Protein kinases second messengers

Fig. 1. A compact visual summary of the signaling of cytoplasmic/nuclear and cell surface receptors. ER, endoplasmic reticulum M, mitochondrion PIP2, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-diphosphate IP3, inositol triphosphate PK, protein kinase, second messenger.

Excitation of smooth muscle via alpha-1 receptors (eg, in the utems, vascular smooth muscle) is accompanied by an increase in intraceUular-free calcium, possibly by stimulation of phosphoUpase C which accelerates the breakdown of polyphosphoinositides to form the second messengers inositol triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 releases intracellular calcium, and DAG, by activation of protein kinase C, may also contribute to signal transduction. In addition, it is also thought that alpha-1 adrenergic receptors may be coupled to another second messenger, a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein that mediates the translocation of extracellular calcium. 

FIGURE 2.7 Production of second messengers inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG) through activation of the enzyme phospholipase C. This enzyme is activated by the a- subunit of Gq-protein and also by Py subunits of Gj-protein. IP3 stimulates the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores while DAG is a potent activator of protein kinase C. 

Group II assays consist of those monitoring cellular second messengers. Thus, activation of receptors to cause Gs-protein activation of adenylate cyclase will lead to elevation of cytosolic or extracellularly secreted cyclic AMP. This second messenger phosphorylates numerous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases, which go on to phosphorylate metabolic enzymes and transport and regulatory proteins (see Chapter 2). Cyclic AMP can be detected either radiometrically or with fluorescent probe technology. 

Cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) are formed enzymatically from the corresponding triphosphates. As ubiquitous second messengers, they mediate many cellular functions which are initiated by first (extracellular) messengers. Their prime targets in eucaryotic cells are protein kinases ( cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase), ion channels and ensymes. 

Heterologous desensitization is a form of desensitization which does not require agonist binding of the receptor. Second messenger dependent kinases such as protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) are involved in this form of receptor desensitization. Heterologous desensitization simply depends on the overall kinase activity which is regulated by many different stimuli. 

Protein kinase C (PKC) is an enzyme family whose members are activated by agonists that cause receptor-mediated generation of lipid second messengers. The activated enzymes transduce information from such agonists by phosphorylating relevant downstream substrates. 

PARs are coupled to multiple G-proteins and mediate a number of well-defined cellular responses via classical second messenger and kinase pathways. PARs are differentially expressed in cells of the vasculature as well in the brain, lung, gastrointestinal tract, skin as well as other highly vascularised tissues and evidence suggests distinct physiological functions and roles in disease states [2]. 

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