on VSMC remains unknown. 17Beta-estradiol (E(2)) and raloxifene significantly inhibited the growth of VSMC under growth-stimulated conditions. Since mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases have been implicated in VSMC proliferation, the role of MAP kinases in both the E(2)- and raloxifene-induced growth inhibition of VSMC was studied. Both E(2) and raloxifene caused rapid, transient phosphorylation and activation of p38 that was not affected by actinomycin D and was blocked by ICI 182,780. In contrast with p38 phosphorylation, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) phosphorylation was significantly inhibited and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation was not changed by E(2). Because VSMC expressed both estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ERbeta, it is not known which of them mediates the E(2)-induced phosphorylation of p38. Although E(2) did not affect the p38 phosphorylation in A10 smooth muscle cells, which express ERbeta but not ERalpha, transfection of ERalpha expression vector into A10 cells rendered them susceptible to induction of p38 phosphorylation by E(2). We then examined whether E(2) and raloxifene induce apoptosis through a p38 cascade. Both E(2) and raloxifene induced apoptosis under growth-stimulated conditions. The p38 inhibitor SB 203580 completely blocked the E(2)-induced apoptosis. Our findings suggest that both E(2)- and raloxifene-induced inhibition of VSMC growth is due to induction of apoptosis through a p38 cascade whose activation is mediated by ERalpha via a nongenomic mechanism.


Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 3868-3877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Rezzonico ◽  
Rachel Chicheportiche ◽  
Veronique Imbert ◽  
Jean-Michel Dayer

Abstract β2 integrins are involved in the recruitment of leukocytes to inflammatory sites and in cellular activation. We demonstrate that ligation of CD11b (Mac-1, CR3) or CD11c (p150, CR4) alpha chains of β2 integrins by mAbs or soluble chimeric CD23 (sCD23) on human freshly isolated monocytes rapidly stimulates high levels of interleukin-1β production. This induction takes place at the transcriptional level and is regulated by members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. Indeed, stimulation of monocytes through engagement of CD11b or CD11c results in the phosphorylation and activation of ERK1, ERK2, and p38/SAPK2 MAP kinases. U0126, a potent inhibitor of the upstream activator of ERK1/2, ie, MEK1/2, suppresses IL-1β messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in a dose-dependent fashion, showing the implication of this pathway in the transcriptional control of IL-1β production. On the other hand, inhibition of p38 by SB203580 indicates that this MAPK is involved in the control of IL-1β production at both transcriptional and translational levels. Together these data demonstrate that ligation of CD11b and CD11c β2 integrins by mAbs or sCD23 fusion proteins triggers the activation of 2 distinct MAPK signaling pathways that cooperate in controlling IL-1β synthesis at different levels.


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.


1997 ◽  
Vol 323 (3) ◽  
pp. 621-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Jin KIM ◽  
Ronald C. KAHN

After insulin receptor activation, many cytoplasmic enzymes, including mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, MAP kinase kinase (MEK) and casein kinase II (CKII) are activated, but exactly how insulin signalling progresses to the nucleus remains poorly understood. In Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing human insulin receptors [CHO(Hirc)], MEK, CKII and the MAP kinases ERK I and ERK II can be detected by immunoblotting in the nucleus, as well as in the cytoplasm, in the unstimulated state. Nuclear localization of MAP kinase is also observed in 3T3-F442A adipocytes, NIH-3T3 cells and Fao hepatoma cells, whereas MEK is found in the nucleus only in Fao and CHO cells. Insulin treatment for 5–30 min induces a translocation of MEK from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, whereas the MAP kinases and CKII are not translocated into the nucleus in response to insulin during this period. However, nuclear MAP kinase and CKII activities increase by 2–3-fold within 1–10 min after stimulation with insulin. By using gel-shift assays, it has been shown that insulin also stimulates nuclear protein binding to an AP-1 site with kinetics similar to MEK translocation and MAP kinase and CKII activation. Treatment of the extracts in vitro with protein phosphatase 2A or treatment of the intact cells with 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole, a cell-permeable inhibitor of CKII, almost completely blocks the insulin-induced DNA-binding activity, whereas incubation of cells with a MEK inhibitor produces only a slight decrease. These results suggest that insulin signalling results in the activation of serine kinases in the nucleus via two pathways: (1) insulin stimulates the nuclear translocation of some kinases, such as MEK, which might directly phosphorylate nuclear protein substrates or activate other nuclear kinases, and (2) insulin activates nuclear kinases without translocation. The latter is true of CKII, which seems to regulate the binding of nuclear proteins to the AP-1 site, possibly by phosphorylation of AP-1 transcription factors.


1994 ◽  
Vol 180 (6) ◽  
pp. 2017-2025 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kracht ◽  
O Truong ◽  
N F Totty ◽  
M Shiroo ◽  
J Saklatvala

We have identified in rabbits two hepatic forms of T669 peptide kinases that are very strongly activated after systemic injection with the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 (IL-1). The T669 peptide contains a major phosphorylation site of the epidermal growth factor receptor, threonine 699 and is a substrate for mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. The kinases were purified to homogeneity and corresponded to 50- and 55-kD proteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Amino acid sequencing of 12 tryptic peptides of both kinases identified them as p54 MAP kinase alpha. This kinase belongs to the novel family of stress-activated protein kinases. This is the first evidence of IL-1 activating a specific protein kinase in vivo.


1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 1479-1490 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Thorburn ◽  
M Carlson ◽  
S J Mansour ◽  
K R Chien ◽  
N G Ahn ◽  
...  

Signaling via the Ras pathway involves sequential activation of Ras, Raf-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK), and the extracellular signal-regulated (ERK) group of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Expression from the c-Fos, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), and myosin light chain-2 (MLC-2) promoters during phenylephrine-induced cardiac muscle cell hypertrophy requires activation of this pathway. Furthermore, constitutively active Ras or Raf-1 can mimic the action of phenylephrine in inducing expression from these promoters. In this study, we tested whether constitutively active MKK, the molecule immediately downstream of Raf, was sufficient to induce expression. Expression of constitutively active MKK induce ERK2 kinase activity and caused expression from the c-Fos promoter, but did not significantly activate expression of reporter genes under the control of either the ANF or MLC-2 promoters. Expression of CL100, a phosphatase that inactivates ERKs, prevented expression from all of the promoters. Taken together, these data suggest that ERK activation is required for expression from the Fos, ANF, and MLC-2 promoters but MKK and ERK activation is sufficient for expression only from the Fos promoter. Constitutively active MKK synergized with phenylephrine to increase expression from a c-Fos- or an AP1-driven reporter. However, active MKK inhibited phenylephrine- and Raf-1-induced expression from the ANF and MLC-2 promoters. A DNA sequence in the MLC-2 promoter that is a target for inhibition by active MKK, but not CL100, was mapped to a previously characterized DNA element (HF1) that is responsible for cardiac specificity. Thus, activation of cardiac gene expression during phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy requires ERK activation but constitutive activation by MKK can inhibit expression by targeting a DNA element that controls the cardiac specificity of gene expression.


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