Description
Background: Gq-coupled G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) mediate the actions of a variety of messengers that are key regulators of cardiovascular function. Enhanced Gaq-mediated signaling plays an important role in cardiac hypertrophy and in the transition to heart failure. We have recently described that Gaq acts as an adaptor protein that facilitates PKCz-mediated activation of ERK5 in epithelial cells. Since the ERK5 cascade is known to be involved in cardiac hypertrophy, we have investigated the potential relevance of this pathway in Gq-dependent signaling in cardiac cells.