title: [MAP kinases--molecular transistors in animals and plants].
abstract: The survival of multicellular organisms depends on the ability of their cells to communicate with each other and to respond to environmental changes. A goal of modern biology is to uncover the processes by which these cellular signals are transduced. Recent studies have shown that MAP-kinases (MAPKs) are important constituents of such signal transduction pathways. MAPKs function as modules in phosphorelay cascades to activate or repress the activity of downstream target proteins. For example, recent research with knockout mice has shown that mammalian MAPKs are involved in the control of neuronal apoptosis and the activation of immune responses. These mammalian MAPKs exert their control by both promoting and inhibiting specific processes. Surprisingly, plants also use MAPKs to control their immune responses, and plant MAPKs also seem to play dual roles as positive and negative regulators. Such mechanistic similarities provide the basis for fruitful conceptual exchange between molecular research on animals and plants.
authors.affiliation: Københavns Universitet, Molekylaerbiologisk Institut, plantefysiologisk afdeling, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, DK-1353 KØbenhavn. mundy@biobase.dk
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brodersen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mundy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases