Component of a protein kinase signal transduction cascade. Phosphorylates and activates MAP2K4 and MAP2K6, which in turn activate the JNK and p38 MAP kinases, respectively. Overexpression induces apoptotic cell death.
Specificity
Natural and recombinant Human Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5
Homodimer when inactive. Binds both upstream activators and downstream substrates in multimolecular complexes. Associates with and inhibited by HIV-1 Nef. Interacts with DAB2IP and PPM1L. Interacts with ARRB2. Part of a cytoplasmic complex made of HIPK1, DAB2IP and MAP3K5 in response to TNF. This complex formation promotes MAP3K5-JNK activation and subsequent apoptosis.