CKM (gene)

Creatine kinase, muscle also known as CKM is a is_associated_with::creatine kinase that in humans is encoded by the CKM is_associated_with::gene.

Structure
In the figure to the right, the crystal structure of the muscle-type M-CK monomer is shown. In vivo, two such monomers arrange symmetrically to form the active MM-CK enzyme.

Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a cytoplasmic enzyme involved in cellular energy is_associated_with::homeostasis. The encoded protein reversibly catalyzes the transfer of "energy-rich" is_associated_with::phosphate between ATP and creatine and between phospho-creatine and ADP. Its functional entity is a MM-CK homodimer in striated (sarcomeric) skeletal and cardiac muscle.

Clinical significance
In heart, in addition to the MM-CK homodimer, also the heterodimer MB-CK consisting of one muscle (M-CK) and one brain-type (B-CK) subunit is expressed. The latter may be an important serum marker for is_associated_with::myocardial infarction, if released from damaged myocardial cells into the blood where it can be detected by clinical chemistry.