Hsp72 functions as a natural inhibitory protein of c-Jun N-terminal kinase

EMBO J. 2001 Feb 1;20(3):446-56. doi: 10.1093/emboj/20.3.446.

Abstract

Hsp72, a major inducible member of the heat shock protein family, can protect cells against many cellular stresses including heat shock. In our present study, we observed that pretreatment of NIH 3T3 cells with mild heat shock (43 degrees C for 20 min) suppressed UV-stimulated c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) activity. Constitutively overexpressed Hsp72 also inhibited JNK1 activation in NIH 3T3 cells, whereas it did not affect either SEK1 or MEKK1 activity. Both in vitro binding and kinase studies indicated that Hsp72 bound to JNK1 and that the peptide binding domain of Hsp72 was important to the binding and inhibition of JNK1. In vivo binding between endogenous Hsp72 and JNK1 in NIH 3T3 cells was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. Hsp72 also inhibited JNK-dependent apoptosis. Hsp72 antisense oligonucleotides blocked Hsp72 production in NIH 3T3 cells in response to mild heat shock and concomitantly abolished the suppressive effect of mild heat shock on UV-induced JNK activation and apoptosis. Collectively, our data suggest strongly that Hsp72 can modulate stress-activated signaling by directly inhibiting JNK.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Base Sequence
  • Genes, jun
  • HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hot Temperature
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1*
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / genetics
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / pharmacology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcriptional Activation

Substances

  • HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1
  • Map3k1 protein, mouse
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4
  • Map2k4 protein, mouse
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases