The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) - extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling cascade is activated by various receptors involved in growth and differentiation i(e.g., receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), integrins, and ion channels). The main function of MAPK/ERK is to communicate a signal from a cell surface receptor to the DNA in the cell nucleus. When this pathway is mutated, meaning it remains in the “on” or “off” position, it may lead to the development of cancer.

The pathway below is interactive, meaning you can click on an active pathway component (highlighted in orange) to learn more about available mouse models relevant to that specific gene and pathway function.