MAPK signaling pathway

The MAPKs are evolutionarily conserved, ubiquitous serine-threonine kinases that are part of a core pathway featuring MAPK-kinase-kinase (MAPKKK), MAPK-Kinase (MAPKK), and MAPK. Upon activation by mitogens, growth factors, and other stimuli, MAPKKK, which is nearest to the signal source, phosphorylates MAPKK. The activated MAPKK subsequently phosphorylates MAPK, the third layer of the cascade2. ​​In mammalian cells, three MAPK families have been clearly characterized: classical MAPK (also known as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)), c-Jun N-terminal kinase/ stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK), and p38 kinase3.

In many cancers, these pathway members are often either deregulated or mutated. 

This pathway poster explores the ERK cascade, consisting of RAF at the MAPKKK layer, MEK1/2 at the MAPKK layer, and ERK1/2 at the MAPK layer. The other three Eukaryotic MAPK cascades consist of JNK, p38MAPK, and ERK5 pathways.