title: Activation of the ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and phosphorylation of ets-2 at position threonine 72 in human ovarian cancer cell lines.
abstract: The activation status of the ras pathway was studied in eight ovarian tumor cell lines. Three biochemical parameters indicative of ras activation were tested: (a) the ratio of the ras-GTP:ras-GDP complex; (b) the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases p42/p44; and (c) ets-2 phosphorylation at position threonine 72, a mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation site in vivo. Four of the ovarian tumor cell lines had an activated ras pathway by these three parameters, whereas only one of these contained a mutated ras gene. In addition, ras/ets-2 responsive genes such as the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) were activated in these four cell lines. Transient transfection assays indicated that the compound ets-AP1 oncogene responsive enhancer present in the uPA gene was the target of ras signaling in ovarian tumor cells and that the combination of activated ras and ets-2 could superactivate the uPA enhancer element. Coexpression of the dominant-negative ras-Asn17 cDNA gene abrogated activity of this uPA element in ovarian tumor cells. These data indicate that ets-2 is a nuclear target of ras action in ovarian tumor cell lines and that ras signaling pathways may be activated in ovarian cancer by mechanisms independent of direct genetic damage to ras genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Nelsen
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bast
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ostrowski
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D050787:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C107465:ERF protein, human; C494069:ETS2 protein, human; D050787:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D019833:Genistein; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator