Key adapter protein that plays an essential role in JNK and NF-kappa-B activation and proinflammatory cytokines production in response to stimulation with TLRs and cytokines (PubMed:22307082, PubMed:24403530). Mechanistically, associates with the catalytic domain of MAP3K7/TAK1 to trigger MAP3K7/TAK1 autophosphorylation leading to its full activation (PubMed:10838074, PubMed:25260751, PubMed:37832545). Similarly, associates with MAPK14 and triggers its autophosphorylation and subsequent activation (PubMed:11847341, PubMed:29229647). In turn, MAPK14 phosphorylates TAB1 and inhibits MAP3K7/TAK1 activation in a feedback control mechanism (PubMed:14592977). Plays also a role in recruiting MAPK14 to the TAK1 complex for the phosphorylation of the TAB2 and TAB3 regulatory subunits (PubMed:18021073).
