MAPKAPK5 contains 1 protein kinase domain and belongs to the protein kinase superfamily, CAMK Ser/Thr protein kinase family. MAPKAPK5 has significant sequence homology to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase (MAPKAPK). It is widely distributed. MAPKAPK5 can be phosphorylated by extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 kinase but not by c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)in vitro.Recombinant GST-MAPKAPK5 protein can phosphorylate a peptide derived from the regulatory light chain of myosin II. Phosphorylation of MAPKAPK5 by ERK and p38 kinase increased its activity by 9 and 15 fold respectively. Taken together, these data suggest that MAPKAPK5 is a novelin vitrosubstrate for ERK and p38 kinase. In response to cellular stress and proinflammatory cytokines, this kinase is activated through its phosphorylation by MAP kinases including MAPK1/ERK, MAPK14/p38-alpha, and MAPK11/p38-beta. MAPKAPK5 also mediates stress-induced small heat shock protein 27 phosphorylation.