Faculty Collaboration Database

Integration of Rap1 and Calcium Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Feb 27;21(5)

Date

03/04/2020

Pubmed ID

32120817

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7084553

DOI

10.3390/ijms21051616

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85081026400 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   30 Citations

Abstract

Ca²⁺ is a universal intracellular signal. The modulation of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration regulates a plethora of cellular processes, such as: synaptic plasticity, neuronal survival, chemotaxis of immune cells, platelet aggregation, vasodilation, and cardiac excitation-contraction coupling. Rap1 GTPases are ubiquitously expressed binary switches that alternate between active and inactive states and are regulated by diverse families of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). Active Rap1 couples extracellular stimulation with intracellular signaling through secondary messengers-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), Ca²⁺, and diacylglycerol (DAG). Much evidence indicates that Rap1 signaling intersects with Ca²⁺ signaling pathways to control the important cellular functions of platelet activation or neuronal plasticity. Rap1 acts as an effector of Ca²⁺ signaling when activated by mechanisms involving Ca²⁺ and DAG-activated (CalDAG-) GEFs. Conversely, activated by other GEFs, such as cAMP-dependent GEF Epac, Rap1 controls cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ levels. It does so by regulating the activity of Ca²⁺ signaling proteins such as sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA). In this review, we focus on the physiological significance of the links between Rap1 and Ca²⁺ signaling and emphasize the molecular interactions that may offer new targets for the therapy of Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, among other diseases.

Author List

Kosuru R, Chrzanowska M

Author

Magdalena Chrzanowska PhD Associate Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase
Calcium
Calcium Signaling
Cardiomegaly
Cyclic AMP
Diglycerides
Endothelium
Humans
Integrins
Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Toll-Like Receptors
Vasodilation
rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins