Overview:

GLK is a member of the STE20 family of serine/threonine protein kinases and contains N-terminal catalytic domain and C-terminal regulatory domain. GLK is upstream of the MEKK1 target and is stimulated by UV radiation and TNF- and can lead to the activation of the JNK signaling pathway. GLK can directly activate PKC-θ during TCR signaling and people with systemic lupus erythematosus show considerable enhanced GLK expression and activation of PKC-θ and the kinase IKK in T cells (1). GLK can act as a pro-apoptotic kinase which orchestrates activation of BAX via the concerted posttranscriptional modulation of PUMA, BAD, and BIM (2).

Gene Aliases:

MAP4K3; MAPKKKK3; MEKKK3; RAB8IPL1

Genbank Number:

NM_003618

References:

1. Chuang, H C. et al: The kinase GLK controls autoimmunity and NF-κB signaling by activating the kinase PKC-θ in T cells. Nat Immunol. 2011 Oct 9;12(11):1113-8.

2. Lam, D. et al: MAP4K3 modulates cell death via the post-transcriptional regulation of BH3-only proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jul 21;106(29):11978-83.