Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP
08:05

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP

Published on: May 26, 2017

Counting on mitogen-activated protein kinases--ERKs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

Marie A Bogoyevitch1, Naomi W Court

  • 1Cell Signalling Laboratory, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. marieb@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

Cellular Signalling
|September 24, 2004
PubMed

Insights

This study explores less-studied extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs 3-8), revealing their unique biological activities and biochemical properties. These findings expand our understanding of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways beyond the typical ERK1/2 model.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are crucial for eukaryotic signal transduction, regulating cell growth, differentiation, and death.
  • The extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and p38 MAPKs are key MAPK subfamilies.
  • Research has predominantly focused on ERK1 and ERK2, overlooking other ERK family members.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of research on ERK3 to ERK8.
  • To highlight the distinct biological activities and biochemical properties of ERKs 3-8.
  • To challenge the established paradigm of the archetypal ERK1/2 MAPK pathway.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on ERK3-8.
  • Comparative analysis of biochemical properties.
  • Examination of biological activities.

Main Results:

  • ERK3-8 share similarities with ERK1/2.
  • ERK3-8 exhibit unique biochemical characteristics.
  • ERK3-8 possess distinct biological functions.

Conclusions:

  • The ERK family is more diverse than previously recognized.
  • ERK3-8 play significant roles in cellular signaling.
  • These findings necessitate a revised understanding of MAPK pathway regulation.

More Related Videos

Characterize Disease-related Mutants of RAF Family Kinases by Using a Set of Practical and Feasible Methods07:49

Characterize Disease-related Mutants of RAF Family Kinases by Using a Set of Practical and Feasible Methods

Published on: July 17, 2019

Subcellular Fractionation for ERK Activation Upon Mitochondrial-derived Peptide Treatment07:55

Subcellular Fractionation for ERK Activation Upon Mitochondrial-derived Peptide Treatment

Published on: September 25, 2017

Related Concept Videos

MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Positive Regulator Molecules02:39

Positive Regulator Molecules

Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.