U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

MAPKAPK3 MAPK activated protein kinase 3 [ Homo sapiens (human) ]

Gene ID: 7867, updated on 3-Jun-2026
Official Symbol
MAPKAPK3provided by HGNC
Official Full Name
MAPK activated protein kinase 3provided by HGNC
Primary source
HGNC:HGNC:6888
See related
Ensembl:ENSG00000114738 MIM:602130; AllianceGenome:HGNC:6888
Gene type
protein coding
RefSeq status
REVIEWED
Organism
Homo sapiens
Lineage
Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Primates; Haplorrhini; Catarrhini; Hominidae; Homo
Also known as
3PK; MK3; MK-3; MDPT3; MAPKAP3; MAPKAP-K3; MAPKAPK-3
Summary
This gene encodes a member of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family. This kinase functions as a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase)- activated protein kinase. MAP kinases are also known as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals. This kinase was shown to be activated by growth inducers and stress stimulation of cells. In vitro studies demonstrated that ERK, p38 MAP kinase and Jun N-terminal kinase were all able to phosphorylate and activate this kinase, which suggested the role of this kinase as an integrative element of signaling in both mitogen and stress responses. This kinase was reported to interact with, phosphorylate and repress the activity of E47, which is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor known to be involved in the regulation of tissue-specific gene expression and cell differentiation. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants that encode the same protein. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2011]
Expression
Broad expression in heart (RPKM 55.1), bone marrow (RPKM 29.6) and 25 other tissues See more
Orthologs
all
Try the new Gene page
Try the new Transcripts and proteins table
See MAPKAPK3 in Genome Data Viewer
Location:
3p21.2
Exon count:
16
Annotation release Status Assembly Chr Location
RS_2025_08 current GRCh38.p14 (GCF_000001405.40) 3 NC_000003.12 (50611520..50649291)
RS_2025_08 current T2T-CHM13v2.0 (GCF_009914755.1) 3 NC_060927.1 (50641158..50679247)
RS_2024_09 previous assembly GRCh37.p13 (GCF_000001405.25) 3 NC_000003.11 (50649308..50686722)

Chromosome 3 - NC_000003.12Genomic Context describing neighboring genes Neighboring gene uncharacterized LOC105377083 Neighboring gene ReSE screen-validated silencer GRCh37_chr3:50575146-50575387 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50576885-50577561 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50584920-50585829 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50586902-50587840 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid silent region 14398 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid active region 19907 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50619223-50619724 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50619725-50620224 Neighboring gene H3K27ac-H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50621581-50622099 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid active region 19908 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid active region 19909 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid active region 19910 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid active region 19911 Neighboring gene VISTA enhancer hs1747 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid silent region 14399 Neighboring gene H3K27ac-H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50648164-50648724 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid silent region 14400 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid active region 19912 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid active region 19913 Neighboring gene chromosome 3 open reading frame 18 Neighboring gene H3K27ac-H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50654302-50655255 Neighboring gene H3K27ac-H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50655256-50656208 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid silent region 14404 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid silent region 14405 Neighboring gene H3K27ac-H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50662917-50663693 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50684509-50685008 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50686500-50687053 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50689443-50690376 Neighboring gene H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr3:50688509-50689442 Neighboring gene HemK methyltransferase 1, mitochondrial release factors N(5)-glutamine Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid silent region 14406 Neighboring gene cytokine inducible SH2 containing protein Neighboring gene long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 2019 Neighboring gene microRNA 4787 Neighboring gene dedicator of cytokinesis 3

Go to nucleotide: Graphics FASTA GenBank

  • Project title: Tissue-specific circular RNA induction during human fetal development
  • Description: 35 human fetal samples from 6 tissues (3 - 7 replicates per tissue) collected between 10 and 20 weeks gestational time were sequenced using Illumina TruSeq Stranded Total RNA
  • BioProject: PRJNA270632
  • Publication: PMID 26076956
  • Analysis date: Mon Apr 2 22:54:59 2018

Related articles in PubMed

  1. 3pK, a new mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase located in the small cell lung cancer tumor suppressor gene region. Sithanandam G, et al. Mol Cell Biol, 1996 Mar. PMID 8622688, Free PMC Article
  2. Identification of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-activated protein kinase-3, a novel substrate of CSBP p38 MAP kinase. McLaughlin MM, et al. J Biol Chem, 1996 Apr 5. PMID 8626550
  3. 3pK, a novel mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-activated protein kinase, is targeted by three MAP kinase pathways. Ludwig S, et al. Mol Cell Biol, 1996 Dec. PMID 8943323, Free PMC Article
  4. Martinique Crinkled Retinal Pigment Epitheliopathy: Clinical Stages and Pathophysiologic Insights. Jean-Charles A, et al. Ophthalmology, 2016 Oct. PMID 27474146
  5. High-resolution crystal structure of human Mapkap kinase 3 in complex with a high affinity ligand. Cheng R, et al. Protein Sci, 2010 Jan. PMID 19937655, Free PMC Article

See all (64) citations in PubMed

GeneRIFs: Gene References Into Functions

What's a GeneRIF?
  1. The natural history of MCRPE is in relation to the role of MAPKAPK3 in BM modeling, vascular endothelial growth factor activity, retinal pigment epithelial responses
    Title: Martinique Crinkled Retinal Pigment Epitheliopathy: Clinical Stages and Pathophysiologic Insights.
  2. A dominant mutation in MAPKAPK3 causes a new retinal dystrophy involving Bruch's membrane and retinal pigment epithelium.
    Title: A dominant mutation in MAPKAPK3, an actor of p38 signaling pathway, causes a new retinal dystrophy involving Bruch's membrane and retinal pigment epithelium.
  3. MK3 modulation affects BMI1-dependent and independent cell cycle check-points
    Title: MK3 modulation affects BMI1-dependent and independent cell cycle check-points.
  4. findings reveal MK2/MK3 as crucial stress-responsive kinases that promote autophagy through Beclin 1 S90 phosphorylation
    Title: The stress-responsive kinases MAPKAPK2/MAPKAPK3 activate starvation-induced autophagy through Beclin 1 phosphorylation.
  5. Hepatitis C virus core protein interacted with MAPKAPK3 through amino acid residues 41 to 75 of core and the N-terminal half of kinase domain of MAPKAPK3.
    Title: Modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 3 by hepatitis C virus core protein.
  6. Identified CREB activators MAPKAPK3 and FHL5 as mediators of intimal hyperplasia in vein graft samples.
    Title: Cyclic adenosine monophosphate response-element binding protein activation by mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 3 and four-and-a-half LIM domains 5 plays a key role for vein graft intimal hyperplasia.
  7. Observational study of gene-disease association. (HuGE Navigator)
    Title: Gene-centric association signals for lipids and apolipoproteins identified via the HumanCVD BeadChip.
  8. A high-resolution (1.9 A) crystal structure of the highly homologous MK3 in complex with a pharmaceutical lead compound is presented.
    Title: High-resolution crystal structure of human Mapkap kinase 3 in complex with a high affinity ligand.
  9. Observational study of gene-disease association and gene-gene interaction. (HuGE Navigator)
    Title: Identification of neuroglycan C and interacting partners as potential susceptibility genes for schizophrenia in a Southern Chinese population.
  10. Observational study of gene-disease association, gene-environment interaction, and pharmacogenomic / toxicogenomic. (HuGE Navigator)
    Title: Variation at the NFATC2 locus increases the risk of thiazolidinedione-induced edema in the Diabetes REduction Assessment with ramipril and rosiglitazone Medication (DREAM) study.
Submit: New GeneRIF Correction See all GeneRIFs (12)

Review eQTL and phenotype association data in this region using PheGenI

Associated conditions

Description Tests
Patterned macular dystrophy 3
MedGen: C4310713 OMIM: 617111 GeneReviews: Not available
not available

See variants in ClinVar

See studies and variants in dbVar

See Variation Viewer (GRCh37.p13)

Products Interactant Other Gene Complex Source Pubs Description

Markers

Homology

Gene Ontology Provided by GOA

Function Evidence Code Pubs
enables ATP binding IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables MAP kinase kinase activity TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
enables calcium-dependent protein serine/threonine kinase activity IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
enables calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
enables calmodulin binding IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
enables mitogen-activated protein kinase binding IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
enables protein binding IPI
Inferred from Physical Interaction
more info
 PubMed 
enables protein kinase activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables protein serine kinase activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables protein serine/threonine kinase activity EXP
Inferred from Experiment
more info
 PubMed 
enables protein serine/threonine kinase activity IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
enables protein serine/threonine kinase activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
Process Evidence Code Pubs
involved_in MAPK cascade IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in MAPK cascade IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in intracellular signal transduction IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
involved_in macropinocytosis IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in macropinocytosis ISS
Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity
more info
  
involved_in response to cytokine IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
involved_in response to cytokine IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in response to lipopolysaccharide IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in response to lipopolysaccharide ISS
Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity
more info
  
involved_in signal transduction TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in toll-like receptor signaling pathway IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
involved_in toll-like receptor signaling pathway IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in toll-like receptor signaling pathway ISS
Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity
more info
  
involved_in vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling pathway IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling pathway TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
  
Component Evidence Code Pubs
located_in cytoplasm EXP
Inferred from Experiment
more info
 PubMed 
is_active_in cytoplasm IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
located_in cytoplasm IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in cytosol TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
  
located_in nucleoplasm IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
  
located_in nucleoplasm TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
  
located_in nucleus EXP
Inferred from Experiment
more info
 PubMed 
is_active_in nucleus IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
located_in nucleus IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in nucleus TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
Preferred Names
MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3
Names
MAPKAP kinase 3
chromosome 3p kinase
mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 3
NP_001230854.1
NP_001230855.1
NP_004626.1
XP_047304839.1
XP_047304840.1
XP_047304841.1
XP_047304842.1
XP_047304843.1
XP_054203772.1
XP_054203773.1
XP_054203774.1

NEW Try the new Transcript table

RefSeqs maintained independently of Annotated Genomes

These reference sequences exist independently of genome builds. Explain

These reference sequences are curated independently of the genome annotation cycle, so their versions may not match the RefSeq versions in the current genome build. Identify version mismatches by comparing the version of the RefSeq in this section to the one reported in Genomic regions, transcripts, and products above.

Genomic

  1. NG_051548.1 RefSeqGene

    Range
    10290..42430
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. NM_001243925.2 → NP_001230854.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_001230854.1

    Status: REVIEWED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (2) differs in the 5' UTR compared to variant 1. Variants 1, 2 and 3 encode the same protein.
    Source sequence(s)
    AC096920, BE301676, BM848086, U09578
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS2832.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8
    Related
    ENSP00000478922.1, ENST00000621469.5
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    cd14172
    Location:39 → 304
    STKc_MAPKAPK3; Catalytic domain of the Serine/Threonine kinase, Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 3

  2. NM_001243926.2 → NP_001230855.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_001230855.1

    Status: REVIEWED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (1) represents the longest transcript. Variants 1, 2 and 3 encode the same protein.
    Source sequence(s)
    AC096920, BC068497, BE301676, DB450001
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS2832.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8
    Related
    ENSP00000396467.1, ENST00000446044.5
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    cd14172
    Location:39 → 304
    STKc_MAPKAPK3; Catalytic domain of the Serine/Threonine kinase, Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 3

  3. NM_004635.5 → NP_004626.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_004626.1

    Status: REVIEWED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (3) differs in the 5' UTR compared to variant 1. Variants 1, 2 and 3 encode the same protein.
    Source sequence(s)
    AC096920, BC001662, BE301676, BM848086
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS2832.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8
    Related
    ENSP00000350639.2, ENST00000357955.6
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    cd14172
    Location:39 → 304
    STKc_MAPKAPK3; Catalytic domain of the Serine/Threonine kinase, Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 3

RefSeqs of Annotated Genomes: GCF_000001405.40-RS_2025_08

The following sections contain reference sequences that belong to a specific genome build. Explain

Reference GRCh38.p14 Primary Assembly

Genomic

  1. NC_000003.12 Reference GRCh38.p14 Primary Assembly

    Range
    50611520..50649291
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. XM_047448883.1 → XP_047304839.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 isoform X1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8

  2. XM_047448887.1 → XP_047304843.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 isoform X1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8
    Related
    ENSP00000639113.1, ENST00000969054.1

  3. XM_047448884.1 → XP_047304840.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 isoform X1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8
    Related
    ENSP00000639115.1, ENST00000969056.1

  4. XM_047448885.1 → XP_047304841.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 isoform X1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8
    Related
    ENSP00000639111.1, ENST00000969052.1

  5. XM_047448886.1 → XP_047304842.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 isoform X1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8
    Related
    ENSP00000639116.1, ENST00000969057.1

Alternate T2T-CHM13v2.0

Genomic

  1. NC_060927.1 Alternate T2T-CHM13v2.0

    Range
    50641158..50679247
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. XM_054347797.1 → XP_054203772.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 isoform X1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8

  2. XM_054347798.1 → XP_054203773.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 isoform X1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8

  3. XM_054347799.1 → XP_054203774.1  MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 isoform X1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    B5BU67, Q16644
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A8K4K4, B2R8Z2, B5BUJ8
Nucleotide Protein
Heading Accession and Version
Protein Accession Links
GenPept Link UniProtKB Link
Q16644.1 GenPept UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot:Q16644

Gene LinkOut

The following LinkOut resources are supplied by external providers. These providers are responsible for maintaining the links.

Chemical Information
Molecular Biology Databases
Research Materials
Tools
Miscellaneous