Hughes, K., Nikolakaki, E., Plyte, S.E., Totty, N.F., Woodgett, J.R. (1993). Modulation of the glycogen synthase kinase-3 family by tyrosine phosphorylation. EMBO J. 12(2): 803--808.
FlyBase ID
FBrf0058166
Publication Type
Research paper
Abstract
Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a protein serine kinase implicated in the cellular response to insulin. The enzyme is the mammalian homologue of the zeste-white3 (shaggy) homeotic gene of Drosophila melanogaster and has been implicated in the regulation of the c-Jun/AP-1 transcription factor. In mammals this protein serine kinase is encoded by two related genes termed GSK-3 alpha and beta. Here, we demonstrate that these two proteins and the fruit fly protein are phosphorylated on tyrosine in vivo. Moreover, GSK-3 beta activity and function are shown to be dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation. The modified tyrosine residue is conserved in all members of the GSK-3 family and is equivalent to that required for activity by mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. However, unlike MAP kinases, GSK-3 is highly phosphorylated on tyrosine and thus active in resting cells.
