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 de-phosphorylate both tyrosine (EC3.1.3.48) and serine / threonine (EC3.1.3.16) residues. DUSP7 belongs to a class of DUSPs, designated MKPs, that dephosphorylate MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) 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-terminalCdc25-like (CH2) domain. MAPK activation cascades mediate various physiologic processes, including cellular proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and stress responses.[7][8]
It is known to bind and dephosphorylate ErkII, and as it, along with the other members of the DUSP family expresses high selectively for MAP kinases, it has been suggested that it functions as a method for selectively activating/deactivating different members of that family.[9]
^Smith A, Price C, Cullen M, Muda M, King A, Ozanne B, Arkinstall S, Ashworth A (Sep 1997). "Chromosomal localization of three human dual specificity phosphatase genes (DUSP4, DUSP6, and DUSP7)". Genomics. 42 (3): 524–7. doi:10.1006/geno.1997.4756. PMID9205128.
Levy-Nissenbaum O, Sagi-Assif O, Witz IP (2004). "Characterization of the dual-specificity phosphatase PYST2 and its transcripts". Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 39 (1): 37–47. doi:10.1002/gcc.10295. PMID14603440. S2CID11333674.
Levy-Nissenbaum O, Sagi-Assif O, Raanani P, Avigdor A, Ben-Bassat I, Witz IP (2004). "CDNA Microarray Analysis Reveals an Overexpression of the Dual-Specificity MAPK Phosphatase PYST2 in Acute Leukemia". Protein Phosphatases. Methods in Enzymology. Vol. 366. pp. 103–13. doi:10.1016/S0076-6879(03)66009-X. ISBN978-0-12-182269-9. PMID14674243.
Orlev LN, Ehud B, Tamar BG, Orit SA, Yoel K, Witz IP (2004). "Does the dual-specificity MAPK phosphatase Pyst2-L lead a monogamous relationship with the Erk2 protein?". Immunol. Lett. 92 (1–2): 149–56. doi:10.1016/j.imlet.2003.11.024. PMID15081539.