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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs)

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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) play a crucial role in cellular signaling, affecting proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. They are activated through a cascade involving phosphorylation by MAP kinase kinases and inactivated by MAP kinase phosphatases. This text delves into the MAPKs' functions, their classification into ERKs, JNKs, and p38 MAPKs, and the unique pathways of atypical MAPKs.

Overview of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs)

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) are a pivotal category of protein kinases that specifically phosphorylate the amino acids serine and threonine. These enzymes are integral to the cellular response to diverse stimuli, including mitogens, osmotic stress, heat shock, and proinflammatory cytokines. MAPKs orchestrate a multitude of cellular processes, such as proliferation, gene expression, differentiation, cell cycle progression, survival, and programmed cell death (apoptosis). Found exclusively in eukaryotic cells, MAPKs are part of the CMGC (Cyclin-dependent kinases, MAPK, GSK3, and CLK kinases) kinase group. The exploration of MAPKs began with the identification of ERK1 in mammals, and further research has uncovered their role in abiotic stress responses, with plants demonstrating a particularly extensive array of MAPK genes to cope with environmental challenges.
Three-dimensional molecular model of a protein with colored spheres for atoms and sticks for bonds on a blue-white gradient background.

Classification and Subfamilies of MAPKs

Within the mammalian MAPK family, there are three principal subfamilies: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPKs). Each subfamily is triggered by distinct stimuli; ERKs are commonly activated by growth factors and mitogens, whereas JNKs and p38 MAPKs respond to cellular stressors and inflammatory cytokines. This functional diversity is indicative of the specialized roles MAPKs fulfill in transducing a wide array of external signals into appropriate cellular responses.

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00

The ______ kinase group, which includes MAPKs, is found only in ______ cells and is essential for many cellular functions.

CMGC

eukaryotic

01

Research on MAPKs started with the discovery of ______ in mammals, and these kinases are known to play a role in ______ stress responses in plants.

ERK1

abiotic

02

ERK activation stimuli

ERKs activated by growth factors, mitogens.

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