Pharmacology research group

Our research projects includes studies of

• Cellular signaling through the atypical MAP kinases ERK3 and ERK4
• Regulation of gene-expression by the transcription factor Pax6
• Biochemical mechanisms for invasion and metastasis

We are also involved in several collaborative projects within the Faculty of Health Science (Link microRNA), the University of Tromsø (link MAbcent) and with the Institute of Pharmacy at University of Tromsø.

The research in our group is made possible with grants from the Norwegian Cancer society, Norwegian research council and the Blix foundation.

Selected publications 2000-2011:

Gruber FX, Ernst T, Kiselev Y, Hochhaus A, Mikkola I. (2010) Detection of drug-resistant clones in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients during dasatinib and nilotinib treatment. Clin Chem.  56(3):469-73.

Aberg E, Torgersen KM, Johansen B, Keyse SM, Perander M, Seternes OM. Docking of PRAK/MK5 to the atypical MAPKs ERK3 and ERK4 defines a novel MAPK interaction motif. J Biol Chem. 2009 Jul 17;284(29):19392-401.

Perander M, Aberg E, Johansen B, Dreyer B, Guldvik IJ, Outzen H, Keyse SM, Seternes OM. The Ser(186) phospho-acceptor site within ERK4 is essential for its ability to interact with and activate PRAK/MK5. Biochem J. 2008 May 1;411(3):613-22.

Aberg E, Perander M, Johansen B, Julien C, Meloche S, Keyse SM, Seternes OM. Regulation of MAPK-activated protein kinase 5 activity and subcellular localization by the atypical MAPK ERK4/MAPK4. J Biol Chem. 2006 Nov 17;281(46):35499-510. Epub 2006 Sep 13.

Seternes OM, Mikalsen T, Johansen B, Michaelsen E, Armstrong CG, Morrice NA, Turgeon B, Meloche S, Moens U, Keyse SM. Activation of MK5/PRAK by the atypical MAP kinase ERK3 defines a novel signal transduction pathway. EMBO J. 2004 Dec 8;23(24):4780-91. Epub 2004 Dec 2. Erratum in: EMBO J. 2005 Feb 23;24(4):873.

Seternes OM, Johansen B, Hegge B, Johannessen M, Keyse SM, Moens U. Both binding and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) play essential roles in regulation of the nucleocytoplasmic distribution of MAPK-activated protein kinase 5 by cellular stress Mol Cell Biol. 2002 Oct;22(20):6931-45.

Ingvild Mikkola, Barry Heavey, Markus Horcher and Meinrad Busslinger (2002).Reversion of B cell commitment upon loss of Pax5 expression.  Science  297: 110-113