Cell fate decisions are specified by the dynamic ERK interactome

Alex Von Kriegsheim, Daniela Baiocchi, Marc Birtwistle, David Sumpton, Willy Bienvenut, Nicholas Morrice, Kayo Yamada, Angus Lamond, Gabriella Kalna, Richard Orton, David Gilbert, Walter Kolch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

246 Scopus citations

Abstract

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) controls fundamental cellular functions, including cell fate decisions. In PC12, cells shifting ERK activation from transient to sustained induces neuronal differentiation. As ERK associates with both regulators and effectors, we hypothesized that the mechanisms underlying the switch could be revealed by assessing the dynamic changes in ERK-interacting proteins that specifically occur under differentiation conditions. Using quantitative proteomics, we identified 284 ERK-interacting proteins. Upon induction of differentiation, 60 proteins changed their binding to ERK, including many proteins that were not known to participate in differentiation. We functionally characterized a subset, showing that they regulate the pathway at several levels and by different mechanisms, including signal duration, ERK localization, feedback, crosstalk with the Akt pathway and differential interaction and phosphorylation of transcription factors. Integrating these data with a mathematical model confirmed that ERK dynamics and differentiation are regulated by distributed control mechanisms rather than by a single master switch.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1458-1464
Number of pages7
JournalNature Cell Biology
Volume11
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2009
Externally publishedYes

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