Química Nova (Jan 2009)

Proteínas quinases: características estruturais e inibidores químicos Kinase protein: structural features and chemical inhibitors

  • Bárbara V. Silva,
  • Bruno A. C. Horta,
  • Ricardo Bicca de Alencastro,
  • Angelo C. Pinto

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422009000200032
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 32, no. 2
pp. 453 – 462

Abstract

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Protein kinases are one of the largest protein families and they are responsible for regulation of a great number of signal transduction pathways in cells, through the phosphorylation of serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues. Deregulation of these enzymes is associated with several diseases including cancer, diabetes and inflammation. For this reason, specific inhibition of tyrosine or serine/threonine kinases may represent an interesting therapeutic approach. The most important types of protein kinases, their structural features and chemical inhibitors are discussed in this paper. Emphasis is given to the small-molecule drugs that target the ATP-binding sites of these enzymes.

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