Adherens junction engagement regulates functional patterning of the cardiac pacemaker cell lineage.

ABSTRACT: Cardiac pacemaker cells (CPCs) rhythmically initiate the electrical impulses that drive heart contraction. CPCs display the highest rate of spontaneous depolarization in the heart despite being subjected to inhibitory electrochemical conditions that should theoretically suppress their activity. While several models have been proposed to explain this apparent paradox, the actual molecular mechanisms that allow CPCs to overcome electrogenic barriers to their function remain poorly understood. Here, we have traced CPC development at single-cell resolution and uncovered a series of cytoarchitectural patterning events that are critical for proper pacemaking. Specifically, our data reveal that CPCs dynamically modulate adherens junction (AJ) engagement to control characteristics including surfac

SUBMITTER: Thomas K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8137639 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature