title: Murine protein serine/threonine kinase 38 stimulates TGF-beta signaling in a kinase-dependent manner via direct phosphorylation of Smad proteins.
abstract: The present study demonstrated that murine protein serine/threonine kinase 38 (MPK38) coimmunoprecipitates with Smad proteins (Smad2, -3, -4, and -7) and that this association is mediated by the catalytic kinase domain of MPK38. The association between MPK38 and Smad2, -3, and -4 was significantly increased by TGF-β or ASK1 signals, whereas these signals decreased association of MPK38 with Smad7. MPK38 stimulated TGF-β-induced transcription required for TGF-β-mediated biological functions, such as apoptosis and cell growth arrest, in a kinase-dependent manner. Knockdown of endogenous MPK38 showed an opposite effect, inhibiting TGF-β signaling. MPK38-mediated phosphorylation of Smad proteins (Ser(245) of Smad2, Ser(204) of Smad3, Ser(343) of Smad4, and Thr(96) of Smad7) was also found to be crucial to the positive regulation of TGF-β signaling induced by MPK38. In addition, MPK38 enhanced nuclear translocation of Smad3, as well as redistribution of Smad7 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, in response to TGF-β. Together, these results indicate that MPK38 functions as a stimulator of TGF-β signaling through direct interaction with and phosphorylation of Smad proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Haiyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hyunjung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D048848:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000502:physiology; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051785:Smad Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048848:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5; C482859:Map3k5 protein, mouse