MAPK8 Gene Description
mitogen-activated protein kinase 8
Alternative Names
JNK, JNK1, PRKM8, SAPK1, JNK1A2, JNK21B1/2
Molecular Weight
46 kDa
Summary
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals, and are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. This kinase is activated by various cell stimuli, and targets specific transcription factors, and thus mediates immediate-early gene expression in response to cell stimuli. The activation of this kinase by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is found to be required for TNF-alpha induced apoptosis. This kinase is also involved in UV radiation induced apoptosis, which is thought to be related to cytochrome c-mediated cell death pathway. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.1