Use of functional proteomics to investigate PKC epsilon-mediated cardioprotection: The signaling module hypothesis

The characterization of biological processes on the basis of alterations in the cellular proteins, or "proteomic" analysis, is a powerful approach tha t may be adopted to decipher the signaling mechanisms that underlie various pathophysiological conditions, such as ischemic heart disease. This review represents a prospectus for the implementation of proteomic analyses to de lineate the myocardial intracellular signaling events that evoke cardioprot ection against ischemic injury. In concert with this, the manifestation of a protective phenotype has recently been shown to involve dynamic modulatio n of protein kinase C-epsilon (PKC epsilon) signaling complexes (Ping P, Zh ang J, Pierce WM Jr, and Bolli R. Circ Res 88: 59- 62, 2001). Accordingly, "the signaling module hypothesis" is formulated as a plausible mechanism by which multipurpose stress- activated proteins and signaling kinases may fu nction collectively to facilitate the genesis of cardioprotection.