Overexpression of SERCA2b in the heart leads to an increase in sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium transport function and increased cardiac contractility

The sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase SERCA2b is an alternate isoform encoded by the SERCA2 gene. SERCA2b is expressed ubiquitously and has a higher Ca²⁺ affinity compared with SERCA2a. We made transgeuic mice that overexpress the rat SERCA2b cDNA in the heart. SERCA2b mRNA level was approximately ~20-fold higher than endogenous SERCA2b mRNA in transgeuic hearts. SERCA2b protein was increased 8-10-fold in the heart, whereas SERCA2a mRNA/protein level remained unchanged. Confocal microscopy showed that SERCA2b is localized preferentially around the T-tubules of the SR, whereas SERCA2a isoform is distributed both transversely and longitudinally in the SR membrane. Calcium-dependent calcium uptake measurements showed that the maximal velocity of Ca²⁺ uptake was not changed, but the apparent pump affinity for Ca²⁺ (K_0.5) was increased in SERCA2b transgenic mice (0.199 ± 0.011 μM) compared with wild-type control mice (0.269 ± 0.012 μM, p < 0.01). Work-performing heart preparations showed that SERCA2b transgenic hearts had a higher rates of contraction and relaxation, shorter time to peak pressure and half-time for relaxation than wild-type hearts. These data show that SERCA2b is associated in a subcompartment within the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiac myocytes. Overexpression of SERCA2b leads to an increase in SR calcium transport function and increased cardiac contractility, suggesting that SERCA2b plays a highly specialized role in regulating the beat-to-beat contraction of the heart.