Beta-adrenergic stimulation of the heart increases ICa. PKA dependent phosphorylation of several amino acids (among them Ser 1700 and Thr 1704 in the carboxy-terminus of the Cav1.2 α1c subunit) has been implicated as decisive for the β-adrenergic up-regulation of cardiac ICa. Mutation of Ser 1700 and Thr 1704 to alanine results in the Cav1.2PKA_P2-/- mice. Cav1.2PKA_P2-/- mice display reduced cardiac L-type current. Fractional shortening and ejection fraction in the intact animal and ICa in isolated cardiomyocytes (CM) are stimulated by isoproterenol. Cardiac specific expression of the mutated Cav1.2PKA_P2-/- gene reduces Cav1.2 α1c protein concentration, ICa, and the β-adrenergic stimulation of L-type ICa in CMs. Single channels were not detected on the CM surface of the cCav1.2PKA_P2-/- hearts. This outcome supports the notion that S1700/1704 is essential for expression of the Cav1.2 channel and that isoproterenol stimulates ICa in Cav1.2PKA_P2-/- CMs.
Keywords: Calcium channel; Cardiac Cav1.2; Gene mutation; Heart; β-adrenergic regulation.
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