Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Quantification of Bacterial Histidine Kinase Autophosphorylation Using a Nitrocellulose Binding Assay
Published on: January 11, 2017
Autophosphorylation activates c-Src kinase through global structural rearrangements.
Edgar E Boczek1, Qi Luo2, Marco Dehling3
1Center for Integrated Protein Science, Department Chemie, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Autophosphorylation of c-Src kinase stabilizes the ATP binding site, increasing enzymatic activity. This process involves domain rearrangements and increased kinase domain rigidity for signal transduction.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- c-Src is a key kinase in signal transduction, regulated by phosphorylation.
- Autophosphorylation is crucial for c-Src activation, but its structural effects are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the structural changes in c-Src during nucleotide binding and Tyr416 autophosphorylation.
- To understand the molecular mechanisms of c-Src kinase activation.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical experiments
- Hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS)
- Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations
Main Results:
- Autophosphorylation causes large domain rearrangements and displacement of regulatory domains.
- The kinase domain becomes more rigid, stabilizing the ATP binding site.
- Enzymatic activity of c-Src increases four-fold upon autophosphorylation.
Conclusions:
- A molecular framework for c-Src kinase regulation via autophosphorylation is provided.
- Findings offer insights into general kinase activation mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases
[3,3] Sigmatropic Rearrangement of 1,5-Dienes: Cope Rearrangement
[3,3] Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Allyl Vinyl Ethers: Claisen Rearrangement
Global Climate Change
Preparation of Diols and Pinacol Rearrangement
The reaction begins with transferring a proton from the acid catalyst to one of the hydroxyl groups, producing an oxonium ion.

