Rsk-2 activity is necessary for epidermal growth factor-induced phosphorylation of CREB protein and transcription of c-fos gene.
Activation by growth factors of the Ras-dependent signaling cascade results in the induction of p90 ribosomal S6 kinases (p90(rsk)). These are translocated into the nucleus upon phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinases, with which p90(rsk) are physically associated in the cytoplasm. In humans there are three isoforms of the p90(rsk) family, Rsk-1, Rsk-2, and Rsk-3, which are products of distinct genes. Although these isoforms are structurally very similar, little is known about their functional specificity. Recently, mutations in the Rsk-2 gene have been associated with the Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS). We have studied a fibroblast cell line established from a CLS patient that bears a nonfunctional Rsk-2. Here we document that in CLS fibroblasts there is a drastic attenuation in the induced Ser-133 phosphorylation of transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) in response to epidermal growth factor stimulation. The effect is specific, since response to serum, cAMP, and UV light is unaltered. Furthermore, epidermal growth factor-induced expression of c-fos is severely impaired in CLS fibroblasts despite normal phosphorylation of serum response factor and Elk-1. Finally, coexpression of Rsk-2 in transfected cells results in the activation of the c-fos promoter via the cAMP-responsive element. Thus, we establish a link in the transduction of a specific growth factor signal to changes in gene expression via the phosphorylation of CREB by Rsk-2.
Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France.
D
D
De Cesare
S
S
Jacquot
A
A
Hanauer
P
P
Sassone-Corsi
D002460:Cell Line; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016762:Genes, fos; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D038744:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D050807:ets-Domain Protein Elk-1
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C494112:ELK1 protein, human; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050807:ets-Domain Protein Elk-1; D012694:Serine; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D011494:Protein Kinases; D038744:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa; C069330:ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 90kDa, polypeptide 3