Protein kinases: evolution of dynamic regulatory proteins.
Eukayotic protein kinases evolved as a family of highly dynamic molecules with strictly organized internal architecture. A single hydrophobic F-helix serves as a central scaffold for assembly of the entire molecule. Two non-consecutive hydrophobic structures termed "spines" anchor all the elements important for catalysis to the F-helix. They make firm, but flexible, connections within the molecule, providing a high level of internal dynamics of the protein kinase. During the course of evolution, protein kinases developed a universal regulatory mechanism associated with a large activation segment that can be dynamically folded and unfolded in the course of cell functioning. Protein kinases thus represent a unique, highly dynamic, and precisely regulated set of switches that control most biological events in eukaryotic cells.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. staylor@ucsd.edu
Susan S
SS
Taylor
Alexandr P
AP
Kornev
D000818:Animals; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D011494:Protein Kinases