P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase promotes cell survival in response to DNA damage but is not required for the G(2) DNA damage checkpoint in human cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is rapidly activated by stresses and is believed to play an important role in the stress response. While Chk1 is known to mediate G(2) DNA damage checkpoint control, p38 was also reported to have an essential function in this checkpoint control. Here, we have investigated further the roles of p38 and Chk1 in the G(2) DNA damage checkpoint in cancer cells. We find that although p38 activation is strongly induced by DNA damage, its activity is not required for the G(2) DNA damage checkpoint. In contrast, Chk1 kinase is responsible for the execution of G(2) DNA damage checkpoint control in p53-deficient cells. The inhibition of p38 activity has no effect on Chk1 activation and gamma-H2AX expression. Global gene expression profiling of cancer cells i

SUBMITTER: Phong MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2916406 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature