Novel Functions of Death-Associated Protein Kinases through Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Related Signals

Mohamed Elbadawy; Tatsuya Usui; Hideyuki Yamawaki; Kazuaki Sasaki

doi:10.3390/ijms19103031

Novel Functions of Death-Associated Protein Kinases through Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Related Signals

Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Oct 4;19(10):3031. doi: 10.3390/ijms19103031.

Authors

Mohamed Elbadawy^{1

2}, Tatsuya Usui³, Hideyuki Yamawaki⁴, Kazuaki Sasaki⁵

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan. mohamed.elbadawy@fvtm.bu.edu.eg.
² Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Elqaliobiya, Toukh 13736, Egypt. mohamed.elbadawy@fvtm.bu.edu.eg.
³ Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan. fu7085@go.tuat.ac.jp.
⁴ Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan. yamawaki@vmas.kitasato-u.ac.jp.
⁵ Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan. skazuaki@cc.tuat.ac.jp.

Abstract

Death associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a calcium/calmodulin-regulated serine/threonine kinase; its main function is to regulate cell death. DAPK family proteins consist of DAPK1, DAPK2, DAPK3, DAPK-related apoptosis-inducing protein kinases (DRAK)-1 and DRAK-2. In this review, we discuss the roles and regulatory mechanisms of DAPK family members and their relevance to diseases. Furthermore, a special focus is given to several reports describing cross-talks between DAPKs and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) family members in various pathologies. We also discuss small molecule inhibitors of DAPKs and their potential as therapeutic targets against human diseases.

Keywords: DAPK; ERK; JNK; MAPK; p38.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Apoptosis / drug effects
Death-Associated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
Death-Associated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
Humans
MAP Kinase Signaling System*
Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use

Substances

Protein Kinase Inhibitors
Death-Associated Protein Kinases