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BioEssays 2/2012
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.201290002
Subject(s) - mapk/erk pathway , huntingtin , microbiology and biotechnology , kinase , biology , disease , protein kinase a , signal transduction , cancer research , medicine , huntington's disease
The ERK signalling pathway and Huntington's disease. On pages 142–148 Bodai and Marsh discuss the complexity of MAPK signaling in Huntington's disease. In this neurodegenerative disorder, mutant huntingtin protein can both activate or inhibit the MAP kinase ERK depending on the cell type and state. These actions can impact intercellular BDNF‐ and glutamate‐signaling and other events that are transmitted through the ERK kinase pathway. Thus, pathogenic Htt can both activate and/or dampen different branches of the ERK cascade. Understanding the source of this complexity and ERK's key role in the pathogenic response may allow pharmacologic targeting that selectively enhances the protective branches of the ERK response for the treatment of this as yet incurable disease.