PRKAA2 and Hypertension: Recent evidence has identified a role for Rac1 and Rac1-derived ROS in the NTS during cardiovascular regulation of hypertension in vivo; furthermore, inhibition of the Rac1-dependent ROS in the NTS decreases blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs)15 AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that serves as an energy sensor in the regulation of cellular metabolism.