• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.200-205
• /
• 2008

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is activated in response to extracellular stimuli and regulates various activities in eukaryotic cells. Following exposure to stimuli, MAPK is known to be activated via dual phosphorylation at a conserved TxY motif in the activation loop; both threonine and tyrosine residues are phosphorylated by an upstream kinase. However, the mechanism underlying dual phosphorylation is not clearly understood. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Hog1 MAPK mediates the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) signaling pathway. Tandem mass spectrometry and phosphospecific immunoblotting were performed to quantitatively monitor the dynamic changes occurring in the phosphorylation status of the TxY motif of Hog1 on exposure to osmotic stress. The results of our study suggest that the tyrosine residue is preferentially and dynamically phosphorylated following stimulation, and this in turn leads to the dual phosphorylation. The tyrosine residue was hyperphosphorylated in the absence of a threonine residue; this result suggests that the threonine residue is critical for the control of signaling noise and adaptation to osmotic stress.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.242-247
• /
• 2008

MSS, a comprising mixture of maesil (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc) concentrate, disodium succinate and Span80 (3.6 : 4.6 : 1 ratio) showed a significant improvement of memory when daily administered (460 mg/kg day, p.o.) into the normal rats for 3 weeks. During the spatial learning of 4 days in Morris water maze test, both working memory and short-term working memory index were significantly increased when compared to untreated controls. We investigated a molecular signal transduction mechanism of MSS on the behaviors of spatial learning and memory. MSS treatment increased hippocampal mRNA levels of NR2B and TrkB without changes of NR1, NR2A, ERK1, ERK2 and CREB. However, the protein levels of pERK/ERK and pCREB/CREB were all significantly increased to $1.5{\pm}0.17$ times. These results suggest that the improving effect of spatial memory for MSS is linked to MAPK/ERK signaling pathway that ends up in the phosphorylation of CREB through TrkB and/or NR2B of NMDA receptor.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2021.04a
• /
• pp.56-56
• /
• 2021

Nypa fruticans Wurmb is a mangrove plant belonging to Araceae family. N. fruticans is typically found in Southeast Asia, and in some parts of Queensland, Australia. N. fruticans has phytochemicals, phenolics, and flavonoids. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of N. fruticans (ENF) on the production and expression of cytokines and inflammatory mediators through the major signal transduction pathways. ENF attenuated the level of cytokines in a dose-dependent manner and decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO). ENF decreased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) via alleviating transcription of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) by an inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B (IκB) degradation. Furthermore, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways (ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38) are known to be involved in the inflammatory response. Phosphorylations of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and p38 were significantly decreased compared with the ENF-untreated control. Conclusively, ENF was related to alleviating various pro-inflammatory mediators through IκB/NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, including p65 translocation to the nucleus.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.363-370
• /
• 2009

Since vitamin $D_3$ is an important regulator of osteoblastic differentiation, a presently-established vitamin $D_3$-entrapped calcium phosphate film (VCPF) was evaluated for hard tissue engineering. The entrapped vitamin $D_3$ more rapidly induced bone nodule formation. To characterize the cellular events leading to regulations including faster differentiation, signal transduction pathways were investigated in osteoblastic MG63 cells at a molecular level. Major signaling pathways for MG63 cell proliferation including phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and focal adhesion kinase pathways were markedly down-regulated when cells were cultured on calcium phosphate film (CPF) and VCPF. This agreed with our earlier observations of the immediate delay in proliferation of MG63 cells upon culture on CPF and VCPF. On the other hand, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and protein kinase A (PKA) pathways were significantly up-regulated on both CPF and VCPF. CPF alone could simulate differential behaviors of MG63 cells even in the absence of osteogenic stimulation and entrapment of vitamin $D_3$ within CPF further amplified the signal pathways, resulting in continued promotion of MG63 cell differentiation. Interplay of p38 MAPK and PKA signaling pathways likely is a significant event for the promotion of differentiation and mineralization of MG63 cells.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.462-467
• /
• 2008

TPA is known to cooperate with an activated Ras oncogene in the transformation of rodent fibroblasts, but the biochemical mechanisms responsible for this effect have not been established. In the present study we used c-fos promoter-luciferase constructs as reporters, in transient transfection assays, in NIH3T3 cells to assess the mechanism of this cooperation. We found a marked synergistic interaction between TPA and a transfected v-Ha-ras oncogene in the activation of c-fos promoter and SRE. SRE has binding sites for TCF and SRF. A dominant-negative Ras (ras-N17) inhibited the TPA-Ras synergy by blocking the PKC-MAPK-TCF pathway. Dominant-negative RhoA and Rac1 (but not Cdc42Hs) inhibited the TPA-Ras synergy by blocking the Ras-Rho-SRF signaling pathway. Constitutively active $PKC{\alpha}$ and $PKC{\varepsilon}$ showed synergy with v-Ras. These results suggest that the activation of two distinct pathways such as Ras-Raf-ERK-TCF pathway and Rho-SRF pathway are responsible for the induction of c-fos by TPA and Ras in mitogenic signaling pathways.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.17
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 2001

Most reactive oxygen species (ROS) are free radicals and implicated in the development of a number of disease processes including artherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, aging and cancer. ROS are byproducts of a number of in vivo metabolic processes and are formed deliberately as part of nor-mal inflammatory response. On the other hand, ROS are generated either as by products of oxygen reduction during xenobiotic metabolism or are liberated as the result of the futile redox cycling of the chemical agents including several chemical carcinogens. A better understanding of the mechanisms of free radical toxicity may yield valuable clue to risks associated with chemical exposures that leading to the development of chronic diseases including cancer. The molecular biology of ROS-mediated alterations in gene expression, signal transduction and carcinognesis is one of the important subjects in free radical toxicology. Epidemiological studies suggest that high intake of vegetables and fruits are associated with the low incidence of human cancer. Many phytopolyphenols such as tea polyphenols, curcumin, resveratrol, apigenin, genistein and other flavonoids have been shown to be cancer chemopreventive agents. Most of these compounds are strong antioxidant and ROS scavengers in vitro and effective inducers of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutatse, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in vivo. Several cellular transducers namely receptor tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C, MAPK, PI3K, c-jun, c-fos, c-myc, NFkB, IkB kinase, iNOS, COX-2, Bcl-2, Bax, etc have been shown to be actively modulated by phyto-polyphenols. Recent development in free radical toxicology have provided strong basis for understanding the action mechanisms of cancer chemoprevention.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.52-55
• /
• 2003

There is considerable evidence that ionizing radiation (IR) mediates checkpoint control, repair and cell death. In this study, we have used a high density microarray hybridization approach to characterize the transcriptional response of human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cell line to ${\gamma}$-radiation, such as 4 Gy 4 hr, 8 Gy 4 hr, and 8 Gy 12 hr. We found that exposure to ${\gamma}$-ray alters by at least a $log_2$ factor of 1.0 the expression of 115 known genes. Of the 66 genes affected by ${\gamma}$-radiation, 49 are down-regulated. In our results, the cellular response to irradiation includes induction of the c-jun and EGR1 early response genes. The present work has examined potential cytoplasmic signaling cascades that transduce IR-induced signals to the nucleus. 40S ribosomal protein s6 kinase modulates the activities of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun $NH_2$-terminal kinase (JNK1) cascades in human monocytic leukemia (U937/pREP4) cells. 14-3-3 family members are dimeric phosphoserine -binding proteins that participate in signal transduction and checkpoint control pathways.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.302-309
• /
• 2010

Formic acid is a representative carboxylic acid that inhibits bacterial cell growth, and thus it is generally considered to constitute an obstacle to the reuse of renewable biomass. In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to elucidate changes in protein levels in response to formic acid. Fifty-seven differentially expressed proteins in response to formic acid toxicity in S. cerevisiae were identified by 1D-PAGE and nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS) analyses. Among the 28 proteins increased in expression, four were involved in the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway and one in the oxidative stress-induced pathway. A dramatic increase was observed in the number of ion transporters related to maintenance of acid-base balance. Regarding the 29 proteins decreased in expression, they were found to participate in transcription during cell division. Heat shock protein 70, glutathione reductase, and cytochrome c oxidase were measured by LC-MS/MS analysis. Taken together, the inhibitory action of formic acid on S. cerevisiae cells might disrupt the acidbase balance across the cell membrane and generate oxidative stress, leading to repressed cell division and death. S. cerevisiae also induced expression of ion transporters, which may be required to maintain the acid-base balance when yeast cells are exposed to high concentrations of formic acid in growth medium.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.151-157
• /
• 2020

When blood vessels are damaged, a rapid hemostatic reaction occurs to minimize blood loss and maintain normal circulation. Platelet activation and aggregation is essential in this process. However, excessive platelet aggregation or abnormal platelet aggregation may be the cause of cardiovascular disease, such as thrombosis, stroke and atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is important to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease by finding substances that can regulate platelet activation and suppress aggregation reactions. Isoscopoletin, which is mainly found in the roots of plants Artemisia or Scopolia, has been reported to have potential pharmacological effects on anticancer and Alzheimer's disease, but its role and mechanisms for platelet aggregation and thrombus formation are unknown. This study confirmed the effect of isoscopoletin on major regulation of collageninduced human platelet aggregation, TXA₂ production and intracellular granular secretion (ATP and serotonin release). In addition, the effects of isoscopoletin on phosphorylation of phosphorylated proteins PI3K/Akt and MAPK involved in signal transduction in platelet aggregation was studied. As a result, isoscopoletin significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and MAPK, significantly inhibiting platelet aggregation through TXA₂ production and intracellular granular secretion (ATP and serotonin release). Therefore, we suggest that isoscopoletin is an anti-platelet substance that regulates phosphorylation of phosphorus proteins such as PI3K/Akt and MAPK and is valuable as a preventive and therapeutic agent for platelet-derived cardiovascular disease.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2017

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades play critical roles in various cellular events in plants, including stress responses, innate immunity, hormone signaling, and cell specificity. MAPK-mediated stress signaling is also known to negatively regulate nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interactions, but the molecular mechanism of the MAPK signaling cascades underlying the symbiotic nodule development remains largely unknown. We show that the MtMKK5-MtMPK3/6 signaling module negatively regulates the early symbiotic nodule formation, probably upstream of ERN1 (ERF Required for Nodulation 1) and NSP1 (Nod factor Signaling Pathway 1) in Medicago truncatula. The overexpression of MtMKK5 stimulated stress and defense signaling pathways but also reduced nodule formation in M. truncatula roots. Conversely, a MAPK specific inhibitor, U0126, enhanced nodule formation and the expression of an early nodulation marker gene, MtNIN. We found that MtMKK5 directly activates MtMPK3/6 by phosphorylating the TEY motif within the activation loop and that the MtMPK3/6 proteins physically interact with the early nodulation-related transcription factors ERN1 and NSP1. These data suggest that the stress signaling-mediated MtMKK5/MtMPK3/6 module suppresses symbiotic nodule development via the action of early nodulation transcription factors.