ERK MAP Kinases:

A superfamily of PROTEIN-SERINE-THREONINE KINASES that are activated by diverse stimuli via protein kinase cascades. They are the final components of the cascades, activated by phosphorylation by MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE KINASES which in turn are activated by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAP KINASE KINASE KINASES). Families of these mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) include extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs) (also known as c-jun terminal kinases (JNKs)), and p38-mitogen-activated protein kinases. EC 2,7,1.-