Insights into the functions of the death associated protein kinases from C. elegans and other invertebrates.

摘要: The death associated protein kinases (DAPK) are a phylogenetically widespread family of calcium-regulated serine/threonine kinases, initially identified from their roles in apoptosis. Subsequent studies, principally vertebrate cells or models, have elucidated the functions DAPK autophagy and tumor suppression. Invertebrate genetic model organisms such as Drosophila C. elegans revealed additional for related kinases. In nematode elegans, sole member DAPK-1 positively regulates starvation-induced autophagy. Genetic analysis has that also acts negative regulator epithelial innate immune responses epidermis. This regulatory role immunity may be analogous to mammalian inflammatory responses.