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Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) or classical MAP kinases are widely expressed protein kinaseintracellular signalingmolecules which are involved in functions including the regulation of meiosis, mitosis, and postmitotic functions in differentiated cells. Many different stimuli, including growth factors, cytokines, virusinfection, ligands for heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors, transforming agents, and carcinogens, activate the ERK pathway.
The term, "extracellular signal-regulated kinases", is sometimes used as a synonym for mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), but has more recently been adopted for a specific subset of the mammalianMAPK family. In the MAPK/ERK pathway, Rasactivates c-Raf, followed by MEKand then MAPK1/2 (below). Ras is typically activated by growth hormones through receptor tyrosine kinasesand GRB2/SOS, but may also receive other signals. ERKs are known to activate many transcription factors and some downstream protein kinases. Disruption of the ERK pathway is common in cancers, especially Ras, c-Raf and receptors such as HER2.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) is also known as "extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1" (ERK1). Transgenic gene knockoutmice lacking MAPK3 are viable and it is thought that MAPK1 can fulfill most MAPK3 functions in most cells. The main exception is in T cells. Mice lacking MAPK3 have reduced T cell development past the CD4+CD8+ stage.

Pyruvate kinase is a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. The M2 isoenzyme of pyruvate kinase is specifically expressed at high levels in tumor cells, and can be measured in plasma of patients with advanced breast cancer. The marker is useful for measuring disease activity, sensitivity to chemotherapy and recurrence.

CDC123 is a member of the CDC123 family. CDC123is required for S phase entry of the cell cycle. It is also broadly expressed in spleen,thymus, prostate, testis, ovary, small intestine, colon and leukocytes with the uppermost expression in testis.

Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) is a protein tyrosine kinase which takes part in a specific subset of cytokine receptor signaling pathways such as cell growth, development, differentiation or histone modifications. JAK2 is linked with the prolactin receptor and is necessary for responses to gamma interferon. Mice which do not express an active protein for JAK2 show embryonic lethality associated with the absence of definitive erythropoiesis.

GSK3B is a serine-threonine kinase that belongs to the glycogen synthase kinase subfamily. GSK3B is involved in energy metabolism, neuronal cell development, and body pattern formation. Polymorphisms in the GSK3B gene have been implicated in modifying risk of Parkinson disease, and studies in mice show that overexpression of the GSK3B gene may be significant to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease.

TYRO3 Protein Tyrosine Kinase or TYRO3 is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase. TYRO3 has crucial role in essential processes such as cell migration, actin reorganization and cell survival. It is activated and signaled by MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT that expedites the cellular functions of protein.

Kallikrein-3 (KLK3) belongs to the kallikrein-related peptidase family. Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases having various physiological functions. Numerous kallikreins are involved in carcinogenesis and some may be prospective cancer and other disease biomarkers. Kallikrein-3 is 1 of the 15 kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19 and is a protease present in seminal plasma. KLK3 hydrolyzes semenogelin-1 consequently leading to the liquefaction of the seminal coagulum. KLK3 is assumed to act normally in the liquefaction of seminal coagulum, probably by hydrolysis of the high molecular mass seminal vesicle protein. Serum level of the KLK3 protein, called PSA in the clinical setting, is beneficial in the diagnosis and monitoring of prostatic carcinoma.

STK17A belongs to the DAP kinase-associated apoptosis-inducing protein kinase family and encodes an autophosphorylated nuclear protein with a protein kinase domain. STK17A acts as a positive regulator of apoptosis. STK17A is greatly expressed in the placenta with lower levels in the heart, lung, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas.

AK1 is a small ubiquitous enzyme which is essential for maintenance and cell growth. It is involved in the regulation of adenine nucleotide composition within a cell by catalyzing the reversible transfer of the terminal phosphate group between ATP and AMP. The AK1 protein is found in the cytosol of skeletal muscle, brain and erythrocytes. Defects in the AK1 gene are the cause of a form of hemolytic anemia.

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8, also known as MAPK8, is a part of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases an integration point for multiple biochemical signals which take part in a various cellular processes. MAPK8 is a protein coding gene which is also involved in UV radiation induced apoptosis that is associated to cytochrom c-mediated cell death pathway.

Dual Specificity Phosphatase 22, also known as DUSP22, is a part of the protein-tyrosine phosphatase family which holds 1 tyrosine-protein phosphatase domain. DUSP22 activates the Jnk signaling pathway and dephosphorylates and deactivates p38 and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK). DUSP22 interacts with MAPK1 and MAPK8.

PFKM is a regulatory glycolytic enzyme that converts fructose 6-phosphate and ATP into fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (through PFK-1), fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (through PFK-2) and ADP. Three phosphofructokinase isozymes exist in humans: muscle, liver and platelet. Mutations in PFKM gene have been related with glycogen storage disease type VII, also identified as Tarui disease.

Aurora Kinase B (AURKB) belongs to a family of mitotic serine/threonine kinases. AURKB connects with chromosomes for the period of prophase prior to relocalizing to the spindle at anaphase. AURKB localizes to microtubules near kinetochores, specifically to the specialized microtubules called K-fibers. AURKB controls chromosome segregation through the control of microtubule-kinetochore attachment and cytokinesis. AURKB is required for kinetochore localization of BUB1 and SGOL1. AURKB expression during the G2/M phase transition is firmly coordinated with histone H3 phosphorylation, while overexpression is seen in many kinds of cancers. AURKB phosphorylates ''Ser-10'' and ''Ser-28'' of histone H3 during mitosis. AURKB is a component of the CPC (chromosomal passenger complex), which is a complex that acts as a key regulator of mitosis. High level expression of AURKB is seen in the thymus, which is also expressed in the spleen, lung, testis, colon, placenta and fetal liver. AURKB is expressed during S and G2/M phase and expression is up-regulated in cancer cells during M phase.

KIT, also known as KIT Proto-Oncogene Receptor Tyrosine, is a cytokine receptor which is expressed not only in hematopoietic stem cells but likewise in other cell types. KIT binds to receptor tyrosine kinase type III, which is a stem cell factor, also named a "rigid factor" or "c-kit ligand". Once this receptor binds to stem cell factor (SCF), it forms a dimer which activates intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, which sequentially phosphorylates & activates signaling molecules which breed signals in cells. This receptor protects vascular smooth muscle cells from apoptosis in addition to restoring cardiac function after myocardial infarction.

Aurora Kinase B (AURKB) belongs to a family of mitotic serine/threonine kinases. AURKB connects with chromosomes for the period of prophase prior to relocalizing to the spindle at anaphase. AURKB localizes to microtubules near kinetochores, specifically to the specialized microtubules called K-fibers. AURKB controls chromosome segregation through the control of microtubule-kinetochore attachment and cytokinesis. AURKB is required for kinetochore localization of BUB1 and SGOL1. AURKB expression during the G2/M phase transition is firmly coordinated with histone H3 phosphorylation, while overexpression is seen in many kinds of cancers. AURKB phosphorylates 'Ser-10' and 'Ser-28' of histone H3 during mitosis. AURKB is a component of the CPC (chromosomal passenger complex), which is a complex that acts as a key regulator of mitosis.
High level expression of AURKB is seen in the thymus, which is also expressed in the spleen, lung, testis, colon, placenta and fetal liver. AURKB is expressed during S and G2/M phase and expression is up-regulated in cancer cells during M phase.

HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 5 (HERC5) is a member of the HERC family of ubiquitin ligases, found in a cluster of HERC family genes on chromosome 4. HERC5 is a protein with a HECT domain and 5 RCC1 repeats. The HERC5 protein localizes to the cytoplasm and perinuclear region and serves as an INF-induced E3 protein ligase that mediates ISGylation of protein targets. HERC5 exhibits antiviral activity towards HIV-1, influenza A virus and human papillomavirus. HERC5 is a major E3 ligase for ISG15 conjugation. HERC5 also serves as a positive regulator of innate antiviral response in cells induced by INF. Pro-inflammatory cytokines upregulate HERC5 in endothelial cells. HERC5 is physically connected with polyribosomes, broadly modifies recently synthesized proteins in a cotranslational fashion.

M-phase inducer phosphatase 1 (CDC25A) belongs to the CDC25 family of phosphatases. CDC25A is essential for progression from G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle. CDC25A activates the cyclin-dependent kinase CDC2 by eliminating 2 phosphate groups. CDC25A is specifically degraded in reaction to DNA damage, which inhibits cells with chromosomal abnormalities from progressing in the course of cell division. CDC25A is an oncogene, though its exact function in oncogenesis has not been determined.

Serine peptidase inhibitor Kazal type 7 (SPINK7) which includes one Kazal-like domain is most likely serine protease inhibitor. Diseases linked with SPINK7 include esophageal cancer, and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate, thus committing glucose to the glycolytic pathway. HK3 encodes hexokinase 3. Similar to hexokinases 1 and 2, this allosteric enzyme is inhibited by its product glucose-6-phosphate. Hexokinase3 lacks the hydrophobic N-terminal sequence critical for targeting to mitochondria. Hexpkinase3 may have anabolic functions, providing H6P for glycogen or lipid synthesis.

Kallikreins are serine protease enzymes having various physiological functions.
Kallikreins are implicated in carcinogenesis and have potenital as novel cancer disease biomarkers. KLK1 is one of the fifteen kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19. KLK1 is functionally conserved in its ability to release the vasoactive peptide, Lys-bradykinin, from low molecular weight kininogen.
Human Kallikrein-1, also called as Kallidinogenase, Kininogenase or Kininogenin, is an active protein enzyme present in saliva, pancreatic juices, and urine that catalyzes the proteolysis of bradykininogen to bradykinin.
Kallikrein-1, which derived from human or porcine, have been used as drugs for a long time, they are mainly used in the treatment f light to medium hypertension and occlusion of cerebral and surrounding blood vessels.
KLK1 demonstrates both trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like selectivities with Tyr/Arg preferred at site P1, Ser/Arg strongly preferred at P1', and Phe/Leu at P2.
rs5517 in the KLK1 gene is considerably connected with hypertension in a Chinese Han population. KLK1 is expressed de novo in endothelial cells and mediates relaxation of human umbilical veins. The K allele of KLK1 promoter and TT genotype of TGF-beta1 are a genetic KLK1 -130 GN and -128 G-C, and the defenselessness factor contributing to progressive renal descent in Taiwanese primary vesicoureteric reflux children.
Induction of KLK1 in carotid arteriosclerosis doesn’t lead to kallikrein-kinins pathway activation. Transgenic rats expressing KLK1 have impaired renal response to acute volume expansion Endothelial cells synthesize and release active form of KLK1on the surface which is important function in maintenance of circulation homeostasis.
KLK1 participates in epidermal desquamation through cleavage of desmoglein 1 and regulation by lympho-epithelial Kazal-type-related inhibitor (LEKTI).

Lymphokine-activated killer T-cell-originated protein kinase (PBK) is a serine/threonine kinase related to the dual specific mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKK) family. PBK is abundant in placenta (is also found in the testis’ outer cell layer of seminiferous tubules) and absent from adult brain tissue. PBK is involved in the activation of lymphoid cells and supports testicular functions, with a possible role in the process of spermatogenesis. Mitotic phosphorylation is required for PBK’s catalytic activity. Once phosphorylated,PBK forms a complex with TP53, leading to TP53 destabilization and weakening of G2/M checkpoint during some kind of DNA damage. PBK is active only during mitosis. In addition, a PDZ domain in the tumor suppressor protein Dlg can coordinate with the T/SXV motif of PBK. PBK also phosphorylates MAP kinase p38, and may have a role in the activation of lymphoid cells.

Hexokinases phosphorylate glucose to produce glucose-6-phosphate, thus committing glucose to the glycolytic pathway. Hexokinase 2 is the predominant form found in skeletal muscle. It localizes to the outer membrane of mitochondria. Expression of this gene is insulin-responsive, and studies in rat suggest that it is involved in the increased rate of glycolysis seen in rapidly growing cancer cells.

Adenosine Kinase is an abundant enzyme in mammalian tissues which catalyzes the transfer of the gamma-phosphate from ATP to adenosine, thus is as a regulator of concentrations of both extracellular adenosine and intracellular adenine nucleotides. Adenosine has extensive effects on the cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory, and immune systems and inhibitors of the enzyme take a crucial pharmacological part in growing intravascular adenosine concentrations and acting as anti-inflammatory agents.

Adenylate kinases play a role in regulating the adenine nucleotide composition within a cell by catalyzing the reversible transfer of phosphate groups among adenine nucleotides. There are 3 types of adenylate kinase isozymes, AK1, AK2, and AK3 in vertebrates. Expression of these isozymes are tissue-specific and developmentally regulated. AK2 is localized in the mitochondrial intermembrane space and is involved in apoptosis. AK2 is mutated in individuals with reticular dysgenesis.