Expression and characterization of MAP kinases in bacteria

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are common signal transducers in all eukaryotic organisms. MAPKs are activated by protein kinase cascades consisting of MAPK kinases (MAP2Ks) and MAPK kinase kinases (MAP3Ks). Extracellular-signal regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) are the best characterized MAPKs. Like other MAPKs their activity is regulated by dual phosphorylation as well as dephosphorylation by a host of phosphoprotein phosphatases. The ability to phosphorylate or thiophosphorylate ERK2 in vitro, as described here, is valuable for use in downstream applications designed to investigate MAPK signaling networks. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.