Kinase
A
kinase is a type of
enzyme that transfers
phosphate groups from
ATP to a specified substrate or target. Typically, the target is "activated" or "energized" by being phosphorylated. All kinases require a divalent
metal ion such as
Mg2+ or
Mn2+ to transfer the phosphoryl group. Kinases are studied in
biochemistry.
There are many different types of kinases; each named for the target substrate.
Some notable kinases are:
protein kinase, Janus kinase, tyrosine kinase, focal adhesion kinase, creatine kinase, pyruvate kinase, hexokinase.