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CaMKII

Meaning

CaMKII, or Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase II, is a ubiquitous serine/threonine protein kinase critically involved in signal transduction within the cell, particularly in response to intracellular calcium fluctuations. This enzyme is a molecular switch and memory device, playing an essential role in regulating cellular plasticity, including synaptic strengthening in the nervous system and excitation-contraction coupling in muscle and cardiac tissue. In the context of hormonal health, its activity is modulated by signals that affect calcium homeostasis, linking neural activity and external stimuli to changes in gene expression and cellular function. Its sustained activation is often a marker of cellular stress.