PDK2
PDK2 (pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2, also known as PDHK2) is a mitochondrial kinase that phosphorylates subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase and so restrains its activity. In this way it helps regulate glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Browse Assay Genie's current range of PDK2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
PDK2 is a kinase that regulates glucose and fatty acid metabolism through phosphorylation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase subunits PDHA1 and PDHA2. This phosphorylation inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase, which controls metabolite flux through the tricarboxylic acid cycle, down-regulates aerobic respiration and blocks the formation of acetyl-coenzyme A from pyruvate. The net effect is reduced glucose utilisation and increased fat metabolism.
Through this control point, PDK2 mediates cellular responses to insulin and contributes to maintaining normal blood glucose levels and metabolic adaptation to nutrient availability. It also helps maintain normal blood pH and prevents the accumulation of ketone bodies under starvation. Beyond metabolism, PDK2 plays a role in the regulation of cell proliferation, in resistance to apoptosis under oxidative stress and in p53/TP53-mediated apoptosis.
The PDK2 gene encodes a member of the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase family, which belongs to the wider PDK/BCKDK protein kinase family. The protein acts in the mitochondrion matrix, where it down-regulates the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Overexpression of the gene may play a role in both cancer and diabetes, and alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed. Earlier names include pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme 2. Mouse and rat both carry a Pdk2 ortholog, and other family members include PDK1, PDK3 and PDK4.
PDK2 overexpression may play a role in cancer, and the kinase influences cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis under oxidative stress.
PDK2 mediates cellular responses to insulin and helps maintain normal blood glucose, and its overexpression may play a role in diabetes.
By inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase, PDK2 sets metabolite flux through the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the balance between glucose and fat use.
PDK2 participates in p53/TP53-mediated apoptosis and in resistance to apoptosis under oxidative stress.
PDK2 phosphorylates the pyruvate dehydrogenase subunits PDHA1 and PDHA2, which inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. This lowers acetyl-coenzyme A formation from pyruvate, decreases glucose utilisation and increases fat metabolism, supporting blood glucose control and adaptation to nutrient availability.
PDK2 is also written PDHK2, and its full name is pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2. Older names describe it as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isoenzyme or isozyme 2. NCBI notes that alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for the gene.
NCBI Gene reports that overexpression of PDK2 may play a role in both cancer and diabetes. The gene has orthologs named Pdk2 in mouse and rat; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase family members that regulate the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q15119; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.