title: Reactive quinones differentially regulate SAPK/JNK and p38/mHOG stress kinases.
abstract: The stress-activated protein kinases SAPK/JNK and p38/mHOG are activated by diverse classes of stress stimuli, many of which induce redox perturbations. We studied the effects of reactive quinones on stress signaling pathways. Menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone), which undergoes both one- and two-electron reduction, completely inhibited SAPK activity at high concentrations while activating SAPK at lower concentrations. Menadione activated p38/mHOG dose responsively. 2,3-Dimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ), which preferentially undergoes two-electron reduction, had similar effects. In contrast, 1,4-naphthoquinone, which preferentially undergoes one-electron reduction, inhibited SAPK at high concentrations, but failed to activate SAPK at any concentration tested. In addition, this quinone activated p38 only at lower concentrations; high concentrations inhibited p38 activity. These activity profiles correlated with the activation state of the upstream kinase, indicating that the effects were mediated by an upstream step in the kinase pathway. The quinone reductase inhibitor dicoumarol blocked activation of SAPK by menadione and DMNQ, suggesting that two-electron reduction is important. Finally, addition of increasing amounts of hydrogen peroxide mimicked the effects of menadione and DMNQ, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide may be the relevant mediator. Differential activation of stress kinases by reactive quinones demonstrates that the cellular redox environment independently modulates these pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Krista L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Seanor
authors.forename: Janet V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Minhong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Templeton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001728:Dicumarol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004583:Electrons; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D009995:Osmosis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011809:Quinones / Q000378:metabolism*; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D024483:Vitamin K 3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011809:Quinones; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; C063002:2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; D024483:Vitamin K 3; D001728:Dicumarol; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases