Calsequestrin localization at RyR2 clusters enables calcium wave propagation in ventricular myocytes

Abstract

Intracellular calcium waves in cardiac myocytes propagate through a fire-diffuse-fire mechanism in which calcium released from one RyR2 cluster diffuses to neighboring clusters and triggers their activation. Yet propagation faces a fundamental physical difficulty: the calcium signal must cross distances of 1-2 {micro}m between Z-planes while being attenuated by cytosolic buffering and diffusion, and at the same time the release site depletes its local sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium store. How waves propagate efficiently despite these constraints has remained unclear. We developed a three-dimensional computational model of mouse ventricular myocytes at 100 nm resolution to address this question. Our central finding is that co-localization of calsequestrin2 (CASQ2) with RyR2 clusters is required for robust wave propagation. In a physiological model, where CASQ2 is concentrated at release sites as observed experimentally, calcium waves propagate reliably across the cell with velocities that match the experimental range. In contrast, when CASQ2 is distributed uniformly throughout the sarcoplasmic reticulum, keeping total CASQ2 unchanged, the wavefront stalls. These results identify CASQ2-RyR2 co-localization as a key structural requirement for effective calcium wave propagation in ventricular myocytes. Author summaryCalcium waves in cardiomyocytes are thought to underlie the onset of malignant cardiac arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. Yet, the specific conditions that regulate the transition from local calcium sparks to sustained waves remain poorly understood. Using a newly developed computational model of calcium handling, we demonstrate that the spatial distribution of key regulatory proteins is a critical determinant of arrhythmogenicity. Specifically, we found that calsequestrin2, which buffers Ca2+ within the sarcoplasmic reticulum, must be strictly colocalized with Ca2+ release proteins to facilitate sustained wave propagation. This discovery suggests that cardiac stability depends less on the total quantity of protein and more on its precise architectural organization. The consequences of this finding are significant: it implies that "spatial dysregulation"--where proteins are present but mislocalized--may be a hidden driver of arrhythmias even when protein levels appear normal. This shifts the therapeutic focus from simply altering ion channel conductance to preserving or restoring the structural tethering of the junctional SR. By focusing on the nanodomain architecture, we can better understand how cellular remodeling leads to life-threatening electrical instability.