Visualization of ?-adrenergic receptor dynamics and differential localization in cardiomyocytes

Significance We custom synthesize a fluorescent ligand and use highly sensitive microscopy methods to show that receptors may be targeted distinct sites of cell. provide microscopic images the localization ? 1 ?adrenergic (? -ARs) 2 ?ARs), main drivers contractility heart, in heart muscle cells. ?ARs are exclusively specific structures these cells, T-tubules, while -ARs found at entire cell surface T-tubules. Such differential explain their different physiological functions, even though they trigger same biochemical signal, i.e. an increase cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Thus, receptor function determined not only by signals, but also cellular localization.