Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2000 · 278 citations · 48 references
Life SciencesCell BiologyImmunologyCell SignalingInflammationSignal TransductionCytokine BiologyGrowth Factor SignalingInflammatory Cell SignalingInflammatory SignalingProtein Kinase CascadesStem Cell Signaling PathwaysC-jun N-terminal Kinase SignalingEmbryonic Cell MigrationJnk Pathway ActivationJnk Signaling PathwayJun N-terminal Kinase SignalingMapk SignalingMitogen-activated Protein Kinase SignalingProinflammatory Mediators
Exposure of eukaryotic cells to extracellular stimuli results in activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades composed of MAPKs, MAPK kinases (MAP2Ks), and MAPK kinase kinases (MAP3Ks). Mammals possess a large number of MAP3Ks, many of which can activate the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPK cascade when overexpressed, but whose biological function is poorly understood. We examined the function of the MAP3K MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1) in proinflammatory signaling. Using MEKK1-deficient embryonic stem cells prepared by gene targeting, we find that, in addition to its function in JNK activation by growth factors, MEKK1 is required for JNK activation by diverse proinflammatory stimuli, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-1, double-stranded RNA, and lipopolysaccharide. MEKK1 is also essential for induction of embryonic stem cell migration by serum factors, but is not required for activation of other MAPKs or the IkappaB kinase signaling cascade.
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The stress-activated protein kinase subfamily of c-Jun kinases
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