Protein kinase C mu selectively activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p42 pathway

FEBS Lett. 2001 Mar 9;492(1-2):39-44. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)02219-0.

Abstract

Here we show that human protein kinase C mu (PKC mu) activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Transient expression of constitutive active PKC mu leads to an activation of Raf-1 kinase as demonstrated by in vitro phosphorylation of MAPK. PKC mu enhances transcriptional activity of a basal thymidine kinase promotor containing serum response elements (SREs) as shown by luciferase reporter gene assays. SRE driven gene activation by PKC mu is triggered by the Elk-1 ternary complex factor. PKC mu-mediated activation of SRE driven transcription can be inhibited by the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059. In contrast to the activation of the p42/ERK1 MAPK cascade, transient expression of constitutive active PKC mu does neither affect c-jun N-terminal kinase nor p38 MAPK.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / metabolism
  • Serum Response Factor
  • Transcription Factors*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Transfection
  • ets-Domain Protein Elk-1

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • ELK1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Serum Response Factor
  • Transcription Factors
  • ets-Domain Protein Elk-1
  • Luciferases
  • protein kinase D
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases