Significance of novel protein kinase in muscle function and disease

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Transcription factors regulate the expression levels of various downstream genes as "molecular switches" in our body. In order to clarify the importance of transcription factors, it is crucial to identify and characterize those downstream genes. In this context, we searched for the genes regulated by muscle-specific transcription factors and identified SRPK3 to be a muscle-specific gene encoding a novel protein kinase. Both deficiency and excess of SRPK3 activity in mice caused muscle abnormalities, indicating importance of proper regulation of SRPK3 function. In vivo significance and mechanisms of action of SRPK3 were further studied using various molecular biology techniques and mouse models.