A revised nomenclature for the lemur family of protein kinases

Abstract

The lemur family of protein kinases has gained much interest in recent years as they are involved in a variety of cellular processes including regulation of axonal transport and endosomal trafficking, modulation of synaptic functions, memory and learning, and they are centrally placed in several intracellular signalling pathways. Numerous studies have also implicated role of the lemur kinases in the development and progression of a wide range of cancers, cystic fibrosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, parallel discoveries and inaccurate prediction of their kinase activity have resulted in a confusing and misleading nomenclature of these proteins. Herein, a group of international scientists with expertise in lemur family of protein kinases set forth a novel nomenclature to rectify this problem and ultimately help the scientific community by providing consistent information about these molecules.

The brain-specific kinase LMTK3 regulates neuronal excitability by decreasing KCC2-dependent neuronal Cl− extrusion

“…This approach revealed that KCC2 is intimately associated with LMTK3 in the brain, a poorly understood brain-specific transmembrane kinase. 21 , 22 , 23 Mechanistically, LMTK3 acts to target PP1 to KCC2 to mediate dephosphorylation of S940, leading to KCC2 inhibition. Accordingly, inhibition of LMTK3 increased KCC2 activity dependent on S940, reduced intracellular Cl accumulation, and reduced neuronal excitability and the severity of seizure-like events in vitro .…”

Phylogenetic and transcriptomic characterization of insulin and growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases in crustaceans

“…Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are cell membrane receptors that mediate the actions of peptide growth factors in metazoan organisms. In humans, there are 55 RTKs organized into 19 subfamilies or classes, as it is now recognized that three kinases in the lemur class phosphorylate serine/threonine residues ( 1 , 2 ). Of these, five RTK classes are the most common across metazoan taxa: epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; Class I); insulin receptor, IGF1 receptor, and the insulin receptor-related receptor (InsR; Class II); platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR; Class III); vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR; Class IV); and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR; Class V) ( 3 , 4 ).…”