title: Calcium signaling in cardiac myocytes.
abstract: Calcium (Ca(2+)) is a critical regulator of cardiac myocyte function. Principally, Ca(2+) is the link between the electrical signals that pervade the heart and contraction of the myocytes to propel blood. In addition, Ca(2+) controls numerous other myocyte activities, including gene transcription. Cardiac Ca(2+) signaling essentially relies on a few critical molecular players--ryanodine receptors, voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels, and Ca(2+) pumps/transporters. These moieties are responsible for generating Ca(2+) signals upon cellular depolarization, recovery of Ca(2+) signals following cellular contraction, and setting basal conditions. Whereas these are the central players underlying cardiac Ca(2+) fluxes, networks of signaling mechanisms and accessory proteins impart complex regulation on cardiac Ca(2+) signals. Subtle changes in components of the cardiac Ca(2+) signaling machinery, albeit through mutation, disease, or chronic alteration of hemodynamic demand, can have profound consequences for the function and phenotype of myocytes. Here, we discuss mechanisms underlying Ca(2+) signaling in ventricular and atrial myocytes. In particular, we describe the roles and regulation of key participants involved in Ca(2+) signal generation and reversal.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Signalling and Cell Fate, The Babraham Institute, Babraham, Cambridge CB22 3AT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Claire J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Fearnley
authors.forename: H Llewelyn
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Roderick
authors.forename: Martin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bootman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D002118:Calcium