Project description:Dataset containing multiple Hyptis and Artemisia spp. used for the discovery of natural products inhibiting aberrant signaling, namely MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT, in melanoma
Project description:ERK/MAPK pathway is one of the highly activated and a crucial player in gastric cancer proliferation and progression. To delineate the complex transcription program associated with ERK/MAPK pathway, PD98059 a known ERK/MAPK inhibitor was treated in AGS, one of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway over expressed gastric cancer cell line. The resultant changes in genome-wide mRNA expression pattern between control and PD98059 treated was profiled using Human Gene 1.0 ST arrays.
Project description:The ERK/MAPK signal transduction cascade is one of the key pathways regulating proliferation and differentiation in development and disease. In human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), ERK signaling is required for their self-renewing property. Here we studied the convergence of the ERK signaling cascade at the DNA by mapping genome-wide kinase-chromatin interactions for ERK2 in hESCs. We observe that ERK2 targets genes coding for small RNAs, histones, and genes involved in cellular metabolism and cell cycle. We find that the transcription factor ELK1 is essential in hESCs and that ERK2 co-occupies promoters bound by ELK1. Strikingly, promoters bound by ELK1 without ERK2 are occupied by Polycomb group proteins that repress genes involved in lineage commitment. In summary, we propose a model where extracellular signaling-stimulated proliferation and intrinsic repression of differentiation is integrated to maintain the identity of hESCs.
Project description:The ERK/MAPK signal transduction cascade is one of the key pathways regulating proliferation and differentiation in development and disease. In human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), ERK signaling is required for their self-renewing property. Here we studied the convergence of the ERK signaling cascade at the DNA by mapping genome-wide kinase-chromatin interactions for ERK2 in hESCs. We observe that ERK2 targets genes coding for small RNAs, histones, and genes involved in cellular metabolism and cell cycle. We find that the transcription factor ELK1 is essential in hESCs and that ERK2 co-occupies promoters bound by ELK1. Strikingly, promoters bound by ELK1 without ERK2 are occupied by Polycomb group proteins that repress genes involved in lineage commitment. In summary, we propose a model where extracellular signaling-stimulated proliferation and intrinsic repression of differentiation is integrated to maintain the identity of hESCs.
Project description:Bis-2-chloroethyl sulfide (sulfur mustard, SM) is a potent alkylating agent and vesicant. Exposure to SM results in activation of numerous signaling cascades, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. These pathways include the Erk, p38, and JNK pathways, which are involved in cell growth, inflammation, and stress signaling. However, the precise roles of these pathways in SM toxicity have not been fully elucidated. We used Western blotting and microarray analysis to examine the activation and role of each pathway following SM exposure in primary human epidermal keratinocytes. Western blotting revealed increased phosphorylation of p38 and JNK following SM exposure; however, phosphorylation of Erk was equivocal, suggesting that growth conditions may impact activation of Erk by SM. We used pharmacologic inhibitors to target each MAPK and then compared the gene expression profiles to identify SM-induced gene networks regulated by each MAPK. Cells were pretreated with 10 µM SB 203580 (p38 inhibitor), PD 98059 (Erk inhibitor), or SP 600125 (JNK inhibitor) 60 minutes before exposure to 200 µM SM. Cells were harvested at 1h, 4h, and 8h post-exposure, and RNA was extracted for synthesis of microarray probes. Probes were hybridized to Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 arrays for gene expression profiling. Analysis of variance was performed to identify genes significantly modulated due to pharmacologic inhibition in SM-exposed cells. Pathway mapping confirmed alterations in SM-induced Erk, JNK, and p38 MAPK signaling due to pharmacologic inhibition. SM-induced expression of IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-alpha was decreased by p38 MAPK inhibition, but not by inhibition of other MAPKs. Based on the number of significant pathways mapped to each MAPK in the presence and absence of inhibitors, the p38 MAPK pathway appeared to be the MAPK pathway most responsive to SM exposure. Interestingly, pathway mapping of the microarray data identified potential cross-talk between MAPK signaling pathways and other pathways involved in SM-induced signaling. Mining of these results will increase our understanding of the role of MAPK pathways in SM-induced signal transduction and may identify potential therapeutic targets for medical countermeasure development.
Project description:Doxycycline, a tetracycline based antibiotic which has bacteriostatic activity against a broad range of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria was identified to inhibit the expression of ERK/MAPK signaling pathway in gastric cancer. ERK/MAPK pathway is one of the highly activated and a crucial player in gastric cancer progression. To delineate the complex transcription program associated with ERK/MAPK pathway and thus inhibited by doxycycline in gastric cancer cells, doxycycline was treated in AGS, one of the ERK/MAPK overexpressed gastric cancer cell line. The resulatant changes in genome-wide mRNA expression pattern between control and doxycycline treated was profiled using Human Transcriptome 2.0 arrays.
Project description:KRAS, mutated in ~30% of all cancers, activates the RAF-MEK-ERK signaling cascade. It has previously been shown that CRAF is required for growth of KRAS mutant lung tumors but the requirement for CRAF kinase activity is unknown. Here, we show that subsets of KRAS mutant tumors are dependent on CRAF for growth. Kinase-dead but not dimer-defective CRAF rescued growth inhibition suggesting that dimerization but not kinase activity is required. Quantitative proteomics demonstrated enrichment of CRAF:ARAF dimers in KRAS mutant cells and depletion of both CRAF and ARAF rescued the CRAF loss phenotype. Mechanistically, CRAF depletion caused sustained ERK activation and induction of cell cycle arrest. Treatment with low dose MEK or ERK inhibitor rescued the CRAF loss phenotype. Our studies highlight the role of CRAF in regulating MAPK signal intensity to promote tumorigenesis downstream of mutant KRAS and suggest that disrupting dimerization or degrading CRAF may have therapeutic benefit.