See MAP kinase pathway. This is an alternate naming convention for the same signaling cascade.
graph TD
subgraph "Receptor Activation"
A["Growth factors /<br/>[cytokines](/en/cytokines) / [insulin](/en/insulin)"] --> B["Receptor tyrosine<br/>kinase (RTK)"]
B --> C["Adaptor proteins<br/>(Shc, Grb2, SOS)"]
end
subgraph "Three-Tier Kinase Cascade"
C --> D["Ras-GTP<br/>(GTPase activated)"]
D --> E["Raf<br/>(MAPKKK)"]
E --> F["MEK1/2<br/>(MAPKK)"]
F --> G["[ERK1/2](/en/erk1-2)<br/>(MAPK)"]
end
subgraph "Nuclear Targets"
G --> H["[CREB](/en/concepts/creb.md)"]
G --> I["MYC"]
G --> J["FOS / ELK1"]
H --> K["[gene expression](/en/concepts/gene-expression.md)<br/>proliferation &<br/>differentiation"]
I --> K
J --> K
end
subgraph "Cytoplasmic Targets"
G --> L["RSK kinases"]
G --> M["BCL2<br/>(anti-apoptotic)"]
L --> N["[cell proliferation](/en/cell-proliferation)<br/>& survival"]
M --> N
end
style A fill:#f8d7da,stroke:#dc3545
style D fill:#fff3cd,stroke:#ffc107
style G fill:#fff3cd,stroke:#ffc107
style E fill:#cce5ff,stroke:#004085
style F fill:#cce5ff,stroke:#004085
style K fill:#d4edda,stroke:#28a745
style N fill:#d4edda,stroke:#28a745
graph TD
subgraph "Insulin Signaling Divergence"
A["[insulin](/en/insulin) /<br/>Hyperinsulinaemia"] --> B["Insulin receptor<br/>(RTK)"]
B --> C["MAPK pathway<br/>(growth effects)"]
B --> D["[AKT pathway](/en/concepts/akt-pathway.md)<br/>(metabolic effects)"]
end
subgraph "In Insulin Resistance"
D -->|"IMPAIRED"| E["Glucose uptake β<br/>Glycogen synthesis β<br/>Metabolic dysfunction"]
C -->|"PRESERVED"| F["Cell proliferation β<br/>Vascular remodelling β"]
end
subgraph "Pathological Consequences"
F --> G["[atherosclerosis](/en/concepts/atherosclerosis.md)"]
F --> H["[cancer](/en/cancer) risk β"]
F --> I["[fibrosis](/en/fibrosis)"]
end
style A fill:#f8d7da,stroke:#dc3545
style C fill:#fff3cd,stroke:#ffc107
style D fill:#fff3cd,stroke:#ffc107
style E fill:#f8d7da,stroke:#dc3545
style F fill:#cce5ff,stroke:#004085
style G fill:#d4edda,stroke:#28a745
style H fill:#d4edda,stroke:#28a745
style I fill:#d4edda,stroke:#28a745
See MAP kinase pathway for complete mechanism description.
See MAP kinase pathway for clinical significance in insulin resistance, cancer, and inflammatory diseases.
- See MAP kinase pathway entry for comprehensive information
- MAP kinase pathway β alternate name for the same pathway
- insulin β insulin activates MAPK pathway for growth effects
- AKT pathway β parallel insulin signaling pathway mediating metabolic effects
- insulin resistance β selective preservation of MAPK signaling despite AKT pathway impairment
- ERK1/2 β terminal kinases executing MAPK pathway effects
- cell proliferation β primary pathway mediating growth factor-induced proliferation
- CREB β transcription factor activated by MAPK signaling
- gene expression β MAPK regulates gene expression through transcription factor phosphorylation
- inflammation β inflammatory cytokines activate MAPK pathways
- NF-ΞΊB β interacts with MAPK pathway in inflammatory signaling
- cancer β frequently dysregulated in cancer for uncontrolled proliferation
- atherosclerosis β contributes to vascular smooth muscle proliferation
- BDNF β BDNF activates MAPK for neuroplasticity
- oxidative stress β ROS can activate stress-responsive MAPK pathways
- fibrosis β chronic MAPK activation promotes fibroblast proliferation