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Figure 2 | Journal of Molecular Signaling

Figure 2

From: Tumour promoting and suppressing roles of the atypical MAP kinase signalling pathway ERK3/4-MK5

Figure 2

Molecular mechanisms of the pro- and anti-oncogenic properties of ERK3, ERK4, and MK5. (1,2) Oncogenic Ras mutants can increase the transcript levels of ERK4, but also results in constitutive activation of Raf. (3) Activated Raf or oncogenic BRAFV600E also stimulates transcription of the erk3 gene. (4) The RNA binding protein IGB2BP can inhibit translation of ERK4 mRNA. (5) ERK3 and ERK4 proteins can activate MK5. (6) Active MK5 can phosphorylate Hsp27, which will affect actin remodelling and cell migration. (7) MK5 can also phosphorylate transcription factor FOXO3a, which in turn will trigger transcription of microRNA mir34b/c. mir34b/c inhibits the cell cycle and prevents translation of c-myc mRNA and hence the production of c-MYC, a protein that is important for cell cycle regulation. C-MYC binds to the promoter of the mk5 gene and enhances transcription of this gene. FOXO3a also reduces expression of VEGF and may thus hamper angiogenesis. (8) MK5-mediated phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-37 stimulates the transcriptional activity of p53, resulting in enhanced expression of p21Cip1. p21Cip1 inhibits cell cycle progression. (9) ERK3 can sequester cyclin D3. By usurping cyclin D3, it may cause cell cycle arrest.

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