Lck Proteins and Enzymes

Lck (p56lck) is a member of the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases. It was identified as a gene rearranged and over-expressed in the murine lymphoma LSTRA, most likely as a result of the insertion of Moloney murine leukemia virus DNA immediately adjacent to the gene. Lck behaves as a proto-oncogene and can lead to cell transformation upon activation. A number of human cancer cell lines show over-expression of Lck, pointing to a possible role for this kinase in the initiation and maintenance of the transformed state in human cancers.