Mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1)

Mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1) is a nuclear serine/threonine kinase activated downstream of both the ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinase cascades in response to growth factors and cellular stress. MSK1 contains two kinase domains and functions to regulate gene expression by phosphorylating histone H3 as well as a range of transcription factors such as p53, CREB, ATF1, and others. MSK1 is broadly expressed, especially in brain, muscle, and placenta. It is implicated in cell proliferation, immune responses, stress adaptation, and certain inflammatory and neoplastic processes due to its control of gene transcription. Research continues on ways to modulate MSK1 for therapeutic purposes, though its broad role in transcriptional control may present as a challenge for selective drug targeting.

Other names

Mitogen stress kinasemsk1MSK 1Mitogen and stress activated protein kinase 1Nuclear serine/threonine protein kinase

Drugs or experimental compounds acting upstream (e.g., p38 MAPK inhibitors, ERK pathway inhibitors) suppress MSK1 activation by preventing its phosphorylation cascade. Potential future MSK1-specific inhibitors would likely function as ATP-competitive kinase inhibitors.