JNK1(MAPK8) is a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals, and are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. This kinase is activated by various cell stimuli, and targets specific transcription factors, and thus mediates immediate-early gene expression in response to cell stimuli. The activation of this kinase by tumor-necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is found to be required for TNF-alpha induced apoptosis. This kinase is also involved in UV radiation induced apoptosis, which is thought to be related to cytochrome c-mediated cell death pathway. Studies of the mouse counterpart of this gene suggested that this kinase play a key role in T cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.
JNK1 is activated by threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation by either of two dual specificity kinases, MAP2K4 and MAP2K7. 
The JNK pathway is critically involved in diabetes and levels are abnormally elevated in obesity. The cell-permeable JNK inhibitory peptide may have promise as a therapeutic agent for diabetes.