title: The protein kinase C family.
abstract: Protein kinase C represents a structurally homologous group of proteins similar in size, structure and mechanism of activation. They can modulate the biological function of proteins in a rapid and reversible manner. Protein kinase C participates in one of the major signal transduction systems triggered by the external stimulation of cells by various ligands including hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors. Hydrolysis of membrane inositol phospholipids by phospholipase C or of phosphatidylcholine, generates sn-1,2-diacylglycerol, considered the physiological activator of this kinase. Other agents, such as arachidonic acid, participate in the activation of some of these proteins. Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters and related compounds is not physiological and may be responsible, at least in part, for their tumor-promoting activity. The cellular localization of the different calcium-activated protein kinases, their substrate and activator specificity are dissimilar and thus their role in signal transduction is unlike. A better understanding of the exact cellular function of the different protein kinase C isoenzymes requires the identification and characterization of their physiological substrates.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, Universität Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azzi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boscoboinik
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hensey
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D002118:Calcium