PAK thread from amoeba to mammals

Abstract

The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are signaling nodes that play a crucial role in cellular processes including cell motility, differentiation, survival, gene transcription, and hormone signaling. PAKs are highly conserved family of serine-threonine kinases that act as effector for small GTPases Rac and Cdc42. Most of our knowledge about PAK functions has been derived from genetic approaches in lower organisms and many of these functions are similar to that seen in mammalian cells. In this review, we have summarized the extensive information generated in lower eukaryotes and very briefly discussed the current status of PAKs in humans.

Figure 1. Pak mediated regulation of signaling cascades

p21 activated kinases (PAKs) play important role in a wide variety of cellular processes such as cytoskeleton dynamics, cell migration, survival, , apoptosis, gene transcription, neuronal development and hormone signaling. Although all Paks share structural similarities, some of the functions of Pak are unique to a given organism and a few functions are common across lower eukaryotes and mammals including regulation of cell morphology and cell survival.