Palmitoylation of the cardiac L-type calcium channel

Every single heartbeat starts with calcium ions entering the individual cells of the heart. This is a
fundamental event that supports life in every organism with a circulatory system. The mechanism
underlying this event is well known: calcium ions flow through tiny pores in the surface of the cell,
called calcium channels. We have identified a new regulatory pathway for these calcium channels,
protein palmitoylation. This investigation will identify which part of a calcium channel molecule is
subjected to palmitoylation and will therefore be the first step in identifying how this regulatory
pathway controls calcium entry into the heart.