Nuclear accumulation of NFAT4 opposed by the JNK signal transduction pathway

Chi Wing Chow, Mercedes Rincón, Julie Cavanagh, Martin Dickens, Roger J. Davis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

302 Scopus citations

Abstract

The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) group of transcription factors is retained in the cytoplasm of quiescent cells. NFAT activation is mediated in part by induced nuclear import. This process requires calcium- dependent dephosphorylation of NFAT caused by the phosphatase calcineurin. The c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylates NFAT4 on two sites. Mutational removal of the JNK phosphorylation sites caused constitutive nuclear localization of NFAT4. In contrast, JNK activation in calcineurin- stimulated cells caused nuclear exclusion of NFAT4. These findings show that the nuclear accumulation of NFAT4 promoted by calcineurin is opposed by the JNK signal transduction pathway.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1638-1641
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume278
Issue number5343
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 28 1997
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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