Disease relevance of pmk-1

• Genetic epistasis analysis indicates that OSR-1 regulates survival under osmotic stress via CaMKII and a conserved p38 MAP kinase signaling cascade and regulates osmotic avoidance and resistance to acute dehydration likely by distinct mechanisms [1].

High impact information on pmk-1

• Regulation of a DLK-1 and p38 MAP kinase pathway by the ubiquitin ligase RPM-1 is required for presynaptic development [2].
• We report that RPM-1 negatively regulates a p38 MAP kinase pathway composed of the dual leucine zipper-bearing MAPKKK DLK-1, the MAPKK MKK-4, and the p38 MAP kinase PMK-3 [2].
• Conserved signal transduction components are required for pathogen resistance, including a Toll/IL-1 receptor domain adaptor protein that functions upstream of a conserved p38 MAP kinase pathway [3].
• Enhanced susceptibility to S. aureus killing was observed with loss-of-function mutations in the C. elegans genes esp-2/sek-1 and esp-8/nsy-1, which encode components of a conserved p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway involved in nematode defense against multiple pathogens [4].
• In keeping with this concept, experiments aimed at identifying host innate immunity genes have also implicated pathways that have been suggested to play a role in plants and animals, such as the p38 MAP kinase pathway [5].

Biological context of pmk-1

• RNA interference assays and biochemical analysis established that a p38 ortholog, pmk-1, functions as the downstream MAP kinase required for pathogen defense [6].
• A conserved p38 MAP kinase pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans innate immunity [6].
• Four signalling pathways involved in such responses have been identified so far: the p38 MAP kinase pathway, the programmed cell death pathway, the TGF-beta pathway and the DAF-2 insulin/IGF-I like signalling pathway [7].

References