title: The function of Shoc2: A scaffold and beyond.
abstract: The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) cascade regulates a myriad of functions in multicellular organisms. Scaffold proteins provide critical spatial and temporal control over the specificity of signaling. Shoc2 is a scaffold that accelerates activity of the ERK1/2 pathway. Loss of Shoc2 expression in mice results in embryonic lethality, thus highlighting the essential role of Shoc2 in embryogenesis. In agreement, patients carrying mutated Shoc2 suffer from a wide spectrum of developmental deficiencies. Efforts to understand the mechanisms by which Shoc2 controls ERK1/2 activity revealed the intricate machinery that governs the ability of Shoc2 to transduce signals of the ERK1/2 pathway. Understanding the mechanisms by which Shoc2 contributes to a high degree of specificity of ERK1/2 signaling as well as deciphering the biological functions of Shoc2 in development and human disorders are major unresolved questions.
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky , Lexington, KY, USA.
authors: Eun Ryoung
authors: ER
authors: Jang
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky , Lexington, KY, USA.
authors: Emilia
authors: E
authors: Galperin
keywords: ERK1/2; scaffold; Shoc2