April 1, 2008 (Vol. 28, No. 7)
URL:
http://mapk.8m.com
Rating:
Strong Points: Genbank links
Weak Points: Not robust enough
Summary:
You’ve got to love a signaling cascade that includes the enzyme MAP kinase, which is phosphorylated by MAP kinase kinase, which is in turn phosphorylated by MAP kinase kinase kinase. The MAP kinase cascade is, of course, a system that is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to humans. Working by phosphorylating target molecules in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus, the cascade regulates diverse cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune responses. MAP Kinase Resource aims to serve as a central resource for researchers. It provides links to Genbank info, a list of researchers in the field, protocols, and a section on nomenclature. The site lists a database of MAP kinases (based on NCBI inquiry), but it was not apparent from the site organization if that was a separate database or was only referring to the links in the MAP Kinase Resource. In any event, the site provides a good start to covering its subject but needs a bit more beefing up to be of maximum assistance to researchers.
