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c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are intracellular stress-activated signalling molecules, which are controlled by a highly evolutionarily conserved signalling cascade. In mammalian cells, JNKs are regulated by a wide variety of cellular stresses and growth factors and have been implicated in the regulation of remarkably diverse biological processes, such as cell shape changes, immune responses and apoptosis. How can such different stimuli activate the JNK pathway and what roles does JNK play in vivo? Molecular genetic analysis of the Drosophila JNK gene has started to provide answers to these questions, confirming the role of this molecule in development and stress responses and suggesting a conserved function for JNK signalling in processes such as wound healing. Here, we review this work and discuss how future experiments in Drosophila should reveal the cell type-specific mechanisms by which JNKs perform their diverse functions.

Original publication

DOI

10.1002/(SICI)1521-1878(199812)20:12<1009::AID-BIES7>3.0.CO;2-D

Type

Journal article

Journal

Bioessays

Publication Date

12/1998

Volume

20

Pages

1009 - 1019

Keywords

Animals, Drosophila, Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic, Genes, Insect, JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases, MAP Kinase Kinase 4, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases, Protein Kinases, Signal Transduction