The Multi-Functional Calcium/Calmodulin Stimulated Protein Kinase (CaMK) Family: Emerging Targets for Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Intervention

Joshua S Brzozowski; Kathryn A Skelding

doi:10.3390/ph12010008

The Multi-Functional Calcium/Calmodulin Stimulated Protein Kinase (CaMK) Family: Emerging Targets for Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Intervention

Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2019 Jan 7;12(1):8. doi: 10.3390/ph12010008.

Authors

Joshua S Brzozowski¹, Kathryn A Skelding²

Affiliations

¹ Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research, Innovation and Translation, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. joshua.brzozowski@newcastle.edu.au.
² Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research, Innovation and Translation, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Kathryn.Skelding@newcastle.edu.au.

Abstract

The importance of Ca²⁺ signalling in key events of cancer cell function and tumour progression, such as proliferation, migration, invasion and survival, has recently begun to be appreciated. Many cellular Ca²⁺-stimulated signalling cascades utilise the intermediate, calmodulin (CaM). The Ca²⁺/CaM complex binds and activates a variety of enzymes, including members of the multifunctional Ca²⁺/calmodulin-stimulated protein kinase (CaMK) family. These enzymes control a broad range of cancer-related functions in a multitude of tumour types. Herein, we explore the cancer-related functions of these kinases and discuss their potential as targets for therapeutic intervention.

Keywords: CaMKI; CaMKII; CaMKIV; CaMKK; anti-cancer drugs.

Publication types

Review