title: Curcumin is an inhibitor of calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II.
abstract: Calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is involved in the mechanisms underlying higher order brain functions such as learning and memory. CaMKII participates in pathological glutamate signaling also, since it is activated by calcium influx through the N-methyl-d-aspartate type glutamate receptor (NMDAR). In our attempt to identify phytomodulators of CaMKII, we observed that curcumin, a constituent of turmeric and its analogs inhibit the Ca(2+)-dependent and independent kinase activities of CaMKII. We further report that a heterocyclic analog of curcumin I, (3,5-bis[β-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]pyrazole), named as pyrazole-curcumin, is a more potent inhibitor of CaMKII than curcumin. Microwave assisted, rapid synthesis of curcumin I and its heterocyclic analogues is also reported.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayadevi
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Sherin
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Keerthi
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Rajasekharan
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Omkumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D008872:Microwaves; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007555:Isoxazoles; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C031280:pyrazole; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D003474:Curcumin