Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins > Macromolecular Systems > MAP Kinase Signaling System Terms and Definitions

MAP Kinase Signaling System

Medical Definition:	An intracellular signaling system involving the MAP kinase cascades (three-membered protein kinase cascades). Various upstream activators, which act in response to extracellular stimuli, trigger the cascades by activating the first member of a cascade, MAP KINASE KINASE KINASES; (MAPKKKs). Activated MAPKKKs phosphorylate MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASES which in turn phosphorylate the MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASES; (MAPKs). The MAPKs then act on various downstream targets to affect gene expression. In mammals, there are several distinct MAP kinase pathways including the ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway, the SAPK/JNK (stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun kinase) pathway, and the p38 kinase pathway. There is some sharing of components among the pathways depending on which stimulus originates activation of the cascade.
Also Called:	MAP Kinase Cascade,MAP Kinase Signaling Pathways
Previously Indexed:	Ca(2+)-Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase (1994-1999),Protein Kinases (1989-1999),Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases (1993-1999),Protein-Tyrosine Kinase (1989-1999)

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