We have established that the serum-and glucocorticoid-inducible protein kinase (Sgk) is a
new component of the hyperosmotic stress response. Treatment of NMuMg mammary
epithelial cells with the organic osmolyte, sorbitol, caused the stable accumulation of Sgk
transcripts and protein after an approximately 4-h lag. Transient transfection of a series of
sgk-CAT reporter plasmids containing either 5′ deletions or continuous 6-base pair
substitutions identified a hyperosmotic stress-regulated element that is GC-rich and is …