Overview:

JAK1 is a member of protein-tyrosine kinases (PTK) characterized by the presence of a second phosphotransferase-related domain immediately N-terminal to the PTK domain. JAK1 bears all the hallmarks of a protein kinase, although its structure differs significantly from that of the PTK and threonine/serine kinase family members. JAK1 is a large, widely expressed membrane-associated phosphoprotein that is involved in the interferon-alpha/beta and -gamma signal transduction pathways (1). JAK1 plays an essential and nonredundant role in promoting biologic responses induced by a select subset of cytokine receptors, including those in which JAK utilization is thought to be nonspecific(2).

Gene Aliases:

JAK1A, JAK1B

Genbank Number:

NM_002227

References:

1. Muller, M.et.al: The protein tyrosine kinase JAK1 complements defects in interferon-alpha/beta and -gamma signal transduction. Nature 366: 129-135, 1993.

2. Rodig, S. J.et.al: Disruption of the Jak1 gene demonstrates obligatory and nonredundant roles of the Jaks in cytokine-induced biologic responses. Cell 93: 373-383, 1998.