Ste20-type kinases: evolutionarily conserved regulators of ion transport and cell volume

Physiology (Bethesda). 2006 Feb:21:61-8. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00139.2005.

Abstract

Ste20 serine/threonine kinases regulate fundamental cellular processes including the cell cycle, apoptosis, and stress responses. Recent studies in Caenorhabditis elegans and mammals demonstrate that Ste20 kinases also function in cell volume sensing and Cl- transport regulation. Yeast Ste20 initiates a shrinkage activated MAPK cascade that regulates organic osmolyte accumulation. Ste20 kinases thus play evolutionarily conserved roles in cellular volume sensing and regulation. They may also function in systemic osmotic homeostasis and to link cell-cycle events with cell volume.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alanine / analysis
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Size*
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Ion Transport*
  • K Cl- Cotransporters
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology
  • Proline / analysis
  • Protein Kinases / physiology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters / physiology
  • Symporters / physiology

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters
  • Symporters
  • Proline
  • Protein Kinases
  • GCK-like kinase
  • STK24 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Alanine