Caveolae as organizers of pharmacologically relevant signal transduction molecules.
Caveolae, a subset of membrane (lipid) rafts, are flask-like invaginations of the plasma membrane that contain caveolin proteins, which serve as organizing centers for cellular signal transduction. Caveolins (-1, -2, and -3) have cytoplasmic N and C termini, palmitolylation sites, and a scaffolding domain that facilitates interaction and organization of signaling molecules so as to help provide coordinated and efficient signal transduction. Such signaling components include upstream entities (e.g., G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), receptor tyrosine kinases, and steroid hormone receptors) and downstream components (e.g., heterotrimeric and low-molecular-weight G proteins, effector enzymes, and ion channels). Diseases associated with aberrant signaling may result in altered localization or expression of signaling proteins in caveolae. Caveolin-knockout mice have numerous abnormalities, some of which may reflect the impact of total body knockout throughout the life span. This review provides a general overview of caveolins and caveolae, signaling molecules that localize to caveolae, the role of caveolae/caveolin in cardiac and pulmonary pathophysiology, pharmacologic implications of caveolar localization of signaling molecules, and the possibility that caveolae might serve as a therapeutic target.
Patel
Hemal H
HH
Department of Anesthesiology, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Murray
Fiona
F
Insel
Paul A
PA
D000818:Animals; D021941:Caveolae / Q000378:metabolism*; D022461:Caveolins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D015398:Signal Transduction
D022461:Caveolins