Abstract
In postmitotic neurons, the activation of RAS family small GTPases regulates survival, growth and differentiation. Dysregulation of RAS or its major effector pathway, the cascade of RAF-, mitogen-activated and extracellular-signal regulated kinase kinases (MEK), and extracellular-signal regulated kinases (ERK) causes the RASopathies, a group of neurodevelopmental disorders whose pathogenic mechanisms are the subject of intense research. I here summarize the functions of RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling in neurons in vivo, and discuss perspectives for harnessing this pathway to enable novel treatments for nervous system injury, the RASopathies, and possibly other neurological conditions.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Proliferation
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Cell Survival
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism*
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Humans
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism*
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Nerve Regeneration
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Neurons / pathology*
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
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Signal Transduction*
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raf Kinases / metabolism*
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ras Proteins / metabolism*
Substances
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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raf Kinases
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
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ras Proteins