The ryanodine receptor microdomain in cardiomyocytes
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Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Crystal Structure of the N-terminal Domain of Ryanodine Receptor from Plutella xylostella
Published on: November 30, 2018
Eef Dries1, Guillaume Gilbert2, H Llewelyn Roderick1
1Lab of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
The ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR) is a key player in Ca2+ handling during excitation-contraction coupling. During each heartbeat, RyR channels are responsible for linking the action potential with the contractile machinery of the cardiomyocyte by releasing Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. RyR function is fine-tuned by associated signalling molecules, arrangement in clusters and subcellular localization. These parameters together define RyR function within microdomains and are subject to disease remodelling. This review describes the latest findings on RyR microdomain organization, the alterations with disease which result in increased subcellular heterogeneity and emergence of microdomains with enhanced arrhythmogenic potential, and presents novel technologies that guide future research to study and target RyR channels within specific microdomains.
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