EEF2K
EEF2K (eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase, also known as eEF-2K or CaMKIII) is a threonine kinase that regulates protein synthesis by controlling the rate of peptide chain elongation. It does this by phosphorylating and inactivating the elongation factor EEF2. Browse Assay Genie's current range of EEF2K research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
EEF2K is a threonine kinase that controls the rate of peptide chain elongation, and so the overall rate of protein synthesis. Upstream kinases, including AMPK and TRPM7, activate it. Once active, EEF2K phosphorylates the elongation factor EEF2 at a single site. This renders EEF2 unable to bind ribosomes and therefore inactive, and the rate of protein synthesis falls as a result.
The EEF2K gene encodes a highly conserved protein kinase that acts in the calmodulin-mediated signalling pathway, which links activation of cell surface receptors to cell division. The enzyme belongs to the protein kinase superfamily and to the alpha-type protein kinase family, and HGNC places the gene in the alpha kinases group. Orthologues are named Eef2k in both mouse and rat, which supports work in standard rodent models. Researchers studying the EEF2K gene or the EEF2K protein will often examine it alongside its substrate, EEF2.
The name CaMKIII reflects the calmodulin-linked signalling in which the kinase operates, while eEF-2K is a common alternative spelling of the symbol. According to the NCBI Gene summary, EEF2K activity is increased in many cancers and may be a valid target for anti-cancer treatment. This link between translational control and disease makes EEF2K a frequent subject in studies of signalling, protein synthesis and cancer biology.
EEF2K slows peptide chain elongation by inactivating EEF2, making it a central node for studying how cells regulate the rate of protein synthesis.
EEF2K activity is increased in many cancers and may be a valid target for anti-cancer treatment.
The kinase acts in a calmodulin-mediated pathway that links cell surface receptor activation to cell division.
Upstream kinases such as AMPK and TRPM7 activate EEF2K, connecting it to wider signalling networks that control protein synthesis.
EEF2K is a threonine kinase that regulates protein synthesis by controlling the rate of peptide chain elongation. After activation by upstream kinases such as AMPK or TRPM7, it phosphorylates EEF2 at a single site, which stops EEF2 binding ribosomes and reduces protein synthesis.
EEF2K is the HGNC symbol for eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase. It is also written eEF-2K and is known as CaMKIII. UniProt classes it as an alpha-type protein kinase, and the enzyme carries the EC number 2.7.11.20.
NCBI describes EEF2K as a highly conserved protein kinase, and mouse and rat both have an Eef2k orthologue. Its activity is increased in many cancers and it may be a valid anti-cancer target. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
EEF2, the substrate of EEF2K, and other eukaryotic elongation factors involved in peptide chain elongation.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O00418; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.