卡铂通过抑制ERK1/2通路诱导人卵巢癌细胞S和G_1期阻滞

卡铂(carboplatin,CBP)是一种抗肿瘤活性较强的化疗药物,通过诱导细胞周期阻滞抑制肿瘤细胞生长,但其诱导细胞周期阻滞的报告不甚一致.本研究探索卡铂对卵巢癌HO-8910细胞生长及细胞周期进程的影响.MTS结果显示,卡铂以浓度和时间依赖方式抑制卵巢癌HO-8910细胞生长,联合使用ERK1/2通路抑制剂PD98059可使卡铂抗卵巢癌细胞增殖作用增强.采用Giemsa染色法观察到,卡铂与PD98059单用或联用均能致卵巢癌细胞发生明显的形态学变化.流式细胞术检测细胞周期发现,随卡铂浓度的增高,S期阻滞作用增强;抑制ERK1/2通路可拮抗卡铂对HO-8910细胞S期阻滞作用,增加G1期阻滞作用,而对G2/M期细胞影响不明显.Western印迹结果显示,随卡铂浓度的增高,p-ERK1/2、Cdc2(Y15)和p-Cdc2(T161)的表达逐渐升高,Cyclin E1和Cyclin B1的表达逐渐降低;抑制ERK1/2通路可将卡铂上调,p-ERK1/2和p-Cdc2(T161)的作用反转为下调作用,上调Cdc2(Y15)的表达受阻,抑制Cyclin B1的下调作用,促进Cyclin E1的下调作用.本研究结果提示,卡铂通过抑制ERK1/2激活,诱导人卵巢癌HO-8910细胞S和G1期阻滞,抑制卵巢癌细胞生长.     

ERK1/2在食管鳞状细胞癌中促进细胞增殖、抑制凋亡及其调控机制的研究

探讨ERK1/2在食管鳞状细胞癌(ESCC)中对肿瘤细胞增殖、凋亡的调控及其机制。平板克隆、细胞凋亡和细胞周期实验结果发现ERK1/2 MAPK通路抑制可减弱Eca109细胞克隆形成和增殖,促进细胞凋亡,减慢细胞周期;进一步发现ERK1/2 MAPK通路抑制可以反转由mi R-21过表达诱导的Eca109细胞增殖、凋亡和周期的变化;q RT-PCR和Western-blot免疫印迹结果发现ERK1/2 MAPK信号通路抑制可以下调内源性mi R-21表达和反转外源性mi R-21诱导的ERK1/2 MAPK信号通路活化。实验结果提示ERK1/2 MAPK通路抑制可能通过下调Eca109细胞中mi R-21表达阻碍Eca109细胞增殖、促进细胞凋亡和减慢细胞周期,最终导致ESCC细胞生长抑制。     

P14ARF对人黑色素瘤细胞增殖的影响及其作用机理的初探

ARF(alternative reading frame)作为INK4a/ARF的β转录产物,能够稳定p53,诱导细胞周期阻断或凋亡.利用高表达p14ARF的人黑色素瘤细胞模型,探讨了ARF抑制细胞增殖的分子作用机理.研究发现p14ARF高表达能将细胞周期阻断在G1和G2期,p53,p2lcipl和p27kipl蛋白水平明显增强,而p-ERK1/2,CyclinDl和CyclinE蛋白水平下降,明显抑制细胞生长.提示p14ARF能通过ERK(extracellular signal-regulated kinase)信号通路相互协调作用抑制A375细胞增殖.     

卵巢癌中TGF-β/Smads信号通路的功能研究

为探讨卵巢癌细胞中TGF-β的信号传导情况及TGF-β／Smads信号通路各组分在卵巢癌发生中的作用,采用MTT和活细胞计数方法研究了TGF-β1对卵巢癌细胞系HO-8910、HO-8910PM及SKOV3的生长抑制作用;并应用RT-PCR、荧光免疫组化等方法研究了TGF-β／Smads传导通路中各组分的表达和定位以及TGF-β1刺激前后Smad7和P-Smad2定位及表达的变化。结果显示,TGF-β1对细胞系SKOV3没有生长抑制作用．而SK-OV3细胞表达了TGF-β／Smads信号通路中的所有已知成分。且3种卵巢癌细胞在TGF-β1刺激后Smad7mRNA瞬时表达增加,Smad7蛋白表达亦增加并由胞核转位到胞浆,P-Smad2由胞浆转位到胞核。结果表明TGF-β／Smads信号传导通路在卵巢癌细胞HO-8910、HO-8910PM和SKOV3中是完整的,SKOV3细胞逃逸TGF-β介导的生长抑制作用可能是由于TGF-β／Smads信号通路下游发生异常。     

ERK1/2信号通路活化对Tamoxifen所致胶质瘤细胞凋亡的影响

为了探讨ERK1/2信号通路在他莫昔芬(tamoxifen, TAM)所致胶质瘤细胞凋亡中的作用,以C6和U87MG胶质瘤细胞为研究对象,经TAM处理后,采用MTT法检测细胞的存活率;倒置显微镜和DAPI染色观察细胞的形态;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡; Western-blot法检测细胞内ERK1/2磷酸化水平。最后应用ERK1/2抑制剂(PD98059)与TAM共同作用,观察其对胶质瘤细胞内ERK1/2磷酸化水平和细胞凋亡的影响。实验结果显示:TAM可呈浓度和时间依赖性地抑制胶质瘤细胞生长; TAM处理组的细胞凋亡明显增加且呈浓度依赖性;TAM能增加细胞内ERK1/2磷酸化水平;以PD98059阻断ERK1/2的激活,能增强TAM诱导细胞凋亡的作用。实验结果表明TAM能够抑制胶质瘤细胞生长和促进其细胞凋亡, ERK1/2信号通路的激活参与调控TAM所致胶质瘤细胞凋亡。     

白藜芦醇对人子宫内膜癌细胞系AN3CA 增殖和凋亡效应 及其机制探讨

目的:探讨白藜芦醇(resveratrol,Res)对人子宫内膜癌细胞AN3CA的增殖抑制和凋亡诱导效应及可能存在的机制。方法:应用噻唑蓝(MTT)法检测Res对AN3CA的增殖影响;流式细胞术检测Res对细胞周期分布和凋亡影响;荧光实时定量PCR检测Res对细胞Bcl-2、Bax和MMP-9mRNA表达水平的影响;Western Blot方法检测Res对PCNA、Bcl-2、Bax及ERK1/2、p-ERK1/2蛋白表达水平的影响。结果:Res对子宫内膜癌细胞AN3CA具有显著的生长抑制作用(P<0.01),呈时间-剂量依赖性;不同浓度Res处理细胞G0/G1期比例显著增加伴随S期细胞数的减少;细胞凋亡率明显增高,200μmol/l Res处理48h凋亡率可达30.96%±2.041%(P<0.01)。与对照组相比,Res能抑制PCNA的蛋白表达量,增加Bax和降低Bcl-2转录和蛋白水平的表达量。Res在短时间内(0.5-1h)激活ERK1/2的磷酸化表达但随着作用时间延长(4-48h)其表现为抑制效应。结论:Res具有抑制AN3CA细胞增殖,诱导细胞G0/G1期阻滞和凋亡的效应。Res诱导凋亡可能是通过上调Bax,下调Bcl-2发挥作用,其抗癌作用机制可能与ERK1/2通路失调相关。     

敲除 Sam68 基因导致白血病细胞系细胞生长迟缓和 G2/M 期延长

RNA 结合蛋白 Sam68 是细胞有丝分裂期 Src 酪氨酸磷酸化的靶蛋白 . 尽管确切机制尚不清楚,一些人还是认为 Sam68 可通过调控 RNA 的代谢参与细胞周期调控 . 利用基因打靶技术,在 DT40 细胞分离出 Sam68 基因缺失的细胞系 . 利用该细胞系,进行 Sam68 的功能解析 . 与野生型细胞系相比, Sam68 基因缺失细胞表现出明显的生长速度迟缓 . 通过细胞周期研究揭示 , 这些细胞生长速度延迟是由于细胞周期中的 G2/M 期延长 . 因为参与细胞周期 G2/M 期调控的周期因子 Cdc2 激酶的活性没有改变,所以提示 Sam68 不依赖于 Cdc2 激酶的活性参与细胞周期中 G2/M 期调控 .     

bFGF对卵巢癌CAOV3细胞Bcl-2、Bcl-xl、Bax、Bad表达的影响

目的 研究bFGF调控卵巢癌CAOV3凋亡的信号通路及对Bcl-2、Bcl-xl、Bax、Bad表达的影响.方法 无血清饥饿诱导细胞凋亡.分为饥饿对照、bFGF、bFGF ＋ PD98059、bFGF ＋ Wortmannin组.流式细胞术、DNA Ladder检测细胞凋亡;Western印迹法检测ERK、PKB、Bad活性以及Bcl-2、Bax表达,RTPCR检测Bcl-2、Bcl-xl mRNA变化.结果 bFGF促进p-ERK、p-PKB、p-Bad、Bcl-2表达,抑制Bax表达及饥饿诱导的细胞凋亡.激酶抑制剂PD98059可抑制bFGF对ERK、Bcl-2、Bax的调节作用,Wortmannin可抑制bFGF对PKB、Bad、Bax的调控作用,二者均可阻断bFGF对凋亡的抑制作用.bFGF对Bcl-xl表达无影响.结论 bFGF可能通过激活MEK/ERK、P13K/PKB信号途径通路调节Bcl-2、Bax、Bad表达,抑制饥饿诱导的卵巢癌CAOV3细胞凋亡.     

细胞MEK1/2蛋白及其相关通路在单纯疱疹病毒Ⅱ型（HSV-2）复制中的作用

基于细胞Raf/MEK/ERK信号通路与病毒复制的关系,应用Western印迹检测 p-ERK1/2蛋白的表达、用终点滴定法测定病毒增殖量（TCID_５０）,以及观察感染细胞的细胞病变效应（CPE）等,揭示单纯疱疹病毒Ⅱ型(HSV-2)复制与 ERK通路的关系. 结果表明,HSV-2的复制可引起细胞ERK通路的活化;用U0126预先抑制ERK通路的活化,或用特异性siRNA敲减MEK1/2基因的表达可显著地抑制病毒复制.提示ERK信号通路以及MEK1/2蛋白对HSV-2的复制具有重要的作用.该研究对进一步阐明细胞ERK通路各激酶蛋白在病毒复制中的作用机制、寻找抗病毒作用靶标等奠定了良好的基础.     

塞来昔布诱导HCT-116结肠癌细胞G2/M阻滞

目的:研究选择性COX-2抑制剂塞来昔布诱导结肠癌细胞株HCT-116细胞周期阻滞的作用及其可能的机制。方法:应用流式细胞仪检测塞来昔布对HCT-116细胞周期的影响,定量PCR检测细胞周期素cyclinB1及COX-2 mRNA表达水平,Western-Blot检测细胞周期素cyclinB1的蛋白水平。结果:塞来昔布诱导HCT-116细胞G2/M阻滞的作用呈剂量依赖性,塞来昔布在mRNA及蛋白水平下调HCT-116细胞的cyclinB1。结论:塞来昔布能在体外抑制HCT-116细胞的增殖,诱导G2/M的阻滞,其作用与下调细胞周期素cyclinB1有关。     

Blockade of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway induces marked G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in tumor cells in which the pathway is constitutively activated: up-regulation of p27(Kip1)

Constitutive activation of the ERK pathway is associated with the neoplastic phenotype of a relatively large number of human tumor cells. Blockade of the ERK pathway by treatment with PD98059, a specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/ERK kinase (MEK), completely suppressed the growth of tumor cells in which the pathway is constitutively activated (RPMI-SE and HT1080 cells). Consistent with its prominent antiproliferative effect, PD98059 induced a remarkable G(1) cell cycle arrest, followed by a modest apoptotic response, in these tumor cells. Selective up-regulation of p27(Kip1) was observed after PD98059 treatment of RPMI-SE and HT1080 cells. Overexpression in RPMI-SE cells of either a kinase-negative form of MEK1 or wild-type MAP kinase phosphatase-3 also induced up-regulation of p27(Kip1). The up-regulation of p27(Kip1) correlated with increased association of p27(Kip1) with cyclin E-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2 complexes, a concomitant inhibition of cyclin E-CDK2 kinase activity, and a consequent decrease in the phosphorylation state of retinoblastoma protein, which would culminate in the marked G(1) cell cycle arrest observed in these tumor cells. These results suggest that the complete growth suppression that follows specific blockade of the ERK pathway in tumor cells in which the pathway is constitutively activated is mediated by up-regulation of p27(Kip1).     

Bovine type I collagen inhibits Raw264.7 cell proliferation through phosphoinositide 3-kinase- and mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent down-regulation of cyclins D1, A and B1

Bovine type I collagen (BIC), which is widely used as a fibrous extracellular matrix component in cell culture models, inhibits the progression of melanoma cell cycle via p27 up-regulation. BIC also induces nitric oxide synthase in macrophages through JunB/AP-1 and NF-kappaB activation. Given the previous observations, this study investigates the effect of BIC on the cell cycle progression and regulatory function of Raw264.7 macrophage cells and the responsible signaling pathways. Cell cycle analysis revealed that BIC completely suppressed proliferation of Raw264.7 cells with inhibition of the percentage of cells in the S phase and the reciprocal decrease in the G0/G1 phase. DNA synthesis was also inhibited by BIC, as evidenced by a decrease in the cellular incorporation of [3H]thymidine. The G1/S arrest induced by BIC was reversed by chemical inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) or overexpression of the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase. Either PD98059 or stable transfection with mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 [MKK1(-)] or c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 [JNK1(-)] also released the cell cycle arrest. Immunoblot analyses revealed that the levels of cyclins D1, A and B1 were partly or completely down-regulated by BIC, but cyclin E, p21 and p27 were minimally changed. Chemical inhibition and dominant negative mutant overexpression experiments revealed that either PI3-kinase inhibition or JNK1(-) transfection prevented the decreases in cyclin D1, A and B1 by BIC, indicating that the PI3-kinase and JNK1 pathways were associated with disruption of the cyclins. The pathway involving MKK1-extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) was responsible for the suppression of cyclin A and B1, but not that of cyclin D1. The present study showed that BIC inhibited proliferation of Raw264.7 cells and that the pathways involving PI3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinases regulate the cell cycle arrest.     

Genistein induces G<Subscript>2</Subscript>/M cell cycle arrest via stable activation of ERK1/2 pathway in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Genistein is an isoflavonoid present in soybeans that exhibits anti-carcinogenic effect. Several studies have shown that genistein can trigger G2/M cell cycle arrest and inhibit cell growth in human breast cancer cells. In the present study, we assessed the role of MEK-ERK cascade in regulation of genistein-mediated G2/M cell cycle arrest in the hormone-independent cell line MDA-MB-231. Flow cytometric analysis showed that treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with genistein induced a concentration-dependent accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, with a parallel depletion of the percentage of cells in G0/G1. Genistein-mediated G2/M arrest was associated with a decrease in the protein levels of Cdk1, cyclinB1, and Cdc25C as determined by Western blot analysis. Genistein induced a slow and stable activation of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in MDA-MB-231 cells. MEK1/2-specific inhibitor PD98059 blocked genistein-induced activation of ERK1/2 and markedly attenuated genistein-induced G2/M arrest. Furthermore, genistein induced the expression of Ras and Raf-1 protein. Genistein also up-regulated steady-state levels of both c-Jun and c-Fos. PD98059 did not depress genistein-induced up-regulation of Ras and Raf-1 protein. However, it markedly blocked genistein-induced up-regulation of c-Jun and c-Fos. These results suggest that the Ras/MAPK/AP-1 signal pathway may be involved in genistein-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.     

ERK1/2 inhibition enhances apoptosis induced by JAK2 silencing in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells

Recent studies suggest JAK2 signaling may be a therapeutic target for treatment of gastric cancer (GC). However, the exact roles of JAK2 in gastric carcinogenesis are not very clear. Here, we have targeted JAK2 to be silenced by shRNA and investigated the biological functions and related mechanisms of JAK2 in GC cell SGC7901. In this study, JAK2 is commonly highly expressed in GC tissues as compared to their adjacent normal tissues (n = 75, p < 0.01). Specific down-regulation of JAK2 suppressed cell proliferation and colony-forming units, induced G2/M arrest in SGC7901 cells, but had no significant effect on cell apoptosis in vitro or tumor growth inhibition in vivo. Interestingly, JAK2 silencing-induced activation of ERK1/2, and inactivation of ERK1/2 using the specific ERK inhibitor PD98059 markedly enhanced JAK2 shRNA-induced cell proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Ultimately, combination of PD98059 and JAK2 shRNA significantly inhibited tumor growth in nude mice. Our results implicate JAK2 silencing-induced cell proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and ERK1/2 inhibition could enhance apoptosis induced by JAK2 silencing in SGC7901 cells.     

Retinoic acid increases amount of phosphorylated raf; Ectopic expression of cFMS reveals that retinoic acid-induced differentiation is more strongly dependent on ERK2 signaling than induced go arrest is

Summary Retinoic acid is known to cause the myeloid differentiation and G1/0 cell cycle arrest of HL-60 cells in a process that requires mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal regulated kinase (MEK)-dependent extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)2 activation. It has also been shown that ectopic expression of cFMS, a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-family transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, enhances retinoic acid-induced differentiation and G1/0 arrest. The mechanism of how the retinoic acid and cFMS signaling pathways intersect is not known. The present data show that the ectopic expression of cFMS results in the differential loss of sensitivity of retinoic acid-induced differentiation or G1/0 arrest to inhibition of ERK2 activation. PD98059 was used to inhibit MEK and consequently ERK2. In wild-type HL-60 cells, PD98059 blocked retinoic acid-induced differentiation; but in cFMS stable transfectants, PD98059 only attenuated the induced differentiation, with the resulting response resembling that of retinoic acid-treated wild-type HL-60. In wild-type HL-60, PD98059 greatly attenuated the retinoic acid-induced G1/0 arrest allied with retinoblastoma (RB) hypophosphorylation; but in cFMS stable transfectants, PD98059 had no inhibitory effect on RB hypophosphorylation and G1/0 arrest. This differential sensitivity to PD98059 and uncoupling of retinoic acid-induced differentiation and G1/0 arrest in cFMS transfectants is associated with changes in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling molecules. The cFMS transfectants had more activated ERK2 than did the wild-type cells, which surprisingly was not attributable to enhanced mitogen-activated protein-kinase-kinase-kinase (RAF) phosphorylation. Retinoic acid increased the amount of activated ERK2 and phosphorylated RAF in both cell lines. But PD98059 eliminated detectable ERK2 activation, as well as inhibited RAF phosphorylation, in untreated and retinoic acid-treated wild-type HL-60 and cFMS transfectants, consistent with MEK or ERK feedback-regulation of RAF, in all four cases. Since PD98059 blocks the cFMS-conferred enhancement of the retinoic acid-induced differentiation, but not growth arrest, the data indicate that cFMS-enhanced differentiation acts primarily through MEK and ERK2, but cFMS-enhanced G1/0 arrest allied with RB hypophosphorylation depends on another cFMS signal route, which by itself can effect G1/0 arrest without activated ERK2. Ectopic expression of cFMS and differential sensitivity to ERK2 inhibition thus reveal that retinoic acid-induced HL-60 cell differentiation and G1/0 arrest are differentially dependent on ERK2 and can be uncoupled. A significant unanticipated finding was that retinoic acid caused a MEK-dependent increase in the amount of phosphorylated RAF. This increase may help sustain prolonged ERK2 activation.     

G6PD通过细胞周期蛋白D1/D2调控人黑色素瘤细胞周期的进程

葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶(G6PD)在人皮肤黑色素瘤A375细胞中处于高表达与高活性状态, 但G6PD在黑色素瘤发生发展过程中的作用及其具体机制尚不明确.本文在前期运用 siRNA方法构建G6PD敲减的黑色素瘤A375稳转细胞(A375-G6PDΔ)基础上,构建表达载体pBabe-puro-G6PDWT在A375-G6PDΔ细胞中过表达野生型的G6PD基因,从而构建G6PD表达恢复的稳转细胞(A375-G6PDΔ-G6PDWT).3株细胞A375-WT、A375-G6PDΔ和 A375-G6PDΔ-G6PDWT经G6PD酶活性测定、MTT测定、克隆形成实验、流式细胞仪分析细胞周期和Western 印迹检测.结果显示,A375-G6PDΔ-G6PDWT细胞的G6PD蛋白表达量 (0.847 ± 0.080)及其活性(0.394 ± 0.029)分别是A375-G6PDΔ的3.28倍(P＜0.01) 和7.34倍(P＜0.01),分别是A375-WT细胞的91-57%和2.12倍(P＜0.05).与A375-WT细 胞相比,A375-G6PDΔ细胞G0/G1期细胞数增加,S期细胞数减少,增殖指数PI降低了25-70%（P＜0.05）,细胞周期蛋白D1/D2、细胞周期蛋白E表达分别下降37.4%、54.3% (P＜0.01)和17.3%;而A375-G6PDΔ-G6PDWT细胞呈现G1/S期阻滞解除,细胞周期蛋白D1/D2蛋白分别恢复到A375-WT细胞的89.5%和87.6%,细胞周期蛋白E表达未见 恢复,呈现生长增殖和克隆形成率的恢复并接近于A375-WT细胞. 结果提示,G6PD通 过细胞周期蛋白D1/D2调控人皮肤黑色素瘤A375细胞G1期向S期转换的进程,这为黑色 素瘤发病机制的研究提供了新的思路.     

Vanadyl bisacetylacetonate induced G1/S cell cycle arrest via high-intensity ERK phosphorylation in HepG2 cells

In recent years the anticancer properties of vanadium compounds have been noticed, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In the present work, we found that vanadyl bisacetylacetonate ([VO(acac)(2)]) blocked cell cycle progression permanently at G1 phase in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. This was further evidenced by the growth regulatory signals during the G1 stage. After the treatment with [VO(acac)(2)], the level of phosphorylation of retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRb) and the expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin E and cyclin A were reduced, while the expression of a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 was increased dose-dependently. In the meantime, neither O(2)(*-) nor H(2)O(2) level was observed to increase. Interestingly, the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and Akt were highly activated. After 1-h pretreatment with a lower concentration of MEK inhibitor U0126, the level of phosphorylated pRb was restored, indicating a release of cell cycle arrest. Taken together, we suggested that [VO(acac)(2)]-induced proliferation inhibition was caused by G1/S cell cycle arrest, which resulted from the decreased level of phosphorylated pRb in its active hypophosphorylated form via a highly activated ERK signal in HepG2 cells. The results presented here provided new insight into the development of vanadium compounds as potential anticancer agents.     

ERK1/2 and p38 cooperate to delay progression through G1 by promoting cyclin D1 protein turnover

The conditional kinase DeltaMEKK3:ER allows activation of JNK, p38 and ERK1/2 without overt cellular stress or damage and has proved useful in understanding how these pathways regulate apoptosis and cell cycle progression. We have previously shown that activation of DeltaMEKK3:ER causes a sustained G(1) cell cycle arrest which requires p21(CIP1), with ERK1/2 and p38 cooperating to promote p21(CIP1) expression. In cells lacking p21(CIP1), DeltaMEKK3:ER causes only a transient delay in cell cycle re-entry. We now show that this delay in cell cycle re-entry is due to a reduction in cyclin D1 levels. Activation of DeltaMEKK3:ER promotes the proteasome-dependent turnover of cyclin D1; this requires phosphorylation of threonine 286 (T(286)) and expression of cyclin D1T(286)A rescues the delay in G(1)/S progression. DeltaMEKK3:ER-dependent phosphorylation of T(286) does not appear to be mediated by GSK3beta but requires activation of the ERK1/2 and p38 pathways. ERK1/2 can physically associate with cyclin D1 but activation of ERK1/2 alone is not sufficient for phosphorylation of T(286). Rather, cyclin D1 phosphorylation appears to require coincident activation of ERK1/2 and p38. Thus activation of DeltaMEKK3:ER promotes a sustained G(1) cell cycle arrest by a bipartite mechanism involving the rapid destruction of cyclin D1 and the slower more prolonged expression of p21(CIP1). This has parallels with the bipartite response to ionizing radiation and p53-independent mechanisms of G(1) cell cycle arrest in simple organisms such as yeast.     

Protein kinase Cdelta overexpression enhances radiation sensitivity via extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 activation, abolishing the radiation-induced G(2)-M arrest.

Protein kinase C (PKC) has been widely implicated in regulation ofcell growth/cell cycle progression and apoptosis. However,the role of PKCdelta in radiosensitivity and cell cycle regulation remains unclear. Overexpression of PKCdelta increased Ca2+-independent PKC activity without altering other PKC isoforms (PKCalpha, -beta1, -epsilon, and -zeta), and extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 activity was also increased in PKCdelta-specific manner. A clonogenic survival assay showed that PKCdelta-overexpressed cells had more radiosensitivity and pronounced induction of apoptosis than control cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that PKCdelta made the cells escape from radiation-induced G(2)-M arrest. Moreover, p53 and p21(Waf) induction by radiation were higher in PKCdelta-overexpressed cells than control cells, and PKCdelta-mediated apoptosis was reduced, when radiation-induced ERK1/2 activity was inhibited by PD98059. Furthermore, PKCdelta antisense and rottlerin, PKC inhibitor-abrogated PKCdelta-mediated radiosensitivity and reduced ERK1/2 activity to the control vector level. These results demonstrated that PKCdelta overexpression enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis and radiosensitivity via ERK1/2 activation, thereby abolishing the radiation-induced G(2)-M arrest and finally apoptosis.