Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (also known as MAP2K, MEK, MAPKK) is a
dual-specificity kinase 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 ...
which
phosphorylates mitogen-activated protein kinase
A mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or MAP kinase) is a type of protein kinase that is specific to the amino acids serine and threonine (i.e., a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase). MAPKs are involved in directing cellular response ...
(MAPK).
MAP2K is classified as .
There are seven genes:
* (a.k.a.
MEK1)
* (a.k.a.
MEK2
Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''MAP2K2'' gene. It is more commonly known as MEK2, but has many alternative names including CFC4, MKK2, MAPKK2 and PRKMK2.
Function
The ...
)
* (a.k.a.
MKK3)
* (a.k.a.
MKK4)
* (a.k.a.
MKK5
Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''MAP2K5'' gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a dual specificity protein kinase that belongs to the MAP kinase kinase famil ...
)
* (a.k.a.
MKK6
Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 also known as MAP kinase kinase 6 (MAPKK 6) or MAPK/ERK kinase 6 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''MAP2K6'' gene, on chromosome 17.
Function
MAPKK 6 is a member of the d ...
)
* (a.k.a.
MKK7)
The activators of
p38 (MKK3 and MKK6),
JNK (MKK4 and MKK7), and
ERK (MEK1 and MEK2) define independent
MAP kinase
A mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or MAP kinase) is a type of protein kinase that is specific to the amino acids serine and threonine (i.e., a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase). MAPKs are involved in directing cellular response ...
signal transduction pathways. The acronym MEK derives from MAPK/ERK Kinase.
Role in melanoma
MEK is a member of the MAPK signaling cascade that is activated in melanoma.
When MEK is inhibited, cell proliferation is blocked and
apoptosis
Apoptosis (from grc, ἀπόπτωσις, apóptōsis, 'falling off') is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes ( morphology) and death. These changes in ...
(controlled cell death) is induced.
See also
*
Signal transduction
Signal transduction is the process by which a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a series of molecular events, most commonly protein phosphorylation catalyzed by protein kinases, which ultimately results in a cellula ...
*
MAP kinase
A mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or MAP kinase) is a type of protein kinase that is specific to the amino acids serine and threonine (i.e., a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase). MAPKs are involved in directing cellular response ...
*
MAP kinase kinase kinase
*
MAP kinase kinase kinase kinase
References
External links
*
Protein kinases
EC 2.7.12
Genes associated with cancer
{{Protein-stub