CAMK4
Description
The CAMK4 (calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase IV) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 5.
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type IV is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CAMK4 gene. The product of this gene belongs to the serine/threonine protein kinase cluster, and to the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CAMK) group. This enzyme is a multifunctional serine/threonine protein kinase with limited tissue distribution, that has been implicated in transcriptional regulation in lymphocytes, neurons, and male germ cells.
CaMK4 is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase that plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including immune responses, inflammation, and memory consolidation. It operates in the calcium-triggered CaMKK-CaMK4 signaling cascade and regulates the activity of several transcription activators, including CREB1, MEF2D, JUN, and RORA, primarily through phosphorylation. In the thymus, CaMK4 regulates the selection threshold for CD4(+)/CD8(+) double-positive thymocytes during T-cell development. In CD4 memory T-cells, CaMK4 links T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling to the production of IL2, IFNG, and IL4 by regulating CREB and MEF2. It also regulates the differentiation and survival phases of osteoclasts and dendritic cells (DCs). CaMK4 mediates DCs survival by linking TLR4 to the regulation of temporal expression of BCL2. Additionally, CaMK4 phosphorylates the transcription activator CREB1 on 'Ser-133' in hippocampal neuron nuclei, contributing to memory consolidation and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. CaMK4 can activate the MAP kinases MAPK1/ERK2, MAPK8/JNK1, and MAPK14/p38, stimulating transcription through the phosphorylation of ELK1 and ATF2. It can also phosphorylate CREBBP, PRM2, MEF2A, and STMN1/OP18 in vitro.
CAMK4 is also known as CaMK IV, CaMK-GR, CaMKIV, caMK.
