The protein encoded by this gene is a dual specificity protein kinase that belongs to the MAP kinase kinase family. This kinase specifically activates MAPK8/JNK1 and MAPK9/JNK2, and this kinase itself is phosphorylated and activated by MAP kinase kinase kinases including MAP3K1/MEKK1, MAP3K2/MEKK2,MAP3K3/MEKK5, and MAP4K2/GCK. This kinase is involved in the signal transduction mediating the cell responses to proinflammatory cytokines, and environmental stresses. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2014],JNKK2, MAPKK7, MEK, MEK 7, MKK7, PRKMK7, SAPKK-4, SAPKK4,B Cell Receptor Signaling Pathway,Cell Biology & Developmental Biology,Cell Intrinsic Innate Immunity Signaling Pathway,Cytoskeleton,Cytoskeleton_Actins,Death Receptor Signaling Pathway,Endocrine & Metabolism,ErbB-HER Signaling Pathway,G protein signaling,G protein signaling_G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Signaling to MAPK/Erk,IL-6 Receptor Signaling Pathway,Immunology & Inflammation,Innate Immunity_TLR Signaling,Kinase,MAPK-JNK Signaling Pathway,Neurodegenerative Diseases,Neurodegenerative Diseases_Dopamine Signaling in Parkinsons Disease,Neuroscience,Protein phosphorylation,Signal Transduction,T Cell Receptor Signaling Pathway,Toll-like Receptor Signaling Pathway,MAP2K7