• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.153-161
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• 2022

c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are members of MAPK family. Many genes can relay signals that promote inflammation, cell proliferation, or cell death which causes several diseases have been associated to mutations in the JNK gene family. The JNK2 gene is significantly more important in cancer development than the JNK1 and JNK3 genes. There are several different ways in which JNK2 contributes to breast cancer, and one of these is through its role in cell migration. As a result, this study's primary objective was to employ computational strategies to identify promising leads that potentially target the JNK2 protein in a strategy to alleviate breast cancer. We have derived these anticancer compounds from marine brown seaweed called Turbinaria conoides. We have identified compounds Ethane, 1, 1-diethoxy- and Butane, 2-ethoxy as promising anti-cancer drugs by molecular docking, DFT, and ADME study.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.2739-2748
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• 2009

Hologram and three dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship (3D QSAR) studies for a series of anilinobipyridine JNK3 inhibitors were performed using various alignment-based comparative molecular field analysis (COMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA). The in vitro JNK3 inhibitory activity exhibited a strong correlation with steric and electrostatic factors of the molecules. Using four different types of alignments, the best model was selected based on the statistical significance of CoMFA ($q_2\;=\;0.728,\;r_2\;=\;0.865$), CoMSIA ($q_2\;=\;0.706,\;r_2\;=\;0.960$) and Hologram QSAR (HQSAR: $q_2\;=\;0.838,\;r_2\;=\;0.935$). The graphical analysis of produced CoMFA and CoMSIA contour maps in the active site indicated that steric and electrostatic interactions with key residues are crucial for potency and selectivity of JNK3 inhibitors. The HQSAR analysis showed a similar qualitative conclusion. We believe these findings could be utilized for further development of more potent and selective JNK3 inhibitors.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.583-588
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• 2012

Leukotactin(Lkn)-1 is a CC chemokine and is upregulated in macrophages in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. We investigated whether mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are involved in MTB-induced expression of Lkn-1. The up-regulation of Lkn-1 by infection with MTB was inhibited in cells treated with inhibitors specific for JNK (SP600125) or p38 MAPK (SB202190). Since the up-regulation of Lkn-1 by MTB has been reported to be mediated by the PI3-K/PDK1/Akt signaling, we examined whether JNK and/or p38 MAPK are also involved in this signal pathway. MTB-induced Akt phosphorylation was blocked by treatment with JNK- or p38 MAPK-specific inhibitors implying that p38 and JNK are upstream of Akt. In addition, treatment with the PI3-K-specific inhibitor inhibited MTB-stimulated activation of JNK or p38 MAPK implying that PI3-K is upstream of JNK and p38 MAPK. These results collectively suggest that JNK and p38 MAPK are involved in the signal pathway responsible for MTB-induced up-regulation of Lkn-1.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2005

Cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) seems to function as a negative regulator of the c-Jun $NH_2-terminal$ kinase (JNK) signaling pathway. We demonstrate here that the activity of the PKA catalytic subunit (PKAc) is reduced in apoptotic PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Apoptotic progress was inhibited by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), an analog of cAMP. The rescue by dbcAMP was attributable to inhibition of the JNK but not of the p38 signaling pathway, due to the induction of PKA activity. JNK was present in immunocomplexes of PKAc, and PKAc phosphorylated JNK in vitro. Presence of p38 kinase, however, was not prominent in immunocomplexes of PKAc. Our data suggest that JNK is a target point of negative regulation by PKAc in the JNK signaling pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.458-463
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• 2018

The phosphorylation of JNK is known to induce insulin resistance in insulin target tissues. The inhibition of JNK-JIP1 interaction, which interferes JNK phosphorylation, becomes a potential target for drug development of type 2 diabetes. To discover the inhibitors of JNK-JIP1 interaction, we screened out 30 candidates from 4320 compound library with In Cell Interaction Trap method. The candidates were further confirmed and narrowed down to five compounds using the FRET method in a model cell. Among those five compounds, Acebutolol showed notable inhibition of JNK phosphorylation and elevation of glucose uptake in diabetic models of adipocyte and liver cell. Structural computation showed that the binding affinity of Acebutolol on the JNK-JIP1 interaction site was comparable to the known inhibitor, BI-78D3. Our results suggest that Acebutolol, an FDA-approved beta blocker for hypertension therapy, could have a new repurposed effect on type 2 diabetes elevating glucose uptake process by inhibiting JNK-JIP1 interaction.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 2011

c-Jun N-terminal kinase-3 (JNK-3) has been shown to mediate neuronal apoptosis and make the promising therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other CNS disorders. In order to better understand the structural and chemical features of JNK-3, comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was performed on a series of 3,5-disubstituted quinolines derivatives. The best predictions were obtained CoMFA model ($q^2$=0.707, $r^2$=0.972) and the statistical parameters from the generated 3D-QSAR models were indicated that the data are well fitted and have high predictive ability. The resulting contour map from 3D-QSAR models might be helpful to design novel and more potent JNK3 derivatives.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.145-152
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• 2022

Colon rectal cancer is one of the frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. In recent times the drug discovery for colon cancer is challenging because of their speedy metastasis and morality of these patients. C-jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway controls the cell cycle survival and apoptosis. Evidence has shown that JNK1 promotes the tumor progression in various types of cancers like colon cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer. Recent study has shown that inhibiting, JNK1 pathway is identified as one of the important cascades in drug discovery. One of the recent approaches in the field of drug discovery is drug repurposing. In drug repurposing approach we have virtually screened ChEMBL dataset against JNK1 protein and their interactions have been studied through Molecular docking. Cross docking was performed with the top compounds to be more specific with JNK1 comparing the affinity with JNK2 and JNK3.The drugs which exhibited higher binding were subjected to Conceptual - Density functional theory. The results showed mainly Entrectinib and Exatecan showed better binding to the target.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.401-412
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• 2018

Oxymatrine (OMT) often used in treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in clinic. However, OMT-induced liver injury has been reported. In this study, we aim to investigate the possible mechanism of OMT-induced hepatotoxicity in human normal liver cells (L02). Exposed cells to OMT, the cell viability was decreased and apoptosis rate increased, the intracellular markers of oxidative stress were changed. Simultaneously, OMT altered apoptotic related proteins levels, including Bcl-2, Bax and pro-caspase-8/-9/-3. In addition, OMT enhanced the protein levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress makers (GRP78/Bip, CHOP, and cleaved-Caspase-4) and phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), as well as the mRNA levels of GRP78/Bip, CHOP, caspase-4, and ER stress sensors (IREI, ATF6, and PERK). Pre-treatment with Z-VAD-fmk, JNK inhibitor SP600125 and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, partly improved the survival rates and restored OMT-induced cellular damage, and reduced caspase-3 cleavage. SP600125 or NAC reduced OMT-induced p-JNK and NAC significantly lowered caspase-4. Furthermore, 4-PBA, the ER stress inhibitor, weakened inhibitory effect of OMT on cells, on the contrary, TM worsen. 4-PBA also reduced the levels of p-JNK and cleaved-caspase-3 proteins. Therefore, OMT-induced injury in L02 cells was related to ROS mediated p-JNK and ER stress induction. Antioxidant, by inhibition of p-JNK or ER stress, may be a feasible method to alleviate OMT-induced liver injury.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.21.1-21.15
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• 2024

Background: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a contagious and fatal disease of sheep and goats. PPR virus (PPRV) infection induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated unfolded protein response (UPR). The activation of UPR signaling pathways and their impact on apoptosis and virus replication remains controversial. Objectives: To investigate the role of PPRV-induced ER stress and the IRE1-XBP1 and IRE1-JNK pathways and their impact on apoptosis and virus replication. Methods: The cell viability and virus replication were assessed by 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay, immunofluorescence assay, and Western blot. The expression of ER stress biomarker GRP78, IRE1, and its downstream molecules, PPRV-N protein, and apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. 4-Phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) and STF-083010 were respectively used to inhibit ER stress and IRE1 signaling pathway. Results: The expression of GRP78, IRE1α, p-IRE1α, XBP1s, JNK, p-JNK, caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax and PPRV-N were significantly up-regulated in PPRV-infected cells, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated. Due to 4-PBA treatment, the expression of GRP78, p-IRE1α, XBP1s, p-JNK, caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax, and PPRV-N were significantly downregulated, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly up-regulated. Moreover, in PPRV-infected cells, the expression of p-IRE1α, p-JNK, Bax, and PPRV-N was significantly decreased, and the expression of Bcl-2 was increased in the presence of STF-083010. Conclusions: PPRV infection induces ER stress and IRE1 activation, resulting in apoptosis and enhancement of virus replication through IRE1-XBP1s and IRE1-JNK pathways.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.165.3-166
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• 2003

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) plays essential roles in apoptosis and cell survival. Because apoptosis is promoted by blocking the MEK kinase1-mediated activation of JNK1, we tested whether JNK1 plays dual roles in apoptosis. We show here that JNK1 activity is differentially up-regulated in a two-tiered fashion by specific mechanisms during taxol- or ginsenoside Rh2-induced apoptosis. The early phase of JNK1 activation, but not apoptosis is prevented by expressing the dominant negative SEK1 mutant. (omitted)