Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants
07:38

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants

Published on: June 6, 2025

Involvement of mixed lineage kinase 3 in cancer

Deborah N Chadee1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA. deborah.chadee@utoledo.edu

Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
|May 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) plays a key role in cell signaling pathways that control cell growth and movement. This review focuses on MLK3

Area of Science:

  • Cellular signaling
  • Molecular biology
  • Cancer research

Background:

  • Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways regulate crucial cellular functions like proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis.
  • Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3), a MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K), activates multiple MAPK pathways and has kinase-independent functions.
  • MLK3 is increasingly recognized for its involvement in tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the essential functions of MLK3 in tumorigenesis.
  • To highlight the role of MLK3 in establishing the malignant phenotype.
  • To discuss the potential of MLKs as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on MLK3 signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of MLK3's role in cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • Examination of MLK3's kinase-dependent and independent functions.

Main Results:

  • MLK3 is crucial for tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • MLK3 contributes significantly to tumorigenesis and the malignant phenotype.
  • MLK3's kinase activity and independent functions are vital in cancer progression.

Conclusions:

  • MLK3 is a key regulator in cancer development and progression.
  • Targeting MLK3 presents a promising therapeutic strategy for various cancers.
  • Further research into MLK3 signaling pathways is warranted for effective cancer therapies.

More Related Videos

Next Generation Sequencing for the Detection of Actionable Mutations in Solid and Liquid Tumors11:15

Next Generation Sequencing for the Detection of Actionable Mutations in Solid and Liquid Tumors

Published on: September 20, 2016

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer06:51

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Published on: July 21, 2018

Related Concept Videos

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
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...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
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...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...