This gene encodes a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases, also known as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals, and are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. The activation of this kinase requires its phosphorylation by upstream kinases. Upon activation, this kinase translocates to the nucleus of the stimulated cells, where it phosphorylates nuclear targets. One study also suggests that this protein acts as a transcriptional repressor independent of its kinase activity. The encoded protein has been identified as a moonlighting protein based on its ability to perform mechanistically distinct functions. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding the same protein, but differing in the UTRs, have been reported for this gene.
Serine/threonine kinase which acts as an essential component of the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway. MAPK1/ERK2 and MAPK3/ERK1 are the 2 MAPKs which play an important role in the MAPK/ERK cascade. They participate also in a signaling cascade initiated by activated KIT and KITLG/SCF. Depending on the cellular context, the MAPK/ERK cascade mediates diverse biological functions such as cell growth, adhesion, survival and differentiation through the regulation of transcription, translation, cytoskeletal rearrangements. The MAPK/ERK cascade plays also a role in initiation and regulation of meiosis, mitosis, and postmitotic functions in differentiated cells by phosphorylating a number of transcription factors. About 160 substrates have already been discovered for ERKs. Many of these substrates are localized in the nucleus, and seem to participate in the regulation of transcription upon stimulation. However, other substrates are found in the cytosol as well as in other cellular organelles, and those are responsible for processes such as translation, mitosis and apoptosis. Moreover, the MAPK/ERK cascade is also involved in the regulation of the endosomal dynamics, including lysosome processing and endosome cycling through the perinuclear recycling compartment (PNRC); as well as in the fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus during mitosis. The substrates include transcription factors (such as ATF2, BCL6, ELK1, ERF, FOS, HSF4 or SPZ1), cytoskeletal elements (such as CANX, CTTN, GJA1, MAP2, MAPT, PXN, SORBS3 or STMN1), regulators of apoptosis (such as BAD, BTG2, CASP9, DAPK1, IER3, MCL1 or PPARG), regulators of translation (such as EIF4EBP1) and a variety of other signaling-related molecules (like ARHGEF2, DCC, FRS2 or GRB10). Protein kinases (such as RAF1, RPS6KA1/RSK1, RPS6KA3/RSK2, RPS6KA2/RSK3, RPS6KA6/RSK4, SYK, MKNK1/MNK1, MKNK2/MNK2, RPS6KA5/MSK1, RPS6KA4/MSK2, MAPKAPK3 or MAPKAPK5) and phosphatases (such as DUSP1, DUSP4, DUSP6 or DUSP16) are other substrates which enable the propagation the MAPK/ERK signal to additional cytosolic and nuclear targets, thereby extending the specificity of the cascade. Mediates phosphorylation of TPR in respons to EGF stimulation. May play a role in the spindle assembly checkpoint. Phosphorylates PML and promotes its interaction with PIN1, leading to PML degradation. Phosphorylates CDK2AP2 (By similarity).
a. 贴壁培养细胞收集
去除贴壁细胞的培养液，用PBS、NS或无血清培养基清洗1次，低速离心，弃上清，留取沉淀。
b. 悬浮培养细胞收集
速离心悬浮细胞，弃上清，收集沉淀。手指轻弹细胞，使其松散。
c. 组织样本收集
把组织剪切成细小的碎片，越小越好。取液氮或超低温冰箱中冷冻30min以上的组织，迅速用液氮研磨，研磨过程尽量控制在1~2min之内，以减少蛋白的降解。
（2）总蛋白提取
a. 细胞/组织裂解
将装有细胞沉淀或组织碎片的容器完全插入冰中。细胞沉淀按照1mL裂解液/107个细胞(1个T75培养瓶细胞量)的比例加入相应体积的裂解液（细胞量足够时都加入3mL，不足时根据细胞量计算），裂解20min，每隔5min将离心管置于涡旋振荡仪上震荡10s。组织碎片按照0.5mL 裂解液/100mg组织向匀浆器中加入蛋白裂解液，每3min研磨一次，重复5次，使组织尽量碾碎。（裂解液中根据需要选择添加或不添加蛋白酶抑制剂）。
b. 离心
把裂解好的样品配平后，置于预冷的高速冷冻离心机中，12000 rpm，15min。
c. 蛋白变性
完成离心后，上清即为蛋白提取液。吸取少量蛋白提取液做蛋白浓度测定。向剩余的蛋白提取液的离心管中加入1/5上清体积的5×Loading Buffer（最终工作液为1X），待干式恒温器温度升至95℃后，将1.5mL离心管插入加热孔中，95℃加热变性10min，待液体完全冷却后置于-20℃保存。
（3）蛋白浓度测定（BCA法）
a. BCA工作液的配置
根据样品数量，按50体积BCA试剂A加入1体积BCA试剂B（50:1）配置适量BCA工作液，充分混匀。BCA工作液室温24h内稳定。
b. 标准品测定
取10μl蛋白标准品（5mg/ml BSA）稀释至50μl，使终浓度为1mg/ml。稀释后的蛋白标准品可以-20℃长期保存。此标准品溶液的稀释液可使用去离子水或1*PBS。将标准品按0、1、2、4、8、12、16、20μl加入到96孔板中，加稀释液补足到20μl（见附表）。加适当体积样品到96孔板的样品孔中，如果样本不足20μl，需加稀释液补足到20μl。请注意记录样品体积。各孔加入200μl BCA工作液，37℃放置20-30min。用酶标仪测定A562，或540-595nm之间的其他波长吸光度。根据标准曲线和使用的样品体积计算出样品的蛋白浓度。
a. Western Transfer Buffer至少提前2h （即开始电泳后）放入-20℃冰箱预冷，但注意避免结冰。
b. 根据胶体大小,将Filter Paper及Nitrocellulose membrane剪裁至合适尺寸。
c. 目的蛋白＞20KD选择0.45μm NC膜/PVDF膜；目的蛋白＜20KD选择0.2μmNC膜或PVDF膜，选择完毕后将NC膜放在Western Transfer Buffer中浸泡备用，注意如使用的是PVDF膜需先放入甲醇中浸泡5-10min，再放入Western Transfer Buffer中浸泡备用。
（2）裂解液&洗杂液：Cell lysis buffer for IP (without inhibitors)
（3）蛋白酶抑制剂
（4）封闭液：含 3% BSA 的 1X PBS
（5）1×PBS 缓冲液
（6）5×loding buffer（使用时用去离子水稀释至工作浓度即可）
（7）Control IgG （AC005/ AC011/AC034）
二、实验步骤
1、样本处理
（1）贴壁培养细胞
a. 取裂解液室温溶解混匀，根据需要选择添加或不添加蛋白酶抑制剂。
b. 去除贴壁细胞的培养液，用PBS、NS或无血清培养基清洗1次，低速离心，弃上清，留取沉淀。
c. 按照6孔板每孔加入100~200μl裂解液的比例，加入裂解液。移液器轻轻吹打，使裂解液和细胞充分接触。通常裂解液作用于细胞1~5s内，细胞会被裂解。
d. 1000~12000g，离心3~5min（如果用冷冻离心机4℃效果更佳），取上清。
（2）悬浮培养细胞
a. 取裂解液室温溶解混匀，根据需要选择添加或不添加蛋白酶抑制剂。
b. 速离心悬浮细胞，弃上清，收集沉淀。
c. 手指轻弹细胞，使其松散。按照6孔板每孔加入100~200μl裂解液的比例，加入NP-40裂解液。通常6孔板每孔加入100~200μl裂解液已经足够，但如果细胞密度非常高可以适当加大裂解液的用量150~200μl，再用手指轻弹以充分裂解细胞。充分裂解后应无明显沉淀。
d. 1000~12000g，离心3~5min（如果用冷冻离心机4℃效果更佳），取上清。
（3）组织样本
a. 取裂解液室温溶解混匀，根据需要选择添加或不添加蛋白酶抑制剂。
b. 把组织剪切成细小的碎片，越小越好。
c. 取液氮或超低温冰箱中冷冻30min以上的组织，迅速用液氮研磨，研磨过程尽量控制在1~2min之内，以减少蛋白的降解。
d. 按照每20mg组织加入100~200μl裂解液的比例，加入含有PMSF的裂解液。冰上或4℃裂解30-60min。（步骤3、4也可采用以下过程：按照每20mg组织加入100~200μl裂解液的比例加入NP-40裂解液。用玻璃匀浆器或组织研磨器匀浆，直至充分裂解，过程尽量控制在1~2min之内，以减少蛋白的降解。）
e. 按照每20mg组织加入100~200μl裂解液的比例，加入裂解液。
f. 1000~12000g，4℃离心10~15min（如无低温离心机，室温下离心也可），取上清。
2、磁珠预处理
（1）将rProtein A/G Plus MaqPoly Beads颠倒或漩涡混匀，翻转瓶身发现底部无黑色沉淀即可。
（2）取30μl rProtein A/G Plus MaqPoly Beads至新的EP管中，放在磁分离器上，待溶液澄清后，用移液器吸弃保护液。
（3）将EP管从磁分离器上取下来，加入1ml Cell lysis buffer for IP (without inhibitors)，混匀，放置在磁分离器上，收集磁珠，用移液器吸弃洗杂液，重复2次。
