Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6)

Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MKK6) is a serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase encoded by the MAP2K6 gene in humans[1][4]. It is a key dual-specificity protein kinase that activates the p38 MAP kinase pathway in response to inflammatory cytokines and environmental stress, playing an essential role in signal transduction, stress-activated cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and other cell functions[1][4][2]. MKK6 acts upstream of p38 MAP kinase, phosphorylating and activating it, and can also interact with Rac1/2 to regulate reactive oxygen species via NADPH oxidase[2]. The MKK6-p38 pathway is implicated in several diseases, notably inflammatory conditions, cancer, and ischemic heart disease, and serves as a potential therapeutic target in drug development[5][1][2][4].

Other names

MAP kinase kinase 6MAP2K6MEK6PRKMK6SAPK kinase 3SAPKK3SKK3Stress-activated protein kinase kinase 3

Inhibitors reduce activation of the p38 MAP kinase pathway by blocking MKK6-mediated phosphorylation and activation of p38 MAPK[5].