Polyclonal Antibody to DRAK2 (Death Receptor Associated Kinase2)

Background
Protein kinases play important roles in the signal transduction in response to a variety of external stimuli. Recently, several protein kinases have been identified that may also be involved in apoptotic process. Overexpression of a serine/threonine kinase, ZIP kinase can cause the morphological changes typical of apoptosis in NIH 3T3 cells (1). Sanjo et al, have identified two new protein kinases DRAK1 and DRAK2 (Death Receptor Associated Kinase 1 and 2) (1). Both DRAKs and ZIP kinase share significant homology at the amino acid level (1,2). The kinase domains of both DRAKs, ZIP kinase are homologous to DAP (Death-associated protein) kinase, which is involved in the apoptotic signaling induced by interferon-g. Overexpression of DRAKs in NIH 3T3 cells lead to apoptosis. These transfection experiments suggest that C-terminal domain of DRAKs are important for induction of apoptosis.

Antigen
This polyclonal antibody was raised against a peptide corresponding to amino acids 351 to 365 of human DRAK2 protein.

Genebank Info (Protein)
NP_004217

Reference
1. Matsumoto M, Takeda K, Sanjo H, and Akira S. ZIP kinase, a novel serine/threonine kinase which mediates apoptosis. Mol Cell Biol 18 (3): 1642-1651, 1998.
2. Sanjo H, Kawai T, and Akira S. DRAKs, novel serine/threonine kinases related to death associated protein kinase that trigger apoptosis. J Biol Chem 273 (44): 29066-29071, 1998.