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Journal ArticleDOI

Proteolytic Inactivation of MAP-Kinase-Kinase by Anthrax Lethal Factor

TLDR
It is shown that LF is a protease that cleaves the amino terminus of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases 1 and 2 and that this cleavage inactivates MAPKK1 and inhibits the MAPK signal transduction pathway.
Abstract
Anthrax lethal toxin, produced by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is the major cause of death in animals infected with anthrax. One component of this toxin, lethal factor (LF), is suspected to be a metalloprotease, but no physiological substrates have been identified. Here it is shown that LF is a protease that cleaves the amino terminus of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases 1 and 2 (MAPKK1 and MAPKK2) and that this cleavage inactivates MAPKK1 and inhibits the MAPK signal transduction pathway. The identification of a cleavage site for LF may facilitate the development of LF inhibitors.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI

Anthrax toxin protective antigen—Insights into molecular switching from prepore to pore

TL;DR: A model is proposed for the kinetic steps for protective antigen conversion from prepore to pore, and the driving force for pore formation is the formation of the phi (ϕ)‐clamp, a region that forms a leak‐free seal around the translocating polypeptide.
Journal ArticleDOI

MEK Wars, a new front in the battle against cancer

TL;DR: A specific inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or ERK) pathway is introduced as a new member in the growing search for cytostatic drugs that block tumor growth.
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Regulation of Apoptosis by Gram-Positive Bacteria: Mechanistic Diversity and Consequences for Immunity

TL;DR: Bacterial virulence factors, which represent the keys to unlocking the suicide response in host cells, are a primary focus of this field and are discussed as important agents of human infection that modulate PCD pathways in eukaryotic cells.
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Anti-toxin antibodies in prophylaxis and treatment of inhalation anthrax.

TL;DR: Since 2001, significant progress has been made in isolation and commercial development of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that function as potent neutralizers of anthrax lethal toxin in both a prophylactic and therapeutic setting.
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Xp38γ/SAPK3 promotes meiotic G2/M transition in Xenopus oocytes and activates Cdc25C

TL;DR: It is shown that MKK6 can rescue the inhibition of oocyte maturation by anthrax lethal factor, a protease that inactivates MAPK kinases, and phosphorylation of XCdc25C by Xp38γ/SAPK3 is important for the meiotic G2/M progression of Xenopus oocytes.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

A synthetic inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade.

TL;DR: Results indicate that the MAPK pathway is essential for growth and maintenance of the ras-transformed phenotype and PD 098059 is an invaluable tool that will help elucidate the role of theMAPK cascade in a variety of biological settings.
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Cyclin is degraded by the ubiquitin pathway

TL;DR: Cyclin degradation is the key step governing exit from mitosis and progress into the next cell cycle, and anaphase may be triggered by the recognition of cyclin by the ubiquitin-conjugating system.
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Transformation of mammalian cells by constitutively active MAP kinase kinase

TL;DR: It is found that constitutive activation of MAPKK is sufficient to promote cell transformation and is associated with highly tumorigenic in nude mice.
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Anthrax toxin edema factor: a bacterial adenylate cyclase that increases cyclic AMP concentrations of eukaryotic cells.

TL;DR: It is shown here that EF is an adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1] produced by Bacillus anthracis in an inactive form and nearly equals that of the most active known cyclase.
Journal ArticleDOI

Multiple Ras functions can contribute to mammalian cell transformation.

TL;DR: Results indicate that multiple cellular components, including Raf1, are activated by Ha-Ras and contribute to Ha- Ras-induced mammalian cell transformation.
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