title: Bcl-2 enhances neurite extension via activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase.
abstract: Recent studies suggest that Bcl-2 may play an active role in neuronal differentiation. Here, we showed a marked neurite extension in MN9D dopaminergic neuronal cells overexpressing Bcl-2 (MN9D/Bcl-2) or Bcl-X(L) (MN9D/Bcl-X(L)). We found a specific increase in phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) accompanied by neurite extension in MN9D/Bcl-2 but not in MN9D/Bcl-X(L) cells. Consequently, neurite extension in MN9D/Bcl-2 but not in MN9D/Bcl-X(L) cells was suppressed by treatment with SP600125, a specific inhibitor of JNK. Inhibition of other mitogen-activated protein kinases-including p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-did not affect Bcl-2-mediated neurite extension in MN9D cells. While the expression levels of such protein markers of maturation as SNAP-25, phosphorylated NF-H, and neuron-specific enolase were increased in MN9D/Bcl-2 cells, only upregulation of SNAP-25 was inhibited after treatment with SP600125. Thus, the JNK signal activated by Bcl-2 seems to play an important role during morphological and certain biochemical differentiation in cultured dopaminergic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Yonsei University College of Science, 120-749 Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Seok
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.forename: Won-Seok
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25; D015854:Up-Regulation; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C494209:Snap25 protein, mouse; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25; C432165:pyrazolanthrone; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase