cardiac muscle cell differentiation

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The process in which a cardiac muscle precursor cell acquires specialized features of a cardiac muscle cell. Cardiac muscle cells are striated muscle cells that are responsible for heart contraction. [GOC:devbiol, GOC:mtg_heart]

Cardiac muscle cell differentiation is a complex and tightly regulated process that begins with the commitment of pluripotent progenitor cells to a cardiomyocyte fate. This process involves a series of molecular events, including the expression of specific transcription factors, the activation of signaling pathways, and the remodeling of the cytoskeleton. The process can be broadly divided into several stages:

**1. Commitment and Specification:**
- Pluripotent cells receive signals from their microenvironment that induce the expression of key transcription factors, such as GATA4, MEF2C, and NKX2.5, which commit them to a cardiomyocyte lineage.
- These transcription factors activate downstream target genes involved in the formation of the heart tube and the differentiation of cardiomyocytes.

**2. Proliferation and Maturation:**
- Committed cardiomyocyte precursors proliferate rapidly, increasing the pool of cells destined to form the heart.
- These cells undergo maturation, acquiring the characteristic features of cardiomyocytes, including sarcomeres, intercalated discs, and the expression of specific contractile proteins.

**3. Sarcomere Assembly and Contractility:**
- The assembly of sarcomeres, the basic contractile units of muscle cells, is a critical step in cardiomyocyte differentiation.
- Sarcomere formation involves the coordinated assembly of actin, myosin, and other structural proteins, resulting in the development of contractile capacity.

**4. Intercalated Disc Formation and Electrical Coupling:**
- Intercalated discs, specialized junctions that connect adjacent cardiomyocytes, develop during differentiation.
- These junctions allow for the rapid propagation of electrical signals throughout the heart, ensuring coordinated contraction.

**5. Myofibril Formation and Functional Maturation:**
- Myofibrils, bundles of sarcomeres, are assembled during differentiation, giving cardiomyocytes their striated appearance.
- As cardiomyocytes mature, they acquire their full contractile capacity and become functionally integrated into the heart.

**6. Terminal Differentiation and Maintenance:**
- Mature cardiomyocytes have a limited capacity for proliferation, and their differentiation is generally considered terminal.
- However, cardiomyocytes maintain their functional integrity through ongoing processes of protein turnover, organelle maintenance, and adaptation to changes in workload.

Throughout this complex process, precise temporal and spatial regulation of gene expression and protein activity is essential for proper cardiomyocyte differentiation. This intricate choreography of molecular events ensures the formation of a functional heart, capable of pumping blood throughout the body.'
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Proteins (7)

Compounds (133)