Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
08:40
Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Active ERK in the C. elegans Germline
Published on: November 29, 2016
Abl regulates smooth muscle cell proliferation by modulating actin dynamics and ERK1/2 activation
Li Jia1, Ruping Wang, Dale D Tang
1Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, Albany Medical College, NY 12208, USA.
American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology
|February 4, 2012
Summary
Abl kinase regulates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by modulating actin dynamics and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Abl knockdown attenuated ET-1 and PDGF-induced cell growth and arrested the cell cycle.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Abl is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase involved in cell migration, adhesion, and smooth muscle contraction.
- The specific role of Abl in smooth muscle cell proliferation remained uninvestigated prior to this study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Abl in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.
- To determine the signaling pathways regulated by Abl during mitogenic activation.
Main Methods:
- Generated stable Abl knockdown vascular smooth muscle cells using lentivirus-mediated RNA interference.
- Stimulated cells with endothelin-1 (ET-1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).
- Assessed cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt.
Main Results:
- ET-1 and PDGF increased Abl phosphorylation, indicating activation.
- Abl knockdown attenuated ET-1 and PDGF-induced smooth muscle cell proliferation and arrested the cell cycle at G(0)/G(1) to S phase.
- Abl knockdown reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation but did not affect Akt phosphorylation.
- Inhibition of actin polymerization with latrunculin-A also blocked ERK1/2 phosphorylation.
Conclusions:
- Abl kinase plays a critical role in regulating vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.
- Abl modulates smooth muscle cell proliferation through actin dynamics and ERK1/2 phosphorylation pathways during mitogenic activation.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Negative Regulator Molecules
Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
01:16Cell Motility through Blebbing
Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
01:07MAPK 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...
01:22PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast, mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
01:22Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) and its ligand, Eph receptor-interacting protein (Ephrin) were first discovered in the human carcinoma cell line, hence the name. Ephrin-Eph interaction guides cells to reach their appropriate location in adult tissues. They also play an essential role in the immune system by helping in immune cell migration, adhesion, and activation. Based on their structure and function, Eph is divided into two classes — EphA and EphB.