Identification of a c-Jun N-terminal kinase-2-dependent signal amplification cascade that regulates c-Myc levels in ras transformation

Oncogene. 2012 Jan 19;31(3):390-401. doi: 10.1038/onc.2011.230. Epub 2011 Jun 27.

Abstract

Ras is one of the most frequently activated oncogenes in cancer. Two mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are important for ras transformation: extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2 (JNK2). Here we present a downstream signal amplification cascade that is critical for ras transformation in murine embryonic fibroblasts. This cascade is coordinated by ERK and JNK2 MAPKs, whose Ras-mediated activation leads to the enhanced levels of three oncogenic transcription factors, namely, c-Myc, activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and ATF3, all of which are essential for ras transformation. Previous studies show that ERK-mediated serine 62 phosphorylation protects c-Myc from proteasomal degradation. ERK is, however, not alone sufficient to stabilize c-Myc but requires the cooperation of cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A), an oncogene that counteracts protein phosphatase 2A-mediated dephosphorylation of c-Myc. Here we show that JNK2 regulates Cip2a transcription via ATF2. ATF2 and c-Myc cooperate to activate the transcription of ATF3. Remarkably, not only ectopic JNK2, but also ectopic ATF2, CIP2A, c-Myc and ATF3 are sufficient to rescue the defective ras transformation of JNK2-deficient cells. Thus, these data identify the key signal converging point of JNK2 and ERK pathways and underline the central role of CIP2A in ras transformation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activating Transcription Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Activating Transcription Factor 3 / biosynthesis
  • Animals
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Genes, ras / physiology*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9 / metabolism*
  • Protein Phosphatase 2 / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Activating Transcription Factor 2
  • Activating Transcription Factor 3
  • Atf2 protein, mouse
  • Atf3 protein, mouse
  • Myc protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9
  • Protein Phosphatase 2
  • ras Proteins