CAMK1D

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I delta, encoded by CAMK1D, shares the two-step activation mechanism of CaMKI-family kinases, requiring calcium-bound calmodulin and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase phosphorylation of its activation-loop threonine. CAMK1D attracted genetic attention because common noncoding variants near the gene are among the few genome-wide significant loci for type 2 diabetes, discovered in Mexican-American families and replicated across diverse populations. Expression occurs in brain, adipose tissue, and pancreatic islets, where studies suggest effects on insulin secretion and adipocyte differentiation. Beyond metabolism, CAMK1D participates in neuronal calcium signaling pathways shared with related isoforms, and the diabetes association illustrates how calcium signaling genes shape complex metabolic traits.