Premium
ERK and cell death: ERK location and T cell selection
Author(s) -
Teixeiro Emma,
Daniels Mark A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07368.x
Subject(s) - mapk/erk pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , programmed cell death , major histocompatibility complex , biology , kinase , signal transduction , mitogen activated protein kinase , protein kinase a , receptor , cell , apoptosis , antigen , cancer research , immunology , genetics
The selection of functional T cells is mediated by interactions between the T cell antigen receptor and self‐peptide major histocompatibility complex expressed on thymic epithelium. These interactions either lead to survival and development or death. The T cell antigen receptor is an unusual receptor able to signal multiple cell fates. The precise mechanism by which this is achieved has been an area of intense research effort over the years. One model proposes that the differential activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways contributes to this decision. Here, the role of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase in promoting or preventing apoptosis during thymic selection is discussed.