MAPK8

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (also known as JNK1) is an is_associated_with::enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MAPK8 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the MAP kinase and JNK 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 is_associated_with::transcription factors, and thus mediates immediate-early is_associated_with::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 is_associated_with::apoptosis. This is_associated_with::kinase is also involved in UV radiation-induced apoptosis, which is thought to be related to the is_associated_with::cytochrome c-mediated cell death pathway. Studies of the mouse counterpart of this gene suggested that this kinase play a key role in is_associated_with::T cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Four alternately spliced transcript variants encoding distinct is_associated_with::isoforms have been reported.

Interactions
MAPK8 has been shown to interact with:


 * is_associated_with::Activating transcription factor 2,
 * is_associated_with::C-jun,
 * CRK,
 * is_associated_with::DUSP10,
 * is_associated_with::DUSP1,
 * is_associated_with::DUSP22,
 * is_associated_with::GSTP1,
 * is_associated_with::IRS1,
 * is_associated_with::MAP2K4,
 * is_associated_with::MAP2K7,
 * is_associated_with::MAP3K1
 * is_associated_with::MAP3K2,
 * is_associated_with::MAPK8IP1,
 * is_associated_with::MAPK8IP3,
 * is_associated_with::Myc,
 * is_associated_with::REL,
 * is_associated_with::SH3BP5, and
 * is_associated_with::SPIB.