Protein Domain : Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 IPR038784

Type	Family
Description	p38 kinases are mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), serving as important mediators of cellular responses to extracellular signals. They function in the regulation of the cell cycle, cell development, cell differentiation, senescence, tumorigenesis, apoptosis, pain development and pain progression, and immune responses. p38 kinases are activated by the MAPK kinases MKK3 and MKK6, which in turn are activated by upstream MAPK kinase kinases including TAK1, ASK1, and MLK3, in response to cellular stresses or inflammatory cytokines [ ]. p38 substrates include other protein kinases and factors that regulate transcription, nuclear export, mRNA stability and translation. p38 kinases are drug targets for the inflammatory diseases psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic pulmonary disease [, ].Vertebrates contain four p38 kinases, named alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, which show varying substrate specificity and expression patterns.p38alpha/MAPK14 is expressed in most tissues and is the major isoform involved in the immune and inflammatory response. It is the central p38 MAPK involved in myogenesis [ ]. It plays a role in regulating cell cycle check-point transition and promoting cell differentiation. p38alpha also regulates cell proliferation and death through crosstalk with the JNK pathway []. Its substrates include MAPK activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), MK5, and the transcription factors ATF2 and Mitf [].
Short Name	p38alpha