| MARCKS — Myristoylated Alanine-Rich Protein Kinase C Substrate | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | MARCKS |
| Full Name | Myristoylated Alanine-Rich Protein Kinase C Substrate (MARCKS, MACS) |
| Chromosome | 6q21 |
| NCBI Gene | 4082 |
| Ensembl | ENSG00000198237 |
| OMIM | 177620 |
| UniProt | P29566 |
| Diseases | [AD](/diseases/alzheimers), [PD](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [ALS](/diseases/als), intellectual disability |
| Expression | Brain ([neurons](/entities/neurons), glia), lung, spleen, immune cells |
MARCKS (Myristoylated Alanine-Rich Protein Kinase C Substrate) is a key substrate of Protein Kinase C (PKC) with critical roles in synaptic plasticity, cytoskeletal dynamics, and cell signaling[1][2]. This page covers its function and relevance to neurodegeneration.
MARCKS is encoded on chromosome 6q21 and functions as a downstream effector of PKC signaling. The protein contains an N-terminal myristoylation motif that directs it to the plasma membrane, and a basic effector domain (BED) that binds actin and calmodulin in a phosphorylation-dependent manner[3].
MARCKS is critical for:
The protein regulates:
MARCKS is phosphorylated by:
Phosphorylation releases MARCKS from membranes and actin, altering its function.
MARCKS is expressed in:
Hartwig et al. [MARCKS is an actin filament crosslinking protein regulated by protein kinase C and calcium-calmodulin](https://doi.org/10.1016/0092-8674(92). Nature. 1992. ↩︎
Sheetz et al. Regulation of growth cone actin dynamics by MARCKS. Cell. 2006;126(2):335-337. PubMed:16520779. 2006. ↩︎
Calabrese & Halpain. Essential roles for MARCKS in neuronal function. Trends in Neurosciences. 2005;28(12):635-643. PubMed:15958272. 2005. ↩︎