背景资料：MAP kinases play a significant role in many biological processes, including cell adhesion and spreading, cell differentiation and apoptosis. MAPKBP-1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase binding protein 1), also known as JNKBP-1, is a 1,514 amino acid protein that contains twelve WD repeats. Induced by TRAF2 (TNF receptor-associated factor 2) and Tak1 (TGF-β-activated kinase 1), MAPKBP-1 is thought to act an adaptor protein for NFκB (nuclear factor κ-B) activation. MAPKBP-1 interacts with JNK3 and may promote TRAF2 polyubiquitination. MAPKBP-1 exists as six alternatively spliced variants and is encoded by a gene located on human chromosome 15. Human chromosome 15 houses over 700 genes and comprises nearly 3% of the human genome. Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease and Marfan syndrome are all associated with defects in chromosome 15-localized genes.