Sandbox 210: Difference between revisions

CDK5 is a member of the '''cyclin dependent kinases protein family'''. Cyclin dependent kinases, a large family of serine–threonine kinases, play a crucial role in the regulation of the eukaryotic cell cycle. Since CDK5 plays only little role in cell cycle regulation processes, it is an unusual member of this protein family. Cdk5 gene has been mapped to chromosome seven. The Cdk5 protein is a 33 kDa molecule with kinase activity when bound to its activators. Activated Cdk5 phosphorylates serine and threonine of its substrate that have a proline immediately downstream. This proline is an obligatory requirement while the basic residues, lysine and arginine, are preferred at upstream position +3. Cdk5 phosphorylates serine and threonine of CDK5's substrate in the motif S/TPXK/R where S and T are serine–threonine that can be phosphorylated (X is any amino acid and P is the obligatory proline present at position +1).  

CDK5 is rather involved in cell-cell communication, cell morphology and motility, and is indispensable for a correct neural development.<ref name="un">DOI 10.1007/s10571-007-9242-1</ref> CDK5 was identified as member of the CDK-family because of its 58 % sequence homology with mouse CDK1 and its 61 % sequence homology with human CDK2.<ref name="discovery">PMID:1279696</ref> Whereas CDKs are activated upon association with specific cyclins, the kinase activity of CDK5 is activated by its association with non-cyclin molecules such as p25, p35 or p39.<ref>doi:10.1038/371423a0</ref><ref>PMID:7592934</ref>