Does Ric8B control heartrate in response to the brain’s command?

Ric8b: A modulator of heterotrimeric G-protein signalling and its role in cardiovascular physiology

The heart pumps blood round the body and the blood vessels supply oxygen to organs such as brain. This isn't a static system; it needs to be tuned in conditions where there is high demand for oxygen, such as during exercise, and at times when there is less need, such as during sleep. This balance is achieved through communication between the nervous system and a region of the heart acting as a natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial mode. It commands the heart to beat faster or to slow down. Professor Andrew Tinker and his team recently identified that a molecule called Ric8B is involved in the regulation of a person’s heartrate. They have developed genetically engineered mice that lack Ric8B, specifically in the sinoatrial node, and observed some changes in their heart rate. In this new project, they will further investigate the biology of Ric8B to fully understand its function in the heart and blood vessels. They will explore Ric8B’s role in controlling the heart’s function in response to our nervous system. This is crucial to normal heart and circulatory function, and also regulates our fight-or-flight response. It is also significantly altered in heart diseases, making it a key target for many heart-protecting drugs. Understanding the function of Ric8B will add to our fundamental understanding of these processes, both in health and disease.