Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 26, 2026

Myeloid Innate Signaling Pathway Regulation by MALT1 Paracaspase Activity
07:09

Myeloid Innate Signaling Pathway Regulation by MALT1 Paracaspase Activity

Published on: January 7, 2019

Signalling pathway leading to an activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by stimulating M3 muscarinic receptor

J Y Kim1, M S Yang, C D Oh

  • 1Department of Biology, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 702-701, Korea.

The Biochemical Journal
|January 12, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Carbachol activates Erk-1/-2 via M3 muscarinic receptors, involving protein kinase C epsilon (PKCepsilon), Ras, and Raf signaling in neuroblastoma cells.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Signaling
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, including Erk-1 and Erk-2, are crucial in cellular processes.
  • Muscarinic receptors mediate various cellular responses.
  • Understanding signaling pathways is vital for neurobiology research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the signaling pathway for mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase Erk-1/-2 activation.
  • To elucidate the role of muscarinic receptors and protein kinase C (PKC) in this pathway.
  • To identify specific PKC isoforms involved in carbachol-induced signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE2(C) cells.
  • Employed specific antagonists for muscarinic receptors.
  • Investigated protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms and their activation.
  • Assessed the role of Ras and Raf in the signaling cascade.
  • Used selective down-regulation and ectopic expression of signaling molecules.

Main Results:

  • Carbachol activated Erk-1/-2 through the M3 muscarinic receptor.
  • Protein kinase C epsilon (PKCepsilon) was identified as the key PKC isoform activated by carbachol.
  • PKCepsilon activation was necessary for Erk-1/-2 activation.
  • Carbachol induced Raf activation, which was downstream of PKCepsilon but upstream of MAP kinase kinase.
  • Ras activation was upstream of Raf but independent of PKCepsilon.

Conclusions:

  • Carbachol-induced Erk-1/-2 activation in neuroblastoma cells is mediated by a pathway involving M3 muscarinic receptor, PKCepsilon, Ras, and Raf.
  • PKCepsilon acts as a critical link between receptor activation and downstream MAP kinase signaling.
  • This study elucidates a specific signaling cascade relevant to neuroblastoma cell function.

More Related Videos

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development09:32

Light-mediated Reversible Modulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Cell Differentiation and Xenopus Embryonic Development

Published on: June 15, 2017

Related Concept Videos

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...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Parasympathetic Signaling01:30

Parasympathetic Signaling

Parasympathetic signaling plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes. It involves the release of acetylcholine (ACh) by parasympathetic neurons, which can have localized and short-lived effects. The majority of ACh released is rapidly inactivated at the synapse by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which hydrolyzes Ach into choline and acetate. Additionally, the tissue cholinesterase deactivates any ACh diffusing into the surrounding tissues.
The effects of...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/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...
Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers01:15

Amplifying Signals via Second Messengers

Many receptor binding ligands are hydrophilic; they do not cross the cell membrane but bind to cell-surface receptors. Thus, their message must be relayed by second messengers present in the cell cytoplasm. There are several second messenger pathways, each with its own way of relaying information. For example, the G protein-coupled receptors can activate both phosphoinositol and cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathways. The phosphoinositol pathway is active when the receptor induces...