title: SEK1-dependent JNK1 activation prolongs cell survival during G-Rh2-induced apoptosis.
abstract: We provide here evidence that c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase 1 (JNK1) activity is differentially up-regulated during apoptosis of SK-HEP-1 cells after treatment with ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2). The G-Rh2-mediated JNK1 activation that occurred for the first 10-30min was associated with SEK1 activity, but thereafter, the sustained activation was associated not with SEK1 activity, but with proteolytic cleavage of JNK1-associated p21(WAF1/CIP1). Supporting this is that the expression of the dominant negative SEK1 mutant effectively blocked the early JNK1 activation phase but did not alter the sustained activation phase or apoptosis. Furthermore, expression of p21D112N, an uncleavable mutant of p21(WAF1/CIP1), suppressed the later JNK1 activation. Moreover, the stable overexpression of ectopic JNK1 suppressed apoptosis while expression of the dominant negative JNK1 mutant promoted it. We propose that the early SEK1-associated JNK1 activation phase acts to prolong cell survival in response to apoptosis-inducing agents, thereby serving as an intervening checkpoint prior to the commitment to apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, 151-742, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.forename: Kwang-Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Joon-Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Dong-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002470:Cell Survival; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D036145:Ginsenosides; C055305:ginsenoside Rh2; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; C482559:MAP2K4 protein, human; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases