Abstract
Reduced cardiac contractility during heart failure (HF) is linked to impaired Ca 2+ release from Ryanodine Receptors (RyRs). We investigated whether this deficit can be traced to nanoscale RyR reorganization. Using super-resolution imaging, we observed dispersion of RyR clusters in cardiomyocytes from post-infarction HF rats, resulting in more numerous, smaller clusters. Functional groupings of RyR clusters which produce Ca 2+ sparks (Ca 2+ release units, CRUs) also became less solid. An increased fraction of small CRUs in HF was linked to augmented ‘silent’ Ca 2+ leak, not visible as sparks. Larger multi-cluster CRUs common in HF also exhibited low fidelity spark generation. When successfully triggered, sparks in failing cells displayed slow kinetics as Ca 2+ spread across dispersed CRUs. During the action potential, these slow sparks protracted and desynchronized the overall Ca 2+ transient. Thus, nanoscale RyR reorganization during HF augments Ca 2+ leak and slows Ca 2+ release kinetics, leading to weakened contraction in this disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | e39427 |
Journal | eLife |
Volume | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Immunology and Microbiology(all)