ERK2 (also designated extracellular-signal-related kinase 2 or mitogen-activated protein kinase 1), with 360-amino acid protein (about 40kDa), belongs to the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases 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 ERK2 requires its phosphorylation by upstream kinases. ERK2 is located in the cytoplasm of resting cells and translocates into the nucleus upon extracellular stimuli by active transport of a dimer. ERK2 is essential for placental development and ERK2 in the trophoblast compartment may be indispensable for the vascularization of the labyrinth.
