Thirty plus Years’ Journey—Painting the Molecular Picture of E-C Coupling

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past thirty-plus years, research in excitation–contraction (E-C) coupling has witnessed remarkable breakthroughs, revealing the molecular and mechanistic underpinnings of muscle contraction, cardiac function, and the genetic basis of diseases caused by dysregulation of the E-C coupling machinery.

From the pioneering cloning of the dihydropyridine receptor as the voltage sensor in 1987 and the ryanodine receptor as the calcium release channel in 1989 to the identification of critical structural and functional components—including junctophilin as the molecular bridge of the triad junction; MG29, a synaptophysin family protein, as an integrative element of the T-tubule network; MG53, a tripartite motif protein essential for membrane repair; and TRIC channels, which serve as monovalent cation channels within the ER/SR membrane to maintain charge balance and calcium homeostasis—these discoveries have collectively shaped the evolving molecular landscape of E-C coupling. Human genetic studies and structure–function analyses have further clarified the molecular basis of various muscle and cardiovascular disorders, laying the foundation for precision therapeutics to treat these conditions.

In this Special Issue, “Thirty Plus Years’ Journey—Painting the Molecular Picture of E-C Coupling”, we aim to celebrate the scientific journey that has led to our current understanding of E-C coupling. This issue will highlight multidisciplinary, team-based research efforts that continue to uncover the structural and functional frameworks essential for calcium signaling in muscle physiology and cardiovascular disease. We also seek to feature novel therapeutic strategies that offer promising avenues for the safe and effective treatment of related human diseases.

We invite original research articles and comprehensive reviews that align with these themes. We particularly encourage submissions from early-career investigators and emerging leaders in translational biomedical research. Your contributions will help shape this timely and impactful Special Issue and inspire the next generation of discoveries in the field.

Prof. Dr. Jianjie Ma
Prof. Dr. Long-Sheng Song
Prof. Dr. Jingsong Zhou
Prof. Dr. Hua Zhu
Guest Editors

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• E-C coupling
• calcium signaling
• muscle physiology
• cardiovascular disease