Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 12 (MAP3K12)

MAP3K12 is a member of serine/threonine protein kinase family. This kinase contains a leucine-zipper domain, and is predominately expressed in neuronal cells. The phosphorylation state of this kinase in synaptic terminals was shown to be regulated by membrane depolarization via calcineurin. This kinase forms heterodimers with leucine zipper containing transcription factors, such as cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) and MYC, and thus may play a regulatory role in PKA or retinoic acid induced neuronal differentiation.a putative protein kinase that encodes an 859-amino acid polypeptide with a serine/threonine protein kinase domain and a leucine zipper domain. The authors found that the gene is expressed in fetal and adult brain, as well as adult kidney, skeletal muscle, and lung.