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Decoding calcium signals involved in cardiac growth and function

Nature Medicine volume 6, pages 1221–1227 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Calcium is central in the regulation of cardiac contractility, growth and gene expression. Variations in the amplitude, frequency and compartmentalization of calcium signals are decoded by calcium/calmodulin-dependent enzymes, ion channels and transcription factors. Understanding the circuitry for calcium signaling creates opportunities for pharmacological modification of cardiac function.

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Figure 1: Intracellular calcium fluxes in cardiomyocytes.
Figure 2
Figure 3: Control of cardiac gene transcription by calcium/calmodulin-dependent signaling.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. Tizenor for assistance with graphics and J. Page for editorial assistance. Work in the authors' laboratory was supported by grants from National Institutes of Health, the D.W. Reynolds Foundation, the Robert A. Welch Foundation and Myogen Inc. N.F. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and T.A.M. is a Pfizer Fellow of the Life Sciences Research Foundation.

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  1. Department of Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, 75390-9148, Texas, USA

    Norbert Frey, Timothy A. McKinsey & Eric N. Olson

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Correspondence to Eric N. Olson.

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Frey, N., McKinsey, T. & Olson, E. Decoding calcium signals involved in cardiac growth and function. Nat Med 6, 1221–1227 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/81321

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