Overview:

TAK1 is a serine/threonine protein kinase that mediates signaling by TGFbeta and morphogenetic protein (BMP) (1). In response to IL-1, TAK1 forms a kinase complex with TAB1 and this complex is required for the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NfkB). TAK1 can also activate MAPK8/JNK and MAP2K4/MKK4 and thus play a role in the cell response to environmental stress. Tak1 is essential for thymocyte development and activation and deletion of TAK1 prevents maturation of single-positive thymocytes displaying CD4 or CD8 (2). Thymocytes lacking TAK1 fail to activate NfkB and JNK and are prone to apoptosis upon stimulation.

References:

1. Yamaguchi, K. et al: Identification of a member of the MAPKKK family as a potential mediator of TGF-beta signal transduction. Science 270: 2008-2011, 1995.

2. Liu, H.-H. et al: Essential role of TAK1 in thymocyte development and activation. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 103: 11677-11682, 2006.