Autoregulation of cardiac l-type calcium channels

Abstract

l-Type calcium channels (LTCCs) are major contributors to electrical and contractile function of the heart. They regulate action potential duration, enable calcium entry into cardiac myocytes for contraction, and regulate growth-related signaling in the heart. In cardiac development and in mature heart disease, LTCCs are regulated at levels of acute function and transcription. In addition, LTCCs are clinically relevant therapeutic targets for antihypertensive medications. In this review, we discuss LTCC homeostasis whereby cardiac myocytes maintain LTCC expression via a novel transcriptionally regulated pathway that includes a segment of the LTCC that moves between surface membrane and nucleus.