Kinase Makes the News

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine used mice to study how a specific potassium gene regulates pain messages, according to an article from the Associated Press. Mice lacking a gene called Kv4.2 were more sensitive to pain than mice with the gene, which leads researchers to believe that pain medication could target Kv4.2 in humans and lead to the creation of new pain-reducing drugs.

Here's where kinase fits into the picture (remember talking about that in lecture?): It turns out that the Kv4.2 gene interacts with a molecule called ERK, short for extracellular signal-related kinase. Research has shown that pain can be lessened if ERK activity is hindered. Both ERK and Kv4.2 are responsible for the excruciating pain felt from things like oven burns. The experiment with the mice, which used heat as an indicator of pain, showed that normal mice with the Kv4.2 gene could handle heat on their paws longer than mice without it.

By understanding that Kv4.2 and ERK molecules heavily regulate one's perception of pain, future drugs interacting with these molecules could be more effective. Scientists acknowledge, however, that these drugs are many years of research and development away from reaching consumers, but that this discovery is a first step. These drugs might be useful for surgery patients and those with arthritis.

If you're really intrigued by kinases from this article and our lectures, check out http://www.kinase.com/ (no joke) for lots of information on kinases, including databases with over 1800 protein kinase genes.