Researchers at Johns Hopkins discovered a new kinase that may help scientists better understand neurodegenerative diseases and cellular processes.

via the Johns Hopkins News-Letter

That pattern was the enzyme protein kinase C delta (PKC delta). Not only was it present in the signal cascades of the four known kinases, but it was also there in the pathways of many of the potential candidates. She hypothesized and then was able to show that PKC delta is involved in the regulation of eIF2α phosphorylation.

However, the search for the new regulatory pathway of eIF2α phosphorylation was more complicated than expected. The scientists discovered that PKC delta is not a direct kinase of eIF2α but rather an enzyme that phosphorylates microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 2 (MARK2), which itself turned out to be a direct kinase of eIF2α.

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