title: Distinct localization of SAPK isoforms in neurons of adult mouse brain implies multiple signaling modes of SAPK pathway.
abstract: Various cellular and environmental stresses lead to the activation of stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK), which is also referred to as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). In mammals, multiple SAPK isoforms, encoded by three independent genes, were identified. To gain insight into the roles of SAPK pathway in adult mouse brain, detailed expression patterns of three SAPK isoforms in brain were examined by using immunohistochemical and cell biological analyses. SAPKbeta was heavily expressed in almost all regions of brain as previously reported. Interestingly, SAPKgamma was also widely expressed at high levels. SAPKgamma expression was generally overlapped with SAPKbeta although there were some exceptions such as in hippocampus, where SAPKgamma was restricted to CA3 and CA4 regions while SAPKbeta was evenly expressed. SAPKalpha was widely expressed, but at low levels. It is particularly intriguing to note the differential subcellular localization of SAPK isoforms in neurons. In brain of normally reared mice, SAPKbeta was identified in nucleus as well as in cytoplasm of neurons, while SAPKgamma was detected mainly in cytoplasm and dendrites. Biochemical and immunological analyses revealed extraordinarily high basal activities of all SAPK isoforms in brain compared to peripheral organs, indicating that SAPK pathway may play a role in normal brain physiology. In addition, differential regional and subcellular localizations of SAPK isoforms allow us to speculate multiple signaling modes for SAPK activation in brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Inha University Medical School, Inchon, 402-751, South Korea.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D048057:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 10; D048291:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 12; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011494:Protein Kinases; D048057:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 10; D048291:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 12; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases