Intrinsically active MEK variants are differentially regulated by proteinases and phosphatases

Sci Rep. 2018 Aug 7;8(1):11830. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-30202-5.

Abstract

MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) 1/2 are central signaling proteins that serve as specificity determinants of the MAPK/ERK cascade. More than twenty activating mutations have been reported for MEK1/2, and many of them are known to cause diseases such as cancers, arteriovenous malformation and RASopathies. Changes in their intrinsic activity do not seem to correlate with the severity of the diseases. Here we studied four MEK1/2 mutations using biochemical and molecular dynamic methods. Although the studied mutants elevated the activating phosphorylation of MEK they had no effect on the stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Studying the regulatory mechanism that may explain this lack of effect, we found that one type of mutation affects MEK stability and two types of mutations demonstrate a reduced sensitivity to PP2A. Together, our results indicate that some MEK mutations exert their function not only by their elevated intrinsic activity, but also by modulation of regulatory elements such as protein stability or dephosphorylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / chemistry
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / genetics*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 2 / genetics*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Peptide Hydrolases / genetics*
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / genetics*
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Stability

Substances

  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 2
  • MAP2K1 protein, human
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
  • Peptide Hydrolases