MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinases play a significant role in many biological processes, including cell adhesion and spreading, cell differentiation and apoptosis. p38 alpha, p38 beta and p38 gamma, also known as MAPK14, MAPK11 and MAPK12, respectively, each contain one protein kinase domain and belong to the MAP kinase family. Expressed in different areas throughout the body with common expression patterns in heart, p38 proteins use magnesium as a cofactor to catalyze the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of target proteins. Via their catalytic activity, p38 alpha, p38 beta and p38 gamma are involved in a variety of events throughout the cell, including signal transduction pathways, cytokine production and cell proliferation and differentiation. The p38 proteins are subject to phosphoryation on Thr and Tyr residues, an event which is thought to activate the phosphorylated protein.
Function:
Responds to activation by environmental stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines by phosphorylating downstream targets. Plays a role in myoblast differentiation and also in the down-regulation of cyclin D1 in response to hypoxia in adrenal cells suggesting MAPK12 may inhibit cell proliferation while promoting differentiation.
Subcellular Location:
Cytoplasm. Mitochondrion. Mitochondrial when associated with SH3BP5.
Tissue Specificity:
Highly expressed in skeletal muscle and heart.
Post-translational modifications:
Dually phosphorylated on Thr-183 and Tyr-185, which activates the enzyme.
Similarity:
Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. CMGC Ser/Thr protein kinase family.
MAP kinase subfamily.
Contains 1 protein kinase domain.
SWISS:
P53778
Gene ID:
6300
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 6300 Human
Entrez Gene: 29857 Mouse
Omim: 602399 Human
SwissProt: P53778 Human
SwissProt: O08911 Mouse
Unigene: 432642 Human
Unigene: 38343 Mouse
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