Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
11:11
Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach
Published on: February 21, 2019
c-Jun N-terminal kinases as potential therapeutic targets
1University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada. bsalh@interchange.ubc.ca
Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets
|October 3, 2007
Summary
Researchers are investigating c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) as a therapeutic target for diseases like cancer and diabetes. Understanding JNK
Area of Science:
- Signal transduction pathways
- Molecular biology
- Disease pathogenesis
Background:
- Signal transduction research aims to find therapeutic targets for diseases.
- Defective signaling is key in chronic inflammation, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer.
- c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a key signaling molecule under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in disease.
- To identify JNK as a potential therapeutic target.
- To determine optimal strategies for JNK inhibition in disease treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of current signal transduction research.
- Analysis of JNK's role in various disease models.
- Investigation of potential therapeutic interventions targeting JNK.
Main Results:
- JNK signaling is implicated in a wide range of diseases.
- JNK plays a critical role in disease pathogenesis.
- Further research is needed to define JNK inhibitor strategies.
Conclusions:
- JNK is a promising target for therapeutic intervention.
- The precise application of JNK inhibitors requires further study.
- Modulating JNK signaling may offer new treatment avenues for major diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Transducer 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:
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
01:07MAPK Signaling Cascades
Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
01:25cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) is an essential second messenger that activates protein kinase A (PKA) and regulates various biological processes. A single epinephrine molecule binds to GPCR and activates several heterotrimeric G proteins, each stimulating multiple adenylyl cyclase, amplifying the signal, and synthesizing large numbers of cAMP molecules. Small changes in cAMP concentration affect PKA activity. The binding of four cAMP molecules induces a conformational change in PKA,...
02:57Targeted 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...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
02:57Targeted 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...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
02:34Inhibition 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...