Description
Protocol
Available protocols: ELISA+
Specificity / Sensitivity
The FastScan™ Total p38 alpha MAPK ELISA Kit detects endogenous levels of p38α MAPK, as shown in Figure 1. This kit does not cross-react with other p38 MAPK isoforms, such as β and γ, as shown in Figure 2. This kit detects proteins from the indicated species, as determined through in-house testing, but may also detect homologous proteins from other species.
Species Reactivity: Human, Mouse, Rat, Monkey
Background
p38 MAP kinase (MAPK), also called RK (1) or CSBP (2), is the mammalian orthologue of the yeast HOG kinase that participates in a signaling cascade controlling cellular responses to cytokines and stress (1-4). Four isoforms of p38 MAPK, p38α, β, γ (also known as Erk6 or SAPK3), and δ (also known as SAPK4) have been identified. Similar to the SAPK/JNK pathway, p38 MAPK is activated by a variety of cellular stresses, including osmotic shock, inflammatory cytokines, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), UV light, and growth factors (1-5). MKK3, MKK6, and SEK activate p38 MAPK by phosphorylation at Thr180 and Tyr182. Activated p38 MAPK has been shown to phosphorylate and activate MAPKAP kinase 2 (3) and to phosphorylate the transcription factors ATF-2 (5), Max (6), and MEF2 (5-8). SB203580 (4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-imidazole) is a selective inhibitor of p38 MAPK. This compound inhibits the activation of MAPKAPK-2 by p38 MAPK and subsequent phosphorylation of HSP27 (9). SB203580 inhibits p38 MAPK catalytic activity by binding to the ATP-binding pocket, but does not inhibit phosphorylation of p38 MAPK by upstream kinases (10).
Alternate Names
CSAID-binding protein; Csaids binding protein; CSBP; CSBP1; CSBP2; CSPB1; cytokine suppressive anti-inflammatory drug binding protein; Cytokine suppressive anti-inflammatory drug-binding protein; EXIP; MAP kinase 14; MAP kinase MXI2; MAP kinase p38 alpha; MAPK 14; MAPK14; MAX-interacting protein 2; Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14; Mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 alpha; MK14; MXI2; p38; p38 MAP kinase; p38 mitogen activated protein kinase; p38-alpha; P38A; p38ALPHA; p38alpha Exip; PRKM14; PRKM15; RK; SAPK2A; stress-activated protein kinase 2A
