Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Author Spotlight: Developing Parmodulins to Target Protease-Activated Receptors for Inflammation Control
07:13

Author Spotlight: Developing Parmodulins to Target Protease-Activated Receptors for Inflammation Control

Published on: May 24, 2024

879

Emerging roles of A-kinase anchoring proteins in cardiovascular pathophysiology

Dario Diviani1, Erica Reggi1, Miroslav Arambasic1

  • 1Département de Pharmacologie et de Toxicologie, Faculté de Biologie et de Médecine, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|December 9, 2015
PubMed

Insights

A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are crucial scaffolding proteins that regulate cardiovascular functions. This review highlights their role in blood pressure control, vascular integrity, and heart failure pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and heart failure arise from disruptions in circulatory homeostasis.
  • A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are key regulators of cardiovascular cell function.
  • AKAPs organize signaling complexes, including cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), for localized cellular control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding AKAPs' role in cardiovascular pathophysiology.
  • To focus on molecular mechanisms governing vascular integrity, blood pressure, and cardiac remodeling in heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on AKAPs in cardiovascular disease.
  • Analysis of molecular events controlling vascular and cardiac cell function.
  • Synthesis of findings related to AKAP involvement in hypertension and heart failure.

Main Results:

  • AKAPs are critical for maintaining vascular integrity and regulating blood pressure.
  • Dysfunctional AKAPs contribute to cardiac remodeling and the progression of heart failure.
  • Targeting AKAP-mediated signaling offers potential therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusions:

  • AKAPs are essential for normal cardiovascular function and are implicated in various cardiovascular pathologies.
  • Understanding AKAP molecular mechanisms provides insights into disease pathogenesis.
  • AKAP-based therapeutics represent a promising avenue for cardiovascular disease treatment.

Keywords:
A kinase anchoring protein (AKAP)Cardiac remodelingCardiomyocyteProtein kinase A (PKA)SignalingVascular smooth muscle cells

More Related Videos

A Microphysiological System to Study Leukocyte-Endothelial Cell Interaction during Inflammation12:55

A Microphysiological System to Study Leukocyte-Endothelial Cell Interaction during Inflammation

Published on: December 9, 2021

3.7K
Study of the Actin Cytoskeleton in Live Endothelial Cells Expressing GFP-Actin08:37

Study of the Actin Cytoskeleton in Live Endothelial Cells Expressing GFP-Actin

Published on: November 18, 2011

27.6K

Related Concept Videos

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
3.4K
Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
7.0K
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
3.3K
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze...
16.8K
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
3.8K
Anchoring Junctions01:03

Anchoring Junctions

Anchoring junctions are multiprotein complexes that help cells connect to other cells and the extracellular matrix. Anchoring junctions are present on the lateral and basal surfaces of cells, providing strong and flexible connections. Focal adhesions are often formed due to cell interactions with the ECM substrata, which initiate signal transduction via kinase cascades and other mechanisms. Together, they provide stability and tissue integrity. There are three types of anchoring junctions:...
4.7K