Overview:

JNK3 is a member of the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) which are part of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family, and regulate signal transduction in response to environmental stress. JNK3 phosphorylates various transcription factors such as ATF2, Elk-1 and members of the Jun family (1). Activation and nuclear localization of JNK3, a neuronal-specific isoform of JNK, has been associated with hypoxic and ischemic damage of CA1 neurons in the hippocampus. Knockout mice lacking JNK3 showed reduced apoptosis of hippocampal neurons and reduced seizure induced by kainic acid, a glutamate-receptor agonist (2).

Gene Aliases:

MAPK10; JNK3A, MGC50974, PRKM10, p493F12, p54bSAPK; FLJ12099, FLJ33785

Genbank Number:

NM_002753

References:

1. Gupta, S. et al: Selective interaction of JNK protein kinase isoforms with transcription factors. EMBO J. 1996 Jun 3;15(11):2760-70.

2. Yang, D D. et al: Absence of excitotoxicity-induced apoptosis in the hippocampus of mice lacking the Jnk3 gene. Nature. 1997 Oct 23;389(6653):865-70.