A Pharmacological Approach to the MAP Kinase Cascade
David T. Dudley, Alan R. Saltiel · Humana Press eBooks · 2000
A wide variety of stimuli activate phosphorylation cascades that regulate subsequent physiological responses. Among the best characterized are the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades. These cascades are characterized by three sequential kinase reactions, often activated downstream of a low-mol-wt G-protein (Fig. 1). These MAP kinase cascades appear to be ubiquitous and are found in such evolutionarily diverse species as nematodes, insects, yeast, and mammals. Although numerous proteins have been identified that participate in these cascades, three clearly recognized MAP kinase pathways have emerged, with distinct physiological consequences and mechanisms of activation. The precise constituents and roles of each of these cascades are discussed in other chapters in this book.