title: PDK1, the master regulator of AGC kinase signal transduction.
abstract: The interaction of insulin and growth factors with their receptors on the outside surface of a cell, leads to the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and generation of the phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) second messenger at the inner surface of the cell membrane. One of the most studied signalling events controlled by PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, comprises the activation of a group of AGC family protein kinases, including isoforms of protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt, p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K), serum- and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase (SGK) and protein kinase C (PKC), which play crucial roles in regulating physiological processes relevant to metabolism, growth, proliferation and survival. Here, we review recent biochemical, genetic and structural studies on the 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1), which phosphorylates and activates the AGC kinase members regulated by PI 3-kinase. We also discuss whether inhibitors of PDK1 might have chemotherapeutic potential in the treatment of cancers in which the PDK1-regulated AGC kinases are constitutively activated.
authors.affiliation: MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, MSI/WTB Complex, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Komander
authors.forename: Daan M F
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: van Aalten
authors.forename: Dario R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Alessi
mesh_terms: D064413:3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases
chemical_list: D064413:3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; C578562:PDPK1 protein, human