Specificity and spatial dynamics of protein kinase A signaling organized by A-kinase-anchoring proteins

J Mol Endocrinol. 2010 May;44(5):271-84. doi: 10.1677/JME-10-0010. Epub 2010 Feb 11.

Abstract

Protein phosphorylation is the most common post-translational modification observed in cell signaling and is controlled by the balance between protein kinase and phosphatase activities. The cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway is one of the most studied and well-known signal pathways. To maintain a high level of specificity, the cAMP-PKA pathway is tightly regulated in space and time. A-kinase-anchoring proteins (AKAPs) target PKA to specific substrates and distinct subcellular compartments providing spatial and temporal specificity in the mediation of biological effects controlled by the cAMP-PKA pathway. AKAPs also serve as scaffolding proteins that assemble PKA together with signal terminators such as phosphoprotein phosphatases and cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases as well as components of other signaling pathways into multiprotein-signaling complexes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases / metabolism
  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases