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Protein kinase C (PKC) family C

Contents

Overview

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Protein kinase C is the target for the tumour-promoting phorbol esters, such as tetradecanoyl-β-phorbol acetate (TPA, also known as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate). Subfamilies of protein kinase C are identified on the basis of sequence similarities, although functional division into the groups of classical protein kinase C isoforms (PKCα, PKCβ, and PKCγ) activated by Ca2+ and diacylglycerol, novel protein kinase C isoforms (PKCδ, PKCε, PKCη, and PKCθ) activated by diacylglycerol and atypical protein kinase C isoforms (PKCι and PKCζ) are useful.

Subfamilies

The Kinome image shown here was obtained from Chartier et al. (2013, <a href='https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3740139/figure/fig-4/' target='_blank'>Figure 4</a>) <a href='https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23940838' target='_blank'>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23940838</a> and has been annotated to show the kinases that are targeted by currently approved kinase inhibitor drugs (last updated in April 2018).

Further reading

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How to cite this family page

Database page citation:

Protein kinase C (PKC) family. Accessed on 08/04/2026. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY, http://www.guidetopharmacology.org/GRAC/FamilyDisplayForward?familyId=286.

Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY citation:

Alexander SPH, Fabbro D, Gibb AJ, Kelly E, Mathie AA, Peach CJ, Veale EL, Armstrong JF, Faccenda E, Harding SD, Southan C, Davies JA et al. (2025) The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2025/26: Enzymes. Br J Pharmacol. 182: S307-S403.