Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases: Functions in Signal Transduction and Human Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are a large family of enzymes that function as signal transducers to regulate a diverse range of physiological and pathologic cellular responses. This signalling operates via a hierarchical cascade involving MAP3K, MAP2K and MAPK enzymes. Most studies have focused on the MAPK family, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK. There is considerable variation in MAP kinase functions across different cell types that make it challenging to extrapolate, from in vitro studies, to the whole organism. There is substantial interest in therapeutic targeting of individual MAP kinase enzymes in diseases ranging from cancer to chronic organ fibrosis.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences will focus on “Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases: Functions in Signal Transduction and Human Diseases”. We welcome contributions on the regulation of MAP kinase functions in terms of how the signalling cascade is activated by different stimuli, signal transduction via scaffolding proteins, and termination of signalling via phosphatase enzymes. In addition, we welcome contributions examining the role of MAP kinases in pathogenesis in human and experimental disease; including tissue damage and repair mechanisms.

Prof. Dr. David Nikolic-Paterson
Prof. Dr. Ritva Tikkanen
Guest Editors

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