SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION THROUGH G PROTEINS IN THE CARDIAC MYOCYTE

The membrane of the cardiocyte contains a large variety of molecules whose function is to transmit signals from outside the cell to inside. The signals are initiated by receptors for a variety of agonists and propagated by a family of heterotrimeric G proteins to ion channels and intracellular enzymes. The large complement of receptors, G proteins, and effectors found in the cardiocyte raises fundamental questions about the mechanisms that assure the precision and timing of the heart cell's response to external stimuli.