Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026
08:29
Assessment of Myofilament Ca2+ Sensitivity Underlying Cardiac Excitation-contraction Coupling
Published on: August 1, 2016
8.8K
Nuclear calcium in cardiac myocytes
Senka Ljubojevic1, Donald M Bers
1*Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; and †Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA.
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology
|October 21, 2014
Summary
Nuclear calcium (Ca) signaling in cardiomyocytes is crucial for gene expression, distinct from contractile Ca. This review explores nuclear Ca regulation, its measurement challenges, and its role in heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cellular Signaling
- Molecular Cardiology
Background:
- Calcium (Ca) acts as a universal second messenger regulating diverse cellular functions.
- In cardiomyocytes, Ca governs contraction and electrophysiology, and influences gene transcription.
- The mechanism by which cardiomyocytes differentiate nuclear Ca signals from cytosolic contractile Ca remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current understanding of nuclear Ca regulation in cardiomyocytes.
- To discuss the challenges in quantifying nuclear Ca fluxes.
- To explore the role of nuclear Ca in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent findings on nuclear Ca signaling.
- Discussion of methodologies for measuring nuclear Ca.
- Analysis of the link between nuclear Ca and cardiac disease progression.
Main Results:
- Nuclear Ca signaling is distinct from cytosolic Ca and regulates gene transcription in cardiomyocytes.
- Quantifying nuclear Ca fluxes presents significant technical challenges.
- Dysregulation of nuclear Ca is implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
Conclusions:
- Understanding nuclear Ca regulation is key to deciphering cardiomyocyte responses to Ca signals.
- Overcoming challenges in nuclear Ca measurement is essential for future research.
- Targeting nuclear Ca pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies for heart failure.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Structure of Cardiac Muscles
16.3K
Cardiac muscle, or myocardium, is a specialized type of muscle found exclusively in the heart. Its unique structural and functional characteristics enable the heart to perform its vital role of pumping blood throughout the body continuously and rhythmically. The cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, possess an endomysium and perimysium but do not have an epimysium.
Compared to skeletal muscles, cardiac muscle cells are small and mostly have a single nucleus. Additionally, they are usually...
Compared to skeletal muscles, cardiac muscle cells are small and mostly have a single nucleus. Additionally, they are usually...
16.3K
01:27Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration
2.9K
Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
2.9K
01:30Cardiac Action Potential
11.3K
Cardiac action potentials are essential for proper heart function, enabling the rhythmic contractions needed for adequate blood circulation. Nodal cells and Purkinje fibers, specialized for electrical conduction, generate these action potentials.
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
11.3K
01:27Specialized Characteristics of Cardiac Muscles
6.4K
The primary role of cardiac muscles is to propel blood throughout the cardiovascular system. The cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, exhibit specialized characteristics that allow them to perform this function.
Cardiac muscle cells are smaller than skeletal muscles, averaging 10–20 mm in diameter and 50–100 mm in length. However, they have large energy demands for continuous contraction and relaxation. This energy is almost exclusively derived from aerobic metabolism of energy...
Cardiac muscle cells are smaller than skeletal muscles, averaging 10–20 mm in diameter and 50–100 mm in length. However, they have large energy demands for continuous contraction and relaxation. This energy is almost exclusively derived from aerobic metabolism of energy...
6.4K
01:25Smooth Muscle Contraction
8.4K
Smooth muscle contraction is a complex process vital for various bodily functions, from maintaining blood vessel tension to facilitating the movement of food through the digestive tract. Unlike striated muscles, smooth muscle contraction begins more slowly and lasts longer.
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
8.4K
01:29Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles
9.5K
The period of muscle contraction primarily influences the duration of stimulation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the presence of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the availability of energy or ATP to support contractions.
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open....
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open....
9.5K