Extracellular signal-regulated kinases

mitogen-activated protein kinase 1
Identifiers
Symbol	MAPK1
Alt. symbols	PRKM2, PRKM1
Entrez	5594
HUGO	6871
OMIM	176948
RefSeq	NM_002745
UniProt	P28482
Other data
Locus	Chr. 22 q11.2

mitogen-activated protein kinase 3
Identifiers
Symbol	MAPK3
Alt. symbols	PRKM3
Entrez	5595
HUGO	6877
OMIM	601795
RefSeq	NM_001040056
UniProt	P27361
Other data
Locus	Chr. 16 p11.2

In molecular biology, extracellular signal–regulated kinases (ERKs) or classical MAP kinases are widely expressed protein kinase intracellular signalling molecules that are involved in functions including the regulation of meiosis, mitosis, and postmitotic functions in differentiated cells. Many different stimuli, including growth factors, cytokines, virus infection, ligands for heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors, transforming agents, and carcinogens, activate the ERK pathway.

The term, "extracellular signal–regulated kinases", is sometimes used as a synonym for mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), but has more recently been adopted for a specific subset of the mammalian MAPK family.

In the MAPK/ERK pathway, Ras activates c-Raf, followed by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (abbreviated as MKK, MEK, or MAP2K) and then MAPK1/2 (below). Ras is typically activated by growth hormones through receptor tyrosine kinases and GRB2/SOS, but may also receive other signals. ERKs are known to activate many transcription factors, such as ELK1, and some downstream protein kinases.

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