PROTEIN KINASE Meaning and
Definition
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A protein kinase is an enzyme or a group of enzymes that play a crucial role in cellular signaling and metabolic processes in living organisms. Specifically, it is responsible for the modification of proteins by adding phosphate groups to specific amino acids, primarily serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues. This process, known as phosphorylation, serves as a key mechanism for regulating various cellular activities, including cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
Protein kinases are classified into different families based on their structure and function. They are typically composed of two regions: a highly conserved catalytic domain that facilitates the transfer of phosphate groups, and regulatory domains that modulate the kinase's activity and specificity. The catalytic domain contains highly conserved amino acid motifs, including the glycine-rich loop, ATP-binding site, and activation loop, which are essential for proper function.
The phosphorylation events mediated by protein kinases can be reversible, as protein phosphatases exist to remove the phosphate groups. This dynamic interplay between kinases and phosphatases helps maintain cellular homeostasis and ensures tight control over intracellular signaling pathways.
Due to their crucial role in cellular processes, protein kinases have been extensively studied and targeted for therapeutic interventions. Dysregulation of protein kinases is associated with various diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, understanding the function and regulation of protein kinases is essential for developing targeted therapies and advancing medical research.
Common Misspellings for PROTEIN KINASE
- orotein kinase
- lrotein kinase
- -rotein kinase
- 0rotein kinase
- peotein kinase
- pdotein kinase
- pfotein kinase
- ptotein kinase
- p5otein kinase
- p4otein kinase
- pritein kinase
- prktein kinase
- prltein kinase
- prptein kinase
- pr0tein kinase
- pr9tein kinase
- prorein kinase
- profein kinase
- progein kinase
- proyein kinase
Etymology of PROTEIN KINASE
The term "protein kinase" is derived from two components: "protein" and "kinase".
1. Protein: The word "protein" originates from the French word "protéine", which was coined in 1838 by the Dutch chemist Gerardus Johannes Mulder. He used this term to describe a class of complex organic compounds present in living organisms, which he believed were the fundamental building blocks of life. In the early 20th century, the German biochemist Franz Hofmeister recognized that these compounds are composed of amino acids and are essential for various biological processes.
2. Kinase: The term "kinase" is derived from the Greek word "kίνησις" (kinēsis), meaning "movement" or "motion". It was first introduced by the German biochemist Eduardner in 1903 when he discovered a substance capable of inducing motion in inactive yeast cell extracts.
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