The calcium channel beta2 (CACNB2) subunit repertoire in teleosts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cardiomyocyte contraction is initiated by influx of extracellular calcium through voltage-gated calcium channels. These oligomeric channels utilize auxiliary beta subunits to chaperone the pore-forming alpha subunit to the plasma membrane, and to modulate channel electrophysiology 1. Several beta subunit family members are detected by RT-PCR in the embryonic heart. Null mutations in mouse beta2, but not in the other three beta family members, are embryonic lethal at E10.5 due to defects in cardiac contractility 2. However, a drawback of the mouse model is that embryonic heart rhythm is difficult to study in live embryos due to their intra-uterine development. Moreover, phenotypes may be obscured by secondary effects of hypoxia. As a first step towards developing a model

SUBMITTER: Ebert AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2365960 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature