Hydroxylation-independent HIF-1α stabilization through PKA: A new paradigm for hypoxia signaling

In this issue of Science Signaling, Bullen et al. demonstrate that protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylates and stimulates the transcriptional activity of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha). This finding may have implications in diseases processes that occur at the interface of hypoxia and inflammation, where HIF-1 alpha stabilization can function to dampen hypoxia-driven inflammation.