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Rizwan Haq

Publications and source records attributed to Rizwan Haq.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

c-Met expression is regulated by Mitf in the melanocyte lineage.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met signaling is thought to be a key pathway in both melanocyte development and melanoma metastasis. Here, HGF stimulation of melanocytes was seen to up-regulate c-Met expression. In an effort to decipher the mechanism by which HGF up-regulates its receptor, we found that c-Met is a direct transcriptional target of Mitf. This was confirmed with chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments of the human c-Met promoter, as well as by the ability of adenovirally expressed Mitf to modulate endogenous c-Met protein levels in melanocytes. Disruption of Mitf blocked HGF-dependent increases in endogenous c-Met message and protein levels, indicating that HGF regulates its own receptor levels via Mitf. Finally, dominant-negative inhibition of Mitf resulted in profound resistance of melanocytes and melanoma cells to HGF-dependent matrix invasion, suggesting a physiologic role for this pathway in melanocytic development and melanoma.

Adenoviridae↗

Constitutive p38HOG mitogen-activated protein kinase activation induces permanent cell cycle arrest and senescence.

Cellular senescence, initially observed during subculturing of normal diploid fibroblasts, can also be induced by chronic exposure to cellular stress, such as UV light, oxidative stress, or DNA damaging agents. Here we demonstrate that stable expression of an activated form of MKK6 (MKK6EE), a direct activator of the stress-induced p38(HOG) mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, is sufficient for inducing features of senescence including a flattened, vacuolated, and irregular morphology, staining for acidic beta-galactosidase, and accumulation of age-associated pigments. Consistent with the senescent phenotype, p38(HOG) activation induces a G(1) cell cycle arrest, which is permanent and irreversible after 4 days. MKK6EE also induces biochemical features of senescence in a p38-dependent manner, including enhanced expression of p21(CIP), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Microarray analysis of MKK6EE cells showed a pattern of gene expression noted previously in Werner Syndrome and senescent fibroblasts. These results define p38(HOG) as an intracellular pathway that activates a senescence checkpoint in tumor cells and may play a role in Ras- or stress-induced senescence.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

TEL-JAK2 constitutively activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), stress-activated protein/Jun kinase (SAPK/JNK), and p38 signaling pathways.

The ets transcription factor, TEL, undergoes chromosomal rearrangements with the tyrosine kinase JAK2. TEL-JAK2 is constitutively active, confers cell line factor independence, and activates signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1), STAT3, and STAT5. Data from bone marrow transplantation models suggest that STAT5 activation does not account for the entire disease phenotype induced by TEL-JAK2. This study examined additional signaling pathways that are activated by TEL-JAK2. TEL-JAK2 expression in Ba/F3 cells results in constitutive association and tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and Ship-1 and, consequently, recruitment of Grb2 to TEL-JAK2. Direct Grb2 recruitment is also possible because a putative Grb2 binding site, Tyr314, is present on TEL-JAK2(5-19) and TEL-JAK2(5-12). Studies with a TEL-JAK2(5-19)Tyr314Phe mutant support a role for Tyr314 in Grb2 recruitment, because Grb2 association with TEL-JAK2(5-19)Tyr314Phe is significantly reduced. Interestingly, TEL-JAK2(5-19)Tyr314Phe shows reduced Ras activation when compared with TEL-JAK2(4-17), TEL-JAK2(5-12), and TEL-JAK2(5-19). Analysis of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2), stress-activated protein/Jun kinase (SAPK/JNK), and p38 demonstrates the activation of SAPK/JNK and phosphorylation of p38 by all TEL-JAK2 isoforms. TEL-JAK2(5-12) and TEL-JAK2(5-19) preferentially phosphorylate ERK2, whereas TEL-JAK2(4-17) phosphorylated ERK2 at lower levels. Inhibition studies demonstrated that ERK1/2 activation was necessary for Ba/F3 factor independence mediated by TEL-JAK2(5-19), while inhibition of SAPK/JNK or p38 activity had no effect. Our data reveal the requirement of ERK activation by TEL-JAK2(5-19) in Ba/F3 cells and suggest that TEL-JAK2 leukemogenic potential may be mediated in part through ERK1/2.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Regulation of erythropoietin-induced STAT serine phosphorylation by distinct mitogen-activated protein kinases.

The STAT proteins are a family of latent transcription factors that are activated by a wide variety of cytokines. Upon receptor engagement, STATs become tyrosine phosphorylated, translocate to the nucleus, and induce expression of target genes. In addition to tyrosine phosphorylation, maximal activation of some STAT proteins requires serine phosphorylation within the transactivation domain. Here we focus on STAT phosphorylation after engagement of the erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R). In Ba/F3-EPO-R cells, EPO induces tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of STAT1, STAT3, STAT5A, and STAT5B. Identical regions of the EPO-R couple to both tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of each cognate STAT protein. A proximal region of the EPO-R lacking cytoplasmic tyrosines couples to STAT1 and STAT3 phosphorylation as well as ERK and p38(HOG) activation, but not JNK/SAPK. STAT1 serine phosphorylation was perturbed by inhibition of ERK and p38 pathways, whereas only inhibition of ERK activation blocked STAT3 serine phosphorylation in response to EPO. STAT5A/B phosphorylation is downstream of EPO-R Tyr(343), however, STAT5A/B serine phosphorylation is unaffected by either ERK or p38 inhibition. Physiological responses induced by EPO may depend on regulation of serine phosphorylation of the STAT molecules by p38(HOG) and the ERK family of kinases as well as additional serine/threonine kinases.

Animals↗