Gene Section Review Atlas Genet Cytogenet Oncol Haematol. 2010; 14(11) 1007 Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL AT INIST-CNRS MAPK12 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 12) Maria Isabel Cerezo-Guisado, Ana Cuenda Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia-CSIC, Department of Immunology and Oncology, Madrid, Spain (MICG, AC) Published in Atlas Database: January 2010 Online updated version : http://AtlasGeneticsOncology.org/Genes/MAPK12ID41290ch22q13.html DOI: 10.4267/2042/44881 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 France Licence. © 2010 Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology Identity Other names: EC 2.7.11.24; ERK3; ERK5; ERK-6; ERK6; p38gamma; PRKM12; SAPK-3; SAPK3 HGNC (Hugo): MAPK12 Location: 22q13.33 DNA/RNA Description The MAPK12 entire gene spans 8.46 kb on the long arm of chromosome 22. It contains 12 exons. Transcription The MAPK12 gene encodes a 367 amino-acid protein of about 42 kDa. MAPK12 mRNA is 1457 bp. No splice variants have been reported. Pseudogene No human or mouse pseudogene known. Protein Note p38gamma (MAPK12), also known as Stress-activated protein kinase 3 (SAPK3) belongs to the p38 subfamily of MAPKs. The p38MAPK subfamily is composed by four members encoded by different genes, which share high sequence homologies and are designated as p38alpha (MAPK14, or SAPK2a), p38beta (MAPK11 or SAPK2b), p38gamma (MAPK12 or SAPK3) and p38delta (MAPK13 or SAPK4). They are about 60% identical in their amino acid sequence but differ in their expresion patterns, substrate specificities and sensitivities to chemical inhibitors (Iñesta-Vaquera et al., 2008). All p38 MAPKs are strongly activated in vivo by environmental stresses and inflammatory cytokines, and less by serum and growth factors. MAPK12 genomic context (Chromosome 22, location 22q13.33). Genomic organization of MAPK12 gene on chromosome 22q13.33. The boxes indicate coding regions (exon 1-12) of the gene.