Heart patients face many risks of life threatening events such as cardiac arrest, stroke, heart attack and cardiac death etc. Calcium plays vital role in monitoring cells responsible for expansion and contraction of heart muscles. A study conducted by scientists has reportedly identified a protein (or a gene) related to heart movement.
Calcium, present in heart cells, enables heart to circulate blood throughout the body. Abnormal release of calcium in heart cells is believed to be responsible for abnormal heart beats. Ryanodine receptor, also known as RyR, controls release of calcium. RyR is a type of calcium channel which maintains selective permeability of calcium ions. This ensures normal and systematic release of calcium. Irregularity in heartbeats is most commonly found in patients of heart disease.
Scientists at Bristol University conducted an experiment with RyR. As a part of the experiment, researchers took out RyR channels from heart cells and planted in artificial membranes. By doing that scientists could measure calcium currents passing through calcium channel.
Experts believe that the finding of the experiment can pave the way for new and promising treatment for heart patients and ward off deaths cause by heart diseases.
During that experiment two genes (FKBP12 and FKBP12.6) were identified which were found to be changing the flow of calcium ions in RyR channels.
Structure of the two proteins was almost similar but their function was quite opposite to each other’s. FKBP12 raised flow of calcium ions in RyR channels and FKBP12.6 protein hampered FKBP12′s effects. Lost balance between the function of the two genes is found in most of the heart patients.
Calcium, present in heart cells, enables heart to circulate blood throughout the body. Abnormal release of calcium in heart cells is believed to be responsible for abnormal heart beats. Ryanodine receptor, also known as RyR, controls release of calcium. RyR is a type of calcium channel which maintains selective permeability of calcium ions. This ensures normal and systematic release of calcium. Irregularity in heartbeats is most commonly found in patients of heart disease.
Scientists at Bristol University conducted an experiment with RyR. As a part of the experiment, researchers took out RyR channels from heart cells and planted in artificial membranes. By doing that scientists could measure calcium currents passing through calcium channel.
Experts believe that the finding of the experiment can pave the way for new and promising treatment for heart patients and ward off deaths cause by heart diseases.
During that experiment two genes (FKBP12 and FKBP12.6) were identified which were found to be changing the flow of calcium ions in RyR channels.
Structure of the two proteins was almost similar but their function was quite opposite to each other’s. FKBP12 raised flow of calcium ions in RyR channels and FKBP12.6 protein hampered FKBP12′s effects. Lost balance between the function of the two genes is found in most of the heart patients.
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