MAP3K7

MAP3K7 (Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 7) is a gene that encodes a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family. This kinase mediates the signaling transduction induced by TGF beta and morphogenetic protein (BMP), and controls a variety of cell functions including transcription regulation and apoptosis. In response to cytokines and growth factors, this kinase phosphorylates and activates its downstream protein kinases including MAPK8/JNK, MAP2K4/MKK4, and MAP2K7/MKK7, which in turn activate a variety of transcription factors in cytokines and growth factor-induced responses. This kinase is involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development.

Function

The protein encoded by the MAP3K7 gene is a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals, and are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. This kinase is known to play a critical role in TGF-beta signal transduction. It can be activated by proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-1, which suggests that it may be a potential mediator of inflammatory responses.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the MAP3K7 gene have been associated with developmental disorders and cancer. For example, a mutation in this gene has been identified in patients with frontometaphyseal dysplasia, a rare genetic disorder characterized by skeletal abnormalities. In addition, alterations in this gene have been implicated in several types of cancer, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and gastric cancer.

See also

• Mitogen-activated protein kinase
• TGF beta signaling pathway
• TNF-alpha
• IL-1