This gene encodes a member of the dual specificity protein kinase family, which functions as a mitogen-activatedprotein (MAP) kinase kinase. MAP kinases, also known as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), act as anintegration point for multiple biochemical signals. This protein phosphorylates and activates p38 MAP kinase inresponse to inflammatory cytokines or environmental stress. As an essential component of p38 MAP kinase mediatedsignal transduction pathway, this gene is involved in many cellular processes such as stress induced cell cycle arrest, transcription activation and apoptosis.
