Phenomena and Processes

MAP Kinase Signaling System

An intracellular signaling system involving the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades (three-membered protein kinase cascades). Various upstream activators, which act in response to extracellular stimuli, trigger the cascades by activating the first member of a cascade, MAP KINASE KINASE KINASES; (MAPKKKs). Activated MAPKKKs phosphorylate MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASES which in turn phosphorylate the MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASES; (MAPKs). The MAPKs then act on various downstream targets to affect gene expression. In mammals, there are several distinct MAP kinase pathways including the ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway, the SAPK/JNK (stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun kinase) pathway, and the p38 kinase pathway. There is some sharing of components among the pathways depending on which stimulus originates activation of the cascade.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

An intracellular signaling system involving the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades (three-membered protein kinase cascades). Various upstream activators, which act in response to extracellular stimuli, trigger the cascades by activating the first member of a cascade, MAP KINASE KINASE KINASES; (MAPKKKs). Activated MAPKKKs phosphorylate MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASES which in turn phosphorylate the MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASES; (MAPKs). The MAPKs then act on various downstream targets to affect gene expression. In mammals, there are several distinct MAP kinase pathways including the ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway, the SAPK/JNK (stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun kinase) pathway, and the p38 kinase pathway. There is some sharing of components among the pathways depending on which stimulus originates activation of the cascade.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

44 entry terms
  • ERK Pathway
  • ERK Signal Tranduction Pathway
  • ERK1 and ERK2 Pathway
  • ERK1-2 Pathway
  • JNK Pathway
  • JNK Signaling Pathway
  • MAP Kinase Cascade
  • MAP Kinase Module
  • MAP Kinase Modules
  • MAP Kinase Signaling Cascade
  • MAP Kinase Signaling Cascades
  • MAP Kinase Signaling Pathway
  • MAP Kinase Signaling Pathways
  • MEK-ERK Pathway
  • p38 Kinase Pathway
  • p38 Kinase Signaling Pathway
  • Cascade, MAP Kinase
  • ERK Pathways
  • ERK1 2 Pathway
  • ERK1-2 Pathways
  • JNK Pathways
  • JNK Signaling Pathways
  • Kinase Cascade, MAP
  • Kinase Pathway, p38
  • Kinase Pathways, p38
  • MAP Kinase Cascades
  • MEK ERK Pathway
  • MEK-ERK Pathways
  • Module, MAP Kinase
  • Pathway, ERK
  • Pathway, ERK1-2
  • Pathway, JNK
  • Pathway, JNK Signaling
  • Pathway, MEK-ERK
  • Pathway, p38 Kinase
  • Pathways, ERK
  • Pathways, ERK1-2
  • Pathways, JNK
  • Pathways, JNK Signaling
  • Pathways, MEK-ERK
  • Pathways, p38 Kinase
  • Signaling Pathway, JNK
  • Signaling Pathways, JNK
  • p38 Kinase Pathways

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

MeSH Record

History Note

2000

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Ca(2+)-Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase (1994-1999)
  • Protein Kinases (1989-1999)
  • Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases (1993-1999)
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinase (1989-1999)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. G02.111.820w.560
  2. G03w.493w.560
  3. G04.835w.560

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. MAP Kinase Signaling System. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D020935. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D020935
  2. MAP Kinase Signaling System. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q71130435