GSK-3

GSK-3

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a serine/threonine-protein kinase that mediates the addition of phosphate molecules onto serine and threonine amino acid residues. First discovered in 1980 as a regulatory kinase for its namesake, glycogen synthase, GSK-3 has since been identified as a kinase for over forty different proteins in a variety of different pathways.

Etymology

The name GSK-3 stands for Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3. It was first identified in the rabbit skeletal muscle as a kinase that phosphorylates and inactivates glycogen synthase, the enzyme involved in the synthesis of glycogen.

Function

GSK-3 is involved in a number of physiological processes including the control of glycogen, sugar, and lipid metabolism, and the regulation of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell motility. It is also implicated in a number of diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, inflammation, cancer, and bipolar disorder.

Inhibitors

GSK-3 inhibitors are being investigated for their potential to treat a variety of diseases. These include mood disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Some of the known inhibitors of GSK-3 include lithium, valproate, and AR-A014418.

See also

• Glycogen synthase
• Serine/threonine-protein kinase
• GSK-3 inhibitors

References

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