title: Atypical PKC zeta is activated by ceramide, resulting in coactivation of NF-kappaB/JNK kinase and cell survival.
abstract: Both protein kinase C (PKC) and ceramide play a critical role in cell signaling, but the relationship between PKC and ceramide is unclear. Low concentrations of ceramide were observed to transiently stimulate PKC zeta activity in vitro and in vivo, whereas high doses of ceramide lead to inhibition of PKC zeta. Inhibition of activity was accompanied by enhanced binding of the negative regulator, Par4 to PKC zeta. Treatment of PC12 cells with low doses of ceramide promoted survival in serum-free media and activation of nuclear factor-KB, whereas higher doses (>2.5 microM) resulted in cell death. Overexpression of either aPKC isoform, PKC zeta or iota, resulted in enhanced survival of PC12 cells at high doses of ceramide and in ceramide-stimulated Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), without any apparent effect on mitogen-activated kinase. These findings support a role for ceramide-induced PKC zeta activity in the control of cell survival signaling via a pathway that also activates JNK kinase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Auburn University, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Seibenhener
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vandenplas
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Wooten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002518:Ceramides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D016716:PC12 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D000099221:Protein Kinase C zeta
chemical_list: D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D002518:Ceramides; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000099221:Protein Kinase C zeta