title: A dual role of Erk signaling in embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Erk signaling plays a critical role in maintaining the pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Inhibition of Mek/Erk signaling by pharmacologic Mek inhibitor promotes self-renewal and pluripotency of mouse ESCs. However, knockout of Erk1/2 genes compromises the self-renewal and genomic stability of mouse ESCs. In this review, we summarize recent progress in understanding the role of Erk signaling in pluripotency maintenance, discuss the dual role of Erk in mouse ESCs, and provide explanations for the conflicting data regarding Mek inhibition and Erk knockout. Remaining questions and the prospects of Erk signaling in pluripotency maintenance are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xinwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: lingyichen@nankai.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lingyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D042822:Genomic Instability; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000066450:Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3