AK4
AK4 (adenylate kinase 4, previously AK3 and AK3L1) is a broad-specificity nucleoside phosphate kinase located in the mitochondrial matrix. It helps maintain cellular nucleotide homeostasis by catalysing nucleoside-phosphate interconversions. Browse Assay Genie's current range of AK4 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
AK4 is a mitochondrial nucleoside phosphate kinase involved in cellular nucleotide homeostasis. Like other adenylate kinases, it preferentially phosphorylates AMP using ATP as the phosphate donor, producing ADP. When GTP is the phosphate donor, it phosphorylates only AMP. In vitro, the enzyme can also phosphorylate CMP, dAMP and dCMP, and can use GTP as an alternative donor. It also has diphosphate kinase activity, generating ATP, CTP, GTP, UTP, TTP, dATP, dCTP and dGTP from the corresponding diphosphates with either ATP or GTP as donor.
Beyond nucleotide interconversion, AK4 helps control cellular ATP levels by regulating the phosphorylation and activation of the energy sensor AMPK. It is also reported to play a protective role in the cellular response to oxidative stress. Adenylate kinases as a group regulate adenine and guanine nucleotide composition by catalysing the reversible transfer of phosphate groups among these nucleotides. Five adenylate kinase isozymes have been identified in vertebrates, and their expression is tissue-specific and developmentally regulated.
The human AK4 gene encodes a protein that belongs to the adenylate kinase family, AK3 subfamily, and is listed by HGNC in the adenylate kinases gene group. The gene was formerly named adenylate kinase 3 and adenylate kinase 3-like 1, which explains the aliases AK3 and AK3L1. Three transcript variants encode the same protein. A pseudogene has been located on chromosome 17, so researchers working with the AK4 gene should distinguish it from this sequence. Mouse and rat both have an Ak4 ortholog.
AK4 catalyses nucleoside-phosphate interconversions in the mitochondrial matrix, making it a focus for studies of cellular nucleotide homeostasis.
AK4 influences cellular ATP levels by regulating phosphorylation and activation of the energy sensor AMPK, linking it to energy-stress research.
AK4 has a protective role in the cellular response to oxidative stress, relevant to studies of mitochondrial and redox biology.
Five vertebrate adenylate kinase isozymes show tissue-specific, developmentally regulated expression, so AK4 is often studied alongside related family members.
AK4 is a mitochondrial matrix enzyme that preferentially phosphorylates AMP with ATP to give ADP, helping maintain nucleotide homeostasis. It also has diphosphate kinase activity, regulates AMPK phosphorylation and activation to control cellular ATP levels, and has a protective role in oxidative stress.
AK3 and AK3L1 are previous symbols for this gene, which was formerly named adenylate kinase 3 and adenylate kinase 3-like 1. The gene is now AK4, and AK3 is a separate gene symbol, so check which one a publication or reagent refers to.
Mouse and rat each have an Ak4 ortholog. Human AK4 has a pseudogene on chromosome 17, and its three transcript variants encode the same protein. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other adenylate kinases and related kinase and enzyme targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P27144; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.