Page 287 - Read Online

Thirugnanam et al. Vessel Plus 2020;4:26 Vessel Plus
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2020.18

Review Open Access

SNRK: a metabolic regulator with multifaceted role
in development and disease

Karthikeyan Thirugnanam , Ramani Ramchandran 1,2
1
1 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
2 Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Developmental Vascular Biology Program, Children’s Research
Institute, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.

Correspondence to: Dr. Ramani Ramchandran, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical College of Wisconsin,
CRI Developmental Vascular Biology Program, C3420, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, P.O. Box 26509, Milwaukee, WI 53226,
USA. E-mail: rramchan@mcw.edu

How to cite this article: Thirugnanam K, Ramchandran R. SNRK: a metabolic regulator with multifaceted role in development and
disease. Vessel Plus 2020;4:26. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1209.2020.18

Received: 20 May 2020 First Decision: 12 Jul 2020 Revised: 14 Jul 2020 Accepted: 22 Jul 2020 Published: 21 Aug 2020
Academic Editor: Alexander D. Verin Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Jing Yu

Received: First Decision: Revised: Accepted: Published: x
Abstract
Science Editor: Copy Editor: Production Editor: Jing Yu Sucrose nonfermenting 1-related kinase (SNRK) is a serine/threonine kinase and a member of the adenosine
monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family that is involved in the metabolic regulatory
mechanisms in various cell types. SNRK is an important mediator in maintaining cellular metabolic homeostasis.
In this review, we discuss the role of SNRK in metabolic tissues where it is expressed, including heart and
adipose tissue. We discuss its role in regulating inflammation in these tissues and the pathways associated with
regulating inflammation. We also discuss SNRK’s role in vascular development and the processes associated with
it. Finally, we review SNRK’s potential as a target in various metabolic dysfunction-associated diseases such as
cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. This comprehensive review on SNRK suggests that it has
therapeutic value in the suppression of inflammation in cardiac and adipose tissue.

Keywords: Sucrose nonfermenting 1-related kinase, metabolism, inflammation, cardiac function, cardiomyocytes,
ischemia, adipocyte, endothelial cells

INTRODUCTION
During embryonic development and cellular differentiation, protein kinases play a vital role in maintaining
cellular homeostasis. Protein kinases constitute an exceptionally large family that has been estimated to

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

www.vpjournal.net