The Role of ERK2 in Regulating Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental developmental program, which is believed to be reactivated during the progression of in situ carcinoma to aggressive metastatic cancers. Ras-ERK pathway has been shown to play a crucial role in EMT. We have previously shown that ERK2, but not...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ilter, Didem
Other Authors: Blenis, John
Language:en_US
Published: Harvard University 2014
Subjects:
EMT
ERK
Online Access:http://dissertations.umi.com/gsas.harvard:11407
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:12274122
Description
Summary:Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental developmental program, which is believed to be reactivated during the progression of in situ carcinoma to aggressive metastatic cancers. Ras-ERK pathway has been shown to play a crucial role in EMT. We have previously shown that ERK2, but not ERK1, is necessary for RasV12-induced EMT and overexpression of ERK2 is sufficient to promote EMT. ERK2 promotes EMT by regulating several factors, including the upregulation of transcription factors ZEB1/2. ZEB1/2 repress expression of E-cadherin, which is necessary for polar epithelial tissue formations.