The nuclear appearance of ERK1/2 and p38 determines the sequential induction of ATF2-Thr71 and ATF2-Thr69 phosphorylation by serum in JNK-deficient cells

Bart Baan (1) , Gerard C.M. van Der Zon (1) , J. Antonie Maassen (1, 2) , D. Margriet Ouwens (1)

1 Section Signal Transduction and Ageing
2 VU University Medical Center [Amsterdam]

Growth factors activate ATF2 via sequential phosphorylation of Thr69 and Thr71, where the ATF2-Thr71-phosphorylation precedes the induction of ATF2-Thr69+71-phosphorylation. Here, we studied the mechanisms contributing to serum-induced two-step ATF2-phosphorylation in JNK1,2-deficient embryonic fibroblasts. Using anion exchange chromatography, ERK1/2 and p38 were identified as ATF2–kinases in vitro. Inhibitor studies as well as nuclear localization experiments show that the sequential nuclear appearance of ERK1/2 and p38 determines the induction of ATF2-Thr71 and ATF2-Thr69+71-phosphorylation in response to serum.

Mots clés: ATF2; ERK1/2; p38; Fibroblasts; Serum

Bart Baan, Gerard C.M. van Der Zon, J. Antonie Maassen, D. Margriet Ouwens. The nuclear appearance of ERK1/2 and p38 determines the sequential induction of ATF2-Thr71 and ATF2-Thr69 phosphorylation by serum in JNK-deficient cells. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2009, 311 (1-2), pp.94. ⟨10.1016/j.mce.2009.07.023⟩. ⟨hal-00521554⟩