MEK7-dependent Activation of p38 MAP Kinase in Keratinocytes

Shervin R. Dashti, Tatiana Efimova, Richard L. Eckert*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous studies suggest that a PKC/Ras/MEKK1 cascade regulates involucrin (hINV) gene expression in human epidermal keratinocytes. MEK7, which is expressed in epidermis, has been identified as a member of this cascade (Efimova, T., LaCelle, P., Welter, J. F., and Eckert, R. L. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 24387-24395 and Efimova, T., and Eckert, R. L. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 1601-1607). However, the kinase that functions downstream of MEK7 has not been identified. Our present studies show that MEK7 expression in keratinocytes markedly activates p38α and modestly activates JNK. Activation of p38 MAPK by MEK7 is a novel finding, as previous reports have assigned MEK7 as a JNK regulator. We also demonstrate that this regulation is physiologically important, as the p38α- and JNK-dependent activities regulate hINV promoter activity and expression of the endogenous hINV gene.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)8059-8063
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume276
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 16 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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