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Article
Regulation of Raf-1 by Direct Feedback Phosphorylation
Molecular Cell
  • Michele K. Dougherty
  • Jürgen Müller
  • Daniel A. Ritt
  • Ming Zhou
  • Xiao Zhen Zhou
  • Terry D. Copeland
  • Thomas P. Conrads
  • Timothy D. Veenstra, Cedarville University
  • Kun Ping Lu
  • Deborah K. Morrison
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-21-2005
DOI
10.1016/j.molcel.2004.11.055
PubMed ID
15664191
Abstract

The Raf-1 kinase is an important signaling molecule, functioning in the Ras pathway to transmit mitogenic, differentiative, and oncogenic signals to the downstream kinases MEK and ERK. Because of its integral role in cell signaling, Raf-1 activity must be precisely controlled. Previous studies have shown that phosphorylation is required for Raf-1 activation, and here, we identify six phosphorylation sites that contribute to the downregulation of Raf-1 after mitogen stimulation. Five of the identified sites are proline-directed targets of activated ERK, and phosphorylation of all six sites requires MEK signaling, indicating a negative feedback mechanism. Hyperphosphorylation of these six sites inhibits the Ras/Raf-1 interaction and desensitizes Raf-1 to additional stimuli. The hyperphosphorylated/desensitized Raf-1 is subsequently dephosphorylated and returned to a signaling-competent state through interactions with the protein phosphatase PP2A and the prolyl isomerase Pin1. These findings elucidate a critical Raf-1 regulatory mechanism that contributes to the sensitive, temporal modulation of Ras signaling.

Keywords
  • Cell line,
  • down-regulation,
  • enzyme activation,
  • feedback,
  • physiological,
  • isoenzymes,
  • mutagenesis,
  • peptides,
  • peptidylprolyl isomerase,
  • phosphoprotein phosphatases,
  • phosphorylation,
  • platelet-derived growth factor,
  • proteins
Citation Information
Michele K. Dougherty, Jürgen Müller, Daniel A. Ritt, Ming Zhou, et al.. "Regulation of Raf-1 by Direct Feedback Phosphorylation" Molecular Cell Vol. 17 Iss. 2 (2005) p. 215 - 224 ISSN: 1097-2765
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/timothy-veenstra/287/