ERK1: a serine/threonine kinase of the GMGC group that plays a critical role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. ERK1 (MAPK3) and ERK2 (MAPK1) play central roles in MAPK cascades and are activated by a wide variety of extracellular signals including growth and neurotrophic factors, cytokines, hormones and neurotransmitters. Depending on the cellular context, MAPK cascades mediate diverse biological functions such as cell growth, adhesion, survival and differentiation through the regulation of transcription, translation, cytoskeletal rearrangements. MAPK cascades also plays a role in initiation and regulation of meiosis, mitosis, and postmitotic functions in differentiated cells by phosphorylating a number of transcription factors. Activation of MAP kinases occurs through phosphorylation of threonine and tyrosine residues at the sequence T*EY* by upstream MAP kinase kinases, MEK1 and -2. Phosphorylation of both the threonine and tyrosine are required for activity. This phosphorylation causes dramatic conformational changes, which enable full activation and interaction of MAPK1/ERK2 with its substrates.
Protein type: CMGC group; EC 2.7.11.24; ERK subfamily; Kinase, protein; MAPK family; MAPK/ERK subfamily; Protein kinase, CMGC; Protein kinase, Ser/Thr (non-receptor)
Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 16p11.2
Cellular Component: caveola; cytoplasm; cytoskeleton; cytosol; early endosome; focal adhesion; Golgi apparatus; late endosome; mitochondrion; nuclear envelope; nucleoplasm; nucleus; plasma membrane
Molecular Function: kinase activity; MAP kinase activity; phosphatase binding; protein binding; protein serine/threonine kinase activity
Biological Process: activation of MAPK activity; axon guidance; BMP signaling pathway; cellular response to amino acid starvation; DNA damage induced protein phosphorylation; fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling pathway; MAPKKK cascade; phosphorylation; platelet activation; positive regulation of cyclase activity; positive regulation of histone acetylation; positive regulation of histone phosphorylation; positive regulation of protein amino acid phosphorylation; positive regulation of telomerase activity; positive regulation of telomere maintenance via telomerase; positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; protein amino acid phosphorylation; regulation of cytoskeleton organization and biogenesis; regulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase cascade; regulation of stress-activated MAPK cascade; regulation of transcription factor activity; stress-activated MAPK cascade; transcription initiation from RNA polymerase I promoter
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