GCN2 whets the appetite for amino acids.
In response to amino acid starvation, the kinase GCN2 in yeast activates amino acid biosynthesis. Two recent studies (Maurin et al., 2005; Hao et al., 2005) reveal that GCN2 in the brain of mice restricts intake of diets lacking essential amino acids.
Dever
Thomas E
TE
Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Development, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Hinnebusch
Alan G
AG
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000172:deficiency; D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency
D000596:Amino Acids; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014364:Tryptophan; D012343:RNA, Transfer; D011494:Protein Kinases