Heterotrimeric G proteins in heart disease

Heterotrimeric G proteins couple many types of cell surface receptors to intracellular effectors such as enzymes or ion channels. In the mammalian heart, G protein-mediated signalling pathways are involved in the regulation of contractile force, heart rate, conduction velocity, and relaxation. In the first part of this review we summarize some important structural and functional features of receptors, G proteins, and effectors with special focus on the heart. In the second part, we review the current knowledge about alterations of G protein-mediated signalling in heart disease such as myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure.