MAPK3MAPK1

MAPK3MAPK1 is not a standard gene symbol in major reference genomes or widely cited literature. In current databases, MAPK3 and MAPK1 are separate genes that encode the ERK1 and ERK2 kinases, respectively. The designation MAPK3MAPK1 may appear in some datasets as a putative fusion or as a concatenated label, but there is no widely accepted consensus identifying a single gene with this name.

MAPK3 (ERK1) and MAPK1 (ERK2) are central components of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. They are serine/threonine kinases activated downstream of RAF and MEK, and they phosphorylate numerous substrates including transcription factors such as ELK1 and other targets involved in cell cycle progression, differentiation, and survival. Regulation of ERK activity is tightly controlled by signaling cues, scaffold proteins, and feedback mechanisms.

Conceptually, a fusion between MAPK3 and MAPK1 could yield a chimeric kinase containing parts of both kinases. Such a fusion might alter regulatory control, substrate specificity, or subcellular localization, potentially leading to constitutive signaling or disrupted regulation. However, there are no validated reports in standard cancer genomics resources describing a functional MAPK3-MAPK1 fusion.

In cancer genomics, rearrangements involving components of the MAPK pathway are of interest because they can influence oncogenesis and responses to targeted therapies. If a MAPK3MAPK1 fusion were identified, functional characterization would be necessary to assess its oncogenic potential and any implications for therapeutic strategies targeting the MAPK/ERK pathway. See also MAPK/ERK pathway, ERK1, ERK2, gene fusions, and targeted cancer therapies.