Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Rationale
The parasympathetic reduction in heart rate involves the sequential activation of m2 muscarinic cholinergic receptors (m(2)Rs), pertussis toxin-sensitive (Gi/o) heterotrimeric G proteins, and the atrial potassium channel I(KACh). Molecular mechanisms regulating this critical signal transduction pathway are not fully understood.Objective
To determine whether the G protein signaling regulator Rgs6/Gβ5 modulates m(2)R-I(KACh) signaling and cardiac physiology.Methods and results
Cardiac expression of Rgs6, and its interaction with Gβ5, was demonstrated by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. Rgs6(-/-) mice were generated by gene targeting, and the cardiac effects of Rgs6 ablation were analyzed by whole-cell recordings in isolated cardiomyocytes and ECG telemetry. Loss of Rgs6 yielded profound delays in m(2)R-I(KACh) deactivation kinetics in both neonatal atrial myocytes and adult sinoatrial nodal cells. Rgs6(-/-) mice exhibited mild resting bradycardia and altered heart rate responses to pharmacological manipulations that were consistent with enhanced m(2)R-I(KACh) signaling.Conclusions
The cardiac Rgs6/Gβ5 complex modulates the timing of parasympathetic influence on atrial myocytes and heart rate in mice.
SUBMITTER: Posokhova E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3014848 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Posokhova Ekaterina E Wydeven Nicole N Allen Kevin L KL Wickman Kevin K Martemyanov Kirill A KA
Circulation research 20100930 11
<h4>Rationale</h4>The parasympathetic reduction in heart rate involves the sequential activation of m2 muscarinic cholinergic receptors (m(2)Rs), pertussis toxin-sensitive (Gi/o) heterotrimeric G proteins, and the atrial potassium channel I(KACh). Molecular mechanisms regulating this critical signal transduction pathway are not fully understood.<h4>Objective</h4>To determine whether the G protein signaling regulator Rgs6/Gβ5 modulates m(2)R-I(KACh) signaling and cardiac physiology.<h4>Methods an ...[more]