Overview:

MEKK6, or MAP3K6 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 6) or ASK2 is a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family. MEKK6 (ASK2) was identified by its interaction with MAP3K5/ASK, a protein kinase and an activator of c-Jun kinase (MAPK7/JNK) and MAPK14/p38 kinase (1). MEKK6 cascades relay signals from the cell surface to the nucleus which result in gene transcription (2). MEKK6 activates the JNK and p38 pathway and induces apoptosis when overexpressed in stably transfected cells. MEKK6 transcript is expressed in several tissues, with the highest expression in heart and skeletal muscle.

Gene Aliases:

MAP3K6, MAPKKK6, MEKK6

Genbank Number:

NM_004672

References:

1. Wang, X. S. et al: MAPKKK6, a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, that associates with MAPKKK5. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 253: 33-37, 1998.

2. Takeda, K. et al: Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK) 2 functions as a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase in a heteromeric complex with ASK1. J Biol Chem. 2007 Mar 9;282(10):7522-31.