MEK 1 (MAP Kinase Kinase, also known as MKK) is an integral component of the MAP kinase cascade that regulates cell growth and differentiation (Ahn, 1993; Chong et al., 2003). This pathway also plays a key role in synaptic plasticity in the brain (Adams and Sweatt, 2002). Activated MEK 1 acts as a dual specificity kinase phosphorylating both a threonine and a tyrosine residue on MAP kinase (Kyriakis et al., 1991; Seger et al., 1991; Crews et al., 1992).
