An intracellular signaling system involving the MAP kinase cascades (three-membered protein kinase cascades). Various upstream activators, which act in response to extracellular stimuli, trigger the cascades by activating the first member of a cascade, MAP KINASE KINASE KINASES; (MAPKKKs). Activated MAPKKKs phosphorylate MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASES which in turn phosphorylate the MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASES; (MAPKs). The MAPKs then act on various downstream targets to affect gene expression. In mammals, there are several distinct MAP kinase pathways including the ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway, the SAPK/JNK (stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun kinase) pathway, and the p38 kinase pathway. There is some sharing of components among the pathways depending on which stimulus originates activation of the cascade.

Descriptor ID	D020935
MeSH Number(s)	G02.111.820.560 G03.493.560 G04.835.560
Concept/Terms	MAP Kinase Signaling System MAP Kinase Signaling System ERK1-2 Pathway ERK1-2 Pathway ERK1 2 Pathway ERK1-2 Pathways Pathway, ERK1-2 Pathways, ERK1-2 ERK1 and ERK2 Pathway p38 Kinase Pathway p38 Kinase Pathway Kinase Pathway, p38 Kinase Pathways, p38 Pathway, p38 Kinase Pathways, p38 Kinase p38 Kinase Pathways p38 Kinase Signaling Pathway MAP Kinase Cascade MAP Kinase Cascade Cascade, MAP Kinase Kinase Cascade, MAP MAP Kinase Cascades MAP Kinase Modules MAP Kinase Module Module, MAP Kinase MAP Kinase Signaling Cascades MAP Kinase Signaling Pathways MAP Kinase Signaling Pathways MEK-ERK Pathway MEK-ERK Pathway MEK ERK Pathway MEK-ERK Pathways Pathway, MEK-ERK Pathways, MEK-ERK ERK Signal Tranduction Pathway ERK Signal Tranduction Pathway ERK Pathway ERK Pathways Pathway, ERK Pathways, ERK JNK Pathway JNK Pathway JNK Pathways Pathway, JNK Pathways, JNK JNK Signaling Pathway JNK Signaling Pathways Pathway, JNK Signaling Pathways, JNK Signaling Signaling Pathway, JNK Signaling Pathways, JNK

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "MAP Kinase Signaling System".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "MAP Kinase Signaling System".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "MAP Kinase Signaling System".