CAMK

CAMK or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase is a type of protein kinase that is regulated by the Ca2+/calmodulin complex. CAMKs are involved in many signaling cascades and are thought to play a key role in neuronal plasticity.

Structure

CAMKs are a family of serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that are regulated by the Ca2+/calmodulin complex. These kinases show a conserved structure, with a catalytic domain followed by a regulatory domain that contains a autoinhibitory sequence. The binding of Ca2+/calmodulin to the regulatory domain relieves this autoinhibition, activating the kinase.

Function

CAMKs are involved in a variety of cellular functions. They are known to phosphorylate a number of different proteins, including transcription factors, cytoskeletal proteins, and other kinases. This allows them to regulate a wide range of processes, from gene expression to cell migration and apoptosis.

In the nervous system, CAMKs are thought to play a key role in neuronal plasticity, the ability of neurons to change their connections and behavior in response to new information. They are involved in processes such as long-term potentiation and long-term depression, which are thought to be the cellular basis of learning and memory.

Clinical significance

Mutations in CAMKs have been linked to a number of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, overactivity of CAMKII, one of the most studied members of the CAMK family, has been linked to heart failure and arrhythmias. Inhibitors of CAMKII are currently being investigated as potential treatments for these conditions.

File:CAMKII.png

Structure of the CAMKII holoenzyme

See also

• Protein kinase
• Calcium signaling
• Neuronal plasticity

References

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