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Requirements for PKC-augmented JNK activation by MKK4/7.

ABSTRACT: The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are activated in response to stress, DNA damage, and cytokines by MKK4 and MKK7. We recently demonstrated that PKC can augment the degree of JNK activation by phosphorylating JNK, which requires the adaptor protein RACK1. Here we report on the conditions required for PKC-dependent JNK activation. In vitro kinase assays reveal that PKC phosphorylation of JNK is not sufficient for its activation but rather augments JNK activation by canonical JNK upstream kinases MKK4 or MKK7 alone or in combination. Further, to enhance JNK activity, PKC phosphorylation of JNK should precede its phosphorylation by MKK4/7. Inhibition of PKC phosphorylation of JNK affects both early and late phases of JNK activation following UV-irradiation and reduces the apoptotic response mediated by JNK. These data provide important insight into the requirements for PKC activation of JNK signaling.

SUBMITTER: Lopez-Bergami P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2327215 | biostudies-literature | 2008

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Requirements for PKC-augmented JNK activation by MKK4/7.

Lopez-Bergami Pablo P Ronai Ze'ev Z

The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology 20071203 5

The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are activated in response to stress, DNA damage, and cytokines by MKK4 and MKK7. We recently demonstrated that PKC can augment the degree of JNK activation by phosphorylating JNK, which requires the adaptor protein RACK1. Here we report on the conditions required for PKC-dependent JNK activation. In vitro kinase assays reveal that PKC phosphorylation of JNK is not sufficient for its activation but rather augments JNK activation by canonical JNK upstream kinase ...[more]

PMID: 18182317

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Project description:Stress-activated protein kinase 1 (SAPK1), also called c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), becomes activated in vivo in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines or cellular stresses. Its full activation requires the phosphorylation of a threonine and a tyrosine residue in a Thr-Pro-Tyr motif, which can be catalysed by the protein kinases mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK)4 and MKK7. Here we report that MKK4 shows a striking preference for the tyrosine residue (Tyr-185), and MKK7 a striking preference for the threonine residue (Thr-183) in three SAPK1/JNK1 isoforms tested (JNK1 alpha 1, JNK2 alpha 2 and JNK3 alpha 1). For this reason, MKK4 and MKK7 together produce a synergistic increase in the activity of each SAPK1/JNK isoform in vitro. The MKK7 beta variant, which is several hundred-fold more efficient in activating all three SAPK1/JNK isoforms than is MKK7 alpha', is equally specific for Thr-183. MKK7 also phosphorylates JNK2 alpha 2 at Thr-404 and Ser-407 in vitro, Ser-407 being phosphorylated much more rapidly than Thr-183 in vitro. Thr-404/Ser-407 are phosphorylated in unstimulated human KB cells and HEK-293 cells, and phosphorylation is increased in response to an osmotic stress (0.5 M sorbitol). However, in contrast with Thr-183 and Tyr-185, the phosphorylation of Thr-404 and Ser-407 is not increased in response to other agonists that activate MKK7 and SAPK1/JNK, suggesting that phosphorylation of these residues is catalysed by another protein kinase, such as CK2, which also phosphorylates Thr-404 and Ser-407 in vitro. MKK3, MKK4 and MKK6 all show a strong preference for phosphorylation of the tyrosine residue of the Thr-Gly-Tyr motifs in their known substrates SAPK2a/p38, SAPK3/p38 gamma and SAPK4/p38 delta. MKK7 also phosphorylates SAPK2a/p38 at a low rate (but not SAPK3/p38 gamma or SAPK4/p38 delta), and phosphorylation occurs exclusively at the tyrosine residue, demonstrating that MKK7 is intrinsically a 'dual-specific' protein kinase.

Project description:Activation of the stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, is necessary for the induction of apoptosis in neuronal cells; however, in other cell types their involvement may be stimulus-dependent. In the present study we investigate the activation of JNK and p38 in a single non-neuronal cell type, undergoing receptor-mediated (tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand and CD95) or chemically-induced (lactacystin) apoptosis. In Jurkat T-cells, receptor-mediated and chemically-induced apoptosis resulted in a time-dependent activation of the initiator caspases-8 and -9, respectively. Both types of stimuli resulted in a significant activation of JNK and p38, which closely paralleled the time-dependent induction of apoptosis. The caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-(OMe) fluoromethyl ketone (z-VAD.FMK) inhibited receptor-mediated apoptosis and suppressed JNK and p38 activation. In contrast, inhibition of lactacystin-induced apoptosis with z-VAD.FMK, as assessed by phosphatidylserine exposure and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, did not inhibit activation of JNK or p38, demonstrating that during chemically-induced apoptosis, activation of JNK and p38 is independent of effector caspases. The role of p38 in apoptosis was assessed using the specific p38 inhibitor, SB203580. No effect on the induction of apoptosis or caspase activation was observed, although activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase-2 (MAPKAPK-2), an immediate downstream target of p38, was inhibited. Therefore neither p38 activation nor activation of MAPKAPK-2 is critical for induction of either receptor- or chemically-induced apoptosis. Thus, within a single cell type, (1) the mechanism of p38 and JNK activation during apoptosis is stimulus-dependent and (2) activation of the p38 pathway is not required for caspase activation or apoptosis, assessed by phosphatidylserine exposure, but may still be required to elicit other features of the apoptotic phenotype.

Project description:Vasoconstriction mediated by the highly selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist dexmedetomidine leads to transiently increased blood pressure and severe hypertension. The dexmedetomidine-induced contraction involves the protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated pathway. However, the main PKC isoform involved in the dexmedetomidine-induced contraction remains unknown. The goal of this in vitro study was to examine the specific PKC isoform that contributes to the dexmedetomidine-induced contraction in the isolated rat aorta. The endothelium-denuded rat aorta was suspended for isometric tension recording. Dexmedetomidine dose-response curves were generated in the presence or absence of the following inhibitors: the pan-PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine; the PKC-α and -β inhibitor, Go6976; the PKC-α inhibitor, safingol; the PKC-β inhibitor, ruboxistaurin; the PKC-δ inhibitor, rottlerin; the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, SP600125; and the myosin light chain kinase inhibitor, ML-7 hydrochloride. Western blot analysis was used to examine the effect of rottlerin on dexmedetomidine-induced PKC-δ expression and JNK phosphorylation in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on PKC-δ expression in VSMCs transfected with PKC-δ small interfering RNA (siRNA) or control siRNA. Chelerythrine as well as SP600125 and ML-7 hydrochloride attenuated the dexmedetomidine-induced contraction. Go6976, safingol, and ruboxistaurin had no effect on the dexmedetomidine-induced contraction, whereas rottlerin inhibited the dexmedetomidine-induced contraction. Dexmedetomidine induced PKC-δ expression, whereas rottlerin and PKC-δ siRNA transfection inhibited dexmedetomidine-induced PKC-δ expression. Dexmedetomidine also induced JNK phosphorylation, which was inhibited by rottlerin. Taken together, these results suggest that the dexmedetomidine-induced contraction involves PKC-δ-dependent JNK phosphorylation in the isolated rat aorta.

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Requirements for PKC-augmented JNK activation by MKK4/7.

Publications

Requirements for PKC-augmented JNK activation by MKK4/7.

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