Carcinogenesis and Protein Kinase C

A protein kinase is a kinase enzyme that modifies other proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups to them (phosphorylation). Phosphorylation usually results in a functional change of the target protein (substrate) by changing enzyme activity, cellular location, or association with other proteins. PKC isozymes are activated by a variety of hormones, such as adrenalin and angiotensin, by growth factors, including epidermal growth factor and insulin, and by neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphin; these stimulators, when bound to their respective receptors, activate members of the phospholipase C family, which generates diacylglycerol, a lipid derived second messenger.