Serine-threonine kinase which transduces inflammatory and cell-death signals (programmed necrosis) following death receptors ligation, activation of pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs), and DNA damage. Upon activation of TNFR1 by the TNF-alpha family cytokines, TRADD and TRAF2 are recruited to the receptor. Phosphorylates DAB2IP at Ser-728 in a TNF-alpha-dependent manner, and thereby activates the MAP3K5-JNK apoptotic cascade. Ubiquitination by TRAF2 via Lys-63-link chains acts as a critical enhancer of communication with downstream signal transducers in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and the NF-kappa-B pathway, which in turn mediate downstream events including the activation of genes encoding inflammatory molecules.
