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Protein / target

Protein kinase C delta type

Encoded byPRKCDQ05655Homo sapiensSwiss-Prot
Clinically validated
Therapeutic maturity
1
Approved medicines
Open Targets target-level
View by indication →
30
Clinical trials
Small-molecule tractable
Druggability
Approved Drug

Protein at a glance

Biological role

Diacylglycerol-dependent serine/threonine kinase

Strongest disease association

Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic

Via encoding gene PRKCD · Genetic literature evidence · score 0.61

Therapeutic position

Established drug target

Small molecules

Derived from structured UniProt, Open Targets and literature data on this page.

Protein profile

UniProt 2026_02

Canonical identity and biological annotation from UniProt.

Function overview

Calcium-independent, phospholipid- and diacylglycerol (DAG)-dependent serine/threonine-protein kinase that plays contrasting roles in cell death and cell survival by functioning as a pro-apoptotic protein during DNA damage-induced apoptosis, but acting as an anti-apoptotic protein during cytokine re…

View complete UniProt function annotation

Calcium-independent, phospholipid- and diacylglycerol (DAG)-dependent serine/threonine-protein kinase that plays contrasting roles in cell death and cell survival by functioning as a pro-apoptotic protein during DNA damage-induced apoptosis, but acting as an anti-apoptotic protein during cytokine receptor-initiated cell death, is involved in tumor suppression as well as survival of several cancers, is required for oxygen radical production by NADPH oxidase and acts as positive or negative regulator in platelet functional responses (PubMed:21406692, PubMed:21810427). Negatively regulates B cell proliferation and also has an important function in self-antigen induced B cell tolerance induction (By similarity). Upon DNA damage, activates the promoter of the death-promoting transcription factor BCLAF1/Btf to trigger BCLAF1-mediated p53/TP53 gene transcription and apoptosis (PubMed:21406692, PubMed:21810427). In response to oxidative stress, interact with and activate CHUK/IKKA in the nucleus, causing the phosphorylation of p53/TP53 (PubMed:21406692, PubMed:21810427). In the case of ER stress or DNA damage-induced apoptosis, can form a complex with the tyrosine-protein kinase ABL1 which trigger apoptosis independently of p53/TP53 (PubMed:21406692, PubMed:21810427). In cytosol can trigger apoptosis by activating MAPK11 or MAPK14, inhibiting AKT1 and decreasing the level of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), whereas in nucleus induces apoptosis via the activation of MAPK8 or MAPK9. Upon ionizing radiation treatment, is required for the activation of the apoptosis regulators BAX and BAK, which trigger the mitochondrial cell death pathway. Can phosphorylate MCL1 and target it for degradation which is sufficient to trigger for BAX activation and apoptosis. Is required for the control of cell cycle progression both at G1/S and G2/M phases. Mediates phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced inhibition of cell cycle progression at G1/S phase by up-regulating the CDK inhibitor CDKN1A/p21 and inhibiting the cyclin CCNA2 promoter activity. In response to UV irradiation can phosphorylate CDK1, which is important for the G2/M DNA damage checkpoint activation (By similarity). Can protect glioma cells from the apoptosis induced by TNFSF10/TRAIL, probably by inducing increased phosphorylation and subsequent activation of AKT1 (PubMed:15774464). Is highly expressed in a number of cancer cells and promotes cell survival and resistance against chemotherapeutic drugs by inducing cyclin D1 (CCND1) and hyperphosphorylation of RB1, and via several pro-survival pathways, including NF-kappa-B, AKT1 and MAPK1/3 (ERK1/2). Involved in antifungal immunity by mediating phosphorylation and activation of CARD9 downstream of C-type lectin receptors activation, promoting interaction between CARD9 and BCL10, followed by activation of NF-kappa-B and MAP kinase p38 pathways (By similarity). Can also act as tumor suppressor upon mitogenic stimulation with PMA or TPA. In N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-treated cells, is required for NCF1 (p47-phox) phosphorylation and activation of NADPH oxidase activity, and regulates TNF-elicited superoxide anion production in neutrophils, by direct phosphorylation and activation of NCF1 or indirectly through MAPK1/3 (ERK1/2) signaling pathways (PubMed:19801500). May also play a role in the regulation of NADPH oxidase activity in eosinophil after stimulation with IL5, leukotriene B4 or PMA (PubMed:11748588). In collagen-induced platelet aggregation, acts a negative regulator of filopodia formation and actin polymerization by interacting with and negatively regulating VASP phosphorylation (PubMed:16940418). Downstream of PAR1, PAR4 and CD36/GP4 receptors, regulates differentially platelet dense granule secretion; acts as a positive regulator in PAR-mediated granule secretion, whereas it negatively regulates CD36/GP4-mediated granule release (PubMed:19587372). Phosphorylates MUC1 in the C-terminal and regulates the interaction between MUC1 and beta-catenin (PubMed:11877440). The catalytic subunit phosphorylates 14-3-3 proteins (YWHAB, YWHAZ and YWHAH) in a sphingosine-dependent fashion (By similarity). Phosphorylates ELAVL1 in response to angiotensin-2 treatment (PubMed:18285462). Phosphorylates mitochondrial phospholipid scramblase 3 (PLSCR3), resulting in increased cardiolipin expression on the mitochondrial outer membrane which facilitates apoptosis (PubMed:12649167). Phosphorylates SMPD1 which induces SMPD1 secretion (PubMed:17303575). Acts as a negative regulator of smoothened signaling by mediating phosphorylation of GLI1, preventing its localization to the nucleus (PubMed:19015273)

Subcellular location

CytoplasmCytoplasm, perinuclear regionNucleusCell membraneMitochondrionEndomembrane system
Domains and Gene Ontology detail (71)

Domains & features

C2Protein kinaseAGC-kinase C-terminal

Gene Ontology

  • Cazurophil granule lumen
  • Ccell-cell junction
  • Ccytoplasm
  • Ccytosol
  • Cendolysosome
  • Cendoplasmic reticulum
  • Cextracellular exosome
  • Cextracellular region
  • CGolgi apparatus
  • Cmitochondrion
  • Cnuclear matrix
  • Cnucleoplasm

676 aa · 78 kDa · 2 isoforms

Biological roles

What this protein does, drawn together from its UniProt function, Gene Ontology terms and Reactome pathways.

Lipid & lipoprotein metabolismUniProt · GOCell proliferation & survivalUniProtCell migrationGOKinase signallingUniProt · GOImmune signallingUniProt · GOHaemostasisUniProt · GO
View supporting evidence

Lipid & lipoprotein metabolism

  • ·Calcium-independent, phospholipid- and diacylglycerol (DAG)-dependent serine/threonine-p…
  • ·cellular response to fatty acid
  • ·positive regulation of phospholipid scramblase activity

Cell proliferation & survival

  • ·Calcium-independent, phospholipid- and diacylglycerol (DAG)-dependent serine/threonine-p…

Cell migration

  • ·cell chemotaxis

Kinase signalling

  • ·Calcium-independent, phospholipid- and diacylglycerol (DAG)-dependent serine/threonine-p…
  • ·calcium,diacylglycerol-dependent serine/threonine kinase activity
  • ·diacylglycerol-dependent serine/threonine kinase activity
  • ·diacylglycerol-dependent, calcium-independent serine/threonine kinase activity

Immune signalling

  • ·Calcium-independent, phospholipid- and diacylglycerol (DAG)-dependent serine/threonine-p…
  • ·negative regulation of inflammatory response

Haemostasis

  • ·Calcium-independent, phospholipid- and diacylglycerol (DAG)-dependent serine/threonine-p…
  • ·negative regulation of platelet aggregation

Concepts derived from UniProt GO Reactome — each badge above shows which sources supported that role.

Approved medicines with mapped indications

1 medicine · 4 areas

Approved therapies targeting this protein, grouped by what they are approved to treat — the disease-first view of the medicines below. Relationships come from the canonical approved-indication graph (ChEMBL phase-4), the same source as the drug cards.

Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute1 medicine
Mastocytosis1 medicine
Mastocytosis, Systemic1 medicine
Broader indication categories (1)
Neoplasms1 medicine

Broad umbrella indications (e.g. “Neoplasms”). Shown here because every medicine also appears under a more specific disease above — kept for completeness, de-emphasised for clarity.

Approved indications from ChEMBL (phase-4), via the canonical drug→disease graph.

Drugs targeting this protein

1

How approved and investigational drugs engage this protein — mechanism and action type, direct vs complex targeting, and how broadly each acts across other targets. A drug-first view (the section above groups the approved ones disease-first); direct binders with few recorded targets are listed first.

midostaurin
ApprovedInhibitor

Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor

Indicated for Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute, Mastocytosis, Mastocytosis, Systemic, Neoplasms

Acts on a complex — shared with PRKD3, PRKCI, PRKCA +7 more · 1 of 16 recorded protein targets — broad pharmacology

ChEMBL mechanism, action type, target identity and approved indications. Open Targets clinical status.

Translational evidence

Open Targets 26

Why this target matters therapeutically, strongest evidence first. Disease associations are gene-level (via the gene that encodes this protein) and open into the full confidence synthesis; the development universe, tractability and safety annotations are target-level, from Open Targets.

Strongest disease associations · via encoding gene PRKCD

Gene-level evidence surfaced through the gene PRKCD that encodes this protein — not a direct protein–disease relationship. Ranked by Forefront's causal-directness weighting, so genetically- and clinically-evidenced diseases lead over ones that merely share the literature.

Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute
0.69Moderately supported

Clinical evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.56

Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
0.57Moderately supported

Genetic literature evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.39

Mastocytosis
0.57Moderately supported

Clinical evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.46

Neoplasms
0.54Moderately supported

Clinical evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.41

Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's
0.40Limited support

Somatic mutation evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.37

View evidence synthesis (5)
Leukemia, Myeloid, AcuteModerately supported
0.69
agreement 0.560.83
Clinical90%Literature9%RNA expression1%

Open Targets aggregate 0.56 · 3 independent evidence families

Lupus Erythematosus, SystemicModerately supported
0.57
agreement 0.450.70
Genetic literature73%Animal model17%Literature10%

Open Targets aggregate 0.39 · 3 independent evidence families

MastocytosisModerately supported
0.57
agreement 0.420.73
Clinical99%Literature1%

Open Targets aggregate 0.46 · 2 independent evidence families

NeoplasmsModerately supported
0.54
agreement 0.390.70
Clinical77%Literature23%

Open Targets aggregate 0.41 · 2 independent evidence families

Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin'sLimited support
0.40
agreement 0.240.56
Somatic mutation97%Literature3%

Open Targets aggregate 0.37 · 2 independent evidence families

The evidence agreement range shows how closely the independent evidence families agree — it is not a statistical confidence interval, and nothing here is fitted to outcome data. Derived from Open Targets evidence types under Forefront weighting; the per-type scores above show the calculation.

Show all associations
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute0.56
Mastocytosis0.46
Neoplasms0.41
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic0.39
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's0.37

Drug development

6 compounds recorded · 1 approved · 5 in clinical development

Open Targets' development universe — every compound recorded against the target at any stage, not all approved medicines. Distinct from the 1 drug that targets this protein in Forefront's canonical graph (1 with a mapped approved indication, shown above): these count different sets and are not a subset relation.

View all recorded compounds (6)
GSK-690693Phase 1
CEP-2563Phase 1
SOTRASTAURINPhase 2
MIDOSTAURINApproval
UCN-01Phase 2
DELCASERTIBPhase 2

Open Targets known-drugs universe. Drug name and highest clinical stage only — the disease relationship is NOT read from this slice (it carries trial-context noise); approved indications come from the canonical graph above.

Tractability

Small moleculesStrong

Approved Drug and High-Quality Ligand support this modality.

AntibodiesEmerging

Feasibility evidence (uniprot loc high conf and go cc high conf) — no clinical-stage drug of this modality recorded.

Protein degradersEmerging

Feasibility evidence (database ubiquitination and half-life data) — no clinical-stage drug of this modality recorded.

Other modalitiesStrong

Advanced Clinical support this modality.

View underlying tractability evidence (9)
SM · Approved DrugSM · High-Quality LigandSM · Druggable FamilyAB · UniProt loc high confAB · GO CC high confPR · Database UbiquitinationPR · Half-life DataPR · Small Molecule BinderOC · Advanced Clinical

Raw Open Targets tractability assessment buckets, by modality.

Safety-related annotations

cardiac arrhythmiaLamore et al. (2017)

Terms indexed against this target in Open Targets' safety data, with their datasource. These are annotations, not causal claims: the direction of effect (whether activation or inhibition is implicated), species and evidence strength are not captured here, so an entry does not mean that modulating this target is known to cause that condition.

Clinical trials

30

Trials of drugs that target this protein — reached indirectly through those drugs, so a trial listed here studies the drug, not the protein. Ranked by active status, then clinical phase and recency, and spread across the targeting drugs.

View all trials (26)

ClinicalTrials.gov via the drug-target graph.

What's happening now

3

Recent therapeutic activity around this target — regulatory actions, clinical trials and safety signals for a drug that targets this protein, plus publications where such a drug is a genuine subject. Every item is reached indirectly through the drug, not the protein itself; incidental mentions (a paper that merely measures a drug) and press items are excluded.

  1. Regulatory approval2017-09-18

    Approval: Rydapt (EMA)

    ema · regulatory · ema · via midostaurin

  2. New publication2017-07-24
    Efficacy and safety of midostaurin in patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis: 10-year median follow-up of a phase II trial.

    Leukemia · 2018 · 109 citations · Europe PMC · via midostaurin

  3. New publication2016-06-01
    Efficacy and Safety of Midostaurin in Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis.

    The New England journal of medicine · 2016 · 371 citations · Europe PMC · via midostaurin

Objective event titles are shown unmodified; the event kind and significance line are derived from structured fields. Forefront AttentionEvent stream aggregating Europe PMC Regulatory filings ClinicalTrials.gov.