Calcium/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase 1 (CAMKK1)

CAMKK1 catalyzes the phosphorylation and activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin kinase (CaMK) as an upstream component of the CaMK cascade that has been implicated in neuronal gene transcription, synaptic plasticity, and long-term memory consolidation .

Camkk1 shares 30 to 40% amino acid identity over the catalytic domains of serine/threonine kinases such as the CaM-kinase family . Camkk1 contains a 22-amino acid proline-, arginine-, and glycine-rich insert between the ATP-binding motif and DGF kinase motif that is similar to the insert in yeast Ste11. Northern blot analysis of rat tissues detected high expression in forebrain, lower expression in cerebellum, and detectable signal in thymus and spleen.