Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) that activates c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and can induce cell death in neurons. By contrast, the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and AKT/protein kinase B (PKB) acts to suppress neuronal apoptosis. Here, we report a functional interaction between MLK3 and AKT1/PKB␣. Endogenous MLK3 and AKT1 interact in HepG2 cells, and this interaction is regulated by insulin. The interaction domain maps to the C-terminal half of MLK3 (amino acids 511-847), and this region also contains a putative AKT phosphorylation consensus sequence. Endogenous JNK, MKK7, and MLK3 kinase activities in HepG2 cells are significantly attenuated by insulin treatment, whereas the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin reversed the effect. Finally, MLK3-mediated JNK activation is inhibited by AKT1. AKT phosphorylates MLK3 on serine 674 both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the expression of activated AKT1 inhibits MLK3-mediated cell death in a manner dependent on serine 674 phosphorylation. Thus, these data provide the first direct link between MLK3-mediated cell death and its regulation by a cell survival signaling protein, AKT1.The cellular decision to undergo either cell death or cell survival is determined by the integration of multiple survival and death signals. Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) 1 is a member of a growing family of mixed lineage kinases (1). Recently, it has been shown that overexpression of MLK3 or NGF withdrawal leads to neuronal cell death, which can be prevented by treatment with a small molecule inhibitor of MLKs, CEP-1347 (2). Similarly, CEP-11004, an analog of CEP-1347, has also been shown to prevent neuronal cell death upon NGF withdrawal (3). These results indicate a significant and direct involvement of MLKs in regulating cell death; however, the detailed mechanism by which MLKs are regulated is still unknown.The c-jun-N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) is stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, heat shock, UV, ␥-irradiation, and by other cellular stresses (4, 5). The signals in stress-activated JNK pathway are transmitted through three core modules: MAP3Ks such as members of the mixed lineage kinases or MEKK members, a MAP2K such as SEK1/MKK4 or MKK7, and MAPK such as JNK family members (4, 5). The activated MAP3K phosphorylates and activates MKK7 or SEK1, which in turn phosphorylates and activates JNK. JNKs phosphorylate several nuclear transcription factors that include ELK1, c-Jun, and ATF2 (4, 5). In several cell types, the activation of JNKs is directly linked to cell death (6 -8). Therefore, one mechanism of cell survival could be to block JNK pathway induction. The activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) correlates with increased cell survival, and this effect is largely mediated through the activation of a serine/threonine kinase, AKT (also known as PKB). PI3K agonists such as insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) ...

The transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ␥ (PPAR␥) belongs to the family of nuclear hormone receptors and consists of two isotypes, PPAR␥1 and PPAR␥2. Our earlier studies have shown that troglitazone (TZD)-mediated activation of PPAR␥2 in hepatocytes inhibits growth and attenuates cyclin D1 transcription via modulating CREB levels. Because this process of growth inhibition was also associated with an inhibition of ␤-catenin expression at a post-translational level, our aim was to elucidate the mechanism involved. ␤-Catenin is a multifunctional protein, which can regulate cell-cell adhesion by interacting with Ecadherin and other cellular processes via regulating target gene transcription in association with TCF/LEF transcription factors. Two adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)-dependent proteasomal degradation pathways, one involving glycogen synthase kinase 3␤ (GSK3␤) and the other involving p53-Siah-1, degrade excess ␤-catenin in normal cells. Our immunofluorescence and Western blot studies indicated a TZD-dependent decrease in cytoplasmic and membrane-bound ␤-catenin, indicating no increase in its membrane translocation. This was associated with a reduction in E-cadherin expression. PPAR␥2 activation inhibited GSK3␤ kinase activity, and pharmacological inhibition of GSK3␤ activity was unable to restore ␤-catenin expression following PPAR␥2 activation. Additionally, this ␤-catenin degradation pathway was operative in cells, with inactivating mutations of both APC and p53. Inhibition of the proteasomal pathway inhibited PPAR␥2-mediated degradation of ␤-catenin, and incubation with TZD increased ubiquitination of ␤-catenin. We conclude that PPAR␥2-mediated suppression of ␤-catenin levels involves a novel APC/ GSK3␤/p53-independent ubiquitination-mediated proteasomal degradation pathway.

EPO functions primarily as an erythroblast survival factor, and its antiapoptotic actions have been proposed to involve predominantly PI3-kinase and BCL-X pathways. Presently, the nature of EPOregulated survival genes has been investigated through transcriptome analyses of highly responsive, primary bone marrow erythroblasts. Two proapoptotic factors, Bim and FoxO3a, were rapidly repressed not only via the wild-type EPOR, but also by PY-deficient knocked-in EPOR alleles. In parallel, Pim1 and Pim3 kinases and Irs2 were induced. For this survival gene set, induction failed via a PY-null EPOR-HM allele, but was restored upon reconstitution of a PY343 STAT5-binding site within a related EPOR-H allele. Notably, EPOR-HM supports erythropoiesis at steady state but not during anemia, while EPOR-H exhibits near wildtype EPOR activities. EPOR-H and the wild-type EPOR (but not EPOR-HM) also markedly stimulated the expression of Trb3 pseudokinase, and intracellular serpin, Serpina-3G. For SERPINA-3G and TRB3, ectopic expression in EPOdependent progenitors furthermore significantly inhibited apoptosis due to cytokine withdrawal. BCL-XL and BCL2 also were studied, but in highly responsive Kit pos CD71 high Ter119 neg erythroblasts, neither was EPO modulated. EPOR survival circuits therefore include the repression of Bim plus IntroductionIn response to anemia, erythropoietin (EPO) is expressed by interstitial kidney and fetal liver cells via hypoxia-inducible transcription factor pathways. 1,2 As a secreted monomeric sialoglycoprotein, EPO then targets developing erythroblasts, and is essential for red cell formation during definitive bone marrow and fetal liver erythropoiesis. [3][4][5][6][7][8] Prospective roles for EPO in promoting primitive red cell formation in yolk sac also have recently been described. 9 Beyond this, recombinant EPO has been demonstrated in ischemia and other cell damage models to provide cytoprotective effects for injured renal, cardiac, retinal, and neuronal tissues. 10,11 Taken together, these considerations have heightened interest in the specific nature of key EPO action mechanisms, especially those associated with progenitor cell survival.EPO's prime effects are mediated via interactions with its dimeric single-transmembrane receptor (EPOR). [3][4][5][6][7][8]12 These interactions appear to evoke EPOR conformational events, 13 which are relayed to an upstream Janus kinase, JAK2 14 (and JAK2 likewise may preassemble with EPOR dimers at a juxtamembrane box1 domain). 15,16 JAK2, as activated via a Y1007 phosphorylation loop, 17 next stimulates 2 separable signal transduction pathways. First, JAK2 interestingly can support steady-state erythropoiesis via EPOR-PY-independent routes that, in part, may involve MEK1,2 and ERK1,2 stimulation. 18 Second, JAK2 also mediates the phosphorylation of 8 conserved EPOR cytoplasmic PY sites, which can then form a scaffold for the binding of up to 20 SH2-or PTB-domain encoding signal transduction factors and molecular adaptors. [6][7][8][19][20][21] Among conserve...

Gastrin and its precursors promote proliferation in different gastrointestinal cells. Since mature, amidated gastrin (G-17) can induce cyclin D1, we determined whether G-17-mediated induction of cyclin D1 transcription involved Wnt signaling and CRE-binding protein (CREB) pathways. Our studies indicate that G-17 induces protein, mRNA expression and transcription of the G 1 -specific marker cyclin D1, in the gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGSE (expressing the gastrin/cholecystokinin B receptor). This was associated with an increase in steadystate levels of total and nonphospho b-catenin and its nuclear translocation, indicating the activation of the Wnt-signaling pathway. In addition, G-17-mediated increase in cyclin D1 transcription was significantly attenuated by axin or dominant-negative (dn) T-cell factor 4(TCF4), suggesting crosstalk of G-17 with the Wnt-signaling pathway. Mutational analysis indicated that this effect was mediated through the cyclic AMP response element (CRE) (predominantly) and the TCF sites in the cyclin D1 promoter, which was also inhibited by dnCREB. Furthermore, G-17 stimulation resulted in increased CRE-responsive reporter activity and CREB phosphorylation, indicating an activation of CREB. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies revealed a G-17-mediated increase in the interaction of b-catenin with cyclin D1 CRE, which was attenuated by dnTCF4 and dnCREB. These results indicate that G-17 induces cyclin D1 transcription, via the activation of b-catenin and CREB pathways.