Biomedical subjects

R J Davis

Publications and source records attributed to R J Davis.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Synergistic regulation of vertebrate muscle development by Dach2, Eya2, and Six1, homologs of genes required for Drosophila eye formation.

We have identified a novel vertebrate homolog of the Drosophila gene dachshund, Dachshund2 (Dach2). Dach2 is expressed in the developing somite prior to any myogenic genes with an expression profile similar to Pax3, a gene previously shown to induce muscle differentiation. Pax3 and Dach2 participate in a positive regulatory feedback loop, analogous to a feedback loop that exists in Drosophila between the Pax gene eyeless (a Pax6 homolog) and the Drosophila dachshund gene. Although Dach2 alone is unable to induce myogenesis, Dach2 can synergize with Eya2 (a vertebrate homolog of the Drosophila gene eyes absent) to regulate myogenic differentiation. Moreover, Eya2 can also synergize with Six1 (a vertebrate homolog of the Drosophila gene sine oculis) to regulate myogenesis. This synergistic regulation of muscle development by Dach2 with Eya2 and Eya2 with Six1 parallels the synergistic regulation of Drosophila eye formation by dachshund with eyes absent and eyes absent with sine oculis. This synergistic regulation is explained by direct physical interactions between Dach2 and Eya2, and Eya2 and Six1 proteins, analogous to interactions observed between the Drosophila proteins. This study reveals a new layer of regulation in the process of myogenic specification in the somites. Moreover, we show that the Pax, Dach, Eya, and Six genetic network has been conserved across species. However, this genetic network has been used in a novel developmental context, myogenesis rather than eye development, and has been expanded to include gene family members that are not directly homologous, for example Pax3 instead of Pax6.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Predominant expression of alternative PAX3 and PAX7 forms in myogenic and neural tumor cell lines.

PAX3 and PAX7 are closely related paired box family members expressed during early neural and myogenic development. Assay of PAX3 and PAX7 mRNA expression in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and melanoma cell lines revealed tumor-specific expression patterns similar to the corresponding embryonic lineages. Although the mammalian PAX3 and PAX7 genes were reported to contain eight exons, we found that the predominant PAX3 and PAX7 transcripts in these tumor lines contain previously uncharacterized ninth exons. These splicing events alter the COOH-terminal coding regions of the encoded products but do not alter the transcriptional activity as assayed using a reporter gene with a model PAX3/PAX7 binding site. However, the findings of nearly identical COOH-terminal regions within the corresponding genes of the avian and fish genomes suggest conserved functional roles for these regions that require further investigation.

Alternative Splicing↗

PubMed1999

Signal transduction by MAP kinases: regulation by phosphorylation-dependent switches.

The kinases of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades transmit signals through sequential phosphorylation and activation of the enzymes. However, recent evidence indicates that protein-protein interactions between the kinases themselves or with substrates or other components are also a critical means of regulation. Whitmarsh and Davis summarize these findings with emphasis on new evidence from yeast that, when phosphorylated, a MAP kinase kinase actually switches from a negative regulator that binds to and inhibits its target MAP kinase to a positive regulator of that same enzyme.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Enhanced purinoceptor-mediated Ca2+ signalling in L-fibroblasts overexpressing type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors.

Mouse L-fibroblast cells stably transfected with either type 1 Ins(1, 4,5)P(3) receptor (InsP(3)R) cDNA (L15) or the vector control (Lvec) have been used to investigate the functional consequences of increased InsP(3)R density on receptor-mediated Ca(2+) signalling. L15 cells express approx. 8-fold higher levels of the type 1 InsP(3)R compared with Lvec cells, which endogenously express essentially only the type 1 InsP(3)R protein. Stimulation of Lvec and L15 cells with UTP or ATP increased cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration to a greater extent in L15 cells at all agonist concentrations. UTP and ATP were equipotent, suggestive of the presence of endogenous cell-surface metabotropic P2Y(2)-purinoceptors. In both cell clones the purinoceptors were coupled via pertussis-toxin-insensitive G-protein(s) to phospholipase C activation, resulting in similar concentration-dependent accumulations of InsP(3). Single-cell microfluorimetry revealed that overexpression of InsP(3)Rs reduced the threshold for purinoceptor-mediated Ca(2+) signalling. L-fibroblasts also exhibited temporally complex sinusoidal cytosolic Ca(2+) oscillations in response to submaximal agonist concentrations, with significant increases in oscillatory frequencies exhibited by cells overexpressing InsP(3)Rs. Sustainable oscillatory responses were dependent on Ca(2+) entry and, at higher agonist concentrations, cytosolic Ca(2+) oscillations were superseded by biphasic peak-and-plateau Ca(2+) responses. Overexpression of InsP(3)Rs in L15 cells resulted in a 4-fold reduction in the threshold for this change in the temporal pattern of Ca(2+) mobilization. These data provide the first direct evidence demonstrating that altering the expression of the type 1 InsP(3)R significantly affects receptor-mediated InsP(3)-induced Ca(2+) mobilization.

Calcium Channels↗

PubMed1999

WRM-1 activates the LIT-1 protein kinase to transduce anterior/posterior polarity signals in C. elegans.

During C. elegans development, Wnt/WG signaling is required for differences in cell fate between sister cells born from anterior/posterior divisions. A beta-catenin-related gene, wrm-1, and the lit-1 gene are effectors of this signaling pathway and appear to downregulate the activity of POP-1, a TCF/LEF-related protein, in posterior daughter cells. We show here that lit-1 encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase homolog related to the Drosophila tissue polarity protein Nemo. We demonstrate that the WRM-1 protein binds to LIT-1 in vivo and that WRM-1 can activate the LIT-1 protein kinase when coexpressed in vertebrate tissue culture cells. This activation leads to phosphorylation of POP-1 and to apparent changes in its subcellular localization. Our findings provide evidence for novel regulatory avenues for an evolutionarily conserved Wnt/WG signaling pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Synthesis, calcium mobilizing, and physicochemical properties of D-chiro-inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate, a novel and potent ligand at the D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor.

The synthesis of a novel and potent ligand at the D-myo-inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) is described. D-chiro-Inositol 1,3, 4,6-tetrakisphosphate (7) and L-chiro-inositol 1,3,4, 6-tetrakisphosphate (ent-7) have been synthesized from D-2, 5-di-O-benzyl-chiro-inositol and L-2,5-di-O-benzyl-chiro-inositol, respectively. The potency of binding and Ca2+ release of 7 and ent-7 were examined in L15 and Lvec cells. 7 was a full agonist at the InsP3R in both cells, and ent-7 was inactive. The results are compared to those from D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1), DL-scyllo-inositol 1,2,4-trisphosphate (2), DL-myo-inositol 1,2,4, 5-tetrakisphosphate (3), scyllo-inositol 1,2,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (4), D-myo-inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate (5), and D-chiro-inositol 1, 3,4-trisphosphate (6). The protonation processes of 7 have also been investigated by 31P NMR titration experiments.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase by PYK2/related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase-dependent mechanism.

The stress-activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), a member of the subgroup of mammalian kinases, appears to play an important role in regulating inflammatory responses, including cytokine secretion and apoptosis. The upstream mediators that link extracellular signals with the p38 MAPK signaling pathway are currently unknown. Here we demonstrate that pp125 focal adhesion kinase-related tyrosine kinase RAFTK (also known as PYK2, CADTK) is activated specifically by methylmethane sulfonate (MMS) and hyperosmolarity but not by ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation, or cis-platinum. Overexpression of RAFTK leads to the activation of p38 MAPK. Furthermore, overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of RAFTK (RAFTK K-M) inhibits MMS-induced p38 MAPK activation. MKK3 and MKK6 are known potential constituents of p38 MAPK signaling pathway, whereas SEK1 and MEK1 are upstream activators of SAPK/JNK and ERK pathways, respectively. We observe that the dominant-negative mutant of MKK3 but not of MKK6, SEK1, or MEK1 inhibits RAFTK-induced p38 MAPK activity. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that treatment of cells with 1, 2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, tetra(acetoxymethyl)-ester, a membrane-permeable calcium chelator, inhibits MMS-induced activation of RAFTK and p38 MAPK. Taken together, these findings indicate that RAFTK represents a stress-sensitive mediator of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in response to certain cytotoxic agents.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Defective IL-12 production in mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase 3 (Mkk3)-deficient mice.

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, like the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPK pathway, is activated in response to cellular stress and inflammation and is involved in many fundamental biological processes. To study the role of the p38 MAPK pathway in vivo, we have used homologous recombination in mice to inactivate the Mkk3 gene, one of the two specific MAPK kinases (MAPKKs) that activate p38 MAPK. Mkk3(-/-) mice were viable and fertile; however, they were defective in interleukin-12 (IL-12) production by macrophages and dendritic cells. Interferon-gamma production following immunization with protein antigens and in vitro differentiation of naive T cells is greatly reduced, suggesting an impaired type I cytokine immune response. The effect of the p38 MAPK pathway on IL-12 expression is at least partly transcriptional, since inhibition of this pathway blocks IL-12 p40 promoter activity in macrophage cell lines and IL-12 p40 mRNA is reduced in MKK3-deficient mice. We conclude that the p38 MAP kinase, activated through MKK3, is required for the production of inflammatory cytokines by both antigen-presenting cells and CD4(+) T cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Requirement of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (MKK3) for tumor necrosis factor-induced cytokine expression.

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is activated by treatment of cells with cytokines and by exposure to environmental stress. The effects of these stimuli on p38 MAP kinase are mediated by the MAP kinase kinases (MKKs) MKK3, MKK4, and MKK6. We have examined the function of the p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway by investigating the effect of targeted disruption of the Mkk3 gene. Here we report that Mkk3 gene disruption caused a selective defect in the response of fibroblasts to the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor, including reduced p38 MAP kinase activation and cytokine expression. These data demonstrate that the MKK3 protein kinase is a critical component of a tumor necrosis factor-stimulated signaling pathway that causes increased expression of inflammatory cytokines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

pp60(v-src) induction of cyclin D1 requires collaborative interactions between the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, and Jun kinase pathways. A role for cAMP response element-binding protein and activating transcription factor-2 in pp60(v-src) signaling in breast cancer cells.

The cyclin D1 gene is overexpressed in breast tumors and encodes a regulatory subunit of cyclin-dependent kinases that phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein. pp60(c-src) activity is frequently increased in breast tumors; however, the mechanisms governing pp60(c-src) regulation of the cell cycle in breast epithelium are poorly understood. In these studies, pp60(v-src) induced cyclin D1 protein levels and promoter activity (48-fold) in MCF7 cells. Cyclin D1-associated kinase activity and protein levels were increased in mammary tumors from murine mammary tumor virus-pp60(c-src527F) transgenic mice. Optimal induction of cyclin D1 by pp60(v-src) involved the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family. Cyclin D1 promoter activation by pp60(v-src) involved a cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/activating transcription factor 2 (ATF-2) binding site. Dominant negative mutants of CREB and ATF-2 but not c-Jun inhibited pp60(v-src) induction of cyclin D1. pp60(v-src) induction of CREB was blocked by the p38 inhibitor SB203580 or by mutation of CREB at Ser133. pp60(v-src) induction of ATF-2 was abolished by the c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor JNK-interacting protein-1 or by mutation of ATF-2 at Thr69 and Thr71. CREB and ATF-2, which bind to a common pp60(v-src) response element, are transcriptionally activated by distinct mitogen-activated protein kinases. Induction of cyclin D1 activity by pp60(v-src) may contribute to breast tumorigenesis through phosphorylation and inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein.

Activating Transcription Factor 2↗

PubMed1999

Glutamate receptor signaling interplay modulates stress-sensitive mitogen-activated protein kinases and neuronal cell death.

Glutamate receptors modulate multiple signaling pathways, several of which involve mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, with subsequent physiological or pathological consequences. Here we report that stimulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, using platelet-activating factor (PAF) as a messenger, activates MAP kinases, including c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons. Activation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) blocks this NMDA-signaling through PAF and MAP kinases, and the resultant cell death. Recombinant PAF-acetylhydrolase degrades PAF generated by NMDA-receptor activation; the hetrazepine BN50730 (an intracellular PAF receptor antagonist) also inhibits both NMDA-stimulated MAP kinases and neuronal cell death. The finding that the NMDA receptor-PAF-MAP kinase signaling pathway is attenuated by mGluR activation highlights the exquisite interplay between glutamate receptors in the decision making process between neuronal survival and death.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

PubMed1999

Regulation of JNK signaling by GSTp.

Studies of low basal Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity in non-stressed cells led us to identify a JNK inhibitor that was purified and identified as glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTp) and was characterized as a JNK-associated protein. UV irradiation or H2O2 treatment caused GSTp oligomerization and dissociation of the GSTp-JNK complex, indicating that it is the monomeric form of GSTp that elicits JNK inhibition. Addition of purified GSTp to the Jun-JNK complex caused a dose-dependent inhibition of JNK activity. Conversely, immunodepleting GSTp from protein extracts attenuated JNK inhibition. Furthermore, JNK activity was increased in the presence of specific GSTp inhibitors and a GSTp-derived peptide. Forced expression of GSTp decreased MKK4 and JNK phosphorylation which coincided with decreased JNK activity, increased c-Jun ubiquitination and decreased c-Jun-mediated transcription. Co-transfection of MEKK1 and GSTp restored MKK4 phosphorylation but did not affect GSTp inhibition of JNK activity, suggesting that the effect of GSTp on JNK is independent of the MEKK1-MKK4 module. Mouse embryo fibroblasts from GSTp-null mice exhibited a high basal level of JNK activity that could be reduced by forced expression of GSTp cDNA. In demonstrating the relationships between GSTp expression and its association with JNK, our findings provide new insight into the regulation of stress kinases.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1999

c-Jun is a JNK-independent coactivator of the PU.1 transcription factor.

The ETS domain transcription factor PU.1 is necessary for the development of monocytes and regulates, in particular, the expression of the monocyte-specific macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) receptor, which is critical for monocytic cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. The bZIP transcription factor c-Jun, which is part of the AP-1 transcription factor complex, is also important for monocytic differentiation, but the monocyte-specific M-CSF receptor promoter has no AP-1 consensus binding sites. We asked the question of whether c-Jun could promote the induction of the M-CSF receptor by collaborating with PU.1. We demonstrate that c-Jun enhances the ability of PU.1 to transactivate the M-CSF receptor promoter as well as a minimal thymidine kinase promoter containing only PU.1 DNA binding sites. c-Jun does not directly bind to the M-CSF receptor promoter but associates via its basic domain with the ETS domain of PU.1. Consistent with our observation that AP-1 binding does not contribute to c-Jun coactivation is the observation that the activation of PU.1 by c-Jun is blocked by overexpression of c-Fos. Phosphorylation of c-Jun by c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase on Ser-63 and -73 does not alter the ability of c-Jun to enhance PU.1 transactivation. Activated Ras enhances the transcriptional activity of PU.1 by up-regulating c-Jun expression without changing the phosphorylation pattern of PU.1. The activation of PU.1 by Ras is blocked by a mutant c-Jun protein lacking the basic domain. The expression of this mutant form of c-Jun also completely blocks 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced M-CSF receptor promoter activity during monocytic differentiation. We propose therefore that c-Jun acts as a c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-independent coactivator of PU.1, resulting in M-CSF receptor expression and development of the monocytic lineage.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Regulation of IL-4 expression by the transcription factor JunB during T helper cell differentiation.

The molecular basis for restricted cytokine expression by T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) cells is unclear. Previous studies found that P1, an element of the interleukin 4 (IL-4) promoter that binds AP-1, is important for Th2-restricted IL-4 expression. Here we show that JunB, but not the other Jun family members, was selectively induced in Th2 cells and not in Th1 cells during differentiation. JunB has previously been considered to be a negative regulator of transcription. However, we show that JunB binds directly to the P1 site and synergizes with c-Maf to activate an IL-4 luciferase reporter gene. JunB-control of IL-4 expression is mediated by the phosphorylation of JunB at Thr102 and -104 by JNK MAP kinase. The synergy between c-Maf and JunB can be attributed to cooperative DNA binding, which is facilitated by JunB phosphorylation. In transgenic mice, elevated JunB levels caused increased expression of several Th2 cytokines in developing Th1 cells. JunB also upregulated IL-4 expression in response to immunization. Thus, the early increase of JunB protein in Th2 cells can provide the specificity for c-Maf in IL-4 expression during T cell development and directs thereby Th2 differentiation.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Mouse Dach, a homologue of Drosophila dachshund, is expressed in the developing retina, brain and limbs.

The Drosophila genes eyeless, eyes absent, sine oculis, and dachshund cooperate as key regulators of retinal cell-fate determination. Homologues of eyeless (Pax6), eyes absent (Eya1-2), and sine oculis (Six3) have been identified and are expressed in the developing vertebrate eye. We have cloned and characterized the structure and expression of mouse Dach, a homologue of Drosophila dachshund. Sequence analysis reveals the presence of two motifs, DD1 and DD2, which may be involved in the function of Dach/Dachshund as gene regulatory factors. In addition, DD1 shares sequence similarity to N-terminal sequences of Ski and SnoN, which are involved in cellular transformation and differentiation. Mouse and human Dach/DACH were localized to chromosome 14E1 and 13q21.3-22, respectively, by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Finally, in situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that Dach is expressed in similar tissues to those observed in Drosophila, including the embryonic nervous system, sensory organs, and limbs. The finding of Dach expression in the eye completes the list of vertebrate homologues of eyeless, eyes absent, sine oculis, and dachshund which as a group may function to control cell-fate determination in the vertebrate eye.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

The Jnk1 and Jnk2 protein kinases are required for regional specific apoptosis during early brain development.

The c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (Jnk) family is implicated in apoptosis, but its function in brain development is unclear. Here, we address this issue using mutant mice lacking different members of the family (Jnk1, Jnk2, and Jnk3). Mice deficient in Jnk1, Jnk2, Jnk3, and Jnk1/Jnk3 or Jnk2/Jnk3 double mutants all survived normally. Compound mutants lacking Jnk1 and Jnk2 genes were embryonic lethal and had severe dysregulation of apoptosis in brain. Specifically, there was a reduction of cell death in the lateral edges of hindbrain prior to neural tube closure. In contrast, increased apoptosis and caspase activation were found in the mutant forebrain, leading to precocious degeneration. These results suggest that Jnk1 and Jnk2 regulate region-specific apoptosis during early brain development.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

MOM-4, a MAP kinase kinase kinase-related protein, activates WRM-1/LIT-1 kinase to transduce anterior/posterior polarity signals in C. elegans.

In C. elegans, a Wnt/WG-like signaling pathway down-regulates the TCF/LEF-related protein, POP-1, to specify posterior cell fates. Effectors of this signaling pathway include a beta-catenin homolog, WRM-1, and a conserved protein kinase, LIT-1. WRM-1 and LIT-1 form a kinase complex that can directly phosphorylate POP-1, but how signaling activates WRM-1/LIT-1 kinase is not yet known. Here we show that mom-4, a genetically defined effector of polarity signaling, encodes a MAP kinase kinase kinase-related protein that stimulates the WRM-1/LIT-1-dependent phosphorylation of POP-1. LIT-1 kinase activity requires a conserved residue analogous to an activating phosphorylation site in other kinases, including MAP kinases. These findings suggest that anterior/posterior polarity signaling in C. elegans may involve a MAP kinase-like signaling mechanism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Molecular basis of T-cell differentiation.

In summary, a multitude of regulatory systems are employed to cause the selective activation of target cytokine genes in Th1 and Th2 effector cells. These mechanisms involve both positive and negative regulation and employ at least three kinds of mechanisms. In the first, selective expression of transcription factors such as GATA3 in Th2 cells and the homeobox gene HLX in Th1 cells occurs, and appears in both cases to play a causal role. Another example of this would be c-maf, discovered by the Glimcher laboratory. A second mechanism is by the selective accumulation of protein through posttranscriptional mechanisms. Thus, junB accumulates in Th2 cells despite the fact that the junB mRNA levels are not different between Th1 and Th2 cells. Finally, the selective use of signaling pathways, in the case studied here MAP kinase pathways, leads to the selective activation of target genes. We believe that transcriptional up-regulation of rac2 leads to the coupling of both the p38 and JNK MAP kinase pathways to the T-cell receptor and/or costimulatory receptors, thereby providing a lineage-specific signal.

Cell Differentiation↗