Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes
15:43

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes

Published on: January 7, 2013

Expression of TTK, a novel human protein kinase, is associated with cell proliferation

G B Mills1, R Schmandt, M McGill

  • 1Oncology Research, Toronto General Hospital, Ontario, Canada.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|August 5, 1992
PubMed

Insights

We identified a novel human kinase, TTK, which is highly conserved across species. TTK expression is linked to cell proliferation and is found in tumors and rapidly dividing cells.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • A unique human kinase, TTK, was identified using anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies.
  • TTK shares distant homology with known serine, threonine, and tyrosine kinases.
  • TTK is highly conserved across diverse species, including mammals, fish, and yeast.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the novel human kinase TTK.
  • To investigate the expression patterns and functional role of TTK.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of a T cell expression library with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to assess TTK conservation.
  • mRNA expression analysis in various human tissues and cell lines.
  • Functional analysis of TTK kinase domain in E. coli.

Main Results:

  • TTK mRNA is highly expressed in testis and thymus, tissues with high cell proliferation.
  • TTK mRNA is detected in most malignant tumors and rapidly proliferating cell lines.
  • E. coli expressing TTK kinase domain showed elevated phosphoserine and phosphothreonine levels.

Conclusions:

  • TTK is a novel kinase capable of phosphorylating serine, threonine, and tyrosine.
  • TTK expression is associated with cell proliferation.
  • TTK may play a role in cell proliferation and cancer.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors by an Interrogation of Signal Transduction Pathways by Antibody Arrays07:42

Assessment of Resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors by an Interrogation of Signal Transduction Pathways by Antibody Arrays

Published on: September 19, 2018

Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach11:11

Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach

Published on: February 21, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
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...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Inhibition of CDK Activity02:34

Inhibition of CDK Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...