title: Visualization of the spatial and temporal dynamics of MAPK signaling using fluorescence imaging techniques.
abstract: Conserved mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are major mechanisms through which cells perceive and respond properly to their surrounding environment. Such homeostatic responses maintain the life of the organism. Since errors in MAPK signaling pathways can lead to cancers and to defects in immune responses, in the nervous system and metabolism, these pathways have been extensively studied as potential therapeutic targets. Although much has been studied about the roles of MAPKs in various cellular functions, less is known regarding regulation of MAPK in living organisms. This review will focus on the latest understanding of the dynamic regulation of MAPK signaling in intact cells that was revealed by using novel fluorescence imaging techniques and advanced systems-analytical methods. These techniques allowed quantitative analyses of signal transduction in situ with high spatio-temporal resolution and have revealed the nature of the molecular dynamics that determine cellular responses and fates.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Cell Signaling, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan, tomida@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Taichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011485:Protein Binding; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D013597:Systems Analysis
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins