AUTHOR=Ballard Darby J. , Peng Hao-Yun , Das Jugal Kishore , Kumar Anil , Wang Liqing , Ren Yijie , Xiong Xiaofang , Ren Xingcong , Yang Jin-Ming , Song Jianxun 

TITLE=Insights Into the Pathologic Roles and Regulation of Eukaryotic Elongation Factor-2 Kinase

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2021.727863

DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2021.727863

ISSN=2296-889X

ABSTRACT=<p>Eukaryotic Elongation Factor-2 Kinase (eEF2K) acts as a negative regulator of protein synthesis, translation, and cell growth. As a structurally unique member of the alpha-kinase family, eEF2K is essential to cell survival under stressful conditions, as it contributes to both cell viability and proliferation. Known as the modulator of the global rate of protein translation, eEF2K inhibits eEF2 (eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2) and decreases translation elongation when active. eEF2K is regulated by various mechanisms, including phosphorylation through residues and autophosphorylation. Specifically, this protein kinase is downregulated through the phosphorylation of multiple sites <italic>via</italic> mTOR signaling and upregulated <italic>via</italic> the AMPK pathway. eEF2K plays important roles in numerous biological systems, including neurology, cardiology, myology, and immunology. This review provides further insights into the current roles of eEF2K and its potential to be explored as a therapeutic target for drug development.</p>