Protein kinase D (PKD) is an evolutionarily-conserved family of protein kinases. It has structural, regulatory, and enzymatic properties quite different from the PKC family. Many stimuli induce PKD signaling, including G-protein-coupled receptor agonists and growth factors. PKD1 is the most studied member of the family. It functions during cell proliferation, differentiation, secretion, cardiac hypertrophy, immune regulation, angiogenesis, and cancer.

Previously, Yun Wang's lab found that PKD1 is also critically involved in pain modulation. Since then, a series of studies performed in her lab and by other groups have shown that PKDs also participate in other processes in the nervous system including neuronal polarity establishment, neuroprotection, and learning. Here, they discuss the connections between PKD structure, enzyme function, and localization, and summarize the recent fi ndings on the roles of PKD-mediated signaling in the nervous system.

Gang Li ,Yun Wang(2014) Protein kinase D: a new player among the signaling proteins regulate functions in the nervous system.  Neurosci Bull Januray . DOI: 10.1007/s12264-013-1403-2