Project 1 Regulation of JNK through the MC1 receptor

Clarke, BL, (1999), “Binding and Processing of 125I-ACTH by Isolated rat splenic lymphocytes”, Biochemical Biophysical Research Communications 266, 542-6
Wermerskirchen, AS, LaTocha, DH, Clarke, BL, (2000), “Adrenocorticotropic Hormone controls Concanavalin A activation of rat lymphocytes by modulating IL-2 production”, Life Sciences 67(18), 2177-87
Akbulut, S, Byersdorfer CA, Zimmer, SL, Larsen CP, Humphreys TD, Clarke BL, (2001), “Expression of the Melanocortin 5 Receptor on Rat Lymphocytes”, Biochemical Biophysical Research Communications 281, 1086-92
Clarke, BL, (2003), “ Isolation of the Melanocortin 5 Receptor: from cDNA sequence to isolating an integral membrane protein” In: Membrane Protein Protocols: Expression, Purification and Crystallization (BS Selinsky ed) 228, 151-61, The Humana Press Inc., Totowa NJ

In Progress ACTH modulates the production of IL-2 through the MC5 receptor.  The IL-2 promoter is regulated by several transcription factors, predominately NFAT, NF-κB and AP-1.  Using an EMSA procedure we have discovered that ACTH altered the binding activity of AP1.  We are currently assessing if the regulatory point is at the phosphorylation of c-JUN