p38MAPKsaremembersoftheMAPKfamilythatareactivatedbyavarietyofenvironmentalstressesandinflammatorycytokines.StresssignalsaredeliveredtothiscascadebymembersofsmallGTPasesoftheRhofamily(Rac,Rho,Cdc42).AswithotherMAPKcascades,themembrane-proximalcomponentisaMAPKKK,typicallyaMEKKoramixedlineagekinase(MLK).TheMAPKKKphosphorylatesandactivatedMKK3/5,thep38MAPKkinase.MKK3/6canalsobeactivateddirectlybyASK1,whichisstimulatedbyapoptoticstimuli.P38MAKisinvolvedinregulationofHsp27andMAPKAP-2andseveraltranscriptionfactorsincludingATF2,STAT1,THEMax/Myccomplex,MEF-2,ELK-1andindirectlyCREBviaactivationofMSK1.

Contributor:CellSignalingTechnology

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