The STARS signaling pathway: a key regulator of skeletal muscle function

Pflugers Arch. 2014 Sep;466(9):1659-71. doi: 10.1007/s00424-014-1475-5. Epub 2014 Feb 21.

Abstract

During the last decade, the striated muscle activator of Rho signaling (STARS), a muscle-specific protein, has been proposed to play an increasingly important role in skeletal muscle growth, metabolism, regeneration and stress adaptation. STARS influences actin dynamics and, as a consequence, regulates the myocardin-related transcription factor A/serum response factor (MRTF-A/SRF) transcriptional program, a well-known pathway controlling skeletal muscle development and function. Muscle-specific stress conditions, such as exercise, positively regulates, while disuse and degenerative muscle diseases are associated with a downregulation of STARS and its downstream partners, suggesting a pivotal role for STARS in skeletal muscle health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the known role and regulation of STARS and the members of its signaling pathway, RhoA, MRTF-A and SRF, in skeletal muscle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Transcription Factors