MEK-4 (Dual Specificity Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 4, MAP Kinase Kinase 4, MAPKK 4, JNK-Activating Kinase 1, MAPK/ERK Kinase 4, MEK 4, SAPK/ERK Kinase 1, SEK1, Stress-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 1, SAPK Kinase 1, SAPKK-1, SAPKK1, c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Kinase 1, JNKK, MAP2K4, JNKK1, MEK4, MKK4,, PRKMK4, SEK1, SERK1, SKK1)

The prototype member of this family, designated MAP kinase kinase, or MEK-1, specifically phosphorylates the MAP kinase regulatory threonine and tyrosine residues present in the Thr-Glu-Tyr motif of ERK. A second MEK family member, MEK-2, resembles MEK-1 in its substrate specificity. MEK-3 (or MKK-3) functions to activate p38 MAP kinase, and MEK-4 (also called SEK1 or MKK-4) activates both p38 and JNK MAP kinases. MEK-5 appears to specifically phosphorylate ERK 5, whereas MEK-6 phosphorylates p38 and p38beta. MEK-7 (or MKK-7) phosphorylates and activates the JNK signal transduction pathway. Applications:...