• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.245-249
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• 2011

Amphetamine, a synthetic psychostimulant, is transported by the dopamine transporter (DAT) to the cytosol and increases the exchange of extracellular amphetamine by intracellular dopamine. Recently, we reported that the phosphorylation levels of ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are regulated by psychostimulant drugs in the nucleus accumbens, a brain area important for drug addiction. However, the significance of ERM proteins phosphorylation in response to drugs of abuse has not been fully investigated. In this study, using PC12 cells as an in vitro cell model, we showed that amphetamine increases ERM proteins phosphorylation and protein kinase C (PKC) ${\beta}$ inhibitor, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) inhibitors, abolished this effect. Further, we observed that DAT inhibitor suppressed amphetamine-induced ERM proteins phosphorylation in PC12 cells. These results suggest that $PKC{\beta}$-induced DAT regulation may be involved in amphetmaine-induced ERM proteins phosphorylation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.121-126
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• 2020

The ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are a family of membrane-associated proteins known to play roles in cell-shape determination as well as in signaling pathways. We have previously shown that amphetamine decreases phosphorylation levels of these proteins in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), an important neuronal substrate mediating rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. In the present study, we further examined what molecular pathways may be involved in this process. By direct microinjection of LY294002, a PI3 kinase inhibitor, or of S9 peptide, a proposed GSK3β activator, into the NAcc core, we found that phosphorylation levels of ERM as well as of GSK3β in this site are simultaneously decreased. These results indicate that ERM proteins are under the regulation of Akt-GSK3β signaling pathway in the NAcc core. The present findings have a significant implication to a novel signal pathway possibly leading to structural plasticity in relation with drug addiction.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.196-200
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• 2005

The neurofibromatosis type2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene product, merlin, is structurally related to the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family of proteins that anchor the actin cytoskeleton to specific membrane proteins and participate in cell signaling. However, the basis of the tumor suppressing activity of merlin is not well understood. Previously, we identified a role of merlin as an inhibitor of the Ras-ERK signaling pathway. Recent studies have suggested that phosphorylation of merlin, as of other ERM proteins, may regulate its function. To determine whether phosphorylation of merlin affects its suppression of Ras-ERK signaling, we generated plasmids expressing full-length merlin with substitutions of serine 518, a potential phosphorylation site. A substitution that mimics constitutive phosphorylation (S518D) abrogated the ability of merlin to suppress effects of the Ras-ERK signaling pathway such as Ras-induced SRE transactivation, Elk-mediated SRE transactivation, Ras-induced ERK phosphorylation and Ras-induced focus formation. On the other hand, an S518A mutant, which mimics nonphosphorylated merlin, acted like wild type merlin. These observations show that mimicking merlin phosphorylation impairs not only growth suppression by merlin but also its inhibitory action on the Ras-ERK signaling pathway.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권2호통권82호
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• pp.192-197
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• 2007

외부 병원체 침입으로 이동하고 있는 T 세포는 두가지 뚜렷한 형태적인 변화, 즉, leading edge와 uropod를 형성하여 효과적으로 T세포 이동에 영향을 미친다. Uropod 구조물은 이동하는 림프구들의 뒤쪽에서 관찰 할 수 있는 아주 독특한 구조로 CD44, ERM, F-actin과 같은 단백질들이 서로 영향을 미치며 모인다. F-actin cytoskeleton은 세포의 형태를 유지하는 기본적인 틀을 제공한다. Rho A small GTPase는 이러한 cytoskeleton을 재구성하는 organizer로 역할을 한다고 보고되어 왔다. 지금까지, 다양한 경로를 통하여 Rho A가 활성화 되어 진다고 보고 되었다. 본 실험에서 PDZ 도메인이 세포 내부 RHo A에 GDP가 결합된 불활성화 형태의 Rho A를 GTP가 결합된 활성화 형태로 전환한다는 것을 알았고, F-actin cytoskeleton을 재구성 하며, PDZ 도메인을 함유한 세포는 uorpod 구조물이 없어졌으며 세포 이동 속도도 감소하는 것을 알았다. 따라서 Rho A와 F-actin cytoskeleton 사이의 신호 전달 과정이 uropod 형성에 아주 중요한 기능을 할 것이라는 것을 알았다.