Office: 1110 Mayo Phone: (612) 626-0184 watte004@umn.edu B.S., Molecular Biophysics and Biochemisty, Yale University Ph.D., Toxicology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Interests

The research in my laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms by which different types of carcinogenic agents interfere with the signaling pathways that control cell fate and function. Our recent work has investigated how both genotoxic and nongenotoxic carcinogens modulate signaling pathways that are mediated by members of the mitogen activated protein kinase family. Understanding how carcinogenic agents take advantage of the signaling pathways that regulate cell fate and function may help us predict how environmental chemicals affect carcinogenesis and may ultimately help us to develop effective methods to prevent and treat cancer.

Administration

Director of Graduate Studies

Recent Publications

Kuroki, D.W., Bignami, G.S., and Wattenberg, E.V. Activation of Stress-activated Protein Kinase/c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase by the Non-TPA-type Tumor Promoter Palytoxin. Cancer Res. 56:637-644 (1996).

Wattenberg, E.V., Badria, F.A., and Shier, W.T. Activation of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase by the Carcinogenic Mycotoxin Fumonisin B1. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 227:622-627 (1996).

Johnson, R.A., and Wattenberg, E.V. Risk Assessment of Phenoxy Herbicides: An Overview of the Epidemiology and Toxicology Data. In Biologic and Economic Assessment of Benefits from Use of Phenoxy Herbicides in the United States, Burnside, O.C. ed. Richtman Printing Companies, 16-40, (1996).

Kuroki, D.W., Minden, A., Sánchez, I., and Wattenberg, E.V. Regulation of a c-Jun Amino-terminal Kinase/Stress-activated Protein Kinase Cascade by a Sodium-Dependent Signal Transduction Pathway. J. Biol. Chem. 272:23905-23911 (1997).

Wotta, D.R., Wattenberg, E.V., Langason, R.B., and El-Fakahany, E.E. M1, M3 and M5 Muscarinic Receptors Stimulate Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase. Pharmacol. 56:175-186 (1998).

Li, S., and Wattenberg, E.V. Differential Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases by Palytoxin and Ouabain, Two Ligands for the Na+,K+-ATPase. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 151:377-384 (1998).

McCawley, L. J., Li, S., Wattenberg, E. V., and Hudson, L. G. Sustained Activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway: a Mechanism Underlying Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Specificity for Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Induction and Cell Migration. J. Biol. Chem. 274:4347-4353 (1999).

Li, S. and Wattenberg, E.V. Cell-type Specific Activation of p38 Protein Kinase Cascades by the Novel Tumor Promoter Palytoxin. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 160:109-119 (1999).

McCawley, L.J., Li, S., Benavidez, M., Halblieb, J., Wattenberg, E.V., and Hudson, L.G. Elevation of Intracellular Cyclic Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate Inhibits Growth Factor-Mediated Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 Induction and Keratinocyte Migration. Mol. Pharmacol. 58: 145-151 (2000).

Ellerbroek, S. M., Halbleib, J. M. Benavidez, M., Warmka, J. K., Wattenberg, E. V., Stack, M. S., Hudson, L. G. Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Activity in Epidermal Growth Factor-Stimulated Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Production and Cell Surface Association. Cancer Res. 61:1855-1861 (2001).

Cross, D.P., Ramachandran, G., and Wattenberg, E.V. Mixtures of Nickel and Cobalt Chlorides Induce Synergistic Cytotoxic Effects: Implications for Inhalation Exposure Modeling. Ann. Occupational. Hyg. 45:409-481 (2001).

Warmka JK, Winston SE, Zeliadt NA, and Wattenberg EV. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase transmits palytoxin-stimulated signals leading to altered gene expression in mouse keratinocytes. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 185:8-17 (2002).

Wichmann AE, Thomson NM, Peterson LA, and Wattenberg EV. Genotoxic methylating agents modulate extracellular signal regulated kinase activity through MEK-dependent, gluthatione-, and DNA methylation-independent mechanisms in lung epithelial cells. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 16:87-94 (2003).

Zeliadt NA, Warmka JK, and Wattenberg EV. Mitogen activated protein kinases selectively regulate palytoxin-stimulated gene expression in mouse keratinocytes. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 192:212-221 (2003).

Zeliadt NA, Warmka JK, Winston SE, Kahler R, Westendorf JJ, Mauro LJ, and Wattenberg EV. Tumor promoter-induced MMP-13 gene expression in a model of initiated epidermis. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 317:570-577 (2004).

Warmka JK, Mauro LJ, and Wattenberg EV. Mitogen activated protein kinase phosphatase-3 is a tumor promoter target in initiated cells that express oncogenic ras. J. Biol. Chem. 279:33805-33902 (2004).