Hormonal regulation of MAP kinase in cultured rat inner medullary collecting tubule cells.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is a widely expressed protein serine/threonine kinase that serves as a convergence point for many signaling pathways including receptor tyrosine kinases, G protein-coupled receptors, and protein kinase C (PKC). The hormonal regulation of MAP kinase was studied in cultured established rat inner medullary collecting tubule (RIMCT) cells. Neither vasopressin nor beta-adrenergic agonists stimulated MAP kinase, despite clear stimulation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase.

Acetylcholine muscarinic m1 receptor regulation of cyclic AMP synthesis controls growth factor stimulation of Raf activity.

Acetylcholine muscarinic m2 receptors (m2R) couple to heterotrimeric Gi proteins and activate the Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in Rat 1a cells. In contrast to the m2R, stimulation of the acetylcholine muscarinic m1 receptor (m1R) does not activate the Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase regulatory pathway in Rat 1a cells but rather causes a pronounced inhibition of epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor activation of Raf. In Rat 1a cells, m1R stimulation of phospholipase C beta and the marked rise in intracellular calcium stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) synthesis, resulting in the activation of protein kinase A.

How does the G protein, Gi2, transduce mitogenic signals?

Serpentine receptors coupled to the heterotrimeric G protein, Gi2, are capable of stimulating DNA synthesis in a variety of cell types. A common feature of the Gi2-coupled stimulation of DNA synthesis is the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). The regulation of MAPK activation by the Gi2-coupled thrombin and acetylcholine muscarinic M2 receptors occurs by a sequential activation of a network of protein kinases.

Expression of a mutant Gi2 alpha subunit inhibits ATP and thrombin stimulation of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2-mediated arachidonic acid release independent of Ca2+ and mitogen-activated protein kinase regulation.

The 85-kDa cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) is the major hormone and growth factor-regulated enzyme that catalyzes release of arachidonic acid in mammalian cells. Activation of cPLA2 requires elevation of intracellular Ca2+ and the phosphorylation of the cPLA2 enzyme by mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters or pertussis toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Gi proteins inhibits thrombin and ATP receptor-stimulated MAP kinase and arachidonic acid release, indicating that functional protein kinase C and Gi proteins are required for G protein regulation of arachidonic acid release.