| Field | Specification |
|---|---|
| Mfr No | |
| Activity | |
| Alternative Names | JNK-46;Stress-activated protein kinase 1c;Stress-activated protein kinase JNK1;c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 |
| Conjugate | |
| Endotoxin Level | |
| Expression System | |
| Form | Liquid or Lyophilized powder |
| Molecular Weight | |
| Product Type | |
| Protein Length | |
| Purity | |
| Reconstitution | |
| Species | |
| Storage | |
| Target | |
| UniProt # |
Overview
Recombinant Human Mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8) is a recombinant protein preparation derived from Homo sapiens (Human). It is commonly used as a defined reagent for assay development, binding studies, and analytical controls where consistent protein specifications are required.
Key elements and design rationale
- Expressed region: 1-427aa.
- Expression system: E.coli (may influence folding and post-translational modifications).
- Tag/format: C-terminal 6xHis-tagged; Liquid or Lyophilized powder.
- Expected size: 55.2 kDa (as provided).
- Purity: Greater than 95% as determined by SDS-PAGE.
Region choice, expression system, and tag/format can influence folding, post-translational modifications, and interaction behavior in downstream assays.
Biological background
Serine/threonine-protein kinase involved in various processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, transformation and programmed cell death. Extracellular stimuli such as pro-inflammatory cytokines or physical stress stimulate the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAP/JNK) signaling pathway. In this cascade, two dual specificity kinases MAP2K4/MKK4 and MAP2K7/MKK7 phosphorylate and activate MAPK8/JNK1. In turn, MAPK8/JNK1 phosphorylates a number of transcription factors, primarily components of AP-1 such as JUN, JDP2 and ATF2 and thus regulates AP-1 transcriptional activity. Phosphorylates the replication licensing factor CDT1, inhibiting the interaction between CDT1 and the histone H4 acetylase HBO1 to replication origins. Loss of this interaction abrogates the acetylation required for replication initiation. Promotes stressed cell apoptosis by phosphorylating key regulatory factors including p53/TP53 and Yes-associates protein YAP1. In T-cells, MAPK8 and MAPK9 are required for polarized differentiation of T-helper cells into Th1 cells. Contributes to the survival of erythroid cells by phosphorylating the antagonist of cell death BAD upon EPO stimulation. Mediates starvation-induced BCL2 phosphorylation, BCL2 dissociation from BECN1, and thus activation of autophagy. Phosphorylates STMN2 and hence regulates microtubule dynamics, controlling neurite elongation in cortical neurons. In the developing brain, through its cytoplasmic activity on STMN2, negatively regulates the rate of exit from multipolar stage and of radial migration from the ventricular zone. Phosphorylates several other substrates including heat shock factor protein 4 (HSF4), the deacetylase SIRT1, ELK1, or the E3 ligase ITCH. Phosphorylates the CLOCK-BMAL1 heterodimer and plays a role in the regulation of the circadian clock. Phosphorylates the heat shock transcription factor HSF1, suppressing HSF1-induced transcriptional activity. Phosphorylates POU5F1, which results in the inhibition of POU5F1's transcriptional activity and enhances its proteasomal degradation. Phosphorylates JUND and this phosphorylation is inhibited in the presence of MEN1. In neurons, phosphorylates SYT4 which captures neuronal dense core vesicles at synapses. Phosphorylates EIF4ENIF1/4-ET in response to oxidative stress, promoting P-body assembly. Phosphorylates SIRT6 in response to oxidative stress, stimulating its mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. Phosphorylates NLRP3, promoting assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Phosphorylates ALKBH5 in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS), promoting ALKBH5 sumoylation and inactivation
Research relevance and current trends
- Domain- and isoform-aware assay design to improve biological interpretation across model systems.
- Quantitative workflows emphasizing calibration standards, spike-in controls, and cross-lot comparability.
- In vitro binding/kinetics profiling (SPR/BLI) to connect biochemical interactions with cellular phenotypes.
Common research applications
- Measure MAPK8 enzymatic activity with defined substrates/cofactors (in vitro assay).
- Evaluate inhibitor/activator effects on MAPK8 activity across a concentration series.
- Quantify MAPK8 using calibration standards in plate-based assays (assay development).
- Profile binding interactions of MAPK8 by SPR/BLI (kinetic characterization).
Interpret results in the context of the biological system, assay format, and any known domain/isoform constraints for the target.
Notes for experimental interpretation
- Consider species- and isoform-specific differences when comparing results across models or homologs.
- For quantitative assays, include appropriate negative controls and matrix-matched spike-in concepts to assess non-specific signal.
What is protein expression and purification?
Why is there no/low protein expression?
b. Rare codons. You should optimize codons, use strains supplementing rare codons, induce at lower temperature or grow in poor media.
c. Protein toxicity. You should use promoters with tighter regulation or lower plasmid copy number. Use pLysS/pLysE bearing strains in T7-based systems or strains that are better for the expression of toxic proteins. Start induction at high OD and shorten induction time. Add glucose when using expression vectors containing lac-based promoters.
How to avoid inclusion bodies and improve soluble expression?
b. Incorrect disulfide bond formation. You should add fusion partners, including thioredoxin, DsbA, DsbC. Clone in a vector containing secretion signal peptide to cell periplasm. Use gamiB (DE3)strains with oxidative cytoplasmic environment. Lower inducer concentration and induction temperature.
c. Incorrect folding. You should use a fusion partner. Co-express with molecular chaperones. Use strains with cold-adapted chaperones. Supplement media with chemical chaperones and cofactors. Reduce the inducer concentration and add fresh media. Induce for a shorter time at low temperature.
Why is the molecular weight of protein smaller than the predicted?
b. Imbalanced translation process of fusion protein. You should change another fusion tag or move fusion tag to C-terminal. You should induce for a shorter time at low temperature or change to poor media.
c. Protein degradation. You should replace specific protease sites. Use protease deficient strains. Induce at high OD. You should induce for a shorter time at low temperature or use protease inhibitors when breaking cells.
Why is the actual band size different from the predicted?
b. Post-translational cleavage. Many proteins are synthesized as pro-proteins, and then cleaved to give the active form.
c. Splice variants. Alternative splicing may create different sized proteins from the same gene.
d. Relative charge. The composition of amino acids have different relative charge which will affect the electrophoretic mobility.
e. Multimers such as dimerisation of a protein. This is usually prevented in reducing conditions, although strong interactions can result in the appearance of higher bands.
f. Protein structure such as disulfide bond, protein secondary structure or protein 3D structure formation.
g. Hydrophobic proteins, such as transmembrane proteins, may have difficulties in migrating into the gel, and thus resulting in different multi-banded patterns.
How to express a protein with bioactivity? Why is the protein inactive?
a. Low solubility of the protein. You should fuse desired protein to a fusion partners and lower temperature.
b. Lack of essential post translational modification. You should change another expression system.
c. Incomplete folding. You should use a fusion partner and use strains with cold-adapted chaperones. Co-express with molecular chaperones at lower temperature. Monitor disulfide bond formation and allow further folding in vitro.
d. Mutations in cDNA. You should sequence plasmid before and after induction or use a recA− strain to ensure plasmid stability. Transform E. coli before each expression round.
Why are our protein products almost invisible in pipes?
Tips: Before opening the lid, we recommend to centrifuge in a small centrifuge for 20-30 seconds firstly to ensure that the contents are on the bottom of the tube. Our quality control steps ensure that the amount of protein contained in each tube is accurate, although sometimes you can’t see the protein powder, but the protein content in the tube is still very accurate.
How is the protein purified? Is the purity guaranteed?
Although we guarantee a minimum purity standard of >85%, some of the proteins we prepared have a purity of 95% or even 97%.
How should I reconstitute and store the products?
As for short-term storage or usage, please use sterile deionized water to completely reconstitute proteins to 0.1-1.0 mg/mL. Aliquot after 10-15 minutes if needed and store at 4℃.
As for long-term storage, the cytokines or recombinant proteins are recommended to add 5-50% of glycerol (final concentration) and aliquot for long-term storage at -20℃/-80℃. Our default final concentration of glycerol is 50%. Customers could use it as reference.
What types of tags do you use for fusion?
What is the impact of a given tag type and any potential biological activity of the protein?
Can you remove the endotoxin?
Can you offer aseptic manufacture processing?
How to determine species cross-reactivity of cytokines?
b. Many mouse cytokines may also have effect on human cells, however, the activity may be lower than the corresponding human cytokines.
c. One of the few human cytokines will be more active than corresponding mouse cytokines when acting on mouse cells, such as IL-7.
d. Interferon, GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-4 and other cytokines are species-specific and almost have no activity on non-homologous cells.
e. In contrast, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and neurotrophin are highly conserved and both have good activity on cells of different species.
What is the general preservative? Which kind of preservative do you usually add?
What is the general protectant? What kind of protectant do you usually add?
Can’t Find What You’re Looking For? We can help you source the best match or customize a recombinant protein solution for your study. Options may include species (human/mouse/rat), protein region/domain (full-length vs fragment), tag or label (His/GST/FLAG/biotin/fluorescent), expression system (E. coli/HEK293/insect), purity grade, formulation (buffer, carrier-free, glycerol-free), activity/functional validation (binding or enzymatic assays), endotoxin level (low-endotoxin for cell-based work), mutants/variants (point mutations, isoforms), and bulk or custom packaging. Click Talk to a Scientist to submit a request form, email us at support@biohippo.com, or explore our Research Services for additional support. Our team will be in contact with you shortly.
