title: Glycogen synthase kinase 3: an emerging therapeutic target.
abstract: Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that has recently emerged as a key target in drug discovery. It has been implicated in multiple cellular processes and linked with the pathogenesis of several diseases. GSK-3 inhibitors might prove useful as therapeutic compounds in the treatment of conditions associated with elevated levels of enzyme activity, such as type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The pro-apoptotic feature of GSK-3 activity suggests a potential role for its inhibitors in protection against neuronal cell death, and in the treatment of traumatic head injury and stroke. Finally, selective inhibitors of GSK-3 could mimic the action of mood stabilizers such as lithium and valproic acid and be used in the treatment of bipolar mood disorders.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. heldar@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Hagit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eldar-Finkelman
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D038341:Glycogen Synthase Kinases; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D038341:Glycogen Synthase Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3