Overview:

CDK5P25 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5, regulatory subunit 1) is a neuron-specific activator of CDK5 and is required for proper development of the central nervous system (1). The p35 form of this protein is proteolytically cleaved by calpain, generating a p25 form of the protein which relocates from the cell periphery to nuclear and perinuclear regions. CDK5P25 regulates CDK5 activity by prolonging its activation and changing its cellular location and this may be important in pain signaling (2). The CDK5P25 accumulates in the brain neurons of patients with Alzheimer's disease and this accumulation correlates with an increase in CDK5 kinase activity which may result in aberrantly phosphorylated forms of the microtubule-associated protein tau.

Gene Aliases:

p25, CDK5R1, CDK5R, NCK5A, p23

Genbank Number:

NM_003885

References:

1. Tsai, L.-H.et.al: p35 is a neural-specific regulatory subunit of cyclin-dependent kinase 5. Nature 371: 419-423, 1994.

2. Pareek, T. K.et.al: Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 activity regulates pain signaling. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 103: 791-796, 2006.