Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 14 (MAP3K14)

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 14 is a serine/threonine protein-kinase. This kinase binds to TRAF2 and stimulates NF-kappaB activity. It shares sequence similarity with several other MAPKK kinases. It participates in an NF-kappaB-inducing signalling cascade common to receptors of the tumour-necrosis/nerve-growth factor (TNF/NGF) family and to the interleukin-1 type-I receptor.expressed at low levels in testis, small intestine, spleen, thymus, peripheral blood leukocytes, prostate, ovary, and colon. Overexpression of NIK in 293-EBNA cells induced NFKB, required the kinase domain, caused degradation of IKB-alpha, and did not affect REL directly. TNFA, IL1, and CD95 require intact NIK to activate NFKB, indicating that NIK participates in a cascade common to the receptors of all 3 of these activators.