Regulation of Signal Transduction by Glutathione Transferases

Figure 2

Scheme of the various interactions between GSTs and MAPK implicated in stress-signaling pathway (adapted from [17]). The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family is composed of three types of kinases: MAP3K, MAP2K, and MAPK. In mammal, 3 major subgroups of MAPK are found: ERK, JNK, and p38. ERK is activated by proliferation and differentiation stimuli whereas JNK and p38 are preferentially activated by environmental stress. Upstream kinases (MAP3K, MAP2K) initiate activation of MAPK cascade in response to environmental changes and MAPK phosphorylate downstream targets such as transcription factors and generate appropriate biological response. Several GSTs are able to interact with various of these MAPK in nonstress conditions. Environmental stress leads to the disruption of these interactions and the activation of the signaling pathway. ROS: reactive oxygen species; UV: ultraviolet; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; TRAF2; TNF-receptor-associated factor 2; ASK1: apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1; MEKK1:Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase1; JNK: c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1; ERK: extracellular regulated kinase.