serine/threonine kinase 11
Last updated 2 May 2023
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The STK11 gene (also called LKB1) provides instructions for making an enzyme called serine/threonine kinase 11. This enzyme is a tumour suppressor, which means that it helps keep cells from growing and dividing too fast or in an uncontrolled way. This enzyme helps certain types of cells correctly orient themselves within tissues (polarization) and assists in determining the amount of energy a cell uses. This kinase also promotes a type of programmed cell death known as apoptosis. In addition to its role as a tumour suppressor, serine/threonine kinase 11 function appears to be required for normal development before birth.
Normal function
The STK11 gene (also called LKB1) provides instructions for making an enzyme called serine/threonine kinase 11. This enzyme is a tumour suppressor, which means that it helps keep cells from growing and dividing too fast or in an uncontrolled way. This enzyme helps certain types of cells correctly orient themselves within tissues (polarization) and assists in determining the amount of energy a cell uses. This kinase also promotes a type of programmed cell death known as apoptosis. In addition to its role as a tumour suppressor, serine/threonine kinase 11 function appears to be required for normal development before birth.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
LKB1
PJS
serine/threonine kinase 11 (Peutz-Jeghers syndrome)
Serine/threonine-protein kinase 11
STK11_HUMAN
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Further reading and references
- serine/threonine kinase 11; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Amos CI, Wagner A. Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome. 2001 Feb 23 [updated 2026 Oct 6]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1266/
- Hardie DG, Alessi DR. LKB1 and AMPK and the cancer-metabolism link - ten years after. BMC Biol. 2013 Apr 15;11:36. doi: 10.1186/1741-7007-11-36.
- Hemminki A, Markie D, Tomlinson I, Avizienyte E, Roth S, Loukola A, Bignell G, Warren W, Aminoff M, Hoglund P, Jarvinen H, Kristo P, Pelin K, Ridanpaa M, Salovaara R, Toro T, Bodmer W, Olschwang S, Olsen AS, Stratton MR, de la Chapelle A, Aaltonen LA. A serine/threonine kinase gene defective in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Nature. 1998 Jan 8;391(6663):184-7. doi: 10.1038/34432.
- National Cancer Institute: Genetics of Breast and Gynecologic Cancers (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version
- Vaahtomeri K, Makela TP. Molecular mechanisms of tumor suppression by LKB1. FEBS Lett. 2011 Apr 6;585(7):944-51. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.12.034. Epub 2010 Dec 27.
- Weissman SM, Weiss SM, Newlin AC. Genetic testing by cancer site: ovary. Cancer J. 2012 Jul-Aug;18(4):320-7. doi: 10.1097/PPO.0b013e31826246c2.
- Wingo SN, Gallardo TD, Akbay EA, Liang MC, Contreras CM, Boren T, Shimamura T, Miller DS, Sharpless NE, Bardeesy N, Kwiatkowski DJ, Schorge JO, Wong KK, Castrillon DH. Somatic LKB1 mutations promote cervical cancer progression. PLoS One. 2009;4(4):e5137. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005137. Epub 2009 Apr 2.
- Zhuang ZG, Di GH, Shen ZZ, Ding J, Shao ZM. Enhanced expression of LKB1 in breast cancer cells attenuates angiogenesis, invasion, and metastatic potential. Mol Cancer Res. 2006 Nov;4(11):843-9. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-06-0118.
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