MAP2K1
MAP2K1
A gene on chromosome 15q22.1-q22.33 that encodes a dual-specificity protein kinase which is an essential component of the MAP-kinase signal transduction pathway. MAP2K1 binds to extracellular ligands (e.g., as growth factors, cytokines and hormones) to their cell surfacereceptors, activating RAS and RAF1, which in turn activates dual-specificity protein kinases MAP2K1/MEK1 and MAP2K2/MEK2; these act in the MAPK/ERK cascade and catalyse the phosphorylation of threonine and tyrosine residues, leading to the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases MAPK3/ERK1 and MAPK1/ERK2, and amplification of the transduction signal within the MAPK/ERK cascade.