MAPKK-independent activation of p38alpha mediated by TAB1-dependent autophosphorylation of p38alpha

Phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) on specific tyrosine and threonine sites by MAP kinase kinases (MAPKKs) is thought to be the sole activation mechanism. Here, we report an unexpected activation mechanism for p38alpha MAPK that does not involve the prototypic kinase cascade. Rather it depends on interaction of p38alpha with TAB1 [transforming growth factor-beta-activated protein kinase 1 (TAK1)-binding protein 1] leading to autophosphorylation and activation of p38alpha. We detected formation of a TRAF6-TAB1-p38alpha complex and showed stimulus-specific TAB1-dependent and TAB1-independent p38alpha activation. These findings suggest that alternative activation pathways contribute to the biological responses of p38alpha to various stimuli.     

Defective thymocyte maturation in p44 MAP kinase (Erk 1) knockout mice

The p42 and p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), also called Erk2 and Erk1, respectively, have been implicated in proliferation as well as in differentiation programs. The specific role of the p44 MAPK isoform in the whole animal was evaluated by generation of p44 MAPK-deficient mice by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. The p44 MAPK-/- mice were viable, fertile, and of normal size. Thus, p44 MAPK is apparently dispensable and p42 MAPK (Erk2) may compensate for its loss. However, in p44 MAPK-/- mice, thymocyte maturation beyond the CD4+CD8+ stage was reduced by half, with a similar diminution in the thymocyte subpopulation expressing high levels of T cell receptor (CD3high). In p44 MAPK-/- thymocytes, proliferation in response to activation with a monoclonal antibody to the T cell receptor in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate was severely reduced even though activation of p42 MAPK was more sustained in these cells. The p44 MAPK apparently has a specific role in thymocyte development.     

A conserved p38 MAP kinase pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans innate immunity

A genetic screen for Caenorhabditis elegans mutants with enhanced susceptibility to killing by Pseudomonas aeruginosa led to the identification of two genes required for pathogen resistance: sek-1, which encodes a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase, and nsy-1, which encodes a MAP kinase kinase kinase. RNA interference assays and biochemical analysis established that a p38 ortholog, pmk-1, functions as the downstream MAP kinase required for pathogen defense. These data suggest that this MAP kinase signaling cassette represents an ancient feature of innate immune responses in evolutionarily diverse species.     

The protein kinase p90 rsk as an essential mediator of cytostatic factor activity

Persistent activation of p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p42 MAPK) during mitosis induces a "cytostatic factor" arrest, the arrest responsible for preventing the parthenogenetic activation of unfertilized eggs. The protein kinase p90 Rsk is a substrate of p42 MAPK; thus, the role of p90 Rsk in p42 MAPK-induced mitotic arrest was examined. Xenopus laevis egg extracts immunodepleted of Rsk lost their capacity to undergo mitotic arrest in response to activation of the Mos-MEK-1-p42 MAPK cascade of protein kinases. Replenishing Rsk-depleted extracts with catalytically competent Rsk protein restored the ability of the extracts to undergo mitotic arrest. Rsk appears to be essential for cytostatic factor arrest.     

MAP激酶在植物信号传递网络中的功能

促分裂素原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen-activated protein kinases,MAP激酶,MAPK)链是真核生物信号传递网络中的重要途径之一.MAPK链由3类蛋白激酶MAP3K-MAP2K-MAPK组成,通过依次磷酸化将上游信号传递至下游应答分子.本文主要阐述MAPK链在植物的逆境反应、抗病反应和激素调控等信号传递网络中的功能.     

抑制p38MAPK活化对脓毒症大鼠肺部及血管组织中iNOS及NO合成的影响

目的通过抑制MAPK通路活化,观察其对脓毒症大鼠组织和血清诱导型一氧化氮合成酶(iN-OS)及一氧化氮(NO)合成的影响以及循环变化.方法大鼠脓毒症模型采用经典的盲肠结扎穿孔术(cecalligation puncture,CLP),将SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、假手术组、CLP脓毒症组和SB203580治疗组.采集组织和血清并测定组织iNOSmRNA表达水平,NO检测试剂盒(酶法)检测组织和血清NO含量;同时分别监测上述各时间点的脉搏和平均动脉压.结果与正常组大鼠相比,CLP后各时间点脓毒症大鼠肺、血管和血清iNOS mRNA、NO含量均升高明显;而MAP下降明显、脉搏明显升高(P<0.05,P<0.01).治疗组与CLP组相应时间点相比,iNOSmRNA表达在肺和血管多个时间点降低;而肺和血管及血清NO含量下降;血压和脉搏均显著好转(P<0.05,P<0.01).相关分析显示:血管和肺组织iNOSmRNA与NO的相关系数分别是0.75和0.74;肺、血管组织iNOS mRNA与血清NO的相关系数分别是0.69和0.65(P<0.05),MAP与血管、肺和血清NO的相关系数分别是-0.85、-0.86和-0.90(P<0.05).结论抑制MAPK通路活化可抑制脓毒症大鼠血浆和组织iNOSmRNA及NO合成,并改善循环功能.     

Induction of metaphase arrest in cleaving Xenopus embryos by the protein kinase p90Rsk

Before fertilization, vertebrate eggs are arrested in metaphase of meiosis II by cytostatic factor (CSF), an activity that requires activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. To investigate whether CSF arrest is mediated by the protein kinase p90Rsk, which is phosphorylated and activated by MAPK, a constitutively activated (CA) form of Rsk was expressed in Xenopus embryos. Expression of CA Rsk resulted in cleavage arrest, and cytological analysis showed that arrested blastomeres were in M phase with prominent spindles characteristic of meiotic metaphase. Thus, Rsk appears to be the mediator of MAPK-dependent CSF arrest in vertebrate unfertilized eggs.     

Phosphorylation by p38 MAPK as an alternative pathway for GSK3beta inactivation

Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) is involved in metabolism, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Inhibition of GSK3beta activity is the primary mechanism that regulates this widely expressed active kinase. Although the protein kinase Akt inhibits GSK3beta by phosphorylation at the N terminus, preventing Akt-mediated phosphorylation does not affect the cell-survival pathway activated through the GSK3beta substrate beta-catenin. Here, we show that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) also inactivates GSK3beta by direct phosphorylation at its C terminus, and this inactivation can lead to an accumulation of beta-catenin. p38 MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of GSK3beta occurs primarily in the brain and thymocytes. Activation of beta-catenin-mediated signaling through GSK3beta inhibition provides a potential mechanism for p38 MAPK-mediated survival in specific tissues.     

Integration of TGF-beta and Ras/MAPK signaling through p53 phosphorylation

During development and tissue homeostasis, cells must integrate different signals. We investigated how cell behavior is controlled by the combined activity of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, whose integration mechanism is unknown. We find that RTK/Ras/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) activity induces p53 N-terminal phosphorylation, enabling the interaction of p53 with the TGF-beta-activated Smads. This mechanism confines mesoderm specification in Xenopus embryos and promotes TGF-beta cytostasis in human cells. These data indicate a mechanism to allow extracellular cues to specify the TGF-beta gene-expression program.     

p38MAPK信号通路选择性调节FSH对甾体生成 的诱导作用研究

利用乙烯雌酚(DES)处理23日龄SD大鼠,分离卵巢颗粒细胞(GC)进行无血清培养。结果表明,FSH(50ng/m1)处理GC,可迅速激活有丝分裂原蛋白激酶(p38MAPK),FSH处理5min便可观察到磷酸化的p38MAPK;FSH处理30min,磷酸化的p38MAPK水平达到最高;向培养液中加入H89(蛋白激酶A抑制剂,10μM),则显著抑制了FSH对p38MAPK的激活作用,提示这种激活作用依赖于蛋白激酶A(PKA)。用SB203580(p38MAPK抑制剂,20μM)抑制p38MAPK激活,则进一步提高了FSH对孕酮和甾体生成快速调节蛋白(StAR)的诱导作用,同时降低了FSH对雌激素生成的促进作用(p<0.01)。RT-PCR结果显示:抑制p38MAPK活性后,FSH对StARmRNA刺激作用明显增强,但对细胞色素P450芳香化酶(P450arom)mRNA的诱导作用却减弱了(p<0.05)。激光共聚焦和蛋白印迹结果显示:在GC中,StAR蛋白主要分布在线粒体中;与对照组相比,FSH显著提高了StAR的荧光强度和蛋白水平;抑制p38MAPK活性则增强了FSH对StAR蛋白表达的诱导作用。     

Essential cytoplasmic translocation of a cytokine receptor-assembled signaling complex

Cytokine signaling is thought to require assembly of multicomponent signaling complexes at cytoplasmic segments of membrane-embedded receptors, in which receptor-proximal protein kinases are activated. Indeed, CD40, a tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family member, forms a complex containing adaptor molecules TRAF2 and TRAF3, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc13, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins 1 and 2 (c-IAP1/2), IkappaB kinase regulatory subunit IKKgamma (also called NEMO), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase kinase MEKK1 upon ligation. TRAF2, Ubc13, and IKKgamma were required for complex assembly and activation of MEKK1 and MAPK cascades. However, these kinases were not activated unless the multicomponent signaling complex translocated from CD40 to the cytosol upon c-IAP1/2-induced degradation of TRAF3. This two-stage signaling mechanism may apply to other innate immune receptors, accounting for spatial and temporal separation of MAPK and IKK signaling.     

猪瘟病毒p80基因丝氨酸蛋白酶功能区的原核表达及小鼠免疫试验

根据已发表的猪瘟病毒Alfort株的全基因组序列,设计2对引物以Shimen细胞毒株为材料,一步法提取总RNA,利用RT-PCR和套式PCR,成功扩增出p80全长基因,包括丝氨酸蛋白酶以及NTPase/RNA解旋酶功能区,大小约为2.0kb。将p80基因中的丝氨酸蛋白酶基因克隆到原核表达载体pET-32a中,获得重组质粒pET-p80。将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌Rosetta（DE3）中,IPTG诱导表达得到分子量约为43ku的目的蛋白,与理论大小相符。将菌体蛋白经Ni柱纯化,获得纯化重组p80蛋白,Western blot检测表明,表达的目的蛋白能与CSFV阳性血清发生反应。用纯化的p80蛋白免疫Bal b/c小鼠,成功制备了抗p80蛋白的抗血清。     

甘蔗MAP激酶基因SoMAPK4克隆与生物信息学分析

[目的]克隆甘蔗MAP激酶家族新基因的全长序列,为了解甘蔗抗逆胁迫机制提供依据.[方法]以新台糖22为材料,提取甘蔗幼叶总RNA并反转录为cDNA;利用已知物种MAP激酶基因核苷酸序列保守区设计引物,采用5′和3′端RACE技术克隆新基因全长,并进行生物信息学分析.[结果]克隆获得的甘蔗新基因与玉米ZmMAPK4同源性很高,达92.6%,将该基因命名为SoMAPK4(登录号JQ062930),基因全长1499 bp,其中开放阅读框(ORF)为1128 bp,5′非翻译区(UTR)为218 bp,3′非翻译区(UTR)为213 bp.生物信息学分析结果表明,SoMAPK4基因编码一个含376个氨基酸的蛋白质,分子量约43.5 kDa,等电点为5.51,含有11个保守的蛋白激酶亚区和MAP激酶的磷酸化位点TEY基序.[结论]克隆获得甘蔗MAP激酶新基因SoMAPK4,该基因可能参与多种胁迫反应的信号传递,是研究甘蔗非生物胁迫和生物胁迫过程中信号传递的一个关键因素.     

加味丹参饮抑制p38MAPK表达保护缺氧/复氧乳鼠心肌细胞损伤的实验研究

目的 观察加味丹参饮含药血清对缺氧/复氧（hypoxia/reoxygenation,H/R）乳鼠心肌细胞p38 MAPK蛋白表达的影响,以探讨其保护心肌的作用机制。方法 将20只SD乳鼠的心肌细胞进行原代培养,建立H/R模型并随机分为H/R组、SB203580（p38MAPK阻断剂组）、加味丹参饮含药血清组,正常心肌细胞组作为对照组。采用T淋巴细胞化学染色法鉴定心肌细胞,罗丹明B（Rhodamine B）染色法观察细胞形态,MTT比色法检测含药血清对乳鼠心肌细胞的毒性,Western-blot法检测MKK3（促分裂原活化蛋白激酶-激酶3）、MKK6（促分裂原活化蛋白激酶-激酶6）、p38MAPK、phospho-p38MAPK蛋白表达。结果 与正常血清对照组比较,H/R组MKK3、MKK6的蛋白表达增多,p38MAPK通路阻断剂SB203580和加味丹参饮均不能减少其表达;p38MAPK、phospho-p38MAPK在H/R时表达均增加（P<0.01）,而SB203580和加味丹参饮含药血清均能减少其表达（P<0.01）。结论 加味丹参饮含药血清预处理可通过抑制缺氧,复氧心肌细胞p38MAPK信号通路发挥保护作用,抑制p38MAPK表达及其磷酸化,减轻心肌细胞损伤,起到保护心肌细胞的作用。     

Ras p21 as a potential mediator of insulin action in Xenopus oocytes

The oncogene protein product (p21) of the ras gene has been implicated in mediating the effects of a variety of growth factors and hormones. Microinjection of monoclonal antibody 6B7, which is directed against a synthetic peptide corresponding to a highly conserved region of p21 (amino acids 29 to 44) required for p21 function, specifically inhibited Xenopus oocyte maturation induced by incubation with insulin. The inhibition was dose-dependent and specific since (i) the same antibody had no effect on progesterone-induced maturation, (ii) immunoprecipitation and Western blotting indicated that the antibody recognized a single protein of molecular weight 21,000 in oocyte extracts, and (iii) inhibition was not observed with identical concentrations of normal immunoglobulin. Thus, p21 appears to be involved in mediating insulin-induced maturation of Xenopus oocytes. Furthermore, the mechanism may involve phosphorylation of p21, as p21 was found to be a substrate of the insulin receptor kinase.     

MAPKs在植物逆境信号转导中的作用

蛋白质的可逆磷酸化是细胞信号识别与转导的重要环节。促分裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activatedprotein kinases,MAPKs）是一类丝氨酸/苏氨酸（Ser/Thr）蛋白激酶,主要催化蛋白质的磷酸化过程。植物中存在大量的MAPKs,它们在多种信号传递过程中起重要作用。笔者着重介绍MAPKs在植物逆境信号识别与转导中的作用。     

玉米MAPK5基因片段的克隆及RNA干扰载体的构建

采用RT-PCR方法从玉米品种B73幼苗中克隆出促分裂原活化蛋白激酶基因5(MAPK5)的cDNA部分片段(691 bp),与GenBank已发表的玉米MAPK5(AB016802)同源性达97%。重新设计带酶切位点的引物,克隆出长度为281 bp的正、反向片段。使用DNA重组技术,用pCAMBIA3300质粒构建了玉米MAPK5的RNAi载体。