Kinase-Mediated Signaling in Mood Disorders
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2023) | Viewed by 2823
Special Issue Editors
Interests: behavioral epigenetics
Interests: neurobiology of psychopathology; human social behavior
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Disruptions of brain cell metabolism, microstructure, and neurotransmission underly the onset of psychiatric disorders. These processes underly various kinase-mediated signaling events. Altered serine–threonine kinase activity plays an important role in several mood disorders, and psychotropic drugs such as lithium and valproic acid decrease protein kinase (PK) signaling. In particular, the selective inhibition of PKC seems to be implicated in the resolution of manic symptoms.
Kinases are a family of proteins catalyzing the phosphorylation reaction on tyrosine and serine/threonine protein residues and functioning as mediators of multiple molecular pathways involved in the regulation of several biological processes disrupted in mood disorders, including cellular homeostasis, molecular trafficking, inter-cellular signaling, synaptogenesis, synaptic functioning, neurogenesis, and neuronal migration, all of which are essential for optimal brain development and neurotransmission.
The factors implicated in the activation of PKC as well as the downstream targets of PKC remain to be clearly identified; additional research is warranted and may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
Basic research studies in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo, in animals or humans, as well as reviews discussing the role of PKC in biological processes, pharmacological treatment, behavior, and psychiatry are welcome.
Bullet point topics:
- PKC-mediated phosphorylation of GSK-3β;
- Serine and Tyrosine phosphorylation of GSK-3β;
- AKT and mTOR expression and phosphorylation;
- Activation of PI3K and AKTs;
- Role of PKC in mood disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and mania);
- Pharmacological treatments targeting PKC/
Dr. Silvia Pellegrini
Dr. Sara Palumbo
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- kinases
- PKC
- mood disorders
- GSK-3β
- schizophrenia
- bipolar disorder and mania
- AKT
- mTOR
