Mitochondrial Deoxyguanosine Kinase (dGK)

Mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK) is an enzyme encoded by the DGUOK gene. It is a nucleoside kinase located in the mitochondrial matrix and plays a critical role in the salvage pathway of purine deoxynucleotide biogenesis within mitochondria. dGK catalyzes the phosphorylation of purine deoxyribonucleosides, specifically deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine, to their corresponding monophosphate forms, which is essential for mtDNA replication and repair. Mutations in DGUOK cause mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes. dGK also phosphorylates several purine deoxyribonucleoside analogs used as therapeutic agents in lymphoproliferative disorders. Overexpression of DGUOK is observed in lung adenocarcinoma and correlated with poor patient survival. Radiolabeled substrates are being explored for imaging T-cell activation using PET tracers targeting dCK/dGK.

Other names

DGUOKDeoxyguanosine kinase

Phosphorylation of nucleoside analogs for activation