Oscillatory dynamics of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.
The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is a central signaling pathway in development and disease and is regulated by multiple negative and positive feedback loops. Recent studies have shown negative feedback from ERK to upstream regulators can give rise to biochemical oscillations with a periodicity of between 15 and 30min. Feedback due to the stimulated transcription of negative regulators of the ERK pathway can also give rise to transcriptional oscillations with a periodicity of one to two hours. The biological significance of these oscillations is not clear, but recent evidence suggests that transcriptional oscillations participate in developmental processes, such as somite formation. Biochemical oscillations are more enigmatic, but could provide a mechanism for encoding different types of inputs into a common signaling pathway.
Shankaran
Harish
H
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
Wiley
H Steven
HS
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System
D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases