Related Experiment Videos
p38 MAP kinase's emerging role as a tumor suppressor
Dmitry V Bulavin1, Albert J Fornace
1Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Singapore.
Advances in Cancer Research
|November 9, 2004
Summary
p38 proteins, a family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), regulate tumorigenesis by controlling cell cycle progression. They act as tumor suppressors by activating tumor suppressor pathways and inhibiting oncogenic signals.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- p38 proteins are evolutionally conserved mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK).
- p38 MAPK plays roles in regulating tumorigenesis via cellular growth control.
- Known proapoptotic functions are complemented by new data on cell cycle regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of p38 MAPK in tumor suppression.
- To highlight p38 MAPK's regulation of cell cycle progression.
- To discuss p38 MAPK's influence on tumor suppressor and oncogenic pathways.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on p38 MAPK.
- Analysis of p38 MAPK's role in cell cycle control.
- Examination of p38 MAPK's interaction with tumor suppressor and oncogenic pathways.
Main Results:
- p38 MAPK positively regulates p53- and Rb-dependent tumor suppressor pathways.
- p38 MAPK attenuates oncogenic signals from Cdc25A and Cdc25B phosphatases.
- p38 MAPK contributes to the negative regulation of cell cycle progression.
Conclusions:
- p38 MAPK exhibits tumor suppressor functions.
- p38 MAPK is a critical regulator of cell cycle progression in tumorigenesis.
- The p38 MAPK pathway represents a potential target for cancer therapy.