Overview:

LOK is a member of the Ste20 family of serine/threonine protein kinases, and is similar to several known polo-like kinase kinases. LOK can associate with and phosphorylate polo-like kinase 1, and overexpression of a kinase-dead version of the protein interferes with normal cell cycle progression (1). LOK can also negatively regulate interleukin 2 expression in T-cells via the mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 1 pathway. MEKK1 and LOK have opposing roles in regulating the enhancer element of the IL-2 gene during T-cell activation. While MEKK1 is responsible for the CD28 signalling pathway that activates the CD28 response element, co-expression of LOK attenuates these effects (2).

Gene Aliases:

STK10, PRO2729

Genbank Number:

NM_005990

References:

1. Walter, S A. et al: Stk10, a new member of the polo-like kinase kinase family highly expressed in hematopoietic tissue. J Biol Chem. 2003 May 16;278(20):18221-8.

2. Tao, L. et al: Opposing roles of serine/threonine kinases MEKK1 and LOK in regulating the CD28 responsive element in T-cells. Biochem J. 2002 Apr 1;363(Pt 1):175-82.