Carcinogenesis and Protein Kinase C

A protein kinase is a kinase enzyme that modifies other proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups to them (phosphorylation). Phosphorylation usually results in a functional change of the target protein (substrate) by changing enzyme activity cellular location or association with other proteins. PKC isozymes are activated by a variety of hormones such as adrenalin and angiotensin by growth factors including epidermal growth factor and insulin and by neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphin; these stimulators when bound to their respective receptors activate members of the phospholipase C family which generates diacylglycerol a lipid derived second messenger.