title: Specifying protein kinase C functions in melanoma.
abstract: The protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine protein kinases is a heterogeneous group of enzymes receiving and integrating signals involved in both normal melanocyte biology and melanoma pathology. Alterations in PKC enzyme expression and activation contribute to the malignant phenotype of melanoma in both oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles. Delineating the diverse and often context-dependent functions of PKC enzymes in melanocyte/melanoma biology is key to capitalize on these kinases as drug targets. This review summarizes several of the diverse functions of PKC in melanocyte and melanoma biology with a focus on PKC enzyme regulation and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and the Oncology Institute, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA. mdennin@lumc.edu
authors.forename: Mitchell F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Denning
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020536:Enzyme Activators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020536:Enzyme Activators; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011493:Protein Kinase C