Mixed-lineage kinase control of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways

Abstract
Mixed-lineage kinases (MLKs) are serine/threonine-directed protein kinases. The MLK family consists of nine members in the human genome that belong to three subfamilies — MLK, dual-leucine-zipper-bearing kinase (DLK) and zipper sterile-α-motif kinase (ZAK). MLKs are members of mitogen-activated-protein kinase (MAPK) modules that contain c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNKs) or p38 MAPKs. MLKs bind the scaffold-like JNK-interacting proteins (JIPs). The Drosophila MLK Slipper regulates epithelial-cell-sheet movements during embryogenesis. MLKs are implicated in the control of neuronal apoptosis, and are potential targets for inhibition in many neurogenerative diseases including Huntington's.