P24, a glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK 3) inhibitor

A heat resistant glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK 3) binding protein, p24, that inhibits its kinase activity at a low magnesium concentration (in a way similar to that of lithium) was found in microtubules from adult rat brains. This protein associates with GSK 3 in microtubules and corresponds to one previously described in the literature as p25, although it has a relative molecular weight of 23472. p24 is a poor substrate for GSK 3 but it could be phosphorylated by other protein kinases such as cAMP dependent protein kinase and cdk 5. Since p24 could form complexes with GSK 3, it may not only regulate GSK 3 activity but also it might act as an anchoring protein for the kinase.