In recent years, members of the protein kinase family have been discovered at an accelerated pace. Most were first described, not through the traditional biochemical approach of protein purification and enzyme assay, but as putative protein kinase amino acid sequences deduced from the nucleotide sequences of molecularly cloned genes or complementary DNAs. Phylogenetic mapping of the conserved protein kinase catalytic domains can serve as a useful first step in the functional characterization of these newly identified family members.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/241/4861/42.full.pdf

The protein kinase family: conserved features and deduced phylogeny of the catalytic domains.

Hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids by phospholipase C is initiated by either receptor stimulation or opening of Ca2+ channels. This was once thought to be the sole mechanism to produce the diacylglycerol that links extracellular signals to intracellular events through activation of protein kinase C. It is becoming clear that agonist-induced hydrolysis of other membrane phospholipids, particularly choline phospholipids, by phospholipase D and phospholipase A2 may also take part in cell signaling. The products of hydrolysis of these phospholipids may enhance and prolong the activation of protein kinase C. Such prolonged activation of protein kinase C is essential for long-term cellular responses such as cell proliferation and differentiation.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/258/5082/607.full.pdf

Intracellular signaling by hydrolysis of phospholipids and activation of protein kinase C

This invention provides methods of monitoring the expression levels of a multiplicity of genes. The methods involve hybridizing a nucleic acid sample to a high density array of oligonucleotide probes where the high density array contains oligonucleotide probes complementary to subsequences of target nucleic acids in the nucleic acid sample. In one embodiment, the method involves providing a pool of target nucleic acids comprising RNA transcripts of one or more target genes, or nucleic acids derived from the RNA transcripts, hybridizing said pool of nucleic acids to an array of oligonucleotide probes immobilized on surface, where the array comprising more than 100 different oligonucleotides and each different oligonucleotide is localized in a predetermined region of the surface, the density of the different oligonucleotides is greater than about 60 different oligonucleotides per 1 cm2, and the oligonucleotide probes are complementary to the RNA transcripts or nucleic acids derived from the RNA transcripts; and quantifying the hybridized nucleic acids in the array.

Expression monitoring by hybridization to high density oligonucleotide arrays

Protein kinase C is now known to be a large family of proteins, with multiple subspecies that have subtle individual enzymological characteristics. Some members of the family exhibit distinct patterns of tissue expression and intracellular localization; different kinases probably have distinct functions in the processing and modulation of a variety of physiological and pathological responses to external signals.

The molecular heterogeneity of protein kinase C and its implications for cellular regulation

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases comprise a family of ubiquitous proline-directed, protein-serine/threonine kinases, which participate in signal transduction pathways that control intracellular events including acute responses to hormones and major developmental changes in organisms. MAP kinases lie in protein kinase cascades. This review discusses the regulation and functions of mammalian MAP kinases. Nonenzymatic mechanisms that impact MAP kinase functions and findings from gene disruption studies are highlighted. Particular emphasis is on ERK1/2.

/pdf/mitogen-activated-protein-map-kinase-pathways-regulation-and-3nsauvepr2.pdf

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways: regulation and physiological functions.

cPLA2 is phosphorylated and activated by MAP kinase.

A novel arachidonic acid-selective cytosolic PLA2 contains a Ca2+-dependent translocation domain with homology to PKC and GAP

A complete copy of the mRNA sequences encoding human coagulation factor VIII:C has been cloned and expressed. The DNA sequence predicts a single chain precursor of 2,351 amino acids with a relative molecular mass (Mr) 267,039. The protein has an obvious domain structure, contains sequence repeats and is structurally related to factor V and ceruloplasmin.

Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding human antihaemophilic factor.

Cloning and expression of multiple protein kinase C cDNAs

Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) binds to natural membrane vesicles in a Ca(2+)-dependent fashion, resulting in the selective release of arachidonic acid, thus implicating cPLA2 in the hormonally regulated production of eicosanoids. Here we report that the treatment of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells overexpressing cPLA2 with ATP or thrombin resulted in an increased release of arachidonic acid as compared with parental CHO cells, demonstrating the hormonal coupling of cPLA2. In contrast, CHO cells overexpressing a secreted form of mammalian PLA2 (sPLA2-II) failed to show any increased hormonal responsiveness. Interestingly, we have noted that the activation of cPLA2 with a wide variety of agents stimulates the phosphorylation of cPLA2 on serine residues. Pretreatment of cells with staurosporin blocked the ATP-mediated phosphorylation of cPLA2 and strongly inhibited the activation of the enzyme. Increased cPLA2 activity was also observed in lysates prepared from ATP-treated cells and was sensitive to phosphatase treatment. These results suggest that in addition to Ca2+, the phosphorylation of cPLA2 plays an important role in the agonist-induced activation of cPLA2.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/89/13/6147.full.pdf

John L. Knopf

Papers

cPLA2 is phosphorylated and activated by MAP kinase.

A novel arachidonic acid-selective cytosolic PLA2 contains a Ca2+-dependent translocation domain with homology to PKC and GAP

Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding human antihaemophilic factor.

Cloning and expression of multiple protein kinase C cDNAs

Cytosolic phospholipase A2 is coupled to hormonally regulated release of arachidonic acid.