The atypical mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK3 is essential for establishment of epithelial architecture.

ABSTRACT: Epithelia contribute to physical barriers that protect internal tissues from the external environment and also support organ structure. Accordingly, establishment and maintenance of epithelial architecture are essential for both embryonic development and adult physiology. Here, using gene knockout and knockdown techniques along with gene profiling, we show that extracellular signal-regulated kinase 3 (ERK3), a poorly characterized atypical mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), regulates the epithelial architecture in vertebrates. We found that in Xenopus embryonic epidermal epithelia, ERK3 knockdown impairs adherens and tight-junction protein distribution, as well as tight-junction barrier function, resulting in epidermal breakdown. Moreover, in human epithelial breast can

SUBMITTER: Takahashi C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5986203 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature