Rabbit anti-Human MEK7 Monoclonal Antibody

Uniprot Id

O14733

Target Species

Human

Target Name

MAP2K7

Target Full Name

Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7

Target Function

Dual specificity protein kinase which acts as an essential component of the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway. Essential component of the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAP/JNK) signaling pathway. With MAP2K4/MKK4, is the one of the only known kinase to directly activate the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinases MAPK8/JNK1, MAPK9/JNK2 and MAPK10/JNK3. MAP2K4/MKK4 and MAP2K7/MKK7 both activate the JNKs by phosphorylation, but they differ in their preference for the phosphorylation site in the Thr-Pro-Tyr motif. MAP2K4/MKK4 shows preference for phosphorylation of the Tyr residue and MAP2K7/MKK7 for the Thr residue. The monophosphorylation of JNKs on the Thr residue is sufficient to increase JNK activity indicating that MAP2K7/MKK7 is important to trigger JNK activity, while the additional phosphorylation of the Tyr residue by MAP2K4/MKK4 ensures optimal JNK activation. Has a specific role in JNK signal transduction pathway activated by proinflammatory cytokines. The MKK/JNK signaling pathway is also involved in mitochondrial death signaling pathway, including the release cytochrome c, leading to apoptosis. Part of a non-canonical MAPK signaling pathway, composed of the upstream MAP3K12 kinase and downstream MAP kinases MAPK1/ERK2 and MAPK3/ERK1, that enhances the AP-1-mediated transcription of APP in response to APOE.

Target Subcellular Location

Nucleus. Cytoplasm.

Target Protein Families

Protein kinase superfamily, STE Ser/Thr protein kinase family, MAP kinase kinase subfamily

Target Tissue Specificity

Ubiquitous; with highest level of expression in skeletal muscle. Isoform 3 is found at low levels in placenta, fetal liver, and skeletal muscle.

Target Synonyms

c-Jun N-terminal kinase kinase 2; Dual specificity mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 7; Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7; JNK activating kinase 2; JNK kinase 2; JNK-activating kinase 2; JNKK 2; Jnkk-2; Jnkk2; MAP kinase kinase 7; MAP2K7; MAPK/ERK kinase 7; MAPKK 7; MAPKK-7; MAPKK7; MEK 7; Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase kinase 7; MKK 7; MKK-7; MKK7; MP2K7_HUMAN; PRKMK 7; PRKMK-7; PRKMK7; SAPK kinase 4; SAPKK-4; SAPKK4; Sek 2; Sek-2; Sek2; SKK4; stress-activated protein kinase kinase 4

Target Background

The protein encoded by this gene is a dual specificity protein kinase that belongs to the MAP kinase kinase family. This kinase specifically activates MAPK8/JNK1 and MAPK9/JNK2, and this kinase itself is phosphorylated and activated by MAP kinase kinase kinases including MAP3K1/MEKK1, MAP3K2/MEKK2, MAP3K3/MEKK5, and MAP4K2/GCK. This kinase is involved in the signal transduction mediating the cell responses to proinflammatory cytokines, and environmental stresses. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants.