Phosphorylase B Kinase Courses

Phosphorylase b kinase, also known as PhK, is an enzyme found in eukaryotic cells involved in the breakdown of glycogen. The enzyme is a component of the glycogenolytic pathway, which is important in the release of glucose when energy is needed in the body. PhK has two subunits, a catalytic subunit and a regulatory subunit, and it works by transferring the phosphate group from ATP to glycogen phosphorylase b, the enzyme responsible for breaking down glycogen. The phosphorylation of glycogen phosphorylase b results in an activation of the enzyme, so it can hydrolyze the glycogen molecule, releasing glucose from the glycogen chains. Phosphorylase b kinase has a broad spectrum of substrates, which includes not only ATP but also other molecules as well. PhK has been found to be important in many cellular processes such as muscle contraction, glucose metabolism, cell division and apoptosis. Phosphorylase b kinase is also associated with a number of diseases, including diabetes and certain types of cancer. Research into the role of PhK in these and other diseases is ongoing.