DAP-kinase--protector or enemy in apoptotic cell death.
Death-associated protein (DAP)-kinase, a member of a novel subfamily of pro-apoptotic serine/threonine kinases, was recently identified as a new tumor suppressor gene with multiple functions in programmed cell death. This 160-kDa protein consists of different interaction domains that enable it to participate in seemingly contradictory pathways such as elimination of premalignant cells or cytoprotection in cellular homoeostasis. DAP-kinase is frequently inactivated by aberrant promoter methylation in many cancer types, and its expression was shown to be a useful molecular marker for cancer prognosis. Moreover, DAP-kinase is considered a regulator of neuronal apoptosis. Future investigations should allow for the evaluation of DAP-kinase as a potential target for both pro- and anti-apoptotic therapeutic interventions.
Schneider-Stock
Regine
R
Department of Pathology, Head of Molecular Genetics Division, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany. regine.schneider-stock@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
Roessner
Albert
A
Ullrich
Oliver
O
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D064550:Death-Associated Protein Kinases; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D064550:Death-Associated Protein Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases