Project description:To identify downstream phosphorylation substrates of Erk, we treated the iErk1; Erk KO cell line with and without doxycycline (DOX) for 48 hours. In the untreated group, intracellular Erk was found to be deficient. Mass spectrometry-based quantitative analysis was subsequently used to identify phosphorylated substrates regulated by Erk
Project description:Studies were undertaken to determine whether oscillatory behavior in the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathway results in unique gene regulation patterns. Microarray analysis was performed on three subcloned populations of human keratinocytes with distinct ERK signaling/oscillation phenotypes. Microarray analysis identified 45 genes that overlapped between 2 subclones with oscillation phenotypes but not in the subclone which is non-oscillatory. Transcription factor networks revealed a role for MED1 in mediating ERK oscillation-dependent gene expression, which was confirmed with Western blot analysis. Further experimentation confirmed a role for p38 in the mediation of MED1 phosphorylation and ERK oscillatory behavior. hTERT-immortalized normal human keratinocytes (provided by Dr. Jerry Shay, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) were stably transfected with ERK1-green fluorescent protein chimera and stable subclones were isolated with distinct ERK activation/oscillation patterns: Clone #1 exhibits transient ERK activation with ligand activation but does not oscillate; Clone #2 exhibits persistent ERK oscillations that are dependent on ligand activation; and Clone #3 exhibits spontaneous ERK oscillations in the absence of ligand activation.
Project description:IntroductionSignaling downstream of Ras is mediated by three major pathways, Raf/ERK, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), and Ral guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RalGEF). Ras signal transduction pathways play an important role in breast cancer progression, as evidenced by the frequent over-expression of the Ras-activating epidermal growth factor receptors EGFR and ErbB2. Here we investigated which signal transduction pathways downstream of Ras contribute to EGFR-dependent transformation of telomerase-immortalized mammary epithelial cells HME16C. Furthermore, we examined whether a highly transcriptionally regulated ERK pathway target, PHLDA1 (TDAG51), suggested to be a tumor suppressor in breast cancer and melanoma, might modulate the transformation process.MethodsCellular transformation of human mammary epithelial cells by downstream Ras signal transduction pathways was examined using anchorage-independent growth assays in the presence and absence of EGFR inhibition. TDAG51 protein expression was down-regulated by interfering small hairpin RNA (shRNA), and the effects on cell proliferation and death were examined in Ras pathway-transformed breast epithelial cells.ResultsActivation of both the ERK and PI3K signaling pathways was sufficient to induce cellular transformation, which was accompanied by up-regulation of EGFR ligands, suggesting autocrine EGFR stimulation during the transformation process. Only activation of the ERK pathway was sufficient to transform cells in the presence of EGFR inhibition and was sufficient for tumorigenesis in xenografts. Up-regulation of the PHLDA1 gene product, TDAG51, was found to correlate with persistent ERK activation and anchorage-independent growth in the absence or presence of EGFR inhibition. Knockdown of this putative breast cancer tumor-suppressor gene resulted in increased ERK pathway activation and enhanced matrix-detached cellular proliferation of Ras/Raf transformed cells.ConclusionOur results suggest that multiple Ras signal transduction pathways contribute to mammary epithelial cell transformation, but that the ERK signaling pathway may be a crucial component downstream of EGFR activation during tumorigenesis. Furthermore, persistent activation of ERK signaling up-regulates TDAG51. This event serves as a negative regulator of both Erk activation as well as matrix-detached cellular proliferation and suggests that TDAG51 opposes ERK-mediated transformation in breast epithelial cells.
Project description:Epidermal keratinocytes respond to extracellular influences by activating cytoplasmic signal transduction pathways that change the transcriptional profiles of affected cells. To define responses to two such pathways, p38 and ERK, we used SB203580 and PD98059 as specific inhibitors, and identified the regulated genes after 1, 4, 24 and 48 hrs, using Affymetrix’ Hu133Av2 microarrays. Additionally, we compared genes specifically regulated by p38 and ERKs with those regulated by JNK and by all three pathways simultaneously. We find that the p38 pathway induces the expression of extracellular matrix and proliferation-associated genes, while suppressing microtubule-associated genes; the ERK pathway induces the expression of nuclear envelope and mRNA splicing proteins, while suppressing steroid synthesis and mitochondrial energy production enzymes. Both pathways promote epidermal differentiation and induce feedback inactivation of MAPK signaling. c-FOS, SRY and N-Myc appear to be the principal targets of the p38 pathway, Elk-1 SAP1 and HLH2 of ERK, while FREAC-4, ARNT and USF are common to both. The results for the first time comprehensively define the genes regulated by the p38 and ERK pathways in epidermal keratinocytes and suggest a list of targets potentially useful in therapeutic interventions. Human epidermal keratinocytes are grown in Keratinocyte Serum-Free Medium (Gibco) supplemented with 0.05 mg/ml bovine pituitary extract, 2.5 ng/ml epidermal growth factor, 0.09 mM CalCl2 and 1% penicillin/streptomycin (KGM). They are switched to Keratinocyte Serum Free-Media (Gibco) supplemented only with 1% penicillin/streptomycin (KBM) 24 h prior to commencing experiments. A set is left as controls, others treated with 5 uM JNK inhibitor SP600125, 15 uM p38 inhibitor SB203580, or 50 um ERK inhibitor PD98059. Timecourse of treated and parellel control samples over a 48 hr period was performed.
Project description:Amplitude, duration, and frequency of activation of the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway code distinct information to instruct cells to migrate, proliferate, or differentiate. Synchronized frequency control of ERK activation would provide a powerful approach to regulate cell behaviors. Here we demonstrated modulation of ERK activities using alternative current (AC) electric fields (EFs) applied through high-k dielectric passivated microelectrodes. Both the amplitude and frequency of ERK activation can be precisely synchronized and modulated. ERK activation in our system is independent of Faradaic currents and electroporation, thus excluding mechanisms of changes in pH, reactive oxygen species, and other electrochemical reaction. Further experiments pinpointed a mechanism of phosphorylation site of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor to activate the EGFR-ERK pathway, and independent of EGF. AC EFs thus provide a powerful platform for practical and precise control of EGFR-ERK pathway.
