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Life Sciences Commons

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Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

2008

George Fox University

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

M3-Muscarinic Receptor Activation Of Erk And Cell Growth Requires Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases In Mcf-7 Cells, John M. Schmitt, Ellen Abell, Andrea Wagner Jan 2008

M3-Muscarinic Receptor Activation Of Erk And Cell Growth Requires Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases In Mcf-7 Cells, John M. Schmitt, Ellen Abell, Andrea Wagner

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

Abstract The extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling pathway is found in diverse cells throughout the human body. ERK activation has been implicated in breast cancer cell growth and proliferation. Studies have shown that ERK is activated by carbachol, a G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) agonist, which increases intracellular calcium in MCF-7 cells. The calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM K) family of proteins including CaM KK, CaM KI, and CaM KII can be activated by increased intracellular calcium. Our goal was to determine whether CaM Ks may be responsible for ERK activation and cell proliferation in carbachol-treated MCF-7 cells and evaluate which …


Carbachol Regulation Of Akt In Lncap Prostate Cancer Cells, John M. Schmitt, Luke Fletcher Jan 2008

Carbachol Regulation Of Akt In Lncap Prostate Cancer Cells, John M. Schmitt, Luke Fletcher

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

Abstract Hormones and agonists that enhance cell survival through binding specific G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are of particular interest in cancer cell survival. LNCaP cells have been shown to express muscarinic cholinergic receptors that are responsive to the agonist, carbachol. In addition, LNCaP cells specifically express the M3-subtype of GPCR’s that may couple carbachol to Gq, increases in intracellular calcium, and activation of the intracelluar Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM Ks). The CaM Kinase family of proteins includes CaM KII, CaM Kinase Kinase (CaM KK) and its substrates CaM KIV, CaM KI and the protein kinase AKT. AKT is an anti-apoptotic …