WNKs: protein kinases with a unique kinase domain.
WNKs (with-no-lysine [K]) are a family of serine-threonine protein kinases with an atypical placement of the catalytic lysine relative to all other protein kinases. The roles of WNK kinases in regulating ion transport were first revealed by the findings that mutations of two members cause a genetic hypertension and hyperkalemia syndrome. More recent studies suggest that WNKs are pleiotropic protein kinases with important roles in many cell processes in addition to ion transport. Here, we review roles of WNK kinases in the regulation of ion balance, cell signaling, survival, and proliferation, and embryonic organ development.
Huang
Chou Long
CL
Department of Medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA. chou-long.huang@utsouthwestern.edu
Cha
Seung Kuy
SK
Wang
Hao Ran
HR
Xie
Jian
J
Cobb
Melanie H
MH
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D006973:Hypertension / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011546:Pseudohypoaldosteronism / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013577:Syndrome; D000076204:WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000076204:WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1; C498743:WNK1 protein, human; C433806:WNK4 protein, human