p38b/MAPK11

p38β (MAPK11, SAPK2) is the second most abundant p38 isoform and is widely but modestly expressed relative to p38α. It is activated by MKK3 and MKK6 through phosphorylation of its Thr-Gly-Tyr motif and shares the core substrate set of the family, including MK2, MK3, and ATF2, which makes it largely redundant with p38α in many stress and inflammatory responses. Differences emerge in proliferation, angiogenesis, and certain cell-cycle functions, and p38β is inhibited by SB203580, unlike p38γ and p38δ. Overexpression has been reported in some tumors. Recombinant p38β is used to quantify isoform contribution and selectivity in p38-directed drug discovery.