Analysis of the MAPK pathways, in silico and in vitro

Abstract

This thesis takes a combined computational and experimental approach to study the MAPK pathways. These proteins were chosen as they are highly conserved in both sequence and function across all eukaryotes. An evolutionary analysis demonstrated that the MAPK pathways in animals arose largely, by a co-ordinated set of gene duplications. This involved the JNK and p38 pathways at the MAPK and MKK levels. These pathways are primarily involved in stress and immune responses. The gene duplications occurred after the divergence of animals from fungi. However, a more ancient cross talk involving STE11 has been retained in both animals and fungi.