Cardiac calcium handling protein

Cardiac calcium handling proteins are a group of proteins that regulate intracellular calcium cycling essential for excitation–contraction coupling in cardiac myocytes. These proteins include ion channels (e.g., L-type Ca2+ channel, ryanodine receptor), transporters (e.g., sodium-calcium exchanger, SERCA2a), and calcium regulatory proteins (e.g., phospholamban, calmodulin, S100A1). They orchestrate the precise release and reuptake of calcium ions, which is crucial for the contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle. Dysfunction in these proteins leads to various cardiac pathologies, such as heart failure, hypertrophy, and arrhythmias. Therapies targeting cardiac calcium handling proteins, including gene therapy (SERCA2a), protein modulators, and small molecules, are being investigated for the treatment of heart failure and arrhythmias, but challenges remain regarding specificity, safety, and efficacy due to the complexity of calcium cycling in the heart[1][2][3][4][5][6].

Other names

Calcium cycling proteinCardiac Ca2+ handling proteinCardiac excitation–contraction coupling protein

Modulation of Ca2+ influx and efflux to affect cardiac contractility; Inhibition or activation of specific calcium-handling proteins to alter calcium cycling in cardiomyocytes; Enhancement of SERCA2a activity to promote efficient Ca2+ reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum; Modulation of downstream signaling pathways through phosphorylation or other post-translational modifications