Description
Mitogen-activated protein kinase 8, also known as JNK1, PRKM8, and SAPK1, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MAPK8 gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the MAP kinase and JNK family. The International Radiation Hybrid Mapping Consortium mapped the MAPK8 gene to chromosome 10. 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. This kinase is also involved in UV radiation-induced apoptosis, which is though to be related to the cytochrome c-mediated cell death pathway