JNK

The c-Jun N-terminal protein kinases (JNKs) are a family of serine/threonine protein kinases of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) group. JNKs, which are essential regulators of physiological and pathological processes, are involved in several diseases including diabetes, atherosclerosis, stroke, and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's di­seases. The JNK family consists of three isoforms; JNK1 and JNK2, which are ubiquitous, and JNK3, which is present primarily in the heart, brain and testis. Differential splicing and exon use yield 10 isoforms of JNK. JNK1 is an important mediator of insulin resistance associated with obesity, but it is also indispensable for the intact cytoarchitecture of the brain.