Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase and the Regulation of Cell Signaling by Protein Phosphorylation

The protein kinases represent one of the largest super families encoded for by the human genome. They serve as molecular switches that turn on and off most biological processes such as memory, differentiation, cell division, metabolism, and cell death. Many diseases such as cancer are associated with defects in specific protein kinases. Thus the protein kinases are critical for the survival and regulation of every cell. cAMP-dependent protein kinase, ubiquitous in every mammalian cell, serves as a prototype for this large family of essential signaling proteins.