Frequency modulation of ERK activation dynamics rewires cell fate

Abstract Transient versus sustained ERK MAP kinase (MAPK) activation dynamics induce proliferation versus differentiation in response to epidermal (EGF) or nerve (NGF) growth factors in PC‐12 cells. Duration of ERK activation has therefore been proposed to specify cell fate decisions. Using a biosen...

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Main Authors: Hyunryul Ryu, Minhwan Chung, Maciej Dobrzyński, Dirk Fey, Yannick Blum, Sung Sik Lee, Matthias Peter, Boris N Kholodenko, Noo Li Jeon, Olivier Pertz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2015-11-01
Series:Molecular Systems Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/msb.20156458
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Summary:Abstract Transient versus sustained ERK MAP kinase (MAPK) activation dynamics induce proliferation versus differentiation in response to epidermal (EGF) or nerve (NGF) growth factors in PC‐12 cells. Duration of ERK activation has therefore been proposed to specify cell fate decisions. Using a biosensor to measure ERK activation dynamics in single living cells reveals that sustained EGF/NGF application leads to a heterogeneous mix of transient and sustained ERK activation dynamics in distinct cells of the population, different than the population average. EGF biases toward transient, while NGF biases toward sustained ERK activation responses. In contrast, pulsed growth factor application can repeatedly and homogeneously trigger ERK activity transients across the cell population. These datasets enable mathematical modeling to reveal salient features inherent to the MAPK network. Ultimately, this predicts pulsed growth factor stimulation regimes that can bypass the typical feedback activation to rewire the system toward cell differentiation irrespective of growth factor identity.
ISSN:1744-4292