title: A novel human SPS1/STE20 homologue, KHS, activates Jun N-terminal kinase.
abstract: STE20-homologous proteins have been implicated in mammalian MAP kinase pathways as important transducers of signals from p21 family GTPases. We have cloned a novel STE20 family member, which we call KHS for kinase homologous to SPS1/STE20, that encodes a kinase of 95 kD which is expressed in a variety of tissues. Transiently expressed fusion protein GST-KHS exhibits phosphotransferase activity toward a panel of test substrates, including myelin basic protein (MBP), which is phosphorylated by all known STE20 homologues. KHS is most closely related to another human STE20, GC kinase (74% similar in the catalytic domain), which has recently been placed upstream of the stress-activated MAP kinases (SAPKs/JNKs). KHS also activates JNK in transient coexpression experiments, suggesting a role for KHS in the stress response of fibroblasts. Characterization and comparison of the regulation of these two kinases will be important in elucidating MAP kinase signalling cascades.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blenis
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000502:physiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019556:COS Cells / Q000502:physiology; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; C078754:STE20 protein, S cerevisiae; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C095397:kievitone hydratase