※ MAPKAPK family introduction

    MAPKAPK (MAPK-activated protein kinase) belongs to CAMK group. MAPKAPK is a type of Ser/Thr protein kinases that can be phosphorylated and activated under extracellular stimulation through a MAPK-dependent pathway. Five members have been identified in human genome which are known as the p90 ribosomal S6 kinase(RSK), the mitogen- and stress-activated kinase(MSK), the MAPK-interacting kinase(MNK), the MAPK-activated protein kinase 2/3 (MK2/3) and p32-regulated/activated protein kinase(MK5). Alignment of MAPK-binding sequences forming MAPKAPKs show that regions of C-terminal D domains are present in all MAPKAPKs which is necessary for efficient activation. Activated MAPKAPKs are involved in a variety of cellular processes via phosphorylation of a large rang of substrates such as SRF, Nur77, LKB1, TSC2, DAPK,eIF4G, Spry2, p537 and so on. They play a important role in regulation of gene transcription, cell proliferation, cell growth, cell survival, mRNA translation, cell cycle and tumor suppression (1).

Reference
1. Cargnello, M. and Roux, P.P. (2011) Activation and function of the MAPKs and their substrates, the MAPK-activated protein kinases. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev, 75, 50-83. PMID: 21372320