Protein kinase D: at the crossroad of cardiac function and metabolism

Heart failure is one of the most common causes of death. The last few years, heart failure has been associated with metabolic changes. An example is the diabetic patient; this patient often suffers from heart problems because of too much fat absorption in the heart muscle cells. This dissertation investigates how the connection between metabolism and heart function is regulated. A protein was found, protein kinase D (PKD), which steers other signal proteins that regulate the substrate balance (glucose/fat) in the heart. This balance is crucial for the maintenance of an optimal heart function. Activation of this PKD protein leads to an increase of glucose absorption, and protects the heart against the development of diabetes and heart failure during the intake of too fatty food.