Background
MAP kinases, also known as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals, and are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. ERK is a versatile protein kinase that regulates many cellular functions. Growing evidence suggests that extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) plays a crucial role in promoting cell death in a variety of neuronal systems, including neurodegenerative diseases. It is believed that the magnitude and the duration of ERK1/2 activity determine its cellular function. Activation of ERK1/2 are implicated in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI). ERK-2, also known as Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), is a member of the protein kinase superfamily and MAP kinase subfamily. MKP-3 is a dual specificity phosphatase exclusively specific to MAPK1 for its substrate recognition and dephosphorylating activity. The activation of MAPK1 requires its phosphorylation by upstream kinases. Upon activation, MAPK1 translocates to the nucleus of the stimulated cells, where it phosphorylates nuclear targets. MAPK1 is involved in both the initiation and regulation of meiosis, mitosis, and postmitotic functions in differentiated cells by phosphorylating a number of transcription factors such as ELK1. MAPK1 acts as a transcriptional repressor which represses the expression of interferon gamma-induced genes.
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