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Updated: May 1, 2026

Study of Protein-protein Interactions in Autophagy Research
Published on: September 9, 2017
The TRIM-FLMN protein TRIM45 directly interacts with RACK1 and negatively regulates PKC-mediated signaling pathway
T Sato1, H Takahashi2, S Hatakeyama2
11] Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan [2] Department of Biochemistry, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract:
The receptor for activated C-kinase (RACK1), a scaffolding protein that participates in the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway, has an important role in shuttling active PKCs to its substrate. Indeed, recent studies have revealed that RACK1 has an important role in tumorigenesis and that enhancement of the feed-forward mechanism of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-Jun pathway via RACK1 is associated with constitutive activation of MEK (MAPK-ERK kinase)-ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) signaling in human melanoma cells. Taken together, RACK1 additionally has a very important role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Here, we show that one of the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family ubiquitin ligases, TRIM45, is a novel RACK1-interacting protein and downregulates MAPK signal transduction. Importantly, the expression of TRIM45 is induced when growth-promoting extracellular stimuli activate the MAPK signaling pathway, resulting in attenuation of activation of the MAPK pathway. These findings suggest that TRIM45 functions as a member of the negative feedback loop of the MAPK pathway.
Insights
Tripartite motif-containing 45 (TRIM45) interacts with RACK1 and downregulates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. TRIM45 acts as a negative feedback mechanism in MAPK signaling, crucial for controlling cell growth.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Signaling
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Receptor for activated C-kinase 1 (RACK1) is a scaffolding protein involved in protein kinase C (PKC) signaling.
- RACK1 plays a role in tumorigenesis and constitutive activation of MAPK-ERK signaling in melanoma.
- RACK1 is implicated in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel RACK1-interacting proteins.
- To investigate the role of TRIM45 in MAPK signal transduction.
- To elucidate the function of TRIM45 in the negative feedback regulation of the MAPK pathway.
Main Methods:
- Co-immunoprecipitation to identify RACK1-interacting proteins.
- Western blotting to assess protein expression and signaling pathway activation.
- Analysis of TRIM45 expression in response to MAPK pathway activation.
Main Results:
- TRIM45 was identified as a novel RACK1-interacting protein.
- TRIM45 was found to downregulate MAPK signal transduction.
- TRIM45 expression is induced by extracellular stimuli that activate the MAPK pathway, leading to pathway attenuation.
Conclusions:
- TRIM45 negatively regulates MAPK signaling.
- TRIM45 acts as a negative feedback component in the MAPK pathway.
- TRIM45 may play a role in controlling cell growth and proliferation by modulating MAPK signaling.
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