This gene is one of a family of calcium-cycling genes whose function is to regulate the movement of calcium within heart muscle cells.
Calcium activates cardiac contraction.
This work appears in the October 29 issue of the journal Cell. Normally, PLB acts as a brake on the calcium pump, which is responsible for increasing calcium into storage sites so that it can be released with each heartbeat. Hormones that increase heart rate and function, such as adrenaline, release the brake. This balance between accelerator and brake is disrupted in heart failure. In that setting, because of injury such as a heart attack or a genetic defect, the brake is on too hard, thus calcium is restricted and heart function weakens.