Abstract：Serine-threonine protein kinases (STPKs) are eukaryotic-like protein kinases, which are important regulator of bacterial growth and metabolism, involved in various cellular processes of mycobacteria, including cell shape and morphology, glucose and glutamine transport, phagosome-lysosome fusion, and/or activity of transcription factors. Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes 11 eukaryotic-like STPKs (PknA, PknB, PknD to PknL), which are divided into five clusters, ABL cluster, HED cluster, FIJ cluster, PknG and PknK. PknA and PknB of ABL cluster may play a role in morphology and cell division, and PknL can phosphorylate a DNA-binding protein Rv2175c. HED cluster may be associated with several physiological process and pathogenesis. PknF of FIJ cluster may participate in glucose transport and cell division, PknI may regulate bacterial growth against hostile environment, and PknJ may regulate bacterial metabolism by phosphorylating many functional protein. PknG may play a role in glutamate/glutamine metabolism and pathogenesis. PknK may be associated with regulating bacterial growth in hostile environment in vivo. In general，STPKs may participate in many steps in the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but more details of the mechanisms involved remain unclear to further investigation. Thus further studies are needed to uncover the mystery.
康涵; 吴文娟. 丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶在结核分枝杆菌致病机制中的作用[J]. 微生物与感染
, 2012, 7(1): 56-61.
KANG Han; WU Wen-Juan. The role of serine-threonine protein kinases in Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis. Journal of Microbes and Infections, 2012, 7(1): 56-61.
