Overview:

MEKK2 (also known as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase kinase 2) is a major upstream activator of the JNK/MAPK cascade (1). MEKK2 can mediate in vitro phosphorylation of MKK4 and MKK7 which are key MAPKs that activate JNK. In addition, MEKK2 immunoprecipitates activated JUN in an IL1-dependent manner. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis synovial tissues show high levels of MEKK2 indicating that it may be an important activator of the JNK pathway in arthritis (2). Endogenous MEKK2 is localized mainly in the cytosol of unstimulated cells.

Gene Aliases:

MAP3K2, MEKK2B

Genbank Number:

NM_006609

References:

1. Blank, J. L. et al: Molecular cloning of mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase kinases (MEKK) 2 and 3: regulation of sequential phosphorylation pathways involving mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun kinase. J. Biol. Chem. 271: 5361-5368, 1996.

2. Hammaker, D. R.; Boyle, D. L.; Chabaud-Riou, M.; Firestein, G. S. : Regulation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase by MEKK-2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases in rheumatoid arthritis. J. Immun. 172: 1612-1618, 2004.