title: Cell cycle arrest mediated by the MEK/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
abstract: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade plays a crucial role in the transduction of extracellular signals into responses governing growth and differentiation. The effects of a specific inhibitor of the MAPK kinase (MEK)/MAPK pathway (PD98059) on nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced growth arrest and inhibition of cell cycle-dependent kinases (CDKs) have been examined. Treatment of NIH 3T3 cells expressing TRKA with PD98059 dramatically reversed the complete inhibition of growth of these cells caused by NGF. PD98059 also blocked the ability of NGF to inhibit the activities of CDK4 and CDK2, while partially preventing NGF induction of p21Cip1/WAF1. To independently evaluate the involvement of the MEK/MAPK pathway in growth arrest, an inducible activated form of the Raf-1 protooncogene (delta RAF-1:ER) was expressed in these cells. Activation of delta RAF-1:ER resulted in a prolonged increase in MAPK activity and growth arrest of these cells, with concomitant induction of p21Cip1/WAF1 and inhibition of CDK2 activity. These effects of delta RAF-1:ER activation were all reversed by treatment of cells with PD98059. These data indicate that in addition to functioning as a positive effector of growth, stimulation of the MEK/MAPK pathway can result in an inhibition of CDK activity and cell cycle arrest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pumiglia
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Decker
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D002453:Cell Cycle; D056741:Cyclin D; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; C493957:Cdkn1a protein, mouse; D056741:Cyclin D; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C068664:TRK1 protein, S cerevisiae; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; C495893:Cdk2 protein, mouse; C495902:Cdk4 protein, mouse; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; C482127:Map2k1 protein, mouse; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one