Nerve growth factor-mediated activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade involves a signaling complex containing B-Raf and HSP90.

The nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade is an obligatory step in the morphological differentiation of PC12 cells. Signal transduction through the MAP kinase cascade is dependent upon activation of p21(ras) which binds directly to Raf family protein kinases, mediating their association with the membrane and activation. PC12 cells express two Raf isoforms, c-Raf and B-Raf. The activation of the MAP kinase cascade in response to NGF is due principally to the action of B-Raf. NGF treatment of PC12 cells resulted in the enhanced phosphorylation of B-Raf and c-Raf, and both exhibit reduced electrophoretic mobilities following stimulation of the cells. The NGF-stimulated phosphorylation of B-Raf was correlated with its enzymatic activation as measured by the phosphorylation of its substrate MEK. However, c-Raf does not exhibit significant levels of activity. B-Raf was present as a component of a high molecular mass complex, which included the molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). Importantly, c-Raf did not participate in the formation of such complexes. The B-Raf containing HSP90 complexes were normally present in PC12 cells, and their assembly was not dependent upon NGF stimulation. These data suggest that the ability of B-Raf to activate the MAP kinase cascade is due to its association with a large signaling complex, which is likely to impart signaling pathway specificity.