Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 24, 2025

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
10:39

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 17, 2020

6.5K

p21-Activated kinase 1 (PAK1) in aging and longevity: An overview

Mohankumar Amirthalingam1, Sundararaj Palanisamy2, Shinkichi Tawata1

  • 1PAK Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.

Ageing Research Reviews
|August 14, 2021
PubMed

Insights

p21-activated kinases (PAKs) regulate lifespan and aging. Inhibiting PAK1 may offer a dual strategy for cancer therapy and promoting healthy longevity.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are serine/threonine kinases involved in diverse cellular functions.
  • The PAK family, including PAK1, is implicated in oncogenesis, tumor progression, and age-related diseases.
  • PAK1 activity has been shown to limit lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans by inhibiting DAF-16.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological functions of PAK family proteins.
  • To explore the role of PAKs in regulating aging and longevity.
  • To discuss the potential of PAK1 inhibitors for therapeutic interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of PAK family proteins and their functions.
  • Analysis of studies on PAKs in aging models, including C. elegans and mouse models.
  • Discussion of small-molecule PAK1 inhibitors and their effects on lifespan and healthspan.

Main Results:

  • PAK1 activity shortens lifespan in C. elegans.
  • PAK depletion extends longevity and delays age-related phenotypes in model organisms.
  • PAK inhibitors show potential in modulating aging processes.

Conclusions:

  • PAKs function as oncogenic and aging kinases.
  • Targeting PAK1 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer and age-related conditions.
  • PAK1 inhibitors could promote healthy longevity and potentially reduce cancer side effects.
Keywords:
Caenorhabditis elegansDAF-16/FOXOLongevityPAK1RAC1/CDC42p21-Activated kinases

More Related Videos

Quantifying Tissue-Specific Proteostatic Decline in Caenorhabditis elegans09:18

Quantifying Tissue-Specific Proteostatic Decline in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: September 7, 2021

3.0K
Visualizing Protein Kinase A Activity In Head-fixed Behaving Mice Using In Vivo Two-photon Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy10:41

Visualizing Protein Kinase A Activity In Head-fixed Behaving Mice Using In Vivo Two-photon Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Published on: June 7, 2019

8.7K

Related Concept Videos

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...
4.2K
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK 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...
6.6K
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...
6.7K
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...
4.0K
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
9.7K
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways01:25

cAMP-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,...
7.1K