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Role of p‐21‐activated kinases in cell survival and apoptotic pathways
Author(s) -
Schürmann Annette,
Bokoch Gary M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
drug development research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.582
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1098-2299
pISSN - 0272-4391
DOI - 10.1002/ddr.1157
Subject(s) - pak1 , microbiology and biotechnology , kinase , apoptosis , caspase , programmed cell death , phosphorylation , biology , signal transduction , homeostasis , biochemistry
A balance between cell survival and cell death is necessary for multicellular organisms to maintain homeostasis. The family of p21‐activated kinases (PAKs 1, 2, and 3) are Rho GTPase‐regulated serine/threonine kinases implicated in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes. The aim of this review is to describe two mechanisms by which PAKs can influence cellular homeostasis. PAK2 is proteolytically cleaved and activated by caspases after stimulation of death receptors; this activation is implicated in the regulation of biochemical and morphological changes during apoptosis. PAK1 is activated by cell survival factors (for example, interleukin 3) and promotes survival via phosphorylation and inactivation of the pro‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 family member Bad. Drug Dev. Res. 52:542–548, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.