Activation of p38 and determination of its activity

Methods Mol Biol. 2010:661:75-89. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-795-2_4.

Abstract

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway plays an important role in cellular responses to inflammatory stimuli and environmental stresses. Extracellular stimuli activate kinases upstream of p38, such as MKK3 and MKK6, which subsequently phosphorylate p38. p38 then participates in numerous biological processes by phosphorylating its downstream substrates. Here, our methodology mainly highlights how endogenous or exogenous p38 can be activated and its upstream kinases and downstream substrates identified.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Assays / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Transfection
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / immunology
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 3