title: Negative-feedback regulation of FGF signalling by DUSP6/MKP-3 is driven by ERK1/2 and mediated by Ets factor binding to a conserved site within the DUSP6/MKP-3 gene promoter.
abstract: DUSP6 (dual-specificity phosphatase 6), also known as MKP-3 [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) phosphatase-3] specifically inactivates ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2) in vitro and in vivo. DUSP6/MKP-3 is inducible by FGF (fibroblast growth factor) signalling and acts as a negative regulator of ERK activity in key and discrete signalling centres that direct outgrowth and patterning in early vertebrate embryos. However, the molecular mechanism by which FGFs induce DUSP6/MKP-3 expression and hence help to set ERK1/2 signalling levels is unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate, using pharmacological inhibitors and analysis of the murine DUSP6/MKP-3 gene promoter, that the ERK pathway is critical for FGF-induced DUSP6/MKP-3 transcription. Furthermore, we show that this response is mediated by a conserved binding site for the Ets (E twenty-six) family of transcriptional regulators and that the Ets2 protein, a known target of ERK signalling, binds to the endogenous DUSP6/MKP-3 promoter. Finally, the murine DUSP6/MKP-3 promoter coupled to EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) recapitulates the specific pattern of endogenous DUSP6/MKP-3 mRNA expression in the chicken neural plate, where its activity depends on FGFR (FGF receptor) and MAPK signalling and an intact Ets-binding site. These findings identify a conserved Ets-factor-dependent mechanism by which ERK signalling activates DUSP6/MKP-3 transcription to deliver ERK1/2-specific negative-feedback control of FGF signalling.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Stress Response Laboratory, Biomedical Research Centre, Level 5, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekerot
authors.forename: Marios P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Stavridis
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delavaine
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staples
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Iain D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: Kate G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Storey
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Keyse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D054642:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D054642:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 6; C517036:Dusp6 protein, mouse