CAMK2A
CAMK2A (calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II alpha, CaMKIIα) is a serine/threonine kinase that becomes autonomously active after Ca(2+)/calmodulin binding and autophosphorylation. It acts at excitatory synapses in synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter release and long-term potentiation. Browse Assay Genie's current range of CAMK2A research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
CAMK2A is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase that functions autonomously once Ca(2+)/calmodulin has bound and the enzyme has autophosphorylated. In addition to its calmodulin-dependent activity, autophosphorylation gives rise to calmodulin-independent activity. It is involved in synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter release and long-term potentiation. As a member of the NMDAR signalling complex at excitatory synapses, it regulates NMDAR-dependent potentiation of the AMPAR and therefore excitatory synaptic transmission. It also regulates dendritic spine development and the migration of developing neurons, and acts as a negative regulator of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)-mediated synaptic signalling by modulating DAGLA activity.
Beyond the synapse, CAMK2A phosphorylates several signalling and transcription factors. It phosphorylates FOXO3 to activate its transcriptional activity, and phosphorylates ETS1 in response to calcium signalling, which decreases ETS1 affinity for DNA. After interferon-gamma stimulation it phosphorylates STAT1, stimulating the JAK-STAT pathway, and it also stimulates JAK-STAT signalling after interferon-beta stimulation. In response to interferon-gamma it phosphorylates PSAT1, which inhibits ferroptosis by promoting GPX4 hydroxylation and stability.
The CAMK2A gene belongs to the CAMK2 family, and the protein belongs to the CAMK Ser/Thr protein kinase family, CaMK subfamily. The CaMKII holoenzyme is composed of alpha, beta, gamma and delta chains, and the alpha chain encoded by this gene is required for hippocampal long-term potentiation and spatial learning. Several transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified. The protein localises to the postsynaptic density, dendritic spines and dendrites. Older names include KIAA0968, CaMKIINalpha and CAMKA.
CAMK2A is central to long-term potentiation and regulates NMDAR-dependent potentiation of AMPAR at excitatory synapses.
The alpha chain is required for hippocampal long-term potentiation and spatial learning, making it a key subject in cognition research.
CAMK2A regulates dendritic spine development and the migration of developing neurons.
CAMK2A phosphorylates STAT1 after interferon-gamma stimulation and phosphorylates PSAT1 to inhibit ferroptosis, linking calcium signalling to immune and cell-death pathways.
CAMK2A is a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase that becomes autonomously active after calmodulin binding and autophosphorylation. It supports synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter release and long-term potentiation, and regulates NMDAR-dependent potentiation of AMPAR. It also phosphorylates substrates including FOXO3, ETS1, STAT1 and PSAT1.
CAMK2A is also known as CaMKIIα, CaMKIINalpha, CAMKA and KIAA0968. Its previous name was calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) II alpha. Several transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified for the gene.
Yes. Mouse and rat both have a Camk2a ortholog. The alpha chain is one of four CaMKII chains (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and is required for hippocampal long-term potentiation and spatial learning. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other CaMKII subunits, calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinases and upstream regulators studied alongside CAMK2A.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9UQM7; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.