Pseudorabies virus glycoprotein gE triggers ERK1/2 phosphorylation and degradation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim in epithelial cells.

ERK1/2 (Extracellular signal Regulated Kinase 1/2) signaling is a key cellular signaling axis controlling many cellular events, including cell survival. Activation of ERK 1/2 may trigger an anti-apoptotic response, and different viruses have been shown to benefit from this process. We have described recently that the viral glycoprotein gE mediates pseudorabies virus (PRV)-induced activation of ERK 1/2 in T lymphocytes.