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Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are serine-threonine kinases that mediate intracellular signaling. The multifunctional mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling system consists of separate pathways that function to control a number of different cellular processes such as gene transcription, metabolism, motility, cell proliferation, apoptosis, synaptic plasticity and long-term memory. These different downstream effectors are activated by the final MAPK components associated with the three main signaling pathways:
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MAP Kinase Signaling Pathways Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are serine-threonine kinases that mediate intracellular signaling. The multifunctional mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling system consists of separate pathways that function to control a number of different cellular processes such as gene transcription, metabolism, motility, cell proliferation, apoptosis, synaptic plasticity and long-term memory. These different downstream effectors are activated by the final MAPK components associated with the three main signaling pathways: • Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway • c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway • p38 pathway Each MAPK pathway contains a three-tiered kinase cascade comprising a MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK, MAP3K, MEKK or MKKK), a MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK, MAP2K, MEK or MKK) and the MAPK. This three-tier module mediates ultrasensitive switch-like responses to stimuli. These cascade protein kinase along with other functional components such as receptors, transducers, scaffolding protein and target protein form an extensive mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling toolkit, Specific components from this toolkit are then assembled into the different signaling pathways.