Biomedical subjects

Chong-Shan Shi

Publications and source records attributed to Chong-Shan Shi.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase GCKR positively regulates canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling in B lymphocytes.

Wnt ligands bind receptors of the Frizzled (Fz) family to control cell fate, proliferation, and polarity. Canonical Wnt/Fz signaling stabilizes beta-catenin by inactivating GSK3beta, leading to the translocation of beta-catenin to the nucleus and the activation of Wnt target genes. Noncanonical Wnt/Fz signaling activates RhoA and Rac, and the latter triggers the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Here, we show that exposure of B-lymphocytes to Wnt3a-conditioned media activates JNK and raises cytosolic beta-catenin levels. Both the Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor Asef and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase germinal center kinase-related enzyme (GCKR) are required for Wnt-mediated JNK activation in B cells. In addition, we show that GCKR positively affects the beta-catenin pathway in B cells. Reduction of GCKR expression inhibits Wnt3a-induced phosphorylation of GSK3beta at serine 9 and decreases the accumulation of cytosolic beta-catenin. Furthermore, Wnt signaling induces an interaction between GCKR and GSK3beta. Our findings demonstrate that GCKR facilitates both canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling in B lymphocytes.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2005

Rgs1 and Gnai2 regulate the entrance of B lymphocytes into lymph nodes and B cell motility within lymph node follicles.

Signaling by G protein-coupled receptors coupled to Galpha(i) assists in triggering lymphocyte movement into and out of lymph nodes. Here, we show that modulating the signaling output from these receptors dramatically alters B cell trafficking. Intravital microscopy of adoptively transferred B cells from wild-type and Rgs1-/- mice revealed that Rgs1-/- B cells stick better to lymph node high endothelial venules, home better to lymph nodes, and move more rapidly within lymph node follicles than do wild-type B cells. In contrast, B cells from Gnai2-/- mice enter lymph nodes poorly and move more slowly than do wild-type B cells. The Gnai2-/- mice often lack multiple peripheral lymph nodes, and their B cells respond poorly to chemokines, indicating that Galpha(i1) and Galpha(i3) poorly compensate for the loss of Galpha(i2). These results demonstrate opposing roles for Rgs1 and Gnai2 in B cell trafficking into and within lymph nodes.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Pyk2 amplifies epidermal growth factor and c-Src-induced Stat3 activation.

Signal transducers and activators of transcription factors (STATs) mediate many of the cellular responses that occur following cytokine, growth factor, and hormone signaling. STATs are activated by tyrosine and serine phosphorylation, which normally occurs as a tightly regulated process. Dysregulated STAT activity may facilitate oncogenesis, as constitutively activated STATs have been found in many human tumors as well as in v-abl- and v-src-transformed cell lines. Pyk2 is a member of the focal adhesion kinase family and can be activated by c-Src, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Janus kinase 1, tyrosine kinases, and G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. Although Pyk2 has been implicated in Janus kinase-dependent activation of MAPK and Stat1, no role for Pyk2 in the activation of other STAT proteins has been ascribed. Here, we provide evidence that Pyk2, along with c-Src, facilitates EGFR-mediated Stat3 activation. Pyk2 expression in HeLa cells induces Stat3 reporter gene activation and Stat3 phosphorylation on amino acid residues Tyr-705 and Ser-727. Together Pyk2 and c-Src potently activate Stat3, and Pyk2 enhances Stat3-induced cell proliferation. Moreover, the expression of a dominant negative version of Pyk2 impairs c-Src-induced Stat3 activation and cell proliferation. The treatment of A431 cells with EGF results in the recruitment of c-Src, Pyk2, and Stat3 to the EGFR and the phosphorylation of c-Src, Pyk2, and Stat3. Expression of constructs for dominant negative forms of either Pyk2 or c-Src impair EGF-induced Stat3 phosphorylation. These results indicate that Pyk2 facilitates EGFR- and c-Src-mediated Stat3 activation, thereby implicating Pyk2 activation as a potential co-mediator in triggering Stat3-induced oncogenesis.

CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase↗

PubMed2003

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced germinal center kinase-related (GCKR) and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) activation depends upon the E2/E3 complex Ubc13-Uev1A/TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2).

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and germinal center kinases (GCKs) and the subsequent activation of stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases) requires TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2). Although the TRAF2 TRAF domain binds ASK1, GCK, and the highly related kinase GCKR, the RING finger domain is needed for their activation. Here, we report that TNF activates GCKR and the SAPK pathway in a manner that depends upon TRAF2 and Ubc13, a member along with Uev1A of a dimeric ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme complex. Interference with Ubc13 function or expression inhibits both TNF- and TRAF2-mediated GCKR and SAPK activation, but has a minimal effect on ASK1 activation. TNF signaling leads to TRAF2 polyubiquitination and oligomerization and to the oligomerization, ubiquitination, and activation of GCKR, all of which are sensitive to the disruption of Ubc13 function. These results indicate that the assembly of a TRAF2 lysine 63-linked polyubiquitin chain by Ubc13/Uev1A is required for TNF-mediated GCKR and SAPK activation, but may not be required for ASK1 activation.

Enzyme Activation↗

PubMed2002

Additional 5' exons in the RGS3 locus generate multiple mRNA transcripts, one of which accounts for the origin of human PDZ-RGS3.

Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins can be broadly divided into those that consist predominantly of an RGS domain and those that possess an RGS domain along with additional domains. RGS3 fits into both categories, as both short and longer forms exist. Recently, a novel form of mouse RGS3 that possesses a PDZ domain was identified. Here we show that the human PDZ-RGS3 isoform arises from 10 upstream exons along with 6 exons from the previously characterized RGS3. We found that 47,000 nucleotides span the last of the 10 upstream exons and the first exon used from the original cluster of RGS3 exons. These 10 upstream exons encode 398 amino acids, which show strong conservation with those from mouse PDZ-RGS3. In addition, another isoform exists that uses 17 upstream exons, 9 of which overlap with those in PDZ-RGS3, along with the same 6 downstream exons used in PDZ-RGS3. Finally, a short form of human RGS3 arises from an unrecognized RGS3 exon that encodes an amino-terminal 140 amino acids. For each RGS3 isoform, RT-PCR detected specific mRNA transcripts and immunoblot analysis identified specific bands for RGS3 and PDZ-RGS3. RGS3 provides an example of the complex origins of the coding regions of mammalian proteins.

Alternative Splicing↗