MAPK-ERK Pathway

Dear Colleagues,

The Raf/MEK/Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK/MAPK) pathway is a highly specific three-layered kinase cascade that has pivotal roles in a variety of cellular processes, including cell cycle progression, survival, and differentiation. The deregulation of this pathway is implicated in a variety of pathophysiological conditions, including cancers, metabolic diseases, neurological disorders, and genetically inherited disorders. The kinase cascade of this pathway consists of the Ser/Thr kinases, A-Raf, B-Raf, and C-Raf-1, the highly homologous dual-specificity kinases, MEK1 and MEK2, and the ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase, ERK1 and ERK2 (collectively referred to as ERK1/2). As the key focal point of pathway signaling, ERK1/2 activate/inactivate a variety of targets, including transcription factors, other kinases, phosphatases, cytoskeletal proteins, scaffolds, receptors, and signaling components. The specificity of pathway signaling is determined at multiple levels, including regulation of the magnitude and duration of pathway activity, spatio-temporal regulation, regulation of the monomeric vs. dimeric status of ERK1/2, as well as its crosstalk with other pathways. Recent studies have substantially expanded our knowledge of the pathway signaling at molecular levels, allowing the development of diverse potential therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway.

This Special Issue covers recent advances in the molecular mechanisms and biological functions of the ERK/MAPK pathway signaling, its regulators and downstream effectors, as well as the relevance of these aspects in human disease and potential therapeutic strategies. We encourage authors to submit original research articles or reviews.

Prof. Dr. Jong-In Park
Guest Editor

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