title: The regulation and function of mammalian AMPK-related kinases.
abstract: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key regulator of cellular and whole-body energy homeostasis. Recently, 12 AMPK-related kinases (BRSK1, BRSK2, NUAK1, NUAK2, QIK, QSK, SIK, MARK1, MARK2, MARK3, MARK4 and MELK) were identified that are closely related by sequence homology to the catalytic domain of AMPK. The protein kinase LKB1 acts as a master upstream kinase activating AMPK and 11 of the AMPK-related kinases by phosphorylation of a conserved threonine residue in their T-loop region. Further sequence analyses have identified the eight-member SNRK kinase family as distant relatives of AMPK. However, only one of these is phosphorylated and activated by LKB1. Although much is known about AMPK, many of the AMPK-related kinases remain largely uncharacterized. This review outlines the general similarities in structure and function of the AMPK-related kinases before examining the specific characteristics of each, including a brief discussion of the SNRK family.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Stress Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bright
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carling
mesh_terms: D048948:14-3-3 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D036123:Receptor, EphA5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048948:14-3-3 Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; C470845:NUAK1 protein, human; C490994:SNRK protein, human; D036123:Receptor, EphA5; C486061:NUAK2 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases