title: Ligand interaction scan (LIScan) in the study of ERK8.
abstract: ERK8 is the most recent addition for the MAPK family, and its mechanism of activation and function are not yet known, mainly due to the lack of any known physiological stimulator. In this report, we describe the preparation of reagents for the use of a novel method, the ligand interaction scan (LIScan), to study the function of this protein kinase. We generated a set of mutants of ERK8, and identified inhibited as well as stimulated forms. By specifically inhibiting or stimulating the mutants of ERK8, we show that the ERK8-induced inhibition of proliferation is altered. Moreover, we used the developed mutants to show for the first time that ERK8 translocates to the nucleus upon activation. The use of methods such as the ligand interaction scan may thus promote the analyses of the functions of uncharacterized proteins such as ERK8, and possibly help in controlling the activity of target proteins in various experimental systems and applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. oerster@engr.ucsb.edu
authors.forename: Oran
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erster
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seger
authors.forename: Mordechai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liscovitch
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; C456320:MAPK15 protein, human