PKN1 protein as an important regulator of platelet stickiness

Role of a novel protein kinase, PKN1, in regulating platelet function and thrombosis

Professor Alastair Poole and colleagues at the University of Bristol are going to investigate a new protein called PKN1, which looks promising as an important regulator of platelet stickiness. Platelets are small cells that flow around the blood vessels in the body looking for sites of damage, such as when you cut yourself. They rapidly become very sticky when they encounter a damage site, and help to form a blood clot to stop you bleeding. However, platelets can also cause clots inside blood vessels, clogging up the vessel in a process called thrombosis. When this occurs in the blood vessels of the heart, this can cause a heart attack. It is vital therefore that we understand how exactly platelets work, so we can find newer and safer ways to stop unwanted clotting and to stop heart attacks. Finding new regulators of platelet function and understanding how they work could lead to the development of new anti-clotting approaches in the management of heart disease.