Kinase

Definition

A kinase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in cell signaling pathways by adding a phosphate group to other molecules, typically proteins. This process, known as phosphorylation, can activate or deactivate target proteins, regulating various cellular processes.

Related terms

Phosphorylation:

Phosphorylation is the process of adding a phosphate group to a molecule, usually proteins. It can modify protein structure and function, enabling signal transduction and regulation of cellular processes.

Protein Kinase Cascade: A protein kinase cascade refers to a series of kinases that sequentially phosphorylate each other and/or different target proteins within a signaling pathway. This amplifies the initial signal and allows for precise control over cellular responses.

Dephosphorylation: Dephosphorylation is the reverse process of phosphorylation. It involves removing a phosphate group from a molecule, often performed by enzymes called phosphatases. This deactivates target proteins in cell signaling pathways.