J Biol Chem 2006 Aug 11;28132:22586-96. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M601432200.

B-Raf is critical for MAPK activation during mitosis and is regulated in an M phase-dependent manner in Xenopus egg extracts.

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Activation of the MAPK cascade during mitosis is critical for spindle assembly and normal mitotic progression. The underlying regulatory mechanisms that control activation of the MEK/MAPK cascade during mitosis are poorly understood. Here we purified and characterized the MEK kinase activity present in Xenopus M phase-arrested egg extracts. Our results show that B-Raf was the critical MEK kinase required for M phase activation of the MAPK pathway. Consistent with this, B-Raf was activated and underwent hyperphosphorylation in an M phase-dependent manner. Interestingly B-Raf hyperphosphorylation at mitosis occurred, at least in part, as a consequence of a feedback loop involving MAPK-mediated phosphorylation within a conserved C-terminal SPKTP motif. The kinase activity of a B-Raf mutant defective at both phosphorylation sites was substantially greater than its wild type counterpart when incubated in Xenopus M phase egg extracts. Furthermore suppression of MAPK feedback at mitosis enhanced B-Raf activity, whereas constitutive activation of MAPK at mitosis strongly suppressed B-Raf activity. These results suggest that feedback phosphorylation by MAPK negatively regulates B-Raf activity at mitosis. Collectively our data demonstrate for the first time a role for B-Raf at mitosis and provide new insight into understanding the regulation and function of B-Raf during cell proliferation.

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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: braf mapk1 snrpe