ULK3,也称为unc-51 like kinase 3,是一种丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶。ULK3在多种细胞过程中发挥重要作用,包括自噬、细胞分裂和Sonic hedgehog信号通路。ULK3与另一个蛋白质ULK1共同作为自噬的起始激酶,参与自噬的调控。ULK3还与GLI蛋白相互作用,参与Sonic hedgehog信号通路的传导。
ULK3在多种疾病中发挥重要作用,包括皮肤癌、乳腺癌、阿尔茨海默病和高血压。在皮肤癌中,ULK3的表达水平升高,且ULK3的缺失会降低角质形成细胞的增殖和克隆形成能力,影响转录过程,进而影响干细胞相关和代谢程序[1]。在乳腺癌中,ULK3的表达水平与乳腺癌风险相关,且raloxifene的使用可以降低乳腺癌风险[2]。在阿尔茨海默病中,ULK3的表达水平升高,且ULK3的缺失会增强自噬,减少树突的大小,影响空间记忆[3]。在高血压中,ULK3的缺失会增加血压,且ULK3的缺失会导致Src活性增加,进而影响血压调节[4]。
此外,ULK3还参与其他疾病的发病机制。在冠状动脉疾病中,ULK3的表达水平与冠状动脉疾病风险相关[5]。在急性髓细胞白血病中,ULK3的表达水平升高,且ULK3的缺失会抑制白血病细胞的自噬和增殖[6]。在自噬诱导过程中,ULK3依赖的GLI1激活可以促进DNMT3A的表达,进而影响自噬的长期效果[7]。ULK3的激酶活性可以通过磷酸化和小分子抑制剂SU6668进行调控[8]。ULK3还与CSL和GLI信号通路相互作用,参与癌症相关成纤维细胞的激活[9]。ULK3在Sonic hedgehog信号通路中具有双重功能,既可以作为激酶调节GLI蛋白,也可以通过与Sufu蛋白相互作用影响GLI蛋白的活性[10]。
综上所述,ULK3是一种重要的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,在多种细胞过程中发挥重要作用,包括自噬、细胞分裂和Sonic hedgehog信号通路。ULK3在多种疾病中发挥重要作用,包括皮肤癌、乳腺癌、阿尔茨海默病和高血压。此外,ULK3还参与其他疾病的发病机制,如冠状动脉疾病、急性髓细胞白血病等。ULK3的研究有助于深入理解ULK3的生物学功能和疾病发生机制,为疾病的治疗和预防提供新的思路和策略。
参考文献:
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7. González-Rodríguez, Patricia, Cheray, Mathilde, Keane, Lily, Engskog-Vlachos, Pinelopi, Joseph, Bertrand. 2022. ULK3-dependent activation of GLI1 promotes DNMT3A expression upon autophagy induction. In Autophagy, 18, 2769-2780. doi:10.1080/15548627.2022.2039993. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35226587/
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