Tian, L., Chen, J., Chen, M., Gui, C., Zhong, C.Q., Hong, L., Xie, C., Wu, X., Yang, L., Ahmad, V., Han, J. (2014). The p38 Pathway Regulates Oxidative Stress Tolerance by Phosphorylation of Mitochondrial Protein IscU.  J. Biol. Chem. 289(46): 31856--31865.

FBrf0226741

Research paper

The p38 pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that responds to a variety of stresses. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that p38b is a major p38 MAPK involved in the regulation of oxidative stress tolerance in addition to p38a and p38c in Drosophila. We further show the importance of MK2 as a p38-activated downstream kinase in resistance to oxidative stresses. Furthermore, we identified the iron-sulfur cluster scaffold protein IscU as a new substrate of MK2 both in Drosophila cells and in mammalian cells. These results imply a new mechanistic connection between the p38 pathway and mitochondria iron-sulfur clusters.

PMC4231663 (PMC) (EuropePMC)