Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 is an
enzyme
Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''MAP2K2''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...
.
It is more commonly known as MEK2, but has many alternative names including CFC4, MKK2, MAPKK2 and PRKMK2.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a dual specificity protein kinase that belongs to the MAP kinase kinase family. This kinase is known to play a critical role in
mitogen growth factor signal transduction. It phosphorylates and thus activates
MAPK1
Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, (MAPK 1), also known as ERK2, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''MAPK1'' gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases, also known as extrace ...
/ERK2 and
MAPK3
Mitogen-activated protein kinase 3, also known as p44MAPK and ERK1, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''MAPK3'' gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) famil ...
/ERK1.
The activation of this kinase itself is dependent on the Ser/Thr phosphorylation by
MAP kinase kinase kinase
Mitogen Activated Protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase, MAPKKK (or MAP3K) is a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase which acts upon MAP kinase kinase. Subsequently, MAP kinase kinase activates MAP kinase. Several types of MAPKKK can exist but a ...
s.
The inhibition or degradation of this kinase is found to be involved in the pathogenesis of Yersinia and anthrax.
Interactions
MAP2K2 has been shown to
interact with
MAPK3
Mitogen-activated protein kinase 3, also known as p44MAPK and ERK1, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''MAPK3'' gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) famil ...
and
ARAF
Serine/threonine-protein kinase A-Raf or simply A-Raf is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''ARAF'' gene. A-Raf is a member of the Raf kinase family of serine/threonine-specific protein kinases.
Compared to the other members of this ...
.
References
Further reading
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External links
GeneReviews/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome*
EC 2.7.12
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