생화학분자생물학회

	Name: ​Kyungmin Lee​ ( irislkm@knu.ac.kr )
	2011-present	Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Kyungpook National University
	2009-2010	Postdoctoral research fellow, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan
	2008	Instructor, Department of Anatomy, Kyungpook National University
	2002-2008	M.D., Ph.D., Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine

Epac: new emerging cAMP-binding protein

The well-known second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) regulates the morphology and physiology of neurons and thus higher cognitive brain functions. The discovery of exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac) as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rap GTPases has shed light on protein kinase A (PKA)-independent functions of cAMP signaling in neural tissues. Studies of cAMP-Epac-mediated signaling in neurons under normal and disease conditions also revealed its diverse contributions to neurodevelopment, synaptic remodeling and plasticity, and cell death, as well as learning, memory, and emotion. This mini-review summarizes recent findings from research on Epac isoforms, including Epac1 and Epac2, highly expressed in neural tissues, and provides an overview of their diverse roles in the central nervous system. Moreover, controversies or issues are highlighted that need to be resolved to uncover the critical functions of Epac in neural tissues and the potential for a new therapeutic target of mental disorders. Findings in this emerging field may have implications both for the clinics and for society, and may provide new insights into novel therapeutic approaches for neurological and psychiatric disorders.


https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33298248/
BMB Rep. 2020 Dec 11;5213. Online ahead of print.