Species predicted to react based on 100% sequence homology:Hamster, Zebrafish, Bovine
Specificity / Sensitivity
Phospho-p38 MAPK (Thr180/Tyr182) Antibody detects endogenous levels of p38 MAPK only when activated by phosphorylation at threonine 180 and tyrosine 182. This antibody does not cross-react with the phosphorylated forms of either p42/44 MAPK or SAPK/JNK. It will also react with p38 singly phosphorylated at Thr180 and singly phosphorylated at Tyr182.
Source / Purification
Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing animals with a synthetic phosphopeptide corresponding to residues around Thr180/Tyr182 of human p38 MAPK. Antibodies are purified by protein A and peptide affinity chromatography.
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 MAP kinase, 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 MAP kinase 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 MAP kinase by phosphorylation at Thr180 and Tyr182. Activated p38 MAP kinase 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).