Initiation of calcium waves in failing cardiac myocytes is sensitive to posttranslational modifications

Calcium (Ca2+) waves in cardiac myocytes are arrhythmogenic since they can lead to triggered activities in the heart. In the healthy cell, Ca2+ waves, if they occur, are infrequent. However, under pathological conditions such as heart failure, Ca2+ waves occur more frequently. In this study, using a mathematical model of subcellular Ca2+ cycling, we investigated the initiation process of Ca2+ waves and show how transition from no waves to multiple waves may occur due to ryanodine receptor (RyR) posttranslational modifications (PTMs).