ERK kinases

MAPK cascades are composed of three cytoplasmic kinases, the MAPKKK, MAPKK, and MAPK, that are regulated by phosphorylation (Fig. 1) [1, 2]. The MAPKKK, also called MEKK for MEK kinase, is a serine/threonine kinase. Selective activation of MAPKKKs by upstream cellular stimuli results in the phosphorylation of MAPKK, also called MEK for MAP/ERK kinase by the MAPKKK. MAPKKK members are structurally diverse and are differentially regulated by specific upstream stimuli. The MAPKK is phosphorylated by the MAPKKK on two specific serine/ threonine residues in its activation loop. The MAPKK family members are dual specificity kinases capable of phosphorylating critical threonine and tyrosine residues in the activation loop of the MAPKs. MAPKKs have the fewest members in the MAPK signaling module. MAPKs are a family of serine/threonine kinases that upon activation by their respective MAPKKs, are capable of phosphorylating cytoplasmic substrates as well as... 

The events following the activation of Ras ultimately led to the activation of MAP kinase, followed by activation of expression of immediate-early response genes. Activation of MAP kinase requires two intermediate steps, both of which involve a phosphorylation (Figure 8.5). The immediate activator of MAP kinase is MAP-kinase-kinase (also called MAP kinase-ERK kinase, or MEK), a most unusual enzyme that phosphorylates MAP kinase on both a threonine (T) and a tyrosine (Y) residue. These are in the target-sequence seven residues (LTEYVATRWYRAPE) (Table 8.1)... 

FIGURE 1 2-2 Schematic diagram of the phosphorylation sites on each of the four 60kDa subunits of tyrosine hydroxylase (TOHase). Serine residues at the N-terminus of each of the four subunits of TOHase can be phosphorylated by at least five protein kinases. (J), Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) phosphorylates serine residue 19 and to a lesser extent serine 40. (2), cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylates serine residue 40. (3), Calcium/phosphatidylserine-activated protein kinase (PKC) phosphorylates serine 40. (4), Extracellular receptor-activated protein kinase (ERK) phosphorylates serine 31. (5), A cdc-like protein kinase phosphorylates serine 8. Phosphorylation on either serine 19 or 40 increases the activity of TOHase. Serine 19 phosphorylation requires the presence of an activator protein , also known as 14-3-3 protein, for the expression of increased activity. Phosphorylation of serines 8 and 31 has little effect on catalytic activity. The model shown includes the activation of ERK by an ERK kinase. The ERK kinase is activated by phosphorylation by PKC. (With permission from reference [72].)... 

CDK, cyclin-dependent kinase ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase GRK, G protein receptor kinase JNK, Jun kinase MAP kinase, mitogen activated protein kinase MEK, MAP kinase and ERK kinases RSK, ribosomal S6 kinase, GSK, glycogen synthase kinase SAPK, stress-activated protein kinase SEK, SAPK kinase. 

APOE is expressed at high levels in hepatocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts and astrocytes. Neurons also express APOE at lower levels than astrocytes in response to various physiological and pathological conditions, including excitotoxic stress. Neuronal expression of APOE is regulated by a diffusible factor or factors released from astrocytes, and this regulation depends on the activity of the Erk kinase pathways in neurons (499). 

There are at least three major effector pathways that are activated by neurotrophic factor-Trk receptors. The best-characterized pathway is the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade, which is regifiated by activation of Ras, a small membrane-bound G protein. Activation of Ras occurs when activated Trk receptor associates with adaptor proteins and a GTP exchange factor (see Russell and Duman 2002 for details). Ras in turn recruits and activates a serine threonine kinase, Raf, to the membrane resulting in the activation of ERK kinase (also referred to as MEK) and ERK (also known as mitogen activated protein kinase or MAPK). Activation of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK cascade can lead to regifiation of many celMar proteins, including ribosomal S6-kinase (RSK). 

Fig. 11. Modes of action of fluorine on osteoblastic cells, (a) Tyrosine phosphatase hypothesis in osteoblastic cells, fluoride ion directly inhibits tyrosine phosphatase. Inhibition of this enzyme enhances the tyrosine phosphorylation of signalling molecules induced by receptor tyrosine kinase, which leads to activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) through the Ras pathway and enhanced cell proliferation, (b) G-protein hypothesis in osteoblast-like cells, fluoride ions form a complex with aluminum, probably fluoroaluminate, which interacts with guanosine 5 -diphosphate (GDP) to form guanosine 5 -triphosphate (GTP)-like molecule. Activation of the G, protein stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of signalling molecules by a yet unknown tyrosine kinase (Tyr Kin) and activation of the ERK kinase through the Ras pathway leads to enhanced cell proliferation. (Reproduced by permission of Elsevier from Ref. [175] ...

The MAPK/ERK proteins are at the lower end of signal transduction within a MAPK module and are generally preceded by two other protein kinases (Fig. 10.2). The MAPK/ERK proteins receive the signal in the form of an activating phosphorylation by a preceding protein kinase known as MAP/ERK kinase (MEK) or also MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK). 

Fig. 10.2. Components and activation of the ERK pathway. Ordering and specificity of protein kinases in the ERK pathway. ExtraceUular signals are registered via receptor tyrosine kinases and passed on to the Ras protein. Ras GTP activates protein kinases belonging to the group of MAPKK kinases (Raf kinases and MEEKs). The MAPKK kinases phosphorylate the downstream group of protein kinases, the MAPKKs at two Ser residues. The MAPKKs phosphorylate the MAPKs (ERKl and ERK2) at a Tyr and a Thr residue, and thus are classified as dual specificity kinases. MAPK mitogenic activated protein kinase ERK extracellularly regulated kinase MEK MAP/ERK kinase MAPKK MAPK kinase MAPKKK MAPKK kinase MEKK MEK kinase.

In an in vitro model, exposure of lymphoma cells to rituximab resulted in the activation of the Src-family of protein tyrosine kinases (13), leading to the phosphorylation of PLCy2, which induces calcium influx and activates caspase 3, resulting in promotion of apoptotic cell death (8,14). Another in vitro model showed that exposure to rituximab resulted in the sustained phosphorylation of p38-MAPK, JNK, and ERK kinases... 

M phase portion of mitotic cell cycle including mitosis and cytokinesis during which the cell separates the duplicated genome into two identical halves MAPK mitogen activated protein kinase MEK MAPK/ERK kinase MEKK MAPK/ERK kinase kinase... 

A vertebrate homologue of the cell cycle control protein CDC37 was recently cloned and found to be an hyaladherin,62 as was a protein that copurified with the splicing factor SF2.63 An intracellular form of the HA receptor RHAMM was demonstrated to regulate erk kinase activity. Changes in function of these intracellular, depending on whether or not they have HA molecules attached, confers another layer of complexity dependent on intracellular hyaluronidase enzymes. 

Invention Significance MAPK/ERK Kinase (MEK) enzymes are dual... 

ERK kinase 1 inhibitor, U0126, or a specific p38 kinase inhibitor, SB202190, blocked UVB-induced activation of both Akt and p S6-K. It is worthy to note that UVB-induced p S6-K activation was directly blocked by the addition of EGCG or TF-3, whereas these polyphenols showed only a weak inhibition on UVB-induced Akt activation.5 ... 

MAPK/ERK kinase, activates a MAP kinase or ERK through phosphorylation... 

Bromelain is a mixture of cysteine proteases obtained from pineapple stems (Ananas comosus, Bromeliaceae) that has been used therapeutically for the treatment of inflammation and trauma [119]. 7n vitro, it has varied stimulatory effects on leukocyte populations, increases CD2-mediated T cell activation, enhances Ag-independent binding to monocytes, etc. The effects of bromelain have previously been attributed to its degradative action at cell surfaces. However, it also acts independent of the removal of cell surface molecules [120]. In order to investigate the possible hormonelike effects of bromelain on intracellular signalling, its effects on TCR7CD3 signalling and IL-2 production were studied. It was observed that bromelain inhibits ERK-2 activation in ThO cells stimulated via the TCR, or with combined TPA plus calcium ionophore. In addtion, bromelain decreased IL-2, IFN-y, and IL-4 mRNA accumulation in ThO cells stimulated with TPA plus calcium ionophore, while the cytokine mRNA accumulation in cells stimulated via TCR was not affected. It seems that bromelain does not act on ERK-2 directly but also inhibits p2r activation, an effector molecule upstream from ERK-2 in the Raf-1/MEKl/ERK kinase cascade. Since p21 is an effector for multiple MAPK pathways, it is likely that bromelain affects other MAPK signalling cascades, such as the INK pathway or p38 MAPK pathway [121],... 

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