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Review
. 2017 Apr 28:392:51-59.
doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.01.034. Epub 2017 Jan 30.

Oncogenic signaling of MEK5-ERK5

Van T Hoang  1 , Thomas J Yan  1 , Jane E Cavanaugh  2 , Patrick T Flaherty  2 , Barbara S Beckman  3 , Matthew E Burow  4
Affiliations
Review

Oncogenic signaling of MEK5-ERK5

Van T Hoang et al. Cancer Lett. .

Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate diverse cellular processes including proliferation, cell survival, differentiation, and apoptosis. While conventional MAPK constituents have well-defined roles in oncogenesis, the MEK5 pathway has only recently emerged in cancer research. In this review, we consider the MEK5 signaling cascade, focusing specifically on its involvement in drug resistance and regulation of aggressive cancer phenotypes. Moreover, we explore the role of MEK5/ERK5 in tumorigenesis and metastatic progression, discussing the discrepancies in preclinical studies and assessing its viability as a therapeutic target for anti-cancer agents.

Keywords: Cellular signaling; Kinase inhibitors; MEK5-ERK5; Mitogen-activated protein kinase; Targeted therapies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Structure of MEK5 signaling components
Linear representation of MEK5 and ERK5, PB1 - Phox and Bem1p, PR1 – Proline rich domain 1, NLS – Nuclear localization, PR1 – Proline rich domain 2
Figure 2
Figure 2. MEK5 activation and downstream substrates
MEK5/ERK5 pathway can be activated by stress, mitogens or cytokines, leading to the regulation of various downstream targets including kinases and transcription factors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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