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Cross-talk between wound signalling pathways determines local versus systemic gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plants react to mechanical damage by activating a set of genes, the products of which are thought to serve defensive functions. In solanaceous plants, cell wall-derived oligosaccharides and the plant hormones jasmonic acid and ethylene participate in the signalling network for wound-induced expression of proteinase inhibitors and other defence-related genes, both in the locally damaged and in the systemic non-damaged leaves. Here we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana, these signalling components interact in novel ways to activate distinct responses. In damaged tissues, oligosaccharides induce the expression of a specific set of wound-responsive genes while repressing jasmonic acid-responsive genes that are activated in the systemic tissues. The oligosaccharide-mediated repression of the jasmonic acid-dependent signalling pathway is exerted through the production and perception of ethylene in the locally damaged tissue. This cross-talk between separate wound signalling pathways thus allows the set up of different responses in the damaged and the systemic tissues of plants reacting to injury.

Journal Article↗

The MEK-1/ERKs signalling pathway is differentially involved in the self-renewal of early and late avian erythroid progenitor cells.

Making decisions between self-renewal and differentiation is a central ability of stem cells. Elucidation of molecular networks governing this decision is therefore of prime importance. A model of choice to explore this question is represented by chicken erythroid progenitors, in which self-renewal versus differentiation as well as progenitor maturation are regulated by external factor combinations. We used this system to study whether similar or different signalling pathways were involved in the self-renewal of early, immature or more mature erythroid progenitors. We show that a transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha-activated Ras/MEK-1/ERK1/2 pathway is strictly required for immature self-renewing cells but becomes fully dispensable when those cells are induced to differentiate. Consequently, pharmacological inhibition of this pathway led to spontaneous differentiation, only dependent on the presence of survival signals. Conversely, ectopic expression of a constitutive form of MEK-1 stimulates renewal and arrests differentiation process. Finally, we demonstrate that the ERK/MAPK signalling pathway is required in early but not in late primary erythroid progenitors, which can be turned into each other by different growth factor combinations specifically driving their renewal. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of a central role of ERK/MAPK signalling in regulating progenitor plasticity in the same cell type under different environmental conditions.

Animals↗

A reverse genetic analysis of components of the Toll signaling pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans.

BACKGROUND: Both animals and plants respond rapidly to pathogens by inducing the expression of defense-related genes. Whether such an inducible system of innate immunity is present in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is currently an open question. Among conserved signaling pathways important for innate immunity, the Toll pathway is the best characterized. In Drosophila, this pathway also has an essential developmental role. C. elegans possesses structural homologs of components of this pathway, and this observation raises the possibility that a Toll pathway might also function in nematodes to trigger defense mechanisms or to control development. RESULTS: We have generated and characterized deletion mutants for four genes supposed to function in a nematode Toll signaling pathway. These genes are tol-1, trf-1, pik-1, and ikb-1 and are homologous to the Drosophila melanogaster Toll, dTraf, pelle, and cactus genes, respectively. Of these four genes, only tol-1 is required for nematode development. None of them are important for the resistance of C. elegans to a number of pathogens. On the other hand, C. elegans is capable of distinguishing different bacterial species and has a tendency to avoid certain pathogens, including Serratia marcescens. The tol-1 mutants are defective in their avoidance of pathogenic S. marcescens, although other chemosensory behaviors are wild type. CONCLUSIONS: In C. elegans, tol-1 is important for development and pathogen recognition, as is Toll in Drosophila, but remarkably for the latter rôle, it functions in the context of a behavioral mechanism that keeps worms away from potential danger.

Actinomycetales↗

Dopamine-induced synaptic depression in the parabrachial nucleus is independent of CTX- and PTX-sensitive G-proteins, PKA and PLC signalling pathways.

We have previously reported that dopamine (DA) depresses non-NMDA receptor-mediated glutamatergic transmission in the rat parabrachial nucleus (PBN), an interface between brainstem and forebrain that is implicated in autonomic regulation. This work examined cellular signalling pathways that might underlie this DA-induced synaptic depression. Direct activation of adenylyl cyclase with 10 microM forskolin increased the evoked EPSC but did not occlude DA-induced EPSC depression. Similarly, a preferential protein kinase A inhibitor, H-7 (10 microM), did not block DA's synaptic effects. Incubation of slices with cholera toxin (CTX; 1 microgram/ml) or pertussis toxin (PTX; 0.5 microgram/ml) for 20 h, procedures used to irreversibly activate or disable the G(s) and G(i) proteins, respectively, did not change DA's effects. The putative phospholipase C inhibitor, U-73122 (10 microM) and its inactive analogue U-73343 (10 microM) did not alter DA-induced reduction in the EPSCs. Alterations in signalling molecules downstream of phospholipase C including depleting internal calcium stores by thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid and blocking protein kinase C with chelerythrine, had no effect on DA-induced synaptic depression. Furthermore, DA's depression of the non-NMDA response was not blocked by APV, an NMDA receptor antagonist. Finally, DA depressed evoked, pharmacologically isolated NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic responses while increasing NMDA-induced inward currents in the PBN. These results indicate that DA-induced synaptic effects in the PBN are not through the activation of cholera or pertussis toxin sensitive G proteins. Furthermore, it does not employ the adenylyl cyclase-cAMP-PKA cascade, the phospholipase C signalling pathway and NMDA receptor-coupled mechanisms to depress excitatory synaptic transmission in the PBN.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Association of the phosphatidylinositol signal pathway with prolonged myocardial ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in activity of phosphatidylinositol 4 kinase (PI 4 kinase), phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate 5 kinase (PIP 5 kinase) and protein kinase C (PKC) during myocardial ischemia and elucidate the relationship between phosphatidylinositol signal pathways and prolonged myocardial ischemia. METHODS: In vivo an ischemic rat model was used. Activity of PI 4 kinase, PIP 5 kinase and PKC were measured at different times in postischemic heart cells using isotope analysis. RESULTS: The activity of PI kinase, PIP kinase and PKC in the myocardium increased to peak at 1 hour postischemia, with activities 6.1, 3.0 and 4.0 fold over control levels, respectively. Their activities declined to normal levels with time. CONCLUSION: The phosphatidylinositol signal pathway is involved in prolonged myocardial ischemia, but its mechanism needs further study.

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗

BCR/ABL and IL-3 activate Rap1 to stimulate the B-Raf/MEK/Erk and Akt signaling pathways and to regulate proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion.

The Ras family small GTPase Rap1 is activated by hematopoietic cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-3, to induce beta1 integrin-mediated cell adhesion or by the BCR/ABL fusion tyrosine kinase to stimulate the MEK/Erk signaling pathway. Here, we demonstrate that the abrogation of Rap1 activation by SPA-1, a Rap1-specific GAP, inhibits activation of B-Raf, MEK, Erk, and Akt in a murine hematopoietic cell line, Ton.B210, stimulated with IL-3 or inducibly expressing BCR/ABL. Furthermore, Rap1 inactivation had an inhibitory effects on proliferation and survival of Ton.B210 cells, which were more remarkable when cells were stimulated by BCR/ABL than by IL-3. Induction of BCR/ABL expression increased adhesion of Ton.B210 cells to fibronectin in a manner at least partly dependent on its kinase activity, and Rap1 inhibition by SPA-1 partially inhibited BCR/ABL-induced adhesion of cells. Thus, IL-3- or BCR/ABL-induced activation of Rap1 may play important roles in regulation of cell proliferation and survival through activation of the B-Raf/MEK/Erk and Akt signaling pathways and in induction of integrin-mediated cell adhesion. Furthermore, as compared with IL-3, BCR/ABL is more dependent on Rap1-mediated signaling to induce cell proliferation and survival and, thus, Rap1 may represent an attractive target for novel therapies for leukemias caused by BCR/ABL.

Animals↗

The isoflavonoids genistein and quercetin activate different stress signaling pathways as shown by analysis of site-specific phosphorylation of ATM, p53 and histone H2AX.

The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein kinase is activated in response to ionizing radiation (IR) and activates downstream DNA-damage signaling pathways. Although the role of ATM in the cellular response to ionizing radiation has been well characterized, its role in response to other DNA-damaging agents is less well defined. We previously showed that genistein, a naturally occurring isoflavonoid, induced increased ATM protein kinase activity, ATM-dependent phosphorylation of p53 on serine 15 and activation of the DNA-binding properties of p53. Here, we show that genistein also induces phosphorylation of p53 at serines 6, 9, 20, 46, and 392, and that genistein-induced accumulation and phosphorylation of p53 is reduced in two ATM-deficient human cell lines. Also, we show that genistein induces phosphorylation of ATM on serine 1981 and phosphorylation of histone H2AX on serine 139. The related bioflavonoids, daidzein and biochanin A, did not induce either phosphorylation of p53 or ATM at these sites. Like genistein, quercetin induced phosphorylation of ATM on serine 1981, and ATM-dependent phosphorylation of histone H2AX on serine 139; however, p53 accumulation and phosphorylation on serines 6, 9, 15, 20, 46, and 392 occurred in ATM-deficient cells, indicating that ATM is not required for quercetin-induced phosphorylation of p53. Our data suggest that genistein and quercetin induce different DNA-damage induced signaling pathways that, in the case of genistein, are highly ATM-dependent but, in the case of quercetin, may be ATM-dependent only for some downstream targets.

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins↗

Stress-induced inhibition of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway results from the insolubilization of the IkappaB kinase complex following its dissociation from heat shock protein 90.

Activation of the stress response attenuates proinflammatory responses by suppressing cytokine-stimulated activation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. In this study, we show that the activation of the cellular stress response, either by heat shock treatment or after exposure to sodium arsenite, leads to a transient inhibition of IkappaBalpha phosphorylation. Inhibition of IkappaBalpha phosphorylation after stress was associated with the detergent insolubilization of the upstream kinases, IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha) and IkappaB kinase beta, components involved in IkappaBalpha phosphorylation. Pretreatment of cells with glycerol, a chemical chaperone that reduces the extent of stress-induced protein denaturation, reduced the stress-dependent detergent insolubility of the IKK complex and restored the cytokine-stimulated phosphorylation of IkappaB. The stress-dependent insolubility of the IKK complex appeared reversible; as the cells recovered from the heat shock treatment, the IKK complex reappeared within the soluble fraction of cells and was again capable of mediating the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha in response to added cytokines. Treatment of cells with geldanamycin, an inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) function, also resulted in IKK detergent insolubility and proteasome-mediated degradation of the IKK complex. Furthermore, while IKKalpha coprecipitated with Hsp90 in control cells, coprecipitation of the two proteins was greatly reduced in those cells early after stress or following exposure to geldanamycin. Stress-induced transient insolubilization of the IkappaB kinase complex following its dissociation from Hsp90 represents a novel mechanism by which the activation of the stress response inhibits the NF-kappaB signaling pathway in response to proinflammatory stimuli.

Animals↗

Characterization of the signaling pathways regulating alpha2beta1 integrin-mediated events by a pharmacological approach.

In certain instances of developing and adult organism, epithelial cells can change morphology and transform into mesenchymal-like type in order to move through the extracellular matrix. However, because of the multiplicity and complexity of signaling pathways that contribute to these processes, their molecular dissection has remained difficult. By using a pharmacological approach on the rat bladder carcinoma cell line NBT-II dispersion system, we have identified distinct signaling events for adhesion and motility in response to collagen, both activities depending on alpha2beta1 integrin. Treatment of cells with PKC inhibitors markedly impaired initial attachment on collagen without affecting the capacity of cells to move, suggesting that PKC activity is required for initial adhesion strength during cell translocation. Both adhesion and motility were diminished by tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin and tyrphostin whereas tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors amplified cell scattering. The collagen-induced dispersion was insensitive to genistein which we previously showed to abrogate growth factor-induced scattering, thus demonstrating inducer specificity. Finally. Ras inhibitors and expression of a dominant negative form of Ras (N17Ras) while affecting initial cell attachment, did not prevent cell migration, and instead favored the dissociated state on collagen. The specific signaling pathways identified for adhesion and motility should help to understand the sequential processes associated with cell migration.

Animals↗

Dissociation between IFN-alpha-induced anti-viral and growth signaling pathways.

The ability of IFN-alpha to induce an anti-viral state in a wide variety of cell types as well as to inhibit cellular growth has long been appreciated. It is less clear, however, whether both these effects lie downstream of a common signaling pathway. In this study we have taken advantage of an atypical human myeloma cell line (KAS-6/1) displaying a dramatic proliferative response to IFN-alpha in an effort to resolve the signaling requirements for IFN-alpha-induced anti-viral and growth regulatory effects. Thus, we have analyzed the ability of IFN-alpha to induce a number of known receptor-initiated events in this cell line and have compared these responses with those exhibited by a cell lineage- and maturation stage-matched myeloma cell line (ANBL-6) that displays typical IFN-alpha responsiveness. Despite the widely contrasting effects of IFN-alpha on cellular proliferation, IFN-alpha was shown to be comparable in its ability to induce the expression of early response genes as well as induce resistance to viral infection in both cell lines. By contrast, the effects of IFN-alpha on the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were strikingly distinct. Finally, although inhibition of MEK and MAPK activation had no effect on the induction of the anti-viral response, it completely blocked IFN-alpha-stimulated proliferation of the KAS-6/1 cells. In summary, our analysis of the role of the MAPK and anti-viral signaling pathways using these two cell lines suggests that the anti-viral and growth regulatory effects of IFN-alpha display a differential requirement for activation of the MAPK pathway.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

ups1, an Arabidopsis thaliana camalexin accumulation mutant defective in multiple defence signalling pathways.

We report the characterization of an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant, ups1, isolated on the basis of reduced expression of phosphoribosylanthranilate transferase, a tryptophan biosynthetic enzyme. ups1 also exhibits defects in a wide range of defence responses. After infection with Pseudomonas syringae or Botrytis cinerea, the expression of genes regulated by both the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid/ethylene pathways is reduced in ups1 compared with wild type. Camalexin accumulation in ups1 is greatly reduced after infection with these two pathogens, as well as after amino acid starvation or oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated gene expression is also compromised in ups1 indicating that this mutant is defective in signalling pathways activated in response to both biotic and abiotic stress. The fact that all three major defence signalling pathways are disrupted in ups1, together with the oxidative stress phenotype, leads us to suggest that UPS1 is involved in ROS signal transduction.

Arabidopsis↗

Bcl-2 positively regulates Sox9-dependent chondrocyte gene expression by suppressing the MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Bcl-2 is an anti-apoptotic protein that has recently been shown to regulate other cellular functions. We previously reported that Bcl-2 regulates chondrocyte matrix gene expression, independent of its anti-apoptotic function. Here, we further investigate this novel function of Bcl-2 and examine three intracellular signaling pathways likely to be associated with this function. The present study demonstrates that the activity of Sox9, a master transcription factor that regulates the gene expression of chondrocyte matrix proteins, is suppressed by Bcl-2 small interference RNA in the presence of caspase inhibitors. This effect was attenuated by prior exposure of chondrocytes to an adenoviral vector expressing sense Bcl-2. In addition, the down-regulation of Bcl-2, Sox9, and chondrocyte-specific gene expression by serum withdrawal in primary chondrocytes was reversed by expressing Bcl-2. Inhibition of the protein kinase C alpha and NFkappaB pathways had no effect on the maintenance of Sox9-dependent gene expression by Bcl-2. In contrast, whereas the MEK-ERK1/2 pathway negatively regulated the differentiated phenotype in wild type chondrocytes, inhibition of this pathway reversed the loss of differentiation markers and fibroblastic phenotype in Bcl-2-deficient chondrocytes. In conclusion, the present study identifies a specific signaling pathway, namely, MEK-ERK1/2, that is downstream of Bcl-2 in the regulation of Sox9-dependent chondrocyte gene expression and phenotype.

Adenoviridae↗

Inhibitors of protein kinase signaling pathways: emerging therapies for cardiovascular disease.

Protein kinases are enzymes that covalently modify proteins by attaching phosphate groups (from ATP) to serine, threonine, and/or tyrosine residues. In so doing, the functional properties of the protein kinase's substrates are modified. Protein kinases transduce signals from the cell membrane into the interior of the cell. Such signals include not only those arising from ligand-receptor interactions but also environmental perturbations such as when the membrane undergoes mechanical deformation (ie, cell stretch or shear stress). Ultimately, the activation of signaling pathways that use protein kinases often culminates in the reprogramming of gene expression through the direct regulation of transcription factors or through the regulation of mRNA stability or protein translation. Protein kinases regulate most aspects of normal cellular function. The pathophysiological dysfunction of protein kinase signaling pathways underlies the molecular basis of many cancers and of several manifestations of cardiovascular disease, such as hypertrophy and other types of left ventricular remodeling, ischemia/reperfusion injury, angiogenesis, and atherogenesis. Given their roles in such a wide variety of disease states, protein kinases are rapidly becoming extremely attractive targets for drug discovery, probably second only to heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (eg, angiotensin II). Here, we will review the reasons for this explosion in interest in inhibitors of protein kinases and will describe the process of identifying novel drugs directed against kinases. We will specifically focus on disease states for which drug development has proceeded to the point of clinical or advanced preclinical studies.

Animals↗

Ras-mediated signaling pathway regulates the expression of a low-molecular-weight heat-shock protein in fission yeast.

In fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, deficiency of ras1 gene causes an abnormal cell shape and abolishes mating ability. However, target genes of this signaling pathway are largely unknown because of the lack of an appropriate analysis system. To overcome this problem, we have started a novel project to categorize entire genes based on their expression levels under different growth conditions. Using this strategy, we screened genes whose expression levels were affected in the presence or absence of the ras1 gene product. For this purpose, we utilized high-density arrays of clones covering the entire genome of the fission yeast, and probed with labelled cDNA derived from various strains and growth conditions. Here, we demonstrate the detection of a low-molecular-weight heat-shock protein gene, hsp16, whose expression is very likely to be regulated by a ras-mediated signaling pathway, but not by the heat-shock response.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tyrosine kinase but not phospholipid/Ca2+ signaling pathway is involved in interferon-gamma stimulation of Ia expression in macrophages.

The specific signal transduction pathway(s) involved in the induction of the expression of the MHC class II molecule, Ia, on macrophages by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is unclear. In this paper, we assessed the role of several signal transduction pathways including calcium mobilization, phospholipase C, protein kinase C and cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase, and the tyrosine kinase pathways. IFN-gamma was unable to mobilize intracellular calcium, unlike platelet-activating factor, which stimulated a threefold increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in macrophages. Inhibition of the phospholipase C pathway by U73122 or ET-180CH3 and of phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase by propranolol did not suppress IFN-gamma-induced Ia expression. In addition, inhibition of protein kinase C by calphostin C or cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase by HA1004 did not suppress Ia expression. However, IFN-gamma-induced Ia expression was significantly suppressed when the tyrosine kinase pathway was inhibited with herbimycin A and genestein. In addition, those two inhibitors suppressed tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in macrophages that may or may not be involved in the induction of Ia expression. Thus, IFN-gamma used only the tyrosine kinase signaling pathway, but not the phospholipid/Ca2+ signaling pathways, to induce Ia expression in macrophages.

Animals↗

EG-1 interacts with c-Src and activates its signaling pathway.

EG-1 is significantly elevated in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers. Overexpression of EG-1 stimulates cellular proliferation, and targeted inhibition blocks mouse xenograft tumor growth. To further clarify the function of EG-1, we investigated its role in c-Src activation. We observed that EG-1 overexpression results in activation of c-Src, but found no evidence that EG-1 is a direct Src substrate. EG-1 also binds to other members of the Src family. Furthermore, EG-1 shows interaction with multiple other SH3- and WW-containing molecules involved in various signaling pathways. These observations suggest that EG-1 may be involved in signaling pathways including c-Src activation.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

Chemoattractants induce tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK2 in Dictyostelium discoideum by diverse signalling pathways.

Two homologues of mitogen-activated protein kinases have been identified in Dictyostelium discoideum (ERK1 and EKR2). We here demonstrate transient tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK2 in response to the chemoattractants cAMP and folic acid that correlates with activity. To investigate the signalling pathways, we studied the response in strains with altered cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) status. The degree of cAMP-induced ERK2 tyrosine phosphorylation was increased in cells overexpressing PKA activity but no such increase was observed in the response to folic acid. Our observations suggest that cAMP-induced ERK2 tyrosine phosphorylation is positively modulated by a PKA-regulated step which is not involved in the response to folic acid, suggesting the presence of diverse signalling pathways leading to ERK2 activation.

Animals↗

[The signaling pathways of plant defense response and their interaction].

A series of events occur in plant following herbivore and pathogen attack, which includes changes in ion fluxes changing through plasma membrane, rapid increasing in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration, production of active oxygen species, and protein phosphorylation. These early signaling events may trigger a number of responses through salicylate, jasmonate, and ethylene signaling pathways, activating the defense responsive genes, such as PR1, BFL2. The products of these defensive genes could act on the herbivore insects. Plant defense reactions are regulated by complex networks of inter- and intra-cellular signaling pathways. They could be antagonistic or synergic and provide effective defense for plant against various biotic stresses.

Animals↗