The MAPK Signaling Cascades

All living cells are under constant stimulation from their environment, and utilize intracellular signaling pathways for proper cellular responses. Central intracellular signal transmitters are the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, which induce fundamental processes including proliferation, differentiation, and survival. They operate by a sequential activation of protein kinases that eventually affect targets in most cellular compartments. Most notable are the nuclear transcription factors that initiate de-novo synthesis of proteins essential for the induced processes. Dysregulation of the strength, duration, and localization of the signals causes pathologies, thereby making the cascade a therapeutic target for cancer, diabetes, and other disorders.