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MAP3Ks as central regulators of cell fate during development
Author(s) -
Craig Evisabel A.,
Stevens Mark V.,
Vaillancourt Richard R.,
Camenisch Todd D.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.21750
Subject(s) - map kinase kinase kinase , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , ask1 , map2k7 , kinase , mitogen activated protein kinase kinase , mapk/erk pathway , c raf , cyclin dependent kinase 9 , signal transduction , cyclin dependent kinase 2 , protein kinase a
The cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinases transduce extracellular signals into regulatory events that impact cellular responses. The induction of one kinase triggers the activation of several downstream kinases, leading to the regulation of transcription factors to affect gene function. This arrangement allows for the kinase cascade to be amplified, and integrated according to the cellular context. An upstream mitogen or growth factor signal initiates a module of three kinases: a mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK; e.g., Raf) that phosphorylates and activates a MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK; e.g., MEK) and finally activation of MAP kinase (MAPK; e.g., ERK). Thus, this MAP3K‐MAP2K‐MAPK module represents critical effectors that regulate extracellular stimuli into cellular responses, such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis all of which function during development. There are 21 characterized MAP3Ks that activate known MAP2Ks, and they function in many aspects of developmental biology. This review summarizes known transduction routes linked to each MAP3K and highlights mouse models that provide clues to their physiological functions. This perspective reveals that some of these MAP3K effectors may have redundant functions, and also serve as unique nexus depending on the context of the signaling pathway. Developmental Dynamics 237:3102–3114, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.