MAP kinases regulate unfertilized egg apoptosis and fertilization suppresses death via Ca2+ signaling

The default fate for eggs from many species is death by apoptosis and thus, successful fertilization depends upon suppression of the maternal death program. Little is known about the molecular triggers which activate this process or how the fertilization signal suppresses the default maternal apoptotic pathway. The MAP kinase (MAPK) family member, ERK, plays a universal and critical role in several stages of oocyte meiotic maturation, and fertilization results in ERK inactivation. In somatic cells, ERK and other MAPK family members, p38 and JNK, provide opposing signals to regulate apoptosis, however, it is not known whether MAPKs play a regulatory role in egg apoptosis, nor whether suppression of apoptosis by fertilization is mediated by MAPK activity. Here we demonstrate that MAPKs are involved in starfish egg apoptosis and we investigate the relationship between the fertilization induced signaling pathway and MAPK activation. ERK is active in post-meiotic eggs just until apoptosis onset and then p38, JNK and a third kinase are activated, and remain active through execution. Sequential activation of ERK and p38 is necessary for apoptosis, and newly synthesized proteins are required both upstream of ERK and downstream of p38 for activation of the full apoptotic program. Fertilization causes a dramatic rise in intracellular Ca2+, and we report that Ca2+ provides a necessary and sufficient pro-survival signal. The Ca2+ pathway following fertilization of both young and aged eggs causes ERK to be rapidly inactivated, but fertilization cannot rescue aged eggs from death, indicating that ERK inactivation is not sufficient to suppress apoptosis.     

MAPK inactivation is required for the G2 to M-phase transition of the first mitotic cell cycle.

Down-regulation of MAP kinase (MAPK) is a universal consequence of fertilization in the animal kingdom, although its role is not known. Here we show that MAPK inactivation is essential for embryos, both vertebrate and invertebrate, to enter first mitosis. Suppressing down-regulation of MAPK at fertilization, for example by constitutively activating the upstream MAPK cascade, specifically suppresses cyclin B-cdc2 kinase activation and its consequence, entry into first mitosis. It thus appears that MAPK functions in meiotic maturation by preventing unfertilized eggs from proceeding into parthenogenetic development. The most general effect of artificially maintaining MAPK activity after fertilization is prevention of the G2 to M-phase transition in the first mitotic cell cycle, even though inappropriate reactivation of MAPK after fertilization may lead to metaphase arrest in vertebrates. Advancing the time of MAPK inactivation in fertilized eggs does not, however, speed up their entry into first mitosis. Thus, sustained activity of MAPK during part of the first mitotic cell cycle is not responsible for late entry of fertilized eggs into first mitosis.     

p38 MAPK mediates TNF-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells via phosphorylation and downregulation of Bcl-x(L)

The role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in apoptosis is a matter of debate. Here, we investigated the involvement of p38 MAPK in endothelial apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). We found that activation of p38 MAPK preceded activation of caspase-3, and the early phase of p38 MAPK stimulation did not depend on caspase activity, as shown by pretreatment with the caspase inhibitors z-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (zVAD-fmk) and Boc-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (BAF). The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 significantly attenuated TNF-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells, suggesting that p38 MAPK is essential for apoptotic signaling. Furthermore, we observed a time-dependent increase in active p38 MAPK in the mitochondrial subfraction of cells exposed to TNF. Notably, the level of Bcl-x(L) protein was reduced in cells undergoing TNF-induced apoptosis, and this reduction was prevented by treatment with SB203580. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed p38 MAPK-dependent serine-threonine phosphorylation of Bcl-x(L) in TNF-treated cells. Exposure to lactacystin prevented both the downregulation of Bcl-x(L) and activation of caspase-3. Taken together, our results suggest that TNF-induced p38 MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of Bcl-x(L) in endothelial cells leads to degradation of Bcl-x(L) in proteasomes and subsequent induction of apoptosis.     

Quantitative measurement of caspase-3 activity in a living starfish egg

If not fertilized, synchronous apoptosis is induced in starfish eggs at approximately 11h after stimulation with the hormone, 1-methyladenine. In this study, a membrane-impermeant substrate of caspase-3, acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-coumarylamido-4-methanesulfonic acid (Ac-DEVD-CAMS), was synthesized and microinjected into a starfish egg. Caspase-3 activity in unfertilized egg was detected approximately 30min before blebbing by quantifying the accumulation rate of a membrane-impermeant, fluorogenic product, 7-aminocoumarin-4-methanesulfonic acid (ACMS), using a photomultiplier mounted on a fluorescence microscope. When active recombinant human caspase-3 was microinjected into an egg at 3h after 1-methyladenine treatment, the injected caspase-3 activity decreased and disappeared within 2h. This decrease is probably due to proteasome-dependent degradation of the enzyme, since the injected caspase-3 was degraded and a proteasome inhibitor blocked its degradation. In contrast, in aged eggs at approximately 10h after 1-methyladenine treatment, no degradation of the injected caspase-3 was observed, suggesting that endogenous caspase-3 may stabilize at this point, therefore, inducing apoptosis.     

Inhibition of MEK or cdc2 kinase parthenogenetically activates mouse eggs and yields the same phenotypes as Mos(-/-) parthenogenotes

Mammalian eggs are arrested in metaphase II of meiosis until fertilization. Arrest is maintained by cytostatic factor (CSF) activity, which is dependent on the MOS-MEK-MAPK pathway. Inhibition of MEK1/2 with a specific inhibitor, U0126, parthenogenetically activated mouse eggs, producing phenotypes similar to Mos(-/-) parthenogenotes (premature, unequal cleavages and large polar bodies). U0126 inactivated MAPK in eggs within 1 h, in contrast to the 5 h required after fertilization, while the time course of MPF inactivation was similar in U0126-activated and fertilized eggs. We also found that inactivation of MPF by the cdc2 kinase inhibitor roscovitine induced parthenogenetic activation. Inactivation of MPF by roscovitine resulted in the subsequent inactivation of MAPK with a time course similar to that following fertilization. Notably, roscovitine also produced some Mos(-/-)-like phenotypes, indistinguishable from U0126 parthenogenotes. Simultaneous inhibition of both MPF and MAPK in eggs treated with roscovitine and U0126 produced a very high proportion of eggs with the more severe phenotype. These findings confirm that MEK is a required component of CSF in mammalian eggs and imply that the sequential inactivation of MPF followed by MAPK inactivation is required for normal spindle function and polar body emission.     

Mechanism of p53-dependent apoptosis induced by 3-methylcholanthrene: involvement of p53 phosphorylation and p38 MAPK.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) cause untoward effects including carcinogenesis. Here we investigated the effect of MC on apoptosis. MC induced apoptosis, preceded by serine 15 phosphorylation and accumulation of p53. MC failed to cause apoptosis in p53-deficient MG63 cells, whereas ectopic expression of p53 in MG63 cells restored the response to MC. Therefore, MC-induced apoptosis was dependent on p53. MC also activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) at 16-24 h. Accumulation of p53 and p53 phosphorylated at serine 15 was not changed by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK or overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of p38 MAPK at 8 h after MC treatment, whereas the accumulation was suppressed at 24 h. These results suggest that MC induces accumulation and phosphorylation of p53 via a p38 MAPK-independent (early) and p38 MAPK-dependent (late) pathway. SB203580 repressed MC-induced apoptosis. MC induced p38 MAPK activation in p53 expressing cells but not in p53-deficient cells, indicating that the p38 MAPK activation was dependent on early p53 activation. The current study shows that both p53 and p38 MAPK activation are required for MC-induced apoptosis and provides a novel model of a functional regulation between p53 and p38 MAPK in chemical stress-induced apoptosis.     

Polyspermy block in jellyfish eggs: Collaborative controls by Ca and MAPK

Jellyfish eggs neither undergo apparent cortical reaction nor show any significant change in the membrane potential at fertilization, but nevertheless show monospermy. Utilizing the perfectly transparent eggs of the hydrozoan jellyfish Cytaeis uchidae, here we show that the polyspermy block is accomplished via a novel mechanism: a collaboration between Ca²⁺ and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). In Cytaeis, adhesion of a sperm to the animal pole surface of an egg was immediately followed by sperm–egg fusion and initiation of an intracellular Ca²⁺ rise from this site. The elevated Ca²⁺ levels lasted for several minutes following the sperm–egg fusion. The Ca²⁺ rise proved to be necessary and sufficient for a polyspermy block, as inhibiting a Ca²⁺ rise with EGTA promoted polyspermy, and conversely, triggering a Ca²⁺ rise by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) or excess K⁺ immediately abolished the egg’s capacity for sperm–egg fusion. A Ca²⁺ rise at fertilization or by artificial stimulations evoked dephosphorylation of MAPK in eggs. The eggs in which phosphorylated MAPK was maintained by injection of mRNA for MAPK kinase kinase (Mos), like intact eggs, exhibited a Ca²⁺ rise at fertilization or by IP₃ injection, and shut down the subsequent sperm–egg fusion. However, the Mos-expressing eggs became capable of accepting sperm following the arrest of Ca²⁺ rise. In contrast, addition of inhibitors of MAPK kinase (MEK) to unfertilized eggs caused MAPK dephosphorylation without elevating Ca²⁺ levels, and prevented sperm–egg fusion. Rephosphorylation of MAPK by injecting Mos mRNA after fertilization recovered sperm attraction, which is known to be another MAPK-dependent event, but did not permit subsequent sperm–egg fusion. Thus, it is possible that MAPK dephosphorylation irreversibly blocks sperm–egg fusion and reversibly suppresses sperm attraction. Collectively, our data suggest that both the fast and late mechanisms dependent on Ca²⁺ and MAPK, respectively, ensure a polyspermy block in jellyfish eggs.     

Autophagy is used as a survival program in unfertilized sea urchin eggs that are destined to die by apoptosis after inactivation of MAPK1/3 (ERK2/1)

A high MAPK1/3 (also known as ERK2/1, respectively) activity, preventing spontaneous activation, is essential to maintain cell cycle arrest of mature oocytes of mammals, frogs or invertebrates such as starfish. Mature oocytes would undergo a “suicide”-like cell death if not fertilized. We previously have reported that downregulation of MAPK1/3 in unfertilized sea urchin eggs induces a calcium-dependent entry into mitosis. We show here that this event is followed by a series of pseudo-mitotic cell cycles associated with transient Ca_i increases, preceding CASP3/caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. However, cell death was delayed after inhibition of the Ca_i transients or of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK), with roscovitine. In these conditions, eggs enter an autophagy program as suggested by detection of processed LC3B by western blot, immunofluorescence and immunogold staining, visualization of autophagy vesicles by electron microscopy, and an increase in acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs). We found that bafilomycin A₁ or an association of leupeptin and pepstatin, which are widely used to study autophagy, may act upon calcium signaling or cell cycle events, respectively, and not only on autophagy events. Finally, inhibition of PtdIns 3-kinase with wortmannin or LY294002 powerfully stimulated cell death of unfertilized eggs, which suggests that this activity does not negatively regulate autophagy as is often reported, but rather stimulates survival in unfertilized eggs. We suggest that apoptosis of unfertilized eggs is the consequence of an aberrant short attempt of development that occurs if MAPK1/3 is inactivated, but these eggs can use autophagy as a survival program when the cell cycle is blocked.     

Inhibition of caspase-9 through phosphorylation at Thr 125 by ERK MAPK

Many pro-apoptotic signals activate caspase-9, an initiator protease that activates caspase-3 and downstream caspases to initiate cellular destruction. However, survival signals can impinge on this pathway and suppress apoptosis. Activation of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is associated with protection of cells from apoptosis and inhibition of caspase-3 activation, although the targets are unknown. Here, we show that the ERK MAPK pathway inhibits caspase-9 activity by direct phosphorylation. In mammalian cell extracts, cytochrome c-induced activation of caspases-9 and -3 requires okadaic-acid-sensitive protein phosphatase activity. The opposing protein kinase activity is overcome by treatment with the broad-specificity kinase inhibitor staurosporine or with inhibitors of MEK1/2. Caspase-9 is phosphorylated at Thr 125, a conserved MAPK consensus site targeted by ERK2 in vitro, in a MEK-dependent manner in cells stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Phosphorylation at Thr 125 is sufficient to block caspase-9 processing and subsequent caspase-3 activation. We suggest that phosphorylation and inhibition of caspase-9 by ERK promotes cell survival during development and tissue homeostasis. This mechanism may also contribute to tumorigenesis when the ERK MAPK pathway is constitutively activated.     

RhoA and p38 MAPK mediate apoptosis induced by cellular cholesterol depletion

Cholesterol is essential for cell viability, and homeostasis of cellular cholesterol is crucial to various cell functions. Here we examined the effect of cholesterol depletion on apoptosis and the mechanisms underlying this effect in NIH3T3 cells. We show that chronic cholesterol depletion achieved with lipoprotein-deficient serum (LPDS) and 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) treatment resulted in a significant increase in cellular apoptosis and caspase-3 activation. This effect is not due to a deficiency of nonsterol isoprenoids, intermediate metabolites of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, but rather to low cholesterol levels, since addition of cholesterol together with LPDS and 25-HC nearly abolished apoptosis, whereas addition of farnesyl pyrophosphate or geranylgeranyl-pyrophosphate did not reverse the cell viability loss induced by LPDS plus 25-HC treatment. These effects were accompanied by an increase in ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK activity. However, only the inhibition of p38 MAPK with the specific inhibitor SB203580 or the overexpression of a kinase defective MKK6 resulted in a significant decrease in apoptosis and caspase-3 cleavage induced by cholesterol depletion. Furthermore, LPDS plus 25-HC increased RhoA activity, and this effect was reversed by addition of exogenous cholesterol. Finally, overexpression of the dominant negative N19RhoA inhibited p38 MAPK phosphorylation and apoptosis induced by low cholesterol levels. Together, our results demonstrate that cholesterol depletion induces apoptosis through a RhoA- and p38 MAPK-dependent mechanism.     

p38 MAPK downregulates phosphorylation of Bad in doxorubicin-induced endothelial apoptosis

Doxorubicin is the anthracycline with the widest spectrum of antitumor activity, and it has been shown that the antitumor activity is mediated in vivo by selective triggering of apoptosis in proliferating endothelial cells. We studied cultured human endothelial cells and observed that doxorubicin-induced apoptosis was mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Doxorubicin-provoked apoptosis was significantly inhibited by expression of dominant negative p38 MAPK or pharmacological inhibition with SB203580. Furthermore, blocking phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt signaling significantly increased doxorubicin-induced caspase-3 activity and cell death, indicating that Akt is a survival factor in this system. Notably, we also found that doxorubicin-provoked apoptosis included p38 MAPK-mediated inhibition of Akt and Bad phosphorylation. Furthermore, doxorubicin-stimulated phosphorylation of Bad in cells expressing dominant negative p38 MAPK was impeded by the inhibition of PI3-K. In addition to the impact on Bad phosphorylation, doxorubicin-treatment caused p38 MAPK-dependent downregulation of Bcl-xL protein.     

Interplay of maturation-promoting factor and mitogen-activated protein kinase inactivation during metaphase-to-interphase transition of activated bovine oocytes.

The objective of the present study was to examine the activity changes in histone H1 kinase (also known as maturation-promoting factor [MPF]) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and their constituent proteins in in vitro-matured bovine oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF) or after parthenogenetic activation induced by calcium ionophore A23187 alone or by the ionophore followed by either 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) or cycloheximide (CHX). Inactivation of both H1 kinase and MAPK occurred after both A23187+6-DMAP treatment and IVF; inactivation of H1 kinase preceded inactivation of MAPK. However, MAPK was inactivated much earlier in 6-DMAP-treated oocytes. Further analysis of constituent cell cycle proteins of these kinases by Western blot showed that A23187 alone could not induce changes in cdc2, cdc25, or ERK2 but induced reduction of cyclin B1. IVF and A23187+CHX induced similar changes: cyclin B1 was destroyed shortly after activation followed by accumulation of cyclin B1, phosphorylation of cdc2, and dephosphorylation of ERK2 at pronuclear formation 15 h after activation. No change in cdc25 was observed at this time. In contrast, A23187+6-DMAP treatment resulted in earlier phosphorylation of cdc2 and dephosphorylation of ERK2 at 4 h after treatment when the pronucleus formed. Moreover, accumulation of both cdc25 and cyclin B1 was detected at 15 h. Microinjection of ERK2 antibody into A23187-treated oocytes resulted in pronuclear formation. In conclusion, activation of bovine oocytes with 6-DMAP led to earlier inactivation of MAPK, while CHX induced inactivation of MAPK parallel to that following sperm-induced oocyte activation. Destruction of cyclin B is responsible for inactivation of MPF, while phosphorylation of cdc2 is likely responsible for maintaining its low activity. Inactivation of MAPK is closely associated with pronuclear development regardless of the activation protocol used.     

p90Rsk is required for G1 phase arrest in unfertilized starfish eggs

The cell cycle in oocytes generally arrests at a particular meiotic stage to await fertilization. This arrest occurs at metaphase of meiosis II (meta-II) in frog and mouse, and at G1 phase after completion of meiosis II in starfish. Despite this difference in the arrest phase, both arrests depend on the same Mos-MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway, indicating that the difference relies on particular downstream effectors. Immediately downstream of MAPK, Rsk (p90 ribosomal S6 kinase, p90(Rsk)) is required for the frog meta-II arrest. However, the mouse meta-II arrest challenges this requirement, and no downstream effector has been identified in the starfish G1 arrest. To investigate the downstream effector of MAPK in the starfish G1 arrest, we used a neutralizing antibody against Rsk and a constitutively active form of Rsk. Rsk was activated downstream of the Mos-MAPK pathway during meiosis. In G1 eggs, inhibition of Rsk activity released the arrest and initiated DNA replication without fertilization. Conversely, maintenance of Rsk activity prevented DNA replication following fertilization. In early embryos, injection of Mos activated the MAPK-Rsk pathway, resulting in G1 arrest. Moreover, inhibition of Rsk activity during meiosis I led to parthenogenetic activation without meiosis II. We conclude that immediately downstream of MAPK, Rsk is necessary and sufficient for the starfish G1 arrest. Although CSF (cytostatic factor) was originally defined for meta-II arrest in frog eggs, we propose to distinguish ;G1-CSF' for starfish from ;meta-II-CSF' for frog and mouse. The present study thus reveals a novel role of Rsk for G1-CSF.     

An inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase protects neonatal cardiac myocytes from ischemia

Cellular ischemia results in activation of a number of kinases, including p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK); however, it is not yet clear whether p38 MAPK activation plays a role in cellular damage or is part of a protective response against ischemia. We have developed a model to study ischemia in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. In this model, two distinct phases of p38 MAPK activation were observed during ischemia. The first phase began within 10 min and lasted less than 1 h, and the second began after 2 h and lasted throughout the ischemic period. Similar to previous studies using in vivo models, the nonspecific activator of p38 MAPK and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, anisomycin, protected cardiac myocytes from ischemic injury, decreasing the release of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase by approximately 25%. We demonstrated, however, that a selective inhibitor of p38 MAPK, SB 203580, also protected cardiac myocytes against extended ischemia in a dose-dependent manner. The protective effect was seen even when the inhibitor was present during only the second, sustained phase of p38 MAPK activation. We found that ischemia induced apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes and that SB 203580 reduced activation of caspase-3, a key event in apoptosis. These results suggest that p38 MAPK induces apoptosis during ischemia in cardiac myocytes and that selective inhibition of p38 MAPK could be developed as a potential therapy for ischemic heart disease.     

The hierarchical relationship between MAPK signaling and ROS generation in human leukemia cells undergoing apoptosis in response to the proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib

The hierarchy of events accompanying induction of apoptosis by the proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib was investigated in Jurkat lymphoblastic and U937 myelomonocytic leukemia cells. Treatment of Jurkat or U937 cells with Bortezomib resulted in activation of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), inactivation of extracellular signal-regulating kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), cytochrome c release, caspase-9, -3, and -8 activation, and apoptosis. Bortezomib-mediated cytochrome c release and caspase activation were blocked by the pharmacologic JNK inhibitor SP600125, but lethality was not diminished by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. Inducible expression of a constitutively active MEK1 construct blocked Bortezomib-mediated ERK1/2 inactivation, significantly attenuated Bortezomib lethality, and unexpectedly prevented JNK activation. Conversely, pharmacologic MEK/ERK1/2 inhibition promoted Bortezomib-mediated JNK activation and apoptosis. Lastly, the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (LNAC) attenuated Bortezomib-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, ERK inactivation, JNK activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. In contrast, enforced MEK1 and ERK1/2 activation or JNK inhibition did not modify Bortezomib-induced ROS production. Together, these findings suggest that in human leukemia cells, Bortezomib-induced oxidative injury operates at a proximal point in the cell death cascade to antagonize cytoprotective ERK1/2 signaling, promote activation of the stress-related JNK pathway, and to trigger mitochondrial dysfunction, caspase activation, and apoptosis. They also suggest the presence of a feedback loop wherein Bortezomib-mediated ERK1/2 inactivation contributes to JNK activation, thereby amplifying the cell death process.     

MAP kinase links the fertilization signal transduction pathway to the G1/S-phase transition in starfish eggs.

The mechanism by which fertilization initiates S-phase in the zygote is examined by manipulating the activity of MAP kinase in mature starfish eggs. These unfertilized eggs, which are arrested at G1-phase after the completion of meiosis, have high MAP kinase activity but undetectable cdc2 kinase activity. Either fertilization or inhibition of protein synthesis causes a decrease in MAP kinase activity, which is followed by DNA synthesis. Inactivation of MAP kinase with its specific phosphatase, CL100, initiates DNA synthesis in the absence of fertilization, while constitutive activation of MAP kinase with MEK represses the initiation of DNA synthesis following fertilization. Thus, in unfertilized mature starfish eggs, a capacity for DNA replication is already acquired, but entry into S-phase is negatively regulated by MAP kinase activity that is supported by a continuously synthesized protein(s) but not by cdc2 kinase. Upon fertilization, downregulation of MAP kinase activity is necessary and sufficient for triggering the G1/S-phase transition.     

Involvement of mitogen-activating protein kinase and intracellular pH in the duration of the metaphase I (MI) pause of starfish oocytes after spawning

The metaphase I (MI) arrest of starfish oocytes is released after spawning. In this study using starfish Asterina pectinifera , the duration of MI after spawning was ~20 min and ~30 min in fertilized and unfertilized oocytes, respectively. This prolongation of MI in unfertilized oocytes, referred to as the MI pause, was maintained by mitogen-activating protein kinase (MAPK) as well as low intracellular pH (~7.0). Contrary to previous reports, MI arrest was not maintained by MAPK, since it was inactive in the oocytes arrested at MI in the ovary and activated immediately after spawning. Also, cyclin B was not degraded at pH 6.7 in the cell-free preparation without MAPK activity, whereas it was degraded at pH 7.0, suggesting that MI arrest was solely maintained by lower pH (< 7.0). Normal development occurred when the spawned oocytes were fertilized before the first polar body formation, whereas fertilization after the first polar body formation increased the rate of abnormal development. Thus, due to MI pause and MI arrest, the probability for fertilization before the polar body formation might be increased, leading to normal development.     

Distinct, constitutively active MAPK phosphatases function in Xenopus oocytes: implications for p42 MAPK regulation In vivo

Xenopus oocyte maturation requires the phosphorylation and activation of p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Likewise, the dephosphorylation and inactivation of p42 MAPK are critical for the progression of fertilized eggs out of meiosis and through the first mitotic cell cycle. Whereas the kinase responsible for p42 MAPK activation is well characterized, little is known concerning the phosphatases that inactivate p42 MAPK. We designed a microinjection-based assay to examine the mechanism of p42 MAPK dephosphorylation in intact oocytes. We found that p42 MAPK inactivation is mediated by at least two distinct phosphatases, an unidentified tyrosine phosphatase and a protein phosphatase 2A-like threonine phosphatase. The rates of tyrosine and threonine dephosphorylation were high and remained constant throughout meiosis, indicating that the dramatic changes in p42 MAPK activity seen during meiosis are primarily attributable to changes in MAPK kinase activity. The overall control of p42 MAPK dephosphorylation was shared among four partially rate-determining dephosphorylation reactions, with the initial tyrosine dephosphorylation of p42 MAPK being the most critical of the four. Our findings provide biochemical and kinetic insight into the physiological mechanism of p42 MAPK inactivation.     

p38 MAPK and MSK1 mediate caspase-8 activation in manganese-induced mitochondria-dependent cell death

Heavy metals are important regulators of cell apoptosis. Manganese (Mn(2+)) is a potent inducer of apoptosis in different cell types, but the precise mechanisms that mediate such effects are not well defined. We previously reported that Mn(2+) was a potent apoptotic agent in human B cells, including lymphoma B cell lines. We show here that Mn(2+)-induced cell death in human B cells is associated with caspase-8-dependent mitochondrial activation leading to caspase-3 activity and apoptosis. We used specific caspase-8 interfering shRNAs to reduce caspase-8 expression, and this also reduced Mn(2+)-induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. Mn(2+)-triggered caspase-8 activation is associated with a specific pathway, which is independent of Fas-associated death domain protein, and dependent on the sequential activation of p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and mitogen- and stress-response kinase 1 (MSK1). Inhibition of p38 activity using either pharmacological inhibitors or dominant-negative mutant forms of p38 blocked Mn(2+)-mediated phosphorylation of MSK1 and blocked subsequent caspase-8 activation. However, specific inhibitors and the expression of a dominant-interfering mutant of MSK1 only inhibited caspase-8 activation, but not p38 activity. These findings suggest a novel model for the regulation of caspase-8 during Mn(2+)-induced apoptosis based on the sequential activation of p38 MAPK, MSK1, caspase-8 and mitochondria, respectively.     

Characterization of ribosomal S6 protein kinase p90rsk during meiotic maturation and fertilization in pig oocytes: mitogen-activated protein kinase-associated activation and localization

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) becomes activated during the meiotic maturation of pig oocytes, but its physiological substrate is unknown. The 90-kDa ribosome S6 protein kinase (p90rsk) is the best known MAPK substrate in Xenopus and mouse oocytes. The present study was designed to investigate the expression, phosphorylation, subcellular localization, and possible roles of p90rsk in porcine oocytes during meiotic maturation, fertilization, and parthenogenetic activation. This kinase was partially phosphorylated in oocytes at germinal vesicle (GV) stage through a MAPK-independent mechanism, but its full phosphorylation is dependent on MAPK activity. After fertilization or electrical activation, p90rsk was dephosphorylated shortly before pronucleus formation, which coincided with the inactivation of MAPK. A protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, accelerated the phosphorylation of p90rsk during meiotic maturation and induced its rephosphorylation in activated eggs. MAPK kinase (MAPKK or MEK) inhibitor U0126 inhibited the activation of MAPK and p90rsk in both cumulus-enclosed and denuded pig oocytes, but prevented GV breakdown (GVBD) only in cumulus-enclosed oocytes. Active MAPK and p90rsk were detected in pig cumulus cells, and U0126 induced their dephosphorylation. In meiosis II arrested eggs, U0126 led to the inactivation of MAPK and p90rsk, as well as the interphase transition of the eggs. P90rsk was distributed evenly in GV oocytes, but it accumulated in the nucleus before GVBD. It was localized to the meiotic spindle after GVBD and concentrated in the spindle mid zone during emission of the polar bodies. All these results suggest that p90rsk is downstream of MAPK and plays functional roles in the regulation of nuclear status and microtubule organization. Although MAPK and p90rsk activity are not essential for the spontaneous meiotic resumption in denuded oocytes, activation of this cascade in cumulus cells is indispensable for the gonadotropin-induced meiotic resumption of pig oocytes.