Ras-ERK MAPK cascade regulates GATA3 stability and Th2 differentiation through ubiquitin-proteasome pathway

J Biol Chem. 2005 Aug 19;280(33):29409-19. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M502333200. Epub 2005 Jun 23.

Abstract

Differentiation of naive CD4 T cells into Th2 cells requires protein expression of GATA3. Interleukin-4 induces STAT6 activation and subsequent GATA3 transcription. Little is known, however, on how T cell receptor-mediated signaling regulates GATA3 and Th2 cell differentiation. Here we demonstrated that T cell receptor-mediated activation of the Ras-ERK MAPK cascade stabilizes GATA3 protein in developing Th2 cells through the inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Mdm2 was associated with GATA3 and induced ubiquitination on GATA3, suggesting its role as a ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase for GATA3 ubiquitination. Thus, the Ras-ERK MAPK cascade controls GATA3 protein stability by a post-transcriptional mechanism and facilitates GATA3-mediated chromatin remodeling at Th2 cytokine gene loci leading to successful Th2 cell differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / physiology*
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Histones / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2
  • Th2 Cells / cytology*
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism*
  • Zinc Fingers
  • ras Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Gata3 protein, mouse
  • Histones
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Ubiquitin
  • Mdm2 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • ras Proteins