Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase 5(ERK5)—One Signal Pathway of MAPK

We had a brife introduction about the cascade activation signal pathway of MAPK in a early topic, including extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase(ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK), P38MAPK and ERK5. Among them, the pathways of JNK, P38MAPK and ERK5 belong to stress activated MAPK pathways. The discovery of ERK5 pathway is relatively late, but its research is very active.

ERK5 includes 816 amino acids, and its length is almost 2 times of other members of the MAPK family. N-terminal of ERK5 has a domain of kinase, and C-terminal has a unique COOH, which is obviously different from the other members of the MAPK family. It is a three-dimensional structure of ERK5 shown in Figure 1. The ERK5 pathway is happened by 3 corresponding levels of cascade activation. Firstly, MEKK2 /3 is activated by mitogen stimulation of phosphorylation; then MEK5 turns phosphorylated and activated. Finally, ERK5 is activated. MEK5 is highly specific to activate ERK5 as the only upstream kinase. The other members of the MAPK family won’t be activated even if MEK5 overexpression. ERK5 could play a role in transcription regulating when it is activated by MEKK-MEK5 phosphorylation in the cytoplasm or nucleus.

ERK5 can be activated by different extracellular stimulation, such as cytokines, neurotransmitters, hormone and cell stress, etc. Signal pathway of MEK5-ERK5 could regulate the activity of transcription factor and expression of the corresponding genes, and then mediate a variety of biological effects, especially in primary and metastatic tumors, such as prostate and breast cancer, etc. It would provide a new method for cancer therapy when some methods are proposed to inhibit or block the signal pathway of MEK5-ERK5.

The Cloud-Cone Corp. has developed a variety of recombinant proteins, antibodies and ELISA kits for ERK5. Researchers can choose and use the products. The information of this products is shown in the Table below.

For more relevant products, please check www.cloud-clone.com.