Function of the unique mitotic form of MEK

许多控制正常细胞生长和分裂的机制是已知的，尽管有越来越多的例子表明，这些机制具有比最初定义的功能更多的功能。我们已经发现一个被充分研究的机制，Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK通路在细胞分裂发生的阶段以一种独特的方式运作，称为有丝分裂。了解这种新机制并确定其在细胞分裂的关键阶段的功能，将有助于了解细胞如何控制复制基因组的分裂并产生两个相同的子细胞。

Many of the mechanisms controlling normal cell growth and division are known, although there are an increasing number of examples of mechanism having more thn the originally defined functions. We have found that one well studied mechanism, the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway operates in a unique manner during the phase when cell division occurs, known as mitosis. Understanding this novel mechanism and identifying its function at this critical stage of cell division will provide insights into how cell control the partitioning of replicated genome and produce two identical daugther cells.