PKC alpha: Proteins and Enzymes

PKC alpha (Protein kinase C alpha) is an 80 kDa member of the PKC subfamily, AGC Ser/Thr protein kinase family of enzymes. It is widely expressed, and serves multiple cell-specific functions. PKC alpha is activated by increased diacylglycerol and intracellular calcium, and translocates to several sites such as the Golgi, nucleus and plasma membrane. Human PKC alpha is 672 amino acids (aa) in length. It contains two zinc finger regions (aa 36-151), a protein kinase domain (aa 339-557), and an AGC kinase region (aa 598-668). Phosphorylations on Thr497, Thr638 and Ser657 are necessary for kinase activity. Over aa 604-672, human PKC alpha shows 100% aa identity to mouse PKC alpha.