The protein encoded by this gene is a serine/threonine kinase and is part of some signal transduction cascades, including the ERK and JNK kinase pathways as well as the NF-kappa-B pathway. MAP3K1 activates the ERK and JNK kinase pathways by phosphorylation of MAP2K1 and MAP2K4. It activates CHUK and IKBKB, the central protein kinases of the NF-kappa-B pathway.Additionally, MEK kinase-1 uses an E3 ligase through its PHD domain, a RING-finger-like structure, to target proteins for degradation through ubiquitination.
