Home▸Biology▸The MAPK/ERK Signaling Cascade

🧬 The MAPK/ERK Signaling Cascade

Interactive 3D diagram of a receptor-triggered Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK phosphorylation cascade, with an adjustable ligand-concentration slider to watch the signal amplify step by step on its way to the nucleus.

Biology2DModerate60 FPS

A ligand binds a membrane receptor and triggers a Ras → Raf → MEK → ERK phosphorylation relay that amplifies at every step on its way to switching on genes in the nucleus.

🔬 What It Demonstrates

Each kinase activates many copies of the next, so a handful of receptor-binding events can trigger a large, coordinated burst of active ERK — the biochemical basis of signal amplification.

🎮 How to Use

Raise ligand concentration to trigger more pulses at the receptor, tune the amplification and speed sliders, and enable ERK negative feedback to see the cascade settle into damped oscillations instead of a steady glow.

💡 Did You Know?

Locked-on Ras or Raf mutations (KRAS G12D, BRAF V600E) are among the most common drivers of human cancer because they keep this proliferation signal running independent of any receptor input.

⚙ Under the hood

mapk-erkcell-signalingsignal-transductionphosphorylationcell-biologymolecular-biology

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install