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A Drosophila MAPKKK, D‐MEKK1, mediates stress responses through activation of p38 MAPK
Author(s) -
Inoue Hideki,
Tateno Minoru,
FujimuraKamada Konomi,
Takaesu Giichi,
AdachiYamada Takashi,
NinomiyaTsuji Jun,
Irie Kenji,
Nishida Yasuyoshi,
Matsumoto Kunihiro
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/20.19.5421
Subject(s) - biology , drosophila melanogaster , drosophila (subgenus) , map kinase kinase kinase , p38 mitogen activated protein kinases , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , mapk/erk pathway , kinase , gene
In cultured mammalian cells, the p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is activated in response to a variety of environmental stresses. How ever, there is little evidence from in vivo studies to demonstrate a role for this pathway in the stress response. We identified a Drosophila MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK), D‐MEKK1, which can activate p38 MAPK. D‐MEKK1 is structurally similar to the mammalian MEKK4/MTK1 MAPKKK. D‐MEKK1 kinase activity was activated in animals under conditions of high osmolarity. Drosophila mutants lacking D‐MEKK1 were hypersensitive to environmental stresses, including elevated temperature and increased osmolarity. In these D‐MEKK1 mutants, activation of Drosophila p38 MAPK in response to stress was poor compared with activation in wild‐type animals. These results suggest that D‐MEKK1 regulation of the p38 MAPK pathway is critical for the response to environmental stresses in Drosophila .