Ca2+-sensitive tyrosine kinase Pyk2/CAK β-dependent signaling is essential for G-protein-coupled receptor agonist-induced hypertrophy

G-protein-coupled receptor agonists including endothelin-1 (ET-1) and phenylephrine (PE) induce hypertrophy in neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes. Others and we previously reported that Rac1 signaling pathway plays an important role in this agonist-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In this study reported here, we found that a Ca2+-sensitive non-receptor tyrosine kinase, proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2)/cell adhesion kinase β (CAKβ), is involved in ET-1- and PE-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy medicated through Rac1 activation. ET-1, PE or the Ca2+ inophore, ionomycin, stimulated a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2. The tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 was suppressed by the Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA. ET-1- or PE-induced increases in [3H]-leucine incorporation and expression of atrial natriuretic factor and the enhancement of sarcomere organization. Infection of cardiomyocytes with an adenovirus expressing a mutant Pyk2 which lacked its kinase domain or its ability to bind to c-Src, eliminated ET-1- and PE-induced hypertrophic responses. Inhibition of Pyk2 activation also suppressed Rac1 activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These findings suggest that the signal transduction pathway leading to hypertrophy involves Ca2+-induced Pyk2 activation followed by Rac1-dependent ROS production.