Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols
12:02

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols

Published on: June 6, 2017

Stress kinase MKK7: savior of cell cycle arrest and cellular senescence

Teiji Wada1, Josef M Penninger

  • 1Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna. teiji.wada@imba.oeaw.ac.at

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|April 27, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The stress-activated MKK4/MKK7-JNK-c-Jun pathway regulates cell proliferation, cell cycle, senescence, and apoptosis. This pathway links stress and developmental signals to critical cellular outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Signaling
  • Stress Response Pathways

Background:

  • The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK/SAPK) signaling cascade is crucial for cellular processes like growth, differentiation, and apoptosis.
  • Stress kinase MKK7 directly activates JNKs and influences cell cycle progression and senescence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the roles of MKK4 and c-Jun in the JNK pathway.
  • To elucidate the MKK4/MKK7-JNK-c-Jun pathway's involvement in stress signaling and cellular fate decisions.

Main Methods:

  • Exploration of molecules within the JNK pathway.
  • Analysis of the functional roles of MKK4 and c-Jun.
  • Integration of published and unpublished laboratory data.

Main Results:

  • MKK4 and c-Jun were found to have roles similar to MKK7 in regulating cellular processes.
  • The MKK4/MKK7-JNK-c-Jun pathway was identified as a key link between stress and developmental signals.

Conclusions:

  • The MKK4/MKK7-JNK-c-Jun pathway is vital for controlling cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, cellular senescence, and apoptosis.
  • This pathway integrates diverse signals to dictate fundamental cellular responses.

More Related Videos

Subcellular Fractionation for ERK Activation Upon Mitochondrial-derived Peptide Treatment07:55

Subcellular Fractionation for ERK Activation Upon Mitochondrial-derived Peptide Treatment

Published on: September 25, 2017

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis08:33

Combining Mitotic Cell Synchronization and High Resolution Confocal Microscopy to Study the Role of Multifunctional Cell Cycle Proteins During Mitosis

Published on: December 5, 2017

Related Concept Videos

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis02:15

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis02:15

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...