title: ERK1/2-dependent phosphorylation of BimEL promotes its rapid dissociation from Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL.
abstract: The proapoptotic protein Bim is expressed de novo following withdrawal of serum survival factors. Here, we show that Bim-/- fibroblasts and epithelial cells exhibit reduced cell death following serum withdrawal in comparison with their wild-type counterparts. In viable cells, Bax associates with Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1. Upon serum withdrawal, newly expressed Bim(EL) associates with Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1, coinciding with the dissociation of Bax from these proteins. Survival factors can prevent association of Bim with pro-survival proteins by preventing Bim expression. However, we now show that even preformed Bim(EL)/Mcl-1 and Bim(EL)/Bcl-x(L) complexes can be rapidly dissociated following activation of ERK1/2 by survival factors. The dissociation of Bim from Mcl-1 is specific for Bim(EL) and requires ERK1/2-dependent phosphorylation of Bim(EL) at Ser(65). Finally, ERK1/2-dependent dissociation of Bim(EL) from Mcl-1 and Bcl-x(L) may play a role in regulating Bim(EL) degradation, since mutations in the Bim(EL) BH3 domain that disrupt binding to Mcl-1 cause increased turnover of Bim(EL). These results provide new insights into the role of Bim in cell death and its regulation by the ERK1/2 survival pathway.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Signalling, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ewings
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hadfield-Moorhouse
authors.forename: Ceri M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wickenden
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balmanno
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilley
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Degenhardt
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D002460:Cell Line; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C000606775:BCL2L11 protein, human; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3