title: RAS and downstream RAF-MEK and PI3K-AKT signaling in neuronal development, function and dysfunction.
abstract: In postmitotic neurons, the activation of RAS family small GTPases regulates survival, growth and differentiation. Dysregulation of RAS or its major effector pathway, the cascade of RAF-, mitogen-activated and extracellular-signal regulated kinase kinases (MEK), and extracellular-signal regulated kinases (ERK) causes the RASopathies, a group of neurodevelopmental disorders whose pathogenic mechanisms are the subject of intense research. I here summarize the functions of RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling in neurons in vivo, and discuss perspectives for harnessing this pathway to enable novel treatments for nervous system injury, the RASopathies, and possibly other neurological conditions.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D048490:raf Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D048490:raf Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins