p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) regulates cell motility in mammalian fibroblasts.
AuthorsSells MA, Boyd JT, Chernoff J
JournalJ Cell Biol
PubMed ID10330410
'The p21 (Cdc42/Rac) activated kinase Pak1 regulates cell morphology and polarity in most, if not all, eukaryotic cells. We and others have established that Pak''s effects on these parameters are mediated by changes in the organization of cortical actin. Because cell motility requires polarized rearrangements of the actin/myosin cytoskeleton, we ... More
Blockage of voltage-gated calcium signaling impairs migration of glial cells in vivo.
AuthorsLohr C, Heil JE, Deitmer JW
JournalGlia
PubMed ID15712206
Migration of glial cells is an essential step in the development of the antennal lobe, the primary olfactory center of insects, to establish well-defined borders between olfactory glomeruli required for odor discrimination. In the present study, we used two-photon microscopy to visualize calcium signaling in developing antennal lobe glial cells ... More
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase plays an essential role in hypertrophic agonists, endothelin-1 and phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
AuthorsYue TL, Gu JL, Wang C, Reith AD, Lee JC, Mirabile RC, Kreutz R, Wang Y, Maleeff B, Parsons AA, Ohlstein EH
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID10984495
The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is activated by hypertrophic stimuli in cardiomyocytes. However, whether ERK plays an essential role or is implicated in all major components of cardiac hypertrophy remains controversial. Using a selective MEK inhibitor, U0126, and a selective Raf inhibitor, SB-386023, to block the ERK signaling pathway ... More
Inhibition of osteoclast function by adenovirus expressing antisense protein-tyrosine kinase 2.
AuthorsDuong LT, Nakamura I, Lakkakorpi PT, Lipfert L, Bett AJ, Rodan GA
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID11102447
Osteoclast activation is initiated by adhesion to bone, cytoskeletal rearrangement, formation of the sealing zone, and formation of the polarized ruffled membrane. Previous findings suggest that protein-tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2), a cytoplasmic kinase related to focal adhesion kinase, participates in these events. This study examines the role of PYK2 in ... More