Role of p21-activated kinases in cardiovascular development and function
- Authors
- Kelly, M.L., Astsaturov, A., and Chernoff, J.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-130605-19
- Date
- 2013
- Source
- Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS 70(22): 4223-8 (Review)
- Registered Authors
- Chernoff, Jonathan
- Keywords
- protein kinases, small GTPases, signal transduction, cardiovascular, model organisms
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Cardiovascular Diseases/drug therapy
- Cardiovascular Diseases/enzymology
- Cardiovascular Diseases/metabolism
- Humans
- Protein Isoforms/antagonists & inhibitors
- Protein Isoforms/genetics
- Protein Isoforms/metabolism
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Signal Transduction
- p21-Activated Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- p21-Activated Kinases/genetics
- p21-Activated Kinases/metabolism*
- PubMed
- 23640572 Full text @ Cell. Mol. Life Sci.
p21-activated kinases (Paks) are a group of six serine/threonine kinases (Pak1-6) that are involved in a variety of biological processes. Recently, Paks, more specifically Pak1, -2, and -4, have been shown to play important roles in cardiovascular development and function in a range of model organisms including zebrafish and mice. These functions include proper morphogenesis and conductance of the heart, cardiac contractility, and development and integrity of the vasculature. The mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully known, but they likely differ among the various Pak isoforms and include both kinase-dependent and -independent functions. In this review, we discuss aspects of Pak function relevant to cardiovascular biology as well as potential therapeutic implications of small-molecule Pak inhibitors in cardiovascular disease.