Integration of multiple signaling pathway activities resolves K-RAS/N-RAS mutation paradox in colon epithelial cell response to inflammatory cytokine stimulation.

TitleIntegration of multiple signaling pathway activities resolves K-RAS/N-RAS mutation paradox in colon epithelial cell response to inflammatory cytokine stimulation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsKreeger, PK, Wang, Y, Haigis, KM, Lauffenburger, DA
JournalIntegr Biol (Camb)
Volume2
Issue4
Pagination202-8
Date Published2010 Apr
ISSN1757-9708
KeywordsCell Line, Colon, Cytokines, Epithelial Cells, Humans, Intestinal Mucosa, Mutation, ras Proteins, Signal Transduction, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Abstract

Colon tumors frequently harbor mutation in K-RAS and/or N-RAS, members of a GTPase family operating as a central hub for multiple key signaling pathways. While these proteins are strongly homologous, they exhibit diverse downstream effects on cell behavior. Utilizing an isogenic panel of human colon carcinoma cells bearing oncogenic mutations in K-RAS and/or N-RAS, we observed that K-RAS and double mutants similarly yield elevated apoptosis in response to treatment with TNFalpha compared to N-RAS mutants. Regardless, and in surprising contrast, key phospho-protein signals were more similar between N-RAS and dual mutants. This apparent contradiction could not be explained by any of the key signals individually, but a multi-pathway model constructed from the single-mutant cell line data was able to predict the behavior of the dual-mutant cell line. This success arises from a quantitative integration of multiple pro-apoptotic (pIkappaBalpha, pERK2) and pro-survival (pJNK, pHSP27) signals in manner not easily discerned from intuitive inspection.

DOI10.1039/b925935j
Alternate JournalIntegr Biol (Camb)
PubMed ID20473400
PubMed Central IDPMC3687524
Grant ListP50 GM068762 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
P50-GM68762 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
U54 CA112967 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U54-CA112967 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States