Troponin and the Heart

Troponin is a protein that is present in muscle. It is central to muscle contraction. When calcium channels open, the calcium binds to the troponin, causing a conformational change. This change opens a space that allows actin to bind and begin muscle contraction. Troponin is a component of skeletal and cardiac muscle. Troponin has been used in much research with regard to the heart. In this particular article, the researchers were experimenting with Ca²⁺ sensitizing agents. Cognitive heart failure results when there is desensitization of the heart muscle to Ca²⁺. Ca²⁺ channels are what cause the change in troponin to cause muscle contraction. Ideal sensitizers are compounds that would increase the flux of ions in the channel and create a powerful muscle contraction. Troponin C, one of three types of troponin, is the critical to muscle contraction in the heart. Without this protein, the heart would not be able to contract and blood would fail to be pumped to the body and death would result. This protein is crucial for the beating of the heart. (lub dub)

http://www.jbc.org/content/274/34/23932.full.pdf