Regulation of p42 and p44 MAP kinase isoforms in Rat-1 fibroblasts stably transfected with alpha 2C10 adrenoreceptors.

Stimulation of Rat-1 fibroblasts, stably transfected with alpha 2C10 receptors, with the specific alpha 2 agonist UK14304 led to the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the p42 and p44 isoforms of MAP kinase. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the MAP kinases was prevented by pertussis toxin. In unstimulated cells, there was constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the p44 but not the p42 MAP kinase. This effect was not seen in non-transfected parental Rat-1 fibroblasts.