The protein kinase ABC's of signal transduction as targets for drug development

R I Glazer1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. glazerr@gunet.georgetown.edu

Insights

Signal transduction pathways regulate tumor growth and metastasis. Key serine/threonine-protein kinases like PKA, Akt, and PKC are crucial targets for novel cancer therapies, including structure-based drug design and antisense oligonucleotide therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Signal transduction pathways are critical for regulating tumor cell growth, survival, and metastasis.
  • Serine/threonine-protein kinases, including cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), Akt (PKB), and protein kinase C (PKC), are key regulators within these pathways.
  • Dysregulation of these kinases contributes to tumor proliferation, cell survival, and multidrug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the role of serine/threonine-protein kinases in cancer.
  • To explore the potential of these kinases as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
  • To discuss structure-based drug design and antisense oligonucleotide therapy approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of signal transduction pathways involved in cancer.
  • Review of crystallographic structures of key protein kinases.
  • Exploration of therapeutic strategies targeting protein kinases.

Main Results:

  • Protein kinases PKA, Akt, and PKC modulate critical cancer-related pathways.
  • Unique structural features of these kinases offer opportunities for targeted drug design.
  • Antisense oligonucleotide therapy targeting these kinases shows potential for selective cancer cell inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • Serine/threonine-protein kinases are vital targets for cancer drug development.
  • Structure-based drug design and antisense oligonucleotide therapy present promising strategies.
  • Targeting these kinases may lead to selective tumor growth inhibition and apoptosis induction with reduced side effects.

Related Concept Videos

ABC Transporters: Exporter01:31

ABC Transporters: Exporter

ATP-binding cassette or ABC transporter is the largest superfamily of integral membrane proteins. The transporters have transmembrane-binding domains (TMDs) and nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). The TMDs are specific to their substrates, whereas the NBDs are similar to engines that complete ATP hydrolysis to complete the substrate transport. They can be full transporters consisting of two TMDs and NBDs, half transporters with one TMD and NBD, while some encoded with a single TMD or NBD are...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...
Targets for Drug Action: Overview01:26

Targets for Drug Action: Overview

Drugs target macromolecules to modify ongoing cellular processes. Primary drug targets include receptors, ion channels, transporters, and enzymes.
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include: