B-Raf-dependent regulation of the MEK-1/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in PC12 cells and regulation by cyclic AMP

Overcoming Resistance to Therapies Targeting the MAPK Pathway in BRAF-Mutated Tumours

Overactivation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is an important driver of many human cancers. First line, FDA-approved therapies targeting MAPK signalling, which include BRAF and MEK inhibitors, have variable success across cancers, and a significant number of patients quickly develop resistance. In recent years, a number of preclinical studies have reported alternative methods of overcoming resistance, which include promoting apoptosis, modulating autophagy, and targeting mitochondrial metabolism. This review summarizes mechanisms of resistance to approved MAPK-targeted therapies in BRAF-mutated cancers and discusses novel preclinical approaches to overcoming resistance.

Perspectives of RAS and RHEB GTPase Signaling Pathways in Regenerating Brain Neurons

Cellular activation of RAS GTPases into the GTP-binding “ON” state is a key switch for regulating brain functions. Molecular protein structural elements of rat sarcoma (RAS) and RAS homolog protein enriched in brain (RHEB) GTPases involved in this switch are discussed including their subcellular membrane localization for triggering specific signaling pathways resulting in regulation of synaptic connectivity, axonal growth, differentiation, migration, cytoskeletal dynamics, neural protection, and apoptosis. A beneficial role of neuronal H-RAS activity is suggested from cellular and animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent experiments on optogenetic regulation offer insights into the spatiotemporal aspects controlling RAS/mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) or phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) pathways. As optogenetic manipulation of cellular signaling in deep brain regions critically requires penetration of light through large distances of absorbing tissue, we discuss magnetic guidance of re-growing axons as a complementary approach. In Parkinson’s disease, dopaminergic neuronal cell bodies degenerate in the substantia nigra. Current human trials of stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons must take into account the inability of neuronal axons navigating over a large distance from the grafted site into striatal target regions. Grafting dopaminergic precursor neurons directly into the degenerating substantia nigra is discussed as a novel concept aiming to guide axonal growth by activating GTPase signaling through protein-functionalized intracellular magnetic nanoparticles responding to external magnets.

Ras-mutant cancer cells display B-Raf binding to Ras that activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase and is inhibited by protein kinase A phosphorylation

The small G protein Ras regulates proliferation through activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (ERK) cascade. The first step of Ras-dependent activation of ERK signaling is Ras binding to members of the Raf family of MAP kinase kinase kinases, C-Raf and B-Raf. Recently, it has been reported that in melanoma cells harboring oncogenic Ras mutations, B-Raf does not bind to Ras and does not contribute to basal ERK activation. For other types of Ras-mutant tumors, the relative contributions of C-Raf and B-Raf are not known. We examined non-melanoma cancer cell lines containing oncogenic Ras mutations and express both C-Raf and B-Raf isoforms, including the lung cancer cell line H1299 cells. Both B-Raf and C-Raf were constitutively bound to oncogenic Ras and contributed to Ras-dependent ERK activation. Ras binding to B-Raf and C-Raf were both subject to inhibition by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase PKA. cAMP inhibited the growth of H1299 cells and Ras-dependent ERK activation via PKA. PKA inhibited the binding of Ras to both C-Raf and B-Raf through phosphorylations of C-Raf at Ser-259 and B-Raf at Ser-365, respectively. These studies demonstrate that in non-melanocytic Ras-mutant cancer cells, Ras signaling to B-Raf is a significant contributor to ERK activation and that the B-Raf pathway, like that of C-Raf, is a target for inhibition by PKA. We suggest that cAMP and hormones coupled to cAMP may prove useful in dampening the effects of oncogenic Ras in non-melanocytic cancer cells through PKA-dependent actions on B-Raf as well as C-Raf.

The alternative Epac/cAMP pathway and the MAPK pathway mediate hCG induction of leptin in placental cells

Pleiotropic effects of leptin have been identified in reproduction and pregnancy, particularly in the placenta, where it works as an autocrine hormone. In this work, we demonstrated that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) added to JEG-3 cell line or to placental explants induces endogenous leptin expression. We also found that hCG increased cAMP intracellular levels in BeWo cells in a dose-dependent manner, stimulated cAMP response element (CRE) activity and the cotransfection with an expression plasmid of a dominant negative mutant of CREB caused a significant inhibition of hCG stimulation of leptin promoter activity. These results demonstrate that hCG indeed activates cAMP/PKA pathway, and that this pathway is involved in leptin expression. Nevertheless, we found leptin induction by hCG is dependent on cAMP levels. Treatment with (Bu)₂cAMP in combination with low and non stimulatory hCG concentrations led to an increase in leptin expression, whereas stimulatory concentrations showed the opposite effect. We found that specific PKA inhibition by H89 caused a significant increase of hCG leptin induction, suggesting that probably high cAMP levels might inhibit hCG effect. It was found that hCG enhancement of leptin mRNA expression involved the MAPK pathway. In this work, we demonstrated that hCG leptin induction through the MAPK signaling pathway is inhibited by PKA. We observed that ERK1/2 phosphorylation increased when hCG treatment was combined with H89. In view of these results, the involvement of the alternative cAMP/Epac signaling pathway was studied. We observed that a cAMP analogue that specifically activates Epac (CPT-OMe) stimulated leptin expression by hCG. In addition, the overexpression of Epac and Rap1 proteins increased leptin promoter activity and enhanced hCG. In conclusion, we provide evidence suggesting that hCG induction of leptin gene expression in placenta is mediated not only by activation of the MAPK signaling pathway but also by the alternative cAMP/Epac signaling pathway.

BRAF V600E mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma: significant association with node metastases and extra thyroidal invasion

B-Raf (BRAF) is the strongest activator in the downstream of MAP kinase signaling. The somatic point mutation of BRAF gene (V600E) is the most common and specific event in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, its prevalence is variable among different studies and its association with clinico-pathological features is controversial. This study tests the prevalence of BRAF (V600E) mutation in thyroid cancer patients in Indian subcontinental population. We analyzed 140 thyroid tumor specimens for BRAF gene mutation at codon 600 using mutant-allele-specific amplification, single-strand conformation polymorphism, Mutector assay, and DNA sequencing of the PCR-amplified exon 15. BRAF mutation at codon 600 was detected in 46 of 86 PTC patients (53.4%) from Indian subcontinental cohort. Frequency of mutation varied across the subtypes of PTCs. BRAF (V600E) mutation was more common in the conventional PTC (38 out of 62; 61%) than in the follicular variant of PTC (2 out of 17; 11.7%). None of the 8 follicular thyroid adenomas, 14 follicular thyroid carcinomas, 16 medullary thyroid carcinomas, and 16 benign hyperplasia patients showed any exon 15 mutation. We found significant correlation between BRAF mutation status and extra-thyroidal invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumor stage. However no correlation was observed with gender, age, and tumor size of the patients. Thus our findings suggest that BRAF (V600E) is a prevalent genetic alteration in adult sporadic PTCs in Indian cohort and it may be responsible for the progression of classic variant of PTC to metastatic and poorly differentiated subtype and likely to have significant impact on its diagnostic and prognostic management.

Neuro2A differentiation by Galphai/o pathway

Signaling from G(i/o)-coupled G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), such as the serotonin 1B, cannabinoid 1, and dopamine D2 receptors, inhibits cAMP production by adenylyl cyclases and activates protein kinases, such as Src, mitogen-activated protein kinases 1 and 2, and Akt. Activation of these protein kinases results in stimulation of neurite outgrowth in the central nervous system (CNS) and in neuronal cell lines. This Connections Map traces downstream signaling pathways from G(i/o)-coupled GPCRs to key protein kinases and key transcription factors involved in neuronal differentiation. Components in the Science Signaling Connections Map are linked to Nature Molecule Pages. This interoperability provides ready access to detail that includes information about specific states for the nodes.

The protein kinase A anchoring protein mAKAP coordinates two integrated cAMP effector pathways

Cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) is a ubiquitous mediator of intracellular signalling events. It acts principally through stimulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinases (PKAs) but also activates certain ion channels and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Epacs). Metabolism of cAMP is catalysed by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Here we identify a cAMP-responsive signalling complex maintained by the muscle-specific A-kinase anchoring protein (mAKAP) that includes PKA, PDE4D3 and Epac1. These intermolecular interactions facilitate the dissemination of distinct cAMP signals through each effector protein. Anchored PKA stimulates PDE4D3 to reduce local cAMP concentrations, whereas an mAKAP-associated ERK5 kinase module suppresses PDE4D3. PDE4D3 also functions as an adaptor protein that recruits Epac1, an exchange factor for the small GTPase Rap1, to enable cAMP-dependent attenuation of ERK5. Pharmacological and molecular manipulations of the mAKAP complex show that anchored ERK5 can induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Thus, two coupled cAMP-dependent feedback loops are coordinated within the context of the mAKAP complex, suggesting that local control of cAMP signalling by AKAP proteins is more intricate than previously appreciated.

New clinical applications of xanthine derivatives: modulatory actions on leukocyte survival and function

The use of theophylline in the treatment of obstructive pulmonary diseases has diminished with the advent of new medications. However, its use as a second-line bronchodilator has been reconsidered in recent years. Theophylline is reported to have immunomodulatory actions that may account for its clinical effectiveness in the control of airway inflammation. Theophylline, even at low plasma concentrations, inhibits the late asthmatic reaction following allergen challenge. The apparent suppression of airway inflammation by theophylline reinforces findings from in vitro experiments (including our recent studies). Its immunomodulatory actions include inhibition of cytokine synthesis and release, inhibition of inflammatory cell activation, and acceleration of granulocyte apoptosis. On the basis of these findings, theophylline has been re-evaluated as a key drug for the long-term management of bronchial asthma, and new applications are proposed for the clinical use of xanthine derivatives. Here, we review some recent advances in the understanding of pharmacological actions and new applications of xanthine derivatives.

Cyclic AMP-mediated inhibition of cell growth requires the small G protein Rap1

In many normal and transformed cell types, the intracellular second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) blocks the effects of growth factors and serum on mitogenesis, proliferation, and cell cycle progression. cAMP exerts these growth-inhibitory effects via inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade. Here, using Hek293 and NIH 3T3 cells, we show that cAMP's inhibition of the MAP kinase cascade is mediated by the small G protein Rap1. Activation of Rap1 by cAMP induces the association of Rap1 with Raf-1 and limits Ras-dependent activation of ERK. In NIH 3T3 cells, Rap1 is required not only for cAMP's inhibition of ERK activation but for inhibition of cell proliferation and mitogenesis as well.

Ras mediates the cAMP-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) in melanocytes

In melanocytes and melanoma cells, cAMP activates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and MEK-1 by an unknown mechanism. We demonstrate that B-Raf is activated by cAMP in melanocytes. A dominant-negative mutant of B-Raf, but not of Raf-1, blocked the cAMP-induced activation of ERK, indicating that B-Raf is the MEK-1 upstream regulator mediating this cAMP effect. Studies using Clostridium sordelii lethal toxin and Clostridium difficile toxin B have suggested that Rap-1 or Ras might transduce cAMP action. We show that Ras, but not Rap-1, is activated cell-specifically and mediates the cAMP-dependent activation of ERKs, while Rap-1 is not involved in this process in melanocytes. Our results suggest a novel, cell-specific mechanism involving Ras small GTPase and B-Raf kinase as mediators of ERK activation by cAMP. Also, in melanocytes, Ras or ERK activation by cAMP is not mediated through protein kinase A activation. Neither the Ras exchange factor, Son of sevenless (SOS), nor the cAMP-responsive Rap-1 exchange factor, Epac, participate in the cAMP-dependent activation of Ras. These findings suggest the existence of a melanocyte-specific Ras exchange factor directly regulated by cAMP.

Activation of B-Raf and regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by the G(o) alpha chain

Many receptors coupled to the pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i/o) proteins stimulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The role of the alpha chains of these G proteins in MAPK activation is poorly understood. We investigated the ability of Galpha(o) to regulate MAPK activity by transient expression of the activated mutant Galpha(o)-Q205L in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Galpha(o)-Q205L was not sufficient to activate MAPK but greatly enhanced the response to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. This effect was not associated with changes in the state of tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. Galpha(o)-Q205L also potentiated MAPK stimulation by activated Ras. In Chinese hamster ovary cells, EGF receptors activate B-Raf but not Raf-1 or A-Raf. We found that expression of activated Galpha(o) stimulated B-Raf activity independently of the activation of the EGF receptor or Ras. Inactivation of protein kinase C and inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase abolished both B-Raf activation and EGF receptor-dependent MAPK stimulation by Galpha(o). Moreover, Galpha(o)-Q205L failed to affect MAPK activation by fibroblast growth factor receptors, which stimulate Raf-1 and A-Raf but not B-Raf activity. These results suggest that Galpha(o) can regulate the MAPK pathway by activating B-Raf through a mechanism that requires a concomitant signal from tyrosine kinase receptors or Ras to efficiently stimulate MAPK activity. Further experiments showed that receptor-mediated activation of Galpha(o) caused a B-Raf response similar to that observed after expression of the mutant subunit. The finding that Galpha(o) induces Ras-independent and protein kinase C- and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-dependent activation of B-Raf and conditionally stimulates MAPK activity provides direct evidence for intracellular signals connecting this G protein subunit to the MAPK pathway.

Kinase inhibitors in cancer therapy: a look ahead

The most essential kinases involved in cell membrane receptor activation, signal transduction and cell cycle control or programmed cell death and their interconnections are reviewed. In tumours, the genes of many of those kinases are mutated or amplified or the proteins are overexpressed. The use of key kinases offers the possibility to screen in vitro for synthetic small molecule kinase inhibitors. In view of the many interconnections of cellular kinases, their role in preventing or inducing programmed cell death and the possibility that a considerable number of signal transducing proteins are still unknown, cellular test systems are recommended in which the respective key kinase or one of its main partner molecules are overexpressed.

Cyclic-GMP-dependent protein kinase inhibits the Ras/Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

Agents which increase the intracellular cyclic GMP (cGMP) concentration and cGMP analogs inhibit cell growth in several different cell types, but it is not known which of the intracellular target proteins of cGMP is (are) responsible for the growth-suppressive effects of cGMP. Using baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, which are deficient in cGMP-dependent protein kinase (G-kinase), we show that 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)guanosine-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate and 8-bromoguanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate inhibit cell growth in cells stably transfected with a G-kinase Ibeta expression vector but not in untransfected cells or in cells transfected with a catalytically inactive G-kinase. We found that the cGMP analogs inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and nuclear translocation of MAP kinase in G-kinase-expressing cells but not in G-kinase-deficient cells. Ras activation by EGF was not impaired in G-kinase-expressing cells treated with cGMP analogs. We show that activation of G-kinase inhibited c-Raf kinase activation and that G-kinase phosphorylated c-Raf kinase on Ser43, both in vitro and in vivo; phosphorylation of c-Raf kinase on Ser43 uncouples the Ras-Raf kinase interaction. A mutant c-Raf kinase with an Ala substitution for Ser43 was insensitive to inhibition by cGMP and G-kinase, and expression of this mutant kinase protected cells from inhibition of EGF-induced MAP kinase activity by cGMP and G-kinase, suggesting that Ser43 in c-Raf is the major target for regulation by G-kinase. Similarly, B-Raf kinase was not inhibited by G-kinase; the Ser43 phosphorylation site of c-Raf is not conserved in B-Raf. Activation of G-kinase induced MAP kinase phosphatase 1 expression, but this occurred later than the inhibition of MAP kinase activation. Thus, in BHK cells, inhibition of cell growth by cGMP analogs is strictly dependent on G-kinase and G-kinase activation inhibits the Ras/MAP kinase pathway (i) by phosphorylating c-Raf kinase on Ser43 and thereby inhibiting its activation and (ii) by inducing MAP kinase phosphatase 1 expression.

Synergistic regulation of Schwann cell proliferation by heregulin and forskolin

A peptide corresponding to the epidermal growth factor homology domain of beta-heregulin stimulated autophosphorylation of the heregulin receptors erbB2 and erbB3 in Schwann cells and activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases ERK1 and ERK2. Heregulin-dependent activation of PAK65, a component of the stress-activated signaling pathway, ribosomal S6 kinase, and a cyclic AMP (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) kinase, identified as p95(RSK2), was also observed. Receptor phosphorylation and activation of these kinases in response to heregulin occurred in the absence of forskolin stimulation and were not augmented in cells treated with forskolin, a direct activator of adenylyl cyclase. Schwann cell proliferation in response to heregulin was observed only when the cells were also exposed to an agent that elevates cAMP levels. In the absence of heregulin, elevation of cAMP levels failed to stimulate Schwann cell proliferation. Forskolin significantly enhanced heregulin-stimulated expression of cyclin D and phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma gene product. In cells treated with both heregulin and forskolin there was a sustained accumulation of phospho-CREB, which was not observed in cells treated with either agent alone. Heregulin and forskolin synergistically activated transcription of a cyclin D promoter construct. These results demonstrate that heregulin-stimulated activation of MAP kinase is not sufficient to induce maximal Schwann cell proliferation. Expression of critical cell cycle regulatory proteins and cell division require activation of both heregulin and cAMP-dependent processes.

Differential effects of protein kinase A on Ras effector pathways

Ras mutants with the ability to interact with different effectors have played a critical role in the identification of Ras-dependent signaling pathways. We used two mutants, RasS35 and RasG37, which differ in their ability to bind Raf-1, to examine Ras-dependent signaling in thyroid epithelial cells. Wistar rat thyroid cells are dependent upon thyrotropin (TSH) for growth. Although TSH-stimulated mitogenesis requires Ras, TSH activates protein kinase A (PKA) and downregulates signaling through Raf and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. Cells expressing RasS35, a mutant which binds Raf, or RasG37, a mutant which binds RalGDS, exhibited TSH-independent proliferation. RasS35 stimulated morphological transformation and anchorage-independent growth. RasG37 stimulated proliferation but not transformation as measured by these indices. TSH exerted markedly different effects on the Ras mutants and transiently repressed MAPK phosphorylation in RasS35-expressing cells. In contrast, TSH stimulated MAPK phosphorylation and growth in cells expressing RasG37. The Ras mutants, in turn, exerted differential effects on TSH signaling. RasS35 abolished TSH-stimulated changes in cell morphology and thyroglobulin expression, while RasG37 had no effect on these activities. Together, the data indicate that cross talk between Ras and PKA discriminates between distinct Ras effector pathways.

Lipopolysaccharide and Raf-1 kinase regulate secretory interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene expression by mutually antagonistic mechanisms

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of monocytic cells has been shown to activate the Raf-1/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and to increase secretory interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (sIL-1Ra) gene expression. The significance of the activation of the Raf-1/MAPK signaling pathway to LPS regulation of sIL-1Ra gene expression, however, has not been determined. This study addresses the role of the Raf-1/MAPK signaling pathway in regulation of sIL-1Ra gene expression by LPS. Cotransfection of the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 with a 294-bp sIL-1Ra promoter/luciferase construct (pRA-294-luc) and a constitutively active Raf-1 kinase expression vector (pRSV-Raf-BXB) resulted in induction of sIL-1Ra promoter activity, indicating that Raf-1, like LPS, can regulate sIL-1Ra promoter activity. An in vitro MAPK analysis indicated that both LPS treatment and pRSV-Raf-BXB transfection of RAW 264.7 cells increases p42 MAPK activity. An in vitro Raf-1 kinase assay, however, failed to detect LPS-induced Raf-1 kinase activity in RAW 264.7 cells, suggesting that in RAW 264.7 cells, Raf-1 kinase is not an activating component of the LPS signaling pathway regulating MAPK activity or sIL-1Ra promoter activity. This observation was supported by results from transfection studies which demonstrated that expression of a dominant-inhibitory Raf-1 mutant in RAW 264.7 cells does not inhibit LPS-induced MAPK activity or sIL-1Ra promoter activity, indicating that LPS-induced sIL-1Ra promoter activation occurs independent of the Raf-1/MAPK signaling pathway. In additional studies, cotransfection of RAW 264.7 cells with pRA-294-luc and increasing amounts of pRSV-Raf-BXB caused a dose-dependent inhibition of LPS-induced sIL-1Ra promoter activity, indicating that the role of the Raf-1 pathway in the regulation of sIL-1Ra promoter activity by LPS is as an antagonizer. Interestingly, LPS treatment of RAW 264.7 cells, cotransfected with pRA-294-luc and pRSV-Raf-BXB, also inhibited pRSV-Raf-BXB-induced sIL-1Ra promoter activity, suggesting that inductions of sIL-1Ra promoter activity by LPS and Raf-1 actually occur by mutually antagonistic mechanisms. In support of this conclusion, sIL-1Ra promoter mapping studies indicated that LPS and Raf-1 responses localized to different regions of the sIL-1Ra promoter. Further studies demonstrated that mutual antagonism between the LPS and Raf-1 kinase pathways is not promoter specific, as the same phenomenon is observed in assays using a c-fos enhancer/thymidine kinase promoter/luciferase construct (pc-fos-TK81-luc). Additionally, mutual antagonism with regard to sIL-1Ra promoter activity also was observed between the LPS and MEK kinase pathways, indicating that mutual antagonism can occur in more than one MAPK activation pathway.

Rheb interacts with Raf-1 kinase and may function to integrate growth factor- and protein kinase A-dependent signals

Rheb is a recently described member of the Ras family that was originally identified as an immediate-early gene in brain but is also widely expressed in other tissues. Here we demonstrate that Rheb interacts with and appears to regulate Raf-1 kinase, an essential component of the H-Ras signaling pathway. In direct contrast to H-Ras, however, the interaction of Rheb with Raf-1 is potentiated by growth factors in combination with agents that increase cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. Protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation of serine 43 within the regulatory domain of Raf-1 reciprocally potentiates its interaction with Rheb and decreases its interaction with H-Ras. A single amino acid in the G2 effector domain is critical for the differential properties of Rheb. Since Rheb is an immediate-early gene, our studies suggest that Rheb functions in concert with H-Ras to dynamically integrate cAMP and growth factor signaling.

3pK, a new mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase located in the small cell lung cancer tumor suppressor gene region

NotI linking clones, localized to the human chromosome 3p21.3 region and homozygously deleted in small cell lung cancer cell lines NCI-H740 and NCI-H1450, were used to search for a putative tumor suppressor gene(s). One of these clones, NL1G210, detected a 2.5-kb mRNA in all examined human tissues, expression being especially high in the heart and skeletal muscle. Two overlapping cDNA clones containing the entire open reading frame were isolated from a human heart cDNA library and fully characterized. Computer analysis and a search of the GenBank database to reveal high sequence identity of the product of this gene to serine-threonine kinases, especially to mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2, a recently described substrate of mitogen-activated kinases. Sequence identitiy was 72% at the nucleotide level and 75% at the amino acid level, strongly suggesting that this protein is a serine-threonine kinase. Here we demonstrate that the new gene, referred to as 3pK (for chromosome 3p kinase), in fact encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase-regulated protein serine-threonine kinase with a novel substrate specificity.

Adrenergic receptor stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and cardiac hypertrophy

Phenylephrine and noradrenaline (alpha-adrenergic agonism) or isoprenaline (beta-adrenergic agonism) stimulated protein synthesis rates, increased the activity of the atrial natriuretic factor gene promoter and activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The EC50 for MAPK activation by noradrenaline was 2-4 microM and that for isoprenaline was 0.2-0.3 microM. Maximal activation of MAPK by isoprenaline was inhibited by the beta-adrenergic antagonist, propranolol, whereas the activation by noradrenaline was inhibited by the alpha1-adrenergic antagonist, prazosin. FPLC on a Mono-Q column separated two peaks of MAPK (p42MAPK and p44MAPK) and two peaks of MAPK-activating activity (MEK) activated by isoprenaline or noradrenaline. Prolonged phorbol ester exposure partially down-regulated the activation of MAPK by noradrenaline but not by isoprenaline. This implies a role for protein kinase C in MAPK activation by noradrenaline but not isoprenaline. A role for cyclic AMP in activation of the MAPK pathway was eliminated when other agonists that elevate cyclic AMP in the cardiac myocyte did not activate MAPK. In contrast, MAPK was activated by exposure to ionomycin, Bay K8644 or thapsigargin that elevate intracellular Ca2+. Furthermore, depletion of extracellular Ca2+ concentrations with bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-NNN'N'-tetra-acetic acid (BAPTA) or blocking of the L-type Ca2+ channel with nifepidine or verapamil inhibited the response to isoprenaline without inhibiting the responses to noradrenaline. We conclude that alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists can activate the MEK/MAPK pathway in the heart by different signalling pathways. Elevation of intracellular Ca2+ rather than cyclic AMP appears important in the activation of MAPK by isoprenaline in the cardiac myocyte.

Conditionally oncogenic forms of the A-Raf and B-Raf protein kinases display different biological and biochemical properties in NIH 3T3 cells

The protein kinase domains of mouse A-Raf and B-Raf were expressed as fusion proteins with the hormone binding domain of the human estrogen receptor in mammalian cells. In the absence of estradiol, 3T3 and rat1a cells expressing delta A-Raf:ER and delta B-Raf:ER were nontransformed, but upon the addition of estradiol the cells became oncogenically transformed. Morphological oncogenic transformation was more rapid and distinctive in cells expressing delta B-Raf:ER compared with cells expressing delta A-Raf:ER. Biochemical analysis of cells transformed by delta A-Raf:ER and delta B-Raf:ER revealed several interesting differences. The activation of delta B-Raf:ER consistently led to the rapid and robust activation of both MEK and p42/p44 MAP kinases. By contrast, the activation of delta A-Raf:ER led to a weak activation of MEK and the p42/p44 MAP kinases. The extent of activation of MEK in cells correlated with the ability of the different Raf kinases to phosphorylate and activate MEK1 in vitro. delta B-Raf:ER phosphorylated MEK1 approximately 10 times more efficiently than delta Raf-1:ER and at least 500 times more efficiently than delta A-Raf:ER under the conditions of the immune-complex kinase assays. These results were confirmed with epitope-tagged versions of the Raf kinase domains expressed in insect cells. The activation of all three delta Raf:ER proteins in 3T3 cells led to the hyperphosphorylation of the resident p74raf-1 and mSOS1 proteins, suggesting the possibility of "cross-talk" between the different Raf kinases and feedback regulation of intracellular signaling pathways. The activation of either delta B-Raf:ER or delta Raf-1:ER in quiescent 3T3 cells was insufficient to promote the entry of the cells into DNA synthesis. By contrast, the activation of delta A-Raf:ER in quiescent 3T3 cells was sufficient to promote the entry of the cells into S phase after prolonged exposure to beta-estradiol. The delta Raf:ER system has allowed us to reveal significant differences between the biological and biochemical properties of oncogenic forms of the Raf family of protein kinases. We anticipate that cells expressing these proteins and other estradiol-regulated protein kinases will be useful tools in future attempts to unravel the complex web of interactions involved in intracellular signal transduction pathways.

Differential regulation of Raf-1 and B-Raf and Ras-dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by cyclic AMP in PC12 cells

Growth factor stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway in fibroblasts is inhibited by cyclic AMP (cAMP) as a result of inhibition of Raf-1. In contrast, cAMP inhibits neither nerve growth factor-induced MAP kinase activation nor differentiation in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Instead, in PC12 cells cAMP activates MAP kinase. Since one of the major differences between the Ras/Raf/MAP kinase cascades of these cell types is the expression of B-Raf in PC12 cells, we compared the effects of cAMP on Raf-1 and B-Raf. In PC12 cells maintained in serum-containing medium, B-Raf was refractory to inhibition by cAMP, whereas Raf-1 was effectively inhibited. In contrast, both B-Raf and Raf-1 were inhibited by cAMP in serum-starved PC12 cells. The effect of cAMP is thus dependent upon growth conditions, with B-Raf being resistant to cAMP inhibition in the presence of serum. These results were extended by studies of Rat-1 fibroblasts into which B-Raf had been introduced by transfection. As in PC12 cells, B-Raf was resistant to inhibition by cAMP in the presence of serum, whereas Raf-1 was effectively inhibited. In addition, the expression of B-Raf rendered Rat-1 cells resistant to the inhibitory effects of cAMP on both growth factor-induced activation of MAP kinase and mitogenesis. These results indicate that Raf-1 and B-Raf are differentially sensitive to inhibition by cAMP and that B-Raf expression can contribute to cell type-specific differences in the regulation of the MAP kinase pathway. In contrast to the situation in PC12 cells, cAMP by itself did not stimulate MAP kinase in B-Raf-expressing Rat-1 cells. The activation of MAP kinase by cAMP in PC12 cells was inhibited by the expression of a dominant negative Ras mutant, indicating that cAMP acts on a target upstream of Ras. Thus, it appears that a signaling component upstream of Ras is also require for cAMP stimulation of MAP kinase in PC12 cells.

A proline-rich sequence unique to MEK1 and MEK2 is required for raf binding and regulates MEK function

Mammalian MEK1 and MEK2 contain a proline-rich (PR) sequence that is absent both from the yeast homologs Ste7 and Byr1 and from a recently cloned activator of the JNK/stress-activated protein kinases, SEK1/MKK4. Since this PR sequence occurs in MEKs that are regulated by Raf family enzymes but is missing from MEKs and SEKs activated independently of Raf, we sought to investigate the role of this sequence in MEK1 and MEK2 regulation and function. Deletion of the PR sequence from MEK1 blocked the ability of MEK1 to associate with members of the Raf family and markedly attenuated activation of the protein in vivo following growth factor stimulation. In addition, this sequence was necessary for efficient activation of MEK1 in vitro by B-Raf but dispensable for activation by a novel MEK1 activator which we have previously detected in fractionated fibroblast extracts. Furthermore, we found that a phosphorylation site within the PR sequence of MEK1 was required for sustained MEK1 activity in response to serum stimulation of quiescent fibroblasts. Consistent with this observation, we observed that MEK2, which lacks a phosphorylation site at the corresponding position, was activated only transiently following serum stimulation. Finally, we found that deletion of the PR sequence from a constitutively activated MEK1 mutant rendered the protein nontransforming in Rat1 fibroblasts. These observations indicate a critical role for the PR sequence in directing specific protein-protein interactions important for the activation, inactivation, and downstream functioning of the MEKs.

Differential effects on cAMP on the MAP kinase cascade: evidence for a cAMP-insensitive step that can bypass Raf-1

Because cAMP exerts opposite effects on cell proliferation in different cell types, we undertook to study its effect on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in three cell lines (Rat-1, Swiss-3T3, and COS-7) chosen for their different mitogenic responses to cAMP. We measured the effect of cAMP on MAPK, MEK, and Raf-1 activities after stimulation by agonists acting through a tyrosine kinase receptor (epidermal growth factor) or a G protein-coupled receptor (lysophosphatidic acid). In Rat-1 cells we found that cAMP strongly inhibited all three activities (MAPK, MEK, and Raf-1), in good agreement with its effect on cell proliferation in these cells. In Swiss-3T3 and COS-7 cells, on the contrary, cAMP did not inhibit epidermal growth factor- and lysophosphatidic acid-induced stimulation of MAPK and MEK activities, and even stimulated MAPK activity slightly on its own. Again these results are in good agreement with the proliferative effect of cAMP in Swiss-3T3 cells. Raf-1 activity on the hand, was inhibited by cAMP in Swiss-3T3 and COS-7 as it was in Rat-1 cells. This result indicates that signaling pathways in Swiss-3T3 and COS-7 cells can activate MEK and MAPK in a Raf-1-independent and cAMP-insensitive manner. Our results add to growing evidence for the existence of Ras- and/or Raf-1-independent pathways leading to MEK and MAPK activation.

The regulation of tyrosine kinase signalling pathways by growth factor and G-protein-coupled receptors

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Mitogen-activated protein kinase activation is insufficient for growth factor receptor-mediated PC12 cell differentiation

When expressed in PC12 cells, the platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor (beta PDGF-R) mediates cell differentiation. Mutational analysis of the beta PDGF-R indicated that persistent receptor stimulation of the Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway alone was insufficient to sustain PC12 cell differentiation. PDGF receptor activation of signal pathways involving p60c-src or the persistent regulation of phospholipase C gamma was required for PC12 cell differentiation. beta PDGF-R regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, the GTPase-activating protein of Ras, and the tyrosine phosphatase, Syp, was not required for PC12 cell differentiation. In contrast to overexpression of oncoproteins involved in regulating the MAP kinase pathway, growth factor receptor-mediated differentiation of PC12 cells requires the integration of other signals with the Ras/Raf/MAP kinase pathway.

Thyrotropin-induced mitogenesis is Ras dependent but appears to bypass the Raf-dependent cytoplasmic kinase cascade

Cellular growth control requires the coordination and integration of multiple signaling pathways which are likely to be activated concomitantly. Mitogenic signaling initiated by thyrotropin (TSH) in thyroid cells seems to require two distinct signaling pathways, a cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent signaling pathway and a Ras-dependent pathway. This is a paradox, since activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase disrupts Ras-dependent signaling induced by growth factors such as epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor. This inhibition may occur by preventing Raf-1 protein kinase from binding to Ras, an event thought to be necessary for the activation of Raf-1 and the subsequent activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinases (MEKs) and MAP kinase (MAPK)/ERKs. Here we report that serum-stimulated hyperphosphorylation of Raf-1 was inhibited by TSH treatment of Wistar rat thyroid cells, indicating that in this cell line, as in other cell types, increases in intracellular cAMP levels inhibit activation of downstream kinases targeted by Ras. Ras-stimulated expression of genes containing AP-1 promoter elements was similarly inhibited by TSH. On the other hand, stimulation of thyroid cells with TSH resulted in stimulation of DNA synthesis which was Ras dependent but both Raf-1 and MEK independent. We also show that Ras-stimulated DNA synthesis required the use of this kinase cascade in untreated quiescent cells but not in TSH-treated cells. These data suggest that in TSH-treated thyroid cells, Ras might be able to signal through effectors other than the well-studied cytoplasmic kinase cascade.