What are the different types of kinase?

Kinases are classified into three main types based on the substrate they act upon. The three main types of kinase include protein kinases, lipid kinases, carbohydrate kinases.

Protein kinases - Protein kinases phosphorylate proteins, modifying their function in several different ways. They may boost or impede a protein’s inherent activity, initiate or disrupt its interaction with other proteins, or localize it within a specific cellular compartment. Protein kinases also play a role in stabilizing proteins or marking them for destruction. 

Lipid kinases – Lipid kinases are involved in phosphorylating lipids that are present on the plasma membrane as well as those present on the membranes of organelles. Adding phosphate groups to lipids can alter the lipid molecules reactivity and localization, which can be used in signal transmission. Lipid kinases phosphorylate lipids on the plasma membrane 

Carbohydrate kinases – Carbohydrate kinases play a vital role in almost all metabolic pathways. They are involved in harvesting energy from oligosaccharides by breaking them down into monosaccharides so they can enter metabolism.