Mixed-lineage kinase 3 delivers CD3/CD28-derived signals into the IkappaB kinase complex.
The phosphorylation of IkappaB by the multiprotein IkappaB kinase complex (IKC) precedes the activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB, a key regulator of the inflammatory response. Here we identified the mixed-lineage group kinase 3 (MLK3) as an activator of NF-kappaB. Expression of the wild-type form of this mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) induced nuclear immigration, DNA binding, and transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB. MLK3 directly phosphorylated and thus activated IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha) and IKKbeta, revealing its function as an IkappaB kinase kinase (IKKK). MLK3 cooperated with the other two IKKKs, MEKK1 and NF-kappaB-inducing kinase, in the induction of IKK activity. MLK3 bound to components of the IKC in vivo. This protein-protein interaction was dependent on the central leucine zipper region of MLK3. A kinase-deficient version of MLK3 strongly impaired NF-kappaB-dependent transcription induced by T-cell costimulation but not in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha or interleukin-1. Accordingly, endogenous MLK3 was phosphorylated and activated by T-cell costimulation but not by treatment of cells with tumor necrosis factor alpha or interleukin-1. A dominant negative version of MLK3 inhibited NF-kappaB- and CD28RE/AP-dependent transcription elicited by the Rho family GTPases Rac and Cdc42, thereby providing a novel link between these GTPases and the IKC.
Hehner
S P
SP
Department of Immunochemistry, German Cancer Research Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Hofmann
T G
TG
Ushmorov
A
A
Dienz
O
O
Wing-Lan Leung
I
I
Lassam
N
N
Scheidereit
C
C
Dröge
W
W
Schmitz
M L
ML
D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D016350:Leucine Zippers; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000097767:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 11
D018106:CD28 Antigens; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D016328:NF-kappa B; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D000097767:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 11; C496559:CHUK protein, human; C496560:IKBKB protein, human; C496565:IKBKE protein, human