MKK4 Antibodies

Target Information

Dual specificity protein kinase which acts as an essential component of the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway. Essential component of the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAP/JNK) signaling pathway. With MAP2K7/MKK7, is the one of the only known kinase to directly activate the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinases MAPK8/JNK1, MAPK9/JNK2 and MAPK10/JNK3. MAP2K4/MKK4 and MAP2K7/MKK7 both activate the JNKs by phosphorylation, but they differ in their preference for the phosphorylation site in the Thr-Pro-Tyr motif. MAP2K4 shows preference for phosphorylation of the Tyr residue and MAP2K7/MKK7 for the Thr residue. The phosphorylation of the Thr residue by MAP2K7/MKK7 seems to be the prerequisite for JNK activation at least in response to proinflammatory cytokines, while other stimuli activate both MAP2K4/MKK4 and MAP2K7/MKK7 which synergistically phosphorylate JNKs. MAP2K4 is required for maintaining peripheral lymphoid homeostasis. The MKK/JNK signaling pathway is also involved in mitochondrial death signaling pathway, including the release cytochrome c, leading to apoptosis. Whereas MAP2K7/MKK7 exclusively activates JNKs, MAP2K4/MKK4 additionally activates the p38 MAPKs MAPK11, MAPK12, MAPK13 and MAPK14. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. STE Ser/Thr protein kinase family. MAP kinase kinase subfamily. Abundant expression is seen in the skeletal muscle. It is also widely expressed in other tissues. 2 alternatively spliced human isoforms have been reported. Note: This description may include information from UniProtKB.

Alternate Names

c-Jun N-terminal kinase kinase 1; Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4; JNK activating kinase 1; JNK-activated kinase 1; JNK-activating kinase 1; JNKK; JNKK1; MAP kinase kinase 4; MAP2K4; MAPK/ERK kinase 4; MAPKK 4; MAPKK4; MEK 4; MEK4; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4; MKK4; MP2K4; PRKMK4; SAPK kinase 1; SAPK/ERK kinase 1; SAPKK-1; SAPKK1; SEK1; SERK1; SKK1; Stress-activated protein kinase kinase 1