scholarly journals Crystal Structure and Inhibitor Identifications Reveal Targeting Opportunity for the Atypical MAPK Kinase ERK3

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 7953
Author(s):  
Martin Schröder ◽  
Panagis Filippakopoulos ◽  
Martin P. Schwalm ◽  
Carla A. Ferrer ◽  
David H. Drewry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Binding Mode ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mapk Kinase ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Typical Type

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 3 (ERK3), known also as mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MAPK6), is an atypical member of MAPK kinase family, which has been poorly studied. Little is known regarding its function in biological processes, yet this atypical kinase has been suggested to play important roles in the migration and invasiveness of certain cancers. The lack of tools, such as a selective inhibitor, hampers the study of ERK3 biology. Here, we report the crystal structure of the kinase domain of this atypical MAPK kinase, providing molecular insights into its distinct ATP binding pocket compared to the classical MAPK ERK2, explaining differences in their inhibitor binding properties. Medium-scale small molecule screening identified a number of inhibitors, several of which unexpectedly exhibited remarkably high inhibitory potencies. The crystal structure of CLK1 in complex with CAF052, one of the most potent inhibitors identified for ERK3, revealed typical type-I binding mode of the inhibitor, which by structural comparison could likely be maintained in ERK3. Together with the presented structural insights, these diverse chemical scaffolds displaying both reversible and irreversible modes of action, will serve as a starting point for the development of selective inhibitors for ERK3, which will be beneficial for elucidating the important functions of this understudied kinase.

Structure of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 in the DFG-out conformation

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Setsu Nakae ◽  
Maho Kitamura ◽  
Daisuke Fujiwara ◽  
Masaaki Sawa ◽  
Tsuyoshi Shirai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Binding Mode ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Atp Binding Site ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Activation Segment ◽  
Protein Kinase Kinase

Eukaryotic protein kinases contain an Asp-Phe-Gly (DFG) motif, the conformation of which is involved in controlling the catalytic activity, at the N-terminus of the activation segment. The motif can be switched between active-state (DFG-in) and inactive-state (DFG-out) conformations: however, the mechanism of conformational change is poorly understood, partly because there are few reports of the DFG-out conformation. Here, a novel crystal structure of nonphosphorylated human mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1; amino acids 38–381) complexed with ATP-γS is reported in which MEK1 adopts the DFG-out conformation. The crystal structure revealed that the structural elements (the αC helix and HRD motif) surrounding the active site are involved in the formation/stabilization of the DFG-out conformation. The ATP-γS molecule was bound to the canonical ATP-binding site in a different binding mode that has never been found in previously determined crystal structures of MEK1. This novel ATP-γS binding mode provides a starting point for the design of high-affinity inhibitors of nonphosphorylated inactive MEK1 that adopts the DFG-out conformation.

scholarly journals Crystal structure reveals the full Ras:Raf interface and advances mechanistic understanding of Raf activation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trinity Cookis ◽  
Carla Mattos
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Molecular Model ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Raf Kinase ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Dimerization Interface ◽  
Continuous Surface

AbstractThe interaction between Ras and Raf-kinase through the Ras-binding (RBD) and cysteine-rich domains (CRD) of Raf is essential for signaling through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, yet the molecular mechanism leading to Raf activation has remained elusive. We present the 2.8 Å crystal structure of the HRas/CRaf-RBD_CRD complex showing the Ras/Raf interface as a continuous surface on Ras. In the Ras dimer, with helices roughly perpendicular to the membrane, the CRD is located between the two Ras protomers and far from the membrane, where its dynamic nature in the Ras binding pocket is expected to accommodate BRaf and CRaf heterodimers. Our structure and its analysis by MD simulations, combined with work in the literature, result in a molecular model in which Ras binding is involved in the release of Raf autoinhibition while the Ras/Raf complex dimerizes to promote a platform for signal amplification, with Raf-CRD poised to have direct and allosteric effects on both the Ras active site and the dimerization interface.

scholarly journals Direct Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase MEKK1 by the Ste20p Homologue GCK and the Adapter Protein TRAF2

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 737-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah N. Chadee ◽  
Takashi Yuasa ◽  
John M. Kyriakis
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Adapter Protein ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Mapk Kinase ◽  
Surface Receptors ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways coordinate critical cellular responses to mitogens, stresses, and developmental cues. The coupling of MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K) → MAPK kinase (MEK) → MAPK core pathways to cell surface receptors remains poorly understood. Recombinant forms of MAP3K MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1) interact in vivo and in vitro with the STE20 protein homologue germinal center kinase (GCK), and both GCK and MEKK1 associate in vivo with the adapter protein tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2). These interactions may couple TNF receptors to the SAPK/JNK family of MAPKs; however, a molecular mechanism by which these proteins might collaborate to recruit the SAPKs/JNKs has remained elusive. Here we show that endogenous GCK and MEKK1 associate in vivo. In addition, we have developed an in vitro assay system with which we demonstrate that purified, active GCK and TRAF2 activate MEKK1. The RING domain of TRAF2 is necessary for optimal in vitro activation of MEKK1, but the kinase domain of GCK is not. Autophosphorylation within the MEKK1 kinase domain activation loop is required for activation. Forced oligomerization also activates MEKK1, and GCK elicits enhanced oligomerization of coexpressed MEKK1 in vivo. These results represent the first activation of MEKK1 in vitro using purified proteins and suggest a mechanism for MEKK1 activation involving induced oligomerization and consequent autophosphorylation mediated by upstream proteins.

scholarly journals Specific Activation of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase by Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptors in Lipid Rafts Is Required for Epithelial Cell Plasticity

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1020-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zuo ◽  
Ye-Guang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Lipid Rafts ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Type I ◽  
Coated Pits ◽  
Mapk Activation ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β regulates a spectrum of cellular events, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. In addition to the canonical Smad pathway, TGF-β can also activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and small GTPases in a cell-specific manner. Here, we report that cholesterol depletion interfered with TGF-β–induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration. This interference is due to impaired activation of MAPK mediated by cholesterol-rich lipid rafts. Cholesterol-depleting agents specifically inhibited TGF-β–induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38, but not Smad2/3 or Akt. Activation of ERK or p38 is required for both TGF-β–induced EMT and cell migration, whereas PI3K/Akt is necessary only for TGF-β–promoted cell migration but not for EMT. Although receptor heterocomplexes could be formed in both lipid raft and nonraft membrane compartments in response to TGF-β, receptor localization in lipid rafts, but not in clathrin-coated pits, is important for TGF-β–induced MAPK activation. Requirement of lipid rafts for MAPK activation was further confirmed by specific targeting of the intracellular domain of TGF-β type I receptor to different membrane locations. Together, our findings establish a novel link between cholesterol and EMT and cell migration, that is, cholesterol-rich lipid rafts are required for TGF-β–mediated MAPK activation, an event necessary for TGF-β–directed epithelial plasticity.

scholarly journals Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) 3 and MKK6 by type I interferons. VOLUME 280 (2005) 10001-10010

2006 ◽  
Vol 281 (15) ◽  
pp. 10651
Author(s):  
Yongzhong Li ◽  
Sandeep Batra ◽  
Antonella Sassano ◽  
Beata Majchrzak ◽  
David E. Levy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Type I Interferons ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Protein Kinase Kinase

scholarly journals Structure of human dual-specificity phosphatase 7, a potential cancer drug target

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 650-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
George T. Lountos ◽  
Brian P. Austin ◽  
Joseph E. Tropea ◽  
David S. Waugh
Keyword(s):  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Dual Specificity Phosphatase ◽  
Dual Specificity ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Dual Specificity Phosphatases

Human dual-specificity phosphatase 7 (DUSP7/Pyst2) is a 320-residue protein that belongs to the mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase (MKP) subfamily of dual-specificity phosphatases. Although its precise biological function is still not fully understood, previous reports have demonstrated that DUSP7 is overexpressed in myeloid leukemia and other malignancies. Therefore, there is interest in developing DUSP7 inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents, especially for cancer. Here, the purification, crystallization and structure determination of the catalytic domain of DUSP7 (Ser141–Ser289/C232S) at 1.67 Å resolution are reported. The structure described here provides a starting point for structure-assisted inhibitor-design efforts and adds to the growing knowledge base of three-dimensional structures of the dual-specificity phosphatase family.

scholarly journals Genome-wide identification of MAPKKK genes and their response to phytoplasma stress in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZhiGuo Liu ◽  
Lixin Wang ◽  
Chaoling Xue ◽  
Yuetong Chu ◽  
Weilin Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Duplication Event ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Chinese Jujube ◽  
Mapk Cascades ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Phytoplasma Infection ◽  
Gene Structures

Abstract Backgrounds Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play vital roles in signal transduction in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses. In the previous study we have identified 10 ZjMAPKs and 5 ZjMAPKKs in Chinese jujube genome and found some crucial members of ZjMAPKs and ZjMAPKKs might function importantly in the process of phytoplasma infection. But how these ZjMAPKKs were modulated by ZjMAPKKKs during this process is still elusive and little information is known about the MAPKKKs in Chinese jujube. Results In the current study, 56 ZjMAPKKKs were identified in the jujube genome and all of them contain the key S-TKc (serine/threonine protein kinase) domain which distributed in all 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these ZjMAPKKKs could be classified into two subfamilies, of which 41 belonged to Raf, and 15 to MEKK subfamily. In addition, the ZjMAPKKKs in each subfamily share the same conserved motifs and gene structures, one pair of ZjMAPKKKs (15/16) was the only tandem duplication event on Chromosome 5. Furthermore, the expression profiles of these MAPKKKs in response to phytoplasma disease were investigated by qPCR. In the three main infected tissues (witches’ broom leaves, phyllody leaves, apparent normal leaves), the ZjMAPKKK26 and 45 were significantly up regulated and the ZjMAPKKK3, 43 and 50 were down regulated. While the ZjMAPKKK4, 10, 25 and 44 were significant highly induced in the sterile cultivated tissues infected by phytoplasma, and the ZjMAPKKK7, 30, 35, 37, 40, 41, 43 and 46 were significantly down regulated. Conclusions The identification and classification analysis of ZjMAPKKKs was firstly reported and some key individual ZjMAPKKKs genes might play essential roles in response to phytoplasma infection. This could provide initial understanding for the mechanism that how the ZjMAPKKKs were involved in jujube - phytoplasma infection.

scholarly journals Heregulin Induces Transcriptional Activation of the Progesterone Receptor by a Mechanism That Requires Functional ErbB-2 and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Breast Cancer Cells

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 1095-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leticia Labriola ◽  
Mariana Salatino ◽  
Cecilia J. Proietti ◽  
Adalí Pecci ◽  
Omar A. Coso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Progesterone Receptor ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
T47d Cells ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT The present study addresses the capacity of heregulin (HRG), a ligand of type I receptor tyrosine kinases, to transactivate the progesterone receptor (PR). For this purpose, we studied, on the one hand, an experimental model of hormonal carcinogenesis in which the synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) induced mammary adenocarcinomas in female BALB/c mice and, on the other hand, the human breast cancer cell line T47D. HRG was able to exquisitely regulate biochemical attributes of PR in a way that mimicked PR activation by progestins. Thus, HRG treatment of primary cultures of epithelial cells of the progestin-dependent C4HD murine mammary tumor line and of T47D cells induced a decrease of protein levels of PRA and -B isoforms and the downregulation of progesterone-binding sites. HRG also promoted a significant increase in the percentage of PR localized in the nucleus in both cell types. DNA mobility shift assay revealed that HRG was able to induce PR binding to a progesterone response element (PRE) in C4HD and T47D cells. Transient transfections of C4HD and T47D cells with a plasmid containing a PRE upstream of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene demonstrated that HRG promoted a significant increase in CAT activity. In order to assess the molecular mechanisms underlying PR transactivation by HRG, we blocked ErbB-2 expression in C4HD and T47D cells by using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to ErbB-2 mRNA, which resulted in the abolishment of HRG's capacity to induce PR binding to a PRE, as well as CAT activity in the transient-transfection assays. Although the inhibition of HRG binding to ErbB-3 by an anti-ErbB-3 monoclonal antibody suppressed HRG-induced PR activation, the abolishment of HRG binding to ErbB-4 had no effect on HRG activation of PR. To investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), we used the selective MEK1/MAPK inhibitor PD98059. Blockage of MAPK activation resulted in complete abrogation of HRG's capacity to induce PR binding to a PRE, as well as CAT activity. Finally, we demonstrate here for the first time that HRG-activated MAPK can phosphorylate both human and mouse PR in vitro.

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