title: The conditional kinase DeltaMEKK1:ER* selectively activates the JNK pathway and protects against serum withdrawal-induced cell death.
abstract: The conditional protein kinase DeltaMEKK3:ER* allows activation of the mitogen-activated and stress-activated protein kinases (MAPKs and SAPKs) without imposing a primary cellular stress or damage. Such separation of stress from stress-induced signalling is particularly important in the analysis of apoptosis. Activation of DeltaMEKK3:ER* in cycling CCl39 cells caused a rapid stimulation of the ERK1/2, JNK and p38 pathways but resulted in a slow, delayed apoptotic response. Paradoxically, activation of the same pathways inhibited the rapid expression of Bim(EL) and apoptosis following withdrawal of serum. Inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway prevented the down-regulation of Bim(EL) but caused only a partial reversion of the cyto-protective effect of DeltaMEKK3:ER*. In contrast, inhibition of p38 had no effect, raising the possibility that activation of JNK might also exert a protective effect. To test this we used CCl39 cells expressing DeltaMEKK1:ER* which activates JNK but not ERK1/2, p38, PKB or IkappaB kinase. Activation of DeltaMEKK1:ER* inhibited serum withdrawal-induced conformational changes in Bax and apoptosis. These results suggest that in the absence of any overt cellular damage or chemical stress activation of JNK can act independently of the ERK1/2 or PKB pathways to inhibit serum withdrawal-induced cell death.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Signalling, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB2 4AT, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Molton
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balmanno
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newson
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D007093:Imidazoles; D009570:Nitriles; D011725:Pyridines; C113580:U 0126; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1; C093642:SB 203580