Unknown kinase target

The term "Unknown kinase target" is a generic descriptor used in pharmacological research and chemical biology to refer to a kinase whose specific identity, gene, or protein structure has not yet been determined. This situation often arises during phenotypic drug discovery or target deconvolution, where a small molecule shows a biological effect—such as the inhibition of cell growth—that is attributed to kinase activity, but the exact member of the kinome responsible for the effect remains to be identified [1, 4]. Kinases are a vast family of enzymes that regulate various cellular processes by adding phosphate groups to proteins, playing critical roles in signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, and metabolism [12, 15]. Because many kinases are implicated in diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders, identifying these "unknown" targets is a crucial step in developing selective and effective therapeutic agents [5, 18]. Without a specific identifier, it is impossible to define the target's precise biological role, clinical relevance, or associated biomarkers.

Other names

Unidentified kinaseUncharacterized kinaseOrphan kinase

Not applicable