Tatsuya Yoshida, Mikito Takefuji, and Toyoaki Murohara in the Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, identified an enzyme, alpha-kinase 2 (ALPK2) that is specifically expressed in the heart.
Nagoya UniversityJan 30 2025 Tatsuya Yoshida, Mikito Takefuji, and Toyoaki Murohara in the Department of Cardiology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , identified an enzyme, alpha-kinase 2 that is specifically expressed in the heart. They found that the enzyme may prevent a stiff heart through activating the gene TPM1 in heart muscle fibers. ALPK2 is a promising new therapeutic target for the treatment of heart failure , especially heart failure with preserved ejection function .
The process of protein phosphorylation is central to regulating various functions in the body, including how well the heart pumps blood out. The process is controlled by enzymes called protein kinases, which add a phosphate group to specific amino acids on target proteins. This modification changes the protein's structure causing changes in its activity and interactions with other molecules. Disruptions in the enzyme's activity play a key role in hearts becoming stiff.
The mice with low levels showed increased weaknesses in the aging-related ability of the heart to relax and fill with blood. On the other hand, the mice with overexpression of ALPK2 had increased phosphorylation of the amino acid tropomyosin 1 , a major regulator of heart contraction. As HFpEF patients have decreased TPM1, increased phosphorylation of TPM1 would likely have a protective effect against the disease.
Heart Failure Blood Cardiology Diastolic Dysfunction Enzyme Gene Kinase Medicine Muscle Phosphorylation Protein
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