PRKCZ (Protein Kinase C Zeta) is an atypical member of the protein kinase C (PKC) family that plays critical roles in neuronal function, insulin signaling, cell polarity, and synaptic plasticity. This page covers the gene's normal function, disease associations, expression patterns, and key research findings relevant to neurodegeneration.
| Symbol | PRKCZ |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Protein kinase C zeta |
| Chromosome | 1p36.33 |
| NCBI Gene ID | [5590](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5590) |
| UniProt ID | [Q05513](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q05513) |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000167614 |
PRKCZ is an atypical protein kinase C isoform that differs from conventional PKCs in its regulation and substrate specificity. Unlike classical PKCs, PRKCZ does not require diacylglycerol (DAG) or calcium for activation [1].
PRKCZ contains:
The PRKCZ signaling pathway regulates:
PRKCZ is implicated in Alzheimer's disease through multiple mechanisms:
PRKCZ and atypical PKC signaling in PD:
Given the strong link between type 2 diabetes and neurodegeneration:
Dysregulated PRKCZ signaling in cancers:
PRKCZ is widely expressed in the nervous system:
PRKCZ expression and activity is regulated by:
PRKCZ as a therapeutic target:
Hirai & Chida, Protein kinase C isoforms in cellular functions (2003). 2003. ↩︎
Farese et al. Protein kinase C in insulin action (2005). 2005. ↩︎
Martin et al. aPKC in cell polarity (2012). 2012. ↩︎
Zhang & Bai, Protein kinase C and synaptic plasticity (2011). 2011. ↩︎
Duran et al. aPKC and NF-κB signaling (2013). 2013. ↩︎
Tamasi et al. aPKC and mTOR pathway (2014). 2014. ↩︎
Acharya et al. aPKC and cytoskeleton (2018). 2018. ↩︎
Moller et al. Insulin signaling in Alzheimer's disease (2019). 2019. ↩︎
Albani et al. PKC in amyloid toxicity (2004). 2004. ↩︎
Mandelkow et al. [Tau phosphorylation kinases (2003)](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6123(03). 2003. ↩︎
Glass et al. Neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration (2010). 2010. ↩︎
Choi-Lundberg et al. Neurotrophic factors in PD (2008). 2008. ↩︎
Bae et al. Alpha-synuclein and kinases (2018). 2018. ↩︎
Craft, Insulin resistance and Alzheimer's disease (2005). 2005. ↩︎
Salloway et al. Diabetes and neurodegeneration (2020). 2020. ↩︎
Bingham et al. [Neuronal glucose transporters (2002)](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6123(02). 2002. ↩︎
Gonelli et al. aPKC in cancer (2009). 2009. ↩︎
Grunert et al. aPKC and cancer stem cells (2013). 2013. ↩︎
Kiselyov et al. aPKC inhibitors (2007). 2007. ↩︎
Zhang et al. CNS-penetrant PKC inhibitors (2019). 2019. ↩︎
Cai et al. Combination therapy for AD (2017). 2017. ↩︎
Schink et al. CSF biomarkers for neurodegeneration (2016). 2016. ↩︎
Chen et al. PRKCZ polymorphisms and disease (2012). 2012. ↩︎