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World J Biol Chem. Aug 26, 2014; 5(3): 321-333
Published online Aug 26, 2014. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v5.i3.321
Published online Aug 26, 2014. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v5.i3.321
Mnk kinase pathway: Cellular functions and biological outcomes
Sonali Joshi, Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Leonidas C Platanias, Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Hematology-Oncology, Northwestern University Medical School, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Author contributions: Joshi S wrote the draft manuscript; Platanias LC revised and finalized the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Sonali Joshi, PhD, Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit Number: 108, Houston, TX 77030, United States. ssjoshi@mdanderson.org
Telephone: + 1-713-7941233 Fax: +1-713-7924454
Received: November 26, 2013
Revised: March 10, 2014
Accepted: May 31, 2014
Published online: August 26, 2014
Revised: March 10, 2014
Accepted: May 31, 2014
Published online: August 26, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: The Mnk kinases are important downstream targets of the Erk and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and their activity can also be modulated by MAPK independent signals. The Mnk kinases play important roles in regulating mRNA translation and, because of this, are key mediators of oncogenic progression, drug resistance, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cytokine signaling. This review focuses on the pathways regulating the Mnk kinases, the substrates on the Mnk kinases as well as the biological functions of the Mnk kinases.