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[Effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) in cell signal transduction of chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Ras-MAPK signal transduction has been thought to play an important role in the carcinogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia. In this study, the authors investigated the effects and mechanism of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in cell signal transduction of chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML). METHODS: After MAPK antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASO) was introduced into K562 cell line by liposomal transfection, the effects of ASO on K562 cell were evaluated by cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, MAPK protein content and MAPK activity. RESULTS: The cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, MAPK protein content and MAPK activity were significantly inhibited by MAPK ASO, the inhibitory rates were 51.8%, 57.1%, 45.3%, and 61.6%, respectively,with significant difference in comparison to the control (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: MAPK plays an important role in the signal transduction of CML and MAPK may become a new target in the treatment of CML.

DNA, Neoplasm↗

Transmembrane signal transduction by integrin cytoplasmic domains expressed in single-subunit chimeras.

Integrins are heterodimeric, transmembrane cell adhesion receptors that have recently been shown to function in transmembrane signal transduction. To examine the specific role of integrin intracellular domains in signal transduction, chimeric receptors containing various integrin intracellular domains coupled to a reporter consisting of the transmembrane and extracellular domains of the small, non-signaling subunit of the interleukin-2 receptor were expressed in cultured human fibroblasts and assayed for their ability to trigger tyrosine phosphorylation of the 125-kDa cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, pp125FAK. Tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK was induced in cultured fibroblasts that transiently expressed chimeric receptors containing either the beta 1, beta 3, or beta 5 integrin intracellular domain and were selected by magnetic bead sorting. However, expression of chimeric receptors containing either the alpha 5 or an alternatively spliced form of the beta 3 intracellular domain (beta 3B), as well as those lacking an intracellular domain, failed to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125FAK. These results indicate that information contained in the beta 1, beta 3, or beta 5 integrin intracellular domain is sufficient to stimulate integrin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of specific intracellular proteins and that integrin extracellular and transmembrane domains are not required for inducing tyrosine phosphorylation. Our results also indicate that alternative splicing can regulate the ability of beta integrin intracellular domains to participate in signal transduction, and they further suggest that the carboxyl-terminal region of specific beta integrins may play a role in the signal transduction pathway involving extracellular matrix molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Leishmania donovani lipophosphoglycan selectively inhibits signal transduction in macrophages.

The effect of purified lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania donovani on signal transduction and gene expression in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages was investigated. LPG stimulated the rapid expression of both c-fos and TNF genes within 30 min after exposure, suggesting that the interaction of LPG with its receptor stimulated a specific signal transduction pathway. Macrophages pretreated with LPG for 3 h became unresponsive to subsequent stimulation with LPS and the activators of protein kinase C, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol, and calcium ionophore A23187. Moreover, LPG induced a rapid down-modulation of TNF receptors. In contrast, the ability of macrophages to express the c-fos gene in response to the cAMP analogue, dibutyryl cAMP, was not impaired by LPG. Fragmentation of LPG revealed that the inhibitory activity of LPG required both the repeating phosphorylated disaccharides and the phosphosaccharide core. Collectively, these data demonstrate that LPG selectively impaired signal transduction in macrophages and suggest a role for this molecule in the survival of the parasite within the macrophage.

Animals↗

Increased activity and nuclear localisation of inositol lipid signal transduction enzymes in rat hepatoma cells.

To elucidate the relationship between inositol lipid signal transduction and oncogenic transformation, the activity and subcellular distribution of phospholipase C isoforms and of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase were analysed in Morris hepatoma cells, MH(1)C(1), with respect to normal rat liver cells. The results provide evidence of a gain of function of the enzymes involved in inositide signal transduction, the amount of which increased mainly at the nuclear level. Phospholipase C and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activities are significantly higher in rat hepatoma than in rat liver cells. Moreover, some phospholipase C isoforms are expressed at higher levels at the nuclear level; this is particularly evident in the case of the delta 1 isoform which is not expressed at the nuclear level in rat liver cells. Therefore, the autonomous nuclear signal transduction system, formerly reported as involved in the modulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, appears also affected in oncogenic transformation.

Animals↗

Motif mutation of bradykinin B2 receptor second intracellular loop and proximal C terminus is critical for signal transduction, internalization, and resensitization.

In the search for the structural elements participating in signal transduction, internalization, and resensitization of the bradykinin B2 receptor, we identified two critical motifs, one in the second intracellular loop (IC2), the other in the proximal C terminus. We previously described the contribution of tyrosines within each of the two motifs (Tyr131 and Tyr322) to signal transduction and receptor internalization (Prado, G. N., Taylor, L., and Polgar, P. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 14638-14642). Here, we investigate the effect of exchanging both tyrosine residues simultaneously for alanine, phenylalanine, or serine, termed YAYA (Y131A/Y322A), YFYF (Y131F/Y322F), and YSYS (Y131S/Y322S) receptors, respectively. All of these mutants bound bradykinin (BK) normally, with a Kd of approximately 1.1 nM. However, although phosphoinositide (PI) turnover in response to BK by Y131A and Y131S proved negligible, the YAYA mutant returned BK-activated PI turnover to wild type (WT). In contrast, PI turnover with YSYS remained unresponsive to BK. Importantly, the pattern of BK-activated arachidonate release differed markedly in the mutant receptors. For example, whereas Y131S ablated BK-activated arachidonic acid release, conversion of this mutant to YSYS returned the BK-activated receptor function to a level above that of WT. However, YAYA showed only a partial recovery from the poor BK response of Y131A. These and additional results suggest that Tyr131 and Tyr322 interact cooperatively in conjunction with at least two separate signaling functions. Given these results, a molecular model of the receptor was generated with the IC2 and the proximal C terminus in close spatial proximity. Conformations were identified to provide structural explanation for these observations. The conserved Thr137 in the IC2 was next substituted with proline (T137P) to prevent phosphorylation at this position or with aspartate (T137D) to emulate phosphorylation. The T137P mutant demonstrated no change from WT with respect to either BK-activated PI turnover or arachidonic acid release. However, the mutant exhibited a markedly reduced capacity to internalize. It also resensitized poorly. The T137D mutant lacked both BK responsive activities. However, it internalized and resensitized normally, as did WT. These final results suggest that Thr137 is functioning as a switch in termination of signal transduction and the initiation of internalization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Signal transduction pathways and their relevance in human astrocytomas.

Aberrations in a number of signal transduction pathways have been identified as playing a key role in the molecular pathogenesis of astrocytomas and their progression to high grade glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBMs are characterized by overexpression of the Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptors (PDGFR) and their ligands (PDGF), as well as the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGF-R). These receptors activate the Ras pathway, a key cellular signal transduction pathway, culminating in the activation of a wide range of Ras-dependent cellular events. GBMs have also been found to either overexpression or lose expression of various Protein Kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Major strides are being made in developing pharmacological agents which specifically inhibit these growth factor receptors and intracellular signal transduction pathways. Elucidating the role of these pathways in GBMs is thus of major clinical importance, as these novel molecularly-targeted agents may prove of use in the clinical management of GBMs in the future.

Astrocytoma↗

Cambridge Healthtech Institute Signal Transduction Conference: targets for effective therapeutics.

The Cambridge Healthtech Institute Signal Transduction Conference covered three major topics over 2 days: the discovery of new signalling targets, improved technology to dissect out signal transduction pathways and the effects of small molecules on those pathways, and progress in the discovery and development of signalling modulators. There was a particular emphasis placed on the biology of protein kinases and industry efforts to develop efficacious and safe inhibitors for this target class. Of note, kinase inhibitors for therapeutic indications other than oncology, including those directed against inflammation, allergy and metabolic disorders, have reached or have nearly completed clinical testing. Other signalling targets presented included tyrosine phosphatases, intracellular and membrane-bound channels, and G-protein-coupled receptors. This article will briefly summarise the newer technologies and signalling targets but will primarily focus on the presentations covering drug discovery and development.

Animals↗

Induction of apoptosis by epigallocatechin-3-gallate via mitochondrial signal transduction pathway.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the apoptosis induction of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells via mitochondrial signal transduction pathway regulated by EB-virus-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). METHODS: The survival rates of pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2 cells after the EGCG treatment were determined by MTT assay. Induction of apoptosis in pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2 cells after the EGCG treatment was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The activity of caspase-9 was determined by ApoAlert Caspase-9 Fluorescent Assay kit after the EGCG treatment. The protein expressions of cytochrome c and Bcl-2 were analyzed by Western blotting after the EGCG treatment. RESULTS: EGCG inhibited the survival rates of pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2 cells and induced apoptosis of pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2 cells. EGCG raised the activities of caspase-9, enhanced the releasing of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, and suppressed the protein expression of Bcl-2. These are the key targets on the mitochondrial signal transduction pathway in apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: EGCG inhibited the survival rate of NPC cells and induced apoptosis of NPC cells via the mitochondrial signal transduction pathway. This study suggests that the interference effect of EGCG on targets of the mitochondrial signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the anticancer function.

Anticarcinogenic Agents↗

4,5-bis(4-fluoroanilino)phthalimide: A selective inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor signal transduction pathway with potent in vivo antitumor activity.

Deregulated signal transduction via the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor family of tyrosine protein kinase growth factor receptors is associated with proliferative diseases such as cancer and psoriasis. In an attempt to selectively block signal transduction from the EGF receptor, we have synthesized a new class of dianilino-phthalimide tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors with selectivity for the EGF receptor tyrosine protein kinase. 4, 5-Dianilino-phthalimide (DAPH 1) was metabolized in vitro by mouse liver fractions and in vivo. The major metabolite has been identified as 4-(4-hydroxyanilino)-5-anilino-phthalimide. To specifically block this biotransformation (hydroxylation), we have synthesized 4,5-bis(4-fluoroanilino)phthalimide (DAPH 2), a potent and selective EGF receptor tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor. DAPH 2 inhibits the EGF receptor and protein kinase C beta2 enzymes with equal potency. In cells, DAPH 2 inhibits signal output from the EGF receptor, but not from other classes of receptor protein tyrosine kinases, such as the platelet-derived growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor, insulin-like growth factor I receptor, and insulin receptor. Selective antitumor activity was demonstrated in vivo at well-tolerated doses in mice. This publication describes the biological profile of DAPH 2 and investigates its cellular and in vivo mechanism of action.

3T3 Cells↗

Melatonin receptors and signal transduction mechanisms.

The ovine pars tuberalis (PT) still offers the best model for the study of signal transduction pathways regulated by the melatonin receptor. From the evidence accumulated so far, it seems likely that the cAMP signal transduction pathway will be a major effector of a stimulatory signal to the PT which can be regulated by melatonin. Thus a principal action of melatonin in the PT may be the repression of biochemical processes driven by cAMP. However, through the phenomenon of sensitization, melatonin may also act to amplify a stimulatory input to the cAMP signal transduction pathway in the PT. These events are mediated via the melatonin receptor, which is itself a target for regulation by the melatonin signal. Studies using the PT have identified several signalling pathways that may serve to positively or negatively regulate the expression of the melatonin receptor. These and other studies in the PT have alluded to cAMP-independent pathways regulated by the melatonin receptor.

Animals↗

The protein kinase ABC's of signal transduction as targets for drug development.

Signal transduction plays a key regulatory role in the growth and metastatic potential of tumor cells. These signaling pathways form an interconnecting grid that serves to regulate the homeostatic, survival and invasive functions of the cell. Among the key regulatory molecules in these pathways are the serine/threonine-protein kinases A, B, and C, also known respectively as cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), Akt (PKB) and protein kinase C (PKC). These protein kinases modulate pathways associated with tumor proliferation, cell survival and multidrug resistance, and at a molecule level are likely to serve as effective targets for drug design. The unique structural features of each protein kinase have been deduced from their crystallographic structures and form unique opportunities for structure-based drug design. In addition, these protein kinases are potentially important targets for antisense oligonucleotide therapy, and therefore may provide a means of selectively inhibiting tumor proliferation and inducing apoptosis with minimal nonspecific cytotoxicity.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Restoration of expression of signal-transduction molecules in lymphocytes from patients with metastatic renal cell cancer after combination immunotherapy.

A decrease in lymphocyte signal-transduction molecules, described in cancer patients and patients with chronic infectious diseases, has been proposed as a possible mechanism leading to an impaired immune response in cancer patients. Here we report the effects of combination immunotherapy on the levels of T cell receptor zeta chain and p56lck tyrosine kinase in a retrospective study of cryopreserved lymphocytes from 26 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon alpha (IFNalpha) and ex vivo IL-2-activated lymphocytes. Of the 26 patients, 12 were responders (5 complete and 7 partial) and 14 were non-responders (6 stable and 8 with progressive disease). Prior to treatment, 21 of 26 patients (81%) and 13 of 21 patients (62%) respectively expressed zeta chain and p56lck at less than 50% of the levels observed in healthy controls. During therapy, this low zeta chain and p56lck expression increased to at least 50% of normal in 13 of the 21 patients (62%) and in 6 of the 13 patients (46%) respectively; in the remaining patients expression levels remained at 50% of normal or more, or declined. Although, in this limited study, pretreatment levels of and p56lck did not show significant correlation with antitumor response, 4 of 5 patients that achieved a complete response (80%) corrected both zeta chain and p56lck levels to at least 50% of normal, while restoration of both signal-transduction molecules to such levels was only observed in 3 of 7 partial responders (43%), 1 of 5 patients with stable disease (20%) and 2 of 7 patients with progressive disease (29%). Thus, these results suggest that analysis of changes in signal-transduction molecules may a be useful tool for immunological monitoring of patients throughout immunotherapy, and could provide important information for designing new clinical trials that restore impaired signal transduction while activating T cell responses.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Pathway logic modeling of protein functional domains in signal transduction.

Protein functional domains (PFDs) are consensus sequences within signaling molecules that recognize and assemble other signaling components into complexes. Here we describe the application of an approach called Pathway Logic to the symbolic modeling signal transduction networks at the level of PFDs. These models are developed using Maude, a symbolic language founded on rewriting logic. Models can be queried (analyzed) using the execution, search and model-checking tools of Maude. We show how signal transduction processes can be modeled using Maude at very different levels of abstraction involving either an overall state of a protein or its PFDs and their interactions. The key insight for the latter is our algebraic representation of binding interactions as a graph.

Computational Biology↗

Effect of proline rich domain of an RNA-binding protein Sam68 in cell growth process, death and B cell signal transduction.

BACKGROUND: Sam68 plays an important role as a multiple functional RNA binding nuclear protein in cell cycle progress, RNA usage, signal transduction, and tyrosine phosphorylation by Src during mitosis. However, its precise impact on these essential cellular functions remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to further elucidate Sam68 functions in RNA metabolism, signal transduction regulation of cell growth and cell proliferation in DT40 cell line. METHODS: By using gene targeting method, we isolated a mutation form of Sam68 in DT40 cells and described its effect on cell growth process and signal transduction. Southern, Northern, and Western blot, phosphorylation and flow-cytometric analyses were performed to investigate the Sam68 functions. RESULTS: A slower growth rate (2.1 hours growth elongation) and longer S phase (1.7 hours elongation) was observed in the Sam68 mutant cells. Serum depletion resulted in increased amounts of dead cells, and expansion of S phase in mutant cells. Upon B cell cross-linking, the maximal level of tyrosine phosphorylation on BLNK was observed to be significantly lower in mutant cells. CONCLUSIONS: The proline rich domain of Sam68 is involved in cell growth control by modulating the function of mRNAs in S phase or earlier and the functions as an adaptor molecule in B cell signal transduction pathways.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Predicting essential components of signal transduction networks: a dynamic model of guard cell abscisic acid signaling.

Plants both lose water and take in carbon dioxide through microscopic stomatal pores, each of which is regulated by a surrounding pair of guard cells. During drought, the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) inhibits stomatal opening and promotes stomatal closure, thereby promoting water conservation. Dozens of cellular components have been identified to function in ABA regulation of guard cell volume and thus of stomatal aperture, but a dynamic description is still not available for this complex process. Here we synthesize experimental results into a consistent guard cell signal transduction network for ABA-induced stomatal closure, and develop a dynamic model of this process. Our model captures the regulation of more than 40 identified network components, and accords well with previous experimental results at both the pathway and whole-cell physiological level. By simulating gene disruptions and pharmacological interventions we find that the network is robust against a significant fraction of possible perturbations. Our analysis reveals the novel predictions that the disruption of membrane depolarizability, anion efflux, actin cytoskeleton reorganization, cytosolic pH increase, the phosphatidic acid pathway, or K(+) efflux through slowly activating K(+) channels at the plasma membrane lead to the strongest reduction in ABA responsiveness. Initial experimental analysis assessing ABA-induced stomatal closure in the presence of cytosolic pH clamp imposed by the weak acid butyrate is consistent with model prediction. Simulations of stomatal response as derived from our model provide an efficient tool for the identification of candidate manipulations that have the best chance of conferring increased drought stress tolerance and for the prioritization of future wet bench analyses. Our method can be readily applied to other biological signaling networks to identify key regulatory components in systems where quantitative information is limited.

Abscisic Acid↗

Differential activation of signal transduction pathways mediating phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and degranulation by chicken heterophils in response to stimulation with opsonized Salmonella enteritidis.

The activation of signal transduction pathways is required for the expression of functional enhancement of cellular activities. In the present studies, initial attempts were made to identify the signal transduction factors involved in activating phagocytosis, generation of an oxidative burst, and degranulation by heterophils isolated from neonatal chickens in response to opsonized Salmonella enteritidis (opsonized SE). Peripheral blood heterophils were isolated and exposed to known inhibitors of signal transduction pathways for either 20 min (staurosporin, genistein, or verapamil) or 120 min (pertussis toxin) at 39 degrees C. The cells were then stimulated for 30 min at 39 degrees C with opsonized SE. Phagocytosis, luminol-dependent chemoluminescence (LDCL), and beta-D glucuronidase release were then evaluated in vitro. The G-protein inhibitor pertussin toxin markedly inhibited (>80%) phagocytosis of opsonized SE. Both the protein kinase inhibitor (staurosporin) and calcium channel inhibitor (verapamil) reduced phagocytosis in a dose response manner. Genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, had no effect on phagocytosis. Staurosporin had a marked inhibitory effect on LDCL (>90%) while genistein had a dose responsive inhibition on LDCL. Both verapamil (40-45%) and pertussin toxin (50-55%) had a statistically significant, but less biologically significant effect on LDCL. Genistein significantly reduced the degranulation (78-81%) of heterophils by opsonized SE. Staurosporin also reduced degranulation by 43-50%, but neither verapamil nor pertussis toxin had a significant effect on degranulation. These findings demonstrate that distinct signal transduction pathways differentially regulate the stimulation of the functional activities of avian heterophils. Pertussin toxin-sensitive, Ca++-dependent G-proteins appear to regulate phagocytosis of opsonized SE, protein kinase C-dependent, tyrosine kinase-dependent protein phosphorylation plays a major role in LDCL, and tyrosine kinase(s)-dependent phosphorylation regulates primary granule release.

Animals↗

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae RanGTP-binding protein msn5p is involved in different signal transduction pathways.

In eukaryotes, control of transcription by extracellular signals involves the translocation to the nucleus of at least one component of the signal transduction pathway. Transport through the nuclear envelope requires the activity of an import or export receptor that interacts with the small GTPase Ran. We have cloned the MSN5 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is postulated to encode one of these receptors. Msn5p belongs to a family of proteins with a conserved N-terminal sequence that acts as a RanGTP-binding domain. The results presented here provide genetic data supporting Msn5p involvement in several different signal transduction pathways. All of these pathways include changes in gene expression, and regulated nucleocytoplasmic redistribution of a component in response to external conditions has already been described in some of them. We have cloned MSN5 following two different strategies. Msn5p was constitutively localized in the nucleus. Phenotypic analysis of the msn5 mutant demonstrated that this protein participates in processes such as catabolite repression, calcium signaling, mating, and cell proliferation, as well as being involved in previously characterized phosphate utilization. Therefore, Msn5p could be a receptor for several proteins involved in different signaling pathways.

Base Sequence↗

Integration of the centrosome in cell cycle control, stress response and signal transduction pathways.

The identification of cell cycle control and signal transduction components on the centrosome has fostered the idea that the centrosome is more than a microtubule-organizing center. Indeed, recent molecular evidence suggests that the centrosome plays an active role not only in the regulation of microtubule nucleation activity, but also in the coordination of centrosome duplication with cell cycle progression, in stress response and in cell cycle checkpoint control. To achieve these roles, it interacts with a multitude of signal transduction molecules. The specificity of the interactions is mediated through anchoring proteins that bring centrosomal components and regulatory proteins into close proximity. The molecular composition and organization of the centrosome thus reflects its multiple functions.

Animals↗