KinaseAssociated

Kinaseassociated, often written as kinase-associated in literature, is a descriptive term used in biochemistry and molecular biology to denote proteins, protein regions, or interactions that involve kinases or their signaling pathways. It is not the name of a specific enzyme family or gene, but a label applied to components that influence or participate in kinase activity.

Functions of kinase-associated components include acting as regulatory subunits, adaptor proteins, or scaffolds that bind kinases and help determine substrate specificity, localization, or timing of phosphorylation. Kinase-associated proteins can recruit kinases to particular subcellular compartments, present substrates, or modulate kinase activity through conformational changes. Conversely, substrates themselves may be described as kinase-associated if their phosphorylation is controlled by a particular kinase complex.

Mechanisms of association are varied and often involve docking motifs, SH2 or SH3 domain interactions, 14-3-3 protein binding, or coiled-coil interfaces. A well-known example of kinase-associated organization is the family of A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs), which scaffold protein kinase A and coordinate other kinases to create localized signaling hubs.

Clinical and research relevance arises because abnormal kinase-associated interactions can contribute to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and metabolic syndromes. Understanding these associations aids in deciphering signaling specificity and can inform therapeutic strategies, including approaches that disrupt pathogenic kinase-protein interactions rather than broadly inhibiting kinase activity.

See also: Kinase, Protein kinase, Scaffold protein, Adaptor protein, AKAP.