• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.375-383
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• 2008

It is well known that NtMEK2, a tobacco MAPK kinase, is the upstream kinase of both salicylic acid-induced protein kinase and wound-induced protein kinase. In addition, expression of $NtMEK2^{DD}$, a constitutively active mutant of NtMEK2, is known to induce multiple defense responses in tobacco. In this study, transgenic rice plants that contained an active or inactive mutant of NtMEK2 under the control of a steroid inducible promoter were generated and used to determine if a similar MAPK cascade is involved in disease resistance in rice. The expression of $NtMEK2^{DD}$ in transgenic rice plants resulted in HR-like cell death. The observed cell death was preceded by the activation of endogenous rice 48-kDa MBP kinase, which is also activated by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the bacterial blight pathogen of rice. In addition, prolonged activation of the MAPK induced the generation of hydrogen peroxide and up-regulated the expression of defense-related genes including the pathogenesis-related genes, peroxidases and glutathione S-transferases. These results demonstrate that NtMEK2 is functionally replaceable with rice MAPK kinase in inducing the activation of the downstream MAPK, which in turn induces multiple defense responses in rice.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.41-47
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• 2008

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling is a crucial component of eukaryotic cells; it plays an important role in responses to extracelluar stimuli and in the regulation of various cellular activities. The signaling cascade is evolutionarily conserved in the eukaryotic kingdom from yeast to human. In response to a variety of extracellular signals, MAPK activity is known to be regulated via phosphorylation of a conserved $T{\times}Y$ motif at the activation loop in which both threonine and tyrosine residues are phosphorylated by the upstream kinase. However, the mechanism by which both residues are phosphorylated continues to remain elusive. In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Fus3 MAPK is involved in the mating signaling pathway. In order to elucidate the functional mechanism of MAPK activation, we quantitatively profiled phosphorylation of the $T{\times}Y$ motif in Fus3 using mass spectrometry (MS). We used synthetic heavy stable isotope-labeled phosphopeptides and nonphosphopeptides corresponding to the proteolytic $T{\times}Y$ motif of Fus3 and accompanying data-dependent tandem MS to quantitatively monitor dynamic changes in the phosphorylation events of MAPK. Phosphospecific immunoblotting and the MS data suggested that the tyrosine residue is dynamically phosphorylated upon stimulation and that this leads to dual phosphorylation. In contrast, the magnitude of threonine phosphorylation did not change significantly. However, the absence of a threonine residue leads to hyperphosphorylation of the tyrosine residue in the unstimulated condition, suggesting that the threonine residue contributes to the control of signaling noise.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권8호
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• pp.1023-1030
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• 2008

SIPK와 WIPK의 상위 단계 인산화 효소로 알려진 NtMEK2가 DEX 유도성 시스템에 의해 밝혀졌다. 이 NtMEK2 유전자가 지속적으로 활성화된 돌연변이체인 $NtMEK2^{DD}$의 발현은 SIPK와 WIPK를 활성화 시켜 주므로 과민감 반응과 같은 세포 괴사를 야기하는 것으로 나타나 NtMEK2-SIPK/WIPK 체계가 담배에서 방어 반응을 조절하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 그러나 NtMEK2-SIPK/WIPK 체계에 의해서 조절 되는 하위 기질이나 방어관련 유전자들에 대한 연구는 아직 미비한 상태이다. 그래서 본 연구는 NtMEK2-SIPK/WIPK 체계에 매개되는 하위 유전자들을 분리하기 위하여 $NtMEK2^{DD}$ 형질전환 식물체를 이용해 ACP에 기초한 DDRT-PCR을 수행하였다. 그 결과 본 연구를 통해 처음으로 pI2-4, MTS2, SINA, CDM1, HRGP 및 DEG45를 포함해 여섯 개의 DEG들을 선발하였다. 이 유전자들의 발현은 $NtMEK2^{DD}$ 형질전환에서 다시 확인하였으며 특히 pI2-4, CDM1, HRGP의 유전자 발현은 다른 유전자들과 비교해 볼 때 살리실산과 담배모자이크바이러스에 강하게 반응하여 증폭됨을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 결과를 볼 때 NtMEK2-SIPK/WIPK 체계에 의해 조절되는 세 개의 유전자는 병저항성에 관여하고 있음을 제시한다 하겠다.

• 한국미생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국미생물학회 2007년도 International Meeting of the Microbiological Society of Korea
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• pp.120-122
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• 2007

All living organisms use numerous signal-transduction pathways to sense and respond to their environments and thereby survive and proliferate in a range of biological niches. Molecular dissection of these signalling networks has increased our understanding of these communication processes and provides a platform for therapeutic intervention when these pathways malfunction in disease states, including infection. Owing to the expanding availability of sequenced genomes, a wealth of genetic and molecular tools and the conservation of signalling networks, members of the fungal kingdom serve as excellent model systems for more complex, multicellular organisms. Here, we employed Cryptococcus neoformans as a model system to understand how fungal-signalling circuits operate at the molecular level to sense and respond to a plethora of environmental stresses, including osmoticshock, UV, high temperature, oxidative stress and toxic drugs/metabolites. The stress-activated p38/Hog1 MAPK pathway is structurally conserved in many organisms as diverse as yeast and mammals, but its regulation is uniquely specialized in a majority of clinical Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A and D strains to control differentiation and virulence factor regulation. C. neoformans Hog1 MAPK is controlled by Pbs2 MAPK kinase (MAPKK). The Pbs2-Hog1 MAPK cascade is controlled by the fungal "two-component" system that is composed of a response regulator, Ssk1, and multiple sensor kinases, including two-component.like (Tco) 1 and Tco2. Tco1 and Tco2 play shared and distinct roles in stress responses and drug sensitivity through the Hog1 MAPK system. Furthermore, each sensor kinase mediates unique cellular functions for virulence and morphological differentiation. We also identified and characterized the Ssk2 MAPKKK upstream of the MAPKK Pbs2 and the MAPK Hog1 in C. neoformans. The SSK2 gene was identified as a potential component responsible for differential Hog1 regulation between the serotype D sibling f1 strains B3501 and B3502 through comparative analysis of their meiotic map with the meiotic segregation of Hog1-dependent sensitivity to the fungicide fludioxonil. Ssk2 is the only polymorphic component in the Hog1 MAPK module, including two coding sequence changes between the SSK2 alleles in B3501 and B3502 strains. To further support this finding, the SSK2 allele exchange completely swapped Hog1-related phenotypes between B3501 and B3502 strains. In the serotype A strain H99, disruption of the SSK2 gene dramatically enhanced capsule biosynthesis and mating efficiency, similar to pbs2 and hog1 mutations. Furthermore, ssk2, pbs2, and hog1 mutants are all hypersensitive to a variety of stresses and completely resistant to fludioxonil. Taken together, these findings indicate that Ssk2 is the critical interface protein connecting the two-component system and the Pbs2-Hog1 pathway in C. neoformans.

• BMB Reports
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• 제43권7호
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• pp.485-490
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• 2010

Neurotrophins regulate many aspects of neuronal function through activation of the high affinity Trk receptors. Shc family proteins are implicated in the coupling of RTK to the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade. Here we report that the fourth Shc family member, ShcD, associates with TrkB receptor and regulates BDNF-induced MAPK activation. Yeast two-hybrid assay and Co-IP experiments demonstrate ShcD interacts with TrkB in a kinase-activity-dependent manner. Confocal analysis shows ShcD cololizes well with TrkB in transfected 293T cells. Subsequent mapping experiments and mutational analysis indicate that both PTB and SH2 domains are capable of binding to TrkB and PTB domain binds to TrkB NPQY motif. Furthermore, ShcD is involved in BDNF-induced MAPK activation. In summary, we demonstrate that ShcD is a substrate of TrkB and mediates TrkB downstream signaling pathway.

• 약학회지
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2012

Saussurea lappa (SL) and major compounds, sesquiterpene lactones, have been suggested to possess various biological effects, including anti-tumor, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and cardiotonic activities. Therefore, the ethanol extract of Saussurea lappa root (ESL) is studied for the mechanism of its action in apoptotic pathway. ESL-treated cells manifested nuclear condensation, and fragmentation. ESL also triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as indicated by a change in Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase-9/-3 activation. ESL induced p38 MAPK/JNK, p53, and ASK1 phosphorylation. ROS scavenger reversed ESL-induced apoptotic cell death via inhibition of caspase-3 and p38 MAPK/JNK phosphorylation. These results suggest that ESL induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells through the ROS-p38/JNK pathway.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권12호
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• pp.685-690
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• 2014

The Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk signaling pathway is important for regulation of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis in response to a variety of extracellular stimuli. Lack of Erk MAPK activation is observed in several cancer cells despite active activation of Ras. However, little is known about the modulation of Erk1/2 activity by active Ras. Here, we show that overexpression of active H-Ras (H-RasG12R) in NIH3T3 fibroblasts impaired FGF2-induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation, as compared to wild-type cells. Northern blot analysis revealed that prolonged expression of active Ras increased MAP kinase phosphatase 3 (MKP3) mRNA expression, a negative regulator of Erk MAPK. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway abrogated active Ras-induced up-regulation of MKP3 expression, leading to the rescue of Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Our results demonstrated that the Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk signaling cascade is negatively regulated by the PI3K/Aktdependent transcriptional activation of the MKP3 gene.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.11-19
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• 2015

Background Wound healing is an interaction of a complex signaling cascade of cellular events, including inflammation, proliferation, and maturation. $K^+$ channels modulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Here, we investigated whether $K^+$ channel-activated MAPK signaling directs collagen synthesis and angiogenesis in wound healing. Methods The human skin fibroblast HS27 cell line was used to examine cell viability and collagen synthesis after potassium chloride (KCl) treatment by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and western blotting. To investigate whether $K^+$ ion channels function upstream of MAPK signaling, thus affecting collagen synthesis and angiogenesis, we examined alteration of MAPK expression after treatment with KCl (channel inhibitor), NS1619 (channel activator), or kinase inhibitors. To research the effect of KCl on angiogenesis, angiogenesis-related proteins such as thrombospondin 1 (TSP1), anti-angiogenic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pro-angiogenic factor were assayed by western blot. Results The viability of HS27 cells was not affected by 25 mM KCl. Collagen synthesis increased dependent on time and concentration of KCl exposure. The phosphorylations of MAPK proteins such as extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 increased about 2.5-3 fold in the KCl treatment cells and were inhibited by treatment of NS1619. TSP1 expression increased by 100%, bFGF expression decreased by 40%, and there is no significant differences in the VEGF level by KCl treatment, TSP1 was inhibited by NS1619 or kinase inhibitors. Conclusions Our results suggest that KCl may function as a therapeutic agent for wound healing in the skin through MAPK signaling mediated by the $K^+$ ion channel.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제23권11호
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• pp.1342-1350
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• 2013

본 연구는 화학적 허혈에 의해 손상된 마우스 간세포에서 hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$)의 효과를 규명하기 위해 수행되었다. 본 연구에서 허혈 모방 화합물로 알려져 있는 cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$)는 간세포 손상을 시간 및 농도 의존적으로 유의성 있게 증가 시켰다. $CoCl_2$에 의한 간세포 손상은 Sodium sulfide (NaHS, $H_2S$ 공여제)의 전처리에 의해 유의적으로 감소 되었다. $CoCl_2$는 세포 내 활성산소(reactive oxygen species, ROS)의 농도를 증가시켰으며, 이는 NaHS 및 N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC, a ROS 제거제)에 의해 감소하였다. 또한, $CoCl_2$에 의해 증가된 p38 MAPK 인산화가 NaHS 및 NAC에 의해 억제되었다. $CoCl_2$에 의해 증가된 Bax/Bcl-2 비율은 NaHS, NAC 및 SB 203580 (p38 MAPK 저해제)에 의해 차단되었으며, $CoCl_2$에 의해 유발된 간세포의 손상 또한 NaHS, NAC 및 SB 203580의 전처리에 의해 억제되었다. NaHS는 $CoCl_2$에 의해 증가된 COX-2의 발현을 억제하였다. 또한, NaHS의 효과와 유사하게 $CoCl_2$에 의해 증가된 COX-2의 발현이 NAC에 의해 억제되었다. 더욱이, NS-398 (COX-2 선택적 억제제)는 $CoCl_2$에 의한 Bax/Bcl-2 비율의 증가를 억제하였을 뿐 아니라, 간세포의 세포 손상 또한 억제하였다. 결론적으로, $H_2S$는 초대배양 된 마우스 간세포에서 $CoCl_2$에 의해 유발된 간세포의 손상을 ROS에 의해 유발된 p38 MAPK 및 COX-2 경로의 활성화를 억제함으로써 세포보호효과를 수행하는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권7호
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• pp.452-457
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• 2011

The Egr-1 is an immediate early response gene encoding a transcription factor that functions in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Estrogen has diverse physiological effects, including cellular proliferation and neuroprotection against brain injury. There are two types of estrogen receptors (ERs), $ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$. $ER{\alpha}$-induced Egr-1 expression has been extensively studied; however, the role of $ER{\beta}$ is yet not known. In the present study, we investigated whether or not $ER{\beta}$ induces Egr-1 expression in C6 rat glioma cells, which express $ER{\beta}$ but not $ER{\alpha}$. Our results show that $ER{\beta}$ promoted up-regulation of Egr-1 expression via a non-genomic mechanism involving the Raf/MEK1/Erk/Elk-1 signaling cascade.