Two hydrophobic residues can determine the specificity of Mitogen-activated protein Kinase docking interactions

Abstract

Background: MAPK cascade proteins bind to each other selectively via docking interactions. Results: The high selectivity of JNK family MAPKs for cognate binding partners is controlled by two key hydrophobic residues in the docking site. Conclusion: This contrasts with other proposed models of docking specificity. Significance: This has implications for drug design and for the evolution of signaling specificity.