The emerging interrelation between ROCO and related kinases, intracellular Ca2+ signaling, and autophagy.

ABSTRACT

ROCO kinases form a family of proteins characterized by kinase activity in addition to the presence of the so-called ROC (Ras of complex proteins)/COR (C-terminal of ROC) domains having a role in their GTPase activity. These are the death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) 1 and the leucine-rich repeat kinases (LRRK) 1 and 2. These kinases all play roles in cellular life and death decisions and in autophagy in particular. Related to the ROCO kinases is DAPK 2 that however cannot be classified as a ROCO protein due to the absence of the ROC/COR domains. This review aims to bring together what is known about the relation between these proteins and intracellular Ca2+ signals in the induction and regulation of autophagy. Interestingly, DAPK 1 and 2 and LRRK2 are all linked to Ca2+ signaling in their effects on autophagy, though in various ways. Present evidence supports an upstream role for LRRK2 that via lysosomal and endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release can trigger autophagy induction. In contrast herewith, DAPK1 and 2 react on existing Ca2+ signals to stimulate the autophagic pathway. Further research will be needed for obtaining a full understanding of the role of these various kinases in autophagy and to assess their exact relation with intracellular Ca2+ signaling as this would be helpful in the development of novel therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative disorders, cancer and auto-immune diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ECS Meeting edited by Claus Heizmann, Joachim Krebs and Jacques Haiech.