Dual Specificity Phosphatase 7 (DUSP7)

Dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) constitute a large heterogeneous subgroup of the type I cysteine-based protein-tyrosine phosphatase superfamily. DUSPs are characterized by their ability to dephosphorylate both tyrosine and serine/threonine residues. DUSP7 belongs to a class of DUSPs, designated MKPs, that dephosphorylate MAPK proteins ERK, JNK, and p38 with specificity distinct from that of individual MKP proteins. MKPs contain a highly conserved C-terminal catalytic domain and an N-terminal Cdc25-like (CH2) domain. MAPK activation cascades mediate various physiologic processes, including cellular proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and stress responses. The coding region has been updated to extend the N-terminus to one that is more supported by the available transcript and conservation data.