title: Cdk5: mediator of neuronal death and survival.
abstract: Cdk5 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5) is a serine/threonine kinase implicated to play pivotal roles in neuronal development. Recently, its potential involvement as a regulator of neuronal death and survival has attracted considerable interests. Importantly, increasing evidence has linked Cdk5 to the etiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here we summarize the recent findings on Cdk5 not only as an important participant in neuronal death, but also a key player in neuronal survival. Elucidating the mechanisms of regulation of Cdk5 and its downstream signaling might prove to be crucial in the therapeutic treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Zelda H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Nancy Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Ip
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; C089495:neuronal Cdk5 activator (p25-p35); D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; C495905:CDK5 protein, human; C495906:Cdk5 protein, mouse; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases