Protein kinase D interacts with Golgi via its cysteine-rich domain

Protein kinase D (PKD)/protein kinase Cmu is a serine/threonine protein kinase that has been localized in the cytosol and in several intracellular compartments including Golgi, mitochondria and plasma membrane. Using real time imaging of fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged PKD, we have found that the accumulation of PKD in the Golgi compartment, following a temperature shift from 37 to 20 degrees C, was mediated by the cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of PKD. The CRD of PKD also mediates its interaction with the plasma membrane, further supporting the conclusion that the CRD of PKD may act as a subcellular localization signal.