PROTEIN KINASES Meaning and
Definition
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Protein kinases are a type of enzyme that play a crucial role in the regulation of various cellular processes within living organisms. These enzymes catalyze the transfer of phosphate groups from ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to specific protein targets, a process known as phosphorylation. This modification alters the structure and function of the target protein, often leading to changes in its enzymatic activity or interaction with other molecules.
Protein kinases are involved in a wide range of cellular functions, including cell growth and division, signal transduction, metabolism, and gene expression. They serve as key components of many signaling pathways that relay information from the cell surface to the nucleus, allowing cells to respond to external stimuli and maintain homeostasis. By adding or removing phosphate groups, protein kinases can rapidly activate or deactivate target proteins, thereby influencing the overall cellular response.
Protein kinases are classified into different families based on their structural and functional properties. Some common families include receptor tyrosine kinases, serine/threonine kinases, and tyrosine kinase-like kinases. Each family possesses distinct substrate specificity and regulatory mechanisms, contributing to the diversity and specificity of cellular signaling networks.
Dysregulation of protein kinases has been implicated in numerous diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Consequently, protein kinases have become important targets for drug development, with many kinase inhibitors already in clinical use for the treatment of various diseases. Understanding the function and regulation of protein kinases is fundamental to unraveling cellular processes and developing therapeutic strategies.
Common Misspellings for PROTEIN KINASES
- protein knase
- orotein kinases
- lrotein kinases
- -rotein kinases
- 0rotein kinases
- peotein kinases
- pdotein kinases
- pfotein kinases
- ptotein kinases
- p5otein kinases
- p4otein kinases
- pritein kinases
- prktein kinases
- prltein kinases
- prptein kinases
- pr0tein kinases
- pr9tein kinases
- prorein kinases
- profein kinases
- progein kinases
Etymology of PROTEIN KINASES
The word "protein kinases" is derived from the combination of two parts: "protein" and "kinase".
The term "protein" comes from the French word "protéine", coined by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1838. Berzelius combined the Greek word "protos", meaning "first" or "primary", with the suffix "-ine", which was commonly used for naming substances at the time. The word was initially used to refer to substances responsible for the nourishment of the body.
The term "kinase" originated from the Greek word "kinēsis", which means "movement". The suffix "-ase" in biochemistry is used to denote enzymes.
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