热激活Rac-MEKK-JNK信号通路与hsp90β基因表达

目的探讨Rac-MEKK-JNK(Rac-丝裂原活化的蛋白激酶的激酶的激酶-C-jun N端蛋白激酶)信号通路对热诱导hsp90β基因表达的调控作用以及Hsp90蛋白对Rac信号通路传递的调节过程.方法将载体PcDNA3、显性负突变Rac(DN-Rac),显性负突变MEKK(DN-MEKK)和显性负突变JNK(DN-JNK)表达质粒分别与hsp90β基因转录调控片段介导的氯霉素乙酰基转移酶(CAT)报告基因质粒β3.1共转染Jurkat和LETPa-2细胞,采用以竞争性RT-PCR为基础的系统检测CAT报告基因转录水平.用Western印迹分析检测转染了DN-Rac、DN-MEKK和DN-JNK的细胞在热刺激前后c-Jun的表达水平和磷酸化状态.用体外激酶活性分析法检测geldanamycin(GA)对热诱导的JNK活性的影响.结果转染DN-Rac、DN-MEKK及DN-JNK均能抑制42℃1 h诱导的β3.1报告基因的表达,Jurkat细胞中CAT的热诱导表达分别为对照组的(72.8±5)%、(60±13.2)%及(47.7±12.1)%;LETPa-2细胞中CAT的热诱导表达分别为对照组的(16.17±5.1)%、(50.2±8.7)%及(47.5±10)%.转录因子c-Jun的表达和磷酸化水平也在一定程度上被抑制.GA处理细胞可明显抑制热诱导激活的JNK激酶活性和c-Jun的磷酸化水平,但不影响JNK和c-Jun的蛋白表达水平.结论Rac-MEKK-JNK通路参与hsp90β基因的热诱导表达,hsp90可能对热激活化的Rac信号通路有调节作用.

Heat shock activated Rac-MEKK-JNK pathway and hsp90 beta gene expression

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Rac-MEKK-JNK (Rac-mitogen activated protein kinase kinase kinase-C-jun N-terminal protein kinase) signal pathway on heat shock-induced hsp90 beta gene expression and the impact of Hsp90 on the regulation of the pathway. METHODS: DN-Rac, DN-MEKK or DN-JNK were cotransfected with hsp90 beta CAT reporter plasmid beta 3.1 into Jurkat or LETPa-2 cells individually, the CAT mRNA expression was then determined quantitatively by competitive RT-PCR based system. Western blot was carried out to detect the expression level and phosphorylation of c-Jun in Jurkat and LETPa-2 cells that were transfected with DN-Rac, DN-MEKK or DN-JNK. By in vitro kinase activity assay and Western blot, the effect of geldnamycin (GA) on heat induced JNK activity were evaluated. RESULTS: In Jurkat cell transfected with DN-Rac, DN-MEKK or DN-JNK, heat shock induced relative CAT mRNA expression level was decreased to (72.8 +/- 5)%, (60 +/- 13.2)% and (47.7 +/- 12.1)% of the control respectively; while in LETPa-2 cell hsp90 beta 3.1 reporter gene expression was accordingly suppressed to (16.17 +/- 5.1)%, (50.2 +/- 8.7)% and (47.5 +/- 10)% of control. C-Jun expression and phosphorylation were inhibited by the transfection of either one of DN-Rac, DN-MEKK or DN-JNK. With GA treatment, heat shock induced JNK activity was repressed, while the expression level of JNK or c-Jun was not obviously changed. CONCLUSIONS: Rac-MEKK-JNK pathway promotes heat shock induced hsp90 beta gene expression and hsp90 may participate in the regulation of heat shock activated Rac-MEKK-JNK signal pathway in both Jurkat and LETPa-2 cells.