title: Computational modelling of the receptor-tyrosine-kinase-activated MAPK pathway.
abstract: The MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway is one of the most important and intensively studied signalling pathways. It is at the heart of a molecular-signalling network that governs the growth, proliferation, differentiation and survival of many, if not all, cell types. It is de-regulated in various diseases, ranging from cancer to immunological, inflammatory and degenerative syndromes, and thus represents an important drug target. Over recent years, the computational or mathematical modelling of biological systems has become increasingly valuable, and there is now a wide variety of mathematical models of the MAPK pathway which have led to some novel insights and predictions as to how this system functions. In the present review we give an overview of the processes involved in modelling a biological system using the popular approach of ordinary differential equations. Focusing on the MAPK pathway, we introduce the features and functions of the pathway itself before comparing the available models and describing what new biological insights they have led to.
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics Research Centre, Department of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Orton
authors.forename: Oliver E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.forename: Vladislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vyshemirsky
authors.forename: Muffy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kolch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases