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Subcellular Fractionation for ERK Activation Upon Mitochondrial-derived Peptide Treatment
07:55

Subcellular Fractionation for ERK Activation Upon Mitochondrial-derived Peptide Treatment

Published on: September 25, 2017

Role of extracellular signal regulated kinase 5 in neuronal survival

Jane E Cavanaugh1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, 13th Floor Biomedical Science Tower, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. jec21@pitt.edu

European Journal of Biochemistry
|May 22, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular signal regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is crucial for neuronal survival, activated by neurotrophic factors in brain cells. This protein kinase plays a key role in neurotrophin-mediated survival through transcriptional regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Extracellular signal regulated kinase 5 (ERK5), also known as big-mitogen activated kinase 1 (BMK1), is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) kinase family.
  • ERK5 is widely expressed in various tissues, including the brain.
  • While ERK5's role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and transformation in non-neuronal cells is established, its function in neuronal survival was previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of ERK5 in neuronal survival.
  • To understand the mechanism of ERK5-mediated neuronal survival.

Main Methods:

  • Activation of ERK5 by neurotrophic factors in primary neuronal cells.
  • Analysis of ERK5's role in neurotrophin-mediated neuronal survival.
  • Investigation of the transcriptional regulation mechanisms involved in ERK5-mediated survival.

Main Results:

  • ERK5 is activated by neurotrophic factors in primary neuronal cells.
  • ERK5 plays a significant role in neurotrophin-mediated neuronal survival.
  • The mechanism underlying ERK5-mediated neuronal survival involves transcriptional regulation.

Conclusions:

  • ERK5 is an important mediator of neuronal survival.
  • Neurotrophic factors activate ERK5 in neuronal cells, contributing to survival.
  • Transcriptional regulation is a key component of ERK5's function in promoting neuronal survival.

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