title: Anthrax, MEK and cancer.
abstract: The MEK family of protein kinases plays key roles in regulating cellular responses to mitogens as well as environmental stress. Inappropriate activation of these kinases contributes to tumorigenesis. In contrast, anthrax lethal factor, the principal virulence factor of anthrax toxin, has been demonstrated to selectively inactivate MEKs. In this article we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of molecular aspects of the pathogenesis of anthrax, emphasizing the potential role of MEK signalling in this disease, and outline novel strategies to use anthrax lethal toxin in the treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bodart
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duesbery
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001408:Bacillus anthracis; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D048370:MAP Kinase Kinase 2; D048371:MAP Kinase Kinase 3; D048671:MAP Kinase Kinase 5; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6; D048688:MAP Kinase Kinase 7; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C030325:anthrax toxin; C482128:MAP2K2 protein, human; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D048370:MAP Kinase Kinase 2; D048371:MAP Kinase Kinase 3; D048671:MAP Kinase Kinase 5; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6; D048688:MAP Kinase Kinase 7; C482125:MAP2K1 protein, human; C482530:MAP2K3 protein, human; C482563:MAP2K5 protein, human; C482566:MAP2K6 protein, human; C482569:MAP2K7 protein, human; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases