The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases, also known as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), act in a signaling cascade that regulates various cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and cell cycle progression in response to a variety of extracellular signals. This kinase is activated by upstream kinases, resulting in its translocation to the nucleus where it phosphorylates nuclear targets. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different protein isoforms have been described.,ERK-1,ERK1,ERT2,HS44KDAP,HUMKER1A,P44ERK1,P44MAPK,PRKM3,p44-ERK1,p44-MAPK,MAPK3,Epigenetics & Nuclear Signaling,Translation Control,Regulation of eIF4 and p70 S6 Kinase,Signal Transduction,G protein signaling,G2/M DNA Damage Checkpoint,Kinase,Serine/threonine kinases,mTOR Signaling Pathway,ErbB-HER Signaling Pathway,MAPK-Erk Signaling Pathway,Cell Biology & Developmental Biology,Apoptosis,Mitochondrial Control of Apoptosis,Inhibition of Apoptosis,Cell Cycle,Centromere,Microtubules,TGF-b-Smad Signaling Pathway,ESC Pluripotency and Differentiation,Endocrine & Metabolism,Insulin Receptor Signaling Pathway,Warburg Effect,Immunology & Inflammation,B Cell Receptor Signaling Pathway,T Cell Receptor Signaling Pathway,IL-6 Receptor Signaling Pathway,Neuroscience,Neurodegenerative Diseases,Amyloid Plaque and Neurofibrillary Tangle Formation in Alzheimer's Disease,Stem Cells,Cardiovascular,Angiogenesis,Protein phosphorylation,MAPK3