Overview:

Mitogen-acitvated protein kinase kinase 6 (MEK6) belongs to the serine/threonine protein kinase family and the MAPK kinase subfamily (MAP2K, MKK or MEKs). MAPKs require dual phosphorylation on threonine and tyrosine residues, an activation step carried out by MAPK kinase (1). MEK6 is a dual-specificity protein kinase that activates p38 MAPK. MEK6 phosphorylates p38 MAP kinase at its activation site Thr-Gly-Tyr and this stimulates the ability of p38 MAPK to phosphorylate protein substrates such as ATF-2 and Elk-1. MEK6 is activated by different forms of cellular stress and inflammatory cytokines (2). Activation of MEK6 occurs via phosphorylation of Ser207 and Thr211 on MEK6 by upstream protein kinases.

Gene Aliases:

MAP2K6, MEK6, MAPKK6, PRKMK6, SAPKK3, SKK3

Genbank Number:

NM_002758

References:

1. Dérijard, B. et al: Independent human MAP-kinase signal transduction pathways defined by MEK and MKK isoforms. Science. 1995; 269(5220):17.

2. Han, J. et al. Characterization of the structure and function of a novel MAP kinase kinase (MEK6). J. Biol. Chem. 1996;271(6):2886-91.