该基因编码的蛋白是一种双特异性蛋白激酶，属于MAP激酶激酶家族。这种激酶专门激活MAPK8/JNK1和MAPK9/JNK2，这种激酶本身被包括MAP3K1/MEKK1、MAP3K2/MEKK2、MAP3K3/MEKK5和MAP4K2/GCK的MAP激酶激酶激酶磷酸化并激活。这种激酶参与调节细胞对促炎细胞因子和环境应激反应的信号转导。选择性剪接导致多个转录变体。
The protein encoded by this gene is a dual specificity protein kinase that belongs to the MAP kinase kinase family. This kinase specifically activates MAPK8/JNK1 and MAPK9/JNK2, and this kinase itself is phosphorylated and activated by MAP kinase kinase kinases including MAP3K1/MEKK1, MAP3K2/MEKK2,MAP3K3/MEKK5, and MAP4K2/GCK. This kinase is involved in the signal transduction mediating the cell responses to proinflammatory cytokines, and environmental stresses. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants.