A eukaryotic-type serine/threonine protein kinase StkP of Streptococcus pneumoniae acts as a dimer in vivo.

Streptococcus pneumoniae carries a single Ser/Thr protein kinase gene stkP in its genome. Biochemical studies performed with recombinant StkP have revealed that this protein is a functional membrane-linked eukaryotic-type Ser/Thr protein kinase. Here, we demonstrate that the deletion of its extracellular domain negatively affects the stability of a core kinase domain.

Characterization of a eukaryotic type serine/threonine protein kinase and protein phosphatase of Streptococcus pneumoniae and identification of kinase substrates.

Searching the genome sequence of Streptococcus pneumoniae revealed the presence of a single Ser/Thr protein kinase gene stkP linked to protein phosphatase phpP. Biochemical studies performed with recombinant StkP suggest that this protein is a functional eukaryotic-type Ser/Thr protein kinase. In vitro kinase assays and Western blots of S.