Platelet signaling: Protein phosphorylation

Abstract

Protein phosphorylation is the main mechanism by which platelet functional responses are regulated. There are myriad protein kinases in the platelet, which are classified by the residue in which they phosphorylate. Protein tyrosine kinases phosphorylate tyrosine residues, while protein serine/threonine kinases phosphorylate serine or threonine residues. Several important signaling cascades are initiated upon platelet activation. Here we will explore the relevance of phosphorylation of specific proteins important to several essential signaling cascades in platelets.