Overview:

MNK2 (MAP kinase-interacting kinase 2) contains a conserved C-terminal ERK-interacting domain, a catalytic domain with homology to the calcium/calmodulin-dependent family of kinases, and putative MAP kinase phosphorylation sites located within the T loop of the kinase domain. MNK2 binds tightly to the growth factor-regulated MAP kinases, ERK1 and ERK2. ERK and p38 phosphorylate MNK2, which stimulates its in vitro kinase activity toward a substrate, eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF-4E) (1). A yeast two-hybrid screen showed the Mnk2 protein interacted with the ligand-binding domain of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) (2).

Gene Aliases:

MKNK2; GPRK7

Genbank Number:

NM_017572

References:

1. Waskiewicz, A J. et al: Mitogen-activated protein kinases activate the serine/threonine kinases Mnk1 and Mnk2. EMBO J. 1997 Apr 15;16(8):1909-20.

2. Slentz-Kesler, K. et al: Identification of the human Mnk2 gene (MKNK2) through protein interaction with estrogen receptor beta. Genomics. 2000 Oct 1;69(1):63-71.