BD Transduction Laboratories™ PKC Sampler Kit

The Protein Kinase C (PKC) family of homologous serine/threonine protein kinases is involved in a number of processes such as growth, differentiation, and cytokine secretion. At least ten isozymes have been described. These proteins are products of multiple genes and alternative splicing. PKC consists of a single polypeptide chain that contains four conserved regions (C) and five variable regions (V). The N-terminal half containing C1, C2, V1, and V2 constitutes the regulatory domain and interacts with PKC activators Ca2+, phospholipid, diacylglycerol, or phorbol ester. However, the novel PKC subfamily members (δ, ε, ζ, η and θ isoforms) are Ca2+ independent and lack the C2 domain. The C-terminal region of PKC contains the catalytic domain. The PKC pathway represents a major signal transduction system that is activated following ligand-stimulation of transmembrane receptors by hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors. Different tissues seem to have their own characteristic patterns of PKC isozyme expression, leading to the hypothesis that each isozyme has a different biological function.