Intercellular propagation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation revealed by in vivo imaging of mouse skin

What is it about?

Upon growth factor stimulation, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) has been shown to be activated rapidly and transiently in tissue culture cells. However, it has been unknown whether such transient ERK activation occurs in living tissues. Here, we visualized ERK activity in epidermis of transgenic mice expressing a FRET biosensor for ERK. We found ERK activation is initiated in a few cells and propagated to neighboring cells like a firework. This phenomenon is named as Spatio-temporal Propagation of Radial ERK Activity Distribution, SPREAD.

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