MAPK cascade [GO_0000165]

An intracellular protein kinase cascade containing at least a MAP kinase (MAPK). It starts with the activation of a MAP3K, and the consecutive activation of a MPK2K and a MAPK. The cascade can also contain an additional tier: the upstream MAP4K. The kinases in each tier phosphorylate and activate the kinase in the downstream tier to transmit a signal within a cell.
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MAPK cascade

ID: GO_0000165

Class

An intracellular protein kinase cascade containing at least a MAP kinase (MAPK). It starts with the activation of a MAP3K, and the consecutive activation of a MPK2K and a MAPK. The cascade can also contain an additional tier: the upstream MAP4K. The kinases in each tier phosphorylate and activate the kinase in the downstream tier to transmit a signal within a cell.

MAPK cascades lie downstream of many cell surface receptors and cooperate in transmitting various extracellular signals to the nucleus. One way by which the specificity of each cascade is regulated is through the existence of several distinct components in each tier of the different cascades. The cascades are typically named according to the component in the MAPK tier.

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Classification

Alternative Names

Synonym Scope Reference
MAPK signalling related synonym
MAPKKK cascade during sporulation narrow synonym
ERK/MAPK cascade narrow synonym
MAP kinase kinase kinase cascade exact synonym
MAPKKK cascade exact synonym
MAP kinase cascade exact synonym
mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade exact synonym bf
MAPK signal transduction exact synonym signaling
MAPK signaling related synonym

References