GSK-3

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glycogen synthase kinase 3 alpha
Identifiers
Symbol GSK3A
Entrez 2931
HUGO 4616
OMIM 606784
RefSeq NM_019884
UniProt P49840
Other data
EC number 2.7.11.26
Locus Chr. 19 q13
glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta
Identifiers
Symbol GSK3B
Entrez 2932
HUGO 4617
OMIM 605004
RefSeq NM_002093
UniProt P49841
Other data
Locus Chr. 3 q13.3

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a serine/threonine protein kinase, which means that it mediates the addition of phosphate molecules on certain serine and threonine amino acids in particular cellular substrates. The phosphorylation of these other proteins by GSK-3 usually inhibits the target protein (as in the case of glycogen synthase and NFAT; the target protein is also called the "substrate"). In mammals GSK-3 is encoded by two known genes GSK-3 Alpha and Beta.

Contents

[edit] Function

As mentioned, GSK-3 is known for phosphorylating and thus inactivating glycogen synthase. It has also been implicated in the control of cellular response to damaged DNA. GSK-3's homolog in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is known as Shaggy(Zeste White 3). In Drosophila and the frog Xenopus laevis GSK-3 works in the Wnt signalling pathway to phosphorylate β-catenin. Phosphorylation leads to ubiquitination and degradation by cellular proteases, preventing it from entering the nucleus and activating transcription factors. When a protein called Disheveled is activated by Wnt signalling, GSK-3 is inactivated, allowing β-catenin to accumulate and effect transcription of Wnt target genes.

In addition to glycogen synthase, GSK-3 has many other substrates. However, GSK-3 is unusual among the kinases in that it usually requires a "priming kinase" to first phosphorylate a substrate, and then, only when the priming kinase has done its job can GSK-3 additionally phosphorylate the substrate.

The consequence of GSK-3 phosphorylation is usually inhibition of the substrate. For example, when GSK-3 phosphorylates another of its substrates, the NFAT family of transcription factors, these transcription factors can not translocate to the nucleus and are therefore inhibited.

In addition to its important role in the Wnt signalling pathway, which is required for establishing tissue patterning during development, GSK-3 is also critical for the protein synthesis that is induced in settings such as skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Its roles as an NFAT kinase also places it as a key regulator of both differentiation and cellular proliferation.

[edit] GSK-3 inhibition

GSK-3 can be inhibited by AKT phosphorylation, which is part of the insulin signal transduction. Therefore, Akt is an activator of many of the signaling pathways blocked by GSK-3. For example, in the setting where Akt signaling is induced, it can be shown that NFAT is dephosphorylated.

Experimentally, it has been shown that certain concentrations of lithium chloride(LiCl) and/or 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (BIO) will inhibit GSK-3(beta)[1] in the Wnt signaling pathway. This inhibition of GSK-3 is currently believed to underlie the therapeutic usefulness of lithium salts for the treatment of mood disorders [2].

Furthermore, cytokine-dependent GSK-3 phosphorylation in hemopoietic cells may regulate growth, and the PKC family of kinases may play a key role in GSK-3 phosphorylation4

[edit] References

 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008)
  1. ^ Klein PS, Melton DA. (1996). "A molecular mechanism for the effect of lithium on development.". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 93 (16): 8455-9. doi:10.1073/pnas.93.16.8455. PMID 8710892. 
  2. ^ Kaladchibachi SA, Doble B, Anthopoulos N, Woodgett JR, Manoukian AS. (2007). "Glycogen synthase kinase 3, circadian rhythms, and bipolar disorder: a molecular link in the therapeutic action of lithium.". J Circadian Rhythms. 5: 3. doi:doi:10.1186/1740-3391-5-3. PMID 17295926. 

4. Vilimek and Duronio. Cytokine-stimulated phosphorylation of GSK-3 is primarily dependent upon PKCs, not PKB. Biochem. Cell Biol. Feb (2006); 1(84): 20-9

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Kinases: Serine/threonine-specific protein kinases (primarily EC 2.7.11)
2.7.11
2.7.12
MAP2K (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
2.7.1.37, or unknown
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