Positive- and negative-feedback regulations coordinate the dynamic behavior of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signal transduction pathway.
The Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway (or ERK pathway) is an important signal transduction system involved in the control of cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. However, the dynamic regulation of the pathway by positive- and negative-feedback mechanisms, in particular the functional role of Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) are still incompletely understood. RKIP is a physiological endogenous inhibitor of MEK phosphorylation by Raf kinases, but also participates in a positive-feedback loop in which ERK can inactivate RKIP. The aim of this study was to elucidate the hidden dynamics of these feedback mechanisms and to identify the functional role of RKIP through combined efforts of biochemical experiments and in silico simulations based on an experimentally validated mathematical model. We show that the negative-feedback loop from ERK to SOS plays a crucial role in generating an oscillatory behavior of ERK activity. The positive-feedback loop in which ERK functionally inactivates RKIP also enhances the oscillatory activation pattern of ERK. However, RKIP itself has an important role in inducing a switch-like behavior of MEK activity. When overexpressed, RKIP also causes delayed and reduced responses of ERK. Thus, positive- and negative-feedback loops and RKIP work together to shape the response pattern and dynamical characteristics of the ERK pathway.
Shin
Sung-Young
SY
Department of Bio and Brain Engineering and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea.
Rath
Oliver
O
Choo
Sang-Mok
SM
Fee
Frances
F
McFerran
Brian
B
Kolch
Walter
W
Cho
Kwang-Hyun
KH
D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D048490:raf Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D049488:Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein; D048490:raf Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins