Receptors for activated C-kinase (RACK) have been found to anchor activePKC in close proximity tosubstrates.[15] PKCε appears to have preferred affinity to the (RACK/RACK2) isoform; specifically, the C2 domain of PKCε atamino acids 14–21 (also known as εV1-2) binds (RACK/RACK2), and peptide inhibitors targeting εV1-2 inhibit PKCε translocation and function incardiomyocytes,[16] while peptide agonists augment translocation.[17] It has been demonstrated that altering the dynamics of the (RACK/RACK2) and (RACK1) interaction with PKCε can influencecardiac muscle phenotypes.[18]
Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine- and threonine-specific protein kinases that can be activated by calcium and the second messengerdiacylglycerol. PKC family membersphosphorylate a wide variety of protein targets and are known to be involved in diverse cellular signaling pathways. PKC family members also serve as major receptors forphorbol esters, a class of tumor promoters. Each member of the PKC family has a specific expression profile and is believed to play a distinct role in cells. The protein encoded by this gene is one of the PKC family members. This kinase has been shown to be involved in many different cellular functions, such asapoptosis, cardioprotection fromischemia,heat shock response, as well as insulinexocytosis.
PKCε has also been shown to play a role in modulatingmitochondrial permeability transition (MPT); the addition of PKCε tocardiomyocytes inhibits MPT,[40] though the mechanism is unclear. Initially, PKCε was thought to protect mitochondria from MPT through its association withVDAC1,ANT, andhexokinase II;[40] however, genetic studies have since ruled this out[44][45] and subsequent studies have identified the F0/F1ATP synthase as a core inner mitochondrial membrane component[46][47][48][49] and Bax and Bak as potential outer membrane components[50] These findings have opened up new avenues of investigation for the role of PKCε atmitochondria. Several likely targets of PKCε action affecting MPT have been discovered. PKCε interacts withERK,JNKs andp38, and PKCε directly or indirectlyphosphorylatesERK and subsequentlyBad.[51] PKCε also interacts withBax incancer cells, and PKCε modulates its dimerization and function.[52][53] Activation of PKCε with the specific activator, εRACK, prior to ischemic injury has shown to be associated withphosphorylation of the F0/F1ATP synthase.[54] Moreover, the modulatory component,ANT is regulated by PKCε.[40] These data suggest that PKCε may act at multiple modulatory targets of MPT function; further studies are required to unveil the specific mechanism.
Findings of PKCεphosphorylation in animal models have been verified in humans; PKCεphosphorylatescTnI,cTnT, andMyBPC and depresses the sensitivity of myofilaments to calcium.[55] PKCε induction occurs in the development ofcardiac hypertrophy, following stimuli such asmyotrophin,[56] mechanical stretch andhypertension.[57] The precise role of PKCε inhypertrophic induction has been debated. The inhibition of PKCε during transition fromhypertrophy toheart failure enhances longevity;[58] however, inhibition of PKCε translocation via a peptide inhibitor increases cardiomyocyte size and expression ofhypertrophic gene panel.[59] A role forfocal adhesion kinase atcostameres in strain-sensing and modulation of sarcomere length has been linked to hypertrophy. The activation ofFAK by PKCε occurs following ahypertrophic stimulus, which modulatessarcomere assembly.[60][61] PKCε also regulatesCapZ dynamics following cyclic strain.[62]
Transgenic studies involving PKCε have also shed light on its function in vivo. Cardiac-specific overexpression of constitutively-active PKCε (9-fold increase in PKCε protein, 4-fold increase in activity) inducedcardiac hypertrophy characterizes by enhanced anterior and posteriorleft ventricular wall thickness.[63] A later study unveiled that the aging of PKCεtransgenic mice brought ondilated cardiomyopathy andheart failure by 12 months of age,[64]] characterized by a preservedFrank-Starling mechanism and exhausted contractile reserve.[65] Crossing PKCεtransgenic mice with mutantcTnI mice lacking PKCεphosphorylation sites (Serine-43/Serine-45 mutated toAlanine) attenuated the contractile dysfunction and hypertrophic marker expression, offering critical mechanistic insights.[66]
JM Downey was the first to introduce the role ofPKC incardioprotection againstischemia-reperfusion injury in 1994,;[67] this seminal idea stimulated a series of studies which examined the differentisoforms ofPKC. PKCε has been demonstrated to be a central player inpreconditioning in multiple independent studies, with its best known actions atcardiacmitochondria. It was first demonstrated by Ping et al. that in five distinctpreconditioning regimens in conscious rabbits, the epsilon isoform ofPKC specifically translocated from thecytosolic to particulate fraction.[12][68] This finding was validated by multiple independent studies occurring shortly thereafter,[69][70] and has since been observed in multiple animal models[71][72][73] and human tissue,[74] as well as in studies employing transgenesis and PKCε activators/inhibitors.[75]
Knockout and molecular studies in mice suggest that this kinase is important for regulating behavioural response to morphine[86] and alcohol.[87][88] It also plays a role lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated signaling in activated macrophages and in controlling anxiety-like behavior.[89]
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