title: MafA transcription factor is phosphorylated by p38 MAP kinase.
abstract: Basic-leucine zipper transcription factors of the Maf family are key regulators of various developmental and differentiation processes. We previously reported that the phosphorylation status of MafA is a critical determinant of its biological functions. Using Western blot and mass spectrometry analysis, we now show that MafA is phosphorylated by p38 MAP kinase and identify three phosphoacceptor sites: threonine 113 and threonine 57, evolutionarily conserved residues located in the transcription activating domain, and serine 272. Mutation of these residues severely impaired MafA biological activity. Furthermore, we show that p38 also phosphorylates MafB and c-Maf. Together, these findings suggest that the p38 MAP kinase pathway is a novel regulator of large Maf transcription factors.
authors.affiliation: UMR 146 CNRS-Institut Curie, Bâtiment 110, Centre Universitaire, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sii-Felice
authors.forename: Celio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pouponnot
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gillet
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lecoin
authors.forename: Jean-Antoine
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Girault
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eychène
authors.forename: Marie-Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Felder-Schmittbuhl
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002645:Chickens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf; D011784:Quail; D012694:Serine / Q000235:genetics; D013912:Threonine / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C495607:MAF protein, human; C495608:Maf protein, mouse; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013912:Threonine; D012694:Serine; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases