biology

Tau-protein kinase

Tau-protein kinase is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Tau-protein kinase rather than just read about it. In short: In enzymology, a tau-protein kinase (EC 2.7.11.26) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction ATP + tau protein ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } ADP + O-phospho-tau-protein Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are ATP and tau protein, whereas its two products are ADP and O-phospho-tau-protein. This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically, those transferring a phosphate group to the…

Key takeaways

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Reproduce the core statement of Tau-protein kinase from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In enzymology, a tau-protein kinase (EC 2.7.11.26) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

ATP + tau protein ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } ADP + O-phospho-tau-protein Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are ATP and tau protein, whereas its two products are ADP and O-phospho-tau-protein. This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically, those transferring a phosphate group to the sidechain oxygen atom of serine or threonine residues in proteins (protein-serine/threonine kinases). This enzyme participates in 14 metabolic pathways: erbb signaling pathway, cell cycle, wnt signaling pathway, hedgehog signaling pathway, axon guidance, focal adhesion, b cell receptor signaling pathway, insulin signaling pathway, melanogenesis, alzheimer's disease, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, and basal cell carcinoma.

Nomenclature The systematic name of this enzyme class is ATP:[tau-protein] O-phosphotransferase. Other names in common use include ATP:tau-protein O-hosphotransferase, brain protein kinase PK40erk, cdk5/p20, CDK5/p23, glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, GSK, protein tau kinase, STK31, tau kinase, [tau-protein] kinase, tau-protein kinase I, tau-protein kinase II, tau-tubulin kinase, TPK, TPK I, TPK II, and TTK.

Structural studies As of late 2007, 3 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes PDB: 2JDO, PDB: 2JDR, and PDB: 2UW9.

Examples Human genes encoding proteins with Tau-protein kinase activity include:

BRSK1 BRSK2 GSK3A GSK3B

References

Ishiguro K, Ihara Y, Uchida T, Imahori K (September 1988). "A novel tubulin-dependent protein kinase forming a paired helical filament epitope on tau". J. Biochem. 104 (3). Tokyo: 319–21. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a122465. PMID 2467901. Lund ET, McKenna R, Evans DB, Sharma SK, Mathews WR (2001). "Characterization of the in vitro phosphorylation of human tau by tau protein kinase II (cdk5/p20) using mass spectrometry". J. Neurochem. 76 (4): 1221–32. doi:10.1046/j.1471-4159.2001.00130.x. PMID 11181841. S2CID 24005862. Takashima A; Mercken, M; Murayama, M; Noguchi, K; Ishiguro, K; Imahori, K; Takashima, A (1998). "Characterization of tau phosphorylation in glycogen synthase kinase-3beta and cyclin dependent kinase-5 activator (p23) transfected cells". Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1380 (2): 177–82. doi:10.1016/s0304-4165(97)00139-6. PMID 9565682. Sugio S, Kohno T, Matsuzaki T (November 2000). "Expression, purification and crystallization of human tau-protein kinase I/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta". Acta Crystallogr. D. 56 (Pt 11): 1464–5. doi:10.1107/S0907444900010386. PMID 11053853.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Tau-protein kinase

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Tau-protein kinase claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Tau-protein kinase before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Tau-protein kinase ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Tau-protein kinase

In research: Tau-protein kinase appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Tau-protein kinase in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Tau-protein kinase is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics EC 2.7.11, EC 2.7 stubs, Enzymes of known structure, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Tau-protein kinase outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Tau-protein kinase in 20 minutes

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Frequently asked questions

What is Tau-protein kinase in simple terms?

In enzymology, a tau-protein kinase (EC 2.7.11.26) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction ATP + tau protein ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } ADP + O-phospho-tau-protein Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are ATP and tau protein, whereas its two products are ADP and O-phospho-ta…

Why does Tau-protein kinase matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Tau-protein kinase?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Tau-protein kinase.