STE

The STE group comprises homologs of the yeast sterile 7, sterile 11 and sterile 20 kinases and serves as the architectural backbone of MAP kinase cascades. Its three tiers include STE20-like MAP kinase kinase kinase kinases and MAP kinase kinase kinases (such as the MEKK, MLK, ASK and GCK families), STE7-like MAP kinase kinases (MEK1/2, MKK3/4/6/7) and associated scaffolding proteins. By assembling ERK, JNK and p38 modules, STE kinases translate receptor signals into transcriptional, stress and inflammatory responses. STE20-family members such as PAK and MST kinases additionally regulate cytoskeletal organization, apoptosis and Hippo pathway output, making several STE nodes attractive cancer and inflammation targets.