Figure 2.

Signal transduction pathways of the c-Kit receptor. Homodimerized SCF binds itself to c-Kit, thus inducing c-Kit homodimerization and autophosphorylation, and activation of different signalling pathways. Activation of the PI3-kinase, Src and the small G protein Ras, in turn, induce the activation of different MAP-kinase pathways: ERK (extracellular-regulated kinase), p38 and JNK (Jun-N-terminal kinase). PI3-kinase also activates Akt/PKB. The Janus kinase (JAK) is associated with phosphorylated c-Kit, activatingthe transcription factor STAT (Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription), SOS (son of sevenless); Grb-2: growth factor receptor-bound protein-2; MEK: MAP ERK kinase [10].