Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) (MAPK)

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are a family of serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that play crucial roles in transmitting extracellular signals into intracellular responses, regulating key cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and response to stress. The canonical mammalian MAPK family consists of three main groups: extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and p38 MAP kinases. Each MAPK cascade generally involves a three-tiered structure: a MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK), a MAPK kinase (MAPKK, also known as MEK), and a MAPK, with each kinase activating the next by phosphorylation. Dysregulation of MAPK activity is implicated in many diseases, notably cancer, and many therapies are designed to target upstream components of this pathway. However, "Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway proteins" is not a single protein but a term encompassing multiple proteins within a signaling cascade.

Other names

MAP kinaseMAPKMitogen-activated protein kinase family

Inhibition of signal transduction cascade by blocking kinase activity (often MEK, upstream activator of MAPK/ERK)\nPrevents activation (phosphorylation) of MAPKs, reducing downstream signaling for cell proliferation/survival