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Models of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases

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Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience

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Synonyms

ERK1, 2; MAPK1, 2; p42/p44 MAPK

Definition

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases consist of a family of protein kinases activated by a variety of cellular stimuli (Pearson et al. 2001). Four subfamilies of mammalian MAPK have been identified: ERK1 and ERK2: JNK; p38; and ERK5. Extracellular regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1, ERK2), the original MAPK, was discovered as a kinase activity regulated by insulin. For a historical perspective on the discovery of the ERK cascade, see Blenis (1993). ERK1 and ERK2 (also known as p44 and p42 MAPK) signaling is key for the induction of synaptic plasticity and is essential for learning and memory (Thomas and Huganir 2004).

Detailed Description

The core ERK signaling module consists of a three-tiered kinase cascade: the MAPKKK Raf1 or B-Raf that phosphorylates and activates the MAPKK MEK1/2 that in turn phosphorylates and activates the MAPK ERK1/2. The small G protein Ras activates Raf, the first kinase in the cascade. Activation of...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, 10029, NY, USA

    Susana R. Neves Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Susana R. Neves Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Susana R. Neves Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Dieter Jaeger

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Ranu Jung

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Neves, S.R. (2013). Models of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases. In: Jaeger, D., Jung, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_188-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_188-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7320-6

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