Anti-p44 MAPK (Erk1), Rabbit Monoclonal (RM470)

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (also known as ERK1/2, p44/42, or MAPK3/1) belong to a family of conserved serine/threonine protein kinases known as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that are involved in many cellular programs such as proliferation, differentiation, motility and survival. The ERK1/2 signaling pathway can be activated in response to a diverse range of extracellular stimuli including mitogens, growth factors and cytokines. The primary activators of ERK1/2 are MEK1 and MEK2 which activate p44 and p42 through phosphorylation of activation loop residues Thr202/Tyr204 and Thr185/Tyr187 in ERK1 and ERK2, respectively. Several downstream targets of ERK1/2 have been identified, including p90RSK and the transcription factor Elk-1. ERK1/2 are negatively regulated by MAPK phosphatases as well as by chemical inhibitors of MEK. The ERK pathway is disrupted in many types of cancer and thus is an important target for diagnosis and treatment.