title: Deletion of ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinase identifies its key roles in cortical neurogenesis and cognitive function.
abstract: The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases ERK1 and ERK2 are critical intracellular signaling intermediates; however, little is known about their isoform-specific functions in vivo. We have examined the role of ERK2 in neural development by conditional inactivation of the murine mapk1/ERK2 gene in neural progenitor cells of the developing cortex. ERK MAP kinase (MAPK) activity in neural progenitor cells is required for neuronal cell fate determination. Loss of ERK2 resulted in a reduction in cortical thickness attributable to impaired proliferation of neural progenitors during the neurogenic period and the generation of fewer neurons. Mutant neural progenitor cells remained in an undifferentiated state until gliogenic stimuli induced their differentiation, resulting in the generation of more astrocytes. The mutant mice displayed profound deficits in associative learning. Importantly, we have identified patients with a 1 Mb microdeletion on chromosome 22q11.2 encompassing the MAPK1/ERK2 gene. These children, who have reduced ERK2 levels, exhibit microcephaly, impaired cognition, and developmental delay. These findings demonstrate an important role for ERK2 in cellular proliferation and differentiation during neural development as well as in cognition and memory formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4928, USA.
authors.forename: Ivy S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: J Colleen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Karlo
authors.forename: Alicia N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Faruzzi
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pickering
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herrup
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sweatt
authors.forename: Sulagna C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Saitta
authors.forename: Gary E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Landreth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1