Pharmacologic modulation of protein kinase C isozymes: The role of races and subcellular localisation

Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes are highly homologous kinases and several d ifferent isozymes can be present in a cell. Each isozyme is likely to media te unique functions, but pharmacological tools to explore their isozyme-spe cific roles have not been available until recently. In this review, we desc ribe the development and application of isozyme-selective inhibitors of PKC . The identification of these inhibitors stems from the observation that PK C isozymes are each localised to unique subcellular locations following act ivation. Inhibitors of this isozyme-unique localisation have been shown to act as selective inhibitors of the functions of individual isozymes. The id entification of isozyme-specific inhibitors should allow the exploration of individual PKC isozyme function in a wide range of cell systems. (C) 1999 Academic Press.