Mip1, an MEKK2-interacting protein, controls MEKK2 dimerization and activation.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are central components of the intracellular signaling networks used by eukaryotic cells to respond to a wide spectrum of extracellular stimuli. An MAPK is activated by an MAPK kinase, which in turn is activated by an MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K). However, little is known about the molecular aspects of the regulation and activation of large numbers of MAP3Ks that are crucial in relaying upstream receptor-mediated signals through the MAPK cascades to induce various physiological responses. In this study, we identified a novel MEKK2-interacting protein, Mip1, that regulates MEKK2 dimerization and activation by forming a complex with inactive and nonphosphorylated MEKK2. In particular, Mip1 prevented MEKK2 activation by blocking MEKK2 dimer formation, which in turn blocked JNKK2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5, and AP-1 reporter gene activation by MEKK2. Furthermore, we found that the endogenous Mip1-MEKK2 complex was dissociated transiently following epidermal growth factor stimulation. In contrast, the knockdown of Mip1 expression by siRNA augmented the MEKK2-mediated JNK and AP-1 reporter activation. Together, our data suggest a novel model for MEKK2 regulation and activation.
Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Jinke
J
Cheng
Dongyu
D
Zhang
Kihwan
K
Kim
Yingxin
Y
Zhao
Yingming
Y
Zhao
Bing
B
Su
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D048688:MAP Kinase Kinase 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D048730:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 2; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010766:Phosphorylation; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C493277:MAPKAP1 protein, human; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048730:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 2; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; C482618:MAP3K2 protein, human; D048688:MAP Kinase Kinase 7; C482569:MAP2K7 protein, human