Abstract
Eukaryotic Elongation Factor-2 Kinase (eEF2K) acts as a negative regulator of protein synthesis, translation, and cell growth. As a structurally unique member of the alpha-kinase family, eEF2K is essential to cell survival under stressful conditions, as it contributes to both cell viability and proliferation. Known as the modulator of the global rate of protein translation, eEF2K inhibits eEF2 (eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2) and decreases translation elongation when active. eEF2K is regulated by various mechanisms, including phosphorylation through residues and autophosphorylation. Specifically, this protein kinase is downregulated through the phosphorylation of multiple sites via mTOR signaling and upregulated via the AMPK pathway. eEF2K plays important roles in numerous biological systems, including neurology, cardiology, myology, and immunology. This review provides further insights into the current roles of eEF2K and its potential to be explored as a therapeutic target for drug development.
Highlights
Eukaryotic cells tightly regulate protein synthesis, a biological process critical for cell survival, proliferation, and function
Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase is a crucial regulator of protein synthesis via inhibiting protein translation to conserve the limited energy of the cell (Ryazanov et al, 1997)
Since protein synthesis occurs in all cell types, it is not surprising that Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase (eEF2K) plays a role in various biological processes, including the eye and stem cells
Summary
Eukaryotic cells tightly regulate protein synthesis, a biological process critical for cell survival, proliferation, and function. Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase (eEF2K) is a crucial regulator of protein synthesis via inhibiting protein translation to conserve the limited energy of the cell (Ryazanov et al, 1997). Despite its prevalence in cancer development, eEF2K is vital in the immune response during infection as it plays a critical role in the metabolic regulation of different immune cells.
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