Progress in WNK Kinases

Abstract: The WNK kinases are a small group of serine/threonine kinases found in recent years， without a catalytic lysine residue in subdomain II which is necessary for other kinases to co-ordinate ATP. All 4 members of WNK kinases in mammals contain a amino-terminal domain， a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase domain， and at least 2 coiled-coil domains. Large deletions within the first intron in WNK1 or missense mutations in a highly conserved domain of coil-coiled domain of WNK4 can cause Gordon抯 syndrome. Further study discovered WNK kinases can regulate multiple transporters and ion channels on the renal tubular epithelial cell to maintain electrolyte balance. WNKs are not only disease-causing gene of the rare monogenic hypertension syndrome of Gordon抯 syndrome， but also candidate genes for essential hypertension. Furthermore， WNK kinases also affect signal conduction， cell growth and apoptosis and are essential for normal embryonic development.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2008.06.0007