UC Davis

of dynamic activity in the ERK pathway,how it regulates cellular decisions, and how these outcomes lead to tissue regulation and pathology. Furthermore, I address the question of how the ERK pathway exerts distinct and context-specific effects on multiple processes. In brief, the dynamics of ERK activity induce selective changes in gene expression programs which induces subsequent changes in cellular behavior. In my research study, I combine an ERK biosensor approach with multiplexed measurement of downstream target proteins to ask how well ERK activation correlates to protein expression at the single-cell level. This analysis produces a model that can distinguish different classes of ERK dynamics within a heterogeneous population, providing a tool for assaying ERK dynamics within fixed tissues. By understanding the dynamic mechanisms involved in ERK signaling, there is potential for improving detection of oncogenic behavior, and adopting pharmacological strategies that not only inhibit ERK, but also restore functional activity patterns and improve disease outcomes.