Janus kinase

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Janus Kinase

Janus kinase (pronounced: JAY-nus KAY-nack), often abbreviated as JAK, is a family of intracellular, non-receptor tyrosine kinases that transduce cytokine-mediated signals via the JAK-STAT pathway. The name "Janus kinase" is derived from the two-faced Roman god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings, Janus, due to the kinase's ability to possess two phosphorylating activities.

Etymology

The term "Janus kinase" was coined due to the unique structure of the kinase domain, which is composed of two nearly identical phosphate-transferring domains. One domain exhibits the actual kinase activity, while the other negatively regulates the kinase activity of the first. This dual nature reminded researchers of the Roman god Janus, who was often depicted with two faces, hence the name.

Function

Janus kinases play a crucial role in the JAK-STAT pathway, a signal transduction pathway that is activated by a wide range of cytokines, growth factors, and hormones. Upon ligand binding, JAKs phosphorylate and activate STATs, which then dimerize and translocate to the nucleus to promote the transcription of target genes.

Types

There are four known types of Janus kinases:

Each of these kinases is associated with specific receptors and STATs, and their dysregulation can lead to various diseases, including immunodeficiency syndromes, autoimmune diseases, and cancers.

Related Terms

External links

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