title: The PAS-domain kinase PASKIN: a new sensor in energy homeostasis.
abstract: The PAS domain kinase PASKIN, also termed PAS kinase or PASK, is an evolutionarily conserved potential sensor kinase related to the heme-based oxygen sensors of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. In yeast, the two PASKIN homologs link energy flux and protein synthesis following specific stress conditions. In mammals, PASKIN may regulate glycogen synthesis and protein translation. Paskin knock-out mice do not show any phenotype under standard animal husbandry conditions. Interestingly, these mice seem to be protected from the symptoms of the metabolic syndrome when fed a high-fat diet. Energy turnover might be increased in specific PASKIN-deficient cell types under distinct environmental conditions. According to the current model, binding of a putative ligand to the PAS domain disinhibits the kinase domain and activates PASKIN auto- and target phosphorylation. Future research needs to be conducted to elucidate the nature of the putative ligand and the molecular mechanisms of downstream signalling by PASKIN.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schläfli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spielmann
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wenger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C116037:PAS domain kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases