Sisters acts: converging signaling between CaMKII and CaMKIV, two members of the same family
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Date
2012Author
Rusciano, Maria Rosaria
Maione, A. S.
Illario, Maddalena
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Show full item recordAbstract
Calcium (Ca2+
) is a universal second
messenger that regulates a number of diverse cellular
processes including cell proliferation, development,
motility, secretion, learning and memory1, 2. A variety of
stimuli, such as hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and
neurotransmitters induce changes in the intracellular
levels of Ca2+. The most ubiquitous and abundant protein
that serves as a receptor to sense changes in Ca2+
concentrations is Calmodulin (CaM), thus mediating the
role as second messenger of this ion. The Ca2+/CaM
complex initiates a plethora of signaling cascades that
culminate in alteration of cell functions. Among the many
Ca2+/CaM binding proteins, the multifunctional protein
kinases CaMKII and CaMKIV play pivotal roles in the
cell.