Calcium Signaling and Transcriptional Regulation in Cardiomyocytes

<jats:p> Calcium (Ca <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> ) is a universal regulator of various cellular functions. In cardiomyocytes, Ca <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> is the central element of excitation–contraction coupling, but also impacts diverse signaling cascades and influences the regulation of gene expression, referred to as excitation–transcription coupling. Disturbances in cellular Ca <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> -handling and alterations in Ca <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> -dependent gene expression patterns are pivotal characteristics of failing cardiomyocytes, with several excitation–transcription coupling pathways shown to be critically involved in structural and functional remodeling processes. Thus, targeting Ca <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> -dependent transcriptional pathways might offer broad therapeutic potential. In this article, we (1) review cytosolic and nuclear Ca <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> dynamics in cardiomyocytes with respect to their impact on Ca <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> -dependent signaling, (2) give an overview on Ca <jats:sup>2+</jats:sup> -dependent transcriptional pathways in cardiomyocytes, and (3) discuss implications of excitation–transcription coupling in the diseased heart. </jats:p>