Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Human genetics

Lost anchors cost lives

Mutations in ion-transport proteins can destabilize the electrical activity of the heart, causing sudden death. It now seems that mutations in a protein that anchors ion transporters to cell membranes can have the same effect.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: The electrical activity underlying heart beats, and the role of the ankyrin-B protein.

References

  1. Mohler, P. J. et al. Nature 421, 634–639 (2003).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Schott, J. J. et al. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 57, 1114–1122 (1995).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Mohler, P. J. et al. J. Cell Sci. 115, 1565–1566 (2002).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bennett, V. & Baines, A. J. Physiol. Rev. 81, 1353–1392 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Nattel, S., Khairy, P. & Schram, G. Trends Cardiovasc. Med. 11, 295–301 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Anderson, M. E. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 13, 195–197 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chauhun, V. S. et al. Circ. Res. 86, 441–447 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. van de Berg, M. P. et al. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. 12, 630–636 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stanley Nattel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nattel, S. Lost anchors cost lives. Nature 421, 587–589 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/421587a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/421587a

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing