Systematic analysis of the MAPK signaling network reveals MAP3K-driven control of cell fate.

Amy F Peterson, Kayla Ingram, E J Huang, Jeeun Parksong, Connor McKenney, Gabriel S Bever, Sergi Regot

Cell systems 2022 Nov 16

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The classic network of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) is highly interconnected and controls a diverse array of biological processes. In multicellular eukaryotes, the MAPKs ERK, JNK, and p38 control opposing cell behaviors but are often activated simultaneously, raising questions about how input-output specificity is achieved. Here, we use multiplexed MAPK activity biosensors to investigate how cell fate control emerges from the connectivity and dynamics of the MAPK network. Through chemical and genetic perturbation, we systematically explore the outputs and functions of all the MAP3 kinases encoded in the human genome and show that MAP3Ks control cell fate by triggering unique combinations of MAPK activity. We show that these MAPK activity combinations explain the paradoxical dual role of JNK signaling as pro-apoptotic or pro-proliferative kinase. Overall, our integrative analysis indicates that the MAPK network operates as a unit to control cell fate and shifts the focus from MAPKs to MAP3Ks to better understand signaling-mediated control of cell fate. Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Amy F Peterson, Kayla Ingram, E J Huang, Jeeun Parksong, Connor McKenney, Gabriel S Bever, Sergi Regot. Systematic analysis of the MAPK signaling network reveals MAP3K-driven control of cell fate. Cell systems. 2022 Nov 16;13(11):885-894.e4