Signal serine-threonine kinase

MAPK cascades are composed of three cytoplasmic kinases, the MAPKKK, MAPKK, and MAPK, that are regulated by phosphorylation (Fig. 1) [1, 2]. The MAPKKK, also called MEKK for MEK kinase, is a serine/threonine kinase. Selective activation of MAPKKKs by upstream cellular stimuli results in the phosphorylation of MAPKK, also called MEK for MAP/ERK kinase by the MAPKKK. MAPKKK members are structurally diverse and are differentially regulated by specific upstream stimuli. The MAPKK is phosphorylated by the MAPKKK on two specific serine/ threonine residues in its activation loop. The MAPKK family members are dual specificity kinases capable of phosphorylating critical threonine and tyrosine residues in the activation loop of the MAPKs. MAPKKs have the fewest members in the MAPK signaling module. MAPKs are a family of serine/threonine kinases that upon activation by their respective MAPKKs, are capable of phosphorylating cytoplasmic substrates as well as... 

PKC is a family of enzymes whose members play central roles in transducing information from external stimuli to cellular responses. Members of this family of serine/ threonine kinases respond to signals that cause lipid hydrolysis. PKC isozymes phosphorylate an abundance of substrates, leading to both short-term cellular responses such as regulation of membrane transport and long-term responses such as memory and learning. 

Sorafenib is a multitargeted cancer therapy that inhibits VEGFR, PDGFR, KIT, fetal liver tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT-3), and the serine/threonine kinase RAF. RAF kinase is a key downstream effector of Ras in the MAPK/Ras signal-transduction pathway that has been linked to various cancers. Sorafenib is both a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and serine/threonine signal-transduction inhibitor. Sorafenib has been approved in renal cancer. 

Figure 3. MAP kinase regulatory pathway. The MAP kinase signaling pathway begins with activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) by exogenous signals, such as growth factors and insulin. The signal is then transmitted into the cell via activation of the Raf serine/threonine kinase either directly by the RTK or through the GTP-binding protein, Ras. The signal is then transmitted to the nucleus and to other cytoplasmic proteins via MAPKK and MAPK.

Extra serine/threonine kinases" Phosphorylation signal... 

CREB is also phosphorylated on serine 133 by stimulation of growth factor signaling cascades [63]. This occurs via a complex pathway involving MAPK cascades (Fig. 23-9). Thus, as outlined earlier, nerve growth factor and related neurotrophins that act on receptor tyrosine kinases lead to the successive activation of Ras, Raf, MEK and ERK. Activated ERK then phosphorylates and activates a serine-threonine kinase, RSK, particular subtypes of which directly activate CREB via the phosphorylation of serine 133. 

Intracellular and extracellular ROS activate tyrosine and serine-threonine kinases (i.e., the MAPK family members). Following TNF-a, TGF-f5 or EGF stimulation, intracellular ROS are generated which stimulate various signaling pathways [73], Tyrosine kinase receptors (e.g., EGF, PDGF and TGF-a) may be activated by ROS directly via protein sulfhydryl group modifications, or inhibition of phosphotyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) and subsequent receptor activation. The latter is possible as PTPases contain a redox-sensitive cysteine at their active site [78], and oxidation of protein sulfhydryl groups results in the inactivation of PTPases. 

RING finger proteins may have other domains associated with signal transduction, such as SH3 and STAT domains and domains that bind and effect hydrolysis of nucleotides in signal transduction or for other purposes. These include ATPases, ATP synthases, serine/threonine kinases, GTP-binding domains, ADP-ribosylation domains and AAA-superfamily ATPases (http //home.cancer.gov/lpds/weissman). 

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