MAPK10 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 10 ), also called JNK3, which is located on chromosome 4q22.1- q23, JNK is an important contributor to stress-induced apoptosis, its isoforms (JNK1, JNK2, and JNK3) have distinct roles in cerebral ischemia. JNK1 is the major isoformresponsible for the high level of basal JNK activity in the brain. In contrast, targeted deletion of Jnk3 not only reduces the stress-induced JNK activity, but also protects mice from brain injury after cerebral ischemia- hypoxia. The downstream mechanism of JNK3-mediated apoptosis include the induction of Bim and Fas and the mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. which sug- gest that JNK3 is a potential target for neuroprotection therapies in stroke. JNK3 is crucial for neuronal apoptosis (stress-induced) and selectively expressed in the nervous system and heart.