A NOVEL KINASE CASCADE TRIGGERED BY STRESS AND HEAT-SHOCK THAT STIMULATES MAPKAP KINASE-2 AND PHOSPHORYLATION OF THE SMALL HEAT-SHOCK PROTEINS

MAPK-activated protein kinase-2 (MAPKAP kinase-2) is activated in vitro by the p42 and p44 isoforms of MAPK (p42/p44(MAPK)). In several cell lines, however, MAPKAP kinase-2 is activated by sodium arsenite, heat shock, or osmotic stress and not by agonists that activate p42/p44(MAPK). We have identified a MAPK-like enzyme that acts as a MAPKAP kinase-a reactivating kinase (RK). RK is recognized by an antiserum raised against a Xenopus MAPK (Mpk2), which is most similar to HOG1 from S. cerevisiae. We also identified a RK kinase (RKK) on the basis of its ability to activate either RK or a GST-Mpk2 fusion protein. The RKK, RK, and MAPKAP kinase-2 constitute a new stress-activated signal transduction pathway in vertebrates that is distinct from the classical MAPK cascade.