Reaction: ATP + a protein = ADP + a phosphoprotein
Other name(s): cMos; cRaf; MAPKKK; MAP3K; MAP kinase kinase kinase; MEKK; MEKK1; MEKK2; MEKK3; MEK kinase; Mil/Raf; MLK-like mitogen-activated protein triple kinase; MLTK; MLTKa; MLTKb; REKS; STK28
Systematic name: ATP:protein phosphotransferase (MAPKKKK-activated)
Comments: This enzyme phosphorylates and activates its downstream protein kinase, EC 2.7.12.2, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) but requires MAPKKKK for activation. Some members of this family can be activated by p21-activated kinases (PAK/STE20) or Ras. While c-Raf and c-Mos activate the classical MAPK/ERK pathway, MEKK1 and MEKK2 preferentially activate the c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase(JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) pathway [2]. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways are among the most widespread mechanisms of cellular regulation. Mammalian MAPK pathways can be recruited by a wide variety of stimuli including hormones (e.g. insulin and growth hormone), mitogens (e.g. epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor), vasoactive peptides (e.g. angiotensin-II and endothelin), inflammatory cytokines of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family and environmental stresses such as osmotic shock, ionizing radiation and ischaemic injury.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, PDB, CAS registry number: 146702-84-3
References:
1. Wang, X.S., Diener, K., Jannuzzi, D., Trollinger, D., Tan, T.H., Lichenstein, H., Zukowski, M. and Yao, Z. Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel protein kinase with a catalytic domain homologous to mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase. J. Biol. Chem. 271 (1996) 31607-31611. [PMID: 8940179]
2. Gotoh, I., Adachi, M. and Nishida, E. Identification and characterization of a novel MAP kinase kinase kinase, MLTK. J. Biol. Chem. 276 (2001) 4276-4286. [PMID: 11042189]
3. Vojtek, A.B., Hollenberg, S.M. and Cooper, J.A. Mammalian Ras interacts directly with the serine/threonine kinase Raf. Cell 74 (1993) 205-214. [PMID: 8334704]