PKCα (human, recombinant)

PKCα is an α-type conventional isoform of the PKC family of serine/threonine protein kinases, which includes the conventional isoforms PKCα, -β, and -γ, the novel isoforms PKCδ, -ε, -η, and -θ, and the atypical isoforms PKCζ and -λ/ι.¹ PKCα is composed of an N-terminal regulatory domain containing a pseudosubstrate binding site, a C1 domain that binds the cofactor diacylglycerol (DAG), a C2 domain that binds the cofactor calcium, and a C-terminal domain containing an ATP-binding domain, substrate binding site, and catalytic domain. PKCα is ubiquitously expressed and localized to the cytoplasm in an auto-inhibited conformation until activated by calcium and DAG, which are both required for activation of the conventional PKC isoforms.^1,2 Activation of PKCα occurs via an allosteric and temporal mechanism during which it is translocated primarily to the plasma membrane where it phosphorylates a wide variety of substrates.¹ PKCα is involved in the regulation of cell survival with anti- or pro-apoptotic effects and an increase or decrease in cell proliferation depending on the cellular context and cell type. It is also involved in cell differentiation and motility.² Protein levels of PKCα are either increased or decreased in cancer cells, indicating a complex role in oncogenesis.³ Tumor levels of PKCα correlate positively to tumor grade and negatively to survival in patients with breast cancer.⁴ A SNP in PRKCA, which encodes PKCα, is associated with an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors of genocide.⁵ Cayman’s PKCα (human, recombinant) protein can be used for enzyme assay applications. This protein consists of 672 amino acids and has a calculated molecular weight of 102 kDa.

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1. Reyland, M. Protein kinase C isoforms: Multi-functional regulators of cell life and death. Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed.) 14, 2386-2399 (2009).

2. Nakashima, S. Protein kinase Cα (PKCα): Regulation and biological function. J. Biochem. 132(5), 669-675 (2002).

3. Martiny-Baron, G., and Fabbro, D. Classical PKC isoforms in cancer. Pharmacol. Res. 55(6), 477-486 (2007).

4. Lønne, G.K., Cornmark, L., Zahirovic, I.O., et al. PKCα expression is a marker for breast cancer aggressiveness. Mol. Cancer 9, 76 (2010).

5. de Quervain, D.J.-F., Kolassa, I.-T., Ackermann, S., et al. PKCα is genetically linked to memory capacity in healthy subjects and to risk for posttraumatic stress disorder in genocide survivors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109(22), 8746-8751 (2012).