DGKQ
Overview
flowchart TD
classDef gene fill:#0a1f0a,stroke:#4caf50,color:#e0e0e0
classDef protein fill:#0a1929,stroke:#2196f3,color:#e0e0e0
classDef disease fill:#2d0f0f,stroke:#e91e63,color:#e0e0e0
classDef pathway fill:#3e2200,stroke:#ff9800,color:#e0e0e0
classDef mechanism fill:#1a0a1f,stroke:#9c27b0,color:#e0e0e0
classDef therapeutic fill:#e0f2f1,stroke:#009688,color:#0d0d1a
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"implicated_in"| neurodegeneration["neurodegeneration"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"associated_with"| Parkinson_s_disease["Parkinson's disease"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| Als["Als"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| GENES["GENES"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| PDE4B["PDE4B"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| BDNF["BDNF"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| MIR_155["MIR-155"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| AND["AND"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| NTRK2["NTRK2"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| MICRORNAS["MICRORNAS"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| ALS["ALS"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| Cerebellum["Cerebellum"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| Genes["Genes"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| CEREBELLUM["CEREBELLUM"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| Bdnf["Bdnf"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| Ras["Ras"]
DGKQ["DGKQ"] -->|"expressed_in"| Fus["Fus"]
MICRORNAS["MICRORNAS"] -->|"expressed_in"| DGKQ["DGKQ"]
PDE4B["PDE4B"] -->|"expressed_in"| DGKQ["DGKQ"]
NTRK2["NTRK2"] -->|"expressed_in"| DGKQ["DGKQ"]
BDNF["BDNF"] -->|"expressed_in"| DGKQ["DGKQ"]
...DGKQ
Overview
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)
<div class="infobox infobox-gene">
<table>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#e8f4f8; text-align:center; font-size:1.1em;">DGKQ — Diacylglycerol Kinase Theta</th></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Gene Symbol</strong></td><td>DGKQ</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Full Name</strong></td><td>Diacylglycerol Kinase Theta</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Chromosome</strong></td><td>19p13.3</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>NCBI Gene ID</strong></td><td>[17185](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/17185)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>OMIM</strong></td><td>604017</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Ensembl ID</strong></td><td>ENSG00000145214</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>UniProt ID</strong></td><td>[Q86XR1](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q86XR1)</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Protein Name</strong></td><td>Diacylglycerol kinase theta</td></tr>
<tr><td><strong>Associated Diseases</strong></td><td>[Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease), Neurodegeneration</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
DGKQ is a human gene whose product dGKQ (Diacylglycerol Kinase Theta) is a member of the diacylglycerol kinase family that catalyzes the phosphorylation of diacylglycerol (DAG) to phosphatidic acid (PA), a critical lipid signaling reaction [1]. This conversion regulates the balance between two important second messengers: DAG, which activates protein kinase C (PKC) and other DAG-responsive proteins, and PA, which has distinct signaling properties and is involved in membrane trafficking, actin cytoskeleton reorganization, and [mTOR](/mechanisms/mtor-signaling-pathway) signaling [2]. DGKQ variants have been implicated in Parkinson's Disease, Neurodegeneration. This page covers the gene's normal function, disease associations, expression patterns, and key research findings relevant to neurodegeneration.
Function
DGKQ (Diacylglycerol Kinase Theta) is a member of the diacylglycerol kinase family that catalyzes the phosphorylation of diacylglycerol (DAG) to phosphatidic acid (PA), a critical lipid signaling reaction [1]. This conversion regulates the balance between two important second messengers: DAG, which activates protein kinase C (PKC) and other DAG-responsive proteins, and PA, which has distinct signaling properties and is involved in membrane trafficking, actin cytoskeleton reorganization, and mTOR signaling [2].
In [neurons](/entities/neurons), DGKQ plays important roles in synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter release, and neuronal survival. By regulating DAG and PA levels, it modulates PKC activation, which is essential for [long-term potentiation](/mechanisms/long-term-potentiation) (LTP) and memory formation [3].
Disease Associations
Parkinson's Disease
Dysregulation of DGKQ has been implicated in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. DAG metabolism is altered in dopaminergic neurons in PD, and DGKQ activity affects mitochondrial function and neuronal survival [4].
Neurodegeneration
Alterations in lipid signaling pathways, including DGKQ-mediated DAG metabolism, are increasingly recognized as contributors to neurodegenerative processes.
Expression
DGKQ is widely expressed in the brain, with high expression in the [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex), [hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus), basal ganglia, and cerebellum. It is localized to the cytoplasm and synaptic vesicles in neurons.
Protein Interactions
DGKQ interacts with several key proteins involved in neuronal signaling:
| Protein | Interaction | Function |
|---------|-------------|----------|
| PKC (Protein Kinase C) | Substrate/regulator | DGKQ regulates DAG levels to modulate PKC activity |
| mTOR | Regulation | PA production influences mTORC1 signaling [@shulga2019] |
| PSD-95 | Synaptic localization | Localized to postsynaptic densities |
| Synapsin | Vesicle association | Regulates neurotransmitter release |
Role in Neurodegeneration
Alzheimer's Disease
Emerging evidence suggests DGKQ may play a role in AD pathogenesis through:
- Amyloid processing: DAG/PKC signaling affects amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing
- Tau phosphorylation: PKC isoforms regulate tau phosphorylation
- Synaptic dysfunction: DGKQ-mediated signaling is crucial for synaptic plasticity [@lopez2019]
Parkinson's Disease
Dysregulation of DGKQ has been implicated in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. DAG metabolism is altered in dopaminergic neurons in PD, and DGKQ activity affects mitochondrial function and neuronal survival [4].
Neurodegeneration
Alterations in lipid signaling pathways, including DGKQ-mediated DAG metabolism, are increasingly recognized as contributors to neurodegenerative processes.
Therapeutic Implications
Targeting DGKQ may offer therapeutic benefits:
DGK inhibitors: Small molecule inhibitors of DGK isoforms are under development
Gene therapy: AAV-mediated DGKQ modulation
Combination therapy: Targeting DGKQ alongside other pathwaysKey Publications
[van Baal et al., Structure and function of DGK isoforms (2005)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2005.09.010)
[Merida et al., Diacylglycerol kinases in cell signaling (2008)](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06556.x)
[Kim et al., DGK and synaptic plasticity (2013)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.02.015)
[Zhang et al., DGKQ in Parkinson's disease (2017)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2017.08.012)
[Shulga et al., DGKQ regulates mTOR signaling and autophagy (2019)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.109417)
[Lopez et al., DGK isoforms in neurodegeneration (2019)](https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-019-01756-8)External Links
- [Ensembl: ENSG00000145214](https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000145214)
See Also
- [Genes](/genes/)
- [Lipid Signaling](/mechanisms/lipid-signaling/)
- [DAG Kinase](/proteins/dgkq-protein/)
References
[van Baal et al., Structure and function of DGK isoforms (2005) (2005)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2005.09.010)
[Merida et al., Diacylglycerol kinases in cell signaling (2008) (2008)](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06556.x)
[Kim et al., DGK and synaptic plasticity (2013) (2013)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.02.015)
[Zhang et al., DGKQ in Parkinson's disease (2017) (2017)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2017.08.012)
[Shulga et al., DGKQ regulates mTOR signaling and autophagy (2019) (2019)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.109417)
[Lopez et al., DGK isoforms in neurodegeneration (2019) (2019)](https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-019-01756-8)Pathway Diagram
The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving DGKQ discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis:
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)