JNK1 + JNK2, JNK1 + 2, JNK1/2, c Jun N terminal kinase 1, JNK1, JNK2, JAK 1A, JAK1A, JNK 1, JNK 46, JNK, JNK1A2, JNK21B1/2, MAPK 8, MAPK8, Mitogen activated protein kinase 8, PRKM 8, PRKM8, Protein kinase JNK1, SAPK 1, SAPK gamma, SAPK1, c-Jun, Stress activated protein kinase JNK1, Tyrosine protein kinase JAK1, MK08_HUMAN.
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals, and are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. This kinase is activated by various cell stimuli, and targets specific transcription factors, and thus mediates immediate-early gene expression in response to cell stimuli. The activation of this kinase by tumor-necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is found to be required for TNF-alpha induced apoptosis. This kinase is also involved in UV radiation induced apoptosis, which is thought to be related to cytochrom c-mediated cell death pathway. Studies of the mouse counterpart of this gene suggested that this kinase play a key role in T cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Five alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2013]
