Stress-activated component of a protein kinase signal transduction cascade that promotes programmed cell death in response to various stress, such as ribosomal stress, osmotic shock and ionizing radiation (PubMed:10924358, PubMed:11836244, PubMed:12220515, PubMed:14521931, PubMed:15350844, PubMed:15737997, PubMed:18331592, PubMed:20559024, PubMed:26999302, PubMed:32289254, PubMed:32610081, PubMed:35857590). Acts by catalyzing phosphorylation of MAP kinase kinases, leading to activation of the JNK (MAPK8/JNK1, MAPK9/JNK2 and/or MAPK10/JNK3) and MAP kinase p38 (MAPK11, MAPK12, MAPK13 and/or MAPK14) pathways (PubMed:11042189, PubMed:11836244, PubMed:12220515, PubMed:14521931, PubMed:15172994, PubMed:15737997, PubMed:32289254, PubMed:32610081, PubMed:35857590). Activates JNK through phosphorylation of MAP2K4/MKK4 and MAP2K7/MKK7, and MAP kinase p38 gamma (MAPK12) via phosphorylation of MAP2K3/MKK3 and MAP2K6/MKK6 (PubMed:11836244, PubMed:12220515). Involved in stress associated with adrenergic stimulation: contributes to cardiac decompensation during periods of acute cardiac stress (PubMed:15350844, PubMed:21224381, PubMed:27859413). May be involved in regulation of S and G2 cell cycle checkpoint by mediating phosphorylation of CHEK2 (PubMed:15342622). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10924358, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11042189, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11836244, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12220515, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14521931, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15172994, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15342622, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15350844, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15737997, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18331592, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20559024, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21224381, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26999302, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27859413, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32289254, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32610081, ECO:0000269|PubMed:35857590}. [Isoform ZAKalpha]: Key component of the stress-activated protein kinase signaling cascade in response to ribotoxic stress or UV- B irradiation (PubMed:32289254, PubMed:32610081, PubMed:35857590). Acts as the proximal sensor of ribosome collisions during the ribotoxic stress response (RSR): directly binds to the ribosome by inserting its flexible C-terminus into the ribosomal intersubunit space, thereby acting as a sentinel for colliding ribosomes (PubMed:32289254, PubMed:32610081). Upon ribosome collisions, activates either the stress-activated protein kinase signal transduction cascade or the integrated stress response (ISR), leading to programmed cell death or cell survival, respectively (PubMed:32610081). Dangerous levels of ribosome collisions trigger the autophosphorylation and activation of MAP3K20, which dissociates from colliding ribosomes and phosphorylates MAP kinase kinases, leading to activation of the JNK and MAP kinase p38 pathways that promote programmed cell death (PubMed:32289254, PubMed:32610081). Less dangerous levels of ribosome collisions trigger the integrated stress response (ISR): MAP3K20 activates EIF2AK4/GCN2 independently of its protein-kinase activity, promoting EIF2AK4/GCN2- mediated phosphorylation of EIF2S1/eIF-2-alpha (PubMed:32610081). Also part of the stress-activated protein kinase signaling cascade triggering the NLRP1 inflammasome in response to UV-B irradiation: ribosome collisions activate MAP3K20, which directly phosphorylates NLRP1, leading to activation of the NLRP1 inflammasome and subsequent pyroptosis (PubMed:35857590). NLRP1 is also phosphorylated by MAP kinase p38 downstream of MAP3K20 (PubMed:35857590). Also acts as a histone kinase by phosphorylating histone H3 at 'Ser-28' (H3S28ph) (PubMed:15684425). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:15684425, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32289254, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32610081, ECO:0000269|PubMed:35857590}. [Isoform ZAKbeta]: Isoform that lacks the C-terminal region that mediates ribosome-binding: does not act as a sensor of ribosome collisions in response to ribotoxic stress (PubMed:32289254, PubMed:32610081, PubMed:35857590). May act as an antagonist of isoform ZAKalpha: interacts with isoform ZAKalpha, leading to decrease the expression of isoform ZAKalpha (PubMed:27859413). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:27859413, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32289254, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32610081, ECO:0000269|PubMed:35857590}. This is the function of MAP3K20 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 20, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000091436).